Laredo committee hears update on Bloomberg–Harvard innovation track to streamline permitting

The City of Laredo Economic Development Committee received an update Feb. 11 on the city's participation in the Bloomberg'Harvard City Leadership initiative and its selection for the Center for Public Impact's innovation track to streamline business development and building-permitting processes.

City staff described the eight-month program as a structured coaching and benchmarking effort that brings outside experts to work with a core team of city leaders, department staff and community stakeholders. Cesar, a city staff member who presented the update, said the initiative aims to "offer expert training and coaching to develop new ideas that can help cities and leaders and departments and, public, servants, innovate and apply new methods on how we can improve our services." He said Laredo was selected after an application and formally joined the innovation track on Oct. 17; the core team held a two-day design workshop during a late-January site visit and the program includes several follow-up visits.

The committee was told the core leadership for the initiative includes the mayor and two assistant city managers, Valdez and Blandin, with project managers from engineering and economic development and a larger core team that will include building inspections, fire, planning and zoning, IT and public information. Staff said the work so far has focused on problem framing and internal coordination; the chosen priority is to streamline permitting and improve the business-development customer experience.

Committee members and guests voiced interest in practical outcomes and follow-through. Miriam, a committee member, said the city still needs centralized capacity to help customers navigate complex approvals: "Like, we need a development department at the city level." Another committee member asked for regular progress reports: "And yes, if you're able to give us, every month... where you are at, that would help tremendously," Martin said during the discussion.

Presenters described the effort as more than a diagnostic exercise: staff said the program emphasizes implementation, community outreach and benchmarking with other cities that faced similar permitting problems. Staff noted existing digital tools ' including a one-stop-shop application ' but said workflow, inspection coordination and interdepartmental communication still create delays. The team plans stakeholder interviews, public questionnaires and business outreach so industry feedback can shape recommendations.

Committee members pressed for clarity about who would carry implementation after the outside coaches depart. Staff said the program requires an implementation plan at the end of the eight-month period and that sustained leadership buy-in will be necessary to carry recommended changes forward. Several members urged that the committee be included in future outreach and that monthly status updates be provided to the committee as the effort proceeds.

Formal committee business during the meeting included approval of the meeting minutes and a motion to adjourn. The minutes were approved following a motion by Mayra and a second by Galazo; the chair announced the motion carried. The meeting later adjourned on a motion seconded by Gonzales.

Staff said they will return to the committee with additional details on the team structure, the planned outreach and a timeline for deliverables as the design phase moves into synthesis and implementation planning.