City outlines 90‑day permit reforms and early metrics as permitting workload rises

City planning and permit staff delivered a 90‑day progress report on permitting reforms prompted by storm recovery, emphasizing customer‑service standards, portal fixes and a program of documentation to standardize permit types and review workflows.

"Now when a permit application comes in, that permit application is assigned to a permit tech and that permit tech takes it from start to finish," Community Development Director Laura Canary said, describing a single point of contact and improved communications templates. Technology and innovation director Candice Galloway summarized metrics work: January–February permit issuance increased month‑over‑month (97 permits issued in January, 158 in February) and median days‑to‑issue ranged at roughly 5–10 days for many permit categories, while more complex building projects remain in extended review.

Staff described a permit matrix of over 64 permit types that will document required submittals, review steps and inspection sequencing; the matrix will inform training, an RFP for permit‑portal software and future dashboards. Staff also announced contractor focus groups and a public open house to improve consolidated review and to surface operational 'pain points' that currently require technology or process changes.

Commissioners asked for additional metrics (median and range, and breakdowns that separate "waiting on applicant" vs. "waiting on city") and for stress‑test planning for future storm workloads. Staff said they will return with more granular submittal‑to‑in‑review metrics and will evaluate portal augmentations before pursuing a full vendor replacement.