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Planning director: permit volume surge after Ida puts staffing strain on Terrebonne Parish
Summary
Planning & Zoning Director Chris Pulaski told the council the office saw permit volume jump from about 2,600 a year pre‑Ida to over 13,000 the first full year after the storm and is "tracking to reach over 36,600 permits" in 2026; he described staffing turnover and said salary adjustments in the 2026 budget aim to retain employees while relying on grant-funded capacity.
Chris Pulaski, director of Planning and Zoning, told the Terrebonne Parish Council on Dec. 17 that the department is managing an unprecedented permit workload tied to recovery from Hurricane Ida and that staffing and budget choices in the 2026 proposal respond to that pressure.
"Prior to Hurricane Ida, the permit office averaged 2,600 permits a year," Pulaski said. "The first full year after Ida saw over 13,000 permits. In 2026, four years after the storm, we're still tracking to reach over 36,600 permits." He described frequent staff turnover and said the office has worked with minimal experienced clerks while handling the surge.
Pulaski said the department is also managing a backlog of derelict-structure files (more than 425 open files in January 2025) and expects that number to drop to roughly 40–50 after Jan. 2026 hearings. He credited the parish's recovery grant programs — including Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA), and Pre-disaster Mitigation (PDM) grants — with bringing nearly $200 million that is funding elevations and reconstruction work in the parish.
"The salary adjustments in my budget are about recognizing and rewarding hard work and opportunity, which leads to employee retention," Pulaski said, explaining that some administrative costs can be covered through grant programs that include capacity for staffing.
Pulaski asked the council to consider the budget amendments as a way to retain experienced permit staff so long-term recovery projects can continue without contracting or service reductions. He closed by thanking council members and wishing them a merry Christmas.
The briefing did not include a formal vote; council members acknowledged the presentation and moved on to the next agenda items.
