Oxnard Planning

Just because a task is done quickly does not mean that it is done well. The rapidity with which the Oxnard Planning Commission was dismantled illustrates this point.

In five days the City Council had to study and digest the first proposed ordinance and less than one day for the one that was approved. That is hardly designed to enable the council to think critically about any proposal.

The Planning Commission is just a convenient scapegoat to implement a change that is not needed. The problem is not and never was the Planning Commission. Something as simple as scheduling more public hearings as information and consent items can speed up hearings and still provide an opportunity for public input and scrutiny. This is done routinely on the City Council; there is absolutely no reason it cannot be done by the Planning Commission.

Many other suggestions to expedite the process could have been provided by present and past planning commissioners and others experienced in planning, if given respect, time and an opportunity to evaluate staff proposals.

The logical place to address efficiency, streamlining and effectiveness in the planning process is at the administrative staff level. All systems, processes and procedures should be carefully evaluated at that level by an independent audit. That is where the work is done. It is not logical to expect a report from the administrative staff that would be critical of itself.

The Planning Commission’s role in the process has been to conduct public hearings and/or studies on projects that are brought to it by the staff or directed by the council.

MANUEL M. LOPEZ

Oxnard

Manuel Lopez is the mayor of Oxnard. *

The Oxnard City Council has dissolved the Planning Commission and is creating a land-use planning agency of four council-appointed persons and a city manager-appointed staff person. The council plans to meet with these people to determine which planning functions would be handled by the planning agency and which by a staff hearing officer.

One of the most important roles of council members is protecting residents against an arbitrary bureaucracy. None of the staff has to live in the city, and many do not. The city boards and commissions help the council members communicate with residents on all the issues before the city.

The planning agency is essential in interpreting the General Plan and specific plans when approvals are given to subdivisions, planned development projects, conditional use permits, special use permits, etc. The conditions, or lack of them, placed on approvals can create problems or help to the city. These conditions can also shift costs to the taxpayer.

The staff has recommended that all these vital decisions be delegated to them. The councilmen would only hear these if there is an appeal.

We want the city to include full public scrutiny, not less. The staff has made many recommendations that the people in the city do not support. At times they seem out of touch with the community. Delegating more power to them is the wrong way to go.

JANE TOLMACH

Oxnard