LAKEPORT — The Lake County Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to establish an ad hoc committee to review permitting procedures and develop recommendations to improve the process, cutting costs for staff and applicants.
The board appointed Supervisors Jim Comstock and Rob Brown, who brought the issue to the board, with Supervisor Denise Rushing as an alternate. Brown said he would purposefully be absent sometimes to allow Rushing to participate.
“With the current economic situation, I think it”s very important to make the process of permitting as easy as possible, taking the onerous part out of it,” Comstock said.
Brown said a lot of the process is outdated.
“People spend 40 percent of the money building a house before dirt is even turned,” Brown said. “That”s too cumbersome.”
Victoria Brandon said she was concerned about changing the process because there are reasons for some of the requirements.
Community Development director Rick Coel said he supported updating the permit process.
Rushing suggested the committee take the opportunity to create a lobbying list for legislators of state requirements that don”t make sense in Lake County.
The committee will bring changes back to the board before implementation.
The board addressed a number of issues Tuesday at its meeting in the County Courthouse in Lakeport.
Board members unanimously voted to advance an ordinance amending construction traffic road fees so that projects that don”t use county roads wouldn”t pay the fee. They will hear the second reading of the ordinance at their July 6 meeting.
The board voted 5-0 to approve alternative one for the Spring Valley water distribution system, which would use a slow sand filter expansion to improve source capacity and storage.
Supervisors voted 5-0 to approve an agreement with Pacific Gas & Electric for a customer energy efficiency local government partnership program.
Board members voted 3-2 against a resolution supporting the California Air Resources Board”s leadership in promoting clean and energy efficient vehicles, energy independence and zero emission technologies. Chairman Anthony Farrington and Rushing voted for the resolution.
Brown said though he likes clean air, he thinks the California Air Resources Board overstepped its boundaries and they have led to the cutting of more jobs than any other agency.
“We”re voting on a concept and I oppose the concept,” Brown said.
Comstock said he thinks it”s not the right time economically to support increased regulatory burdens on citizens and farmers.
Rushing said she thinks the resources board has done more to create clean energy jobs than any other organization.
Farrington said he thought any push to move away from reliance on oil would benefit the consumer and the community.
The board voted 4-1 to approve an agreement with the Drug Enforcement Administration to accept $250,000 to go toward illicit marijuana eradication. Rushing voted no and said she has made her issues known about the program.
Brown asked to step down from the Public Defender Oversight Committee and Supervisor Jeff Smith took his place with Comstock as the alternate.
Board members offered a resolution returning donated property back to Malulani Investments as it was donated to build a college, which it”s not suitable for because the land is mostly vertical.
The board continued an administrative appeal by El Dorado Motel at the request of the appellant”s attorney for a notice of violation for the conversion of a motel to a combination of permanent living and transient occupancy. The issue will come back before the board at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 10 for a public hearing.
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
