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If you were elected what would you do to move the Bldg Permit process along via your scope of influence as a council person?
From "how long is a bldg permit taking" over in the Bldg Forum:
http://punaweb.org/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12483
my post: "If LTIP was quoted 12-15 weeks - that makes it about July or Aug for a permit to be ready if submitted tomorrow morning. If we are looking at between 120-140 permits per month in East Hawaii just sitting.... figure about
$3.6M not going into the economy - a conservative labor money only, not even material money, just by my rough estimates (using the old time period of 4-6 weeks)"
$3.6M is conservative and this is
per month.... that is a lot of kala not being spent in a district that could use the employment.
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Hmmm I think you just have to man/woman up and deal with it. This is Hawaii Attitude. I think if 300 or so people emailed everyone on your list I doubt they wouldn't care much. They don't have funds to hire new people so...
Yes it's a LONG wait. Four months is excessive but I just don't think things will change. To be honest this is like asking for a 4 line highway stretch down 130. But, if someone wants to draft a template for a letter that anyone waiting or anyone in general just wants to send out. I'd send it.
I've already sent a few letters to billy but no reply. He doesn't sound too concerned about it. I'll help in editing the draft letter... I think someone here probably could lay it out better than I.
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Thanks Eric!
I would like to hear from prospective council people, too. They actually may be able to do something other than just write letters.
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The whole system from permits through to inspections needs to be privatized. It has nothing to do with "the Hawaiian way" and everything to do with control and employee attitudes. Good administrators have knocked themselves out to fix it for decades, including the current, and yet it remains a black hole of employee control with, often, a nasty attitude. Enough already. Privatize it and move on.
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The idea of privatizing inspections deserves consideration.
Are there examples of this being done in some form elsewhere?
Is it possible to provide this as an option, rather than an all-or-nothing approach? Perhaps in the form of a pilot?
Listening to and learning about the idea of inspection privatization, and seeking other ideas from people in the community who deal with building on a day-to-day basis, is where I will start as a Council member.
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Cat, your figure doesn't include the increased property tax revenues the County would be receiving once all these permitted structures are reassessed. I guess the County doesn't need any new revenues these days...
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Eric, thanks for sending letters!
I do have to disagree on your take on the situation though..
"Yes it's a LONG wait. Four months is excessive but I just don't think things will change. To be honest this is like asking for a 4 line highway stretch down 130."
Actually it is like lamenting the fact that 130 is now 1 lane wide, speed is limited to 25MPH, and every 5 minutes the flow has to alternate direction.
Asking for a shorter time is not based on fantasy. it is not a case of "Well on the Mainland we used to get them in X weeks.."
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.
I like KapohoKat's take on using the lost $. Ditto to Rich. Perhaps that could persuade them.
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Exactly... we want to put people to work, which generates its own $$ into the community. That's a lot of revenue to keep on hold.
On the other thread in Building, I cited how Sunnyvale, CA approached the problem and solved it. The local folks here could learn a lesson or two. I'm not typically a "they do it right in the mainland" person, but in this case, there is room to grow and improve... by a long ways! Our permit here in 2004 took about 3 weeks -- not unreasonable. Maui one in 2001 took about 2 weeks. 12 - 15??? That's nuts. Buck stops at Billy's desk.
Jane
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quote:
Originally posted by james weatherford
The idea of privatizing inspections deserves consideration.
Are there examples of this being done in some form elsewhere?
Is it possible to provide this as an option, rather than an all-or-nothing approach? Perhaps in the form of a pilot?
Listening to and learning about the idea of inspection privatization, and seeking other ideas from people in the community who deal with building on a day-to-day basis, is where I will start as a Council member.
In France all permits and inspections are handled by private companies. The country certifies companies and provides a list to people who need the service. The companies work hand in hand from day one with the developers. The process is incredibly smooth. No reason the same cannot be done here.
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no need for the big stretch, the private inspection thing is in the ICC series
The Hawaii enabling legislation is so hacked,I cant tell if that section made it here. but i know where it is in the NY version
