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'. . . . . - Council Member Ira said he supported the motion, but he was strongly in support of finding funds for a skate board park. He expressed support for the current proposal for the - two park project, and said that although budgets are moving targets that can be adapted when needed, budgets are designed to allocate resources. Council Member Ira said it was unusual for community members to ask Council to reduce a budget, it's usually "more, more, more." He said the consultants knew what the budget was, but designed a plan that exceeded the budget. He said it was important for the Council not to continually go over budget based on designs that exceed what was anticipated. He said staff was working on a process to bring people together to resolve the issues for Stafford Park and reach a consensus, and it was important to let that process continue before Council made a fmal decision. At 11:14 p.m. MIS: RUSKIN/CLAIRE TO EXTEND THE MEETING TO 11:20 P.M. CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE. MINUTE ORDER NO. 98-125 Council Member Leipzig said, "I think we are discussing the wrong things at the wrong hour tonight. The $2 million we are talking about designating, we are not putting this in concrete.... Those wouldn't be the numbers I'd pick, but I'm not going to disagree with them because we are not approving anything. It is just in concept. We should be spending time... on the parks that are in front of us right now. This is something before us. The community is here talking to us about it. $1 million for roads, we don't even know which direction we are headed in in that area. We have these plans right here, and architect ready - to start proceeding. We need to decide what we are doing. I disagree. I hope the community can come together and come up here at the next meeting and say 'we agree on this.' I don't think that is going to happen, and I'm not sure that's the process. We are elected officials to make decisions. We can hear input from both sides and we make the decisions. I would recommend that we postpone any further discussion or vote. Bring back the parks discussion for the next meeting and make a decision and get going one way or the other." Mayor Howard said that she would like to stay within budget because "we have many, many needs in the community." She said the flooding problem was a real and serious issue that needed to be addressed as well as the need for recreational fields. Mayor Howard said traffic is another serious issue in the City and the region. She said not to budget wisely is not being fiscally responsible. Mayor Howard said the current budget for Stafford Park $525,000 would provide a magnificent park, and said she wanted the two groups to work with staff to come up with a workable solution, "because isn't that a better way of doing things than us being the iron hanuner and saying this is what we decided.... I would much rather see the community come to a resolution if that is possible.... To not give them the opportunity to do that when they have offered to sit down and work with staff would be missing the boat." Mayor Howard said the final decision would be made during the budget sessions in July. - REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 56 MAY 11, 1998 MINUTES Page No. 477 PAGE 28