08-11-2010 Council Minutes (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION August 11, 2010 APPROVED 45 Ms. McCann confirmed that the city is moving in the right direction (to the best value), in 46 the same way as other cities she works with. The council should expect to see more L 47 information coming with renewal discussions in September. Finance Director Rolek 48 added that staff intends to continue to challenge the market in order to get the best deal 49 for the city. 50 2. Police Department Interim Reorganization (postponed at council mtg of 7- 51 26-10)—Acting Police Chief Strege explained that the Police Department is requesting 52 that the council consider making an investment in the department by increasing the 53 schedule for the Community Relations Coordinator position from 3/4 to full time. 54 Historically the department has greatly increased its volunteer element and Ms. Karen 55 Anderson, the Community Relations Coordinator, has played a key role in that increase. 56 Ms. Anderson has served in the position since 2004 and in that period there has been a 57 600% increase in volunteer services. He outlined the enhancement those services bring to 58 the department. The volunteer involvement is continuing to grow and the department 59 would like to therefore increase Ms. Anderson's position to full time. He explained how 60 the increase could be funded (there is unexpected military training and a future 61 deployment that would more than fund the change for this year). 62 Ms. Anderson told the council that the potential in volunteer services is huge and it really 63 continues to grow. She works hard to coordinate the volunteer activities and that 64 coordination is an important element in keeping their work focused and put to the best 65 use. Currently she is working with the volunteers to form a 501 c(3)non-profit that can 66 do fund raising. The volunteer element has become a constant and important presence 67 within the police force. 68 69 The council noted that the budget has been a difficult situation with layoffs and other 70 sacrifices last year and more uncertainty in the future. While they recognize the great 71 value of the volunteer program and Ms. Anderson's contribution, all requests should be 72 considered within the scope of the 2011 budget. The funding may be available for this 73 year but a change to the position must be considered a permanent expense. There was a 74 suggestion to see if other cities would perhaps be interested in purchasing Ms. 75 Anderson's services (as a revenue source). 76 77 3. Comprehensive Plan Review - Community Development Director Grochala 78 recalled council direction of the Comprehensive Plan (the Plan) in June to make some 79 changes to the land use plan; there was a request to look at modifications to the housing 80 program (growth management statement regarding annual average). There was concern 81 that a number of units is established but, if those are not constructed, how would they be 82 carried forward. New language is proposed that attempts to cap and spread by having a 83 yearly cap and noting that unallocated units at the end of the five year phase would be 84 moved into the new five year period, spread over those years on an even basis. The 85 market will dictate when development happens but the language really deals with how the 86 city considers those numbers when the development doesn't occur. 87 2