Council Considers Boundary Adjustments

DAYTON - County Planning and Building Department Director Kim Lyonnais came before the Dayton City Council last week seeking approval to proceed with a proposed change in the Urban Growth Area (UGA) Boundary.

Lyonnaise presented a plan to remove from the existing UGA, 19.07 acres located downstream from the waste water treatment plant and partially in the river, and 20.51 acres, where the county's public works department and rock quarry are located. The plan adds to the UGA roughly 32 acres south of Patit Road, by the water tower, and roughly 7 acres that is the balance of the Port-owned Blue Mountain Station, as a first step in allowing for future development.

"We have a willing developer, willing annexation," said Lyonnais, referring to Dr. Derek Duke, of Henderson, Nev., who wants to break ground in the spring of 2018 to begin building a variety of housing including: condominiums, apartments, small homes and larger homes with acreage, on about 60 acres above Syndicate Hill.

"We need to know what your vision is for the future," Lyonnais said.

Mayor George answered, "We need to kinda see what the developer wants to do conceptually with 67 acres. We need to have a meeting with his representative. We're visioning for the first three years. There could be possibly 240 homes. They are not all going to be built at the same time. I think if the council wants to go ahead, and the council says "yes" the UGA can be moved, the next step is annexation," George told the council. "Otherwise the county develops it under their standards."

George added, "There's got to be progress or you are going to die. It doesn't mean we grow to 10,000 people. It may mean we grow up to 3,500."

A letter to the county, stating the city's intention to make the change in the UGA boundary will be signed by Mayor George per approval of the council.

Lyonnais said he would take the letter to the Planning Commission and the process of amending the county maps and the Comprehensive Plan will begin. He will also talk to the Planning Commission about a Public Utility District ordinance that will work for both the city and the county.

If the city chooses to proceed with annexation there will be a public hearing process. Annexation could take about 40-60 days, Lyonnais said.

Also at last week's meeting, Mayor George presented the city's 2018 preliminary budget.

The city remains committed to repairing and maintaining infrastructure, said George.

He said there is an approximately .19% budget increase for 2018, over 2017. Current expense increased by less than one percent, or seven-tenths of a percent.

There are proposed water and sewer utility rate increases in the 2018 budget totaling $7.15 for a three-quarter inch meter inside city limits, residential unit; $4.20 for sewer, and $2.95 for water. The purpose of the increases are to establish reserves in order to meet the city's capital improvement programs and to provide for ongoing maintenance of the facilities, George said.

Highlights include: community-wide FEMA-related street repairs, the Washington Avenue water main line replacement project, utility and street infrastructure plan with a geographic information system component, the creation of a flood control zone district, beginning the design phase for the wastewater treatment plant construction project, transitioning planning and code enforcement into a permanent regional planning department, replacing/relocating street signs, completing the stop sign replacement project, installing of Phase 3 park sprinkler system, improvements to interior and exterior of city hall, replacing outdated equipment, continuing the water meter replacement project and establishing the Main Street tree replacement program.

Anderson Perry Engineer Adam Schmidtgsall said the South First Street project will be finished by the end of October. Curbs, sidewalks and driveways will be finished the week of the Oct. 23.

The council approved the designation of Jim Costello as an authorized representative to obtain federal or state emergency or disaster assistance funds associated with FEMA, from Jan. 30 to Feb. 22, 2017.

The council also approved a resolution authorizing an increase in the regular property tax levy for 2018 in the amount of $3,425.72, which is a one percent increase from 2017.