Planning Derpsrtment MOU
- Pilot Program for NCs -)

March 14, 2007

I'm forwarding this info on the new deliverables from the Planning Dept.

This means (we hope) that our PO Box should be getting 2-3 new complete packets of information a week (or so) on any new projects submitted to the Planning Dept. We think this will be the info for all the projects on the semi-monthly CNC Reports that we have been getting for the past 2 years.

Once we pull it out of our PO Box, we then need to get the info to the appropriate Local Issues Committee Chairs, who can review and have available for their neighborhood.

The great news is that Jack Fenn completed the Treasurer's training, so is now able to sign the Demand Warrants (that have been on my desk a loooonnngg time).

So, all are now faxed in, and we can now say with confidence that slow payment is DONE's fault (now)!  But we are back to being able to pay invoices - and reimburse Board members for their expenses.

Pat Griffith
patgriffit@earthlink.net

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OFFICIAL NC/PLANNING PILOT PROGRAM – Jan. 13, 2007

(WITH Taskforce Comments)

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1. The planning department will establish a neighborhood Council Liaison whose primary job will be to interact with NCs participating in this program. Communication may be via telephone, e-mail, fax or U.S. mail, but will be timely.

* COMMENTS: The liaison is:

2. All NCs participating in the pilot program will designate a person for contact with Planning.

* COMMENTS: Please e-mail Iris with the name, e-mail address and phone number of your primary and alternate contact authorized by your NC to send and receive planning information from her so you will be properly notified when necessary.

3. ZIMAS will be modified to include the name and contact information for the NC person dealing with planning matters for that NC and Planning will print a copy of this information and provide it to the applicant, at time of filing, advising them to contact the NC as soon as possible.

* COMMENTS: This information cannot be added until your NC has provided the information requested in Item 4. below.

4. Each applicant will provide Planning with an extra copy set of the application filing package, (MLU, EAF, Plot Plan, Floor Plan, justifications, etc.), and Planning will send this set to the appropriate NC as soon as possible, but within 3 or 4 working days.

* COMMENTS: Please send e-mail to the Taskforce at: jlamishaw@socal.rr.com with the name of your NC, Attn: (whoever is designated), mailing address and telephone number of your primary and alternate designated to receive the mailed copy of the filed application. Please note that this should ideally be a permanent address, either your NC P.O. Box or your NC office address, if you have one. This will avoid having to change the information after every election. The Taskforce has volunteered to compile the initial listing and to keep the information up to date. The Taskforce will interface with the Planning Department regarding the mailing list until the Planning Department has developed a method for other oversight.

5. NCs will advise Planning via mail, fax, e-mail or in person at the public hearing of board decisions regarding the approval or disapproval of specific cases and citing the reasons therefore. If the NC does not so communicate to the Planning Department decision maker by the time of the public hearing, then the NC will be deemed to have “no position” on the issue and the case will not be delayed pending NC action.

* COMMENTS: It is important for NCs to advise the Planning Department of decisions in a timely manner.

6. PLANNING will give NCs advance notification of the work program for proposed City initiated cases, (i.e.: Changes to the Master Plan, Code Changes, Community Plans, Specific Plans, Zone Overlays, ICO, etc.), and pledge to interact with the NCs on such from initiation to encourage public discussion.

* COMMENTS: NCs should be vigilant about changes that are requested of the Planning Department by the City Council without prior notification to the NCs or adequate public input. When such requests are presented to the Planning Department with imposed deadlines, the Planning Department is bound by the City Council directive. This can effectively put the City Council in the position of doing the City Planning.

7. PLANNING will establish a schedule for Community Plan updates for all Community Plans and publish the schedule on the Planning Department website.

* COMMENTS: The Planning Department has pledged their best effort in this endeavor, but can be extremely influenced by dictates of City Councilpersons to accelerate updates for specific communities.

8. PLANNING will work with a Taskforce “Planning Education Committee” (to be established at a future date) to help provide a venue, personnel and materials for cooperative instruction in interpreting and understanding the Planning Codes, Community Plans, “findings” and other aspects of case management.

* COMMENTS: The Planning Department and the Taskforce will work cooperatively to provide the public with planning instruction at a departmental level and from the neighborhood standpoint, such as learning how to negotiate conditions and other project changes with the applicant.

9. PLANNING will hold a meeting with all NCs, collectively, on at least an annual basis to discuss delivery of services at a programmatic level. The first meeting is proposed to be at the next Neighborhood Councils' Congress at the Convention Center or other designated venue.

* COMMENTS: The Taskforce proposes a review of how the Pilot Program is working and comments from NCs as to changes that might benefit the program.

10. NC Planning Committees will advise the Planning Department Liaison of their committee agendas as soon as established so that if there is a significant case to be discussed, Planning may attend or notify the Councilpersons' Planning Deputy so that he/she may attend. Such agendas must give the Planning Department case number(s) and project address for proper identification of the matter(s) to be heard.

* COMMENTS: It is expected that this item will only be utilized if there is a planning matter of unusual significance on the NC agenda. Agendas may be e-mailed or faxed to the Planning Liaison, (Iris).

Caveat in communication with Planning Department:

The Planning Department is prohibited from discussing any case filed that has not yet had a public hearing. For you legal-beagles, this is known as ex-parte communication. A Neighborhood Council may not engage in written or oral dialogue with the Planning Department prior to the public hearing in order to influence or inquire of matters known to the Planning Department which might influence the outcome of the case in question.

The exception to this is to advise the Planning Department of your Board decision after your NC has had a public discussion of the matter as per Item 5. above.

It is proper to ask questions that will clarify some of the language that might be contained in the application, but this is usually covered in the presentation to the NC Planning Committee by the applicant or the applicant's representative. General questions relating to any non-specific case are always appropriate.

* NOTE: ”COMMENTS” are from the Taskforce and do not necessarily represent the position of the Planning Department or its personnel.