HomeMy Public PortalAboutORD15296 BILL NO. 2014-41
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMAN Bray
ORDINANCE NO. �5:20L
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSON, MISSOURI, AMENDING THE 2013-2014
BUDGET OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSON, MISSOURI, BY CHANGING THE PERSONNEL
SCHEDULE WITHIN PLANNING AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSON, MISSOURI,AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The 2013-2014 Budget of the City of Jefferson, Missouri is hereby amended by
changing the personnel schedule by the reclassification of one position, title change of two
positions, and creation of a Building Inspector I and Building Inspector II in the Department of
Planning and Protective Services.
Section 2. The position of Building and Inspection Division Director is reclassified to Building
Official, Pay Range 19 ($46,489 - $66,734).
Section 3. The positions of Plumbing Inspector and Electrical Inspector are retitled to
Building Inspector.
Section 4. The position of Building Inspector II is created and placed into a career
advancement program for Building Inspectors, resulting in no additional FTE's. Pay Range 17
($42,167 - $63,251) will be utilized.
Section 5. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after the date of its
passage and approval. I
Passed: C �j T, 2-&14
Approved: A,.-Wry Ili
i
Presiding Offi. _ • ► 1 Mayor /
AT-TEST` `_ • . APPROVED AS TO FORM:
;ifq'Clerk " ' ity Counselor
- iii
sol I, l tI
«' i Iii:/"Iir
/tV ;
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES
MEMORANDUM
TO: Steve Crowell, City Administrator
FROM: Janice McMillan, AICP, Director of Planning and Protective Services
DATE July 16, 2014
RE: Building Inspection Staffing Plan
Over the past 15 months, the building inspection division has operated without a
division head as a result of the building and inspection division director (and former
building regulations supervisor) position being part of the separation incentive plan
offered in 2013. Over the course of the last six months, turnover in the remaining staff
has provided the catalyst to design a more sustainable staffing plan for the building
inspection division. Recent discussions with building division stakeholders have
confirmed that a professional building official position is needed to administer the
construction codes.
The effectiveness of local building codes has a profound effect on the physical and
economic well-being of the city and the safety of its residents and visitors. To remain
effective in the administration of building codes, the City must maintain the respect of
its customers and stakeholders, and the trust of the community. To be effective not only
requires a professional, well-trained staff, but a staffing plan that can weather staff
absences and turnover. The following plan for the building inspection division will
restore the professionalism and trust our community expects, and provides for
sustainable staffing. A bill addressing these changes is proposed for approval by the
Council. Staff recommends approval and implementation as soon as practical so that the
Building Official position may be filled.
Memo, Building Inspection Staffing Plan July16, 2014
• Reston the position of Building Official
The positions formerly known as the Building and Inspection Division Director is
proposed to be released from the Separation Incentive Plan and restored in the budget
and personnel schedule as Building Official Based on input from stakeholders, a
Building Official is critical to the effective administration of building codes. The position
of Building Official is mandated by the International Code Council (ICC), the source of
the City's adopted building codes. This a professional, supervisory position to administer
and interpret building codes, communicate with the development community and
design professionals on code requirements, serve as the chief plans examiner, coordinate
building plan reviews with the Fire Department, and supervise assigned inspectors. The
Building Official will be responsible for updating and proposing adjustments to codes,
and interfacing with Insurance Service Office (ISO) and other industry representatives.
The Building Official will also assign staff to chair the Electrical and Plumbing Boards.
The cost of this position is estimated at $90,000 ($60,000 salary, $23,000 benefits/taxes,
$6,000 professional certifications, memberships, professional development, materials,
supplies, fuel and $500 cell phone allowance). A City vehicle is available for the use of
the Building Official.
• Building Inspection Staff
For the past 30 years or more, individual "trade" inspectors have been responsible for
conducting separate inspections on behalf of their particular construction trade, i.e., the
building inspector performs building inspections, the electrical inspector performs
electrical inspections, and the plumbing inspector performs plumbing inspections.
Recent staff turnover has presented an opportunity to rethink staffing patterns and job
requirements to achieve more efficient operation.Two major changes are proposed:
o Building Inspectors. While the trade expertise of individual inspectors is
invaluable, the lack of cross-training left the City vulnerable when staff vacancies
occurred. In the future, building, electrical and plumbing inspectors will be cross-
trained as combination inspectors, and all will share the "Building Inspector" title.
Combination inspectors add operational flexibility to cover other inspectors on
leave or in training, reflect an efficient use of staff resources, and provide better
customer service. Current and future inspectors will be classified at pay range 16,
but will be trained to function as combination inspectors. Two incumbents are
affected by this change, the electrical inspector and the plumbing inspector. One
position is currently vacant, the former building inspector position. Currently,
inspections that are not the responsibility of the electrical and plumbing
inspectors are covered by Dan Davis, Senior Housing Inspector, on an interim
basis, and a temporary, part-time inspector.
o Career Ladder. The City will support professional development through
certification of inspection staff National certification exams provide the means by
which individuals can achieve ICC certifications in order to demonstrate their
knowledge of various construction regulatory codes, standards and practices.
Memo, Building Inspection Staffing Plan July 16,2014
Inspectors will be offered a career ladder that provides advancement and
recognition when a series of certifications have been received. Current inspectors
will be classified as Building Inspector I, at pay range 16. An inspector would be
eligible for advancement to Building Inspector II at pay range 17, upon obtaining
certifications in four (4) building trade areas. The career ladder concept is similar
to that offered to police officers, in that it does not add positions, but is an
opportunity for career advancement for current inspectors. The cost to adopt the
career ladder for building inspection staff is five percent over current salary levels,
with the range approximately $2,008 - $3,012 per inspector per year. The actual
amount of the increase will depend upon the salaries of eligible inspectors. No
inspectors currently qualify for Building Inspector II, however, a new hire could
qualify if he/she possesses four certifications, and both current inspectors could
potentially qualify within the next 2436 months if they obtain the required
certifications.
• Other options
In the absence of authorizing the Building Official position, the alternatives may be to
use temporary staff or contracts for plan reviews.
o Temporary staff. This option is currently in development as part of the "interim
staffing plan." The availability of a qualified professional to examine plans and
mediate issues submitted by design professionals is critical to providing high
quality customer service to stakeholders. While qualified and capable individuals
may be hired as temporary staff to perform the plan review function, it probably
not reasonable to expect temporary staff to provide professional guidance for
inspectors, mediate disputes or settle disagreements pertaining to code
interpretation.
o Contract for plan review. Use of a private contractor or company to provide plan
review services to the City is also an option, however, to ensure that no conflict of
interest exists, local firms that submit construction drawings and site plans would
not be eligible to examine their own plans. This would necessitate contracting
with multiple firms to review building plans, unless a non-local firm was selected
to perform this service. A contracted firm would only provide the services that
were specified, potentially leaving the City without professional support during
critical project discussions.
Neither approach presents a long term solution for the resolution of all issues identified
by the stakeholders. Stakeholders were particularly concerned that a building official be
available for code interpretation, mediation, supervision of inspection staff and
coordination with the Fire Department, in addition to performing building plan reviews.