The Medford City Council held more than 10 hours of budget hearings last week, meeting with leaders of all city departments to review Mayor Stephanie M. Burke’s proposed $162 million budget for fiscal 2017.

During the hearings, the council asked department heads about their offices’ needs and whether they were reflected by the proposed budget.

The Transcript reports on some of the biggest storylines from this year's budget hearings, presenting an overview of key departments' budget proposals and requests.

Note: 2017 figures reflect Burke’s proposed budget, which requires council approval.

OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Community Development Director Lauren DiLorenzo

2016: $163,489

2017: $274,735

Change: + 68.0 %

Additions: Two new full-time planners – one economic development planner and one land-use planner ($110,000) … Increased funding for conferences and professional development ($600 increase).

Goals: The office plans to utilize grants to develop a strategic plan for the city (estimated cost: $75,000) … Launching a storefront improvement program (estimated funding: $70,000).

City Councilor Rick Caraviello: On goal of starting storefront improvement program … “I’d like to see an increase of our curb appeal.”

DiLorenzo: On new planners … “The new positions will enable the Office of Community Development (OCD) to increase the amount of time spent on economic development and planning, key functions for the city,” according to department’s written budget narrative.

On strategic plan … “A strategic plan would help the city identify actions that would provide the most economic benefit both in the short term and the long term,” according to budget narrative.

On grant application to redevelop bus shelter area on Riverside Avenue … “We’ve had indication that we’re going to receive a grant. They will not be announcing grants until the fall … We’re going to initiate a further design contract with the landscape architect on that project, so once we have that executed, we’ll have some more open meetings on that.”