Half Moon Bay Mayor Responds to Planning Department Changes

Mid-March the Half Moon Bay City Council met to discuss their approach to contracting out the City’s planning services.

In response to this change to the Half Moon Bay Planning Department, mayor Rick Kowalczyk says “planning as a function has been falling short, and improving it is a key priority.” He offers what he calls “an important clarification” to the change in direction:

“We did not make a decision to 'outsource,' but rather made a decision to 'contract' for Planning Services. It's important to avoid the former because it implies sending the function out of Half Moon Bay, which we are not doing of course. I think it's a misleading term and tends to stir strong reactions as if we were having services provided offshore." 

Kowalczyk explains that planning services will be provided at City Hall through providers they retain to do the work.

"We are bringing 'in' services through a contract relationship," he said. "A good parallel example is our relationship with the Sheriff's Office where we contracted for services, and those services are clearly conducted within the City of Half Moon Bay.”  

Kowalczyk said he voted to support contracting for planning services for the following reasons:

1. Contracting for planning services is the fastest, most efficient path to fix and improve the planning function in Half Moon Bay
2. Analysis illustrated that an influx of experienced resources focused on fixing Planning's shortfalls would improve the operation to a satisfactory level in less than half the time it would take if the effort was led internally
3. The 'Request for Qualifications' provided the City with highly credible potential service providers who have both coastal community expertise and relevant experience providing planning services for other communities
4. Once the Planning function is operating at the level we require, we can always transition back to an internally driven organization, should that make the most sense

“It’s important to note that I do not fear change,” Kowalczyk said. “I fear not taking on the challenges to fix and improve the things that are under serving our community.”   

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