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City Council Minutes Page 2 <br /> September 3,2019 <br /> ----------------------------- <br /> 8.1 Adopt Preliminary 2020 Tax Levy <br /> Ms. Ziemer presented the staff report. <br /> Mayor Dietz clarified information from the previous meeting. He asked if the issue <br /> of whether or not the city should plow all of the sidewalks was resolved. <br /> Councilmember Wagner recommended waiting until 2020 to decide if the council <br /> wanted to add sidewalk plowing into the budget. <br /> Mayor Dietz would like to get the budget to 7%which would mean cutting an <br /> additional$313,000. <br /> Councilmember Westgaard asked about funds for the Lake Orono dredging and <br /> elections. He mentioned these are one-time costs that are affecting the budget <br /> increase. <br /> Mayor Dietz agreed the rest of the city should contribute toward the Lake Orono <br /> dredging costs. <br /> Councilmember Ovall stated the largest part of the budget was employees. Because <br /> of the step increase there are at least two mare years of^pDassling, <br /> abs,orbing those costs and <br /> making up for past years with no raises <br /> Councilmember Westgaard felt co ''ortresolution with an 8.5% <br /> increase and working to find a way to cut$150,000 before the December deadline. <br /> Moved by Councilmember Westgaard and seconded by Councilmember <br /> Wagner to adopt Resolution 19-40 authorizing the preliminary property tax <br /> levy for collection in 2020 as amended. Motion carried 4-1. Mayor Dietz <br /> opposed.A"%........... <br /> Moved by Councilmembet Wagner and seconded by Councilmember <br /> Westgaard to set the budget meeting for December 2, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. at <br /> which public comment will be taken. Motion carried 5-0. <br /> Mr. Portner addressed phased retirement for the IT Manager as he has formally <br /> requested a start effective November 24, 2019. A full-time IT Manager would be <br /> hired to train under Mr. Pearson during this 18-month period. Mr. Portner would <br /> Eke direction on whether or not to accept the request. <br /> Council discussed the cost, succession planning,the value of the position to <br /> infrastructure safety, and the backlog of IT projects that could be resolved during the <br /> 18-month transition period. <br /> p0WIn10 0 <br /> UREJ <br />