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20 City Council Study Session Minutes • August 14, 2001 _ - Page 6 1 relatively the same. City Manager Mornson broke down the levy limit calculations for 2 2002. He noted there was a$438,879 increase over last year. 3 Councilmember Hodson thanked staff for their work on this year's budget and noted the 4 difficulty staff had with meeting new State requirements. He cautioned the City from 5 cutting any current services as residents have come to expect a high level of service from 6 the police, fire, etc. 7 Councilmember Horst noted he was pleased with staffs ability to balance this budget 8 with all the changes mandated by the State. He indicated all services key to operate the 9 City were being maintained at the same level and explained he would be against limiting 10 any of these services. 11 Councilmember Sparks questioned if public works was adequately funded. She stated 12 the City's ability to manage the turf and holding ponds within the City could be a concern 13 with the proposed redevelopment of Central Park on a limited 2002 budget. 14 Councilmember Sparks reviewed several pictures of holding ponds throughout the City 15 that are unsightly. She questioned if the 2002 budget addressed the increase in public 16 works services that would be needed for Central Park. City Manager Mornson stated an 17 irrigation system would be installed at Central Park to assist in the maintenance of the 18 green space. He noted the holding ponds are a work in progress and noted seven or eight 19 holding ponds have been addedg to the City within the last few years which has increased 20 the public works responsibilities. 21 Councilmember Sparks reviewed the items kept out of the budget for 2002 and asked 22 why $80,000 was cut from the public works department. City Manager Mornson noted 23 each department was asked to make cuts and this was their determination. 24 Councilmember Hodson stated Central Park will be under construction next year which 25 will allow for the public works department to focus on blighted sites within the City 26 before taking on the maintenance of Central Park in early 2003. 27 Councilmember Thuesen stated all yards throughout the City are dry this year with weeds 28 flourishing. He indicated with an irrigation system at Central Park he feels blighted 29 parcels will be a non-issue. Councilmember Thuesen stated this may not be a funding 30 issue, but rather a method or policy on maintenance that the public works could review. 31 Mayor Cavanaugh noted he felt this budget should have been dead on arrival and noted 32 he does not take lightly to cutting reserve funding. He indicated the budget is not 33 balanced at this time and is up roughly 7%, with the use of reserve funds to cover 34 increased expenditures. Mayor Cavanaugh stated he felt the increase in the budget • 35 should be 0%. He stated the 25% tax levy increase does not meet his approval and noted 36 he would not be in favor of approving the budget as submitted.