DEVELOPMENT STREAMLINING AD HOC COMMITTEE
POST-MEETING AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING
September 15, 2026, 12:00 p.m.
City Hall North Conference Room A
1600 Truxtun Avenue
Committee Members:
Eric Arias
Bob Smith
Larry Koman
1. ROLL CALL
2. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
a. Agenda Item Public Statements
b. Non-Agenda Item Public Statements
3. ADOPTION OF MINUTES
a. Adoption of the August 4, 2026, minutes.
Staff recommends adoption of minutes.
*1. Minutes
4. REPORTS
a. Presentation Regarding Process Improvement Efforts
Staff recommends the Committee receive and file the presentation. *1. PowerPoint Presentation
b. Presentation to Review a Portion of the Top Ten Applications Staff recommends the Committee receive and file the presentation *1. PowerPoint Presentation
5. DEFERRED BUSINESS
6. NEW BUSINESS
7. COMMITTEE COMMENTS
8. ADJOURNMENT
1 DEVELOPMENT STREAMLINING AD HOC COMMITTEE
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
August 4, 2026, 12:00 p.m.
City Hall North Conference Room A
1600 Truxtun Avenue
Members Present: Eric Arias, Bob Smith, Larry Koman
Staff Present: Gary Hallen, Cari Cowling, Phil Burns, Jennifer Byers _____________________________________________________________________
1. ROLL CALL
Meeting was called to order at 12:03 p.m.
2. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
a. Agenda Item Public Statements
Dave Dmohowski
b. Non-Agenda Item Public Statements
Jeannie Bertolaccini
3. ADOPTION OF MINUTES
a. Adoption of April 6, 2026, Special Meeting Minutes
Moved by: Larry Koman
Staff recommends adoption of the minutes
Approved
4. REPORTS
a. Presentation on the Process of Building Permit Submittals Presentation by DS Staff.
Moved by: Larry Koman
Staff recommends the Committee receive and file the presentation.
2 Approved
b. Permit Process Benchmark Study Results
Presentation by Eric Dhanens and Christine Halley from Cornerstone Engineering.
Moved by: Larry Koman
Staff recommends the committee receive and file the study.
Approved
1. PowerPoint Presentation
5. DEFERRED BUSINESS
a. Adoption of the Meeting Schedule for 2026
This item was heard first.
Moved by: Larry Koman
Staff recommends committee approve the meeting schedule.
Approved
6. NEW BUSINESS
7. COMMITTEE COMMENTS
8. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting was adjourned at 1:56 p.m.
_________________________
ERIC ARIAS, CHAIR
_________________________
JULIE DRIMAKIS, CITY CLERK
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: September 15, 2026 AGENDA CATEGORY: Reports TO: Development Streamlining Ad Hoc Committee
FROM: Phillip Burns, Development Services Director
DATE: September 3, 2026
SUBJECT: Presentation Regarding Process Improvement Efforts -
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the Committee receive and file the presentation.
BACKGROUND: On April 6, 2026, in the inaugural meeting of this committee, staff presented an outline of the initiatives occurring in the Development Services Department to streamline building permit activity. The discussion included efforts being made towards process improvement efforts.
Staff will provide an update regarding staffing and technology programs and improvements occurring since April.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal request as part of this presentation.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Innovative and Efficient City Government
ATTACHMENTS:
None
Process Improvements
Development Services
Department
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
Staffing Changes - Departures
DVS Permit Technician – Building –3/22/24
DVS Permit Technician – Building 4/19/24
DVS Permit Technician – Building 2/10/25
DVS Supervisor I – Building 2/25/25
Engineering Technician – Land Development – 9/4/26
Residential Plan Checker – Building – 8/24/26
Construction Inspector – Land Development – 6/26/26
Civil Engineer III – Land Development – 6/1/26
Building Inspector II – Building – 7/2/26
Clerk Typist – Admin – 7/30/26
DVS – Permit Technician – 8/24/26
Associate Planner – Planning – 6/2/25
Associate Planner – Planning – 2/13/26
Staffing
Changes –
New Hires
DS Deputy Director – Jenni Byers –
7/1/26
Permit Services Supervisor – Tamra Lopez –
8/24/26
Office Support Specialist – Jessica Martinez–
8/10/26
Office Support Specialist - Erica Cadena –
8/24/26
Civil Engineer III – Andrew Goodwin –
7/13/26
DVS Permit Technician – 2nd Interviews underway
Building Inspector – Tiffany Carter to start
Sept./Oct.
Technology Enhancements
Clariti
•9/2/2024 – Program Implementation
•7/11-15/2025 - Version 2 Update;
Services Down, extended to July 21,
2025
•11/15/2025 - EPR Connector Package
(3.10), ProjectDox Connector Package
(3.18).
•3/1/2026 Software Implementers
Clariti Managed Services
replaces Speridian
ProjectDox
•8/1/2022 - Program Implementation
•7/11-15/2025 - Version 9.3 Update;
Services Down extended to 7/21/2025
•11/17/2025 - Version 9.4 MR3 Update.
