The Aberdeen City Council is expected to approve a spending plan for 2017 during its meeting tonight. State law requires cities to adopt their 2017 budgets before the end of this year.

The council was scheduled to approve the budget Dec. 14, but postponed doing so because many members had questions about some of the items included by Mayor Erik Larson. A follow-up budget workshop was held last week to provide information about some of the expenditures — particularly staff additions of a building inspector who would highlight enforcement of rental property codes as well as a city administrator to handle non-departmental city government matters.

The inspector would receive an annual compensation package of $78,236, which includes benefits during the first full year of employment. The person hired for the position would be responsible for ensuring the city’s residential and commercial properties were safe to occupy. The city has asked rental property owners to identify themselves through a licensing program created by the council in 2015 and began issuing these licenses earlier this year.

Lisa Scott, community development director, explained the new employee also would be responsible for helping with an expected increase in local construction next year and for putting the rental inspection program into place over the next couple of years. They would also do other inspections, she said.

“It’s life, health and safety,” Scott said about the focus of the employee addition being requested. And, not too many years ago there were four building inspectors on staff and now there is only one.

Updating the code would provide the city with more power to compel property owners to ensure their properties are maintained within pertinent health and safety requirements. It would also assist tenants who can’t afford to take their landlords to court to get them to improve conditions.

Larson said tenants have to choose between moving out and staying in a sub-par location. Renters have to take property owners to court when they refuse to keep conditions up to code. It’s an action many renters won’t take because of the cost.

“Renters either move out or stay in a place with unsafe conditions,” he said. “We’re going to give these employees the ability to go in and force action by the property owner to improve conditions.”

Council members would have to approve the code changes but have been advised the code should allow such inspectors the ability to enter dwellings so they can see how well the properties are maintained.

Larson then told the council members ensuring that rental properties are reasonably maintained would also help local employers recruit and maintain employees, which would sustain — and even improve — the area’s economy.

The latest draft of the budget also provides funding for a city administrator to start work in October during the final quarter of next year.

Larson originally asked for a full year of funding in his original budget proposal for this employee and the council reduced it after Larson said the person wouldn’t be hired until well into the second half of 2017.

Larson has said a city administrator would greatly benefit the city because there are limits to how effective and available the mayor can be and the city should be in a position to capitalize on opportunities when they happen. This employee could handle lobbying, networking, conflict resolution and a host of other duties, which would be determined by committee.

An executive search firm could find viable candidates for the position, Larson also said.

The annual salary and compensation package for a city administrator would be about $180,000, though the actual amount would depend on the person’s qualifications. Since the administrator won’t be brought on board until the final quarter of 2017, the person hired for the position would receive approximately $45,000 in wages and benefits.

Council member Margo Shortt was concerned about how much power this employee might have. Hoquiam City Administrator Brian Shay is the official who makes the decision about Contanda LLC’s shorelines permit application, she pointed out.

Larson explained that it’s a responsibility Hoquiam gives to its city administrator. Shay also hired an advisory firm to help make the permitting decision.

The goal is for the city of Aberdeen to hire a city administrator who understands and carries out tasks in ways its mayor and council members want, Larson added.

Council members were sharply divided about adding an inspector to the Building Department before the workshop was scheduled. When they approved the second reading of the budget in late November, six of them OK’d removing the position and only five were against it. It was removed but Larson and city staff have asked council members to reconsider this decision before they give the budget final approval.