Reeve Wants to Be Business-Friendlier

To change the city’s bad rep among the business community, Councilman Derek Reeve would like to make the many commissions and committees at more business friendly.

He has scheduled the item for discussion at tonight’s City Council meeting.  The agenda item is merely titled, “Discussion Regarding Creating a Business Friendly Process by Reorganizing the City’s Commissions, Committees and Boards.”

Reeve wants to make the decision-making process, which often has  businesses and developers navigating a labyrinth of city commissions, more streamlined and “accountable,” he told Patch.

In his vision, businesses should be able to get in and out of the various application processes within three month, Reeve said.

“Everything should be on the table,” he said.

“San Juan regrettably has a well earned reputation as being a terrible location for private enterprise. It is the result of a number of factors, but the actions and inactions of some of the commissions are largely responsible,” Reeve said. “Business deserves timely answers to their application request[s].”

He hopes the council will appoint two members to join a few city staffers to sit down and figure out how the process can work more smoothly.

The council has 10 commissions and committees, including:

• Planning Commission
• Design Review Committee
• Citizens Bond Oversight Committee
• Cultural Heritage Commission
• Housing Advisory Committee
• Parks, Recreation and Senior Services Commission
• Open Space, Trails and Equestiran Commission
• Transportation Commission
• Youth Advisory Board
• Utilities Commission

The City Council meets at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto in San Juan Capistrano.