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<br />assists in technical analysis, and prepares various maps. This information is very important for <br />day-to-day operations and long term planning/policymaking. <br /> <br />Proposed Changes to Service Level or Revenue <br /> <br />Much of the expenditure increases for 2018 are based on personnel increases, such as <br />wages, PERA, and insurance and internal service charges such as fleet as IT. There are no <br />changes in permanent staffing levels proposed, however some overtime hours remain budgeted <br />for the Building Inspector and Permit Technician due to the Pulte Homes development in New <br />Brighton Exchange. A temporary/seasonal/contract Building Inspector position remains within <br />the budget so as to help meet the inspections demand brought on by the Joint Powers Agreement <br />with the City of St. Anthony Village. The cost for this position is covered from the City of St. <br />Anthony building inspections revenues. Staff expects much of Pulte’s development to be <br />complete by the end of 2017, allowing for overtime and temporary/seasonal/contract positions to <br />go unused or unfilled in 2018 barring any significant new projects or storm damage within New <br />Brighton and St. Anthony. <br /> <br />With regard to fleet, Community Development functions of DCAD propose no new <br />purchases in 2018. <br /> <br />2018 will represent the second year of a seven year contract extension for recycling <br />services with Republic Services. In 2018 recycling rates will increase $0.96 per unit from 2017 <br />with costs per month per household at $2.86. Citywide, this cost increase will amount to <br />approximately $17,000 - $20,000 depending on the number of households recycling. SCORE <br />grant funds via Ramsey County have been adjusted upward slightly to reflect expected 2017 <br />amounts. Staff has continued to budget for two clean up days in 2018; adjusting total expected <br />costs by 2.7% (or $200) based on anticipated rises in fees. <br /> <br />Building permit activity is very difficult to predict from year to year. Staff has done an <br />analysis on the long-term trends for building permit activity and has found revenues range from <br />$350,000 - $1,000,000. Over the period from 2008 to 2016 the City averaged approximately <br />$550,000 in permit revenue (highest was just over $900,000 in 2015; lowest was $300,000 in <br />2009). Recognizing permit activity is difficult to predict, staff recommends keeping the budget <br />flat at $500,000 being this number is fairly consistent with a ten year average. This recognizes <br />higher revenue years will offset lower revenue years. With Pulte wrapping up, staff is already <br />seeing a reduction in building permit revenue and this will be even more evident in 2018. <br /> <br />In 2017, staff requested a rise in professional services to pay for the mandated <br />Comprehensive Plan Update. The process got started earlier than anticipated and significant <br />costs have already been incurred. This is evident in the 2017 Projected Activity, that amount <br />being larger than what was budgeted. As such, staff has lowered the professional services <br />budget in 2018, recognizing a significant portion of the $80,000 project will be complete by the <br />end of 2017. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />31