This memo is the first in a series of updates that will be provided to the Board of Supervisors at the beginning of each meeting to assist Board members in staying apprised of the progress on the Butte County General Plan 2030 process.

I have the following to report concerning progress on the Butte County General Plan 2030 process:

1. By way of clarification, the term Butte County General Plan 2030 is the term that we are using for this entire project, which includes:
   1. A comprehensive update to the General Plan
   2. A new Zoning Ordinance
   3. An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for both projects
       
2. November 16^th Kick-off Meeting of the Citizens Advisory Committee

The first kick-off meeting for the Citizens Advisory Committee took place last Thursday, November 16^th.  A total of 31 of 34 members of the Committee were in attendance.  Committee members learned about the work they are about to embark upon and listened to presentations concerning the update process, the Citizens Advisory Committee’s role, and had an opportunity to make comments and ask questions.  Committee members also received a homework assignment to review the Draft Framework of Guiding Principles, and to take some pictures of the County prior to the second kick of meeting of the Citizens Advisory Committee to be held on December 7^th.

3. December 7^th Kick-off Meeting of the Citizens Advisory Committee

The second Kick-off meeting of the Committee will cover a review of the Draft Framework of Guiding Principles.  The Committee’s input on the Guiding Principles will be provided to the Planning Commission, with the Planning Commission’s final input provided to the Board of Supervisors. Committee members will also be discussing the pictures that they have taken of Butte County showing areas that are valued, as well as areas that need to be improved or changed.

4. January 27, 2007 County/City Summit Meeting

On Saturday, January 27, 2007, it is proposed that Butte County will host a Summit meeting between the Butte County Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission and the City Councils and Planning Commissions from Biggs, Chico, Gridley, Oroville, and the Town of Paradise. This proposed summit meeting is a part of the Work Program for the Butte County General Plan 2030 process. The meeting is planned from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm at the Southside Community Center, 2959 Wyandotte Avenue, Oroville.  This meeting will be used to facilitate and create open lines of communication between the County and the incorporated Cities and Town.  A general overview of the Butte County General Plan 2030 process will be provided as well as overviews of the on-going or planned General Plan updates for the Cities/Town.  The meeting will also provide decision makers an open forum to identify key issues that need to be addressed in the Butte County General Plan 2030 and where joint coordination is needed between jurisdictions.  Individual City/Town meetings with the County will be scheduled after this Summit meeting.  The individual meetings will be composed of 2 key members of City/Town staffs, Councils, and Planning Commissions.

5. Citizens Advisory Committee Updated Resolution

An updated Resolution concerning the Citizens Advisory Committee will be provided to the Board of Supervisors on January 23, 2007.  This is necessary to eliminate references to the approval of Committee Bylaws as well as other minor changes to the two previous Resolutions, and consolidate the two Resolutions into one.  The Bylaws were recommended to be replaced with Procedures and Operating Guidelines by the Board Subcommittee.  The new Procedures and Operating Guidelines were reviewed by the Committee on November 16^th.

6. Appointment of 4 New Members to the Citizens Advisory Committee

On November 7, 2006 the Board Subcommittee recommended the appointment of 4 additional members to the Citizens Advisory Committee (Richard Coon, Brian Hamman, Steve Lambert, and Kari Wheeler).  These recommendations will be provided to the full Board of Supervisors on January 23, 2007.

7. Development Services Annual Budget for Butte County General Plan 2030

A budget concerning annual costs incurred by the Department of Development Services for the General Plan process will be provided to the Board on January 23, 2007.  The budget will cover such expenses as facility rental, advertising, meeting supplies, printing, website development, clerical support, travel, and training. 

8. Contract Incentive for General Plan 2030

The Board of Supervisors has placed a very high priority on the completion of the General Plan and Zoning Ordinance Update/EIR project in conformance within the adopted schedule.  The current contract held with the County’s General Plan Consultant, Design, Community & Environment sets a completion date of the Butte County General Plan 2030 at September 30, 2009.  Development Services is requesting that the Board of Supervisors consider including an incentive based performance bonus within the Contract for the General Plan Update to promote timely completion of the General Plan Update.  A report on the Contract Incentive will be provided to the Board on December 12, 2007.

9. Issues Identification Workshop #1 
   Staff is working with Design, Community & Environment to finalize the date in March to begin the Workshop series.  The first series will be Existing Conditions and Issues Identification.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Dan Breedon at 530-538-7629 or Tim Snellings at 530-538-6821.