Planning staff outlines comprehensive-plan kickoff, software upgrade and hiring progress

Planning and Development Department staff reported Monday on several ongoing projects including the launch of the comprehensive-plan update, an upgrade to permitting software, hiring activity and a busier-than-normal building-inspections workload.

Staff said the comprehensive-plan update team completed a kickoff with consultant Mark Raffers and staff members and is compiling census data and an updated conditions-and-issues document; a draft is expected in June. Staff also said they are developing a public-participation survey and will present a draft for commission feedback.

On permitting, staff reported an upgrade to the Evolve software platform that will let applicants save partial applications, present cleaner landing pages for different modules (permits, licensing, projects, code enforcement, building permits) and provide embedded help text to guide users. Staff said the upgrade is intended to make online permitting more user-friendly.

On staffing, the department said it conducted four interviews for an assistant zoning administrator/code-enforcement officer and plans second interviews next week with the expectation of hiring soon. Building inspections have remained busy through winter: staff said dozens of building submittals and new homes required extra inspection capacity and that Inspector Roman is pursuing commercial inspection certification in the coming weeks.

Commissioners acknowledged the updates and had no additional questions; staff characterized the items as ongoing work that will return to the commission for review as draft documents and implementation details progress.