Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Memorandum
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TO: Mayor and Councilors
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Date: 8/28/2007 12:00:00 AM
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TO: Mayor and Councilors
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Date:
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Created:
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8/20/2007 4:10:00 PM
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THRU: Isaiah Hugley, City Manager
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FROM: Rick Jones, AICP, Planning Director
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Subject: Planning Department's Proposed Fee Increases
In February, 2007, the Planning Department submitted its Strategic Action Plan
which outlined the department's future needs and objectives. One of the
strategic goals called for the maintaining of a professional staff, which would
require the hiring of additional planning personnel. As part of its proposed
budget for fiscal year 2008, three additional planning positions were proposed,
mainly to help address the potential impact of BRAC and other developments on
the community. Realizing that at this time the General Fund could not support
this request, the department proposed increasing certain fees to help pay for
these positions.
As the attached proposed fee schedule shows, the only fee presently being
charged is for rezoning applications. All other items are being performed at
the city's cost. The revenue generated from these fees would provide for the
hiring of this additional personnel, while offsetting the cost of development
review. The collection of these funds would then be placed in a dedicated
account for the sole purpose of funding these positions. As with other
accounts of this type, the hiring of new staff members would only occur when
the funding is made available.
Staff has already had direct conversation with the Greater Columbus Home
Builders Association concerning these proposed fee increases. Attached is a
copy of the letter from the organization in support of this action. The
Planning Department is proposing the adoption of these fees by Council and an
implementation date of October 1, 2007.