MONROE - The city's newest ad hoc committee amassed more than 60 ideas at its meeting Thursday, which could lead to saving the taxpayers' money or streamlining processes for citizens using city services.
The committee, tasked with restructuring city government to ensure financial stability, has until September to develop several of the ideas before presenting them to the council.
"It's a wonderful start," Mayor Bill Ross said, following the hour-long meeting. "The brain-storming session went well."
Ross said he was also pleased to see several citizens participate in the process. Some gave their ideas directly to Ross while others attended the meeting Thursday.
"This is a city-wide concern, and all input we can get, the better off we'll be," he said.
The ideas range from simple ways to reduce energy costs to far-reaching use of technology to communicate with citizens and facilitate services, such as electronic delivery and payments of utility bills.
The large number and wide variety of ideas is a "testimony" to the strengths of committee members, who represent a cross-section of the community, said Cara Carper, UW-Extension community resources development agent. Carper has been asked to participate as a guide and facilitator for the committee as it moves through the process of choosing ideas to research and develop.
"The spadework (research) will translate to cost savings," Ross said.
Several of the ideas may be unpopular, like delaying capital projects, raising user fees, or re-implementing special assessments, according to City Administrator Phil Rath.
"But the ideas are out there," he said, "and this is the time to put them on the list."
Some ideas, like improving the parking ramp structure and televising council meetings, have been around for a time, while others, such as selling off a park or selling rights to advertise on city property, drew interest from some committee members.
"There has to be change in culture," Ross said. "You hear this word, austerity, all the time. Austerity, austerity, austerity. If we all buy into it, I think it will work."
The America dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster, Inc. named "austerity," defined as enforced or extreme economy, as the top word for 2010, based on the volume of user lookups at its website. "Pragmatic," relating to matters of facts or practical affairs, came in second.
Committee members are expected to meet again July 7 to choose the ideas they will pursue.
The committee, tasked with restructuring city government to ensure financial stability, has until September to develop several of the ideas before presenting them to the council.
"It's a wonderful start," Mayor Bill Ross said, following the hour-long meeting. "The brain-storming session went well."
Ross said he was also pleased to see several citizens participate in the process. Some gave their ideas directly to Ross while others attended the meeting Thursday.
"This is a city-wide concern, and all input we can get, the better off we'll be," he said.
The ideas range from simple ways to reduce energy costs to far-reaching use of technology to communicate with citizens and facilitate services, such as electronic delivery and payments of utility bills.
The large number and wide variety of ideas is a "testimony" to the strengths of committee members, who represent a cross-section of the community, said Cara Carper, UW-Extension community resources development agent. Carper has been asked to participate as a guide and facilitator for the committee as it moves through the process of choosing ideas to research and develop.
"The spadework (research) will translate to cost savings," Ross said.
Several of the ideas may be unpopular, like delaying capital projects, raising user fees, or re-implementing special assessments, according to City Administrator Phil Rath.
"But the ideas are out there," he said, "and this is the time to put them on the list."
Some ideas, like improving the parking ramp structure and televising council meetings, have been around for a time, while others, such as selling off a park or selling rights to advertise on city property, drew interest from some committee members.
"There has to be change in culture," Ross said. "You hear this word, austerity, all the time. Austerity, austerity, austerity. If we all buy into it, I think it will work."
The America dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster, Inc. named "austerity," defined as enforced or extreme economy, as the top word for 2010, based on the volume of user lookups at its website. "Pragmatic," relating to matters of facts or practical affairs, came in second.
Committee members are expected to meet again July 7 to choose the ideas they will pursue.