AGENDA #1

March 1, 2002

Planning Department

Initial Budget Presentation to the Mayor and Town Council

2002-2003

I.          Mission Statement

The primary mission of the Planning Department is to facilitate long-term planning for Chapel Hill’s future, along with management of growth and development, while creating and maintaining mechanisms for meaningful citizen involvement in these processes. 

II.         Brief Services Description

             The key services provided by the department fall into two categories:  Current Development, and Long Range Planning.  Key objectives for the 2002-03 year are:

• Manage the Development Review, Approval, and Permitting Process

• Complete the revision of Chapel Hill’s Development Ordinance

• Maintain and Amend the Development Ordinance and Zoning Map

• Provide Long-range Planning Services - - Comprehensive Plan, Transportation Planning, Annexation, Capital Improvements Program, Special Studies

• Administer Housing Programs, Manage funds provided by the Community Development Block Grant Program

• Provide Staff Support to 7 Town Advisory Boards, along with additional Committees and Task Forces

• Provide Citizen Information

III.       Departmental Revenue Estimates

             The main revenue source is development application fees.  A small amount of funds (estimated $1,000 for the current fiscal year) is generated by sales of documents.  The revenue stream is unpredictable, because there is no way to accurately project what applications might be submitted to the Town, and when.   Revenue figures follow:

REVENUE SOURCE	Actual 2000-2001 Revenues	2001-2002 Budgeted Revenues	Estimated 2001-2002 Revenues	Estimated Revenues For 2002-2003	% Increase (Decrease) from Original Budget
Application Fees (& document sales)	382,399	300,000	300,000	324,000	7 %

IV.       Departmental Base Budget Cost Estimates

The main expenditure in the Planning Department’s budget is the set of expenses related to Personnel.  Planning activities are very staff-intensive. Approximately 92% of the Department’s budget is for personnel salaries and benefits.  Of the remainder, a third is for copying and computers, and another third for printing/advertising/postage/telephone.  Expenditure figures follow:

CATEGORY	2001-2002 Original Budget	2001-2002 Revised Budget	2001-2002 Estimated	2002-2003 Requested	% Increase (Decrease) from Original Budget
Personnel	832,501	768,085	763,363	856,004	2.8%
Operations	77,983	316,829	319,784	79,042	1.4 %
Capital Equipment	0	0	0	0	- -
TOTAL	910,484	1,084,914	1,083,147	935,046	2.7%

V.        Key Programs or Services that are Going Well

We believe that all programs and services are going well.  In addition to ongoing work of reviewing development applications, issuing permits, staffing advisory boards, managing the Community Development Block Grant Program and related housing programs, managing the annexation process, and work on transportation planning processes, major special projects include:

· Development Ordinance Revision

· Downtown Workshops and Model

· University Development Plan

· Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance

VI.       Key Programs or Services that Could be Improved

Several projects are behind schedule, due to work on other priority projects identified by the Town Council.  These include work on the 2002 Data Book and the first of what is to be an annual Growth Management Report.

We believe that there is always room for improvement in citizen involvement efforts.  We are continuing to increase our efforts to provide information to citizens, including more extensive use of the internet and email correspondence.  We observe that many additional outreach efforts result in more citizen interest and inquiry, with accompanying requests for additional outreach mechanisms.   We welcome this additional interest and intend to continue to increase information efforts.

VII.      Proposed Additions or Reductions

We do not propose new services or budget additions for the Planning Department for 2002-03 program year.

Because of the extreme budget constraints this year, all Department Heads are preparing recommended reductions for consideration by the Manager.