Planning Processes and Procedures

By Lee Yarborough

Planning processes and procedures should be objective, not subjective, so that resident and business applicants and the public have clear understanding of requirements and schedule of consideration by Commission and Committee review with ample public input opportunity.

I believe that the quality of meetings, not the duration, is important. Pacific Grove is known for its long meetings fraught with sometimes bitter and lengthy critical comments from concerned citizens. I believe that it would be productive if Council meetings had a time limit. Much of the business now conducted by the City Council might be carried on at Commission and Committee level. I will urge the advance dissemination of agenda and staff report material. I will strive to find ways to allow everyone early ample opportunity to communicate so as to avoid acrimony and seek harmony. The City administration might also benefit from broadened communication allowing greater input from informed citizens whose years of active interest in local government have accumulated a wealth of knowledge that could be productively gathered during preliminary consideration of projects, developments or policy alternatives.