Friday, Jan. 11, 2013

Planners take care of routine business

During its first meeting of the new year, the Los Banos Planning Commission took care of some housekeeping matters starting with issuing a permit to a cleaning service.

On Wednesday, commissioners approved a use permit for JW Janitorial, a home-based business located on the 200 block of Las Palmas St.

The permit, which is issued to home-based businesses with employees, is only the second one granted by the city. Last year Los Banos officials made it mandatory for such businesses to get a use permit after an electrician, Anthony Gomes, inquired about the fees for adding an employee. City officials now use the permit as a way of regulating how much traffic the businesses create in their residential neighborhoods.

Assistant Planner Stacy Souza-Elms said not a lot of home-based businesses with employees have come forward since the law was passed.

"This is the first one since Mr. Gomes. We only do it when it applies and it definitely applies in this case," she said.

Jerry Witt, owner of JW Janitorial, said the new rules don't bother him.

"If that's what the city requires, that's what the city requires," Witt said. "I want to stay in compliance. I moved and realized my (license) had expired and I had to come back."

Witt has two employees, one full-time and one part-time. He said both go directly to the job sites, not his home.

Also at Wednesday's meeting the Commission welcomed its newest member, Tom Spada. Spada has lived in Los Banos 14 years and works for the Santa Clara Valley Water District. Spada said he's looking forward to helping guide the city's growth.

The commission chose to make Commissioner Chandra Lee its chairwoman and Commissioner Tracey Rosin its vice chairwoman. Rosin also agreed to sit on the city's Economic Development Advisory Committee.