HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 10:t�N�N�vlle
Memorandum
City of Lakeville
Building Inspections
To: Mayor and City Council
Justin Miller, City Administrator
From: Gene J. Abbott, Building Official
David L. Olson, Community and Economic Development Director
Date: 3/19/15
Subject: Senior Plan Examiner/Building Inspector position
Senior Plan Examiner/Building Inspector position
Staff is requesting approval of an additional Senior Plan Examiner/Building Inspector position to
address the increasing work load due to increased residential and commercial/Industrial activity.
During the 2015 Budget preparation, the Inspections Department had requested a Senior Plan
Examiner/Building Inspector position for 2015. City Council decided to monitor activity in early
2015 and determine the need for more staff. If approved the plan would be to move the current
Building Inspector, who is currently assigned to plan review, into the field to assist with field
inspections and hire a Senior Plans Examiner/Building Inspector that has commercial and
residential plan review experience. (See attached job description)
Factors to consider
➢ Building Inspectors are able to effectively conduct approximately 3300 - 3500 new
construction inspections annually. Inspections obviously are in higher demand during
the spring, summer and fall seasons than the winter months. As shown in the
attached table, field inspectors in 2011 conducted approximately 3000
inspections/inspector, in 2012, 3400 inspections/inspector, in 2013, 3846
inspections/inspector and in 2014, 3900 inspections/inspector. In addition the
Building Official's inspections have increased over the last four years compared to the
average. With such a workload for staff, the quality of inspections due to the demand
on quick turnaround service is at risk.
➢ Residential development has increased over the past year. According to Planning
Department report dated January 2, 2015, there are currently 659 vacant single family
final platted lots with another 780 lots pending preliminary or final plat approval as of
March 6, 2015. Likewise there are 202 vacant townhouse platted lots with another 69
pending. Also adding to the workload would be lower level finishes, decks and
porches that get added to new homes.
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➢ Commercial/Industrial projects have increased since last year. Projects that have been
issued recently or are under review included the following:
2014 Projects
2015 Projects
LineX addition
BTD office addition
Super America - Keokuk Ave.
NPL
Ballet Royal
Parkview Elem
Cosmopolitan Orthodontics
Allina Clinic
Menasha Expansion
BTD warehouse addition
FedEx Freight Products
Lakevwllp,m edtcal
Applied Power addition
Sonnet Montessori/Preschool
Motley Crews Heavy Metal Grill
Goddard Preschool
Super America - Timbercrest
CDA TH's in Lakeville Commerce center
HyVee Grocery store
Angry Inch Brewery
➢ Aging open permits. Over the past years we have been able to close out on average
80-90% of aging open permits. An aging permit on average requires 1.5 inspections.
Due to volume of plan reviews and inspections, follow up on aging permits was
suspended in 2013. In 2013, we would have been working on 2011 aging permits,
however due to the workload on new housing; we were only able to resolve 24% of
those aging permits. Sending out reminder letters in 2013 to 674 open permits would
have added approximately 300 more inspections per inspector, resulting in 4200
inspections per inspector. Likewise sending out reminder letters in 2014 to 1000 open
permits would have added an estimated 500 more inspections per inspector resulting
in 4400 inspections per inspector. There are currently 1216 open permits for 2013. The
permit holder is responsible for calling for and obtaining final approval of permits.
Often times the permit holder does not call for the proper inspections. Many of the
inspections focus on life safety issues such as proper installation of water heaters,
furnaces and softeners, including decks, porches and additions. Permit holders need
to be notified and these aging permits that need to be inspected and closed out. The
Inspections department is getting more inquiries before potential sale of the property,
if there are any open permits on the property. This whole process of sending out
letters and setting up inspections on existing homes takes tremendous amount of
correspondence, follow-up and time.
➢ Along with the aging permits mentioned above is the number of cash escrows that
the city has collected on permits over the years. Landscape, tree and as -built survey
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escrows, to name a few, are collected on the building permit to ensure compliance
with City ordinances and mandated by development contracts. Once the applicant has
completed the work and calls for an inspection to verify compliance, the inspection is
conducted and if approved the escrow funds are returned to the applicant. Often
times similar to aging open permits, the applicant either does not complete the work,
corrections and/or call for the inspection. Currently the city has 493 permits that
include escrow money.
➢ Complaints on property maintenance, garbage houses, rental housing and vacant and
abandoned homes have increased over the last few years due to our aging homes. The
housing stock in Lakeville is aging and we are only going to see increased complaints
on these types of issues.
➢ Currently, The Building Official conducts all the Commercial/Industrial and multi-
family plan review for the City in addition to the administrative and inspection duties
assigned to the Building Official. The proposed position would assist in commercial
plan review.
Costs/Recommendation
Staff is recommending a budget amendment for the costs associated with hiring a Senior
Plans examiner/Building Inspector position. The amendment should include salary and
benefits similar to the grade level of other Senior Inspectors. It should also include technology
such as phone and computer. Failure to add additional staff may jeopardize the service levels
that our customers have come to expect in the past. The Inspections Department in 2014
exceeded budget revenue by $171,000 and was under budget by $3700. Potential costs for
this position starting June 1, 2015 would be wages of $36,984 + $13,446 in benefits. In 2016,
the estimated wages would be $65,326 + $23,190 in benefits.
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POSITION TITLE:
POSITION DESCRIPTION
CITY OF LAKEVILLE
Senior Plans Examiner/Building Inspector
DEPARTMENT: Community and Economic Development Department
ACCOUNTABLE TO: Building Official
POSITION PURPOSE: Responsible for all aspects of the building inspector position which includes
providing plan review and inspection services which will assure that City building, zoning and related codes,
policies and ordinances are effectively and equitably enforced and administered throughout the City. In
addition, the Senior Plans Examiner/Building Inspector assists in the communication and enforcement of
department rules and regulations and assists with coordination of activities.
DUTIES:
• Performs all functions of the Building Inspector/Plans Examiner, as outlined in the appropriate job
description.
• Coordinates activities of department to ensure priorities and procedures are completed as requested by the
Building Official including but not limited to:
0 Assist with training of new employees.
0 Monitor residential, commercial, industrial and public building plan review to assure uniformity
and completion within allotted time.
0 Coordinate plan review coverage during times of illness of absenteeism of other inspectors.
0 Assist the Building Official with the creation of department meeting agendas.
0 Assist the Building Official with the annual budget.
0 Assist field inspectors with resolution of inspection and plan review problems.
• Maintains public information handouts to comply with new building code and zoning ordinance
amendments.
• Assists the Building Official with commercial/industrial and public building plan review coordination with
other City departments
• Assist the Building Official with preliminary code review meetings with Architects, Engineers and
contractors.
• Assists with developing and presenting contractor and homeowner information seminars.
• Performs other duties and special projects as apparent or assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
• International Code Council (ICC) Certificate as a Plans Examiner.
• Certified as a Building Official by the State of Minnesota.
03/17/15
• High School Education
• Five years of related construction experience
• Valid Minnesota driver's license
• Minimum of 3 years full-time experience in commercial/Industrial plan review and inspections.
• Vocational certificate in Building Inspection Technology program or two-year degree in related field.
• Must have demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with developers,
contractors, owners, architects, the general public, and Building Inspections staff.
• Complete understanding of residential and commercial construction
• Thorough knowledge of laws, codes and ordinances applicable to Building Inspection work.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to plan, prioritize, organize and coordinate effectively.
03/17/15