HomeMy WebLinkAbout5C - Temporary Building Inspector Position
AGENDA NUMBER:
PREPARED BY:
SUBJECT:
DATE:
BACKGROUND:
DISCUSSION:
STAFF AGENDA REPORT
5C
FRANK BOYLES
CONSIDER AUll-IORIZING TEMPORARY BUILDING
INSPECTOR POSITION AND ALLOCA11NG THE FUNDING
THEREFORE FROM THE CONTINGENCY FUND
JUNE 7,1993
At the April 2 - 3 City Council workshop, Gary Staber discussed
numerous development issues with the Council. Among them was the
need to add a temporary building inspector position during the peak
sununer months to respond to the increased workload we anticipate.
Staff was directed to return with a formal request for funding this
position if development levels justify such action.
Shown below is a list of plats which have been received by the City
that are in various stages of review.:
Subdivision
\Vestbury Ponds
Cardinal Ridge
Bang Concept Plan
Carriage Hills 2nd
Knob Hill
West Edge Estates
Busse 1st Addn.
Forest Oaks 1 st Adn
Hidden View
Lake Front Woods
Woodridge Estates 68
(2nd Addition)
The Wilds P.U.D.
# Lots
97
221
40
54
186
24
2
8
15
6
Status
Prelim Plat
Prelim Plat
Staff Review
Final Plat
Staff Review
Staff Review
Completed
Final Plat
Prelim Plat
Prelim/Final P.
Final Plat
482
Staff Review
It is fair to say two things about this information:
1. Not every plat will be approved and built out this year.
2. Those which are approved in 1993 may not necessarily be built.
So that Council can see the trend over time, I have prepared two
tables (attached). Table 1 shows all single family permits and total
permits issued for each year beginning in 1990 and projected through
1993. Table 2 compares January through April activities through the
same years. The conclusions from the tables are: 1. Overall building
activity is on the rise; 2. Single family building activity appears to be
increasing on a yearly basis; 3. Given the number of plats in the
approval process, it appears likely that building activity wil\~tay at
current or greater levels.
Page 1
In addition to development activity, Council is aware that the building
inspection department received over 90 zoning and miscellaneous
complaints last year (over half of which were not investigated because
of manpower shortages). The administration of the clean up program
is also a responsibility which has been deferred this year until
sufficient personnel are on staff to administer the program.
ALTERNATIVES:
The City Council has the following alternatives:
1. Take no action recognizing that permit approval time will
increase from seven to fourteen days and inspection turn around
time will change from 24 hours to two to five days, depending
upon workload.
2. Authorize the hiring of a temporary building inspector for no
more than 67 working days at $14.00 per hour for a total cost of
just over $10,000.
3. Approve a temporary building inspector position for the period of
June 1 thru December 31 at $12.00 per hour and authorize the
same benefits to the position as are supplied to other full time
City employees for a total 1993 cost of $16,224.
RECOMMENDATION: Alternative #1 is not a viable solution. The evidence suggests
that the building activity will increase and it is incumbent on the
City to prepare itself for this eventuality. As new residents move
into the community they will expect that the City follow up on
their complaints. From the residents perspective, some of the
most important concerns have to do with miscellaneous zoning
and building issues.
Alternative #2 will provide building inspection services through
September. Unfortunately, we expect building activities to
continue well into November. The key advantage to this option is
that the employee will work less than 67 days in the year and,
therefore, will not be defined as a public employee.
Consequently the position would not be considered as a union
position eligible to negotiated wages and benefits of employment.
Alternative #3 is the best in terms of providing additional
inspection assistance. This option has the greatest likelihood of
helping us to respond both to development pressures as well as
miscellaneous complaints. . Unfortunately, it is most expensive,
and the union may eventually request that the position be
included as a bargaining unit position. This means that the City
will be obliged to establish wages and conditions of employment
for this position as with any other union position.
Page 2
I recommend that the Council select Alternative #3 to provide
sufficient personnel to complete our ongoing workload. If
development does not continue as anticipated and there is
insufficient work to justify the position, appropriate action would
be taken.
ACTION REQUIRED:
Motion to authorize the creation of a temporary building
inspection position from the period of June 1 thru December,
1993 at a cost not to exceed $16,224. The funding is to be
derived from the contingency fund.
AGNSC. WRT
Page 3
700
600
500
400
N
U
M
B
E
R
300
200
100
o
Tc.U-( \
PERMIT GROWTH
[FULL YEAR}
1990
1991
1992
1993
YEAR
~ SINGLE FAM. PERMIT . TOTAL PERMITS
140
120
100
80
N
U
M
B
E
R
60
40
20
o
1990
)c. k,), L
TOTAL PERMITS
{THROUGH APRIL]
1991
1992
1993
YEAR
-13- SINGLE FAM. PERMIT -. TOTAL PERMITS