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Lathrup Village DDA approves amendment to cost-share agreement for permit services
Summary
The Downtown Development Authority voted unanimously July 17 to approve an amendment to a cost-share agreement with the city to fund permit technician and related services after a staffing shift; board members discussed efficiency, vendor contract costs and a modest net budget increase.
The Lathrup Village Downtown Development Authority on July 17 approved an amendment to a cost-share agreement with the city to maintain permit technician and building services after the city reduced a combined code-enforcement/permit-technology role to part time.
Staff said the city has contracted McKenna & Associates to provide on-site permit-tech and building services weekly while the code-enforcement role is now part time. The packet lists adjustments to general-ledger salary lines: a $27,540 reduction in full-time salary lines, a $14,040 increase in part-time salary lines, a $3,000 decrease in employee benefits and taxes, and a $22,009.50 increase in planning consulting fees to reflect McKenna’s permit-tech costs. Staff presented this as Amendment 1, effective in the packet from 07/01/2026 through the period listed in the agreement.
At the meeting a board member noted that the line-item changes netted an increase of about $6,450 and asked why costs rose if some roles were shifting from full time to part time. Staff and other board members replied that the change splits a previously combined, “burnout” position into separate roles to improve efficiency and outcomes; the board heard that the combined position had produced turnover and limited productivity, and that contracting building and permit-technical services typically runs higher than in-house wages.
Board members discussed options including running an RFP for code-enforcement services and the trade-offs between in-house staffing and contracted consultants. One board member said contracting can be “two times more” costly for comparable hours, but staff argued the split would allow focused attention on enforcement, inspections and permitting.
A motion to approve the amended cost-share agreement was made, seconded and carried on a roll-call vote. The roll call as recorded in the meeting packet shows the following votes in favor: Mayor Kanter, Pam Shermyer, Alex Green, Jeff Fittrick, Tracy Williams, Charlotte Jones and Lisa Burr. The motion passed unanimously.
The board did not specify a separate implementation schedule at the meeting beyond the contract adjustments described in the packet; staff said they would do a deeper financial review if members requested additional detail.
