ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: April 6, 2026 AGENDA CATEGORY: Staff Report TO: Development Streamlining Ad Hoc Committee
FROM: Phillip Burns, Development Services Director
DATE: April 2, 2026
SUBJECT: Review of Prior and Existing Initiatives to Assist in Setting the Scope and Goals for the Committee
RECOMMENDATION:
Review the information and set the scope and goals for this Committee
BACKGROUND: On February 11, 2026, Councilmember Arias made a referral requesting Vice Mayor Kaur to consider supporting the creation of an Ad Hoc committee focused on streamlining development review and approval process. In response the committee was formed and Councilmembers Arias, Smith and Koman were appointed. For this inaugural meeting, staff has prepared information regarding the ongoing initiatives to make systematic improvements to the development process, as well as history on some of the initiatives that require significant logistical investment.
Development Services – Large-Scale City-Wide Initiatives
The City has been undergoing the Bakersfield 2045 General Plan update. The General Plan is crucial for defining the long-term framework that guides development and reflects community values, economic conditions and state laws for the next 20 to 30 years. Beginning in 2021, the City has hosted a dedicated webpage, held 26 community meetings, distributed online surveys seeking input and attended events as part of the efforts for active outreach. Staff from multiple departments meet regularly with the consultant as the elements are drafted and the Environmental Impact Report is prepared.
One of the General Plan elements that is required to be updated every eight years is the Housing Element. Staff worked diligently with Housing and Community Development who required three submittals before certifying the 6th Cycle Housing Element in December, 2025. The Housing Element resulted in 20 goals that include 108 action items. On March 30, 2026, staff submitted the Annual Progress Report (APR) and will be providing the Housing and Community Development Council Committee with an overview of the APR, as well as a presentation to the Planning Commission.
The department is also working with a consultant, ICF, to develop a new habitat conservation plan. This will be the first of its kind plan by focusing on maintaining and promoting the current San Joaquin Kit Fox population and not just buying habitat land. This plan will require extensive outreach with both the development community, various agencies and special interest groups. This adds another heavy lift to the same staff that is expected to continually improve processes and productivity.
Development Streamlining – Background and Goals
City Council Goal: Innovative and Efficient City Government
City Council Priorities:
Become the most business-friendly city in California
Ease of Development Process
Streamline Development Review Process
Implement electronic permitting system
Host training for staff and system users
Transition to paperless inspection process
Create One-Stop Shop for building permitting
Development Services Goal: Find ways to become more efficient and transparent with the development process
In late 2019, the City distributed a Request For Proposals for an Electronic Plan Review System. Through a normal review and demonstration process, Avolve ProjectDox was selected and a contract was awarded in February 2020. This began a long-complicated process of integrations, new payment processor, many other technical setbacks and further complications by COVID staffing impacts. The roll out was intended to be in four phases. Unfortunately, several delays were experienced due to both City and consultant issues. Staff worked on the project while maintaining all normal required duties.
It cannot be underestimated the enormity of this project and the significant staff capacity commitment to implement.
In August, 2022, Phase 1 went live, proceeded by Phase 2 in October of 2023. Please keep in mind that this was still ProjectDox working with Naviline permit system. The next phase included development of the Development Center website for the electronic plan review and submittal system. This included guidance for applicants from naming of documents to ensure ProjectDox compatibility, log in assistance and service screens.
A separate RFP was distributed to add a new permitting software that would provide applicants more transparency in the development review process. Staff started the cumbersome process to implement Clariti while continuing to work to make ProjectDox and Naviline more functional and user friendly as possible.
On April 2, 2024, Clariti went live with major unforeseen issues. Another major release for Clariti and ProjectDox required an outage from July 11-16, 2025, which resulted in a bi-directional integration and added functionality. Unfortunately, many of the much-needed functionality items needed for productivity were still not functioning consistently. This “all hands-on deck” project has required staff to spend over half their work week on permit system work (testing, bug reporting, training staff and public interfacing). This effort has and is continuing to impact service levels for certain permit functions. This effort will continue until full functionality is to a point that was originally promised and contracted for.
