For years in Tampa there have been complaints about the onerous permitting process that has hampered small and large companies from doing business in the city. The issue was so widespread that every candidate running for mayor last year vowed to do something about it if elected. So it was no surprise that Bob Buckhorn created a committee to study the problem shortly after he took office last spring.
Tuesday afternoon that group, which had met twice a month since last July, convened for a final time to release its report, which was broken down into three main categories: code and ordinances, process and technology, and staff and organization.
Members of the Economic Competitiveness Committee said perhaps the single best thing to come out of their work has already been announced: an electronic software package called Accela Citizen Access, that will allow businesses to apply and pay for permits, submit construction plans, schedule inspections, check the status of a permit or inspection, and print an approved permit online any time. That is expected to come online in a few months.
This article appears in Feb 9-15, 2012.