Burnet City Manager David Vaughn said Friday that city staff met earlier this week to discuss “how to begin improving development processing, inspections and overall customer experience/service” in the Development Services department.
“Beginning next week, the city engineer (Hugo Elizondo Jr. of Kyle-based Cuatro Consultants) will be onsite every Wednesday, rather than every other week,” Vaughn said in his weekly city manager’s report. “Having him here every other week has already been a tremendous help and this will be a way for him to lay eyes on every ongoing development, meet with developers, and work with staff on a weekly basis.
“He is in the process of reviewing the technical manual, which is the basis for the development process. Once his review is complete, we will present his recommendations to council for consideration. After that, we would like to create a technical advisory panel of local engineers and developers to help review the code and make improvements that do not impair the quality of the final product.”
Vaughn said city officials will also begin “addressing the planning process and try to streamline the process as much as possible.
“Currently our code requires notices and meetings that are not required under state law,” Vaughn said. “This results in extended approval timelines that are unnecessary under state law.”
Additionally, administrative permit technician Leslie Kimbler is reviewing software options to determine if there is a better option that the current MyPermitNow software used by the city, Vaughn said.
“While MyPermitNow is the predominant software used in this area, it is not very user intuitive and does not give the flexibility we would like to have when scheduling inspections,” Vaughn explained.
Vaughn also said both the city and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) have received complaints concerning the safety of the right-hand turn lane from US 281 into Delaware Springs.
“We are in the process of setting up a meeting with TxDOT to address the concerns, which will likely be a joint project to extend the culvert and widen the road going into Delaware Springs,” Vaughn said.
