To: <Britta.Buys@sanjoseca.gov>

Cc: Helen Solinski <helensolinski@hotmail.com>, Ed Rast <edrast@ix.netcom.com>, Tony Filice <Tony.Filice@sanjoseca.gov>

Date: Wednesday, September 1, 2004 10:49 PM

Subject: Public Outreach Policy

Britta,

On behalf of the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association, I want to commend the city's effort to improve its public outreach policy to the community. I also want to acknowledge the improvement in the information available to the community on the Planning Department's website.

Nevertheless, we believe there are some areas where augmentation of the department's website will result in a significant enhancement of the information available and the community's ability to intelligently review proposed development projects.

Suggested changes in the website are listed below:

• City make all CEQA environmental documents (including Initial

Studies) available on the Planning website during the review and

comment period and for at least 5 years after the first building permit has

been issued. [We have noted that usually (but not always) the EIR or

negative declaration is available but initial studies seem to be missing at

least half the time. The IS is crucial to determining the adequacy and

basis for the mitigations listed in the ND or MND.]

• City make (a) Staff reports, (b) project renderings/plans and (c) any

supporting environmental documents available as active links on City

Council and Planning Commission agendas on the San Jose website.

[Availability of (a) has been hit and miss; (b) has not been available, but

given current technology, architects and engineers should be able to provide pdfs; (c) has also been hit and miss, with the

initial study most often not available online.]

• Except for 'Very Small Development Proposals', City place a

copy of approved project conditions on the web site for a period starting

with permit approval and ending when occupancy for the entire project has

been approved. [Availability after project approval will facilitate

community monitoring of project compliance with the conditions, including

incorporated environmental mitigations.]

Sincerely,

Hugh Graham

Willow Glen Neighborhood Association