Planning Department presents FY2010 budget with $3.7M shortfall, proposes staff reassignments and fee changes

Planning Department staff presented the second of three hearings on the proposed FY2010 budget on Feb. 12, telling commissioners the department faces an estimated $3,700,000 shortfall beyond prior midyear cuts. Staff said they expect to address about $3,070,000 of that gap through non-salary savings and new revenue and that remaining labor savings of roughly $800,000 would be required.

The department proposed reassigning some neighborhood planning staff to handle categorical exemptions and shifting staff to citywide projects where grant funds are available. The presentation said the major environmental analysis division is down modestly in applications but remains burdened by backlog on large projects; neighborhood planning headcount would drop from about 66 to 58 FTE under the plan, largely via reassignments and consolidation.

Staff warned that general fund-supported programs such as the historic preservation survey and the sign program are at risk and offered targeted fee increases to partly cover costs. Director and senior managers said the plan assumes a flat application volume and limited wage or benefit increases because of unsettled union negotiations. Staff asked commissioners to take action at next week's meeting so the Mayor's Office can receive the department's balanced proposal on schedule.

Public comment focused on concerns about moving categorical exemptions to neighborhood planning and on whether code enforcement staffing reductions would undermine enforcement of planning code violations citywide. Commissioners asked for more detail on contingency planning and potential impacts on enforcement and implementation of area plans.

Next steps: staff return for action at the next commission hearing; commissioners requested additional detail on contingency cuts, fee adjustments, and implications for code enforcement.