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Deputy building official raises staffing and operations concerns during public comment
Summary
Michael Lowe, the city's deputy building official, told the council that the building division faced long backlogs, outdated permit software and staff burnout, said he was placed on medical leave, and criticized city management's handling of his reports; council acknowledged the remarks but took no formal action during the meeting.
During the public‑comment period, Michael Lowe—introduced himself as deputy building official and veteran of the construction and code profession—gave an extended account of operational problems in the city's building division. He said permit applications were "backlogged for weeks," inspectors were "exhausted," and core business processes and software were misaligned with legal responsibilities.
Lowe said his attempts to raise these concerns led to a series of personnel events: heavier workload, questioned professional conduct by administration, medical leave for stress disorder, and later meetings where he said his character was questioned. "I executed my role as chief building official with integrity and fidelity, and I will not be ashamed of the work I did for our community," he said.
The mayor thanked Lowe for his comments; no council motion, investigation announcement, or staffing action was recorded on the transcript during the meeting. The statements were made as public testimony and not as part of a council agenda item that generated an immediate administrative response.
Councilmembers later referenced the topic in questions about permitting and code enforcement while discussing the building code item; staff repeatedly pointed to outreach, training and reporting tools (including the Ask SLO app) for residents to submit complaints or reports for follow‑up.
