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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />SEPTEMBER 23, 2015 <br />community pride. The Director noted that while participation numbers are <br />down, it should be understood that it takes the same amount of work to <br />coordinate 3 teams as it does 5 teams in terms of finding and training <br />coaches, ordering uniforms, scheduling facilities, etc. The Director felt <br />that making staffing decisions based on participation numbers was not an <br />effective way to make that decision. <br />Jon Joriman, Little Canada Recreation Association President, expressed <br />concern for potential cuts in staffing of the Parks & Recreation <br />Department. Joriman felt that the City's parks and recreation programs <br />were one reason that people move into the City as these programs provide <br />a sense of community. He also felt that when children participate in <br />recreation programs, this brings people back to the community as adults <br />given the community pride that they have. <br />Joriman then provided some history of the Little Canada Recreation <br />Association's financial support which keeps registration fees affordable as <br />well as their financial support for various parks and recreation projects. <br />Joriman suggested that changing demographics may be a reason that <br />participation numbers have declined. He also noted the discussion at the <br />September 9th workshop relative to the forming of a committee to look at <br />the Parks & Recreation Department. Joriman expressed his interest in <br />being a part of that committee. <br />Joriman felt that it would be difficult to keep the recreation programs <br />going without full-time staff. Joriman felt that there were some creative <br />solutions that could be considered to retain the full-time position. <br />Keis indicated that the task before the Council this evening is to set a <br />preliminary 2016 Budget and indicated that he felt setting the gross levy <br />amount at a 4% increase at this time would give the City some flexibility <br />when finalizing the budget. Montour agreed, but indicated that the goal <br />should be to set the final budget at a 2% gross levy increase. Keis again <br />noted that there will be additional discussions of the budget in the coming <br />months before a final 2016 Budget is adopted in December. <br />Montour introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: <br />RESOLUTION NO. 2015-9-186 — APPROVING THE PRELIMINARY <br />2016 TAX LEVY AS FOLLOWS WHICH REPRESENTS A 4% GROSS <br />LEVY INCREASE: <br />8 <br />