Ventura County Grand Jury
• 2008-2009
Land Use Permitting Process “Get to Excellence Plan”
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 11 findings
F01
In 2007, members of the BOS and the CEO concluded that something needed to be done to address the increasing number of complaints regarding the discretionary land use permitting process.
F02
In 2007, the County issued a contract to consultant Thomas Berg to evaluate the discretionary land use permitting process which resulted in the Berg Report released in early 2008.
F03
In April of 2008, the County assigned an Assistant CEO to head a committee of County executives to oversee the development and implementation of new procedures, protocols, and other changes to address the permitting problems. This resulted in a program known as the “Get to Excellence Plan.”
F04
According to an article published in the Ventura County Star, dated September 4, 2008, there were 352 discretionary planning applications processed by the RMA between January 2006 and December 2007. The average time to process from customer application to approval was: [Ref-02] • projects approved by the BOS 340 days • projects approved by the Planning Commission 366 days • conditional use permits 184 days • major modifications 325 days • minor modifications 251 days • parcel maps 405 days • planned developments 285 days • parcel map waiver lot line adjustments 191 days • large lot subdivisions 487 days ______________________________________________________________________________ 2 Land Use Permitting Process
F05
Applicants are charged an hourly fee for processing requests.
F06
The “Get to Excellence Plan” identifies 23 projects, nine of which were completed as of May 6, 2009. (Att-01)
F07
Periodic stakeholder meetings are being held to provide status and feedback on the proposed changes, as well as any other permit related problems.
F08
The CEO provides periodic briefings to the BOS on the progress of the “Get to Excellence Plan.”
F09
The County anticipates full implementation of the “Get to Excellence Plan” in the Fall of 2009. However, the current budgetary crisis may cause some Berg Report recommendations and some plan action items to be delayed or not implemented.
F10
A high level “Intake Coordinator” position has been created and filled to implement one-stop application submittals. County officials state this is having positive results. (Att-01) [Ref-03]
F11
To date, there has been little change in the RMA Planning Division personnel that were in place at the time that public complaints were received. Conclusions C-01. The BOS and CEO recognize the existing land use permitting problems and are committed to resolving these issues and implementing solutions. (F-01 through F-03) C-02. As long as the current land use permitting departments and personnel remain substantially unchanged, successful implementation of the “Get to Excellence Plan” will require continuous oversight. (F-01 through F-03, F-11) C-03. Ongoing face-to-face interaction between the public and the County at stakeholder meetings is highly beneficial to understanding and resolving land use permitting problems. (F-07) C-04. The “Get to Excellence Plan” will require procedural and attitudinal changes before the various departments operate fully in the spirit and intent of the planned reforms. (F-04, F-06, F-09 through F-11) Recommendations
Recommendations 4
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R01Both the BOS and CEO should continue frequent and in-depth reviews of the progress and metrics of the Berg Report recommendations and the “Get to Excellence Plan” related to the land use permitting process. (C-01, C-02)
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R02The CEO should continue to hold stakeholder meetings until all parties agree they are no longer needed. (C-03) ___________________________________________________________________________ Land Use Permitting Process 3
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R03After implementation of the “Get to Excellence Plan,” the CEO should establish and maintain a committee of qualified County executives to oversee the performance of departments involved in the land use permitting process and monitor complaints from users. (C-02 through C-04)
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R04The CEO and/or RMA should make personnel changes, if required to achieve the goals of the “Get to Excellence Plan” in a timely manner. (C-04) Responses Responses Required From: Board of Supervisors, County of Ventura (R-01, R-03, R-04) Responses Requested From: County Executive Officer, County of Ventura (R-01 through R-04) References Ref-01. Berg, Thomas, Ventura County Discretionary Land Use Regulatory System, April 2008 http://gsa-docushare.countyofventura.org/dscqi/ds.py/File- 19643/000024BA.pdf Ref-02. Officials concede land use problems, Ventura County Star, September 4, 2008 http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/sep/04/officials- concede-land-use-problems/?printer=1/ Ref-03. Planning process will be put to the test, Ventura County Star, April 20, 2009 http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/apr/20/planning- process-will-be-put-to-the-test/?printer=1/ Attachments Att-01. “Get to Excellence Plan,” for the Land Use Permitting Process ______________________________________________________________________________ 4 Land Use Permitting Process Attachment 1 “Get to Excellence Plan,” for the Land Use Permitting Process ___________________________________________________________________________ Land Use Permitting Process 5 (This page intentionally blank) ______________________________________________________________________________ 6 Land Use Permitting Process ___________________________________________________________________________ Land Use Permitting Process 7 ______________________________________________________________________________ 8 Land Use Permitting Process ___________________________________________________________________________ Land Use Permitting Process 9 ______________________________________________________________________________ 10 Land Use Permitting Process
Conclusions 1
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CL1 Page 5C-01. The BOS and CEO recognize the existing land use permitting problems and are committed to resolving these issues and implementing solutions. (F-01 through F-03) C-02. As long as the current land use permitting departments and personnel remain substantially unchanged, successful implementation of the “Get to Excellence Plan” will require continuous oversight. (F-01 through F-03, F-11) C-03. Ongoing face-to-face interaction between the public and the County at stakeholder meetings is highly beneficial to understanding and resolving land use permitting problems. (F-07) C-04. The “Get to Excellence Plan” will require procedural and attitudinal changes before the various departments operate fully in the spirit and intent of the planned reforms. (F-04, F-06, F-09 through F-11)
No Responses Found 2
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
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