HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 3.B 03/16/2009 Late DocumentsCity Council Goals and Priorities
• Council Reason for Being
• R • of Council• e.
Council• Role of the Public in City Council Meetings
• Where are the • balance:
— Money shortage
— staff cuts
• Written procedures are abysmal
• Absence ofwritten standards
Absence• Substitution of authority in lieu of reasons for
doing something (Staff and Council)
• ofwrittenbystaffprincipals
• • Council interest in costbenefits • city
® Development
® Growth
® Economic Prosperity
® Economic value to the city
— Improved private prosperity
— Improved city revenues
— Long term vs. short term
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4 Eel 5 1 lip
From:
Diane Reilly Torres [dreillytorres@sbcglobal.net]
Sent:
Monday, March 16, 2009 2:28 PM
To:
Cooper, Claire; Dave Glass; david@davidrabbitt.com; Padovan, Deborah; Brown, John; Mike
Harris; Pam Torliatt; Teresa Barrett; Tiffany Renee
Cc:
corey.young@arguscourier.com; David Keller; janicecader@comcast.net;
kmillerhome@comcast.net; maryglardon@comcast.net; Michael Zenone; Moore, Mike;
office@plazanorthpetaluma.com; oldeastpetaluma@yahoo.com; paul francis;
paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com; Petaluma Neighbors; CDD; Spence F. Burton;
tanyasullivan@comcast.net; Victor Chechanover; willdargieppc@comcast.net
Subject:
Late Document -Item 3B and 4B
Dear Mayor Torliatt, City Council and City Manager,
I am not sure I can be at tonight's meeting to comment on item 313 Council's Goals and Priorities and 413
Discussion and Possible Direction on Development Code Advisory Committee Recommendations, but did want
to comment on these very important items.
When you discuss your top priorities, Development and Sustainability that include "Streamline the
development review process (Improve transparency, user friendliness, timeliness, providing answers in a
reasonable time frame.) and Enable City Council to be able to prioritize development (figure out how to deal
with people already in the pipeline, be proactive), please remember The Citizen Guide for the new General Plan
states, "Social Equity: Sustainable communities must recognize and address issues of race, ethnicity, class,
culture, and political power and how these issues influence decision-making practices so that certain groups are
not systematically disadvantaged. " The way the process is today if you have money to appeal your voice is
heard, if you do not have money, you are not heard.
On April 1, 2008 the Planning Commission held a public hearing, completed their review and forwarded a
recormnendation to approve the Draft Implementing Zoning Ordinance. The City Council held public hearings
on the Draft Implementing Zoning Ordinance on April 14 and April 21, 2008 as nart of the final public
hearines on the Draft General Plan 2025
On May 19, 2008 the Petaluma City Council adopted the General Plan 2025 and Interim Implementing Zoning
Ordinance to coincide with the effective date of the General Plan 2025.
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The General Plan includes topics that were deferred to the Development Code. The City Council adopted the
Regular Implementing Zoning Ordinance with the understanding that "The Implementing Zoning Ordinance
will be in effect until the City Council adopts the new Development Code early next year. That work is well
under way with the assistance of the council -appointed Development Code Advisory Committee."
That work was suspended with the budget cuts and has not been completed, therefore our General Plan is
incomplete.
In the last 6 months the Planning Commission has met 2 times and due to no agendized items, the September
23, 2008, November 25, 2008, December 23, 2008, January 13, 2009, January 27, 2009, February 10, 2009,
Planning Commission Meetings were canceled. My suggestion is to not have a DCAC or any sub -committees
and have the Planning Commission hold public hearings in order to complete the Development Code and send
their recommendations to the City Council. Funding for staff support can and should come from
Redevelopment Funds.
As a citizen who participated in the General Plan process, I along with others did not really understand how
the Implementing Zoning Ordinance and Development Code would effect the project approval process and
impact my neighborhood. Thank you for your consideration. Diane Reilly Torres