Pubdate: Mon, 21 Mar 2016 Source: Chico Enterprise-Record (CA) Copyright: 2016 Chico Enterprise-Record Contact: http://www.chicoer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/861 Note: Letters from newspaper's circulation area receive publishing priority Author: Ryan Olson BUTTE COUNTY DEPARTMENT ASKS FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF FOR MARIJUANA CODE ENFORCEMENT Oroville - Butte County's development services department is asking to add four positions to its staff primarily to help enforce the county's medical marijuana cultivation ordinance. The Butte County Board of Supervisors will consider the request during its Tuesday meeting. The item was on the consent agenda, meaning it may be approved without discussion unless a supervisor or member of the public requests that the item be heard separately. The department has been using temporary, extra-help staff for marijuana code enforcement since 2014, according to a staff report. The effort picked up with the first year of enforcement of Measure A in 2015, which set cultivation rules including allowable growing areas based on lot size. Amendments to Measure A are being challenged in the June 7 primary election, but the original ordinance remains in effect. Last year, development services issued 894 citations off of 1,489 complaints related to the cultivation ordinance. Other code enforcement cases increased 50 percent. To help handle the workload in 2015, the department brought on six extra-help code enforcement officers and two support staff. Staff states the current approach is unsustainable for what it's experiencing. While extra-help may be used for peak periods, the department is asking for full-time consistent staff for core program needs. Excluding extra-help staff, there are currently two code enforcement officers and a supervisor. The department had five code enforcement officers in 2008, but lost positions in 2008 and 2009. The department is asking for two code enforcement officers, an office assistant or specialist and a fiscal manager. The new positions would be expected to do work in the department beyond enforcement of the cultivation ordinance. The department states the positions can be added within the department's budget for the 2015-16 fiscal year. Also Tuesday, the board is expected to consider: Adjusting the salary ordinance for six departments, adding the equivalent of a full-time position with no added impact to the general fund. Re-enacting an ordinance to allow residents in Concow, Yankee Hill and Big Bend to build limited-density, owner-built rural dwellings. The initial ordinance enacted after wildfires in 2008 destroyed more than 200 dwellings. Twelve houses were built under the old ordinance before it expired in December. Approving a public hearing April 12 to consider vacating some public rights of way in Nord. The county has rights of way west of Market Street on Folsom, Sacramento and Washington streets. Approving outdoor festival licenses for four events, including Field of Haze Music & Lifestyle Festival on April 16 at Clark and O'Neal roads in Butte Valley. Three events are set for the end of Estes Road in south Chico, including a Wildflower Open Classroom festival on May 7, Sherwood Montessori Charter School's Sherwoodstock on May 14, and a KZFR benefit concert on June 16. The board meeting begins at 9 a.m. at the County Administration Building, 25 County Center Drive, Oroville. The meeting agenda, staff reports and video is available at tinyurl.com/buttesupervisors. [sidebar] Know and Go What: Butte County Board of Supervisors meeting. When: 9 a.m., Tuesday. Where: County Administration Building, 25 County Center Drive, Oroville. Online: Meeting agenda, reports and video at tinyurl.com/buttesupervisors. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom