The speakers confirmed with Member Ruggiero that no projects can be implemented |
|
without City Council action -- even if no city dollars are expended on the projects, |
|
such as Veterans Memorial Pointe Park. She wondered whether the public really |
|
understands the scope and importance of the CIP. Earlier public input may be |
|
advisable, perhaps with additional press coverage, articles in the Rochester Hills |
|
Quarterly publication. Along with Members Rosen and Robbins she was also |
|
concerned about the timing of the Master Thoroughfare Plan update with the adoption |
|
|
Member Gaber explained the annual budget process by City Council. The annual |
|
budgeting process starts around March with a series of all-day workshops in |
|
conjunction with the administration. The first workshop is to identify policies and |
|
priorities to be implemented and funded through the budget. The administration takes |
|
this information and processes it. The second workshop is presentations by the |
|
department directors to identify their priorities in terms of the policies and priorities |
|
established at the first workshop and how they affect their particular departments. |
|
Administration then takes this information and prepares a draft budget document. The |
|
third workshop reviews the draft budget and makes any adjustments. In August, |
|
pursuant to the Charter, the Mayor proposes the budget to City Council and it is |
|
adopted by the end of September. The CIP will be a great resource because it |
|
compiles into one document and prioritizes all the other plans. It’s easy to look at one |
|
segment such as pathways and prioritize those projects; it’s difficult when you have to |
|
consider all projects, pathways, local roads and major roads and recreation to |
|
allocate monies. The CIP will help distill all projects into a single picture. It is a tool |
|
that will enable Council to make budget decisions more effectively. It’s easy to |
|
identify projects; it’s more difficult to prioritize them from a cost effectiveness |
|
standpoint and a desirability standpoint in order for City Council to implement them in |
|
the budget. Member Gaber suggested looking at the CIP as a component of a |
|
strategic planning process. Strategic planning would involve bringing the community |
|
together with City Council to let them know what they want their city to look like in |
|
the future, in terms of infrastructure, services, and other less tangible amenities. The |
|
CIP then becomes a tool to help Council allocate resources on a year-to-year basis to |
|
bring the strategic plan to fruition. The CIP is not a substitute for a strategic plan; it’s |
|
|