03-28-2016 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION March 7, 2016 DRAFT 4 134 The mayor suggested again that a volunteer be involved and also that staff look at ways to 135 make the program more efficient. Director Swenson explained the need to keep the 136 program legitimate at state level view and the need to use staff. The mayor said he is 137 still looking for ways to deal with the program increases without additional staff (i.e. 138 write a computer program, efficiency through automation) and also his review indicates 139 that there is a quarter percent increase in activity versus a half-time person requested. 140 Director Swenson indicated that he isn’t aware of any automation available; he thinks that 141 adequate staffing is necessary. 142 143 Council Member Rafferty indicated that his preference, if additional staffing is done, 144 would be a half time CSO because of the training it offers. Finance Director Cotton 145 added that bringing the program into the administrative area would require some 146 additional costs in training and logistics. Council Member Manthey suggested that the 147 duties could be divided among all of the city’s CSOs. 148 149 If the council concurs in the option of adding a CSO position, Director Swenson said staff 150 would return to council before hiring. The mayor said he’d like to look at the automation 151 option before bringing on a position; if he’s satisfied that review is complete, he could 152 support the additional position but it would have to be tied to the program staying at a 153 certain level of participation. Director Swenson indicated that, if no additional staffing is 154 authorized presently, the program will have to be scaled back in the meantime because 155 there is not staff to handle the higher level. Council Member Rafferty asked that the 156 council continue to receive information on increases in the program, to see if the 157 estimates are accurate. 158 159 The council will hear back on the matter at the next work session in three weeks. 160 161 4. 35E Distribution Center Project – Community Development Director Grochala 162 updated the council on a preliminary proposal to build a large distribution facility on the 163 I35E corridor (Main Street and Cedar Street). The proposal was reviewed by the 164 Planning and Zoning Board because it includes some trailer storage that isn’t specifically 165 allowed under the city’s zoning code. The Board suggested an amendment to the city 166 regulations that would allow the trailer parking in certain areas only. The overall project 167 is $18 - $22 million in value and would have to include some road construction (21st 168 Avenue). Mr. Grochala said he anticipates that the proposal will include a request for 169 assistance in the form of tax increment financing to the project so general information on 170 that process is included in the written report. He explained the terms of a tax increment 171 economic development district that would apply. He noted that the capture of increased 172 tax increment for project costs includes taxes that would otherwise go to the school 173 district and the county. The developer would have to meet a “but for” test in order to 174 qualify for tax increment financing. 175 176 The mayor asked about transportation and capacity. Community Development Director 177 Grochala explained the daily projection of 40 trucks in and 60 trucks out. As far as 178