TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council FROM: Scot - - PDF document

TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council FROM: Scot Timboe Planning Director SUBJECT: PLANNING DEPARTMENT BRIEFING RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION: That the City Council receives the presentation of the Planning Department.

• A. Department Mission:

To promote a positive community image through

• pen

and honest communication with

• ther

departments, agencies and the public, while effectively and efficiently guiding community policies and procedures for healthy sustainable growth, along with the goal of providing a high quality of life as Red Bluff is a great place to live (play), we (I) am committed to long range planning, effective management of resources and openness toward innovative ideas.

AGENDA REPORT Meeting Date: June 2, 2009 Agenda Item # ______ City Manager Approval:

The Planning Department accomplish this task by working as a member of a team with other City Departments to facilitating and guide the activities and operations of the Cities future orderly build out through growth Management, Research & Analyses, Building Permits, GIS Systems, Public Services/outreach, Technical Assistance, Development Applications, City policies, and procedures. Specifically the Planning Department coordinates various activities with other City departments and

• utside agencies and provides professional advice

to the City Council, Planning Commission and other groups and individuals often through the Technical Advisory Committee

• f

whom the Planning Department is the lead position.

• B. STAFFING:

(1) C. ISSUES FACING THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT:

• 1. Code Enforcement has become responsive

where as it was approached prior to becoming an issue.

• 2. Personnel work load

• 3. Land Use Element, Greenways Element,

Safety Element, Noise Element, Circulation Element update after Draft preparation. While these Elements could use some tweaking here and there, they are not mandatory to update. With the Economy, Significant loss of funds, the Planning Department believes it would be difficult to justify the hundreds of thousands of dollars to prepare special studies and an EIR

• process. At this point and time, the Planning

Department is focusing on updating the required Housing Element for approximately $40,000. The Draft Housing Element will be

• ut this month.
• D. DISCUSSION:

Please see the Power Point Presentation.

CITY OF RED BLUFF A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE

• The Planning Departm ent guides the activities and operations of

the City’s future orderly build out through grow th Managem ent, y y g g g Research & Analyses, Building Perm its, GI S System s, Public Services/ outreach, Technical Assistance, Developm ent Applications, City policies, and procedures.

• The Planning Departm ent coordinates various activities w ith other
• The Planning Departm ent coordinates various activities w ith other

City departm ents and outside agencies and provides professional advice to the City Council, Planning Com m ission and other groups and individuals often through the Technical Advisory Com m ittee of w hom the Planning Departm ent is the lead position.

• Exciting things continue to happen in the City of Red Bluff. The City

is continuously grow ing although, som etim es the grow th rate is faster w hile other tim es it is slow er, but the city is alw ays grow ing.

• Manages and participate in the developm ent and adm inistration of

the Planning Departm ent budget; I n the current econom ic clim ate, the Planning Departm ent w ho is a m em ber of a larger organization and a specialized team has had to let the City Planner go recently. W ith this in m ind the Planning Departm ent is estim ating end of the W ith this in m ind, the Planning Departm ent is estim ating end of the 2 0 0 8 / 2 0 0 9 budget year expenditure not to exceed approxim ately $ 1 7 0 ,0 0 0 and foresees a further reduction of expenditure for the 2 0 0 9 / 2 0 1 0 Budget year due to an annual realized personnel cost reduction.

PLANNING DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT

To prom ote a positive com m unity im age through open and To prom ote a positive com m unity im age through open and honest com m unication w ith other departm ents, agencies and the public, w hile effectively and efficiently guiding com m unity policies and procedures for healthy sustainable grow th, along w ith the goal of providing a high quality of life as Red Bluff is a great place to live ( play) w e ( I ) am life as Red Bluff is a great place to live ( play) , w e ( I ) am com m itted to long range planning, effective m anagem ent

• f resources and openness tow ard innovative ideas.

PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Planning Director Growth Management BuildingPermits GIS Systems Public Services Technical Assistance Research & Analysis

Growth Management

Assists in the developm ent and im plem entation of: grow th p p g m anagem ent, land use, developm ent, utility, housing, transportation facilities, solid w aste or other plans and codes to m eet the City's needs and any inter- governm ental agreem ents or requirem ents. g g q Evaluates and Monitors land use and developm ent proposals for conform ity w ith established plans and ordinances; evaluates proposals, developm ent im pacts as they relate to the adopted plans of the City and m akes recom m endations.

