HomeMy WebLinkAbout#15 seasonal building inspectorMAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
DATE: 2/216
REGULAR
ITEM #: 15
MOTION
AGENDA ITEM: Seasonal Building Inspector assistance
SUBMITTED BY: Clark Schroeder
THROUGH: Clark Schroeder
REVIEWED BY: Clark Schroeder
SUGGESTED ORDER OF BUSINESS:
- Introduction of Item .................................................................................................... Staff
- Report/Presentation .................................................................................................... Staff - Questions from Council to Staff ............................................................ Mayor Facilitates
- Public Input, if Appropriate ................................................................... Mayor Facilitates - Call for Motion .............................................................................. Mayor & City Council - Discussion ..................................................................................... Mayor & City Council
- Action on Motion .................................................................................. Mayor Facilitates
PUBLIC POLICY STATEMENT Policy being set is to allow administrator to have the flexibility to
bring in appropriate inspection assistance if they deem it necessary.
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUESTED:
With the expected increase in building construction this coming spring/summer the administrator is
requesting the authority to bring in appropriate inspection assistance if they deem it necessary.
BACKGROUND AND STAFF REPORT:
The past year 2015, saw a noticeable uptick in the volume of building taking place within our city.
2015 2014 2013
New Homes 142 41 36
Total valuation $47,150,401 $19,968,275 $16,966,169
Average home value 332,000 487,000 471,282
Total Valuation YTD 52,514,158 30,340,315 20,939,966
The city budget for 2016 is built around 140 new homes and 15 rec units of commercial development.
There are commercial developments in the works which if they come to fruition, will stretch the ability of
the building official and the building inspector to respond to both residential and commercial building
projects in a timely fashion. We have an agreement with Hugo that they will assist us and us them if there
is spare time and availability, but if that capacity is not there we will need to respond with other methods.
The option of not having the capacity to serve our building community is not an option for the city.
Contract inspection companies can cost upwards of $70 per hour or more. A seasonal inspector might be
in the $24 to $31 per hour, similar to our former contract inspector. Part of the reason for considering this
now versus in the summer, if we have a crunch of inspections, we will not have time source out the most
cost effective solution and might end up with an inspection company at a much higher rate. We will
respond to the needs of the building community, this is a question of if the needs exceed our ability what
is the most cost effective solution for the city.
I am asking the city council to authorize the city administrator to use their best judgment to source out the
most cost effective solution to respond to the various demands on the Department of Building Safety.
This would include the above options but not include hiring a benefited employee. Having the flexibility
to respond in a number of different ways, will serve our city while at the same time protect the taxpayer.
RECOMMENDATION:
Motion:
“ The city council of Lake Elmo authorizes the City Administrator to utilize their
best judgment to source out the most cost effective solution to respond to the
various demands on the building inspection department. This would include
other city inspectors, seasonal inspector, contract inspection companies, but not
hiring a benefited staff member”
ATTACHMENT(S):