Keeping Planning Groups Intact: Board of Supervisors' Meeting Agenda Item #4

My name is Dave Roberts, Deputy Mayor of the City of Solana Beach.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to address Item #4 on the Board of Supervisors' agenda.

First, I'd like to congratulate the members of the board for taking on the difficult task of cutting red tape.

The recommendations before you today will go a long way toward streamlining and improving service to the public, and that is the most important issue to consider. 

Although the topic of Planning Groups is not up for discussion this morning, I would like to address that issue, since it will come before you in your second review of the Red Tape Reduction Task Force's recommendations.

Any proposal to eliminate planning groups goes against my core beliefs that citizens must have a strong voice in government decision-making.

In my view, you can never have enough public participation. After all, who better to decide what makes a great community than those who actually live there?

Of course, I am well-aware of the other issues; that a few community planning groups are not operating with the utmost attention to legal protocols. We must work to correct these very important issues and help to protect taxpayer funds.

But throwing out the baby with the bath water is not the way to solve a problem.

I strongly support keeping our community planning groups - and their important contributions to community character - intact. I hope that you will vote to do just that.

Again, thank you to the Board of Supervisors for your work to reduce red tape at the county.

To view my testimony please go to to 25:45 to hear my remarks.

http://sdcounty.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=1341