4-8-2024_PW SS Briefings (3) - Laserfiche WebLink

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x Appendix B: Obj ectives, Scope and Methodology Objectives The purpose of this performance audit is to assess how local governments process permit applications. The audit addresses the following objectives: 1. To what extent are local governments complying with the 120-day rule,including the annual reporting requirement? 2. Are local governments using processes appropriately for project permit reviews that exceed 120 days? For reporting purposes,the audit results have been organized into key findings.The messages relate to the original objectives as follows: • Audited governments met state-mandated permitting deadlines inconsistently in some areas, sometimes by wide margins(pages 13-26) —This finding addresses Objective 1 and 2. • Although already using many leading practices,audited governments could adopt practices to further improve permit review times(pages 27-31)—This finding addresses Objective 1. • Only one-third of local governments statewide published required annual performance reports on permit processing times(pages 32-34)—This finding addresses Objective 1. Scope This audit examined how long it took selected local governments to process permits associated with building and development.It also reviewed these Local governments governments'permitting processes to identify opportunities to better assist included in this audit applicants and reduce overall application time. Our audit period was calendar years 2019 through 2022. City of Bellingham We selected six local governments for this audit.Our goal when selecting • City of Richland governments was to include a good mix of cities and counties on both sides • City of Shoreline of the Cascades.We chose high-growth areas with a variety of population sizes . City of Vancouver and considered urban and rural designations for counties and population density for cities.The six governments we selected include four cities and two counties: Kittitas County four west of the Cascades and two east.The audited governments are listed - Snohomish County in the sidebar. Growth Management Act Appendix B 150