Planning director outlines FY27 budget, TIF projects and push for zoning rewrite

Rob Mura, the city’s planning director, presented the Planning Department’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget and answered council questions about Tax Increment Financing (TIF) requests, staffing and an upcoming zoning rewrite.

Mura said the department’s operating budget was reduced overall while the salary line rose because last year paid only half the project manager’s pay; a full year of that position (listed in the packet as $62,000) is now reflected in Planning’s numbers after being moved from administration. He told council the only other notable increases were dues to the Lakes Region Planning Commission (from 18,632 to 20,128) and routine contractual cost‑of‑living adjustments.

The planning presentation included three TIF areas. Mura said the Downtown TIF increment for the coming year is projected at $250,000 (down from $325,000 last year) with a projected ending balance of about $439,127 after scheduled bond payments; council asked whether a council‑requested lighting project (quoted at 41,449 in the packet) should be funded from that balance. Mura said the lighting cost would be covered by the TIF but that landscaping and Pumpkin Fest requests (discussed as separate requests by the Downtown TIF advisory board) were not funded by the budget as presented and would require a higher increment or separate action by council.

On the West TIF, Mura said rapid growth has pushed that district’s valuation up sharply and that the advisory board has requested a 34,300 feasibility study for a bandstand on the waterfront (the study would include design and permitting but not construction). Several councilors questioned whether a bandstand would block waterfront views or be ADA‑feasible if sited on top of other structures; Mura said the study would clarify options and costs.

Councilors also focused on capacity: when asked whether the department could handle an influx of building permits tied to large projects such as the State School redevelopment, Mura said building permits are managed by Code but that the project manager was hired to provide planning‑side review at every phase and that large projects would include developer‑funded third‑party review if the city needs outside capacity.

Mura outlined public engagement on the master plan — three village‑district forums and an online response that exceeded 150 submissions — and said the master plan findings will guide a comprehensive zoning ordinance rewrite. He said the rewrite was requested in CIP for $150,000 but is not funded this year; he recommended timing the zoning audit and rewrite to follow completion of the master plan to avoid contradictory changes. Councilors discussed phasing options, funding timing and whether the cost could be spread out, with Mura noting the work will likely require concentrated consultant support and about a year of effort once started.

What happens next: Mura said the master plan steering committee will review public comments and draft findings on June 25; council will continue TIF project discussions over the next months and decide whether to increase the Downtown increment if it wants to fund lighting and landscaping requests in FY27.