City Administrator’s Report

June 2006

The Planning Commission commenced work on the City Comprehensive Plan update.  If you have issues you want addressed, now is time to be heard.  Additionally, the Planning Commission continued debate on the Shoreline Master Plan due to additional requirements from DOE.

Administration has been conducting a study on land-use application fees charged by other cities.  I included the result of the study, included in tonight’s materials, for your use.  I will recommend that our land-use application fees be increased to cover our costs knowing this will be a process that will generate discussion.  Additionally, I recommend that we adopt impact fees, paid by building permit applicants, to apply to street, fire, park, and police departments.  All these departments are impacted by growth and limited in their ability to provide services since their income is largely derived from property taxes.

Nuisance complaints have been overwhelming this year.  I am seeking a better way to resolve some of these complaints.  I typically contact the offender or subject of the complaint and ask for their voluntary compliance.  If this is not practical, I send a letter to the subject, addressing the complaint, citing the ordinances involved, and asking for compliance within two weeks.  The majority complies quickly and all is well.  Many do not and I have to use City forces to perform the task followed by collection procedures.  Recently I read where some jurisdictions are using a unique but ancient method to gain compliance from difficult offenders.  It is a practice known as “Shaming”.  Would this method be something you would endorse?

The Library upgrade project began this morning.  The Library will be closed for business for a couple of weeks while the books are in storage.  We’ll continue to receive book returns.

The City administration and Staff recently began work on the Community Emergency Plan.  This will include public input in the near future and is required by the State and FEMA.

The City has settled with property owners in its condemnation process on Segment C.  Design will be completed soon and the project will be advertised for bid this fall.

A recent power outage in our City was caused by a malfunctioning switch mechanism likely due to its advanced age, 60 years.  We have another ordered and expect to have it within two months.  This event brings to mind a suggestion to all whose livelihood depends critically on backup power and communication systems: install a backup power system as soon as possible.  A good system will likely cost much less than what you may incur from an outage such as we just experienced.  No utility can guarantee 100% service delivery and quality.

Due to technical needs on short plats, utility assistance, and administrative procedures, I am requesting council approval of $5,000 to cover the costs for engineering support from Welch Comer Engineering.  The City cannot afford a staff engineer so we must solicit this from outside.  Approved

To meet travel re-imbursement costs for various out-of-town meetings and funding trips for the Mayor and City Administrator, I am requesting council approval for $2,000-Mayor and $3,000-Administrator for the remainder of 2006.  We did not anticipate the extent or cost of travel during budgeting last year.  Approved

The pool is open and doing very well.  We have received many compliments on our fantastic program and staff.

Work will start within a few weeks on the Barbour Sports Complex Tennis Courts.  We received several grants and other monetary aid from various sources largely through the hard work of Denise Smith and her committee.  Pending is whether the City may contribute with in-kind labor and machinery.  I’ve included a copy of a draft budget for your study.