When it comes to Petaluma’s Community Development Department, 68.9 percent of those responding to an online Argus-Courier poll April 23, 2009 said they were concerned about the impact staff reductions taking place this summer will have on public access to the department.
Of those responding to the poll, 67.2 percent felt that less staffing in the department will lead to more unpermitted work being done, while 24.6 percent felt it would not.
More than half of the respondents (67.2 percent) said they were concerned that staffing cuts will create a lack of institutional knowledge that will impact future planning and the implementation of the General Plan. Nearly 30 percent said they don’t think it will have an impact at all.
Here are some of the comments by those who responded to the survey. Visit http://pulse-of-petaluma.petaluma360.com to read more comments.
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“The cuts are shortsighted, like most of the reaction to the economic downturn. Long-range planning should include potential slow years, not continual, uninterrupted growth.”
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“I bet the City Council and city manager are going to feel the political fallout from this decision for a long time!”
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“This change places accountability to the existing community squarely on the shoulders of the City Council, where it belongs. The process will become more streamlined, and any builder or developer worth their salt will work with the City Council and the neighbors to develop with sensitivity and without bullying.”
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“This has already had a tangible effect ” the Planning Commission meeting for April 23 was not properly noticed, leading to a delay of a 19-home project’s public hearing.”
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“I’m very worried that it will take 10-plus years to undo the damage caused by the abolishment of the department.”
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“That department was plagued with foot-drag syndrome. This change will do City Hall some good in remaking their customer service image.”
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“I do not support government departmental layoffs to this extent during financial hard times. What happens when things recover? Hire newbies?”
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“The city should contract out all services taking place outside City Hall. Parks, community center, sewer plant, water department should go to SCWA. Make the needed cuts. The only department that can realize the General Plan and make money is Community Development. Cutting cash flow makes no cents.”
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“There have to be other departments to cut before this one.”
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“Relying on contract planners without the benefit of staff who can provide oversight and interpretation of city policies and zoning regulations is misguided; that will have long-term impacts on the type and quality of development that occurs in Petaluma in the near future. Meanwhile, work conducted by all those who volunteered their time to improving the planning process through the development code advisory committee will not be realized. Finally, laying off staff may have been the only option for our cash-strapped city, but eliminating the Community Development Department entirely is a mistake.”
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“Closing the planning department reverses gains made over the last 40 years, when Petaluma was nationally recognized for enacting one of the first growth control measures in the nation.”
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“I voted for the new majority on the City Council and now find myself agreeing with the Argus editorial and columnist Jack Balshaw regarding how this is being handled ” quite possibly a first. If City Council has a plan for this, I hope they let the public in on it soon.”
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“Why get a permit when there is no enforcement?”
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“Recall the mayor and the council! The town is a mess and will only get worse unless plans are made to repair/improve the infrastructure of the city. Who needs a Theatre District if 1) you can’t get to it without a four-wheel drive vehicle, and 2) the traffic congestion is so bad you will not want to go or return in the future. It’s time Petaluma starts spending for needs of the citizens not wants of the politicians. Try driving from the D Street or Washington Street east in the afternoon weekdays or most anytime on the weekends. We need roads, not Targets, Wal-Marts, etc. Fix the infrastructure! Can one really imagine a shopping center at the old Kenilworth Junior High site? Wow, what a nightmare waiting to happen; and it will with today’s inept leadership!”
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“Less government. Next, the police department.”
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“City Manager John Brown should take a pay cut or resign.”
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“Possibly the permit applications can be contracted to an independent agency in an effort to conserve funds. However, the city needs at least two people available for public inquiries and interpretation of the applicable building codes.”
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“Are they crazy?”
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“What is the Community Development Department and what do they do?”

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“The bigger problem that is not being addressed is that Sonoma County has at least 20 percent more development than we have drinking water to supply. Petaluma and Sonoma county as a whole (along with most of the state) really need to re-think how we go about new developments. The old rules got us into the mess we’re in now and need to be re-written.”
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“Hopefully the city will begin to start processing real projects now.”
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“The elimination of the planning department and staff is very short-sighted. Regardless of the degree of growth and development in Petaluma, we need a highly qualified, effective planning department that can help both guide and facilitate development and all types of projects. How can we have smart growth without a planning department, and with every detail overseen by a City Council that has many other tasks to handle? The city needs to adopt a different approach, and quickly.”
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“Obviously I had to answer ‘yes’ to all the questions. However, there is no alternative but to make the cuts given the financial situation. I only hope that the situation does not get worse requiring cuts in fire and police.”
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“I am very concerned that no progress will be made on the big projects which are proposed, such as the Regency Development.”
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“Everyone is over reacting! Life will move on, maybe this will provide better efficiency. Instead of hiring more staff when development increases, they should cross-train throughout the departments.”
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“I think it makes sense that certain departments grow and shrink as conditions change.”
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“Don’t know if the Argus has noticed, but there is a recession going on brought on, in part, by the many empty condos downtown.”
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“The city manager should be fired!”