Hugo Neighborhood Association & Historical Society
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Hugo Neighborhood Association & Historical Society |
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THE OVERBURDENED CITIZEN March 6, 2006
Common CI Issues & Problems In Josephine County A common theme to all the citizen involvement (CI) issues and problems in Josephine County is a CI program that can be improved.1 According to the Oregon Citizen Involvement Advisory Committee (CIAC) the first 10 of the following CI issues and problems are common statewide.2Oregon CIAC Observations On The Overburdened Citizen & Suggestions CIAC Observations On The Overburdened Citizen. 3 "Each year, cities and counties in Oregon make 10,000 to 20,000 land use decisions. Neither state nor local officials, however, have the power or resources to review or enforce all of those decisions.""Many cities and counties have few staff for zoning enforcement. Local district attorneys often are reluctant to prosecute land use cases, given the large number of criminal cases they face. The state does not hear about many local decisions: many need not be reported to any state agency. And the state does not have as much power to intervene as many people think. For example, the Department of Land Conservation and Development cannot overturn a local land use decision. DLCD can only appeal such a decision to LUBA, just as a citizen could." "The result of all this is that much of the burden for enforcing Oregon's planning laws falls on the shoulders of everyday citizens. The citizen who objects to a local decision may have no recourse but to file an appeal to LUBA. Such an appeal is likely to take about four months and cost several thousand dollars." "A second and related problem is that local government in general and planning in particular depend on the work of lay citizens in a multitude of committees and groups such as planning commiss-ions. Smaller communities often cannot find enough civic-minded volunteers to fill all the positions on the planning commission, CCI, parks committee, landmarks committee, and other lay groups. Serving on such committees takes time away from families and jobs." More Information "It is often boring or stressful or both, and the "pay" -- perhaps two bits a mile for travel to meetings and a certificate of appreciation when one leaves the committee — is hardly attractive." CIAC Suggestions.3 "Work to empower Oregon's citizens. Strive to give them easy access to all aspects of planning. Provide information, training, and incentives for them to serve on committees and commissions. The success of planning in Oregon's 277 cities and counties depends on the work of such citizens." More Information. Would you like to learn more? Contact a member of the Hugo Land Use Committee.
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