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Mayor Ramsey stated he has been on the Council for three years and studied City operations <br /> prior to being elected, which is long enough for him. He stated he has been trying to get <br /> information for three years or more and asked if the Council had to hire someone to tell the <br /> Council what staff is doing. <br /> Councilmember Backous stated he needed to gather information himself and assure a careful and <br /> responsible decision is made. <br /> Councilmember Strommen agreed the Council needed to start the process earlier than the end of <br /> the year but consideration needs to start at the beginning. She noted the Council received a third <br /> proposal this afternoon, which she had no time to review. Councilmember Strommen stated she <br /> was not prepared to discuss it tonight and there needs to be time for review and to follow a <br /> process. She noted the City has strategic priorities and asked what positions are needed to fulfill <br /> services. She also asked where the redundancies that can be targeted are, what the gap is, what <br /> the revenues are, and what the options are to meet the gap. Councilmember Strommen felt none <br /> of the proposals answered those questions. She stated she is not afraid of that debate and she <br /> can't support a proposal that she has not looked at or the Council debated. <br /> Mayor Ramsey asked the Council whether the City needs a Deputy City Administrator. <br /> Councilmember Strommen indicated that may be a valid question but in the past few years the <br /> Deputy City Administrator position has already been collapsed with the position of HRA <br /> Executive Director, Community Development Director, and oversight of Human Resources. She <br /> noted the Council needs to identify when it has reached the goal. <br /> Mayor Ramsey stated the goal will be reached when the Council can lower taxes so residents can <br /> pay for food and keep their houses. He noted the Council has previously made staff cuts but not <br /> sacrificed services. <br /> Councilmember Backous stated there had been impacts, as discussed with Case 1 tonight and the <br /> inability of Public Works to keep with road repairs. He agreed with the need to cut taxes and <br /> lower the levy. <br /> Councilmember McGlone stated he has been on the Council for three years and spent two years <br /> studying City operations before being elected. He indicated he was never happy with it up to <br /> today. Councilmember McGlone felt businesses and everyone else were still cutting and that <br /> none on the Council would argue the City needs two administrators. He felt it comes down to <br /> how things are evaluated; he has been evaluating for a long time, doesn't need more talk, and <br /> wants to do something today. <br /> City Administrator Ulrich agreed that if budget cuts are made, it should be done early in terms of <br /> staff cuts for the reasons mentioned. He provided a brief presentation and addressed the <br /> Council's belief the City is over staffed. He then reviewed the significant changes made to the <br /> Deputy City Administrator's job in 2011 and proposed the title be changed to Community <br /> Development Director/HRA Executive Director, with no salary change. This position would <br /> serve as Acting City Administrator in the absence of the City Administrator. The duties will be <br /> City Council Work Session / January 10, 2012 <br /> Page 11of13 <br />