The City of Warren Planning Department presented its draft fiscal-year 2026–27 budget to the Planning Commission on Dec. 1, outlining staffing requests, capital needs and program priorities.

Planning Director (Mister Wirth) summarized the draft: proposed hires include two Planner I positions and an Assistant Planner/GIS specialist; planned capital requests include a departmental vehicle for site visits and a replacement copier/printer; contractual services include zoning-map consultants and ESRI subscriptions; and projected program work includes a zoning-ordinance rewrite, active mobility and green-space initiatives, and further work on a climate action plan RFP. Wirth said the draft covers July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, and the commission is expected to vote on a recommendation to the mayor and council before the end of the calendar year.

Commissioners asked for clarifications: whether the vehicle would be for staff only (Wirth said yes, but commissioners could ride along for joint meetings), timing for hiring (one office assistant starts Dec. 12), and whether the commission should request a larger meeting allowance for commissioners who attend special meetings at short notice. Commissioner Doussay and others suggested the commission discuss and possibly propose an increase to the $75 meeting allowance; Commissioner Doussay also proposed allocating some budget for commissioners to attend city meetings called by the mayor or council.

The commission voted to receive and file the budget draft. Commissioners were asked to return suggested amendments at the next meeting so the commission can vote formally and forward a recommendation to the mayor and council by the bylaws’ timetable.