03-11-19 Regular Meeting of the La Porte City Council

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➢ To revitalize blight/146 In addition to the six Council -identified goals, it was agreed that key areas of city government were not included in the goals identified by Council. Staff was tasked with discussing other areas where they would establish goals and objectives and bring them to Council for consideration and approval to include in the Strategic Plan. Several new goals were identified and are proposed for Council consideration: To provide and maintain superior public safety Continue to improve the quality of life through recreational amenities Create a Neighborhood Preservation Program Provide diverse and timely communications that promote and influence a positive public perception of La Porte One critical component to ensuring that the elements of the Strategic Plan are being implemented is to provide regular status reports to the City Council. Staff prepares and presents to council quarterly written reports supplemented w i t h oral reports or action items for implementation that may be necessary in-between written reports. In fiscal year 2014, City staff appointed key department directors to carry out the major components of the strategic plan. Staff developed a matrix that identifies target dates for completion of the components of the strategic plan. Relevant Financial Policy City staff is complying with the new GASB pronouncements regarding other post -employment benefits reporting. Major Initiatives Staff is overseeing the design and construction of our fitness center addition. Also, public works is overseeing the construction of the multi -million dollar infrastructure water/ sewer project. Long Term Planning Given the current economy and the uncertainty of the next few years, the City's existing financial position remains strong. The City has incorporated several strategies to decrease the expenses to the City over the next several years. Rising costs of personnel and the related benefits have been a challenge to the City; however, over the last few years, a healthy fund balance in the General Fund has allowed the City to weather these rising costs. During the upcoming year, the city will monitor the effects of a new municipal utility district that will have 640 single family homes with an average value of $280,000. Also included in this development is $40,000,000 in multifamily housing and $4,000,000 in senior living housing. Build out is projected over the next five years, and city property tax revenue from this project is estimated to $1,580,000 annually. During the upcoming fiscal year, staff will re -negotiate our industrial district agreements with companies within our industrial district zones. Also the city will benefit annually from increased estimated taxes of $3.3 million from new construction being taxed at 63% (which becomes available in 2020). Conservative revenue estimates and efforts to reduce expenditures have contributed to the City's strong financial position and have allowed the City to weather the economic slump. We are especially pleased that there have been no property taxes rate increases for (28) twenty-eight years. Additional capital projects are being funded by utilizing excess fund balances and previously issued debt that had been stranded. v iu p000iit p000uoo ti V000uouumv�oouo uuumu umt��moq��moq ��uut ��QQ��yy��pu�oi mu �� iouuuu �1IIV �1IIV uumV ��`� � ouu mfiti111➢uuuuur you mfiti111➢uuuuur °N�uum � you uillfimm