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<br />Councilmember Look asked if she had ever proposed to reduce staff. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Miller stated that she had recommended eliminating a <br />position. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen asked if Ramsey had ever, as a City, cut a position. <br /> <br />Assistant City Administrator Nelson stated that when someone has left, they have restructured <br />jobs so the position was not replaced. She stated that the City has not had a broad layoff in her 6 <br />years with the City because things have been growing in that time period. <br /> <br />Councilmember Look stated that he thinks the message can be clearly stated that the Council is <br />not proposing layoffs. <br /> <br />Mayor Pro Tern Elvig stated that he doesn't want the Council to micromanage hiring decisions. <br />He stated that he agrees with Councilmember Look that the Council may have to talk seriously <br />about cuts to balance the budget. He stated that he appreciates City Administrator Ulrich <br />stepping forward and saying that he prefers that the Council adopt a resolution supporting the <br />criteria but not implement a hiring freeze. <br /> <br />Councilmember Look stated that staffing is the largest portion of the budget and he doesn't think <br />the Council should ignore the "pink elephant in the comer". He stated that people facing a <br />hurricane, generally board things up and he feels this would just be the City being fiscally <br />responsible with the current economic realities. <br /> <br />Councilmember Strommen stated that she doesn't understand the difference between what <br />Councilmember Look is proposing and the Consensus of the rest of the Council to use the <br />criteria that has been outlined for hiring decisions. <br /> <br />Councilmember Look stated that this criteria was not what he had in mind and he is in favor of <br />taking an aggressive stance. <br /> <br />Councilmember Strommen asked if Councilmember Look meant that if the City Administrator or <br />a Department Head left, then he would be in favor of replacing that position, but not any others. <br /> <br />Councilmember Look stated that is what he means by taking an aggressive stance. <br /> <br />Mayor Pro Tern Elvig stated that he thinks the message can be sent to staff that unless the criteria <br />and questions are met or exceeded, it will be very difficult to get staff approved because there are <br />some very tough budget issues in the future. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Miller stated that in 2006, Bruce Bacon left and his duties <br />were combined into the Environmental Coordinator position, so he was not replaced. <br /> <br />City Council Work Session I May 6, 2008 <br />Page 11 of 13 <br />