As city council members and city staff have discovered in recent weeks, there is no clear definition.

In the aftermath of the Nov. 2 election where a proposed utility users' tax measure was resoundingly defeated, there is some urgency in finding out the definition of a minimum services city.

In recent weeks, the issue has come up for discussion at both finance commission and city council meetings.

"As we absorb the lessons of the election, we also have to try to maintain city services at the current level," said Dave Anderson, the city manager. "We have to live within our means, return to our roots fiscally and define what a minimum services city is."

Anderson said that the definition would help in finding the scope and duties of the city. "It will help us decide on how to basically conduct the business of the city."

Anderson said in a finance commission meeting on Nov. 15 that once the parameters of a minimum services city have been determined, it would be much easier to allocate resources. "Otherwise chance and circumstance might determine what we cut," he said.

The finance commission has already been roped in to help the city council define the nature of a minimum services city. At a council meeting on Nov. 17, finance commissioner Dick Allen offered the commission's help in the matter.

Over the next few months, the process will gather momentum. A definition is likely to be decided on when the city council has its annual retreat in February. This is also when the city might decide on future cutbacks.

"We have to do what we can with the money we have got," Anderson said.

Councilman Norman Kline said that it had become absolutely necessary to define the term because the amount of revenue the city receives isn't enough to pay for all the services the city currently provides including safety, public works, public planning, economic development and recreation.