Commission approves trial expedited permit-review service after debate over costs and equity

The City Commission on Feb. 11 approved a trial expedited permit-review program that will let certain applicants opt into a five-business-day plan-review turnaround for interior residential and interior commercial permits, using the city's pool of approved private review consultants.

City staff said the trial will focus on interior permits without zoning review and on non-historic properties; where fire review is required for commercial projects, fire will remain part of the review path. Acting Development Services director Doug Ramirez said the goal is to reduce review backlogs by giving applicants the option to use paid consultant review for a faster turnaround while freeing city staff to work on other submittals.

The program is voluntary: applicants who opt in would pay an additional fee for the private consultant's expedited service; staff will negotiate contract terms and return a fee schedule and contract to the commission for approval. Ramirez and staff said final price points depend on negotiated consultant rates and could range broadly, and that the commission will consider any fee schedule before implementation.

Several commissioners and public speakers supported a pilot to reduce permit times and reduce a market for private expediters who currently help applicants navigate delays. Vice Mayor Anderson opposed the pilot, saying basic permitting service should be delivered without a fee premium and expressing concern that the program creates a two-tier system in which only those who can pay receive faster service.

The commission approved the trial by a 4-1 roll-call vote; staff will seek proposals from the city's approved consultants, negotiate agreements and return to the commission with contract terms and a proposed fee schedule for final approval.