HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1988 0106 CC REG ITEM 11H MOORPARK ITEM // .
JOHN GALLOWAY STEVEN KUENY
Mayor City Manager
ELOISE BROWN oo ►'`. CHERYL J. KANE
Mayor Pro Tern jo��/`st City Attorney
CLINT HARPER, Ph.D. ���° PATRICK RICHARDS,A.I.C.P.
Councilmember
��'r Director of
JOHN PATRICK LANE Community Community Development
Councilmember a � o R. DENNIS DELZEIT
MAUREEN W.WALL4, +" City Engineer
City Clerk �`° '� JOHN V. GILLESPIE
THOMAS P. GENOVESE Chief of Police
City Treasurer
MEMORANDUM
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Steve Kueny, City Manager
DATE: December 31, 1987
SUBJECT: NOTICE OF TERMINATION FROM COUNTY OF VENTURA FOR
BUILDING AND SAFETY SERVICES
BACKGROUND:
As you are aware, the City has received notification from the County
of Ventura that they are terminating Building and Safety Services to
the City effective May 31 , 1988. This provides the City about five (5)
months to develop and implement a means of replacement. It would be
beneficial to have a minimum of 30 days for the City' s replacement
staff/contractor to work with the County for a successful transition.
SERVICES:
Building and Safety services can be essentially broken into three basic
functions: plan check, inspectors and public counter support. Plan
check generally involves new construction of residential , commercial or
industrial buildings. Patio covers, swimming pools and the like do not
require plan check services. Inspections cover all field work and
include enforcement of Uniform Building Codes (substandard and
dangerous buildings). Often services include providing counter
information. The above functions are supported by clerical staffing,
supervisory personnel and inspectors.
799 Moorpark Avenue Moorpark, California 93021 (805) 529-6864
City Council
Notice of Termination
December 31, 1987
Page 2
ALTERNATIVES:
The alternatives to providing the service include:
1. Contract with another public agency;
2. Contract with a private firm;
3. In house City staff (city department).
The City can consider contracting with another City to provide services
either on an interim or long term basis. This would be a substantial
increase in workload for them and would require the hiring of
additional staff. The major advantage is that there would be no down
time. This could be complicated since many cities contract for plan
check services. This may require three party agreements or separate
contracts for plan check and inspection services. It would appear that
this option would be very similar to establishing our own city
department.
The City is well aware of the benefits and problems of contracting for
services. Both plan check and inspection can be provided for by one
firm. Adapting to fluctuations in building activity is more easily
accomplished with a contract as opposed to in-house staff. Start up
costs such as equipment vehicles and training are minimized or
avoided. As with the current County contract, rent and other overhead
costs are part of the hourly rate. It should not require any
appreciable change in the amount of City staff time to administer the
contract. The City can probably solicit proposals, make a selection of
a private firm and allow for a minimum transition period with the
private contract alternative prior to May 31, 1988.
TIMING:
The creation of a City department probably could not be adequately
accomplished prior to May 31, 1988. The selection,
orientation/training and start-up transition processes would probably
take at least six months. Without a formal analysis it would appear
that a four person staff ( 3 Inspectors/Administrative and 1 clerical)
would be needed. As previously mentioned, the City would still need to
contract for plan check services. Depending upon building activity the
City could face periods of relatively little inspection (i .e. idle
time) and other periods where even with overtime inspection requests
may not be accommodated. A City department is more likely to have
difficulty in adjusting to these fluctuations.
City Council
Notice of Termination
December 31, 1987
Page 3
City staff is proceeding in the preparation of information concerning
building and safety services including historical and projected
building activity, costs and revenue, requirements for a City
department, discussion with the County regarding a transition program
and survey of other cities using private firms for building and safety
services to develop a list of qualified firms as well as those cities'
experiences on this matter. Even though I recommend that the Council
proceed with the private contract alternative, the above information is
necessary to prepare an agreement and provide background data to
prospective firms. Information concerning a City department is
important to insure that the private contract is the best long term
alternative. I feel that the May 31, 1988 termination date is cutting
it too close. I also recommend that the Council request the Board of
Supervisors to modify the termination date to June 30, 1988. This
would also coincide with both agencies' fiscal year.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Direct staff to:
1. Request County to modify contract termination date to June 30,
1988;
2. Prepare Request For Proposal and related documents for private
firm to provide Building and Safety Services for Council review
at February 3, 1988 Council Meeting;
3. Develop background information on this matter for presentation to
the Council on February 3, 1988.
In addition, it is recommended that the Council ' s Budget and Finance
Committee or other designated Committee be directed to work with City
staff on this matter.
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