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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - unsigned - 1989-06-15 249 6/15/89 City Council, Adjourned Regular Meeting 2410 Larkspur Lane Redding, California June 15, 1989 12:38 p.m. Mayor Carter called the Adjourned Regular Meeting of the Redding City Council to order with the following Council Members present: Buffum, Dahl, and Johannessen. Council Member Fulton was absent. Also present were City of Redding staff, City Manager Christofferson, City Attorney Hays, Planning and Community Development Director Perry, Building Official Voges, and Secretary to the City Council Moscatello. Also present were Kent Dagg, Tim Morrow, and Terri Watson of the Shasta Builders Exchange, Bob Fountain of the Economic Development Corporation of Shasta County, Gerry Benson of the Private Industry Council, Dennis Praegitzer of American Propeller, Jerry Peters of Peters Construction Company, Greg Dunbar of Dunbar Construction, Kevin Mack of Mack Construction, Frank Sawyer of Sharrah, Dunlap & Associates, Bob Harp and Larry Boisclaire of Pace Engineering, Jesse Holland of Americor, Les Melburg of Nichols.Melburg.Rosetto, Robert Ekin of Selvage, Heber, Nelson & Associates, Harry Eckelman of Eckelman & Scarbrough, Inc., and Gary Mitchell of Gary Mitchell Construction. BUILDING DIVISION - CODES REVIEW TASK FORCE (C-110 & A-050-250-030) Kent Dagg, Executive Director of the Builder's Exchange, welcomed City Council, City staff, and members of the Exchange. Mr. Dagg noted that this study session is an outcome of the Report prepared by the Codes Review Task Force and submitted to Council in April, 1989. Planning and Community Development Director Perry stated that City Manager Christofferson appointed an in-house team to develop responses to the Report prepared by the Builder's Exchange. Mr. Perry submitted to Council, and those present, responses to the suggestions in the Report. He explained that the responses have not been reviewed by Council or the City Manager. Mr. Perry conveyed that the Building Division and staff welcome the input and want to work with the Exchange. In response to Recommendation #1 regarding scheduling of building inspections, Mr. Perry stated that it is the Department's goal to achieve a.m. and p.m. or, at least, same day inspections. He noted that the contractor may request an a.m. or p.m. inspection, but staff cannot guarantee that the request will be honored. Mr. Perry outlined how the building inspector's time is scheduled and noted that the inspectors are encouraged to call in and alert staff of their status. Mayor Carter noted that, especially in light of City growth, more inspectors are necessary and the question is, do we want to pay for them. He asked when the last building inspector was hired. Building Official Voges responded that the last inspector was hired six months ago. Mr. Perry noted that the City has made a big investment in the Building Department in the last four years. Mr. Les Melburg noted that using firemen as inspectors was discussed, and they may be able to make inspections relating to fire codes. Mr. Voges responded that firemen are not trained to make inspections. Mr. Perry stated that the Fire Department does not want to be involved in inspections. 250 6/15/89 In response to a question, Mr. Voges stated that inspectors average 24.3 inspections per day, and if staff had to guarantee a.m. and p.m. inspections, the process would not work. Mr. Dunbar stated that the Building Department needs budget support. Mr. Eckelman asked if inspectors are working overtime. Mr. Voges replied, yes, two or three inspectors work overtime every night. Mr. Perry pointed out that construction has become a year round operation. In light of the amount of overtime inspectors are putting in, Mr. Praegitzer said it may be cheaper to hire another inspector. Mr. Christofferson conveyed that an additional plan checker and inspector are proposed in the new budget. Mr. Melburg pointed out that his office, Nichols, Melburg and Rosetto, has two licensed inspectors, and they may be able to make inspections in times of critical need. Mr. Dagg emphasized that time is a critical element for contractors. Mr. Dagg noted that the Report suggested placing radio units in inspector's cars. He also stated that the Report suggested that a fee increase for contractor's business licenses be implemented and the increase over thirty dollars be designated to a special program within the Building Department related to the construction industry. Mr. Perry conveyed that there are only a few hundred contractors and an increase in business license fees would only result in an extra $2,000 to $4,000 per year. Mr. Holland emphasized that time is a critical factor for some inspections; and he conveyed that, if an approved private inspector was available, he would be willing to pay for the inspection. Mr. Voges asked if there would be a liability problem. City Attorney Hays stated that the City has used inspectors from MTI. He noted that there may be a conflict of interest if the inspector worked for the City, as well as the contractor. Mayor Carter suggested that this idea be looked into further. Mr. Dunbar asked if there is any solution to the a.m./p.m. inspection problem. Mr. Perry replied no, because one more inspector will not solve the problem; although it might guarantee a one-day inspection. Council Member Johannessen stated that the solution is more manpower. He pointed out that more inspections are being made and inspectors are checking for more details. He noted that some contractors are building in ways which they always have, but are no longer up to code, and they are now being called on those things during inspections. Mr. Christofferson asked if the Builders Exchange could hold one-half day seminars during the slow time of the year to update contractors on new Codes. Mr. Dagg said the idea was discussed, but many of the owner-builder contractors will not attend. Council Member Buffum suggested that owner-builders be separated into a tougher plan check area in order to help alleviate reinspection problems and the inspection team be increased. Council Member Johannessen noted that the problem is that many owner- builders cannot read the blueprints. 