RESEARCH & ANALYSIS RESEARCH & ANALYSIS

• Prepares and oversees a variety of studies, and reports

p y , p related to the general plan, disaster response, dem ographics, annexations, environm ental assessm ents, transportation and other subjects; coordinates the publication of statistics and inform ation for other agencies

• Analyze problem s, identify alternative solutions, project

consequences of proposed actions and im plem ent recom m endations in support of Com m unity goals,

• bjective, policies and other City Standards as they apply

BUILDING PERMITS

• The Building Departm ent as a key m em ber of our City
• gani ation team ecei es and adm iniste s B ilding pe m its
• rganization team receives and adm inisters Building perm its,

Grading perm its, Electrical perm its, Plum bing perm its, and Mechanical Perm its. W hile Planning, Public W orks, and the Fire Departm ents concurrently review and approve, conditionally, approve or reject through their ow n Plan Check, process Building and Grading Perm its for the m ost part som e exception Building and Grading Perm its for the m ost part, som e exception w ith Fire m ay include com m ercial plum bing and electrical perm its.

• W ith this in m ind, the Planning Departm ent is currently
• W ith this in m ind, the Planning Departm ent is currently

review ing about 5 0 to 6 0 percent of all Perm its issued by the Building Departm ent and m any of them are for rem odels, tenant im provem ents and or garage conversions.

• These perm its typically start w ith phone calls to Building and
• These perm its typically start w ith phone calls to Building and

Planning and result in perm it approvals, conditional approvals and ultim ately trips to the field for review and finaling by the Planning Departm ent as w ell as other approving Departm ents.

GIS SYSTEMS

• The City of Red Bluff Planning Departm ent w as w orking w ith
• The City of Red Bluff Planning Departm ent w as w orking w ith

scissors and glue to create m aps, and Diagram s for research that provides required data for State and Federal agencies as w ell public and interagency or other departm ent inquires future assessm ents. As of the m iddle of 2 0 0 7 the Planning Departm ent has received parcel inform ation and a base Departm ent has received parcel inform ation and a base im age or color picture of the City of Red Bluff along w ith 1 ft. Contour lines. Planning Staff has w orked w ith Public W orks and Fire to integrate and provide Sew er, w ater, fire hydrants, streets and traffic inform ation, along w ith new FEMA Flood Hazard inform ation that creates a com plete FEMA Flood Hazard inform ation that creates a com plete system w hich is utilized for its presentation and analyses purposes.

• GI S gives the City the able to utilize the Visual

i f l d f i f d hi i g representation of land Use I nform ation for data archiving, and reports ( State Federal, Local; Staff Reports)

• Staff routinely updates another data base as required by

state law w hich is used for addressing and property state law w hich is used for addressing and property

• w nership.

P bli S i /O t h Public Services/Outreach

• Responds to citizens inquiring about city planning, zoning, code

enforcem ent, Flood Hazard regulations and other ordinances or enforcem ent, Flood Hazard regulations and other ordinances or duties as needed on a daily bases.

• Establish and m aintain effective w orking relationships w ith

those contacted in the course of w ork including City Departm ent and other governm ent officials at the local, County and State levels com m unity groups the general public and m edia levels, com m unity groups, the general public, and m edia representatives.

