Bellflower accepts building division update; staff to return with revised self‑certification rules, fees and plan‑check software timeline

The Bellflower City Council on Monday received an update on the Building and Safety Division’s operations since Willdan Engineering took over permit and inspection services in late September 2024, and voted unanimously to “receive and file” the report.

Council members heard staff describe changes to staffing, recommendations to narrow the scope of the city’s self‑certification program, a plan to adopt prescriptive soils standards for low‑risk foundations in parts of the city with a high water table, and a timetable and cost estimate to roll out a single online plan‑checking and permitting platform.

The report matters because the building division administers plan checks, permits and inspections that affect homeowners, contractors and developers; the council’s direction will shape which projects qualify for streamlined review and how quickly applicants can complete work.

City staff said Willdan — the contractor that began service on Sept. 29, 2024 — conducted an operational assessment and recommended several changes aimed at reducing inconsistent plan submission requirements and accelerating review times. Elizabeth (staff member) told the council the city moved from two to three full‑time permit technicians to handle an increased front‑counter workload and to prepare for an electronic plan‑check rollout.

“This slide shows or represents our front counter activity and staffing,” Elizabeth said during the presentation, describing the reassignment of one full‑time employee into a multi‑use role that handles plan checks, inspections and administrative tasks.

Self‑certification and soils: staff recommendations

Staff said the city’s self‑certification program — established in 2016 to speed approvals by allowing licensed design professionals to accept responsibility for plans — has been used relatively rarely and mostly for small residential projects. Elizabeth said the program had roughly 11 self‑certification applications in 2024 and about 14 the year before.

To reduce inspection complexity and limit risk, the building official recommended narrowing the self‑certification option to single‑ and two‑story residential projects (including accessory dwelling units and small additions) and single‑story commercial buildings. Larger mixed‑use or multi‑story developments would continue to receive fuller plan checks at staff discretion.

Staff also proposed prescriptive design standards to avoid a site‑specific soils report for very small, single‑story foundations in parts of the city with high groundwater. Alan, the building official, said these standards would apply to one‑story structures of about 700 square feet or less that meet detailed foundation specifications; larger or multi‑story projects would still require a geotechnical soils report.

“Liquefaction is…a high water level within the soil,” Elizabeth said when asked to explain the draft standard, adding that soils conditions can vary from parcel to parcel and that the prescriptive option would be limited to low‑risk scenarios.

Plan‑checking software, staffing and costs

Staff told the council they are negotiating with vendors to buy an integrated permitting system that will allow applicants to submit plans and pay fees online and route reviews to planning, public works and finance. Elizabeth said a vendor build and implementation will take roughly nine months after contracts are finalized, and estimated the first‑year cost at about $160,000, with recurring annual fees of roughly $70,000–$80,000.

On the timeline and integration, Elizabeth said, “We are still able to accept electronic plan checking now,” noting that Willdan already offers an electronic portal for its own plan checkers but the city needs a unified system so internal departmental reviewers can work efficiently.

Council members asked whether the software would be a custom build or a configured commercial product; staff said the chosen vendor will adapt an existing platform and build the city’s workflow into it rather than writing a system from scratch. Staff and contractor representatives also discussed hardware needs — some plan reviewers may need larger monitors to comfortably conduct electronic reviews of full‑size plans.

Fees, refunds and impact charges

Staff acknowledged ongoing complaints about combined plan‑check and permit fees and said they will revisit the fee structure so plan‑check fees and permit fees can be separated and provide clearer accounting for refunds when applicants do not proceed to inspections. Staff also acknowledged community concerns that development impact fees are high compared with neighboring cities and said those fees are designed to recover the city’s cost of new infrastructure.

Public comment and technical clarifications

During public comment, Fred Taylor — who identified himself as a resident — questioned wording in presentation slides relating to the self‑certification process; staff confirmed the document will be edited for clarity before the council sees a formal resolution.

Council action

Mayor Pro Tem Sunny Santinez moved and Council Member Dan Coops seconded a motion to receive and file the report; the council approved it on a 5‑0 roll call (Council Members Morse, Sanchez, Santinez, Coops and Mayor Dutton voted aye).

What’s next

Staff said they will return to the council with a resolution that codifies a clarified self‑certification program, revised fee recommendations, prescriptive soils guidance for limited, low‑risk foundations and a procurement recommendation for the online permitting system.

The council did not adopt new rules at Monday’s meeting; it acted to accept the report and asked staff to bring back formal ordinances or resolutions for council consideration.