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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982-11-10 Special Minutes - Budget HearingNovember 10, 1982 TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL 7:00 P.M. BUDGET HEARING CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL OF COUNCIL MEMBERS DISCUSSION Pages 16, 17, 18 of Prel. Budget. ADJOURNMENT 9:00 P.M. MINUTES City Hall Conference Room #3 Chairman Phelps called the Budget Hearing Meeting to order in the absence of Council President Bohrer. EDGAR D. BAUCH, JOE H. DUFFIE, (Chairman) DORIS PHELPS. Brad Collins, Planning Director, said priorities have been modified to reflect current resources and work item accomplishments. The 1983 priorities also reflect Council retreat goals. Budget 3A is 1982 funding level in 1983 dollars and includes one full time and two extra labor positions as shifted from employees to contract professional services. The contracted services are expected to be used primarily for plan checking and inspection of building development. There is no requirement to expend the funds, except as development activity warrants. The projected expenditures are based on revenue fees which can be expected if the 1979 UBC rates are charged. Budget 3B shows a 20% decrease in funding from the 1982 budget. The essential cuts are in overtime and contract professional services that effectively reduce the City's building services to one full -time employee with supervisory, clerical, and struc- tural plan check support. The main short term impact would be at least a doubling of response time assuming that one staff person could devote no more than half -time to plan checks vs. field inspections. Response time would be lengthened from very good (almost immediate attention) to something less than that. This impact would likely cause an increase in development costs and thus complaints. The long term impact may not be too great if development activity in 1983 were to remain low. Budget 3C includes the same new program and personnel from the 1982 Supplemental Budget. An Urban Form /Design Study is recommended in anticipation of a second stage of development that would implement the new zoning code. A third planner is recommended as cost effective in reducing development processing costs to the private sector as well as increasing tax revenues far beyond the expense of the salary. The growing concern of municipal liability in land use decisions also argues strongly aginst costly mistakes due to understaffing and subsequent review errors. A part -time design specialist would compare favorably with expenses incurred for outside graphics assistance as well. Council Members present discussed the proposed Planning Department budget with Planning Director Brad Collins. The meeting was recessed until Tuesday, November 16, 1982 at 7:00 p.m. Doris Phelps, Chairman Norma Booher, Recording Secretary