Monterey County Examiner

HCD Draft

Demand - Demand gDoc exhibits (non-email) Folder for HCD Content - view

HCD Concerns:

9 years of false, misleading and omitted information about ADU options (internal vs detached)
6 years of false, misleading and omitted information about JrADU (internal) and ADU (internal and external) differences
5-20 years distributing fraudulent, misleading, and confusing EHB Documents that would chill ADU permitting and new construction permitting
Permit Desk - Lack of knowledge related to Condo Conversions related to ADUs
Permit Desk - Absent managerial control of Rogue Employee (Permit Desk plan review denials for non- statutory reasons)
Permit Application Handling - 8 month process with incorrect name on permit application in system
1. 1. No proper inter-department hand off systems.
  2. Improper inquiry into clearly stated facts on drawings
  3. Improper facts about ADU's in Coastal Zone reinforced.
  4. Four follow-ups required to get drawing reviewer to review document and proceed through process. No step happened without consumer follow-up.
  5. Improper requests for plan changes by drawing review
  6. One notice of improper name on permit resulted in no action
  7. Two specific requests for support ot correct name on permit were ignored.
  8. Fully chaotic process simply issuing permit after all reviews done. Ball dropped twice and took 2 weeks to complete. Numerous questions asked and ignored.
Post permit issuance problems with North County Fire Department attempting to demand conditions that were not stutory
Building Inspector not skilled in mechanical or electrical trades doing electrical and mechanical inspections.
Building inspector skilled in commercial framing unable to assess needs for a partition wall (non-load bearing )

Permit - Remodel 550 sf (no internal ADU/JrADU included because told it was not allowed/legal in coastal zone even though it was...)

Permitting Process: General Facts and Chronology

Scope of work: remodel of 2 bedrooms , 3 bathrooms and laundry room. Minor plumbing and elecrical changes. Add 2nd story deck.
8 month Permit Process Application and review process for simple remodel with no major structural changes ( 7/7/2022 - 3/2/2023 )
Over 55 email volleys transpired. Only approximately 3 emails were related to possibly appropriate job related questions. The rest were related to dysfunctional or absent business processes, overerach and/or lack of internal organization.

Emails Related to Permitting

10/26/2022-10/28/2022 - 3 Volleys - Plan Reviewers - Wrong name on permit, overreach, cited incorrect ADU law/facts

Gonzales and Tullis: Wrong name on permit, asks for illogical confirmation re drawing w while citing invalid ADU Law/Facts
3 email volleys - view gDoc- 7 pages view AsWebPage

10/28/2022 - 2/14/2023 - 10 Volleys - Plan Reviewer - Wrong name on permit, improper reqs on review, failure to reply at end to correct permit name

Tullis and Gonzalez: wrong name on permit, 4+ requirements to check on review status, improper/Out of Context/Inappropriate requests for plan change notes, failure to reply at end on two emails when explicitly asking for help changing name on permit
10 email volleys - view gDoc - 20 pages viewAsWebPage

3/2/2023 - 20 Volleys - Permit Tech - multiple wrong permits sent for signing, missing documents that were submitted with permit application

D. Hernandez - HCD Permit Tech
multiple wrong permits sent for signing, , missed builder owner doc, missing C and D doc,skipped questions asked
20 volleys view gDoc - 10 pages viewAsWebPage

10/21/2024 - 10/29/2024 - 5 Volleys - Recycling Department - Recycling form can NOT be filled out with dump receipts

HCD Recycling / Tonya Ramirez
We lost our weight tags. Provided CC receipts. the Bottom half of Form could not be filled out with receipts for C & D with resolution as requested because some is disposed of before crossing scale and others is in bulk dump in C and D area of dump with no resolution. Spoke with Tonay Ramirez. She confirmed C and D portion of form could not be filled out with receipts but forced to obtain receipts. Receipts could not be used to complete form. Form resubmitted via email and no confirm of receipt or confirm of clearance. Had to look it up in system.
5 Volleys - view gDoc - 20 pages

Permit - JrADU

2/5/2024 - 2/8/2024 - 4 Volleys (plus 12/21/2025 - xxx x Volleys ) - Incorrect info on Permissibility

Vanessa Acevedo - District 2 Policy Analyst
Stated MC 20.64.030 prevented ADU in Coastal Zone with no distinction from JrADUs. 20.64.030 was clearly geared for detached structures only based on terms like set backs and height reqs. Nothing in that prevented internal ADUs as was stated by HCD just days after this dialogue.
5 volleys view gDoc- 14 pages viewAsWebPage

3/12/2024 - 1 Volley - Kithenette is not a statutory term and should not be an issue

Josh Bowling, Elizaeth Gonzales (HCD Leadership)
A planner at the desk used the word "kitchenette", which I had put on my drawing and was not statutory, and stated my 10x10 Kitchen was too LARGE for a JrADU. I was giving my tenants too MUCH of a Kitchen. This was an email documenting that dialogue and the relevant statutes.
1 volleys view gDoc- 4 pages viewAsWebPage

7/22/2024 - 2 Volleys - 16 weeks waiting on approval and 3 requests for update unanswered during 1 month timeframe

Josh Bowling, Elizaeth Gonzales (HCD Leadership)
Escalation request for Nuckles review after waiting 16 weeks and non responsive on June 23, July 8 and July 16
2 volleys view gDoc- 5 pages viewAsWebPage

6/23/2024- 7/24/2024 8 Volleys - 3 requests for status update over 4 weeks unanswered w/ supervisor involvement

Josh Bowling, , HCD Leadership
3 requsts and one escalation required to get Evan Nuckles to do short review reqiured for permitting
8 volleys view gDoc- 15 pages viewAsWebPage

3/19/2024-4/6/2025 - 20 Volleys - Fire Chief - 1 year of confusion and overreach on non-statutory items and inspection fees

Jess Cortez North County Fire 3/19/2024-4/6/2025
1 year of confusion and misdirection related to Fire Department Requirements AFTER permit was issued. Demands for 2nd address and fire inspection neither statutorily correct
17 Volleys view gDocImages - 44 pages view gDocText - 32 pages viewgDocAsWebPage

Bowling, Gonzales, Alvarez 3/31/2024
Confusion on final permit close out, zero balance recycle resulted in escalation for potential fine, Fire inspector still feeling he needed to do a final even though no new address (or exterior work done), home never lost occupancy, 190 inspection fee being demanded by NCFD
1 Volleys view gDoc - 7 pages (No response received)

B5 Supervisors, Clerk of Board / Bowling, Gonzales 3/31/2024
Notice to Board of Supervisors of Fire inspector Overreach and excessive inspection fees for non -necessary inspection ADU permitting debacle with reference to concern about Moss Landing permitting with no proper emergency plans or worst case scenario planning
1 Volleys view gDoc - 3 pages

Jess Cortez, B5 Supervisors, Clerk of Board / Bowling, Gonzales all Monterey County Politicians - 3/31-4/6/2024
A review of engagement with North County Fire on non-statutory inspections and fees.
3 Volleys view gDoc - 28 pages (includes 9 page letter with concerns about Tree and Battery Plant permitting)

3/30/2025 - 4/1/2025 - 2 Volleys - Recyclling form - no dump trips resulted in threat of fine

HCD Recycling / Tonya Ramirez
Permit was for change in use designation, to include JrADU. All material work done on prior permit. No dump runs were required. reported that. Recycling was zero. Responded indicating our report was incomplete, and it was being forwarded to a supervisor for review and possible fine. No follow up email. Had to look it up in system.
2 Volleys - view gDoc - 7 pages

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