Municipal Agencies Flashcards
- Explain the function of the building department and summarize the approvals process.
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Town Class Division
Class A Towns: more than 10,000 people
Class B Towns: less than 10,000 people
Governing Structure
City Council: legislative branch
Mayor: executive branch (veto power over legislative branch)
How are Laws Made in City Council?
- Bill introduced (by councilman)
- Bill Amendment (by committee)
- Vote
- Bill Approval (fwd. to Mayor)
The City Council
Purpose is to protect the property, health, safety and welfare of inhabitants of jurisdiction. The City Council enforces laws through Agencies, including the Department of Buildings, the Department of Health and the Department of Transportation
City Council Laws:
- Zoning = What can be built in certain locations
- Health = How it’s to be used?
- Environmental = How will it impact other people?
Village Board of Trustees
Comprised of:
- Mayor
- 4 Trustees (or more)
Zoning regulations are implemented by the City Council, Town Council or Village Board
Cluster Zoning
A relatively new development method that places buildings in close proximity to each other, (a cluster) while maximizing the amount of contiguous open space and preserving the most sensitive natural habitats
Village Board of Trustees
Governing body of villages
Comprised of:
-Mayor
-4 Trustees (or more)
Zoning regulations are implemented by the City Council, Town Council or Village Board
Eminent Domain
decision to take private property for public use
Functions of City Council, Town Board and Village Board of Trustees
- Enact legislation and adopt ordinances
- Adopt tax rate and municipal budget
- Decision to take private property for public projects
- Approve or disapprove different commercial and residential projects
Property Assesment
- Replacement Value
- Market Value
- Income Analysis
Functions of City Council, Town Board and Village Board of Trustees
- Enact legislation and adopt ordinances
- Adopt tax rate and municipal budget
- Decision to take private property for public projects
- Approve or disapprove different commercial and residential projects
Real estate taxes make up a portion of the budget
Planning Board
A local elected or appointed government board charged with recommending to the local town or city council the boundaries of the various zoning districts and appropriate regulations to be enforced therein.
Planning Board
A local elected or appointed government board charged with recommending to the local town or city council the boundaries of the various zoning districts and appropriate regulations to be enforced therein.
(advisory function on master plan with long term and short term goals)
-provide policy analysis
-reviews subdivision proposals
-Assists city planning commission
-review land use applications w respect to zoning changes
- County Planning Board
- advises each agency and governing board w/in the county. Comprised on uncompensated members of the community to make a wide variety of people from the community to reflect the broad spectrum - Village Planning Board
- 5-7 members appointed by the mayor. subject to approval of the mayor
- serve as many years as there are members - Town Planning Board
- not mandetory
- usually 5-7 members
- one member with agriculture person
Master Plan (comprehensive plan or Land-use plan)
Expressing municipalities long and short term goals for development
- outline for growth of community
- outlines zoning
- foundation for real estate use regulations and ordinances
Subdivision
The act of dividing land into pieces that are easier to sell or otherwise develop
- Major Subdivisions
- 4 or more lots
- street improvement
- public project - Minor subdivisions
- less than 4 lots
Zoning Board of Appeals
A local appointed board that has the power to review administrative rulings made by the planning board or another legislative body.
- reviews projects that are NOT in accordance with the local zoning ordinances
Appeals:
1. Interpretive:
You interpret the zoning resolution differently than the enforcement officer
- Variance:
You propose to build something that is not in compliance with the zoning resolution
Architectural Review Board
Oversees and upholds the quality and aesthetics of a neighborhood, town, or city.
- charged with preserving the beauty and history of a city
- keeps with character of surrounding community
- charged with erection of fences and signs
- one member has to be architect
Architectural Review Board
Oversees and upholds the quality and aesthetics of a neighborhood, town, or city.
- charged with preserving the beauty and history of a city
- keeps with character of surrounding community
- charged with erection of fences and signs
Conservation Advisory Council (CAC)
Created by the local legislature to advise in the development, management, and protection of the community’s natural resources and to prepare an inventory and map of open spaces.
- charged with protection of open area
- reviews all building permits and zoning board permits within open area on map
- they have a list of all open areas
Wetlands
fresh water wetlands are protected. Affected by pollutions, draining, filling etc.
-CAC protects the wetlands
Wetlands Commission
Enforces the environmental conservation laws through wetlands?
-Municipality has control over the wetland regulation for any piece of land smaller than 12.4 acres
Building Department
A town or city agency that oversees and reviews building applications by licensed professionals to ensure compliance with local building code and zoning ordinances.
Department of Building is responsible for issuing demolition permits
-Q: Abby hired an architect to design an addition to her house. Where must Abby’s architect go to submit his/her drawings for approvals and permits? Department of Buildings!
Functions of the Building Department:
- Approves architectural and engineering plans
- Issues construction permits
- Oversees building code compliance
- Sends building inspectors to sites to ensure existing buildings and on-going construction are in compliance with the building code
- Issue sign-offs and Certificate of Occupancy
- Licensing of a contractor, plumbers, etc
- responsible for sending building inspectors to job sites to inspect on-going construction work
Tax Assessor
An elected or appointed official of a county, city, town or village whose function is to value real property for the purposes of taxation.
Assessment Methods:
- Market Approach
- residential properties
- comparable properties - Cost Approach
- reproduction cost
- commercial or special use properties - Income Approach
- property income
- Commercial and investment properties
Records that need to be maintained:
- Tax Maps
- List of Exemptions
Receiver of Taxes
The collecting officer for each city and town that receives real property taxes and assessments.
Functions of a Receiver of Taxes/Treasurer
- Collect school and property taxes
- Track payments for municipalities
- Collects other fees such as water permits, building permit fees, sewer rentals, etc
Functions of an Engineer:
- One of the important functions of a city engineer is the control of storm water runoff
- Oversees community projects and cost of sewers, sidewalks and other public work projects
- Supervise street and other public works
- Assume responsibility for sewage/water supply and distribution systems
- Issue permits to private contracts for gutters etc
County Health Department
A local unit with the responsibility for protecting, assuring, and improving the health of its citizens.
Functions of the City and Country Health Department:
- Ensure the safety of drinking water, including standards for community and private well construction
- Septic system approvals
- waste water treatment approvals
- perc test
County Health Department
A local unit with the responsibility for protecting, assuring, and improving the health of its citizens.
Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP)
-community hearings, community board reviews it and offers a recommendation, city planning and offer recommendation, taken to city council and voted on, to mayor to approve
Mayor’s Office
is NOT responsible for implementing zoning regulations
Variance
proposal used to obtain permission to build a building that is not in compliance with the zoning resolution
