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City Council Minutes Page 14 <br />September 18, 2017 <br />----------------------------- <br /> <br />Motion carried 5-0. <br /> <br /> Moved by Councilmember Wagner and seconded by Councilmember Ovall to <br />adopt resolution 17-56 authorizing the preliminary Housing and <br />Redevelopment Authority 2018 tax levy. <br /> <br />Motion carried 5-0. <br /> <br />8.5 Set Budget Meeting Date and Adopt 2018 Tax Levy <br /> <br /> Ms. Ziemer presented the staff report. <br /> <br /> Mayor Dietz questioned the average tax increase for residential properties. Ms. <br />Ziemer explained the increase varies. <br /> <br />Mayor Dietz indicated he would like to see the Truth in Taxation notices mailed out <br />with an increase less than the proposed 6%. <br /> <br /> Councilmember Westgaard indicated he would like to see the final tax levy reduced <br />and believes this can be achieved by reviewing the requested positions. <br /> <br />Mayor Dietz stated he has reservations about the fire captain position and will not <br />support the position for 2018. He indicated he would like to see a breakdown of <br />duties for the current fire marshal and fire prevention specialist positions. He <br />explained he would like to see the maximum levy under a 6% increase and <br />eliminating the fire captain position achieves this. He noted he would be willing to <br />revisit this position next year. <br /> <br />Councilmember Westgaard indicated he is also struggling with support for the fire <br />captain position and would support removal of the position. He was under the <br />impression the position was going to be left in for further discussion but he is <br />comfortable with removing it at this time if the rest of the Council feels the same <br />way. <br /> <br />Councilmember Wagner concurred she is not 100% on board with the fire captain <br />position and will also agree to remove it now if the Council agrees. <br /> <br />Councilmember Olsen questioned if the Police Department could get by with one <br />officer position rather than the two requested. <br /> <br />Mayor Dietz stated he will support hiring two officers as he feels the Police <br />Department has done a good job in providing evidence supporting their request. <br /> <br />Council consensus was to remove the fire captain position from the 2018 budget. <br /> <br /> Moved by Councilmember Westgaard and seconded by Councilmember <br />Wagner to set the budget meeting for December 4, 2017, at 6:30 p.m.