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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.