14.E.
City Council Meeting - FINAL
- Meeting Date:
- 09/03/2019
- From:
- Amy Palmer, Building Official
Information
TITLE:
Consideration and Adoption of Resolution No. 2019-40: A resolution approving an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Coconino County for shared building inspection and plan review services.
STAFF RECOMMENDED ACTION:
1) Read Resolution No. 2019-40 by title only
2) City Clerk reads Resolution No. 2019-40 by title only (if approved above)
3) Adopt Resolution No. 2019-40
2) City Clerk reads Resolution No. 2019-40 by title only (if approved above)
3) Adopt Resolution No. 2019-40
Executive Summary:
Staff is recommending the City of Flagstaff enter an IGA with Coconino County for building plan review and inspection services to continue to maintain high-quality customer service by providing timely plan review and inspections during peak times. This would serve as an excellent partnership due to Coconino County's familiarity with the Flagstaff area. The proposed IGA governs the responsibilities, terms, and conditions related to providing and sharing building plan review and inspection resources between the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County.
Financial Impact:
There is no financial impact. Coconino County and the City of Flagstaff wish to share common resources, such as Plan Review and Inspection Staff, to supplement their resources during manpower shortages resulting from vacancy, extended absences, and high-volume events. This program shall serve as a cross-training opportunity and provide predictability and consistency for the customers working in both jurisdictions.
Policy Impact:
None
Connection to Council Goal, Regional Plan and/or Team Flagstaff Strategic Plan:
Council Goals
Code Compliance - Achieve comprehensive and equitable code compliance through plan review and inspection services
Regional Plan
City-County Coordination - Provide consistency and predictability the customers working in both jurisdictions
Flagstaff Strategic Plan
Priority 1 - Serve the public through quality internal and external customer service
Priority 3 - Enhance the organization's fiscal stability and resourcefulness
Priority 3 - Deliver outstanding services through a healthy environment, resources and infrastructure
Priority 4 - Foster a safe, healthy, equitable and accessible community
Priority 4 - Promote high-quality life through consistent standards, rules and regulation
Code Compliance - Achieve comprehensive and equitable code compliance through plan review and inspection services
Regional Plan
City-County Coordination - Provide consistency and predictability the customers working in both jurisdictions
Flagstaff Strategic Plan
Priority 1 - Serve the public through quality internal and external customer service
Priority 3 - Enhance the organization's fiscal stability and resourcefulness
Priority 3 - Deliver outstanding services through a healthy environment, resources and infrastructure
Priority 4 - Foster a safe, healthy, equitable and accessible community
Priority 4 - Promote high-quality life through consistent standards, rules and regulation
Has There Been Previous Council Decision on This:
None
Options and Alternatives:
None
Background and History:
The City of Flagstaff and Coconino County have experienced challenges in recruiting and retention for qualified Plan Review and Inspection staff, due to retirement, turnover, and lack of qualified candidates. Both entities have spent a significant amount of time in the recruitment and training process.
The City of Flagstaff is experiencing a high volume of permits for both commercial and residential projects that result in longer plan review turn-around times and potentially delayed inspections for its customers. Coconino County is experiencing a high volume of residential projects; however, current staff levels are adequate to accommodate the workload. Coconino County experiences challenges during scheduled and unscheduled reductions in staffing levels, with similar results.
The City of Flagstaff is experiencing a high volume of permits for both commercial and residential projects that result in longer plan review turn-around times and potentially delayed inspections for its customers. Coconino County is experiencing a high volume of residential projects; however, current staff levels are adequate to accommodate the workload. Coconino County experiences challenges during scheduled and unscheduled reductions in staffing levels, with similar results.
Key Considerations:
Staff is required to meet state-mandated timelines for building plan review. Building Safety has historically used on-call 3rd party consulting services for plan review and inspection in order to maintain required permit review timeframes and timely inspection services, however, this requires a portion of permit fees to be paid to 3rd party consultants. The IGA could potentially reduce plan review and inspection costs associated with current 3rd party on-call plan review and inspection services. The IGA would provide an additional resource so that Building Safety can adequately serve the public need for building permit review and inspections while meeting state-mandated timelines.
Community Benefits and Considerations:
None
Community Involvement:
The community benefits from consistent plan review and inspection services in times of heavy workloads and emergencies. Working together with Coconino County will also provide consistency among both jurisdictions which will greatly help the building and design community. Coconino County and the City of Flagstaff adopted and implemented the new Suite of Codes on the same day.
Expanded Options and Alternatives:
None