Planning Department presents $53.8 million budget; commission unanimously recommends approval to Planning Commission

Planning Director John Grama and Deputy Director Deborah Landis presented the Planning Department's proposed $53,800,000 budget and asked the Historic Preservation Commission to recommend it to the Planning Commission.

'We are here today with a $53,800,000 budget,' Landis said, summarizing the proposal as largely unchanged from the version presented earlier.

Staff said the department anticipates a drop in some revenue sources and has adjusted fee and grant assumptions accordingly. Landis detailed two principal revenue changes: a $1,000,000 reduction in charges-for-service revenue in the general fund and a $350,000 reduction in anticipated grant revenue for one grant (down from $850,000 to $500,000), offset in part by increased enforcement revenue into a special fund. Landis also noted personnel remain the largest share of spending, rising from 67% of the current-year budget to 72% in the proposed year.

Grama framed the vote as a recommendation: the commission's role is to review and forward the department's proposal to the Planning Commission and mayor. Commissioner John moved to recommend approval of the budget and work program; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously, 7'to'0.

The department will submit the recommended budget to the Planning Commission and then to the mayor's office as part of the citywide budget process. Staff emphasized this is an early step in a multi-phase adoption schedule and that some interdepartmental work orders and mayoral adjustments will follow.

Next steps: staff will present the recommendation to the Planning Commission and return as the budget proceeds through the mayor's and Board of Supervisors' processes.