Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Council to ratify budget tomorrow nightBy JOHN MUNFORD The Peachtree City Council is expected to ratify its $25.81 million budget at its regular meeting Thursday at 7 p.m. The proposed budget represents an increase of $1.1 million, or 4.3 percent, over the current years budget. The departmental expenses increased $542,000, representing 2.1 percent of the total budget. The proposed budget includes three full-time positions including a city engineer/project manager, a librarian and a systems specialist for information technology. Two part-time positions are also proposed: a library assistant and a staff assistant for the planning department that is being transitioned from a part-time to a full-time role. The proposed budget includes the use of $1.1 million in cash reserves to balance the books. City staff has also proposed a $2.97 million budget for the annual Public Improvement Program. The PIP includes: $50,000 for architectural design of a new senior citizens center, which would be located between The Gathering Place and the offices for the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater. Plans are to build the senior center in 2007 at an estimated cost of $650,000; $445,000 for parking improvements and paving at the Riley Field and Meade Field recreation complexes; $330,000 to replace 10 police vehicles; $401,258 for a new fire rescue pumper truck; and $273,736 for a new roof and upgrade to the HVAC system at City Hall. These projects and purchases will be financed as long-term debt, ranging from a four-year period for the police cars to five years for the pumper truck and 15 years for the other projects. In 2006, the city plans to spend its $150,000 recreation allotment from the Fayette County Board of Commissioners to build restrooms at Picnic Park, which also includes the All Childrens Playground. The city also anticipates collecting $2.08 million in SPLOST payments for transportation improvement projects. The city also will receive $487,840 in state grants for the new multi-use paths that will be constructed along Ga. Highway 54 West in the area of the road widening project and for landscape enhancements to Hwy. 54 East. Council will also discuss amendments to the citys site plan approval process. The changes would extend the staff review time from 12 to 20 days, and require any plan to first be heard by the Planning Commission in a workshop format. Also, staff will have three days to determine whether any application is complete. Once it is deemed complete, a sign will be posted on the site noting that plan has been submitted and the information is available at City Hall or on the citys Web site. There is no such requirement currently for conceptual and final site plans. Also proposed is a change that all site plan approvals will expire after 12 months if construction does not occur. The changes would not not affect the current ordinance for appealing a denied plan, an issue that must be heard by the City Council. Also, clearing of vegetation on any site still wont be allowed until both the conceptual and final site plans are approved. Another development ordinance amendment to be considered will require developers to conduct a tree survey and prepare a stormwater management plan before any site can be developed. |
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