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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday,January 23,2017 <br /> 7:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> 7. SENIOR PLANNER RECRUITMENT (continued) <br /> Walsh stated he does not have a problem with hiring a consultant to do the Comprehensive Plan update. <br /> Walsh asked whether the City is eligible for any grants through the Metropolitan Council. <br /> Barnhart stated Orono is not eligible for those. <br /> Crosby asked what the salary would be for the new employee. <br /> Barnhart indicated the current salary for a city planner is $60,651 with a top rate of$75,000. Barnhart <br /> stated in his view there is an opportunity to look at restructuring of the department but that it likely will <br /> be on the front end more so than the planning department. <br /> Printup stated his comfort level is not filling the position right now but that he would be interested in <br /> looking at restructuring and then revisiting it. Printup stated he is not interested in a replacement at this <br /> time. <br /> Seals stated she would like to know where Staff feels there are issues so the City can investigate and <br /> spend time looking at those. Seals stated what she heard during the code committee meeting is that there <br /> are lots of cities that are doing it with less for a multitude of reasons. Seals stated she was wondering if <br /> the City were able to put some of those in place,whether that might free up some time for the planning <br /> staff. <br /> Seals stated she understands it will take some work to get there but that she does not like to hire someone <br /> who might have to be let go in six to nine months. Seals stated she would like to simplify and streamline <br /> things. <br /> Crosby stated if the process can be streamlined,that would be preferable,but that he also does not want to <br /> handcuff Staff and make them feel completely overburdened. <br /> Barnhart stated he understands the City is a user of public money and that they try to do it as responsibly <br /> as possible. Barnhart stated the City has a number of services they have to provide and there are certain <br /> resources that are necessary to provide those services. <br /> Barnhart indicated he put together a summary sheet for the Planning Commission which shows that in <br /> 2016,the City received 103 new applications. In June the City received eight. Barnhart noted Staff <br /> stopped doing zoning code amendments in May because Staff did not have time to do those due to the <br /> number of applications that came in. There were 14 new applications in May. Barnhart stated it is hard <br /> for two people to do a thorough review of that many applications and get it right. Barnhart noted if the <br /> position is not filled, he and the planner would each have to take seven applications in that month, which <br /> will result in applications being tabled. Barnhart stated three to four applications is the maximum in a <br /> month each planner can handle. <br /> Barnhart stated the expectation of a single planner doing seven applications in any given month, in <br /> addition to the Comprehensive Plan update, is not realistic. Barnhart noted he would still need to help <br /> with the Comprehensive Plan update even if the City retains a consultant. Barnhart stated he hopes to <br /> improve the process but that currently some of their call backs are two to three days later. <br /> Page 10 of 15 <br />