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-5- She said the City Council has been a victim of national press against national and state bureaucracy and waste, and undeservedly so since the City runs a very lean operation being restricted to one of the slimmest levy levels in the state, resulting from the establishment of the base year for setting the levies in a year when the City was utilizing all of its available reserves to pay for services. She agreed with those who said establishing the liquor operation across from Apache would be a contradiction of the purpose of the Hedlund PUD. Councilman Ranallo said it is hard for him to believe that just a short time ago the residents voted down the levy raise which is the reason the City is looking at the upgrading of the liquor operation and now residents are saying they would rather raise taxes than maintain the liquor store. He suggested anyone who is interested in reversing the effects of the referendum should attend the levy limits strategy meeting at the Radission South Hotel on June 12. He also said he was disappointed to see the northern sections of the City represented at the hearing and said he had received 15 calls regarding the hearing, but not one of those who called was present that evening. Mayor Haik also commented on the absence of residents who had signed the petition calling for the referen- dum, saying most of them seemed to be from the area around 29th Avenue N.E. and 33rd Avenue N.E. and Coolidge Street N.E . who presumably opposed a levy base raise because they are on limited incomes because of their age, but who seem not to be interested in other means of raising operating revenues. Mr. Fornell answered questions about the City' s efforts to publicize the hearing by telling there had been two front-page stories on the issues involved carried in the City' s two newspapers , the Sun and -�kthe Bulletin; a notice had been placed in the school district's newsletter which was sent out to all residents ; and numerous attempts made to circulate the information informally. The Mayor added it is not economically feasible to send out a City newsletter and con- cluded any questions could have been answered through a phone call to the Manager who is available a major portion of each day for resident communication or to Council members who have made their home phones accessible to such calls. Councilman Letourneau felt the lack of response regarding alternate sites for the liquor opera- tion to those in the northern sector of the City left the Council in a quandry as to what steps they should take next. He told Mr. McMullen he wondered how many other residents would be willing or able to pay more taxes . Two residents of the Heights Manor spoke against building at the corner of 39th and Stinson. John Starceivic felt the bar and liquor stores should remain in Apache to avoid the costs of building and •