"M-Group has been consistently responsive to the needs of applicants as well as the community as a whole, has increased predictability and timing of outcome, and has removed much of the reiteration that characterized prior approval process. M-Group was able to develop innovation measures to provide for a nearly self-sustaining planning division”
- John Brown, City Manager, City of Petaluma
City of Petaluma
Current Planning Services
The City of Petaluma experienced serious budgetary constraints in Fiscal Year 2008 – 2009 and abolished its Community Development Department. Several functions were cut back, public counter hours were restricted, and programs were curtailed. The City selected M-Group through an RFP process to provide all current planning services to the City of Petaluma. M-Group was selected based on our understanding of the City’s needs, cost recovery strategy, experience, customer service orientation, and depth of staff available to support increases in Petaluma’s workload.
For the past 13 years, M-Group has provided Petaluma with the full range of services required of an in-house Planning Division. M-Group restored full public counter coverage and transitioned the Division from an in-house to a contract model. M-Group established credibility with the community, the Planning Commission and the City Council, and improved public perceptions regarding customer service. M-Group took over projects previously managed by outside contractors, completing several significant projects for the City. M-Group was awarded an initial one-year contract in July 2009. The contract has since been extended multiple times by the City Council.