DATE: June 19, 2002
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT: Recall Process for Removal of Planning Group Members

SUMMARY:
Overview
Under Board of Supervisors Policy I-1, Planning and Sponsor Group Policies and Procedures, no process exists for the removal of elected Planning Group members during their four-year term. This action implements a public initiated recall process under Policy I-1.

Recommendation
SUPERVISOR DIANNE JACOB: 1. Direct the Chief Administrative Office to return to the Board within 90-days with an amendment to Board of Supervisors Policy I-1, implementing a process for publicly initiated recall of elected planning group members.

BACKGROUND:
Under Board of Supervisors Policy I-1, Planning and Sponsor Group Policies and Procedures, no process exists for the removal of elected Planning Group members during their four-year term. In order for voters to hold their local planning groups more accountable, this action empowers the voters to hold elected representatives accountable during their respective terms by implementing a removal process.

Community planning groups act in an advisory capacity to the County limited to making recommendations on land use matters. Planning groups are designed to work closely with the local citizenry to advise appropriate County departments and hearing bodies on land use matters that affect their respective planning areas. They act as local representatives to help guide the course of growth within each planning area.

Presently, removal of planning group members by the Board exists as the only means to check or discipline planning group members. This takes the process out of the hands of the individual communities. Since planning groups serve their respective planning areas, planning group members should owe their primary accountability to their communities, the electorate. Today's action enables this to happen.

Since the Board creates and retains responsibility for the operations of all planning groups, the Board's oversight and ability to remove planning members remains necessary and beneficial to the planning process. But, instituting a recall process will allow Board action to serve as a secondary check, while vesting individual communities with primary oversight of their planning groups.

I request your support.

Respectfully submitted,

DIANNE JACOB
Supervisor, Second District