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City Council Minutes <br />September 5, 2017 <br />Page 8 <br />Councilmember Wagner stated she doesn't want to cut current services but to make <br />sure there is a thorough review of new services being requested. <br />Mayor Dietz stated he wants to continue to have a proactive police department but <br />wasn't sure about hiring for two positions. He stated he felt the fire captain position <br />is needed and the city needs to be proactive with inspections. <br />Councilmember Olsen noted how rental properties can degrade very quickly. <br />Mayor Dietz asked staff for the following: <br />• Present examples of the budget change for certain valued properties <br />• Leave all positions in the preliminary budget <br />■ Review 2017 budgets to see if any expenditures for 2018 can be purchased <br />this year <br />Councilmember Westgaard suggested reviewing the policy regarding the excess fund <br />balance. He stated he would like to see $400,000 cut from the budget. He stated he is <br />willing to keep the 5 positions in the budget but staff needs to bring the budget <br />down by $400,000 without cutting services; but if this can't be met, then the new <br />positions would have to evaluated for cutting from the budget. He stated he is not <br />convinced of the need for the fire captain position and is concerned staff is creating <br />work by looking for more inspections to complete. <br />Councilmember Ovall expressed concerns with capital expenditures and how the city <br />is going to pay for parks, vehicles, and technology in the long-term. <br />Chief Cunningham stated he is not looking to expand any services with the fire <br />captain position but keeping up with the current workload. He discussed how staff <br />roles have changed and public education has suffered due to the inspection <br />workload. He stated the city would have to cut fire department public education <br />services. <br />Council consensus was to include keeping the requested positions in the preliminary <br />budget, but noted they may still be cut before adoption of the final budget. <br />Volunteers Appreciation Program <br />Council discussed this newly added program and would like to keep it as a small <br />event, such as coffee/cookies or brats/hamburgers at a park with thanks from the <br />Council. <br />Council consensus was to add $2,500 to the budget for a new volunteer <br />appreciation program. <br />II. Adjournment <br />eor[s[o er <br />NATUREJ <br />