Agenda - Council - 01/08/2019 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Mayor LeTourneau appreciated the comment but stated that still leaves the discussion of what will be done now and the recommendation that will be made. Councilmember Musgrove asked if the budgets are created using the adopted 2018 figures or whether the budget begins at zero and builds from that point. Finance Director Lund explained that the purpose of showing the prior years of budgeting and how that information is used by each department to build their proposed budget for the next year, which also anticipates future needs. Councilmember Musgrove asked if the department heads have reviewed this more in depth to find savings that could equalize the additional staff positions that are being requested. Finance Director Lund explained that during the budget discussions there were different options for personnel reviewed. She stated that there were costs savings found to help offset some of the positions requested to be added. Mayor LeTourneau stated that he would like to know if the City is a continuous improvement organization, which continually reviews actions to determine if improvements could be made. Finance Director Lund reported that monthly reports are created, and those reports are used to justify the budgets that are then created each year and plan for future expenditures. She noted that some line items cannot be planned for, such as the amount of salt needed as that is weather dependent and will fluctuate from year to year. Councilmember Riley stated that if he were to make a counter proposal, he would take the one position for police, one for fire, and the part-time parks position to add and would drop the other three positions. He stated that he would then ask staff to reduce the budget by $47,000. Mayor LeTourneau stated that the City is a service organization and by having these positions proposed in place, that will help to maintain the level of service that is expected by residents. He stated that he would welcome input from staff on the impacts to service that would occur if those three positions were removed from the budget. Administrator Services Director Lasher acknowledged the comment that was made by Councilmember Shryock in regard to taking care of the existing staff. She stated that there are a number of ways in which an organization takes care of staff and she is concerned that if these positions are not approved, the Council runs the risk of burning out the existing staff members. She used the example of City Engineer Westby. She stated that the part-time assistant is currently working full-time and even then, that department runs tight and she is concerned with the work/life balance of City Engineer Westby. She stated that when there is a call and no back up available, Fire Chief Kohner has to respond and therefore she is concerned with burning him out. She stated that Public Works Superintendent Riemer often has to get out in a plow truck and handle other duties that he should not be handling and therefore she has a concern that he is being burned out and not able to address other duties. City Council Work Session / November 27, 2018 Page 3 of 7