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October 28, 2015 <br /> the Green Lantern property in Silver Lake, and replace the turf on two <br /> soccer fields at Kasch Park. <br /> We are also on track to present the comprehensive plan update for our <br /> parks, recreation and open spaces to Council for approval next spring. <br /> The plan ensures that the City will continue to be eligible for state <br /> recreation and conservation office funding for park projects. <br /> INCREASING EFFICIENCIES <br /> 2015 marks the first full year of changes that came out of our structural <br /> deficit review in 2014. We are already seeing the positive effects of the <br /> expense cuts and revenue adjustments approved by Council last summer. <br /> For instance, the newly established Transportation Benefit District has <br /> enabled us to meet the growing costs of funding our street maintenance <br /> program — a figure that continues to rise as we adapt to new regulatory <br /> requirements and increased material costs, and address the backlog from <br /> the recession. <br /> With Council's approval, we brought our fees and rates in line with similar <br /> jurisdictions, including our utility taxes, planning and traffic mitigation fees <br /> and business licenses. These adjustments have provided much needed <br /> revenue to ensure we can continue to provide the services our citizens <br /> and businesses rely upon. <br /> On the expense side, we cut 17 budgeted positions. We saved costs by <br /> eliminating the Silver Lake life guard positions and the library outreach <br /> program, executing a jail contract with Yakima, establishing a job order <br /> contracting program and expanding electronic home detention in lieu of <br /> jail time for low-risk offenders. <br /> Our work is not done, and we remain focused on closing our ongoing <br /> structural deficit. We continue to look for efficiencies in every area of our <br /> operations, whether it's replacing streetlights with LED bulbs to reduce <br /> costs, or using our new website to provide more services electronically. <br /> We are also taking a closer look at our largest and most complex <br /> departments, beginning with Everett Transit this past spring. As a result of <br /> the transit peer review, the department has already begun implementing <br /> changes, including contracting with Community Transit to provide trip <br /> 347 <br />