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DBI tells commissioners it faces a staffing gap as plan-review and inspections surge
Summary
Acting Director Tom Huey and HR staff told the Building Inspection Commission the department is managing a surge in plan-check and inspection work, faces roughly 63 vacancies and is pursuing position-based testing and recruiting; commissioners warned of employee burnout and sought clearer timelines for hires and HR support.
Acting Director Tom Huey told the Building Inspection Commission on Jan. 16 that the Department of Building Inspection is seeing a sustained increase in incoming work and is actively recruiting to fill vacancies.
Huey said the department expects several big projects in the pipeline and that plan-check throughput recently included months with roughly $1.5 billion in reviews. He warned that turnover and the civil-service process slow hiring: DBI is working to schedule interviews and complete required testing, and said the department intends to hire additional inspectors and clerical staff over the next several months.
Deputy Director Pamela Levin, who oversees HR-related matters, said DBI is pursuing position-based testing and meeting with the Department of Human Resources to secure candidate lists. Levin said the department can fill 49 of the 63 currently needed positions (a number cited in the discussion) and will continue to press for expedited testing and certification to refill lists. She described an "aggressive plan" to get lists and testing completed and to have seats filled in the fiscal year.
Commissioners pressed for details on how the budget request accommodates the anticipated mandatory seismic retrofit program and for ways to mitigate staff burnout. Commissioner Melgar suggested using HR resources to conduct initial vetting and interviews so DBI can expedite onboarding; Levin said the position-based testing and KSAs (knowledge, skills and abilities) work takes time but that having certified lists will speed future hiring.
Inspection-service staff described current over-the-counter throughput at roughly 120 transactions per day and projected summer daily volumes of 150—170. Commissioners and staff agreed that training and supervisory support are priorities while DBI scales hiring.
Public comment included praise for faster inspection scheduling and improved records turnaround time.
DBI plans to return with hiring-status updates to the commission and has committed to provide more detailed timelines as position-based testing lists are produced.