This background is provided to add context to the monumental efforts that development services staff have been making while continuing to ensure the development community have the tools necessary to have a transparent and efficient application and permit processing system.
Here are some of the more recent changes in permit system and items being worked on:
- Moving from Speridian implementation and support to Clariti corporate direct. - Subdivision Calculator (Automated system to track development fees on Vested Tract maps).
- Cloning of an existing permit to a new address. (Cloning a master planned housing permit to another lot).
- Fee Deferral for development fees on affordable housing projects. - Shared access to project files.
Development Streamlining - Current Progress Efforts
In July of 2025, the Subdivision division and half of Construction Inspection division from Public Works formed the Land Development Division within the Development Services Department. This created one division that was responsible for both plan review and inspections of any development related activity in the City right of way.
We have seen immediate benefits and added communication between the field and office staff due to this change.
In January of 2026, the One-Stop Shop went live. This in effect created one counter for almost all development related permits city wide. This merger has also facilitated added dialogue between the division heads to discuss ways to become more efficient and allow for cross-functional activity. Some of the current changes are:
- Move Site Plan Review (SPR) functions for single family residential Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) from Planning staff to Building staff. Provide SPR and Building review in one process instead of two.
- Move multifamily residential sewer connection fees calculations from Land Development staff to the Plumbing plan review staff in Building.
- Moved from four separate counters in two buildings to one counter for all activities in one building.
- Regular meetings with Division Heads to discuss various issues and vet out potential process changes to add efficiency.
- Regular on-going meetings with Home Builder Associate members related to development streamlining and process improvements for all residential development processes (Entitlements, Improvement Plans, Construction inspections and building functions).
Many other planned changes to add efficiency and functionality to the development process. Here are the items in process and anticipated start date:
- Queueing and scheduling software. Make it easier for customers to visit development services and get the help needed. With electronic plan submittal, conversations between applicant and reviewer have gone down drastically. *Staff has received complaints from applicants that are frustrated by many review cycles. Anticipate by the end of May, 2026 a tool and process to address this concern.
- Site Plan Review Committee set bi-monthly scheduled specifically for appointments related to reviewing existing or soon to be submitted projects. Current plan is for 1st and 3rd Tuesday afternoon and adjust based on use and need. *This committee will provide face-to-face interactions between staff and applicants for an advisory meeting to ensure compliance with city regulations and identify issues early in project development. - Process mapping is on-going with an effort to push data where possible to GIS for more cross departmental access. Staff are also looking into areas where we can simplify or changing a responsible party in a process if it makes sense (examples above). - Clariti Guide is a digital, self-service tool designed to help residents and developers identify, prepare, and submit permit applications. It acts as a "permitting encyclopedia," providing instant, location-based zoning information, estimated fees, and project timelines, reducing the need for in-person inquiries. Anticipated rollout is by the end of June, 2026.
Potential Scope for the Committee to Prioritize:
Councilmembers have identified wanting concise timelines and processes for projects from pre- planning through obtaining Certificate of Occupancy.
Staff proposes beginning with the top ten applications. Division Heads will review and monitor existing timelines, identify challenges to providing acceptable turnaround time, determine necessary staffing levels and related fees and provide clarity to applicants. o Site Plan Review Committee
o Tentative tract maps
o Pushing “quick” permits (ones that do not require a physical plan review) to Symbium.
o Simple Building Permits (residential swimming pool or patio) o Single Family Residential Permits (production homes)
o Affordable Housing Project (Funding, SPR, street permit, building permit, SB35) o New Commercial Building Permits
o Improvement Plans (new subdivision)
o Street permits (home owner widening a driveway)
o Encroachment Permits (fence in sideyard of residence)
Over the past seven years, the Development Services Department continues to be committed to providing Bakersfield developers with transparency and efficiency. This is being accomplished through
encouraging a culture that values communication, strategic use of automation and technology to remove bottlenecks, and a shared vision and environment that encourages feedback and collaboration.
FISCAL IMPACT: At this time there is no request for budgetary items resulting in a fiscal impact to the General Fund.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Innovative and Efficient City Government
ATTACHMENTS: None