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City Council Minutes August 27, 2007 Page 2 11.66%. The county NTC is increasing around seven percent which maybe why the • original estimate for the city was so low. She stated it was still early to use this as a final figure but this would at least allow the council and staff to make decisions regarding the 2008 budget. The 2008 budget will include a tax levy for the YMCA, and Ms. Johnson explained the figures regarding the estimated levy amounts and how the Landfill Legacy Grant funds will be applied. Based on the estimated marked value from the county assessor, the YMCA levy amount would cost a homeowner approximately $27.00 on a $200,000 home. Ms. Johnson explained how the levies are decreased with the use of the giant money, and the council agreed with spreading the grant proceeds towards the cost of the YMCA as she presented. Ms. Johnson then coveted the budget assumptions up to this point; the tax rate of 43.056%, COLA of 3%, flexible benefits contribution increase of 3%, and gas was to be figured at $3.50 a gallon. She noted the decrease in the building permit revenues due to the changes in the buildiag industry and suggested a $62,500 decrease in permit revenue based on the number and value of new home pemuts issued to date in 2007. Staff additions were reviewed by Ms. Johnson. One full time staff addition was requested For 2008, which was for a patrol officer for the police department. Three part-time positions were requested; code enforcement officer, IT support specialist, and an energy coordinator. The street department's request to change apart-time position to full-time was taken out of the budget by Public Works Director Terry Maurer. Councilmember Farber felt the code enforcement officer should be a full-time position due to the rise in code violations and amount of work required for such a position, and feels that • by hiring a full time person fox this it would show the city stepping up enforcement of code violations. Mayor Klinzing agreed with Councilmembex Farber and also requested afull-time position for code enforcement. Councilmember Zerwas suggested after the enforcement program was set up if the person hired for the position could start in the middle of the yeaz and work full time. Councilmember Morin suggested the position be'/< time and asked what was taking so long fox staff to step up enforcement. Ms. Johnson stated that enforcement has increased and staff is setting up a solid enforcement program; however, some ordinance changes may be needed to allow fox greater enforcement. She stated staff is meeting tomorrow with the city prosecutor and city attorney Peter Beck to go through the legal issues related to enforcement and to determine how to best handle issues that need to go through the court system. Mayor Kli^zing discussed the energy coordinatar position, stating the commission is very interested in having the city hire a coordinator. Councilmember Zenvas stated he doesn't believe the commission is ready for a staff person and suggested the energy expo be a bi-annual event. Counrilmember Gumphrey pointed out that not only would the city benefit from this, but • the county and local businesses would benefit from this.