65B - 1ST QUARTER BUDGET UPDATE - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Fiscal Year 2017-18 First Quarter Budget Update November 21, 2017 Page 5 Capital Improvements Projects Grants Performance Measures (Program funding) CITYWIDE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY Disparity Between Development Growth and Staffing Levels Development activity in the City has been increasing since 2011 and data suggests it will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The upward trend in development is evident by the steady increase in Building Safety revenues from fees for service, which have increased by over ninety percent (90%) since FY2012-13. This has caused an increased demand for plan check and building Inspection services. However, the Building Safety expenditure budget has only increased by twenty-six percent (26%) since FY 2012-13. The net increase in positions performing plan checks and inspections from FY 2012-13 to FY 2017-18 are two positions, which are not sufficient to sustain the current demand for service. The Negative Effects of Insufficient Staffing ■ Overall delayed construction timelines, which is particularly detrimental to medium to large commercial, industrial, or mixed-use projects as delays drive up construction costs and delays revenue to the general fund. • Constant service requests by developers for expedited inspections or dedicated inspectors for their projects, which is currently non-existent other than through in-house staff overtime, which is unsustainable. ■ Rogue construction due to contractors not able to afford waiting for inspections that will have life -safety implications and will necessitate costly future remediation. • Reduction in the quality of inspections due to unrealistic staff workloads. Industry Standard vs. Current Service Level • Standard plan check service turnaround time is fifteen (15) business days, service levels prior to recent supplemental contracted services have increased to thirty (30) to forty (40) business days. • Standard building inspection service turnaround time is 24-hour or next -day service, current service levels have eroded to as much as three (3) weeks. Recommended Action Applying a conservative approach, the current recommended action is to add two additional Combination Building Inspector positions starting January 2018 and appropriation of funds into the Planning and Building, Building and Safety Division, contractual account. The additional staff and funding will help increase response time, reduce backlog in inspections and plan check services, and provide service levels that are closer to the Service Sustainability Model. STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT Approval of this item allows the City to meet Goal #4 - City Financial Stability, Objective #1, (Maintain a stable, efficient and transparent financial environment) and supports Goal #3 - Economic L•