251 6/15/89 In response to the recommendation for the City to accept less than complete plans for checking, Mr. Voges pointed out that sometimes problems do not arise until the entire set of plans are reviewed. Mr. Sawyer concurred and said it is not efficient for the plan checker to point out deficiencies when a complete set of plans are not available. Mr. Peters stated that with the addition of one more inspector, only the status quo will be maintained because of growth. He emphasized that the contractors need help to run their businesses better. He added that their work loads have increased because more details are required. Mr. Peters reiterated that the contractors are asking for better service, not the status quo. Mr. Peters emphasized that the contractors are not opposed to paying for a service, but they want value for their money. Mr. Holland stated that the City either needs more inspectors or the number of inspections should be reduced. He added that contractors need continuing education, information about the Uniform Building Code, and any additional requirements the City of Redding is enforcing. Mr. Melburg suggested that if plans keep coming back for checking, the City could impose a charge. He also said one solution to the problem of repeat inspections is to charge more money for reinspections. Mr. Voges stated that current procedure allows the inspector to go to the inspection site twice and then there is a $30 charge. Mr. Holland suggested that the Builders Exchange help contractors get ready for their first inspection. He also suggested that a policy and procedures memo explicitly stating the rules be available to the public. Mr. Perry indicated that imposing fines causes public relations problems. Mr. Voges suggested that the Builders Exchange put together a program for owner builders. Mr. Perry stated that the Builders Exchange publishes a bulletin that reaches about one-third of the contractors. Mr. Benson suggested that an incentive plan be established for owner/builders to complete a class prior to construction of their building. He noted that they could receive credit against their cost. Mr. Dagg recalled that the Report recommended that plan checking be done in-house, and he conveyed that the Builders Exchange feels very strongly about this. He added that to accomplish this goal, three plan checkers should be hired. Mr. Perry stated that he prefers contracting for plan check services because it is not necessary to hire as many people. He noted that if building activity decreases, it is not necessary to carry as many people. Mr. Perry indicated that the turnaround time for private plan checking is very good. Council Member Johannessen stated that this is a valid problem. He pointed out that outside plan checks may come back with less of an explanation than is necessary. With in-house plan checking, it is possible to meet with the plan checker, discuss what the problem is, and correct it right there. 252 6/15/89 Mr. Boisclaire stated that the problem is not with private plan checking, the problem is having more personnel available to help the owner/builders. Mr. Christofferson stated that the question is how much is Council willing to fund for additional personnel. He said the Building Department has a 97% recovery rate. He noted that the Exchange has stated that they are willing to pay more for service, and if Council wants additional personnel, fees can be increased. Mr. Christofferson indicated that the draft budget had requested more personnel, but staff was unable to balance the budget, and some positions were removed. Mr. Praegitzer pointed out that City Hall has a space problem and there is little room to put additional personnel. Mr. Praegitzer noted, however, that the City should be ahead of the curve of building activity. He added that if additional personnel are employed, and building activity decreases, staff could be laid off. He pointed out that if the City is ahead of the building curve, the contractors will be ahead, the contractors will work more efficiently, and the price of houses will go down. Council Member Johannessen noted that it is difficult for the City to lay employees off once they are hired. Council Buffum concurred. Mayor Carter asked if private business could do inspections on a part time basis. Council Member Dahl suggested that contracting for part- time inspectors be placed on the agenda for the next meeting with the Builders Exchange. He concurred that additional inspectors and plan checkers are necessary to keep up with City growth. Mr. Dagg pointed out that $90,000 in fees goes to the plan checker in Paradise, and this would pay for another City plan checker. Mr. Christofferson reiterated that another inspector will be hired, but the workload just increases. He added that if the building curve goes up, plans will be sent to Paradise. He said there will probably always be free board work. Mr. Praegitzer noted that when the private plan checker costs rise to $90,000, another plan checker should be hired. Mr. Dagg stated that it would be appropriate to have another study session after Council has completed work on the budget. He added that the Builders Exchange will review Mr. Perry's responses to the Report's recommendations. Mr. Dagg reiterated that the comment he hears most from Building Exchange members is that a plan check department is necessary. He added that two plan checkers and more inspectors should be hired. Mr. Dagg said he would like to review this with Mr. Voges. Mr. Peters stated that whether or not it is difficult to lay an employee off should not be a factor. He said if the Building Department is busy, more employees should be hired. Council Member Dahl pointed out that when the last plan checker was hired, it was Council's hope that plans would not have to be sent to Paradise, but that did not happen. He added that Council is also trying to control the budget. Mr. Dagg thanked Council for meeting with the Builder's Exchange. Mayor Carter stated that Council is trying to resolve the issues. 253 6/15/89 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, at the hour of 2:00 p.m., Mayor Carter declared the meeting adjourned to 5:15 p.m., June 20, 1989, at the City Hall Conference Room located at 760 Parkview Avenue, to hold a closed session. APPROVED: __________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: __________________________________ Assistant City Clerk