Palmer plans for progress

PALMER — The future is now for Palmer City Council as it meets tonight to begin construction of a five-year capital improvement plan called Programs for Progress.

City Manager Bill Allen calls the program a comprehensive tactic to identify and prioritize the city’s needed capital improvement projects.

In the past, the city has taken up capital improvement on an as-needed basis and was less organized, Mayor John Combs said. Each department, like public works, would create its own goals and priorities usually focusing on the next three years. The new approach will allow the city to get a more objective view of all of its needs and establish more long-range priorities.

“Essentially, it’s a blueprint we’re going to follow for the next five years,” Combs said.

Under Programs for Progress, department heads review projects they hope to accomplish or equipment they hope to acquire. From those needs and wants is created a master list for the city to rank and prioritize. The most important items from each department receive a priority 1 rating and, upon approval from council, will be the first to be addressed in 2008.

“The big benefit of the Programs for Progress is that we have all the city’s needs compiled into it,” said Jane Dale, airport manager.

With all the information available in one concise plan, Dale said the city council and manager can make better decisions. Although departmental review resulted in a binder full of capital improvement needs, city administration and council recently narrowed down the list to 15 priority items including:

• Computer-aided dispatch interface program.

• Public safety roof replacements.

• Library shelving, furniture and equipment improvements.

• Wastewater treatment plant master plan.

According to the plan, the computer-aided dispatch interface program is needed to improve the efficiency of dispatch services in Palmer. Information now must be place into two systems, but the interface would remove redundancy and shorten dispatch time. The system would cost $21,275.

Overall, Councilman Tony Pippel said the main issue Programs for Progress addresses is generating a long list of capital needs that have received the short end of the city’s capital funding.

“It’s just sort of a wish list you put out there and hope somebody will fund it,” Pippel said.

Although some projects will require city funds, Pippel said the city should also try to receive as much outside grant funding as possible for individual projects.

“You have to rely on what I call OPM — other people’s money,” he said.

With numerous and various capital needs, Pippel said he doesn’t expect the city would have funds to do everything on its wish list. By having the council and manager prioritize together, the process makes sure the most dire needs are truly first to be addressed.

Tonight’s meeting, where more detail about the projects and how they may be prioritized will be disseminated, begins at 6 p.m. at Palmer City Hall..