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Council reviews staffing, vehicles and software costs across building, IT and animal-control budgets
Summary
Directors outlined requests: building inspections need staff and two pickup trucks for project growth; animal control seeks three new vehicles and equipment; IT seeks $426,568 in recurring software maintenance for subscriptions and a one-year overlap for enterprise migration.
Department leaders briefed the council on several cross-cutting budget drivers during the May 11 work session: staffing for the building division, vehicle and equipment needs for animal control, and a large increase in recurring software maintenance for information technology.
Eric Fountain said the building division is shifting toward larger multifamily and commercial projects and requires continued investment in inspectors’ professional development and licensing to keep pace. He said the division prefers to staff according to confirmed project flows rather than hire preemptively, and flagged an increase of $145,000 for two new pickup trucks to ensure inspectors can reach sites.
On animal control, Fountain said the division handled roughly 21,000 calls this year, including about 4,900 service calls, and is replacing worn kennels, catch poles and nets. The department is in the process of purchasing three new vehicles (one already delivered) to reach a four-vehicle fleet.
Information technology will see a net shift as one-time network development decreases by $80,000 after completion of wireless and fiber projects, but computer-software maintenance rises by $426,568 to absorb annual subscriptions (Microsoft, NetVault, RingCentral, OpenGov, CClickFix) and to move services out of one-time ARPA funding into the base budget. The treasurer noted the city will pay for two systems in fiscal 2027 because of a midyear migration.
Council members asked whether some plan-review or inspection work could be contracted while recruiting, and departmental leaders said contracting for plans examination or temporary inspection services is an available option. Fountain said the city has used contract plans reviewers and could bring on former employees to bridge short-term gaps.
No formal votes were taken; members directed staff to continue refining staffing and capital requests as the budget process proceeds.