• Represent the Planning Departm ent to other City departm ents,

elected officials and outside agencies; explain and justify Planning Departm ent program s, policies, and activities; ti t d l iti i ifi t d t i l negotiate and resolve sensitive, significant and controversial issues. Every Day Responsibilities

• Phone I nquires 2 0 0 8 - over 2 0 0 0 Ranging from com plex m ulti
• Phone I nquires 2 0 0 8 - over 2 ,0 0 0 Ranging from com plex m ulti

hour Developm ent driven conference calls to Garage Conversion, rem odels and Zoning verification ( Zoning Verification/ Planning Officer as required by state Law AB9 9 2 and City Council Resolution 6 -1 9 8 4 ) . 2 0 0 8 C t ll 2 0 0 8 1 3 2 0 t 1 7 6 0

• 2 0 0 8 Counter calls 2 0 0 8 - 1 ,3 2 0 to 1 ,7 6 0
• Service calls to the Field- Over 4 0 0 prim arily project driven and

Code Enforcem ent

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

• Possesses com prehensive know ledge of federal, state and local land use,

law s adm inistered by the departm ent. Responsible for m aking y p p g recom m endations or judgm ents regarding com plex developm ent policies, proposals, and projects, along w ith individual public citizens and property determ inations.

• FEMA Flood Plain Manger charged w ith identify and reducing risk to the

City and Com m unity- w hile protecting the Floodw ay and guiding developm ent or existing structures w ithin the1 0 0 yr Floodplain developm ent or existing structures w ithin the1 0 0 yr. Floodplain

• U.S. Census Boundary Survey’s
• Departm ent of Finance Population grow th rate data
• Departm ent of w ater resources and audit
• FEMA Survey
• Provide staff support to other Departm ents, Agencies, com m ission and

council as needed. Often tim es, in the form of assistance in designs for parks, streetscapes, landscapes and other m unicipal projects.

• Prepares m aps, plats, site plans, etc. for City parks, Public W orks, Police,

Fire and developm ent projects. C di h di ib i f bli i i i d hi d

• Coordinate the distribution of publications containing dem ographic and

statistical inform ation to the business com m unity and City departm ents Maintains and assists in developm ent of databases and inform ation for City w ide use, w hich is then dissem inate to Fire, Public W orks and the Building Departm ent. These inform ation system s include City GI S System , and a Mandatory State Law requiring Addressing and Property ow ner and a Mandatory State Law requiring Addressing and Property ow ner inform ation updates for em ergency services, W ater Dept., Building perm it System , Zoning Verification, Postm aster services, Utilities etc.- 2 0 % of Planners duties.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications Preliminary Review Formal Project Application Administrative Use Permit

Technical Advisory Com m ittee Planning Com m ission Technical Advisory Com m ittee

City Council

Many projects proposed in Red Bluff Require Use Permits which are reviewed and approved by the Planning commission. The Planning Commission acts as an appeal board or recommending body of government to the City Council

DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS

• Meets with individuals and groups as the Planning Department. Provides

technical interpretations and guidance regarding various city codes and p g g g y standards, advice and guidance to interested parties as needed. Communicates official programs, policies and procedures, including applications, plan reviews, permits, and monitoring procedures as needed and related to items below.

• California Environmental Quality Act compliance Evaluates environmental

impacts and recommends mitigation measures to mitigate or reduce impacts and recommends mitigation measures to mitigate or reduce adverse impacts of development.

• Tentative Tract Maps (5 or more Lots)
• Tentative Parcel Maps (1 to 4 Lots)
• Final Map approvals

C di i l U P i

• Conditional Use Permits
• Variances
• Preliminary Plan Review
• Project Design Review (Site & Buildings etc.)
• Sign Review

S g e e

• General Plan Compliance
• Zoning compliance
• Setback Adjustments
• Administrative Use Permits
• Right of Way Abandonments
• Right of Way Abandonments
• Home Occupations
• Lot line Adjustments
• Lot Mergers
• Similar Use Findings

CITY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

General Plan Amendments- General Plan Elements;

H i El U d 2009 2014 Housing Element Update 2009-2014

Zoning Code (Ch. 25) Amendments -Prezoning of

lands to be annexed; Rezoning of Text (Words and sentences) or Rezoning of the Map; these change sentences) or Rezoning of the Map; these change existing information to proposed information or designations

Subdivision Code (Ch. 20) Amendments-Text

( ) (Words and sentences) change from existing to proposed

Flood Hazard and Prevention Code (Ch. 26)

A d t T t (W d d t M ) Amendments- Text (Words and sentences or Map) change from existing to proposed

Design Review Code (Ch. 15) Amendments- Text

(Words and sentences) change from existing to (Words and sentences) change from existing to proposed