Transmittal Letter

2005 Planning Department Budget Request

To:      Mayor and City Commissioners                                                               May 7, 2004

City Manager and Assistant City Managers

The biggest challenge any Planning Department faces is finding an acceptable balance between time spent addressing current planning issues and the time needed to address long range planning issues.  Instrumental in meeting this challenge is the professional development of staff in both areas of planning.  Training and professional development for both staff and the advisory bodies we work with – Planning Commission, Historic Resources Commission, and Board of Zoning Appeals – is essential to increase performance on all levels.  In addition to training and development, a “public education” program needs to begin this year, and become a continual program element, to support the implementation of new codes and policies.  This program will be directed to other city staff, community leaders and citizens.  This has been a “to do” element on staff’s list of projects for several years.   Updating codes and comprehensive plans is good.  It is what progressive communities do.  However, implementation and follow through are just as important to assure community understanding and success. In the case of new codes and revisions to the comprehensive plans, the follow through needed is the dissemination of what is new and what has changed to our clients, the general public, new businesses and industries (through the Chamber) and other city/ county personnel in a clear, concise and understandable format.

2005 Budget changes

The Planning Department budget is predominately salaries and personnel related costs. Eighty-four percent (84%) of the budget goes to salaries, overtime, part-time and fringe benefits. As in the past two years, there is no request (0%) for Capital Outlay. Reducing Commodities has been a departmental goal. Last year, 31% of the budget in this line item was cut. For 2005, a .9% reduction is proposed.  Contractual Services is the only category that a modest increase (1%) is requested, which amounts to $1,480.  This increase is actually more of a request to restore funding that was cut from professional development last year. Because this is a priority for the department, six other areas (line items) in this category have been recommended for reductions from $50 to $399.  The proposed 2005 budget request is less than .004 above the approved 2004 department budget.

Program Improvement Packages  

There are no Program Improvement Package requests for 2005. Staff focus will continue to be on the completion of existing projects. Projects nearing completion in 2004 that should be completed in 2005 are: the five year update to HORIZON 2020, the adoption of new zoning and subdivision codes; the adoption of new county zoning regulations and new county floodplain regulations;  the adoption of a Comprehensive Historic Preservation Plan for Douglas County, the implementation of policies in T2025 related to Traffic Impact Studies and Access Management standards, and the completion of area and neighborhood plans that were  begun several years ago but delayed for additional information [SE Area Plan and North of North Street Plan].

Thank you for the opportunity to present the proposed budget & major issues the Planning Department faces now and into 2005.

Respectfully,

Linda M. Finger

Planning Director

c. Craig Weinaug, County Administrator