Efficiency Measures in Island County

1. Efficiency Measures in Island County Improving the Permitting Process in the Shoreline Environment Presented by: Helen Price Johnson – Island County Commissioner William Simpson – Island County Planning & Community Development

2. Agenda

3. Focusing on Type I Shoreline Exemption Applications Shoreline Planning Jurisdiction • 196 miles of Marine Shoreline • 11 miles of lake shoreline • High volume of shoreline permits • Problems with delayed permits, complaints, and public perception • Permitting backlog affected other land use permits

4. Goals and Strategies

5. Implementation Measures • Daily stand-up meetings for the first 45-60 days • Revised Type I and Type II Shoreline Exemption Permit Applications • Require submittals by appointment • Planners review applications upon submittal • Training with Permit-tracking software/protocol review • Restructured work space • Revised schedules to minimize distractions • Interdepartmental GIS needs assessment

6. Results • As of June 3, 2013: • Type I Shoreline Exemption Permits accepted: 44 • Average processingtime: 32 days • Reduction in processing time: 56 days

7. Personal Reflections • Value of Kaizen comes from the opportunity to collectively step back, evaluate the process, and reform the process • Staff needs support from management & elected officials • Dynamics in local government are inherently different than in the private sector • Requires commitmentat the staff level • Demands flexibility during the implementation stage • Communication with the public is vital

8. Questions or Comments?