Agenda Item Wording:
title
Receive Presentation and Update on the Visalia Community Development Department.
body
Deadline for Action: 11/15/2021
Submitting Department: Community Development
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Tracy Robertshaw, Neighborhood Preservation Manager, tracy.robertshaw@visalia.city <mailto:tracy.robertshaw@visalia.city>, 713-4187
Val Garcia, Senior Plans Examiner, val.garcia@visalia.city <mailto:val.garcia@visalia.city>, 713-4426
Mike Olmos, Interim City Planner, mike.olmos@visalia.city <mailto:mike.olmos@visalia.city>, 713-4449
Devon Jones, Economic Development Manager, devon.jones@visalia.city <mailto:devon.jones@visalia.city> 713-4190
Paul Bernal, Community Development Director, paul.bernal@visalia.city <mailto:paul.bernal@visalia.city>, 713-4025
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the City Council receive a presentation and update regarding the status of the Community Development Department.
Summary:
In an effort to provide timely updates and open up the City Council Strategic Planning meeting schedule, City Departments are bringing annual updates to City Council during the Work Session. These reports outline the departmental functions, accomplishments, and challenges.
Background Discussion:
The Community Development Department is currently comprised of 46 employees with 40 Full Time Equivalent. Classifications of the employees include administrative, analyst, code enforcement officers / technicians, engineers, building inspectors, plan checkers, examiners, technicians, planners, hourly, supervisors, and managers. Each of these positions plays an important role in delivering an exceptional level of service to our building community and residents or other City Departments.
The Community Development Department includes the following divisions:
Building Safety Economic Development Engineering Development
Neighborhood Preservation Planning
Please note that Economic Development Division was recently added to the Community Development Department.
The Community Development Department has a total budget of $6.1M for FY 2021/22. The Community Development Department budget is comprised from the General Fund (47%), while the Building Safety Division is a true enterprise fund. The data included in this report, and presentation, reports data and other department measurables from calendar years 2017 through current 2021.
The Community Development Department also has a variety of challenges and opportunities to continue pursuing. Currently there are several vacancies and/or open positions within the Building Safety and Planning Divisions, including the Building Official, Building Plans Examiner, and City Planner, although the City Planner position is currently being backfilled within an Interim City Planner. Examples of current challenges/opportunities include hiring Building Official to help implement continued improvements to the building permit system, planning for future Tier 2 growth development, continuing to meet building plan check timelines, upgrading building permit submittal processing, and being responsive to development trends. The addition of the Economic Development Division to the Department is an opportunity to leverage a business facing manager to aid in responsiveness and coordination, both for existing companies and in the recruitment of new employers.
The Community Development Department is committed to meeting the current needs of our community and planning for the future needs of our citizens.
Fiscal Impact:
None
Prior Council Action: None.
Other: None.
Alternatives: N/A
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move that the City Council receive the presentation and update provided by the Community Development Department.
end
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Attachments:
1. Community Development Department Organizational Chart
2. PowerPoint Presentation