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Hernando Today

City Council To Weigh Goals

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By TONY MARRERO Hernando Today

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 13, 2008

Updated:

BROOKSVILLE - The city manager is looking for some direction.

With a limited budget and a laundry list of potential goals, what should be a priority for the coming fiscal year and beyond?

The City Council at its regular meeting Monday will try to hash out some priorities for City Manager Jennene Norman-Vacha and the rest of the city staff.

It's something Vice Mayor Lara Bradburn has been eager to do since her election two years ago. She's hopeful the council won't limit its focus to 2009.

"There is just so much to be talking about," Bradburn said. "We have longstanding goals that can't be accomplished in a year, but we need to get them started this year."

For Bradburn, the goals for the coming year can't really be set until a longer range plan is in place.

She wants the city to look north for help.

Bradburn said she and Norman-Vacha will likely travel to Gainesville next month to meet with planning experts at the University of Florida's Department of Urban and Regional Planning.

The department's community partnership program offers its services and technology to help Florida cities and counties prepare for growth through neighborhood and transportation planning.

The goal, according to the UF Web site, is to promote "sustainable development, smart growth and livable communities."

That assistance will help the city meet existing goals outlined in its comprehensive growth plan, and prepare for the inevitable annexations to come, Bradburn said.

That means setting timelines for roads, water and sewer lines, even sidewalks - and finding the money to pay for it all.

More immediate goals likely to come up Monday include the continued overhaul of the city's building and zoning code and improving the city's records management system, Bradburn said.

Mayor Joe Bernardini said the city needs to update its permitting information with the Southwest Florida Water Management District for drainage improvements made to the Quarry golf course.

That will be important as the city seeks permits for a project to transform an old building on the golf course into a pro shop, mining museum and permanent home for the Brooksville Enrichment Center that would double as a special needs shelter,

The council should try to continue progress made to bring city salaries up to par with cities of similar size, Bernardini said.

Acknowledging a tight budget for years to come, the city should still make an effort to follow the recommendations of a salary study commissioned back in 2006, Bernardini said. That will help lift what Bernardini says is a disheartened workforce.

"I just want to see that morale improved," he said.

The council meets at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 201 N. Howell Ave.

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.

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