Code Compliance Section Findings 1. According to the Planning Department’s Final Conversion Plan, the department has a

Conclusions 13

• CL1 Page 17
  Political pressures from Board of Supervisors
• CL2 Page 17
  Stressful situations for employees who have to tell people what they cannot do with their property Each part of this cycle interacts with another and produces an unstable workforce and a dysfunctional department. Santa Cruz County employee salaries are low relative to housing costs and living expenses in the county. A major contributor to this problem is the nine-county average that is used to determine Santa Cruz County employee salaries. Using the salaries of comparable staff positions in the four cities in the county would be more relevant than counties like Fresno, Napa, Solano or Sonoma. A weighted-average is a better method for calculating benchmark salaries than a simple average. The Planning Department has little control over salaries. Therefore, the problems that plague the Planning Department in regards to employees will continue indefinitely despite their good effort to retain and hire enough new people. Silicon Valley has become a major source of income for a number of Santa Cruz County residents. This has its good and bad points. Since a Silicon Valley employee earns substantially more than a Santa Cruz County employee, Silicon Valley income-earners have driven up the cost of housing in the county. The present salaries of new county employees make it difficult to find affordable housing. This negatively affects recruitment. Review of the Santa Cruz County Planning Department Page 11 2000-01 Santa Cruz County Grand Jury Final Report Training programs for employees are critical to the building of their work skills. The high vacancy rate, which has prevailed within the department, has contributed heavily to the lack of essential training. Political pressure is a way of life for any county’s planning department. Training personnel to deal with this inevitable reality will have the effect of lowering stress and improving morale. The Grand Jury commends the dedicated and loyal Planning Department employees who have persevered during these difficult times. Special thanks go to the employees who cooperated with this review. Development Review Section Conclusions The files selected were completed in a timely manner. They contained sufficient information to understand the decisions that were made in each case. Any deficiencies are not of major significance and can be readily resolved. Building Permit Section Conclusions The files selected were completed in a timely manner. They contained sufficient information to understand the decisions that were made in each case. Any deficiencies are not of major significance and can be readily resolved. Code Compliance Section Conclusions Code A complaints (highest priority involving immediate threat to public health and safety) were not given the high priority indicated by the department’s own policies. One year after the complaint filing date 60% were still unresolved. The failure to promptly resolve serious code violations (Code A) creates circumstances of undue risk of serious injury or death. Code compliance files that are incomplete result in inefficiency. Proper use of the current ALUS code compliance system will accomplish the goal of screening out the old files with a few minor changes. This result can be attained by
• CL3 Page 18
  Adding a new status type
• CL4 Page 18
  Considering the new status type the same as a closed complaint
• CL5 Page 18
  Removing the closed files from all computer reports that show active complaints
• CL6 Page 18
  Keeping the history in the computer
• CL7 Page 18
  Changing all old complaints without health or safety problems to the new status type Relying on a new code compliance computer system as an excuse for not reducing the number of code compliance complaints is unacceptable. Code A-C verses 1-5 should not be an excuse for inaction. Although the department has defined its problems and designed initiatives to help correct the code compliance issues, the department is unable to get beyond the planning stage and implement the policies. Page 12 Review of the Santa Cruz County Planning Department 2000-01 Santa Cruz County Grand Jury Final Report It would be very beneficial to have the code compliance status on the internet for the following reasons:
• CL8 Page 19
  The department would receive fewer calls and visits, which will increase efficiency
• CL9 Page 19
  The department would have a greater incentive to reduce outstanding code compliance complaints Systems and Policies Conclusions Inability to accept credit cards is a disservice to the public. This simple reform would do much to improve public relations and reduce the frustration of the employees. The cost savings of personnel time and the convenience to the citizens would justify the cost. Since almost anyone can enter information into the computer, there is a potential for personal gain, collusion or errors. The department or the Auditor-Controller’s Office should consider installing an internal audit system, randomly picking both closed and open files to review. The web sites for both the development approval process and the building permit process are an excellent source of information to the public. Obtaining a new computerized planning system, currently used by other planning departments in the state, has the potential to reduce personnel costs. Further benefits include:
• CL10 Page 19
  Easy and flexible report writing module
• CL11 Page 19
  Easy way to update internet screens using the data stored in the system
• CL12 Page 19
  Consecutive numbering of the code compliance complaints in order of receipt
• CL13 Page 19
  Prevent a file from advancing to the next stage without completion of previous steps

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