20081118_es

COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT

DATE:

November 3, 2008

BOARD MEETING DATE:

November 18, 2008

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

None

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Lisa Grote, Director of Community Development

SUBJECT:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Long Range Planning Services Fiscal Year 2008 - 2009 Work Plan

RECOMMENDATION

This item, which is informational, does not require action by the Board of Supervisors. Staff recommends that the Board review the proposed work plan, afford an opportunity for public comment, and provide guidance to staff on its content and implementation.

VISION ALIGNMENT

The Work Plan has been drafted with the County’s commitment to responsive, effective and collaborative government in mind, and the priorities established by the work plan implement Goal 20, which states “Government decisions are based on careful consideration of future impact, rather than temporary relief or immediate gain.” The projects and programs listed on the work plan carry out a number of the County’s goals and commitments, including, but not limited to, those regarding housing, natural resource protection, health and safety, prosperity, transportation, and the urban environment.

BACKGROUND

Long Range Planning Services (LRPS), a division of the Planning and Building Department, is seeking input on its proposed 2008 - 2009 fiscal year work plan for the following reasons: (1) the 2008 - 2009 budget includes a new performance measure for LRPS, under which 80% of projects are to be processed in accordance with established priorities, timeframes, and budgets; and (2) workload management - the establishment of an annual work plan is intended to set priorities among competing demands, and help prevent new proposals from interfering with the completion of these priorities.

Planning Commission Action: This item was presented as an informational item to the Planning Commission at its July 23, 2008 meeting. The Planning Commission did not suggest any changes to the work plan. Since that time, staff has adjusted the timelines and next steps for completing priority projects necessary to keep the plan as accurate and up to date as possible.

DISCUSSION

The priority tasks included in the work plan fall within two categories: projects that have a specific initiation and completion date, and ongoing programs that place a consistent demand on staff time. As shown by Attachment 1, there are 12 ongoing programs that are projected to consume approximately 15% of available staff time, and 10 priority projects that will take up the remaining 85% of staff time.

The ongoing programs contained in the work plan include general plan conformity reviews, zoning officer hearings, and the Housing Element Implementation Program. They also include staff participation on the Midcoast Stormwater Drainage Committee, the Health and Built Environment Committee, the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Critical Coast Areas Steering Committee, the C/CAG Transportation Advisory Committee, and committees associated with the El Camino Real “Grand Boulevard” Initiative. Other ongoing programs that enhance the Department’s efficiencies and effectiveness include current efforts to build a Geographic Information System and organize planning records.

The priority projects that will receive the greatest amount of staff attention include the General Plan Update, North Fair Oaks Area Plan Update, 2009 Housing Element Update, and completion of the Midcoast Local Coastal Program Update. Each of these projects has been allocated 15% of the LRPS staff time. Other priority projects that are equally important but are not anticipated to consume as much staff time are the update of the Williamson Act Program (10% of staff time), the Watershed Protection Program (7% of staff time), and adoption of the new Telecommunication Facilities Ordinance (5% of staff time). Projects that will receive less than 5% of staff time include follow-up on the Emerald Lake Hills Design Review Survey and the Phase II Midcoast Groundwater Study, and the establishment of a lottery and waiting list for the LCP’s quota on caretaker units in Princeton.

FISCAL IMPACT

Implementation of the proposed work plan will help ensure that the work performed and contracted by LRPS remains within its 2008 – 2009 budget allocation.



COUNTY OF SAN MATEO Inter-Departmental Correspondence

PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT


DATE:		November 3, 2008
BOARD MEETING DATE:		November 18, 2008
SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:		None
VOTE REQUIRED:		None

TO:	Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:	Lisa Grote, Director of Community Development

SUBJECT:	EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Long Range Planning Services Fiscal Year 2008 - 2009 Work Plan

RECOMMENDATION

This item, which is informational, does not require action by the Board of Supervisors. Staff recommends that the Board review the proposed work plan, afford an opportunity for public comment, and provide guidance to staff on its content and implementation.

VISION ALIGNMENT

The Work Plan has been drafted with the County’s commitment to responsive, effective and collaborative government in mind, and the priorities established by the work plan implement Goal 20, which states “Government decisions are based on careful consideration of future impact, rather than temporary relief or immediate gain.” The projects and programs listed on the work plan carry out a number of the County’s goals and commitments, including, but not limited to, those regarding housing, natural resource protection, health and safety, prosperity, transportation, and the urban environment.

BACKGROUND

Long Range Planning Services (LRPS), a division of the Planning and Building Department, is seeking input on its proposed 2008 - 2009 fiscal year work plan for the following reasons: (1) the 2008 - 2009 budget includes a new performance measure for LRPS, under which 80% of projects are to be processed in accordance with established priorities, timeframes, and budgets; and (2) workload management - the establishment of an annual work plan is intended to set priorities among competing demands, and help prevent new proposals from interfering with the completion of these priorities.

Planning Commission Action: This item was presented as an informational item to the Planning Commission at its July 23, 2008 meeting. The Planning Commission did not suggest any changes to the work plan. Since that time, staff has adjusted the timelines and next steps for completing priority projects necessary to keep the plan as accurate and up to date as possible.

DISCUSSION

The priority tasks included in the work plan fall within two categories: projects that have a specific initiation and completion date, and ongoing programs that place a consistent demand on staff time. As shown by Attachment 1, there are 12 ongoing programs that are projected to consume approximately 15% of available staff time, and 10 priority projects that will take up the remaining 85% of staff time.

The ongoing programs contained in the work plan include general plan conformity reviews, zoning officer hearings, and the Housing Element Implementation Program. They also include staff participation on the Midcoast Stormwater Drainage Committee, the Health and Built Environment Committee, the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Critical Coast Areas Steering Committee, the C/CAG Transportation Advisory Committee, and committees associated with the El Camino Real “Grand Boulevard” Initiative. Other ongoing programs that enhance the Department’s efficiencies and effectiveness include current efforts to build a Geographic Information System and organize planning records.

The priority projects that will receive the greatest amount of staff attention include the General Plan Update, North Fair Oaks Area Plan Update, 2009 Housing Element Update, and completion of the Midcoast Local Coastal Program Update. Each of these projects has been allocated 15% of the LRPS staff time. Other priority projects that are equally important but are not anticipated to consume as much staff time are the update of the Williamson Act Program (10% of staff time), the Watershed Protection Program (7% of staff time), and adoption of the new Telecommunication Facilities Ordinance (5% of staff time). Projects that will receive less than 5% of staff time include follow-up on the Emerald Lake Hills Design Review Survey and the Phase II Midcoast Groundwater Study, and the establishment of a lottery and waiting list for the LCP’s quota on caretaker units in Princeton.

FISCAL IMPACT

Implementation of the proposed work plan will help ensure that the work performed and contracted by LRPS remains within its 2008 – 2009 budget allocation.