Natural Resources and Environment Positions

Objectives of this position: Support a planning process that balances the need for more open space and the need for increased building.

Planning criteria:

1. Open space availability, type and function;
2. Social requirements;
     a) Facilities and amenities;
     b) Aesthetics; view, visual quality, proportion and human scale
     c) Physical requirements;
            i) Health impacts on air, water and noise
           ii) Safety; fire and earthquake
          iii) Comfort; wind velocity
     d) Economic Impact;
            i) jobs; number, type and distribution
        ii) taxation; amount and type
        iii) balanced development
3. Transportation, with consideration of
     a) access,
     b) availability and
     c) traffic patterns.
4. Recreation
5. Preservation of desirable and/or historical areas.

Objectives of this position:

1. Citizen participation in planning should be strengthened by wider notification of planning hearings and a longer notification period.
2. Appeals of planning decisions which affect a considerable segment of the community should be referred to the Board of Supervisors. A separate appeal body should be established to hear all zoning appeals.
3. Representatives of the Chief Administrative Officer and the Public Utilities Commission should be retained on the Planning Commission in a non-voting advisory capacity.

Objectives of this position: The Recreation and Parks Department should:

1. Keep fees to the public at a minimum;
2. Equal fees for residents and non residents alike;
3. Establish reasonable fees for all commercial use of its properties;
4. Retain all fees as reimbursement;
5. Maintenance of facilities not directly related to the basic objectives of the Recreation and Park Department should be transferred to the appropriate agencies.