Democracy by Ambush: San Mateo County Style

Dear neighbors: 

Our Planning and Building fight is far from over. After we protested the fees increase and new inspections in 2012, the county backed off. But not for long. We have asked the Supervisors to form a committee with the homeowners to revise the expensive, ineffective, and bureaucratic permit process in the county area. Instead, the Board of Supervisors chose to have a couple of meetings behind closed doors, unannounced to the public, where, basically, county employees met with county employees to massage the proposed increases a bit but ultimately with the same result: more inspections, more paperwork, more fees to the homeowners. 

The county released their updated proposal on Tuesday, August 1. The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote on it on Tuesday, August 6th at 9:00 AM. They are likely to approve it if you do not speak up. 

No advance 14 days notice, no outreach, no homeowners involved. They hoped we will not notice and will just find out once it is too late. Please come to the Board of Supervisors meeting and let them know that democracy by ambush does not work with us. 

The building and planning permit process in the county area prevents simple maintenance and improvements and halts any building activity. Most people avoid the whole permit system. According to the current ordinance, we need permit for everything, even changing appliances and handing a new cabinet on the wall. 
Fees are already huge, allowing the county to get what they want now means that they will have no incentive to revise the system and listen to our demands. DO NOT LET THEM PASS IT on TUESDAY! 

County fees are more than 4 times Redwood City's for the same minor improvements work and it is still not enough for the county! 
For more details and fee comparison of County vs. Redwood City, please click here: 
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?... 

meeting is at 9:00 am this Tuesday at Supervisors Chambers: 
Hall of Justice & Records 
400 County Center 
Redwood City, CA 94063 

email the Supervisors and tell them that you oppose the proposal 
Dave Pine dpine@smcgov.org 
Carole Groom cgroom@smcgov.org
Don Horsley dhorsley@smcgov.org
Warren Slocum wslocum@smcgov.org
Adrienne Tissier atissier@smcgov.org 

Maria Rutenburg 
Homeowners United for Planning and Building Reform 
www.homeownersabuse.com 
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