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quote:
Originally posted by LastTangoInPuna...
Here in Hawaii County we USED TO get them in 4 weeks. Even during the boom. Heck I got a set back in 5 days once....
This is exactly what I cant figure out - 4-6 weeks during the boom with 3 x as many permits and only 2 more employees.
I think the issue is skill - inspectors used to come back to the office and plan check in the afternoon if they had time to help plan checkers keep it moving. I think only Donivan of the inspectors could probably help plan check, IMHO. The supervisor plan checked too and worked OT to do so. Now only 1 person plan checking and no OT?
Why cant 75% of the previous staff amount do 30-45% of the previous work amount?
James, I do not know much about privatization but I do know many of the larger commercial projects in Hilo do have private inspectors.
The other suggestion I have is that at the "drop dead" date - it gets automatic approval if it isnt done. Give them 6 weeks and bam. Approved.
I digress though. Candidates, what would you do to help this situation in 2013 if elected? (I am going to be a little more specific. Privatization would take years to get passed and organized.)
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Solution - Enforce the new Building Code, Sec.5-11(2).
Section 5-11. Duties of the Administrative Authority.
The administrative authority shall maintain public office hours necessary to efficiently administer the provisions of this code and amendments thereto and shall perform the following duties:
(2) Require submission of, examine, and check plans and specifications, drawings, descriptions, and diagrams necessary to show clearly the character, kind, and extent of work covered by applications for a permit, and upon approval, shall issue the permit applied for;
So, to efficiently administer the plan checking they are required to maintain public office hours to accomplish this. Does that mean a 24/7 operation should be initiated until the plan checking is caught up.
If the mayor can hire a P.R. person (ex Tribune-Herald reporter) when there is a hiring freeze, then why can't he authorize overtime or hire another plan checker.
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..or more simply, why can't the Kona staff review some of the Hilo staff's backload until both sides of the Island are relatively equal?
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quote:
Originally posted by kjlpahoa....
Solution - Enforce the new Building Code, Sec.5-11(2)....
I think you are on to something there.
And still yet, except for James, no responses from other candidates?
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Thanks for that, Cat.
For ideas about getting something in place sooner rather than later, the same as with privatization, I will approach the issue by listening to and learning from people in the community who deal with building on a day-to-day basis.
And, when ideas are put forth, I will ask, "Are there examples of it being done in some form elsewhere?" and "Is it possible to provide this as an option, rather than an all-or-nothing approach? Perhaps in the form of a pilot?"
That said, the Mayor is the elected official who has the authority to most quickly affect turnaround time on building permits, being the person with exclusive responsibilities for supervising and coordinating County agencies.
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James, that approach should work - good thought.
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I agree with Kapohocat -- where are the other candidates, and where is Billy on this??? He's running for re-election. Seems to me this is an ideal time for him to show some progress and responsiveness.
James, a pleasure to see your responsiveness as usual, but none of the candidates from District 5 or Billy (or his opponent) have weighed in on this issue.
On a note of personal preference, I think privatization is a bad idea for building code enforcement and plans checking. This is one of the areas that is an essential area of county regulation, needs one set of standards with oversight and best kept central, and not a $$ making mechanism for a private firm. Reminds us of the home inspection businesses which, if not scams, are often shown to be inadequate. With a private firm, if at a later time you discover problems, all you can do is not recommend them or sue. With government you at least have the potential of going up the hierarchy and redoing the issue.
Also, it's not necessarily the people who interact with the building dept. every day that are to be listened to. It's how they treat the owner-builders that would show the caliber of the county organization. They already give preferential treatment (a full-time plans checker) to commercial builders, but what about us little folk?
And on a related issue...There's a plethora of un-permitted residential properties in this county, going up literally around us. The county should be doing everything they can to encourage getting permits, not making it such an onerous ordeal. In our area alone, there are several significant structures going up without permits. Yet we get punished with huge delays for trying to play by the rules.
Jane
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It is shocking that the permitting process has gotten so much worse. In 2008 it was 3-4 weeks. Mayor Kenoi made promises about speeding it up with technology by placing UPC stickers on documents so they could be tracked as I recall. Not sure what's come of that. Perhaps having a HELCO exec as Director of Public Works doesn't lend itself to increasing efficiency or performance.
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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Rob, I think you are correct about the proposal to use some sort of tracking system. What did happen to that?
Asking questions of the departments and keeping an issue on the front burner is one thing a Council member can do and I will do.
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It's not about tracking -- they were able to look things up online at the front counter and give us an update. The problem is in the DOING of the plans checking. Tracking would show us that it's still sitting in the same pile it went in when we got it turned in, and would not fix the delay. Action is what's needed... hands-on people doing the work.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for innovation if it makes things work more smoothly. However, this is a resource issue that is keeping people from getting some economic activity going in our community.
My $.02 worth...
Jane
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