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Council adopts building-and-safety strategic plan to speed permitting and add accountability
Summary
The council approved a strategic plan from the Building & Safety division that sets timeliness KPIs, standard operating procedures, an appeals board and contingency plans for consultant support to reduce permit delays and improve transparency.
The Lompoc City Council unanimously adopted a strategic plan for the Building & Safety division on July 13 aimed at reducing permit-review delays and increasing transparency.
Manager Michael Lowe described three goals: a data-driven performance management system with measurable KPIs (including a target to approve 85% of applications within two reviews), standardized operating procedures and inspection checklists, and a construction board of appeals to provide technical oversight of code interpretations. Lowe said the plan includes cross-training, an on-call consultant roster to cover staffing shortages and a reporting dashboard tied to the annual budget cycle.
Public commenters from the development community supported the plan, saying speed and predictability are critical to housing production. Council discussion asked staff to balance consultant use and future staffing and to ensure that any appeals board appointments comply with Brown Act rules and conflict-of-interest safeguards.
The motion to approve the plan passed 5-0; staff will return with bylaws and a proposed fee schedule for cost recovery associated with the appeals process.
