Local Businesses List Top Solutions To Cut City Red Tape
The City Council held the first Regulatory Relief workshop since 2000 last night. Over 100 business advocates showed up to the special evening Council meeting, which has been promoted over the last week by Councilmembers Kevin Faulconer, Lorie Zapf and Tony Young.
Dozens of recommendations to cut red tape were voiced directly to the City Council. One speaker compared navigating the City bureaucracy to “trying to get into a speakeasy with the wrong password.”
Council President Pro Tem Faulconer summed up the top changes businesses want when it comes to permitting and licensing: “Online, online, online.”
Councilmember Zapf, a small businesswoman herself, highlighted several reforms already underway since she helped kicked off Regulatory Relief earlier this year, including the hiring of a small business liaison — one of the few City positions added to this year’s budget.
Council Presient Young emphasized that the worshop was only the beginning in a series of efforts to make it easier for businesses to work with the City and thrive.
Young, Zapf and Faulconer will release in 2 weeks an action plan based on feedback from the workshop.
For Immediate Release
November 15, 2011
Contact: Matt Awbrey – (619) 929-0089
Communications Director
Local Businesses List Top Solutions To Cut City Red Tape
Regulatory Relief workshop expands dialogue between Council and businesses
SAN DIEGO — For the first time in over a decade, small business owners, industry leaders and jobs advocates participated in a forum to directly tell the City Council how it can reform City permitting, cut red tape and encourage hiring at last night’s Regulatory Relief workshop.
Led by City Council President Tony Young and Councilmembers Lorie Zapf and Kevin Faulconer, the special evening City Council meeting drew an audience of more than 100.
“Every business knows that time is money,” said Faulconer. “My goal is for businesses to spend less time navigating the City bureaucracy so they can focus on generating more money – for their families, for our local economy, and for job creation.”
“Yesterday the business community stepped up and let City leaders know how we can reform unnecessary regulations and make it easier to grow their business and create more local jobs” said Zapf. “The feedback we received was invaluable. Thank you for making Regulatory Relief Day a success.”
Young emphasized that the workshop was just the beginning of an expansive review of red tape. “We have our marching orders. This City Council is united behind helping businesses thrive, grow and hire.”
Young, Zapf and Faulconer will release in 2 weeks an action plan based on feedback from the workshop.
Recommendations offered by businesses for cutting red tape and streamlining processes include:
1. Eliminate annual permits for home businesses
2. Reduce red tape for installing solar panels
3. Speed up the process for awarding building permits
4. Create a “starter kit” with instructions on how to obtain permits for a new business
5. Review and eliminate conflicts between city, state and federal regulations
6. Send email reminders to businesses for license and permit renewals
7. Clarify regulations to avoid different interpretations by different bureaucrats
8. Institute performance evaluations of all City departments that work with local businesses
9. “Sunset” after 3-5 years new regulations that affect businesses
10. Expand opportunities for online permitting
###
Comments 3
One speaker compared navigating the City bureaucracy to “trying to get into a speakeasy with the wrong password.”
Great line!
The stereotypical password during the 1920’s heyday
of speak-easies was the phrase, “Jake sent Me”.
From now on, we should all try , “Tony Sent Me”.
I’ll drink to that, Jim!