Laserfiche WebLink
Ms. Riganti stated that staff is working with the Brighton Agency to assist them in rolling out <br />marketing materials that target specific communities and populations with the goal of increasing <br />memberships at Centennial Commons. <br /> <br /> <br /> Review and improve City’s development subsidy policies <br />Ms. Riganti stated that at some point they would be coming to City Council for guidance on how to <br />improve these policies. <br /> <br />BUDGET CHALLENGES <br /> <br /> Aging facilities <br />Ms. Riganti stated that currently the department is in a maintenance holding pattern until such time <br />additional guidance is provided through planning documents. <br /> <br />BUDGET EXPENDITURES <br />Ms. Riganti stated that the Department is proposing an increase of 4 percent in budget <br />expenditures, which is primarily due to the 2 percent increase in salaries. <br /> <br />Significant Changes <br /> <br /> Community Development budget increases 2 percent due to salaries <br /> <br /> Maintenance Contracts increase 235 percent <br />Ms. Riganti stated that the huge increase for maintenance contracts is due to the transfer of all IT <br />functions to each individual department’s budget where it is used. She stated that the increase <br />also reflects some IT-related maintenance for the online permitting system. <br /> <br /> <br /> Demolition and board-up increases 100 percent; (previously these funds were not allocated <br />to the Department’s budget) <br />Ms. Riganti stated that once a property is deemed feasible for demolition a lien is placed on the <br />property, however the City is not recovering the cost for demolition and board-up. <br /> <br /> <br /> Memberships/Certifications increases 34 percent due to an increase in the number pf <br />inspectors who have now become certified <br />Mayor Welsch asked Ms. Riganti for an explanation of the $2,000 part-time and temporary <br />expenditure? Ms. Riganti stated that this expenditure is for the continuation of a partnership with <br />an agency previously called the Judevine Center which provides the City with a part-time employee <br />to assist in clerical work. <br /> <br />Mr. Glickert asked Ms. Riganti for the status of multi-discipline inspectors? Ms. Riganti stated that <br />currently there are five multi-discipline inspectors who are identified on the organizational chart <br />however their goal is to cross-train all inspectors. Mr. Glickert then asked Ms. Riganti if she could <br />provide Council with an estimate for the number of properties that were demolished last year and <br />the number predicted for FY15. Ms. Riganti stated that she could provide Mr. Glickert with the <br />actual number later, but typically the City does not demolish more than five per year. She stated <br />that currently there are a number of properties that are in various stages of citation, but the hope is <br />that they do not reach the demolition stage. She stated that once a property reaches the point of <br />demotion, it creates what they refer to as “broken tooth”, a derelict home that sits in the middle of a <br />sustainable neighborhood. So the goal is always to get these properties back to a livable condition, <br />unless there is a health-safety issue. <br /> <br />PROGRAMS <br />Facilities <br />Ms. Riganti stated that there were no significant increases to the budget, although there were some <br />emergency projects along the lines of a sewer water alignment and boiler replacement. She stated <br />that staff is constantly seeking grants to preserve the historical integrity of City Hall while making <br />cosmetic and maintenance improvements. <br /> <br />