Community Development Department Announces Customer Service Enhancements
City of Laguna Beach, February 24, 2020, Media Release
Laguna Beach, CA – In an effort to streamline and enhance customer service for the public at the Community Development counter at City Hall, the City of Laguna Beach has hired a Permit Services Supervisor to oversee counter customer service operations. This new service will be available to the public starting Monday, February 24, 2020.
“Our new Permit Services Supervisor will oversee the front counter in an effort to enhance customer service and help people navigate the development process from the moment they come into City Hall,” said Marc Wiener, Laguna Beach Director of Community Development. “We are continually looking for ways to make the development process less time consuming, easier to understand and less tedious for property owners as they embark on development projects in the City.”
Geri Ford has been hired as Permit Services Supervisor and will begin the position on February 24, 2020. Ford has over 12 years of experience working as a Permit Technician for the cities of Anaheim, Orange, and Mission Viejo. For the last two months, Ford has been working for the City as a contract Senior Permit Technician.
Over the last year, numerous customer service enhancements have been made as part of the Community Development Department’s Action Plan. For example, we have streamlined the plan review process by requiring that plan submittals be reviewed concurrently by all departments. Additionally, a newly formed Development Management Team meets every Thursday to review new commercial, residential and other complicated projects at the very beginning of the process. By meeting with the property owner’s design team early, the Team provides direction up front, helping property owners steer clear of potential future delays that could happen later in the process. Over the next year we will be updating our department procedures, information handouts, website and permitting software.
“With even more improvements on the way, this is just the beginning of how we aim to improve customer service and become a City that is as innovative as our residents,” Wiener said. “It’s the City’s goal to make it easier to understand the permitting process and to issue permits in a timely manner.”
For more information on the new customer service improvements, please contact Marc Wiener, Director, City of Laguna Beach Community Development Department at (949) 497-0361 or mwiener@lagunabeachcity.net.
