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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 19, 2005 Medford adds to stressed planning staff By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune The city planning department is hiring two new planners, which the director hopes is the turning point for a department struggling with a heavy workload and high turnover. "It’s nice to be able to cross a couple things off the list," said Planning Director Rob Scott. The two women, each with a bachelor’s degree, are not officially hired, said Doug Detling, human resources director. Detling said the two women have verbally accepted the positions and their names will be released after criminal background checks are complete. "With any luck we’ll have them Nov. 1," he said. Advertisement The two assistant planners will have starting salaries of $2,866 per month. Scott said the new hires would leave an assistant planner position and a senior planner position open. The department also hopes to add another planning aide in the next month or so, said Scott, bringing the staff members to 19. It’s been a rough road for the department. Last week, Steve Rehn, assistant planner, announced his resignation, making him the 15th staff member to leave the Medford planning team in five years. Former employees complained the work load is heavy and morale is low, and area developers have complained that a planning review process takes twice the time it used to. Long-range planners are being pulled off their jobs to handle the massive current planning load. The system dysfunction is not new. In January 2003 the city hired George Arimes, of Horizon Centre Inc. in Maryland to help with land-use applications as they make their way through planning, building and public works departments. Arimes identified time lags, lack of clear methods for customers to resolve conflicts with the regulations, and lack of communication between departments among many problems with the present system. Arimes outlined 20 solutions ranging from having one person as a point of contact and updating the municipal code to improving project-tracking software and identifying new funding options. The city has paid $27,000 to date to Arimes, who has worked on land development systems in Portland; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Corpus Christi, Texas. But after his last visit in February the notion of changing the system was put on hold, said Arimes, because the planning department has been trying to shore up day-to-day problems. Arimes said when there are vacancies and heavy workload, it’s hard to implement change. "I think we’re looking to get the effort back going in November," said Arimes. In August, Scott talked with several members of the development community about creating a new planning aide position to be funded through a building permit surcharge. In September, Scott told the Medford City Council the system needs fixing, and proposed creating the new planning aide position as well as hiring or appointing a hearings officer to handle some of the load, and setting a time limit for citizen consulting. In 1998 the department handled 177 land development applications. That number rose to 215 in 2000 and 308 in 2004. "It doesn’t look like things are slowing down any," said Scott, adding that the department has received 267 applications so far in 2005. He said the department is on track for "lightening the load," which takes time. "You don’t just snap your fingers and things turn around ... overnight," said Scott. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail Medford adds to stressed planning staff ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Cheap Website Hosting Discount Hotel Reservations Online Pharmacy Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans High End Computers Online Casino News Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Online Casino Fundraisers Advertisement s