Consultants and supervisors press for faster permit review; county adopts new prioritization tool for storm repairs

Santa Cruz County supervisors adopted staff recommendations informed by an independent organizational assessment and directed immediate steps aimed at speeding building permit processing, clarifying roles and establishing clearer customer service standards.

Baker Tilly, the consulting firm hired to review Community Development and Infrastructure (CDI) operations, presented findings after a series of staff interviews, stakeholder meetings and an employee survey. The consultants found a mix of positive reforms already in place and persistent problems: inconsistent plan‑review comments, uneven staffing and training, and the need for clearer administrative procedures and customer metrics.

Key consultant recommendations included developing a stronger pre‑application process, updating administrative policies and standard operating procedures, improving technology integration and expanding training. The firm highlighted the central role that permit technicians play in the customer experience and recommended adding staff, improving measurable metrics and piloting a “one bite at the apple” review approach to reduce rounds of review.

After discussion, Supervisor John Koenig moved a package of implementation steps — including immediate modest walk‑in hours at the permit counter, a request that staff return to the board with a supplemental budget request to add a building permit technician, a directive to reduce sequential reviews where possible and to develop a work plan for a multi‑year program of improvements. The board approved the package; the vote was 4–1 with Supervisor John Cummings opposed. Cummings said he supported improvements but wanted more detail on feasibility before committing to the set of directives.

In related business, supervisors accepted a newly created Emergency Road Damage Assessment tool designed to help allocate limited resources for road repairs from the county’s multiple disaster events. The GIS‑driven tool uses six criteria — traffic volume, detour time, loss of lane, utilities/culverts affected, access/functional‑needs indicators and proximity to critical facilities — and scores damaged road segments so staff can weigh priorities transparently. County staff noted the tool does not replace project‑level engineering judgment, and that funding availability and FEMA obligations remain constraints that can alter priorities.

Board direction included a request for a detailed multi‑year work plan to implement the permitting reforms and follow‑up briefings on the CZU fire rebuild process: Supervisor Zachary Martinez added a unanimous direction to have Baker Tilly develop an integrated scope of work focused on CZU rebuild permit workflows. County staff said they would return with the work plan by June and would bring a supplemental budget recommendation for the first permit technician during the budget hearings.

The consultant’s assessment and the new prioritization dashboard aim to give the board and the public clearer, data‑backed justifications for spending and staffing choices as the county manages the backlog of storm damage and seeks to accelerate housing and other development projects.