Title
Planning and Building Department recommending the Board:
1) Receive and file the State of the Planning and Building Department Report for Fiscal Year 2019-20; and
2) Provide conceptual approval for the addition of five Full Time Equivalent positions to assist with the increased workload associated with the implementation of new regulations in the area of Vacation Home Rentals, Model Water Efficiency Landscaping, and the Targeted General Plan Amendment/Zoning Ordinance Update; an increased budget for overtime and extra help to assist with the current increase and permitting activity and seasonal peak workloads; and funding to create new office spaces for the new positions. (Est. Time: 1 Hr.)
FUNDING: Permit revenue, Transient Occupancy Tax, and General Fund.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Planning and Building Department consists of the five following Divisions:
I. Building Division
II. Code Enforcement Division
III. Economic Development Division
IV. Planning Division
V. Commercial Cannabis Division
The staff report in Attachment A includes a section for each Division that includes a Summary, Accomplishments for Fiscal Year 2018-19, and Goals and Challenges for FY 2019-20.
The staff report also addresses an increase in workload for the Department due to the implementation of new regulations, including the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), Assembly Bill 52, Targeted General Plan Amendment/Zoning Ordinance Update (TGPA/ZOU); and newly assigned or expanded programs including Code Enforcement, Vacation Home Rentals (VHRs), Commercial Cannabis and Economic Development.
These new programs have required substantial staff resources, delaying efforts to advance some ongoing, routine activities and affecting permit and application processing times. Staffing levels have been relatively static over the past five years as workloads have been increasing.
To address the new programs and staffing deficiencies described in ...
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