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City Council Minutes <br />September 5, 2017 <br />Page 7 <br />and social engagement role and will help the other communication staff be better <br />utilized. <br />Councilmember Ovall expressed concerns operationally and culturally for the new <br />role, noting they will be requesting more data from staff in order to feed social <br />media. <br />Mayor Dietz stated the position is important for community engagement noting <br />many people don't have an understanding of government. <br />Mayor Dietz questioned if any funding in this year's budget can be used to purchase <br />items early. <br />It was noted staff will need to review the matter. <br />Mr. Portner discussed the lighting request from the youth football association. He <br />stated this funding should be from reserves and not the parks maintenance budget. <br />Councilmember Wagner stated there seems to be miscommunication between staff <br />and the association regarding lighting costs. She stated the lighting request was <br />discussed last fall with no action yet. She would like the city to continue to work with <br />associations and is fearful they will become frustrated and stop bringing money to <br />the table. She stated the youth association wants to pay for the lights over a number <br />of years. <br />Mr. Portner stated staff would not recommend a seven-year payment plan as <br />requested by the association. He questioned how the city can hold the association <br />accountable for payments if they default. He stated the city could kick them off the <br />fields but it won't look good to the public/media. He further noted Council will have <br />to develop a policy on the matter if they want to allow it. <br />Councilmember Wagner stated she is unsure whether the requested fire captain and <br />second patrol officer position should stay in the budget. She questioned if $15.4 <br />million is an appropriate amount to the Council for what is needed to run the city. <br />She questioned the value of the academy training to the residents of Elk River. <br />Mr. Po=er stated the academy training adds revenue. He stated that public safety is <br />our largest annual expenditure and the only true means to slow the growth of public <br />safety expenditures is by decreasing the demand for service by assisting with public <br />education in the neighborhoods needing help, and strengthen the rental inspection <br />program and ensuring the housing stock does not decay. He stated the city can't <br />afford to tear down dilapidated homes and needs to encourage maintenance via <br />education and engagement. <br />Mayor Dietz also questioned the need for the fire captain position. He further stated <br />the city can't control valuation and can't have the philosophy to never increase <br />expenditures either because then it will have to look at cutting services. <br />ror[eti er <br />iATUR <br />