City Council Study Session Agenda and Packet 2011 10 11 SP 2012 BUDGET

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PAGE THREE SUBJECT: DISCUSSION /DIRECTION - 2012 PROPOSED BUDGET DATE: OCTOBER 11, 2011 The 2008 slowdown in the economy reduced City sales tax revenues and commercial land development activity. As a result, twenty hours of administrative assistant time and associated full -time benefits in the Building Safety Division were eliminated in the fall of 2009. Recent residential development in the City has increased significantly because of a regionally strong employment base and a nationally recognized quality of life. Subsequently, the Building Safety Division revenues have rebounded and this year's revenues are expected to exceed 2007, the peak of the Country's building boom. According to the data from the Finance Department, over the last five years, the Division's revenues cover its direct operating expenses. The Department's anticipated building permit workload shows a significant increase through 2016 in building activity from the low point in 2009 through today's decade high numbers. The Department's projections anticipate North End will continue to yield approximately 15 units per year, while Ryland and Boulder Creek together will yield over 30 residential units per year at Steel Ranch. Multi- family assumptions include residential apartment complexes coming on line in Takoda, North End and potentially the Redevelopment District. Commercial development is also expected to increase with at least 300,000 square feet of new commercial construction this year from the Allen Company's relocation to Louisville from Broomfield. Museum Coordinator Position from 29 hours to 40 -hour benefited position • The plan is to restore the Museum hours previously provided prior to the budget cuts of a couple of years ago, such that the Museum would be open Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday from 10 -3. During the summer, the City would shift one of those weekdays to Fridays so that the five hours would include some of the Street Faire hours. As the Museum Coordinator dedicates 10 hours to the HPC weekly, with the additional hours proposed, the Museum would now be open fifteen hours a week as compared to the current five. • The best way to increase access to the Museum's print and photo resources is to make them available to residents and researchers electronically. Because of the Museum Coordinator's extensive knowledge of the collection and her understanding of unwritten connections between Louisville's historic families, buildings, and events, her guidance, as a process is developed, is essential. • With a single Museum employee, the City anticipates utilizing a larger contingent of volunteers to aid in Museum tours and visits as well as to catalog items for electronic access. Training these volunteers and selecting items for description needs to be done by someone familiar with what the Museum possesses and a sense of those items most in demand. The City has over 5,000 historic photographs to catalog. 4