SUPPLEMENTAL SPECIAL MEETING (5:00 PM)

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL 6. Planning & Building a. #19&20 (16/40) —How are we going to attract and retain new businesses if the front door is closed? What will this look like? Answer: The proposed reduction includes closure of the Permit Center for in-person walk-up service, for 2.5 days/week. Due to the impact of frozen positions, the Permit Center is currently closed for walk-up service for 1.5 days (Wednesday afternoon, and Friday). The budget measure would extend this to include two additional half days, focused on the times when customer volumes are lowest. Staff would still be available to respond to phone calls and emails, 5 days per week, between 8AM and 5PM. Over the Counter plan check services for some types of permits would also still be available as they are today, two mornings per week. Since COVID, and the adoption of electronic plan submittal procedures, in-person visits to the Permit Center have decreased dramatically (even on days when the counter is open), while email, phone and other forms of contact have increased. The changes proposed are therefore aligned with the modes of customer service sought by applicants. Staff understands and appreciates the importance of providing customer -friendly services and being open and accessible to applicants and the public as part of the City's business attraction and retention efforts. Along with maintaining public access through a blend of in-person, phone and email customer service, staff is currently developing recommendations for near-term process and permit improvements to support business attraction and retention for key business types, including reducing permitting barriers to expedite and simplify approvals. 7. Requesting clarification (exact amounts) in the planned budget or forecast of how much has been for the last several years (3 years) and how much is planned. a. CIP—deferrals, main, etc. Answer: Citywide annual CIP expenditures for the last three years average about $18.8M including $17.8M for FY 2023/24, $15.1 M for FY 2022/23, and $23.4M for FY 2021/22. The Capital Improvement Program is still under development, and the amounts will be available for the May 20, 2025, budget presentation. 11