ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: August 4, 2026 AGENDA CATEGORY: New Business TO: Development Streamlining Ad Hoc Committee
FROM: Gary Hallen, Assistant City Manager
Phillip Burns, Development Services Director
DATE: July 30, 2026
SUBJECT: Permit Process Benchmark Study
[Document Description]
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the committee receive and file the study from Cornerstone Engineering.
BACKGROUND:
Discussion occurred at the inaugural meeting of the Ad Hoc Development Streamlining Committee.
Members of the committee were concerned that not enough progress was going to be made from the April Meeting to July Meeting. A commitment was made at that meeting to the Committee to ensure that a third-party report would be complied with for the committee review at the July meeting. Assistant City Manager Hallen saw to it that the Study was commissioned and completed prior to this meeting, as the City engaged with Cornerstone Engineers Advisors (Cornerstone) to complete a study of three key areas to provide feedback to this Committee and the City Development Review team. The scope of work that Cornerstone was engaged to complete consisted of the following data:
High-level baseline desktop review of the City’s existing permitting process and materials; Benchmarking permitting practices from five comparable jurisdictions, which consisted of Fresno, Stockton, Ontario, Corona and Santa Clarita.
Stakeholder Inte rviews with targeted feedback from permit applicants such as design professionals and other heavy users in the Development Review Process.
The report is attached to provide the City and the Committee with some valuable data; Cornerstone will also provide an overview of the report with its recommendations.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no impact to the General Fund in receiving the analysis comple ted by Cornerstone. The study was commissioned and cost less the $40,000.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Innovative and Efficient City Government
Reliable Infrastructure
Economic Opportunity for All
Community Character & Quality of Life
ATTACHMENTS:
Cornerstone Report