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Councilmember Riley stated that history shows that you do not reduce from an initial amount. <br />Finance Director Lund stated that the City has actually reduced from the adopted amount. <br />Councilmember Riley suggested that everyone review the budget and find ways to reduce funds. <br />Councilmember Williams believed that the rate proposed in scenario one is too high to adopt <br />even if the intent is to make reductions. <br />Police Chief Katers provided additional information on the drug task force position, noting that <br />the issue of drugs is increasing and the department does not have the ability to be proactive and <br />can only be reactive at this time, which is not the best method to handle that situation. He stated <br />that he does not ask for things that he does not need. <br />Councilmember Kuzma stated that the Council needs to decide if that extra personnel is <br />necessary. He stated that he would like to see the Council make that investment in order to be <br />proactive within the community. <br />Councilmember Riley asked if the role of the task force has changed in the last few years. He <br />stated that when the item has been explained in the past it was explained that the officer would <br />not work solely in Ramsey and would work throughout the task force. He stated that it appears <br />that Police Chief Katers is stating that the person would be on the streets in Ramsey. <br />Police Chief Katers explained that the task force has changed, as the cities with officers on the <br />task force want results in their own city. He stated that if there is a case that needs extensive <br />follow up, the City asks the task force to do that but currently a member from another city is <br />pulled from their community to work within Ramsey. He stated that although they will assist, <br />they do not favor that option and the task force has more of a say in where they investigate and <br />work. He noted that there are times the Ramsey task force member would assist in other <br />communities but the majority of the time would be spent in Ramsey, which is a change from the <br />past. <br />Mayor Strommen stated that based on the majority of the Council, staff should continue with <br />scenario one, reviewing the individual items to determine where reductions can be made. <br />Councilmember Riley received confirmation that the tax rate proposed in scenario one would <br />then be sent on the truth in taxation statements that will be mailed to residents. <br />2.02: Strategic Plan Update <br />Mayor Strommen stated that based on the budget discussion, the Council should think hard about <br />the items in the Plan to determine their priorities and how those correlate to the budget. <br />City Administrator Ulrich reviewed the staff report and explained how the green, yellow and red <br />indicators are updated with the individual items. <br />City Council Work Session / September 8, 2015 <br />Page 5 of 7 <br />