Committee to recruit associate planner, consider contracting senior-level work and new fee structure

The Community Development Committee on the evening of the meeting reviewed staffing needs for the Community Development Department and moved to begin recruitment for a planner while exploring contracting and fee changes to cover senior-level work.

Director Davis told the committee the department currently has a vacant senior planner post but has been operating with an associate planner in that slot because "we did 45 total permits last year, and so far we're at 41 this year," and many 2025 permits are smaller mechanical or over-the-counter reviews. Davis added, "Currently, I don't think there's enough work to justify a senior planner position," while noting that larger projects arriving in the coming years could change that assessment.

Consultant Drew Boutte presented cost ranges for planning positions, saying the city has "a range of basically a $118,000 for a planning technician all the way up to a $162,000 for a senior planner" (wages and benefits included). Boutte outlined three funding approaches: enhance revenues, develop economically, or optimize levels of service, and previewed a comprehensive fee study to be presented in January–February that would evaluate charging for land-use applications, environmental reviews and similar fees to support bringing more planning work in house.

Council members pressed both sides of the tradeoff. Council member Johnson and others argued that maintaining in-house staff preserves institutional knowledge and consistency in code application; Davis and council member Rotten discussed contracting out some high-level, episodic work and using limited-term senior-planner hires for large, temporary projects. City Administrator Chambliss told the committee recruitment will begin mid-December and run through mid-January with the intention of finding a suitable candidate.

Davis also said the department is considering posting separate listings depending on qualifications rather than a single posting for two job titles, and confirmed planners are represented under the Teamsters collective-bargaining agreement. The committee did not take a formal vote to change staffing levels that evening but directed staff to proceed with recruitment planning and to return with details, including the results of the forthcoming fee study.

Next steps: staff will post and begin recruitment mid-December, pursue the comprehensive fee study and return to council with recommendations on whether to hire in-house or use consultants for senior-level work. The meeting adjourned at 06:41.