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Development services update: Sweetwater Authority reports backlog, process changes and names new engineering manager
Summary
Staff reported a high development-services workload through March 31, 2025 — 72 new projects, 39 approvals, and a large backlog — and introduced new engineering manager Alice Garcia to oversee process improvements.
Sweetwater Authority staff presented a development-services update covering Jan. 1–March 31, 2025, to the Engineering and Operations Committee on May 7, highlighting increased workload, a substantial backlog of projects and steps staff will take to speed reviews.
Dr. Kim summarized workload metrics: 72 new projects received in the first quarter, 39 projects approved to completion, and 34 active projects in the staff backlog as of March 31. Staff processed 118 letters (design-review, fee and deposit notices), answered 161 customer calls and completed 52 flow studies (15 fire-flow requests and 37 hydraulic analyses). Dr. Kim said turnaround for design reviews ranged from six to eight weeks in the quarter, while staff are targeting a tiered goal of roughly four weeks for a first review, three weeks for a second review and one to two weeks for a third review on simpler submittals.
The presentation identified a larger record-keeping backlog: staff reported more than 800 projects with unclear built/completion status, more than 200 projects on hold, and over 100 projects that are complete but awaiting project-closure processing. Staff said these records add substantial workload and limit transparency for both customers and operations.
To address the backlog and speed reviews staff proposed process simplification, standardization, temporary reassignment of resources to high-priority backlog tasks, automation and a customer-facing portal for better tracking. The authority is implementing permitting and tracking software and plans a comprehensive well maintenance and development-services strategy in the coming fiscal year to reduce piecemeal repairs and long-term inefficiencies.
Carlos (staff) introduced the authority’s newest engineering manager, Alice Garcia, who comes from municipal engineering and construction management roles and will lead development-services improvements. Garcia said she has been on the job three weeks and looks forward to addressing backlogs and improving timeliness. Committee members emphasized the need for clearer communication with municipal permitting partners and for differentiated review tracks so simple requests (for example, accessory dwelling unit service taps) are processed faster than major projects.
The item was presented for information; no committee action was required.
