Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Development Services Permitting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Development services holds steady; no new positions as permitting demand remains high
Summary
Development Services Director Mike Isomir presented a FY26 net operating budget of $14.5 million, said permit and project billings are expected to yield nearly $11 million, and declined to request new positions while flagging recruitment and supply‑chain pressures that affect construction activity and workload.
Mike Isomir, director of Development Services, presented the department’s FY2025–26 budget at the May 28 budget workshop, saying the net operating request is $14.5 million and that the department expects nearly $11 million in fee and project billing cost recovery next year.
Isomir emphasized that the department is not requesting any new positions or programs in FY26. He described the department’s four primary divisions — building permit center and code enforcement; business/administrative services (including the permitting system and project billing); engineering/land development; and planning — and said the department typically recovers costs for many projects while charging general fund support for code enforcement and other nonreimbursable services.
Isomir warned of external risks that affect workload and revenue: higher technology subscription costs for permitting platforms that have shifted to per‑user pricing, tariff‑driven material cost and supply disruptions that could delay construction starts, and interest rate uncertainty that could affect single‑family and multi‑family starts. He also noted ongoing staffing challenges, especially recruiting trade‑related inspectors and plan reviewers; development services staff currently perform a high volume of inspections and are at risk of burnout, he said.
Isomir said the department will monitor the technology fund balance and adapt to fluctuating workload, and noted that the department’s current workload includes projects with large traffic mitigation fee programs. No public comments were made on the item during the workshop, and council did not take action at the session.
