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REGULAR MEETING March 11, 2019
<br /> order to be sure, come the end of the year and January 1, 2020, when we would like to pull the
<br /> trigger on this, that we've addressed all those steps. One (1)of the other questions asked a couple
<br /> weeks ago was about cost. These are the positions (referencing a slide in the presentation). There
<br /> is a Zoning Administrator, an Administrative Assistant and a Zoning Specialist. First(1St) of all, I
<br /> should add that one (1) of these positions is already in the budget. It was a rollover from the
<br /> Building Department. For transparency's sake, the true cost, the maximum salaries that could be
<br /> paid to these people, plus the fringe benefits, would equal up to $250,000. Now, at the moment,
<br /> that does not include any potential additional legal costs that might be incurred, but, it might also
<br /> be for additional staffing and outsourcing. What we have done in the last couple of weeks is we've
<br /> been able to get South Bend's Corporation Counsel, Stephanie Steele, along with Aladean and
<br /> Sandra Kennedy,in a room with Mitch Hippenheimer and the lawyers for the BZA,to talk through
<br /> all of their issues and talk through the time it takes for them to work on these different commissions
<br /> and boards. I think what we got out to that is that the ramp-up period between today and when we
<br /> get it all working, that is where a lot of the effort is going to take place. But, once we get up that
<br /> ramp, the day-to-day, month-to-month operation of these two (2) commission is actually not too
<br /> onerous. So, what we are hoping to do, if there is some outsourcing we may need to do, for
<br /> instance, writing new bylaws for these boards and commissions, we might look to use funding we
<br /> alreadyhave inplace forprofessional services to fill thatgapbetween now and the end of the year.
<br /> Mr. Corcoran went on, We've also looked to work with our Innovation Team regarding any IT
<br /> related infrastructure that might be necessary. So,we've already had meetings with our Innovation
<br /> Team and the Area Plan Commission staff regarding databases, software applications and things
<br /> like that. We've walked away from those meetings thinking we have a pretty good handle on that
<br /> side of things. As well as you probably know, you've worked with some of the business analysts
<br /> for different projects, so I am working with them as well to help map all the processes that are
<br /> related to zoning and BZA and how those processes interact with the different departments such
<br /> as the Building Department, Code Enforcement and DCI. Hopefully,what we can do is as we map
<br /> those out,we will look for efficiencies in how that process might work better.The whole ordinance
<br /> overhaul is about making sure this works better for everyone. There is also revenue that goes with
<br /> this. It is not much, at times, and it can be variable. Revenue comes from things like filing fees,
<br /> improvement location permits, zoning verification letters, fines to zoning violations, subdivision
<br /> requests and rezoning requests. So, in 2017, there was approximately $25,000 and in 2018 there
<br /> was $50,000. This is, again, not something we necessarily want to rely on, but it is certainly
<br /> something that will come in through the process and it varies based on how much development is
<br /> happening.
<br /> Mr. Corcoran continued, So, staff capacity. Currently, DCI staff and members of my staff, do
<br /> recommendations for different zoning related matters. We can continue to do that, but, with the
<br /> new staff, we won't have to spend that extra time because it will be done in a cohesive way. The
<br /> quick fixes have helped reduce zoning variances,and so,that has been an administrative efficiency
<br /> we've been able to implement over time and we hope to keep doing that. The zoning overhaul is
<br /> also sort of a Thought Leadership role the City has taken. We really do believe our new zoning
<br /> ordinance is going to be one (1) of the best in the country, according to Mike Divita by the way.
<br /> He is a little biased,but I think he might be right. In the future, the new staff will help provide that
<br /> day-to-day administration of the South Bend Plan Commission. It helps free-up existing DCI
<br /> planning staff to do strategic and neighborhood planning efforts. I think many of you may have
<br /> seen on the news that we are working on the Near Northwest Plan at the moment. It takes a lot of
<br /> time and engagement. I've worked all weekend on this plan and what I think is really neat about
<br /> what we can do with the Plan Commission staff integrated within the City is have them play a
<br /> direct role in these neighborhood engagement pieces so that when we come to, for instance,remap
<br /> a neighborhood or look at how plans fit with the Comprehensive Plan and all those other things,
<br /> everybody has been engaged and well engaged throughout that whole process so it is as cohesive
<br /> and as clear as possible.
<br /> Mr. Corcoran went on, I emailed you a broader list of things these people will do but this
<br /> (referencing a slide in the presentation) is just a short blurb about each staff member and their job
<br /> description. The Zoning Administrator is primarily tasked with determining the use and how it fits
<br /> in which zone category or district of a new project or development. Part of that role is dictated in
<br /> State Law, as well. The Zoning Specialist,we hope, is a person who then does a lot of that day-to-
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