ON THE AGENDA Here are some of...

ON THE AGENDA

Here are some of the issues the council will consider Monday.

CHURCH RENOVATION APPEAL

Councilman Chris Steel is appealing the Planning Commission’s

unanimous approval of the renovation of St. Joachim Catholic Church,

at 1964 Orange Ave., on behalf of concerned residents in the area.

The commission approved the demolition of several buildings on the

site to accommodate a new classroom building and gym/multipurpose

building. When finished, the project’s number of parking spaces will

exceed code requirements.

Steel’s appeal contains 13 concerns, including that the square

footage of the new buildings is a “dramatic increase in space” and

that the commission did not act on significant issues regarding

parking, traffic circulation and trash. It also recommends several

other conditions that Steel believes should be imposed on the project

approval, like requiring all utilities on the site to be placed

underground.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The approval should stand because it complies with all relevant

development standards, and the recommended conditions of approval

will ensure the finished product meshes with the residential

neighborhood, according to planning staff members. Also, most

complaints raised by residents during the public hearing dealt with

ongoing operations of the church, which will not be affected by the

renovation, planning staff members added.

CITY BUDGET

The council will consider adopting an approximately $110-million

budget, which represents a .92% decrease from the 2003-04 adopted

budget. The proposed budget provides enough resources to fund the

proposed appropriations and maintains the city’s current General Fund

Operating Reserve at $14.125 million.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The budget to be passed, since it is balanced without an increase

in taxes and fees to residents.

SPECIAL EVENT ORDINANCE

The council will consider the second reading of a law that updates

the procedures for obtaining special-event permits. The law exempts

certain entities such as schools and churches, because city officials

don’t always have authority over them. The exemption caused some

controversy when the law was originally approved on June 7. The law

also establishes four predesignated routes for events.

WHAT TO EXPECT

There could be some more tension over the part of the law that

exempts schools and churches.