Supervisors to Consider Hiring Aide for Business : Economy: The ombudsman would help owners obtain permits more quickly and explain county policies. Backers say the position would pay for itself.

In an attempt to clean up the county’s image with local businesses, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors will consider Tuesday hiring an ombudsman to field complaints and help business owners quickly obtain operating permits.

“Businesses have expressed concerns about the difficulties of getting through the permitting process,” Supervisor Maggie Kildee said. “The ombudsman can say, ‘How can we help you not have it so bad?’ ”

Kildee and Supervisor Vicky Howard will present a proposal to the board at its meeting on Tuesday, asking that the county spend $98,700 this year to hire the business ombudsman and a secretary, and to purchase computer equipment.

The money would be taken from the county’s Innovation Fund, which was created last year to provide funding support for programs that could add money to the county’s strained budget.

Kildee said the ombudsman program could pay for itself by creating a better business climate in the county, thus bringing in more property and sales tax dollars and making the investment worthwhile.

“We want to work with the businesses to keep the economy vital,” Kildee said. “Investing in something that helps the business of the county can only work out to everyone’s good.”

With the ongoing recession, members of the county’s business community have sharply criticized the Board of Supervisors for being anti-business.

Some business owners have complained that it takes them months just to get the necessary operating permits from the county. After clearing one hurdle, there is usually another around the corner, said Mel Sheeler, president of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce.

“You have to go through several different departments just to get a project through,” Sheeler said. “It’s just levels of bureaucracy. After you get signed off on one permit, you find out there is something you didn’t know about.”

The delays “break the backs of the small businesses,” said Jere Robings, executive director of the Ventura County Taxpayers Assn.

Both Sheeler and Robings applauded the proposal to hire an ombudsman as an important “first step” in helping local businesses.

“It helps cut through the red tape,” Robings said.

Kildee said the ombudsman would play an important role in helping the county find ways to streamline its permit process. She said the ombudsman also would be in charge of educating business leaders about county government and explaining why permits are needed.

“This person would simply be someone to work with the businesses to help them understand why we require some of the things we do,” she said. “It is intended to have an educational aspect for helping people through.”

Almost all the cities in Ventura County already have similar programs for business now in place, Robings said.

Bob Heitzman, deputy city manager for Simi Valley, said his city hired an economic development officer 10 years ago to help businesses negotiate the system.

“It lets business know that they are welcome and that there is someone there to help them,” Heitzman said.