Delaware City Council’s Saturday is booked with a work session related to the 2017 budget.
Council had a first reading of the budget Monday with a second public hearing scheduled Dec. 12. The budget is likely to be adopted on Dec. 22.
City Manager Tom Homan proposed budget will have the general fund meet the Council’s target ratio of 17 percent for expenditures and revenues. Revenue estimates for the general fund are $21,320,565 with a fund balance of $3,686,212, or 17.09 percent.
The general fund receives one percent of the city’s income tax with 0.7 percent for Fire/Emergency Medical Services and 0.15 for a parks and recreation levy. The tax portion represents 65 percent of the total fund’s revenue.
The income tax and building-related fees are expected to generate more revenue as Delaware’s economy continues to grow, Homan said in a statement.
“I am pleased to report that the condition of our city finances is fundamentally strong and thanks to the support and leadership of Mayor (Carolyn Kay) Riggle and the City Council, it is getting stronger,” he said.
Council will meet at city hall 9 a.m. Saturday for the work session with a session scheduled on Dec. 8, if needed.
Budget proposals include a police officer to coordinate with the newly created Delaware Community Coalition, re-establish a project engineer and zoning technician (which was eliminated in 2009 because of the housing downturn), speed calming initiative and additional transfers into the Capital Improvement Fund to address road maintenance, a comprehensive plan update and capital improvement plan improvements.
Aside from the budget, the Connie Klema of Delaware Development Plan LTD gave a 3D presentation to council of its Coughlin’s Crossing project, located at an 80-acre site between U.S. Route 23 and Stratford Road, north of Meeker Way.
Klema seeks council approval to rezone the site from agriculture to mixed-use along with preliminary development plans and a conditional permit. The developer would preserve the historic Janes Home and Barn, build 24 single-family homes, three commercial/residential buildings that total 80,000 square feet, open green space and a 98,700-square-foot big box retailer with 470 parking spaces.
Councilwoman Lisa Keller praised Klema for working with local residents, who live near the site, and city staff. She expected angry residents and a surprised developer at a planning commission meeting where it was approved.
“What I expected didn’t happen at all,” she said.
“This is how we should do development in Delaware.”
But a resident of Wagner Way, located north of the proposed development, said her experience was the complete opposite.
“This is the first meeting I’ve ever heard about,” said Joanne Meyer. She cited grievances with the developer and concerns about the development’s impact on the traffic and water and downtown, where her business is located.
“I’m just very overwhelmed.”
Klema said she was willing to address Meyer’s concerns.
Due to the absence of two members, council will have another reading of the developer’s requests.
In other business, council:
• Approved a community reinvestment area tax incentive agreement with RLB Enterprises and Midway Structural Pipe and Supply Inc. Owner Robin Brannan plans to relocate the company from 999 Bonham Ave. in Columbus to a 25,000-square-foot facility at the intersection of Pittsburgh Drive and Section Line Road. Brannan said she wants the company to be accessible to better talent. Midway, a more than 60-year-old provider of industrial pipe and commercial fencing, now has 18 employees.
• Approved an amendment to a revolving loan fund agreement with Precision Tower Products LLC because of its name-change to Sky Climber Fabricating LLC.
• Approved an agreement with the City of Columbus for a Delaware police candidate to be accepted by the Columbus Police Department’s academy class in December in order to receive state certification. The cost of the class is $4,000.
