Laserfiche WebLink
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- <br /> 6 <br />