Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird on Thursday announced a proposal to merge the City’s Planning Department and the Building and Safety Department into a single entity, aimed at improving efficiency and customer service.
The combined department would be called Planning and Development Services and requires approval from the City Council, which is set to hold a public hearing September 22 and vote on the proposal September 29.
Gaylor Baird said the merger stems from a June internal assessment and would expedite reviews, consolidate services, and improve coordination among staff…