2005 Accomplishments

The Planning & Public Works Agency was formed by the consolidation of Public Works, Planning, Building Inspector and the County Facilities Departments. During 2005 our newly merged agency completed the task of merging personnel, payroll and fiscal accounting procedures under a centralized Support Services division. With these administrative duties centralized the agency has been able to minimize duplication of efforts and take advantage of systems and resources.

Modernization of dysfunctional phone and computer systems made it possible to link the two physically separated offices. By use of email, voicemail and interdepartmental mail the two facilities are now able to function as one.

Development Services

The Permit Center provides the residents and developers in Glenn County the ability to make application for any and all permits issued by the Planning & Public Works Agency at one single location. In addition to that convenience the Permit Center installed a 24 hour Inspection Request Line. No longer requiring the contractors to work around the County’s Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm office hours.

The Planning Division began the huge task of updating the General Plan. California state law requires each city and county to adopt a general plan “for the physical development of the county or city, and any land outside its boundaries which bears relation to its planning” (§65300 GovCode). The California Supreme Court has called the general plan the “constitution for future development.” The general plan expresses the community’s development goals and embodies public policy relative to the distribution of future land uses, both public and private.

The policies of the general plan are intended to underlie most land use decisions. Pursuant to state law, subdivisions, capital improvements, development agreements, and many other land use actions must be consistent with the adopted general plan. In counties and general law cities, zoning and specific plans are also required to conform to the general plan. In addition, preparing, adopting, implementing, and maintaining the general plan serves to: Identify the community’s land use, circulation, environmental, economic, and social goals and policies as they relate to land use and development. Provide a basis for local government decision-making, including decisions on development approvals and exactions. Provide citizens with opportunities to participate in the planning and decision-making processes of their communities. Inform citizens, developers, decision-makers, and other cities and counties of the ground rules that guide development within a particular community. You can find more information on the General Plan, our status on the update process and ways to interact in the process by using this link to the Glenn County General Plan Update Website.

The Engineering & Surveying Division worked hand in hand with the Planning, Roads and Building Inspection divisions processing 454 Building Permits, 290 Encroachment Permits, 876 Transportation Permits, 108 development applications, a major planned development application “Brighton Ranch”, 2 Certificates of Compliance, 3 Lot Mergers, 11 Parcel Maps, 2 Subdivision Maps, 7 Lot Line Adjustments, 14 Records of Survey, and 2 Corner Records. Major projects Bid and Awarded in 2005 included the Hazard Elimination System (HES) Project to Upgrade Traffic Signs on various County Roads funded by a 90% federal transportation grant, Scour Mitigation study to evaluate the best procedure to mitigate the footing scour occurring at the County Road 200A Bridge across Stony Creek funded by an 80% federal bridge grant, and a Long Term Strategic Plan for the County Landfill.

Operations & Enterprises

Orland Airport Industrial Park leased the 16,800 square foot building to a company expanding out of Chico called Flo-Serve. This 10 year lease will go a long way in stabilizing the revenues at the airport and encouraging further development of phases 2 and 3.

Willows Glenn Airport received a federal aviation grant to update the Airport Master Plan. The Willows Airport project cost $150,000; $142,500 coming from the FAA and $7,125 coming from a State matching grant, leaving only $375 as the County match toward a much needed process. The FAA defines a master plan as the planner’s concept of the long-term development of an airport. It displays the concept graphically and reports the data and logic upon which the plan is based. Master plans are prepared to support modernization of existing airports and creation of new airports, regardless of size, complexity, or role. You may wish to reference the FAA document 150/5070-6B–Airport Master Plans. This document fully describes the master plan process.

Orland Haigh Airport also received a FAA grant for a security, perimeter fencing project. Project costs are estimated to be $300,000; the FAA grant contributing $285,000, the State contributing $14,250, leaving only $750 as the County match.

Fleet Service Centers In order to meet environmental compliance issues a new wash-bay and water recycling system were installed at the main Service Center site located in the Willows corporation yard off County Road 49 1/2. The Impound yards at both the Orland and Willows corporation yards were cleaned-up. Working with local law enforcement the Fleet Service Manager reorganized and removed approximately 40 vehicles and other miscellaneous equipment. As a part of the drainage and runoff plan Fleet’s parking lot was leveled and chip sealed.