DBI director prioritizes automation, reports $1 million federal seismic grant and flags debate over bond fund uses

San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI) Director Hossein told the Building Inspection Commission on Jan. 16 that automating inspection scheduling and improving the department's permit-tracking systems are top priorities as the agency implements a business process reengineering (BPR) effort.

Hossein said DBI is working with MIS staff to automate inspection scheduling to improve customer access and reduce phone scheduling problems; he estimated an implementation outline within months and described the broader automation and permit-tracking projects as multi-year efforts. He also reiterated plans to consolidate staff space where feasible and said the department is pursuing both short-term reconfiguration and a longer-term relocation option.

On funding, Hossein announced the department secured roughly $1,000,000 in federal grant money for seismic programs and said DBI must now define specific uses for that award. Separately, commissioners discussed a proposal circulating within the mayor's office and assessorto redirect about $50,000,000 from the city's unreinforced masonry (UNB) bond fund to seed a low-interest loan program for energy improvements. Commissioners expressed reservations: one commissioner said the voter-approved bond was intended for seismic strengthening and urged preserving those funds for earthquake resilience rather than reallocation.

Hossein said the CAPS contract with ATC (the firm under contract for community seismic work) is near finalization; staff expects a contract modification to move through the city's process within a month to six weeks and for ATC to begin work within roughly 60 days. He described the $900,000 CAPS contract as funded from a seismic instrumentation fee set aside under state law and said DBI declined a separate informal commitment of roughly $200,000 for research that he judged outside DBI's core services.

Commissioners and public commenters also discussed tall-building design policy and the role of code-change processes (including AB 83) at the state level. Hossein said San Francisco has been active in producing administrative bulletins and that code-change proposals should be pursued through established statewide and national code processes where appropriate.

The commission asked staff to continue reporting on CAPS contract timing, proposed uses for federal grant funds, and any formal proposals to alter the UNB bond fund allocation.