Page 118 - City of Fort Worth Budget Book

General Fund Development Services

The Development Coordination Division is comprised of five sections. The Platting Section administers the city’s
subdivision regulations and implements the city’s annexation policy. The Strategic Operations section is tasked
with monitoring permit data, managing City-wide permitting system, and acting as a liaison with IT for projects and
technology products. This section also includes the Transportation Impact Fee Office that is responsible for
managing the city’s Transportation Impact Fee Program and leveraging the funds to build public roadway
infrastructure via Public/Private Partnerships. The Project Facilitation section is charged with helping expedite
significant and signature development projects by heading inter-departmental project teams, negotiating special
review accommodations, and acting as the developer’s liaison throughout the development review process while
also ensuring that the city’s regulations and project requirements are met. The Communications Section is
charged with creating a voice for the department and proactively communicating changes, updates, and
improvements both internally and externally to the community we serve. The Business Support section prepares,
tracks, and monitors the department’s budget, leads out in the business plan, manages purchasing, accounts
payable, accounts receivable, audits, and has recently added financial review of the permitting system to facilitate
process improvements related to financial recording in the City-wide permitting system, Accela Automation.

The Permitting and Inspections Division reviews and inspects all construction projects for compliance with
construction codes to ensure safety and sound building practices and ensures compliance with the city’s gas well
ordinance. This division is comprised of the following three sections: The Development Support Services Section
is responsible for permitting services and customer intake. The Building Services Section provides plans
examination, building inspections, and sign ordinance inspections. The Gas Well Section performs safety
inspections, permits gas well and gas-related right-of-way activity, and contracts with other municipalities for gas
permitting and inspections.

The Zoning and Design Review Division has three sections. The Zoning Section administers the city’s zoning
regulations, including Urban Forestry regulations. The Design Review Section administers the city’s historic
preservation and urban design ordinances. The Appeals Section staffs two Zoning Boards of Adjustment.
The Infrastructure Development Division was added by merging various functions previously housed in the
Transportation and Public Works Department and the Fort Worth Water Department into the Development
Services Department. The merge is a purposeful effort to create a more efficient and customer- focused complete
permitting process for our customers. The Division has five sections: Transportation Development Review,
Infrastructure Plan Review, Stormwater Development Services, Parkway, and Water Development Services.

FY2025 DISCUSSION AND SIGNIFICANT CHANGES

The Recommended Budget:

• Decreases by one authorized position (AP) for Sr. Capital Financial Analyst transferred to the Traffic &
Public Works Department to improve the tracking, planning, reconciling and reporting of Capital funds.
• Decreases by ($92,455) and one AP for a Sr. Combo Inspector due to long-term vacancy reductions.

• Increases by $1.21 million in salary and benefits for previously approved costs associated with pay for
performance, rising health care costs and pension contributions.
• Increases by $202,058 for second quarter reclassification of 70 existing positions, as recommended by a
2024 Structural Efficiency study.
• Increases by $168,623 in General Operating & Maintenance for previously approved costs associated
with risk management, administrative cost and IT solutions allocation costs.
• Decreases by ($658,771) in salary and benefits due to pay band adjustment and budgeted vacancy
savings rate that produces salary savings.

• The cost of the above is offset by $3,227,356 million in revenue fee increases.

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