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282 <br /> <br />($100,000) for City and school non-teaching employees); training position to provide a <br />city-wide training program (partly funded by $70,000 in existing funds). <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Cox, Mr. O'Connell said employees would be <br />involved in the training program through an employee committee, and employees would be <br />encouraged, and sometimes required, to participate in training opportunities~ <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano recommended that consideration be given to contracting out the training <br />position which might save money. <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Connell said that the training delivery would be contracted out. Mr. O'Connell <br />said that the training position would be evaluated after one year to see if a difference has been <br />made. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano expressed concern about incremen~tally adding to the bureaucracy, and <br />about the impact of this on the long-term. Mr. Toscano Said that he does not doubt the need <br />for the positions, but is not convinced this is the way tO do it.: -~ <br /> <br /> Continuing with program modifications, Mr. O'Connell s~i~d that as part of the "City as <br />a Park" effort, a landscaper and part-time volunteer coordinator/fund raiser are proposed, <br />which he feels will have an immediate affect in the community, and would focus on <br />neighborhood and major city entrances as well as publicly owned land. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards questioned whether there wilt be adequate capital funds for the "City as a <br />Park" effort, and Ms. Linda Peacock, Assistant City Manager, said that more funding will be <br />available for this effort than in the past. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Cox, Mr. O'Connell said that the number of City <br />employees will still be down 10% from the early 1980~s. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter said she supports the new Parks employees and recommended that using <br />jail inmates be explored, which would provide additional labor and give inmates a skill. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano expressed concern again about adding positions, noting that he feels the <br />volunteer coordinator can be justified, but the landscaper position could be problematic <br />especially if it leads to the creation of more flower beds which might need to be eliminated in <br />the future if the economy takes a down-turn. <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Connell said that two firefighters are proposed to be added which will increase <br />company staffing to three and will comply with new regulations. <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Connell said that the proposed housing inspector will allow for more cyclical <br />inspections. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter said she hopes there will be more cross training between departments, <br />including police and gas, regarding housing violations. <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Connell said two additional police officers are proposed as calls and the need for <br />police service continue to increase. <br /> <br /> Ms. Daugherty said she feels that the performance measurement and goals listed in the <br />budget are a worthwhile approach. <br /> <br />Mr. O'Connell responded that staff hope to refine the measurements in the future. <br /> <br />Ideas for Council's reserve funds, or strategic investment funds, were reviewed. <br /> <br />Mr. Toscano recommended that criteria be .[[eveloped before using the funds. <br /> <br /> <br />