A new era is beginning at Miami-Dade County’s Permitting and Inspection Center.  Customers will see a noticeable difference in how Miami-Dade County reviews plans and issues permits.

Whether you are a homeowner putting an addition on your house, a business owner trying to open a warehouse or a developer seeking to build, you will see a new level of communication, coordination and cooperation from Miami-Dade County and its employees.  Simply, what this means to the public is better service.

As one of my first officials acts as Mayor, I asked County Manager George Burgess to do what needed to be done to make the permitting process more customer-friendly.  I kept hearing over and over again how frustrating, tedious and inefficient our permitting process can be.  Let’s face it, an inefficient permitting process discourages people from doing business in Miami-Dade County and, ultimately, stifles economic growth.

As a county, we must facilitate growth, not obstruct it.  At the same time, we need to ensure the development of safe, sustainable communities.  I am pleased to report – the culture inside all of the department’s involved in the permitting process is changing.   Customer-friendly is our new mantra.  We are encouraging “can-do” attitudes.

With the support of numerous county departments, citizens and industry experts, we now have concrete and do-able solutions to streamline an often frustrating, tedious and complex process.

Among the improvements:

1. One Assistant County Manager – not four – will oversee all of the departments involved in the permitting and inspection process.  Alex Munos is our “permitting czar.”
2. “Approval as noted” is a new category in plan review.  This ensures that good, quality plans don’t have to be reworked and reprocessed before permit issuance.  This will save precious time and allow construction to proceed.
3. And, we’re taking a cue from “Wal-Mart.”  Greeters are now here at the Permitting and Inspection Center to welcome, assist and direct customers.  We also have an on-site troubleshooter – Development Coordinator, Tom Marko.

Of course, these are just a few of more than two dozen recommendations that are and will continue to be implemented throughout the year.
 
We truly are making progress in a critical area that touches so many of our residents!