Agenda - Council - 08/26/2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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by Council. As changes in the make-up of the property mixes may need to be made the Master . Plan will need to be amended and that will require a public process and re-writes to the plan. There are several transportation projects that the Community Development staff is involved in and will continue to be involved in throughout the next several years. Some of them, most notably the Northstar rail station, will be ramping up much sooner than the others and have more immediate staffing needs. This position is critical to the success of the HRA and the ability to implement the Master Housing Plan adopted in February of 2008. The housing goals are particularly important in considering the vacant planner position. This position is supposed to assist the HRA and 50% of the cost of the position is funded by the HRA levy. In addition to the specific performance points listed, there are a number of other housing related issues that we have been asked to explore. Among those are first time homebuyer programs and what other communities are doing; looking at ways to address the foreclosure issues throughout the community; down payment assistance; housing rehabilitation; what to do about neighborhood associations who are unable to maintain their joint property and private streets, etc. There are a number of emerging housing issues facing the community and the lack of resources that come with the filling of this planning position may render the City incapable of addressing many of those issues in a timely manner. . Can the duties be re-engineered or automated? Please explain. The duties have been as automated as they can. Our applications are available on the City's website, but everything still has to be evaluated by an actual person; and the applicant still wants to meet with staff to discuss options and ask questions. This aspect could not be automated and the residents place a value on that personal interaction. Planning in a growing community is essential. Planners in Ramsey process 75+requests per year for residential subdivisions, commercial site plans (essential elements to the City's financial activities), conditional use permits, variances, and other requests from property owners. Additionally, we also process 30-45 sign permits and 65+ zoning permits annually. Planners ensure that roads, rights-of-way, cul-de-sacs, sidewalks, and driveways/accesses are sized and placed properly to ensure adequate delivery of safety services. Planners respond to requests from City Council for City Code changes that would improve Ramsey, including architectural standards, sign regulations, subdivision design standards, and building regulations. Ordinance updates are one item that staff has spent a considerable amount of time on. Staff spent more than 100 hours on the off-street parking issue and approximately 40 hours on the cell tower changes. These are necessary duties that must be performed and they are incredibly time consuming. . . Can the duties be reassigned temporarily or permanently? Please explain. In an effort to compensate for the vacant position, the responsibilities for the associate planner have been temporarily reassigned. On a short term basis, this has worked, but I do not believe this to be a viable long-term solution. The Associate Planner, the Assistant CD Director and I have taken on the responsibility for the day-to-day activities of the Associate Planner. The Environmental Coordinator has been on FML, so those duties are also being shared among the staff. The Economic Development Coordinator has been helping out with tree and sod inspections, but he does not have any of the training to do even the most remedial planning approvals. Additionally, he has picked up most of the property acquisition activities for Hwy 10 and has worked closely with Police Department on the abatement activities. We are working on an expansion of this position's duties with regard to marketing and retail/commercial development. It would be almost impossible for this position to pick up any additional duties that were not economic development related. It is not in the Environmental Coordinator's job description to conduct any planning related work and accommodating it means his other work must be delayed. This position is entirely funding -115-