55B - RESO - ADD PLANNING REV - Laserfiche WebLink

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Appropriation Adjustment and Building Safety Positions November 18, 2014 Page 3 the project's size. Projects not wanting to pay the additional fees for accelerated plan check are then consigned to the current eight to twelve week turnaround time. Outsourcing plan check services during especially high volume periods or for projects which require specific knowledge or expertise is a common practice amongst cities, but is not a viable replacement for in -house plan check staff which can ultimately provide greater availability to walk -in customers, offer increased local knowledge, and provide more consistent code and policy application. Economic Development Task Force On October 14, 2014, a presentation regarding building plan check service levels was given to the Economic Development Task Force, a panel consisting of local and regional economic development and business owners. The purpose of the presentation was to review current staffing and service levels and receive feedback from the panel regarding staff recommendations for ways to improve plan check turnaround times. Following the presentation, many of the Task Force members expressed concerns regarding the negative impacts that delayed plan check turnaround times cause. Most notably among these were the added costs to the developer that result from delays in the plan check and permitting process. The Task Force agreed with the recommended staffing increases in order to return to a 15- working day turnaround level of service. Conclusion / Recommendation Following a thorough review of current and projected workloads and staffing levels, in order to return to a 15- working day plan review turnaround level of service for Building Plan Check, it is anticipated that four additional Building Safety staff are required. This will include three Senior Plan Check Engineers and one Senior Plumbing/Mechanical Systems Specialist. The additional staffing will return the City's plan check service levels back to the gold standard of 15- working days or better. It will provide full time counter plan check services, greatly assist in streamlining the permitting process, decrease reliance on accelerated outsource review, increase availability of in house expedite service, increase availability of permit by appointment program, manage and afford greater flexibility in reviewing major projects, provide consistent application of building codes and state laws, and overall, afford applicants /constituents increased staff availability in realizing development objectives. The Building Division is also implementing a number of technology and process enhancements to maximize the efficiency of both current and proposed plan check staff. These innovations include the development of online services such as online permitting and the development of electronic plan review which will allow customers to submit, track, and communicate on projects electronically. 55B -3