Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Dbi Office Move And Director Search topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
DBI plans office consolidation and spending; commission forms committee to interview director candidates amid heated public comment
Summary
Acting DBI director outlined a planned consolidation of office space across 1650/1660 Mission with an initial estimate of about $3 million for tenant improvements (potentially higher for seismic upgrades), and commissioners established a three-member interview committee to continue the search for a new director; public commenters raised allegations about DBI practices and staff defended ongoing investigations.
At the Building Inspection Commission meeting on Dec. 18, 2006, acting director Amy Lee presented a multi-month plan to consolidate and expand Department of Building Inspection (DBI) office space and reported a preliminary budget estimate of about $3,000,000 for tenant improvements and related work, noting that seismic upgrades could raise the final cost.
Lee said the move would increase available office and plan-checker space by roughly 40—48% depending on role and floor, add meeting rooms for better pre-application coordination, and allow phased construction so the department would not need external temporary space. She said staff hoped to complete planning in mid-January, solicit bids, and start construction in early 2007, with occupants moved by the following February. The director emphasized coordination with the Bureau of Architecture and the need to plan for ventilation and mechanical upgrades.
Commissioners welcomed the plan and asked for follow-up information including precise square footage and updated cost estimates. The director and staff described the need to work more closely with the Planning Department to reduce intake delays and "catch-22" situations (for example, demolition permit intake requiring a parallel site permit), and they reported a recent joint meeting that raised several recurring process conflicts for further action.
Separately the Commission discussed the ongoing search for a new DBI director. Staff reported the search firm had reviewed 44 resumes, interviewed 12 candidates and presented seven finalists. The Commission agreed to schedule interviews and established a three-commissioner interview committee as a safeguard if the full commission could not reach a quorum for scheduled interviews.
Public comment was extensive. Several speakers praised the recent "power plan check" public meeting and encouraged better permit tracking. Other speakers raised serious accusations about permit processing and record handling; one public commenter (identified as Tony Fu) described the conduct he alleged as "an organized crime." Acting deputy director Carla Johnson and other DBI staff responded on the record that many allegations are the subject of active investigation by the City Attorney's office and defended staff integrity: "I just feel like I need to defend them," Johnson said, adding that staff were committed to ethics and fair application of the building code.
Next steps: staff will return to the Commission with more detailed cost and phasing estimates for the office move, follow up on the joint Planning-DBI list of process conflicts, and schedule director interviews according to the Commission's timetable.
