FY2005 Budget Request for Additional Planner
Planning Services Department
City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
(563) 589-4210 office
(563) 589-4221 fax
(563) 690-6678 TDD
P lannin g@cityofdubuque.org
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February 24, 2004
The Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of Dubuque
50 W. 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
RE: FYO5 Budget Request for Additional Planner
Dear Mayor and City Council Members:
The Historic Preservation Commission supports the Fiscal Year 2005 budget
improvement request for an additional planner in the Planning Services Department.
The Historic Preservation Commission has made this budget request for the last four
years because during that time, the Planning Services staff has provided support for
the Historic Preservation Commission and three other boards without an increase in
staff. During this period, the Historic Preservation Commission also has initiated
several new preservation programs at the City Council's direction. As a result, the staff
support for the other commissions assigned to the Planning Services Department has
been reduced significantly.
Historic preservation is an economic tool that helps spur downtown and neighborhood
revitalization. Planned and managed growth, an updated Zoning Ordinance, and adequate
staff support for City Boards and Commissions are also important to accomplishing the City
. Council's vision for this community. We ask that you budget the necessary funds for an
additional planner to accomplish these goals.
Sincerely,
04t4 ~
Christopher Wand, Chairperson
Historic Preservation Commission
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Planning Services Department
City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
(563) 589-4210 office
(563) 589-4221 fax
(563) 690-6678 TDD
P lanning@cityofdubuque.org
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February 20, 2004
The Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of Dubuque
50 W. 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
RE: FYO5 Budget Request for Additional Planner
Dear Mayor and City Council Members:
The Long Range Planning Advisory Commission supports the Fiscal Year 2005 budget
improvement request for an additional planner in the Planning Services Department.
The City Council's Policy Agenda for 2003-2005 includes 19 priorities. The Planning
Services Department has the lead or a supporting role in 8 of these priorities:
. Southwest Arterial: Funding, Land Acquisition
. Storm water Projects: Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project
. Zoning Ordinance: Update
. Annexation Policy: Study, Direction;
Annexation 700 Acres West End - Decision, Action
. Riverfront/Port of Dubuque
. Downtown Màster Plan: Completion
. State Grants
. Riverfront Master Plan: Implementation
With the City Council's continuing emphasis on city planning, we believe that the City
Council should provide the resources needed to accomplish these priorities. We
believe that this requires an additional planner.
The Long Range Planning Advisory Commission was pleased that the City Council
allocated funding last year for the Zoning Ordinance Update, a Top Priority on your
Policy Agenda for 2003-2005. The Long Range Planning Advisory Commission, the
Zoning Advisory Commission, and the Zoning Board of Adjustment all supported this
budget request last year. The fact that the Planning Services Department has been
unable to initiate this update is indicative of the need for additional staff resources.
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Planning Services Department
City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
(563) 589-4210 office
(563) 589-4221 fax
(563) 690-6678 TDD
P lanning@cityofdubuque.org
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February 20, 2004
The Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of Dubuque
50 W. 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
RE: FYO5 Budget Request for Additional Planner
Dear Mayor and City Council Members:
The Zoning Board of Adjustment supports the Fiscal Year 2005 budget improvement
request for an additional planner in the Planning Services Department.
In the last several years, the Planning Services staff has had to provide support for a
fourth Commission, the Historic Preservation Commission, without an increase in staff.
As a result, the staff support for the Board of Adjustment has been reduced.
The Zoning Board of Adjustment has felt the effects of this reduced level of staff support.
The amount and quality of the information provided with the staff reports has diminished.
We have seen a higher frequency of errors and omissions in the staff reports. We think
that this negatively affects the level of customer service received by the Board, the
applicants and the citizens that attend our meetings.
We believe that all four boards that are supported by the Planning Services Department
should have an adequate level of staff. We do not believe that the current staff support is
at this level. We ask that you budget the funds for an additional planner to meet the needs
of these four boards.
~~,~
Michael Ruden, Chairperson
Zoning Board of Adjustment
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