Agenda - 12-10-1985 - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 Chair Willhoit indicated that once the lannin p g priorities are set, that a monthly flow chart on the progress of these priorities be done to appraise the Board of Commissioners on the status of the priorities. . 5. ORGANIZ TION Issue: The zoning ordinance mandates Planning Board authority in anumber of areas and includes rovision for staff p provided by the Planning Department. The OCPB is directly responsible to the BOCC. In practice the direct link to the BOCC is weak and expeditious OCPB action is difficult. Suggested Action: Re-establish the organization mandated by the zoning ordinance. Guided by BOCC and citizens, OCPB should set planing goals and planning program, in cooperation with the staff. Give Planning Board and OCPB Chair enough real authority to do their job. NO COMMENTS 6. PRODUCTIVITY Issue: IThe staff has difficulty in allocating sufficient time for OCPB projects, committees, and township advisory councils. When the OCPB or OCPB Chair has a special project or even a relatively. minor task to be accomplished by staff, there is often no one on the staff who has time to handle it, in part because of the time spent on development proposals. Also, it would be better to have one person handle all OCPBfmatters (minutes, recommendations, records, all other duties of secretary as spelled out in OCPB Rules of Procedure) . Suggested Actions: First, set up a system for allocating staff time which produces sufficient staff support for the Planning Board, while taking into account all staff responsibilities. The OCPB chair and Steering Committee could be, useful in this regard. Second, IIadd a staff person (Planner III level) as requested last year by the Planning Director. This person would handle special projects that ' me up during the year (originated by BOCC or OCPB) , ordinance revisjon and liaison to OCPB and BOCC. This person would handle all BOCC/OCPB special assignments. . There are at least two possible organilzational strategies: (a) establish new (fifth) division in the planning Department call Special Projects or (b) add a' . legislative aid /planner to assist the BOCC directly in these legislative matiters (cf. BOCC Clerk who assists in administrative matters) . Third, when a system is set up for determining use of staff time, include staff support for committees and township advisory councils (TACs) Lin a manner which allows OCPB to take the lead in determining TAC nd committee priorities and work schedule. COMMENTS • Alice Gordon presented the above information. Marvin Collins indicated that part of the problem is that the planning staff don't know who their boss is. They work for the Planning Board, yet at the same time answer directly to the BOCC. As a department head, he must answer directly to the County Manager. The Planning staff needs some direction so they will know how to respond. Commissioner] Marshall indicated that the BOCC should go through the Planning Board. Chair Willhvit .noted that the problem is that there are more priorities than there is staff to accomplish the priorities.