•Slated 10/2026 - 9.5 update
•2027 - Proposed 9.6 update
•Optional Pro Package
•AI Pre-Application Review
•Mobile Inspection
•GIS overlay
•Reporting
Technology Enhancements
Waitwell
Implementation
Schedule meetings with staff via app
Track visitors and route to appropriate
staff
Symbium
Add additional “Quick” permits
Remote Inspection Option to comply
with State Mandate
Internal Process Revisions
Site Plan Review Thursdays
2nd and 4th Thursdays
Starting October 8th
Development Service, Fire and Parks Staff
Building Permit FAQ
Commonly Missed items
Review Process & Time Frames
Live Links (Permit Portal, Forms, Fees)
Outstanding Permit Corrections
To improve communication any permit that goes beyond 3 plan reviews will require meeting with City Staff
Industry Development Meetings
Developer/Homebuilder Bi-monthly Meeting – June 9
Pilot Hybrid Compaction Inspection Framework
Small Lot Subdivisions – public vs. private streets
Developer/Homebuilder Bi-monthly Meeting – August 11
Grading Plan Certificates
Drainage Basing Considerations
General Plan Discussion
HBA of Kern County Executive Committee – August 24
Discussion regarding water availability fee
Short term fee increasing by CPI
Longer term – fee revision and collection process
Building Bridges Summit, Valley Strong – September 3
200 attendees
Michael Doyle, Panelist
Common permitting and site selection
Work together to make business process easier
Staff Training – 2026
Embrace CARES
Front line to Supervisors
Ongoing Customer Service training to include:
Active listening, empathy, emotional intelligence, phone etiquette, conflict resolution and de-escalation, positive language, department culture
Permit Approvers
Technical Skills
Empowerment
Supervisors – R.E.A.L. Leadership Training Sessions
Communicating for Leadership Success
Coaching for Peak Performance
Driving Change
Continued in 2027:
Leadership Journey, Resolving Workplace Conflict,
Accountability, Developing Self and Others, Teambuilding
Discussion
Large Deliverables still underway:
2045 General Plan
Draft Programmatic EIR
Zoning Code
Habitat Conservation Plan
Sewer Infrastructure Planning and PSA’s
South Beltway discussions
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: September 15, 2026 AGENDA CATEGORY: Reports TO: Development Streamlining Ad Hoc Committee
FROM: Phillip Burns, Development Services Director
DATE: September 3, 2026
SUBJECT: Presentation to Review a Portion of the Top Ten Applications. -
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the Committee receive and file the presentation BACKGROUND: On April 6, 2026 in the inaugural meeting of this committee, staff presented an outline of the initiatives occurring in the Development Services Department to streamline building permit activity. The discussion included the City’s Top Ten Applications.
Staff will provide a presentation regarding five of the Top Ten Applications:
Pushing “Quick” Permits to Symbium
Simple Building Permits (ex. Swimming pool, patio)
Single Family Residential Permits (production homes)
Street Permits (ex. Homeowner widening a driveway)
Encroachment Permits (fence in side yard of residence)
While these permits require a lower level of review, they tend to represent the greatest volume and include a higher number from the general public requiring ongoing support.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal request as part of this presentation.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Innovative and Efficient City Government
ATTACHMENTS:
None
Review of Top 10 Applications
Development Services
Department
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
Top Ten Applications
Site Plan Review Committee
Tentative Tract Maps
Pushing “Quick” Permits (no physical plan review) to Symbium.
Simple “Express” Building Permits (ex: swimming pool, patio).
Single Family Residential Permits (production homes)
Affordable Housing (funding, SPR, offsites, SB35)
New Commercial Building Permits
Improvements Plans (new subdivision)
Street Permits (homeowner widening a driveway)
Encroachment Permits (fence in sideyard of residence)
ProjectDox – Express Workflow
“Quick” Permits - Symbium
Types of Permits Currently Allowed: • Residential Solar • Residential ESS (Battery) • Residential Electrical Panel Change Out • Residential Re-Roof • Residential Plumbing Re-Pipe • Residential Plumbing Sewer Replacement • Residential Water Heater Replacement • Residential Gas Line • Residential Water Softener • Residential HVAC Change Out • Permits that can be processed without direct staff
involvement.
• Can be instantly issued.
• Requires additional fee.
• Inspection required
Simple “Express” Permits – Staff Processing
0 2
4 6
8 10
12 2024 Q12024 Q22024 Q32024 Q42025 Q12025 Q22025 Q32025 Q42026 Q12026 Q2 Staff Processing Time Detail - Express
Permits
Assign Review Review Payment Verif. Resub Rev Payment Verif. 0 1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000
10000
2024
Q1
2024
Q2
2024
Q3
2024
Q4
2025
Q1
2025
Q2
2025
Q3
2025
Q4
2026
Q1
2026
Q2
Staff Task Count - Express Permits
Assign Review Simple Payment Verif. Resub Rev
Simple “Express” Permits – Processing Time
0 1
2 3
4 5
6 7
2024 Q1 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2025 Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Q3 2025 Q4 2026 Q1 2026 Q2 Permit Processing Average Time
Staff Applicant Total
ProjectDox – Workflow
ProjectDox - Status
ProjectDox – Workflow
Routing Slip