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Committee approves updated ePlan Exam contract and ordinance changes to expand commercial plan review authority
Summary
The committee approved amendments to the city’s professional services agreement with ePlan Exam to add plumbing plan review and pursue delegated variance authority from the State of Wisconsin, plus associated municipal ordinance changes to allow expanded plan review for commercial building permits.
The City of Green Bay Licensing/Inspections Committee on Monday approved updates to the city’s professional services agreement with ePlan Exam and recommended corresponding ordinance changes to expand commercial plan‑review authority and capture variance review locally.
The decision matters because it changes how the city performs plan reviews for commercial building, plumbing, HVAC and fire systems: adding plumbing plan review to the city’s ePlan contract will allow the city to retain revenue and speed project review, and state delegation of variance review would shorten current state review delays for complex projects.
David (D.A.) Maddox, president and owner of ePlan Exam, told the committee the company has been working with the city since March of the prior year and that the contract has produced faster turnarounds and efficiencies. City staff reported that plumbing plan review performed through the contractor produced about $20,000 in gross revenue last year; staff said in‑house capacity to perform that work is limited after a plumbing/HVAC inspector left, and outsourcing keeps review times short and field inspectors available for enforcement and inspections.
City staff and Maddox explained that delegated variance authority from the State of Wisconsin would allow the city to review and approve variances locally for commercial building, HVAC and fire code matters, with the state reviewing the city’s work rather than performing the full variance review. Staff said the state has signaled willingness to delegate these reviews pending the city’s ordinance updates and satisfactory contract and quality‑control arrangements.
Committee members asked about quality control, liability and the process for addressing any plan‑review errors. Maddox and staff said ePlan uses internal QA/QC and that the company had raised its insurance limits for the city engagement; staff emphasized the city retains inspection authority in the field and would correct or reject field issues arising after plan approval. The contract amendment, staff said, includes a mechanism for a 5% revenue return to the city from plan‑review fees handled by the vendor.
The committee voted to approve the contract amendments and the related ordinance language that will enable the city to require plan review regardless of size for certain commercial projects. Staff characterized the policy as proactive: “rather catch stuff on the front end than let something get three quarters of the way built,” one staff member said.
The updates approved at committee will be forwarded to the Common Council for final action; staff said the state has indicated readiness to delegate variance reviews once the ordinance and contract are in place.
