HomeMy WebLinkAbout1/26/2023 Item Public Comment, Priest
From:Donnie Priest <
To:Community Forum
Subject:City priorities
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Dear City of SLO,
I am unable to make it to your community forum. However, I would like to put in my two cents worth. I
would like you to consider making the departments you already have more honest, as well as efficient. In my
rd
opinion, having a compliance officer is greatly needed, and hopefully this would be a 3 party or have
an viewpoint with less bias.
I went through the building permit process for an ADU, in which I encountered many issues and concerns. My
neighbor was treated differently than I was. I had ordinances back dated, where my neighbor did not have any
updated ordinance back dated. My application followed case law, and not statute law, where my neighbor
followed statute law, but not case law. The city picked and choose what to follow based upon what
outcome it wanted. I had employees usurping the power of officials above them, and specifically
disregarding the full ordinance and requirements as passed. I had an differently employee endanger her
personal professional credential by enforcing a city policy, which I believe the policy is improper (as well as
one of the employee's professional credential organizations). I also saw good employees leave, and other not
so great, also leave.
Needless to say, in my opinion, it would be best to have the city establish an internal mechanism to correct
itself, instead of those effected going to outside oversight agencies. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the system
as currently designed, is not efficient and not working. It would be nice to have the city fix itself, before it tries
to take on more responsibilities. If the city is not doing the building permit process well, what other areas are
also inefficient and/or needing revamping? I believe having an compliance officer, other than that of the city
attorney, would be a good place to start.
Respectfully,
Donnie Priest
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