In a recent government meeting, officials discussed the pressing need to fill a city planner position to manage an anticipated influx of development inquiries and zoning requests. The conversation highlighted the challenges faced by the current staff, who are overwhelmed with daily zoning questions while also managing significant development projects.

One official noted that the city has seen a consistent demand for planner positions, indicating a competitive job market. The discussion revealed that the city has been carrying an unused budget allocation of approximately $12,000 for scanning services aimed at digitizing property files. This initiative is intended to enhance public access to important documents, such as surveys, which currently require residents to contact city hall for information.

The proposed 2025 budget reflects a significant reduction in professional service fees, dropping from $23,700 to $4,700, primarily due to the anticipated use of a private company for bulk scanning. However, officials acknowledged that while outsourcing could expedite the scanning process, an in-house position is still necessary to manage and sort the documents effectively.

Concerns were raised about the efficiency of the current planning operations, particularly with the potential for 450 to 475 new housing units to come online in the next five years. The need for a dedicated city planner was emphasized to ensure timely responses to development inquiries and to alleviate the burden on existing staff.

Despite some skepticism regarding the necessity of hiring a new planner, several officials expressed a shift in perspective, recognizing the growing demands on the planning department. The discussion concluded with a consensus on the importance of preparing for future developments and ensuring that the city can adequately respond to the needs of its residents and developers.