Jefferson city council members discussed their priorities for the next fiscal year at a workshop following their meeting Nov 24.
As in previous years, council members and the mayor ranked many items on a number scale from 1 to 3, with 1 being a high priority. A spreadsheet was created, numbers were added, and the lowest scoring items were determined to be the highest priority.
Economic development was placed as the highest priority, as it has for many years. It was the only item on the list that all six persons ranked as a high priority with a total score of 6. Code enforcement, housing, and strategic planning for the use of casino revenues all scored 7.
The use of gaming revenue is a new item this year. The city has been receiving a percentage of casino revenue since Wild Rose Jefferson opened in July, with that total now more than $44,000. Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation will also allocate $50,000 per year to the city. The city council will ask clerk Diane Kennedy to create a line item on the revenue side of the budget to account for those funds, but at this time the use of those funds is unrestricted. One council member noted in the Comments section that at some point, property tax relief needs to be part of the discussion.
Supporting the Main Street program scored 8, with five persons ranking it at 1 and the sixth person ranking it at 3. That ranking was 7 in 2011, the year the program was launched in Jefferson, but at 13 in 2013 and 9 in 2014. Historic preservation scored 13 this year.
The priority workshop followed a quarterly update by the Jefferson Matters: Main Street board. Board members Jamie Daubendiek and Amy Milligan presented the same PowerPoint® they’re showing investors as part of the 2015 investment drive. The city has allocated $10,000 per year to Jefferson Matters for the past three years. Milligan said other cities the size of Jefferson allocate $14,000 per year. The council agreed to increase its commitment to $15,000 for the next three years. City administrator Mike Palmer, also a member of the Jefferson Matters board, suggested the money could come from gaming revenues.
The allocation is in addition to funds the city will spend on 205 N. Wilson, the former Linda’s Fashions building, and in a building façade restoration project.
Council members scored obtaining grants at 8. The council plans to commit matching funds in a pair of Community Development Block Grants (downtown façade restoration and housing rehabilitation), and will also support an application for a Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grant for the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower.
Scoring at 9 were organizational efficiency, tourism, building maintenance and water/sewer line improvements.
Tourism has been a discussion topic at city council meetings this year as the Chamber of Commerce last December asked the council to approve use of hotel/motel tax revenue for a Welcome Center.
During the priority workshop, mayor Craig Berry said the Chamber has done a good job and that tourism and events coordinator Angie Pedersen has done a great job promoting tourism. Council member Gary Von Ahsen asked about the status of an agreement with the Chamber regarding the hotel/motel tax revenue and the Welcome Center. Palmer responded that he and city attorney Bob Schwarzkopf have met with the Chamber on a proposal. To date, there is no agreement and no work has been done on the Welcome Center since the summer of 2014.
Improving entries to the city scored 10. That conversation included signage and future branding of the city. The Chamber and Jefferson Matters: Main Street are collaborating in developing a recognized brand for the city, and council member Shannon Black has also talked to the council about it. “It all needs to be tied together… We can’t have three different things working. It has to be consistent so it all looks the same,” Black said. “I think ultimately, although we appreciate the help of Main Street and the help of the Chamber, it is The City. The city needs to be involved in the conversations that will approve that design.”
The council talked about re-focusing the Neighborhood Incentive Program to provide funds to homeowners for exterior maintenance. The program was started for that purpose, but has since been used more for demolition than repair.
To see the spreadsheet of 2015 priorities, click here.
