HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-21-2017 Item 1, RowleyCOUNCIL MEETING:�—
ITEM NO.: 1 FEB 21 2011
CLERK
From: Sandra Rowley [
Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2017 9:01 PM
To: Harmon, Heidi <hharmon2slocity.org>; Rivoire, Dan <DRivoire@siocity.org>; Christianson, Carlyn
<cchristianson@slocity.org>; Pease, Andy <aoease@slocity.org>; Gomez, Aaron <agomez@slocity.org>
Cc: Gallagher, Carrie <CGallagher@slocity.org>; Goodwin, Heather <hgoodwin@slocity.org>; Christian, Kevin
<kchristian@slocity.org>
Subject: Item 1- Study Session to Review Cost of Living Fee Study
Attached please find a letter from Residents for Quality Neighborhoods.
Residents for Quality Neighborhoods
P.O. Box 12604 • San Luis Obispo, CA 93406
Meeting date: February 21, 2017
SUBJECT: Study Session to Review Cost of Service Fee Study
Dear Mayor Harmon and Members of the Council,
Residents for Quality Neighborhoods is concerned about the increases proposed for the appeal
fee. We are, also, concerned about a process that divides the appeals into tiers since this
requires a more in-depth understanding of planning terms and processes than the layman
would or should need to possess.
Fees for filing appeals used to be much lower, i.e., affordable. At some point the amount was
raised and it has increased annually for everything, except Tree Committee review ($114), to
the current level. The current fee for filing an appeal, $281, appears to be at the edge of
affordability for many city residents. We have learned of several instances where contributions
were solicited from those who live beyond the affected areas in order to raise the amount
needed.
The tier approach, assigning different fees for different actions is extremely confusing. It
requires residents to learn technical planning terms just to know if they are filing a tier 1, 2, 3 or
4 appeal. This should not be required. In addition, some individuals may submit appeal
documents thinking the appeal falls into one tier when it actually falls into a more expensive
tier.
There is a community -wide value to appeals. For example, privacy and solar access are
neighbor -hood quality of life concepts that are important to city residents, and they are
codified in various city regulations. Unfortunately, there are occasional projects that come
before advisory bodies and the council that do not respect these concepts, thus negatively
affecting the surrounding area. Likewise, there have been staff recommendations that did not
fully consider all negative impacts of a proposal. This is to be expected; staff members are
human, too, like the rest of us.
We do not make the above comments disparagingly. We make them to highlight the value of
the appeals process and the concurrent importance of making that process both available and
understandable to all members of the community.
One of San Luis Obispo's positive attributes is that it is an engaged community. We are
concerned that community members will be priced out of their ability to appeal and this will
have a limiting effect on that engagement/public participation. We are, also concerned that
proposed actions/ activities seen as harmful to the community, i.e., not in conformance with
community traditions and values, might not be appealed. We recommend the following as a
community benefit:
1. Retain the current flat fee methodology for appeals, except for Home Occupation appeals.
2. The fee to appeal a Home Occupation Permit be lowered to $130 as shown in the staff
report.
3. The fee to appeal other items remain at the current level of $281, or be lowered.
4. Consideration be given to lowering the appeal fee to $250.
Thank you for your time and consideration of these comments.
Sincerely,
Sandra Rowley
Chairperson, RQN
K