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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-12-2016 PC Correspondence - Item S1a (Cooper)Lomeli, Monique Subject: 2017-2019 Planning Commission Goal -Setting and the Financial Plan / Budget Process. From: Allan Cooper [ Sent: Monday, October 10, 2016 3:33 PM To: Advisory Bodies <advisor bodies slocit .or >; Fowler, Xzandrea <XFowle_r_@slocity.orR>; Davidson, Doug <ddavidson@slocity.org>; E-mail Council Website <emailcouncil@slocity.org> Subject: 2017-2019 Planning Commission Goal -Setting and the Financial Plan / Budget Process. Dear Xzandrea and Doug - With regards to the "Council seeking advisory body input focused on the purview area of the advisory body...", my position is that it should not be the role of the advisory bodies to assume fiscal responsibilities. I am also pointing out that it is critical that the City define the goals and purposes of each advisory body, much along the lines that is done in other California cities (and I include examples). The attached letter addresses this issue in more depth. Would you therefore kindly forward this letter to the Planning Commission before their Wednesday, October 12, 2016 meeting? Thanks! - Allan Meeting.a 0,12 - I L RECEIVED CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO OCT 10 2016 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT To: San Luis Obispo Planning Commission Re: Planning Commission's Review of "Advisory Body Goals" As Proposed By Staff From: Allan Cooper, San Luis Obispo Date: October 10, 2016 Honorable Chair and Commissioners - Staff's Number One Goal is: "Emphasize affordable housing programs, encourage workforce housing, and identify partnerships for financing opportunities." Goals Numbers Six and Seven are as follows: "Maintain a sustainable City budget and level of services by focusing on infrastructure maintenance, new revenue sources, and prudent use of Measure G funds." and "Implement the Economic Development Strategic Plan" (bold type is mine for emphasis). I've undertaken a quick review of nine California cities including the Cities of Monterey, Sacramento, Oakland, Saratoga, Fort Bragg, Albany, Capitola, Menlo Park and Los Altos in order to assess their Planning Commission/Advisory Body mission statements, goals, purposes, duties and responsibilities (see below). It became apparent to me that - with the exception of the City of Saratoga which addressed in broad terms the City's economic goals - no other City burdened its Advisory Bodies with the task of identifying "financing opportunities", "new revenue sources", the prudent use of sales tax assessments or the implementation of an economic development plan. No other City has burdened their Planning Commissions with the role of fiscal oversight. I had always assumed that the Planning Commission's primary purpose is to insure "good planning" consistent with the City's General Plan, irrespective of the costs incurred to the developer or the City. This assumption is borne out by reviewing the goals (listed below) that are specific to other California city advisory bodies. Key words/phrases missing in Staff's recommended list of goals are "good planning", "orderly growth", "physical development" and "consistency with the City's adopted plans" (all highlighted in red type below). More surprisingly, with the exception of the City's Mission Statement and Organizational Values, there are no goals or purposes to be found specific to each advisory body either on the City's official web site (slocity.©rg) or in the Advisory Body Handbook. So the goals you are presently reviewing are the only ones that will exist. Therefore, I advise you give serious consideration to this. In my opinion, these three goals (1, 6 & 7) as proposed by staff, will result in the fiscalization of all future planning decisions and, as such, will relegate to the back burner other, more pressing concerns that are of greater import to the citizens of San Luis Obispo. In summary, you should not be saddled with the Council's fiduciary and fiscal responsibilities. Thank you! City of San Luis Obispo Planning Commission Recommended Goals: Staff's Recommendations 1. Emphasize affordable housing programs, encourage workforce housing, and identify partnerships for financing opportunities. 2. Address and improve the relations between students and residents in neighborhoods surrounding Cal Poly, including housing, communication, neighborhood protection, parking, and infrastructure. Explore the creation of an Overlay Zone near Cal Poly with regulations on density, neighborhood compatibility, housing types, parking, and behavior. 3. Increase support for non -auto related transportation alternatives in plan and project approvals as well as program implementation through budgeting priorities. Analyze parking in neighborhoods comprehensively as a way to encourage non -automobile alternatives by addressing rebalancing, innovation, pricing, guidance, and parking structures. 4. Stress early implementation of the updated Land Use and Circulation Element high-priority programs. 5. Encourage expansion and stewardship of City Open Space. 6. Maintain a sustainable City budget and level of services by focusing on infrastructure maintenance, new revenue sources, and prudent use of Measure G funds. 