Burlington city council members spent a four-hour marathon work session on Thursday deciding on policy goals for the next two years.
Jeff Schott from the Iowa Institute for Public Affairs led four of the five council members through the process. Mayor Shane McCampbell was home sick, he’ll have input on the final outcome later.
The top goal that was decided on, with a vote from all four council members, was building policies and guidelines to make building projects easier, which came together as a combination of ideas such as checklists for property owners and builders, putting together resources for homeowners receiving nuisance violations, and establishing a clear TIF policy.
Other goals that were set include supporting the effort to build an indoor “bubble” structure near the Burlington Rec Plex, reexamining the trash tag program and looking into the larger cans that were discussed last month, searching for new revenue sources such as a utility franchise fee, and possibly bringing new riverfront features such as a splash pad, amphitheater seating, and shade structures to the Burlington Riverfront.
