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Council Retreat Minutes of February 5, 2009 <br />Page 4 <br />Council President Dieter stated that the Council is "getting the horse out of the barn" with this <br />process by formulating priorities, as the first step in a multi-step process which will include the <br />Administration and the public. <br />In response to a question from Council Member Oliver Davis, the Council Attorney noted that <br />priority-based budgeting is not a new concept. She noted that several communities have <br />effectively used this concept - such as the state governments of Georgia and Oregon; as well <br />as communities and school districts in Colorado. <br />Council Member White stated that priority-based budgeting provides direction and gives clarity <br />to the process. She sees the challenge as how do we bring together all of the competing <br />interests for city funds. Setting priorities will guide those discussions and provide structure to <br />facilitate conversation. She added that the worse thing would be for the city to go in different <br />directions. The process starts with conversation. <br />Council Member Puzzello stated that she sees as the first objective being working as a team <br />and not as nine (9) separate people. The team then pursues what they believe in and have <br />prioritized, with this need being the 1St work to be done <br />Council Member LaFountain stated that he "agrees with Council Member Puzzello totally". He <br />stated that "it is imperative for the Common Council to know where we are going, and sees this <br />not as a list of demands to the Administration, but rather having discussions where there will be <br />give-n-take conversations; compromises; and the opportunity to move forward with good <br />suggestions". <br />Council Member Rouse stated that the problem is when things appear when there has not been <br />dialogue, noting that it appears that at least three Council Members have worked on the <br />proposed budgeting concept. <br />Council Member White stated that in all of the previous Council Retreats which have been held <br />over the years there have been common themes: <br />