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.
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