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City Council Minutes June 13, 2011 Page 5 Councilmember Motin thought the budget has been prepared well but felt that staffing levels could be improved to relieve stress and avoid burnout of current staff. He stated taxes may have to be raised in order to do this or certain services may have to be reduced. Mr. Simon stated he would present department personnel requests at the next budget discussion meeting. Mavor Dietz stated the fund balance should be reduced to 41.5% and should not be above that amount He was not in favor of the tax rate being increased. Mayor Dietz passed out an e-mail from Ramsey City Administrator Kurt Ulrich with information and figures when Ramsey svntched from in-house building and electrical inspection services to contracting with an outside company. Councilmember Zerwas stated several other surrounding cities are also contracting their building inspection services to an outside company. He felt this should be considered for Elk River to determine if a cost savings could be found. Council directed Mr. Simon to meet with Mr. Ruprecht and put together figures of what the financial analysis like Ramsey would look like for our city and if possible, bring back to a future worksession. 5.7. Council Open Forum Mayor Dietz presented council with a copy of an e-mail he received from Joseph D. Strauss, EVP & COO of the North Metro Mayors Association (NMMA). The information in the e- mail came up after discussion occurred during the joint meeting last month with the Ramsey City Council. It contained information regarding a membership and Letter of Understanding to join the NMMA and the NMMA's North American Joint Purchasing Program, offering no participation fee to purchase office products, cleaning supplies, office furniture, field marking paint, and outdoor toilets at reduced prices. Mayor Dietz requested the attached Letter of Understanding be sent to the city attorney for his review and requested participation in the association. Councilmember Zerwas stated as long as there was no fee involved, he felt the Letter of Understanding should be sent to the city attorney. Councilmember Motin stated he had concerns with providing council with information like this and had other concerns with other recent items being presented during Council Open Forum. He felt that some of this information should be given to council in the packet or given to staff to review and respond. MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER GUMPHREY AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN TO FORWARD THE NORTH METRO MAYORS ASSOCIATION LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING TO THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR HIS REVIEW. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. Mayor Dietz stated the Utilities Commission would be reviewing at their meeting the next day the topic of the odd/even sprinkling ban. There are some residents who have a well on