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Truth in Taxation Public Hearing Meeting Minutes November 30, 2004 7$ Page 4 1 Mr. Nelson asked if most of the increase costs would be personnel costs. Mr. Morrison replied 2 that was correct, as well as some equipment needing to be replaced. He stated he hoped the two 3 liquor stores would also offset the increased levy in the future. 4 5 Mr. Nelson asked if there were any further plans to develop the Market Square area. Mayor Pro- 6 tem Thuesen replied they were working on this and they hoped by this time next year the lot 7 across from the current development something would be put in,possibility with a restaurant or a 8 retail area. 9 10 Mr. Nelson asked if that area was part of a tax district. Mayor Pro-tem Thuesen replied it was 11 not a part of a tax district. 12 13 Jim Huninghake, 4012 Fordham Drive, stated he would like to see what the City spent over the 14 various things over the past five or ten years. He stated he felt like the spending had to slow 15 down and he was concerned about it. 16 17 Mayor Pro-tem Thuesen stated every two years they negotiated contracts with the Police and Fire 18 Departments and this year they had to renegotiate another contract. He stated everyone was 19 feeling the pinch and nobody wanted to pay more taxes. 20 21 Mr. Morrison replied the Finance Director would give Mr. Huniughaku budgets for the past five 22 years. 23 24, Jim Wiehoff, 3508 Coolidge Street NE, asked what each Councilmember was going to do to cut 25 expenses in 2005. He stated expenses had to be cut. Mayor Pro-tern Thuesen replied he 26 believed that as a Council they were always concerned with how efficiently they were running 27 the City and with speaking with the City Manager and the Department heads that they 28 understood very clearly that the money that was allocated each year was not a-license for free 29 spending and they expected the departments to be ran as well and as efficiently as possible. He 30 stated the Council encouraged the staff to come up with cost savings and to be efficient in their 31 spending. 32 33 Mr. Wiehoff asked for the records spent on the 24 hour services, including vehicles, insurance, 34 gas, and how many miles they drove per year. He stated he believed it would be more efficient 35 to pay these individuals per mile. Mayor Pro-tem Thuesen stated the City has not promoted a 36 system of wastage and they were looking how to best use the City's money but there might be 37 disagreements as to how the money should be spent. 38 39 Mr. Wiehoff expressed concern that the Council was giving the "stamp of approval, like a 40 machine". He stated he was concerned about the police officers working 12-hour shifts, 3 days a 41 week. The Police Chief replied by doing this type of a shift, they saved on overtime and there 42 were more officers on the street to cover the shifts. 43 44 Mayor Pro-tem Thuesen suggested Mr. Wiehoff discuss his issues with the Police Department 45 with the Police Chief after the meeting or set up an appointment to meet with him. 46