Sonoma County Grand Jury
• 2009-2010
Permits and Resource Management Department Redux
⚠️ 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 and Recommendations 12 findings
F1
PRMD monitors complaints received from their clients. Types of complaints received, in order of frequency, are: 1. Time it takes to complete process 2. Consistency of requirements 3. Cost of completing process
No recommendations for this finding
F2
Many of the complaints received by the Grand Jury deal with problems of communication within the Department and between the Department and the public it serves.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
Slow but persistent efforts have been made over the last ten years to resolve communication problems.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
There is an apparent reluctance on the part of some within PRMD and some of its public clients to say anything negative about the agency for fear of retaliation. However, the Grand Jury was not able to substantiate any instances of retaliation.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
Projects are sometimes initiated and irretrievable costs incurred by members of the public without a clear understanding of the permits needed and the costs of permits, if they can be obtained.
No recommendations for this finding
F6
The number of permit applications has dropped steadily over the last five years.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
Cost per plan review has increased during the last five years due to new regulations to protect public resources.
No recommendations for this finding
F8
Speed of permit approval varies, with some inordinately slow. There is a policy in place regarding turn-around time for the plan check portion of the PRMD process.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
More emphasis is needed on avoiding unreasonable delays. Monitoring of application progress should be used to detect and resolve any bottlenecks. If a delay is due to the workload or abilities of the staff assigned to the task, then steps should be taken to provide additional assistance for completing the application review in a timely fashion. The entire Division should take responsibility for adhering to the turn-around time policy, as appropriate for each case. Required Responses: PRMD Director: R-1, R-2
F9
Pre-application meetings are offered by PRMD for a fee. These meetings are designed to identify all approvals and permits a client will need for a particular project.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
PRMD should take a more active role in leading applicants through the complexities of the permit process. For example, initial screening could be provided to determine whether or not a specific application calls for a pre-application meeting. If a pre- application meeting is called for, it could be required. The fee structure for such a screening and pre-application meeting could be adjusted to the size and complexity of the project and should be revenue neutral with respect to the current fee structure.
F10
An automated system to reduce waiting time for applicants scheduled to visit various desks within PRMD has been successfully installed in the last year.
No recommendations for this finding
F11
Marin County uses a software package for permit applicants which produces a checklist of required permits, based on the location of the project and an applicant-supplied project description.
No recommendations for this finding
F12
A survey of PRMD employees was conducted in 2009 to identify problems they felt existed in the Department. Action Committees have been established to make recommendations for resolving identified problems. CONCLUSIONS Obtaining the permits required to proceed with almost any project within unincorporated Sonoma County is a daunting task, especially if it represents a departure from what has been done before. The task will get more difficult as population growth puts more pressure on public resources and public infrastructure. As the agency designated to administer this permit process, PRMD inevitably generates complaints from the public it serves. Any steps it can take to reduce the cost and frustration of this process are desirable. The following recommendations of the Grand Jury are paths which could be explored to approach this goal. RECOMMENDATIONS
No recommendations for this finding
Conclusions 1
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CL1 Page 2Obtaining the permits required to proceed with almost any project within unincorporated Sonoma County is a daunting task, especially if it represents a departure from what has been done before. The task will get more difficult as population growth puts more pressure on public resources and public infrastructure. As the agency designated to administer this permit process, PRMD inevitably generates complaints from the public it serves. Any steps it can take to reduce the cost and frustration of this process are desirable. The following recommendations of the Grand Jury are paths which could be explored to approach this goal.