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Council debates ending building incentive to fund full‑time parks & recreation director; splits on priorities
Summary
City staff recommended ending the 2015 Building Incentive Plan to reallocate about $60,000 annually for a full‑time Parks & Recreation director; councilmembers expressed mixed views and asked for budget clarity while discussing outsourcing concessions and prioritizing road projects.
City Administrator Adam Kofoed told the West Branch City Council on Feb. 20, 2024, that conversations with council members, staff and community groups indicate a consensus to discontinue the Building Incentive Plan started in 2015. Kofoed said the program— which offered reduced permit fees, waived infrastructure charges and a $5,000 homeowner tax rebate for a limited time—has achieved its purpose of encouraging new home construction and that about $60,000 is budgeted annually for the tax rebates. Kofoed said the council could reallocate that funding to restore a full‑time Parks & Recreation director and pursue grant opportunities to sustain programming.
Councilmember Jerry Sexton said he would support ending the tax rebate program but does not believe the parks director needs to be full‑time and expressed disappointment for homeowners who expected the incentive. Councilmember Jodee Stoolman said she favors bringing back a recreation department but wants to see how police department funding decisions affect the general fund before committing to full‑time staffing. Kofoed said staff had considered a combined parks & recreation and deputy clerk position but determined the differing duties and utility billing deadlines made a shared role impractical.
Kofoed also reported he had contacted concession vendors and one vendor is willing to run the Cubby Park concession stand this season in exchange for a portion of sales; a contract is under legal review and will return to council for consideration.
On capital projects and strategic planning, the council debated priorities between Cedar‑Johnson Road reconstruction and Main Street repairs. Public Works Director Matt Goodale urged prioritizing Main Street sections from Thomas Drive to the roundabout, saying the road is "literally 'falling apart.'" Kofoed summarized the council’s direction to the city engineer: 1) Cedar‑Johnson Road reconstruction, 2) West Main Street (Thomas Drive to roundabout), and 3) downtown Main Street and streetscaping.
No formal ordinance or resolution to end the Building Incentive Plan was introduced at the meeting; council discussion identified tradeoffs and next steps focused on budget analysis and grant applications.
