6. Staff Report-Capital Improvement Committee
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: November 12, 2014
To: City Council
From: Kristina Handt, City Administrator
Re: Capital Improvement Committee
Background:
New Scandia Township created a Capital Improvement Committee in 1998. The committe e
continued to meeting annually to review capital improvement needs of the township/city until 2012.
At their February 14, 2012 work session the Council unanimously agreed to disband the Capital
Improvement Committee due to a lack of interest of appointed citizens. It was decided that the full
council should discuss capital improvements during budget talks and work sessions and that public
input can be gathered at these meetings.
In 2013 Maefsky questioned the Planning Commission’s role in the process of developing the CIP
each year. Handt explained that the CIP Committee was disbanded in 2012, of which representatives
of the Planning Commission served on. Currently the Council updates the CIP based on
recommendations from each department head during their budget meetings. Since the CIP is part of
the Comprehensive Plan, Handt recommended that the schedule for updating the CIP could be
improved upon going forward. Beginning in April 2014, the department heads will present their five-
year plans to the Planning Commissioners for their review. The Commissioners were in consensus to
implement this schedule
At their May 6, 2014 meeting the Planning Commission made no changes to the draft CIP. Chair
Maefsky stated that this was a good opportunity to review the plan.
Issue:
Should the Council bring back the Capital Improvement Committee to prepare annual updates to the
Capital Improvement Plan?
Proposal Details:
Members of the Planning Commission expressed a desire to bring back the Capital Improvement
Committee at their November 5, 2014 meeting. Council Member Ness requested it be on the agenda
for the next Council work session.
Options:
1) Direct Staff to Advertise for Applications for the Capital Improvement Committee
2) Continue with current practice involving staff, Parks and Rec Committee, Planning
Commission and Council in process to compile Capital Improvement Plan updates.