Bldg Permit Hold Ups - What would you do?

[grumpyscosmos]

I know this would be impossible to implement....But the County should have a certain amount of time to review plans and except them or disqualify them withing say ( 4 weeks )... After that they would be obligated to pay a fine to the applicant on a daily basis til completed.. The same way an individual would have to do if in violation of a zoning or building ordinance..


“It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” " Krishnamurti "

[Nalu]

I sent an email to Billy Kenoi and didn't get a response from him, but from someone else? pasted below:
Sorry Angela,



I was asking for an answer to your question and sent it to the wrong place. I will get back to you. I understand the permitting process has been streamlined and most people are very happy with the process in both East and West, so I’m a bit perplexed by your problem. Were there any problems with your application? No unusual problems or deficiencies? I’m assuming your application is for a single-family residence.



I looked at the website and I have alerted the mayor as well.



Mahalo



Bobby Command

[KeaauRich]

"I understand the permitting process has been streamlined and most people are very happy with the process in both East and West, so I'm a bit perplexed by your problem."

Seriously??? Seriously???


Bobby is apparently the executive asst for office of management administration, based in Kona. Clearly the West side doesn't know what the East side is doing...or, more accurately, not doing...

Perhaps Angela should forward the links for this thread and the "How Long Is It Taking to Get a Permit" thread to Mr. Command. I'm sure he and the Mayor would appreciate hearing honest feedback from their constituents...


(edited to add the "forward" suggestion)

[Zendo Kern]

Aloha,

I have had the experience of running in the neighborhood of 50 building permits through the department when I was a licensed General Contractor. At times the process was easy and other times it was a horrible experience. I feel I have a good sense of what we need to do to improve the process of getting a building permit.

Here is what I plan to do to improve the building permit process. I will sit down with the administration and the department heads and with a plan that will change the culture and process of the permitting department. The two areas that will have a significant effect on getting a building permit are accountability and process. We need the permitting department to have an efficient process with time tables to meet and be accountable to those time tables. The culture needs to be transformed into a customer service and an efficiency mind set. While utilizing technology may improve the process I believe that the process starts with the people and technology can sometimes make it better.

As a former employer I realize that employees generally need clear guide lines and the tools to do their job in the best way possible. I think there are many good people in the department and they have the potential to do a job that will make the majority of us proud. Right now for the most part they are following the same process and engaged in the same culture as years gone past. It is time for us to move into an age of efficiency and accountability.

The key is how we approach this change, for all parties to buy-in it needs to be done with effective communication. With effective communication, cooperation and some compromise I believe we can make some lasting positive changes to the way OUR government works.

[Nalu]

KeaauRich, I did add a link to the building forum in my email That was what he was referring to at the end when he said he looked at the website and would forward to the mayor. I think it's a good, healthy thing for them to hear the voices of people and their individual experiences. This thread gives a good overview of different accounts. Angela

[james weatherford]

"Listening to and learning ... is where I will start as a Council member."

Clearly, Zendo has a unique and valuable perspective on the building permit process. I look forward to listening and learning more, and can see the creativity possible by bringing a diverse pool of talent to the County Council.

[robguz]

My entire home permit took 3 weeks at the end of 2007. Not awful, but yes, there are many places on the mainland that give you same day approval, and that is what the goal should be. Last year it took 10 weeks to get a permit for a small addition on the same house. It sat for over a month ready, and they never called us to say it was ready. THEY DO NOT ANSWER PHONES OR CALL YOU BACK, so it required a 65 mile round trip to check in person if it was ready. Now it is taking quite a bit longer. My contractor partner literally is ready to go right now on more than one project that is awaiting approval. He has informed workers that they cannot work, and he has not started work in the past week. This is money that is gone from our local economy. It's all very simple. Re-allocate funds, hire more people, see how they do it elsewhere and do the same thing. I think it is pretty clear by now that nobody on the council or the mayor gives a sh** about getting our economy going or putting any of the hundreds of out of work construction folks back to work.

[wax]

But if we privatized the whole process we would be able to reward, financially, the most efficient and effective processors and kill this problem. A further benefit is that the cost of the process would move from the County taxpayer to the applicant. We all win!

[Kapohocat]

quote:

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Originally posted by Zendo Kern... The culture needs to be transformed into a customer service and an efficiency mind set....

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Thank you for your response! Exactly. Any one who goes into the Bldg Dept is a "customer" not an adversary.