City Approves Budget
In a unanimous vote last night the Florence City Council approved its biennial budget for the 2019-2021. The new budget will see some increases in fees from public works to administration fees. The fees are adjusted for inflation at the current CPI of 1.3 percent. The operating budget for the city for the next two years is 58.8 million dollars with an increase over the last biennial budget of 3.4 million dollars. City manager Erin Reynolds says the budget still contains a really ambitious capital plan with road updates planned for Rhododendron drive northward to 35th street. The city council also approved two resolutions for maintenance on several roads in the city with a road rehabilitation project that will include several side streets along highway 101 north of 126 and a chip and seal for a section of Spruce street from 25th through 35th Street and 42nd street from 101 to Spruce.
ReVision Night Work
Night work continues of the Florence Streetscape project. Overnight construction crews will be onsight this week, and for the next several weeks, from 8pm until 6am Sunday evening through Friday mornings. ODOT says crews will be finishing up projects on the west side of 101 before moving to the east side. In addition the work is completed on the Siuslaw River Bridge remodel and crews are busy with final clean-up. That project is expected to be done by the end of this month. Work also continues on the Cape Creek Bridge north of Florence as well as the Cape Perpetua Half Viaduct just south of Yachats. Some lane closures are associated with the bridge work.
ADU’s Could Get Second Wind
At the end of June incentives for the construction of Accessory Dwelling units are slated to end, but it is quite possible that the city will agree to extend the “no Charge” water and sewer hook-ups to existing properties for yet another year. City manager Erin Reynolds says council has asked staff to look at that possibility.
201: “they have asked us to bring forward to them at the next meeting in June, June 17th, for consideration and extension of that program into the future.”
Reynolds says the purpose for this and other incentives is to encourage an influx of new homes as quickly as the economy and work force can build them. She says questions can be fielded by the planning department.
202: “(the) planning department is in city hall as you come through the doors on the right.”
Reynolds says the staff is briefed on all aspects of city code and is more than happy to assist.
