6/8/1988 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mayor Macht noted that Councilman Wodtke would be the City Council's representative on that committee, but the City has a vertical staff structure which is slightly different. Commissioner Bird clarified that he will not be functioning as a staff person; he will be the liaison for the Commission but will depend on our staff to work with the City staff. He felt the nuts and bolts need to be worked out on staff level and then brought back. Vice Mayor Winchester wished that we could all be a little more straight forward in regard to impact fees and call them what they really are - taxes. County Attorney Vitunac stated that impact fees are not taxes. They are a totally different philosophy, and there would have to be a referendum if we have going to have a tax. He stressed that impact fees shift the cost to the newcomer to buy his part of the parks that are already there from the taxpayers who have been here a long time. Vice Mayor Winchester understood the difference, but noted that while legally you can say it is whatever you think, the taxpayer does not see it that way. Councilman Hoyt Howard expressed his opinion that user fees will go over better with the public than impact fees and taxes. Commissioner Bird noted that Director Davis' report indicates a three -pronged approach; he has a 20 -year capital improvement program which pretty well lays out what we need to spend; and it implies that impact fees will generate a major portion of its funds and the money to operate the programs will come from user fees or through contributions from some sort of taxes. Chairman Scurlock informed those present that we actually have had support for the impact fees. In fact, local developer Peter Robinson, said it is the best thing we ever did, especially since the Comprehensive Plan now mandates that you have a funding mechanism for that infrastructure, and if you don't have it, you 6 JUN 1988 Bov.. 73 F,1, 06