Notes from Permitting Action Team Meeting

September 25, 2013 – 2:30 PM | Alliance Office

Mason Jackson opened the meeting at 2:40 PM.

Self- introductions were made by those attendees: Mason Jackson & Jack Bennings (WorkForce One); DK Mink (Mink & Mink); Cleveland Bain (Coral Springs); Dago Diaz (Suffolk Constructions); Dan Murphy (Dania Beach); Dean Piper (Pembroke Pines); Scott Stoudenmire (Coconut Creek); Elijah Wooten (City of Lauderhill); and Kay Sommers – Liaison to ePermits Marketing Sub-Committee (Environmental Protection and Growth Management).

Ron Drew with the Alliance gave an update on the Platinum Cities promotional aspects and some of the avenues the Alliance uses to promote the Platinum Cities. Attached to the agenda was a copy of the Platinum City ad that was submitted to the South Florida Business Journal. The ad was projected to be in the September 27th issue which goes to roughly 4,500 of their subscribers. Along with being up-to-date information on the Alliance’s web site, the Platinum Cities will also be in the Economic Sourcebook and also touted during the October annual meeting. Ron commented that the Alliance is going to make a concerted effort to talk about the Platinum City Program when speaking with the local press.

General discussion followed regarding the transparency of the Platinum City program and the benefits to the company, the contractors, building/property managers and others that are directly involved with the Permitting process.

Elijah Wooten brought up the issue of potentially promoting locally and nationally to the Contractors about the benefits of working with the Platinum Cities. ABC (American Builders & Contractors) and AGC (American General Contractors) would be good organizations to contact related to potentially using them as a forum to promote not only the Platinum City program but also the ePermits Program as well. Dago Diaz will get the correct contact information for each of the local Organizations.

Elijah Wooten commented about the need for coordination between Economic Development and the Building Officials from the Municipalities and to be sure that each department knows what projects are being worked on and considering their Municipality. Elijah also stated that the ISCS is another organization to approach that could assist getting the word out about Platinum Cities along with ePermits.

Mason gave a overview of the ePermit program and what transpired in the past that lead to the Alliance’s Permitting Action team now working with the ePermits Program. Jack Bennings, along with DK Mink commented about some of the other sub-committees that have been formed since the August ePermit Working Group meeting. One of the issues that was brought up in the last ePermit Working Group meeting was the County’s desire to have the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance champion the Marketing effort of the ePermit program. Kay Sommers, in a recent conversation with Jeff Halsey, stated that Jeff suggested the Marketing effort from the Alliance was to create awareness within the business community and the excitement to get onboard with the Program. Dago Diaz suggested that trying to get on the speaking agenda of many of these Constructions, General Contractors and Builders’ organizations to get the word out how beneficial this will be for the business community. Dan Murphy also suggested contacting any of the Redevelopment Organizations and he stated that Jeremy Earle with Dania Beach is the incoming President for the Florida Redevelopment Association which will hold their annual meeting in Tampa. Cleveland Bain also suggested the Minority Builders Association as another avenue to get the word out.

Mason suggested getting all of these Organizations and suggestions into a spreadsheet in order to develop an Action Plan with time frames to completion. Jack Bennings will work on that spreadsheet and Mason and he will refine and have it for next meeting.

Mason brought up the role of the Permitting Action as it relates to the Platinum City Program in light of Broward County’s countywide ePermits initiative and whether our Action Team needs to continue to meet as we’ve done in the past. A general discussion followed and it was recommended that for the next few months the Action Team should continue as we progress further with solidifying our Platinum Cities promotion and get some additional clarification from the County related to the Marketing efforts suggested by the County.

Cleveland Bain commented how they appreciated Thuy Turner with the County coming out to Coral Springs to meet with some of the staff to get additional details about the ePermit process. The County has made a commitment to meet one-on-one with each of the Cities to give an overview of the ePermit Proposed Initiative.

Dean Piper, Pembroke Pines, gave an update on the activity in Pembroke Pines and their permitting fee revision and how they expect it to be beneficial to both the City and to the Permit Applicant. They are restructuring their fees to include a small upfront fee to cut down on the permit filings that are done and never picked up which can be sizeable over time.

Scott Stoudenmire brought up the issue of having a pre-permit meeting as it relates to the initial zoning and other areas that have to be approved before the actual permit process begins. Scott was asking if the Alliance couldn’t work with the Platinum City process to include some of the other areas, such as zoning, etc.

Mason asked if Scott, Dan Murphy and Dean Piper meet to review some of these pre-planning processes and to see how the Alliance could or should consider this being tied into the Platinum City process and report back with any recommendations at the next meeting.

Next meeting is scheduled for October 23 – 2:30 PM – Alliance Board Room.

With no other business the meeting adjourned at 3:45 PM.

Jack Bennings

Director of Workforce Development

WorkForce One/Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR THE ALLIANCE: (RSVP for all events and meetings at www.gflalliance.org)

· October 17th Alliance Annual Meeting – Signature Grand

· November 21st Alliance Council Connect – Riverside Hotel

Following are the cities that have been designated as “Platinum Cities”

Permitting Action Team Meeting – 8/22/2013Page 2

Coconut Creek
Cooper City
Coral Springs
Dania Beach
Davie
Deerfield Beach
Fort Lauderdale
Hollywood
Lauderhill
Margate
Miramar

Oakland Park
Plantation

Pembroke Pines
Pompano Beach
Tamarac
Wilton Manor

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