7. Implement the Economic Development Strategic Plan. Planning Commission Purpose, Membership and Terms The PC regularly makes decisions regarding land use policies and specific development applications. Some are recommendations to the Council and some are final, subject to appeal to the Council. The PC also reviews and recommends long-range plans for the City's growth and development. The PC consist of seven members who are not necessarily planning professionals. City of Monterey Planning Commission: Helping Shape the City's Future Good planning is essential for effective communities. Every city has the responsibility to decide how to use its land and guide the form and shape the city will take in the future. Planning Commission is entrusted to help set land -use goals and evaluate individual project proposals to ensure that they are consistent with the City's adopted plans. Almost every decision of the Commission must strike a balance between private benefit and the overall public good. What is the purpose of the Planning Commission? Composed of seven members, the Commission creates a vision for future development in the City. To define that vision, the members: 1 Conduct research on growth and development. 2 Establish community development objectives. 3 Outline planning strategies to achieve the community's objectives. During the decision-making process, the Commission relies on the City's General Plan and Zoning Ordinance. The General Plan, which governs the City's physical shape and character, is our major policy document. Monterey's General Plan was adopted in 2005 and is reviewed on an annual basis. The General Plan can be found on the Web at: General Plan . In addition, the City has adopted specific area plans for various commercial and residential neighborhoods. In order to carry out its responsibilities, the Commission also considers subdivision ordinances, the State Planning Law and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). As part of the work program, the Commission: 1 Develops and maintains a General Plan 2 Develops more specific area plans to augment the General Plan 3 Develops zoning and subdivision ordinances to implement the plans 4 Performs annual reviews and makes recommendations to the City Council on the Capital Improvement Program and Neighborhood Improvement Program 5 Reviews development applications for their compliance with City plans, ordinances and programs City of Oakland Planning Commission The purpose of the Oakland Planning Commission is "to promote the orderly growth and development of the City through studies, decisions on development proposals, policy recommendations to the City Council, and related activities." City of Albany Planning & Zoning Commission Purpose The Planning & Zoning Commission makes recommendations to the City Council regarding all provisions of the General Plan, advises the City Council regarding the physical development of the City, and exercises functions with respect to land subdivisions, planning, and zoning as specified by Planning and Zoning Code and as set forth in the State Government Code and by the California Environmental Quality Act. City of Saratoga Planning Commission Mission Statement To maintain the unique character of Saratoga by ensuring that the physical development of the City is consistent with the environmental, social and economic goals as set forth in the City's General Plan. City of Fort Bragg Planning Commission Duties & Responsibilities The commission reviews land use and development permits (use permits, coastal development permits, design review permits, subdivisions, etc.) for consistency with the goals and policies of the Fort Bragg General Plan, and the development standards of the Fort Bragg Municipal Code. All Planning Commission decisions may be appealed to the City Council. The Planning Commission provides recommendations to the City Council on General Plan amendments and rezoning requests, and provides direction to the Community Development Department regarding the interpretation of city planning policies and codes. City of Capitola Planning Commission The Planning Commission is a City Council appointed Commission whose members are charged with reviewing land use and development permits (Conditional Use Permits, Coastal Development Permits, Design Permits, subdivisions, etc.) for consistency with the goals and policies of the Capitola General Plan, and the development standards of the Capitola Municipal Code. Planning Commission decisions may be appealed to the City Council. The Planning Commission provides recommendations to the City Council on General Plan amendments, rezoning requests, and provides direction to the Community Development Department regarding the interpretation of city planning policies and codes. City of Menlo Park Roles and responsibilities Established according to state law, the Planning Commission makes decisions in many areas of the land use process and also makes recommendations to the City Council in other areas: o Considers and grants or denies use permits and architectural control o Considers and recommends action on environmental impact reports and subdivisions o Initiates special area planning and rezoning studies; monitors the changing needs of the city in relationship to the General Plan as well as the recommendations of the General Plan amendments o Recommends action on rezoning proposals and conditional development permits o Takes action on variances City of Los Altos Planning and Transportation Commission The Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC) advises the City Council on planning and transportation issues. Transportation issues include automobile circulation, pedestrian, bicycle and handicapped access, and public transportation on all public streets, roadways and paths within the city limits of the City of Los Altos. City of Sacramento Planning And Design Commission The commission shall have the power and duty to carry out the State Planning and Zoning Law subject to provisions of City code including: (1) Title 16 related to subdivisions (2) Planning and Development Code related to zoning and design review (3) Recommend to Sacramento City Council policies and programs in support of the urban design program established under the Planning and Development code (4) Evaluate and submit comments or recommendations on proposed plans, public and private projects, and environmental reviews not subject to review under chapter 17.808 of the Sacramento City Code.