Title
Consider/Discuss/Act on an Ordinance Amending the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Annual Budget to Fund One Additional Planner I Position
Summary
MEETING DATE: April 2, 2013
DEPARTMENT: Planning
CONTACT: Michael Quint, Director of Planning
Rodney Rhodes, Chief Financial Officer
Rob Daake, P.E., Deputy City Manager
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
• Staff recommends that the City Council approve the proposed ordinance amending the FY12-13 Annual Budget to fund one additional Planner I position.
ITEM SUMMARY:
• The Planning Department is requesting that the City Council approve an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Annual Budget which will fund one additional Planner I position.
• The addition of this Planner I position will create workload capacity within the department which will aide in the expeditious processing of development applications; updating, creation, and manipulation of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data and maps; as well as the completion of various current and forthcoming long range initiatives including, but not limited to the tasks proposed as part of the City Council’s 2013 Strategic Plan.
• Currently, the Planning Department has three Planner I positions and two Planner II positions. The Planning Department had six Planner positions prior to FY2010-2011, when a frozen position was eliminated. The addition of another Planner I position will return our Planner staffing levels to their prior levels.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• Economic conditions are improving and development activity is steadily increasing:
o Planning Department Development Applications (October - February):
§ FY12-13: 101
§ FY11-12: 93
§ FY10-11: 68
o New Single Family Residential Lots Filed (October - February):
§ This data set is an important factor in predicting future growth.
§ FY12-13: 580
§ FY11-12: 88
§ FY10-11: 55
o Single Family Residential Building Permit Applications (October 1 - March 20):
§ FY12-13: 755
§ FY11-12: 514
§ FY10-11: 478
o Single Family Residential Permit Valuation (October 1 - March 20):
§ FY12-13: $253,081,677
§ FY11-12: $177,658,856
§ FY10-11: $156,314,255
• Comprehensive Planning efforts are increasing:
o Town Center Study Initiative
o Northwest Sector Study
o State Highway 5 Corridor Study
o 5-Year Impact Fee Ordinance Update
o Brownfields Program
o 2013 Strategic Plan Tasks:
§ US 75 Corridor Study
§ Sam Rayburn Tollway Corridor Study
§ Airport Drive Corridor Study
§ Cotton Mill Development Vision
§ Flour Mill Development Vision
§ Downtown City-Owned Property Redevelopment Strategy (Downtown RFP)
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS:
• None.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY:
• Position cost for the remainder of FY12-13: $39,101
o Salary + Benefits: $35,000
o Computer Hardware: $2,301
o Communications (Telephone & Internet): $600
o Travel/Training: $900
o Associations: $300
• Annual recurring cost for future fiscal year budgets: $71,900
o Salary + Benefits: $70,000
o Communications (Telephone & Internet): $700
o Travel/Training: $900
o Associations: $300
• The funding of this additional position will result in an increase in expenditures from and a decrease in fund balance within the City’s General Fund.
BOARD OR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
• None.