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Resident alleges permitting delays, raises possible conflict of interest involving city consultant
Summary
A local resident told the council his ADU project has been delayed nearly two years, said he spent about $100,000, and alleged a conflict of interest involving a private consulting firm and a city engineer; staff noted they will follow up and investigate.
Eduardo Magana used the public‑comment period to describe long permitting delays for an accessory dwelling unit at 115 South 11th Street and urged the council to investigate processes that have left applicants waiting.
"We spent close to almost $100,000 just to break ground," Eduardo said, and told the council he had been waiting since March for permits. He asked the city to examine internal processing, an unimplemented permitting tool, and whether a conflict exists when private consultants also employ or are associated with city staff.
Eduardo specifically named a consultant he called MC6 Consulting and said he believed a person named Robert Woodworth — whom he said is both the owner of that firm and a city engineer — created a conflict of interest. He asked the council for an internal investigation and invited staff to visit the property so they could see the issues he described.
City staff acknowledged the complaint on the record, said Public Works is taking notes, and pledged to follow up with the speaker after the meeting to investigate the timeline and process issues Eduardo described.
Why it matters: The comment raises procedural questions about permit processing and potential conflicts tied to private consultants; the council directed staff to follow up and to improve reporting and communication with applicants.
