Bluff council reviews CIP prioritization and schedules public hearing on Master Fee Schedule

Bluff staff and councilmembers discussed steps to make capital planning and town fees clearer and more usable for grant applications at the March 17 meeting.

Staff reported the town’s Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) was last approved in September 2024 with total project costs of $6.6 million and a town contribution of $1.4 million; a 2025 priority update exists but lacks a recorded approval. Council and staff recommended moving from a single undesignated Capital Improvements Fund to designating fund balances for specific projects so applicants can demonstrate local match or dedicated funding when applying for grants. Council members emphasized that designation would not prevent reallocating funds later in emergencies or new priorities.

Separately, staff reviewed proposed edits to the Master Fee Schedule, including removing a Land Use Clearance entry, adding fiscal-year language for airport fees, raising certain application fees to cover staff time and attorney costs (attorney rate cited at $380 per hour), adjustments to cemetery fees and facility rental waivers, and an approach to keep code-violation penalties within the related ordinances rather than the fee schedule itself. Because these changes affect public funds, the Council scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, April 7, 2026 to consider the Master Fee Schedule after the Amended Budget hearing.

Council asked members to review the CIP list and identify missing items or changed priorities to inform the FY2026 amended budget and the FY2027 budget cycle.

Staff indicated designating CIP funds and completing the fee-schedule edits will help clarify Council priorities for the public and improve grant competitiveness.