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Home Resource Center In the News Home Greenbelt Alliance in the News |
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Greenbelt Alliance In the News
February 4, 2007 Fix set for land-use panel Erin PursellApplications for the retooled citizens panel that will advise the county on its General Plan Update are due in less than a week. And, despite outcry from opponents over sweeping changes the Solano County Board of Supervisors recently made to the Citizens Advisory Committee, at least 10 members of the original group intend to reapply. Among applicants who have been critical of the changes is Eva Laevastu who was a member of the original CAC, which the supervisors disbanded last month due to concerns including attendance and productivity. "They're concerned about timelines and yet there were no meetings in December, January or February," Laevastu said. The supervisors established the panel in 2005 to ensure public input throughout the three-year General Plan Update time period, during which a revision is to take place in the county plan that guides important policy decisions such as rural growth for the next 20 years. The CAC participated in an ethics training program in December and held no quorum at its Jan. 22 meeting. No meeting is scheduled for February pending formation of the new committee. When the supervisors received a status report regarding the CAC in early January, county Planning Manager Mike Yankovich had indicated that the committee was slightly behind schedule, Laevastu said. "However, this was never mentioned to the CAC," she explained, and added that, with no clear timeline or deadlines to meet, there was no way to gauge whether the group was on schedule. "That's absolutely right and that's what we're trying to correct," said Supervisor Jim Spering, who replaced Duane Kromm as the District Three Supervisor. Acting as an ad hoc committee of the county's Land Use and Transportation Subcommittee, Spering and Supervisor John Silva formulated the changes to the CAC behind closed doors and then brought the matter to the full board for approval. Opponents have alleged that the changes were politically motivated and approved to enable the supervisors to remove whomever they want from the committee. The new rules shrink the CAC from 20 to 16 members, allow each supervisor only one appointment instead of the previous four, and prohibit individuals who are involved in local land-use decisions from participating. "The very people who are complaining are the same people who wouldn't do two meetings a month," said Spering, who has publicly questioned the commitment of some CAC members. "The committee was not progressing." The appointment of a chairperson to the committee - another outcome of the revamp - will ensure that things stay on schedule and increase accountability, Spering said. Nicole Byrd, a Greenbelt Alliance field representative who was appointed to the original committee by Supervisor Barbara Kondylis, said she also intends to reapply. "I think if the Board of Supervisors wants to put the rumors to rest they'll reinstate the current CAC members who meet the new requirements," Byrd said regarding opponents' accusations that the changes were politically motivated. "It sounds like staff wants to see very little turnover," she speculated. "Which makes sense because there has already been some group rapport established." So far, other former CAC members that county staff has indicated intend to re-apply include Michael Fortney, Patricia Gatz, Curt Johansen, Roger King, Thomas Mattis, Sandy Person, Anthony Russo and Brian West. New applicants include Steve Lessler, Kirstin Ostrat and Verna Brooks. The county's Land Use and Transportation Subcommittee will make recommendations to the supervisors regarding appointments on Feb. 27. Applications for the Solano County General Plan Update Citizens Advisory Committee will be accepted until 5 p.m. Feb. 9. E-mail Senior Planner Dale Cardwell at drcardwell@solanocounty.com, call 784-6765 or visit www.solanocountygeneralplan.net for more information. ### |
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