10.01 - City Planner Committee Review

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i Sandy Peine '7rom: Tommy Woog [tommy @waterwars.com] sent: Monday, February 13, 2006 1:34 PM To: Sandy Peine Subject: Full Time Planner Hello Sandy, In regards to the subcommittee meeting we had regarding the hiring of a full time planner, it is my feeling the City of Pequot Lakes is not quite ready to take this step. I must compliment Chris for pulling together all of the data he did in preparation for the meeting as it helped create good discussion. I think the overall cost of adding an employee to the City's payroll may not reap the desired benefit at this time, though I think the review was good and healthy for the City. I would suggest we review the issue again in a year's time. The City has required a number of plans and projects on an as needed basis, and this may be to our benefit in the long run. We do not have to pay social security, medicare, health insurance, and other employee related costs to get the additional plans done, and the unanswered question is would just one added staff member or planner be able to complete the needed plans on the same time frame without requiring additional outside assistance? Also, what do we do if the City has a year where no plans are in the works or needed? I also believe, at the present time, the City is benefiting by contracting with Community Growth as it outsources it's planning work. I must compliment Community Growth with the excellent assistance we receive at the Planning Commission level. I realize this is a bit outside the question, but the professional service we receive is really passed on to the ommunity and it's applicants aside from making the Commission that much more effective `.and efficient. Sincerely, Tommy Woog Chair, Pequot Lakes P&Z 1