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Planning department reports restored positions, proposes fee changes and zoning review shift
Summary
The Planning and Land Use Committee received an oral update from the director of planning on department budget restorations, staff reductions earlier in the budget process, proposed fee studies and a July transfer of zoning review functions.
The Planning and Land Use Committee heard an update from the planning department on staffing, fee studies and changes to zoning review functions during its regular meeting.
Besson Train, director of planning, told the committee the department faced roughly a 34% workforce reduction earlier in the budget process but that the City Council later restored most positions. "The restoration is for filled and vacant positions," Train said, adding that the restorations avoided immediate layoffs but will change the department's program of work.
Train said that of about 115 positions that had been cut, the council restored 113. He told the committee the department will study and update planning fees for the first time since 2019 and that two planning-related fee changes plus a surcharge and an additional planning fee are intended to come online by Jan. 1 of the next fiscal year. "There are three revenue sources — two planning fees, the surcharge and planning — and those will be in place by January first," Train said.
The director said the city is bringing zoning review functions into the planning office and expects that transfer to take effect July 1. Train described an ongoing construction-and-safety study to evaluate how costs and surcharges apply and said construction and safety staff are conducting a parallel review. "Construction and safety is doing another study of the same issue and how we apply surcharges," he said.
Committee members pressed for detail on fee methodology and recovery targets. Train said council previously discussed moving to a higher percent-of-cost recovery for certain application types, and he expected that to be a prominent point in forthcoming discussions. "When we set fees, what percent of cost recovery do we apply? That will be a major topic of conversation next time," Train said.
The director also described work tied to wildfire recovery and housing rebuild: the planning office is coordinating with the governor's office and expects a $1.3 million state housing grant to support reconstruction work. Train said the office is adding new positions, including two forest officer roles, and will reassign staff as neighborhood plans (including Southwest/Valley-area work) move forward.
Committee members noted continuing vacancies and said the department will need to revisit program priorities. One member asked whether the council restorations are final; Train said the mayoral process had not concluded but praised the council action that restored most positions. The committee did not take formal action on the report.
Why it matters: Restored positions, fee changes and the consolidation of zoning functions will affect how the city processes development applications, responds to wildfire recovery and funds long-term planning work.
