Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Finance And Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
DBI reports revenue gains and sharp drop in open enforcement cases; commissioners praise staff progress
Summary
Deputy Director Taris Madison reported year-to-date 2015 revenue increases of roughly $8 million over 2014 (driven by higher permit valuations and plan-review receipts); Dan Ari reported code-enforcement work and a drop in open complaints (sampled figure 405, down from a backlog of about 5,500 previously). Commissioners commended staff and asked for continued tracking of NOVs tied to other departments.
DBI officials reported financial and enforcement updates Dec. 16 that highlighted increased revenues and progress clearing a long-standing enforcement backlog.
Deputy Director Taris Madison presented DBI—s November 2015 year-to-date financial report and said revenues were about $8 million higher in 2015 than in the same period in 2014, driven in part by an increase in permit valuation (about $900 million higher) and stronger plan-check receipts (for example, $4 million collected in November 2015 vs. $1.4 million in November 2014). Madison noted that some revenues are collected up-front and recognized over time and that a year-end accounting reconciliation may adjust earned vs. deferred amounts.
On code enforcement, Dan Ari (Deputy Director for Inspection Services) reported November operational statistics and a snapshot of open complaints. For the sampled period reported in the packet, DBI showed about 4,800 building inspections and 950 housing inspections in November, with hundreds of complaints handled and dozens of notices and orders processed. Importantly, staff noted a sampled total of 405 open complaints for the examined period (run as of October—December sample dates), down substantially from an earlier backlog figure the department cited of roughly 5,500 open complaints during prior years. Ari described how cases move through director's hearings, monitoring fees, orders of abatement and, where appropriate, referral to litigation.
Commissioners used the presentation to press for better tracking of notices of violation that are held up by other departments (planning, DPW) and to request that DBI continue to expand the monthly report to include plumbing and electrical inspections (DBI said it would do so). Several commissioners praised staff for the substantial reduction in the backlog and asked the department to publicize continued progress.
Next steps: DBI will expand reporting (plumbing and electrical metrics), continue enforcing abatement processes, and provide periodic enforcement-status updates to the commission.
