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COUNCIL BUDGET WORK SESSION DECEMBER 20, 1989 <br />The Computer Maintenance <br />Agreement was discussed. Chief <br />Campbell explained that this is <br />a 24 hour contract since the <br />main computer is connected to <br />the state and must be <br />operational at all times. Mr. <br />Bisel suggested that it would <br />be almost cost effective to <br />have backup equipment rather <br />than such an expensive <br />contract. <br />ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED BY DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ARE <br />NOT INCLUDED IN THE 1990 BUDGET <br />Mr. Schumacher explained each item. Mr. Bohjanen asked Chief <br />Campbell if he was looking at potential development in the <br />City and if this was the reason he had requested an <br />additional police officer. Chief Campbell said no, rather <br />various guidelines and the recent Police Task Force study in <br />Lino Lakes suggests that the Police Department is not yet <br />staffed as it should be. He is trying to increase his staff <br />so that he can have two Officers on duty per shift. He noted <br />in December, 1989 because of vacations and sickness, the <br />situation became such that there was one car and one officer <br />on duty for each shift. He also noted that the amount of <br />calls are increasing and the calls are getting more serious. <br />Mr. Neal said his objective as Councilman is to have a good <br />Police Department, Fire Department and ambulance service. He <br />noted that on one day recently there were four heart attacks <br />in this community. <br />Mr. Schumacher noted that not all requests can be funded. <br />Last year the levy limit was cut and this has restricted the <br />1990 levy limit. The City has lost $148,000 in state aid <br />shifts, the Council is addressing the issue of lowering taxes <br />and there are the normal growing pains to consider. If <br />another police office is added, this would mean something <br />would have to be cut from another department. Mayor Benson <br />noted that homeowners cannot continue to bear the rising tax <br />costs and suggested that maybe the Council should concentrate <br />on commercial /industrial development and consider restricting <br />new home building. Mr. Reinert suggested considering a <br />moratorium on new housing development. Mr. Bisel suggested <br />setting up a ratio of housing development to commercial <br />development. <br />Mr. Neal asked Chief Campbell when he would like to add <br />another officer. Chief Campbell said early enough to get him <br />trained for the summer problems. <br />Mr. Bisel asked at what point does it become economically <br />unfeasible to operate our own department? Chief Campbell <br />PAGE 5 <br />