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Extracted from Consolidated Report

This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.

Santa Barbara County Grand Jury • 2015-2016

Inconsistent and Unreliable

18 pages

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⚠️ 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.

Note: Missing finding numbers detected: F11

Findings 12 findings

F1 Page 37

While the City of Santa Barbara Zoning Information Report, instituted in 1974, has served an important purpose, the State now requires many of these safeguards through the Real Estate Transfer Disclosure Statement.

F2 Page 37

The practice of the City of Santa Barbara Community Development Department is that if information cannot be located by the Planning Technician II inspector, it is assumed it never existed and that owners must produce proof of its existence, or face violations.

F3 Page 37

Homeowners, after having spent many hundreds, often thousands of dollars to establish that an improvement was permitted, and that the City was incorrect, still bear the cost of the investigation.

F4 Page 37

A City of Santa Barbara Zoning Information Report with no violations does not guarantee a future report will not show alleged unreported violations by previous owners. 2014-15 CITY OF SANTA BARBARA ZONING INFORMATION REPORTS

F5 Page 38

If a violation reported on a City of Santa Barbara Zoning Information Report is found to be incorrect, the report is amended but the alleged violation is not necessarily removed by the Community Development Department.

F6 Page 38

There is no formal appeal process. An “intent to dispute” is not an adequate appeals process.

F7 Page 38

The City Zoning Information Report Planning Technician II inspectors do not typically research the property records prior to the site visit.

F8 Page 38

The basic cost of a City of Santa Barbara Zoning Information Report is $465.00, the highest in the State. Other municipalities charge considerably less.

F9 Page 38

The requirement that a single-family residence maintain a covered, unobstructed, 20 foot by 20 foot parking space is overly restrictive.

F10 Page 39

There is no training manual for staff to conduct consistent Zoning Information Report inspections and reports.

F12 Page 25

Guadalupe’s decades long hope and expectation that future housing and commercial development will improve its financial situation have not been realized.

F13 Page 25

Disincorporation will freeze the existing debt of the City of Guadalupe at the current level.

Recommendations 12

R1
Page 37

That the City of Santa Barbara declare Zoning Information Reports voluntary, and used for informational purposes only.
R2
Page 37

That the City of Santa Barbara Community Development Department institute a policy that if staff cannot prove that the property was altered during the current ownership, the City presumes the alteration previously existed.
R3
Page 37

That if the alleged violations prove to be incorrect, the City of Santa Barbara reimburse the homeowner for all costs incurred in the subsequent investigation.
R4
Page 38

That the City of Santa Barbara provide certainty to the buyer by certifying each Zoning Information Report as accurate.
R5
Page 38

If a Zoning Information Report violation is found to be incorrect, that violation be removed entirely from the report.
R6a
Page 38

That the City of Santa Barbara establish an appeals process that requires an outside mediator.
R6b
Page 38

That the Zoning Information Report include a prominently stated and documented appeal process.
R7
Page 38

The Planning Technician II inspector review all relevant files prior to a site visit.
R8
Page 38

The price for a Zoning Information Report should be consistent with other municipalities.
R9
Page 38

34 2014-15 CITY OF SANTA BARBARA ZONING INFORMATION REPORTS That the City rewrite this parking ordinance requirement in a more flexible manner while keeping on-street parking under control.
R10
Page 39

That the City of Santa Barbara write a detailed training manual defining the research policies, inspections, and procedures.
R22
Page 25

2014-15 Santa Barbara County Grand Jury ______________GUADALUPE SHELL GAME MUST END____________

No Responses Found 1

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.

Guadalupe City