Planning staff reports permit volume, code-enforcement reassignments and upcoming hearings on signs and solar language

Planning and Development staff reported monthly permits and enforcement activity and outlined several upcoming public hearings and staffing proposals. Whitney told the committee that in August the city received 201 new building-permit submissions and conducted 1,038 inspections. Code enforcement opened 15 new cases and 30 inspections; because the city currently lacks a filled code-officer position, inspection duties were reassigned to ward-based inspectors. "Since we have the open code enforcement position, we have reassigned all of the inspectors by ward," Whitney said, adding that senior inspectors will handle most commercial inspections. Staff said they plan to request reclassifying the vacant code-enforcement position to a planner role in the 2026 budget to support adoption of residential design guidelines and to provide front-counter zoning guidance. Whitney said Planning & Zoning recommended approval of a comprehensive sign plan for Good Clean Dog at 1234 Hanley Industrial Court and a text amendment clarifying solar-panel language; those items will be scheduled for public hearings on Oct. 6. She also reminded the committee of a public hearing and first review of the 2024 ICC codes set for Sept. 15 and said an Architectural Review Board meeting was rescheduled due to lack of quorum. Committee members asked whether commercial design guidelines will follow residential guidelines; Whitney said staff are coordinating with Tim (presumably a planning colleague) and will schedule a public workshop when preliminary drawings are ready. No formal committee action was taken on these items; staff will return with the proposed reclassification as part of the 2026 budget process and with materials for the upcoming hearings.