On Friday, December 6th, Bonney Lake hosted the fourth quarter Development Officials Forum. Bonney Lake staff showed off their newly updated City website, walked attendees through their permit application portal (all permit applications live on January 1st, 2020), and shared their electronic inspection results. MBA members and jurisdictions also discussed increasing participation (on both fronts) in the Universal Base Plan Program. Other jurisdictional updates regarding permitting numbers, staffing concerns and more can be found below:
Puyallup:
- There’s an opening for Plans Examiner in the City
- City is going to be hiring a permit service Customer Service Manager to help assist with in-person applications
- Current Plans Examiner will be out for a month so the building inspector will be taking on more of a workload
Lakewood: Bonney Lake:
- 25% increase in permit activity from this time last year
- 92 single family permits for the year; 28 homes in the queue
- A lot of commercial activity occurring: projects are going in near the new Costco
- Potentially seeing an increase in multifamily permits
- Looking to add a new inspector
Sumner:
- Using InterGov as a new permitting system; endeavor will take 12 months to get off the ground
- New interim City Manager and the mayor are working on a reorganization to coming Public Works and Community Development departments
- A building officials is going to be on temporary medical leave; the City is looking to hire someone part-time in their absence
Tacoma:
- Currently meeting level of service goals for single family permits
- Looking to hire a building inspector in January/February of next year; still committed to a one day turnaround
- Exploring going beyond SEPA requirements in terms of community outreach per Council resolution
Pierce County:
- SF review times are currently at a one month turnaround (21 days is the target goal)
- New inspector has started; new plans reviewers are being hired
- Commercial applications are up: 3 new schools applied for
- New senior planner recently hired who will be tasked with making sure that internal processes are leaner
Edgewood:
New senior planner recently hired who will be tasked with making sure that internal processes are leaner