Committee advances DBI funding and staffing changes tied to vacant-building fee and MOUs

Chair Supervisor John Avalos advanced an ordinance to raise the Department of Building Inspection—s cash revolving fund from $600 to $2,000 to keep registers and copy machines stocked and reduce customer delays. Pamela Levin, deputy director for administrative services at DBI, told the committee the increase "will allow us to improve our customer services" by making registers ready at 08:00 and reducing inter-floor customer traffic.

The committee also considered two linked items to appropriate $847,222 for limited-duration positions and to amend the annual salary ordinance to add 11 limited-duration positions (5.5 FTE for the current year). Levin said the funding supports three purposes: staff for plan review tied to MOUs (including Transbay Joint Powers Authority and the San Francisco PUC), clerical staff to implement the vacant-and-abandoned building ordinance, and $200,000 to cover projected shortfalls for city-attorney work orders.

The budget analyst recommended technical adjustments to reflect a February 1 start date and to reduce current-year FTEs accordingly, asking that the ordinance explicitly designate the positions as limited duration and that the appropriation be reduced to match the updated FTE timing. The analyst also recommended returning approximately $107,000 to the department's operating nonproject fund if the appropriation is lowered.

DBI director Vivian Day explained the vacant-building fee framework and collections: staff estimated about 400 total vacant buildings citywide, identified 232 through December (27 later deemed not valid), leaving 205 active properties; DBI had received payments for 21 buildings and planned a second notice to property owners. Day said the department estimates vacant-building fee revenues will support the two clerical positions for at least three years but cautioned the program—s duration depends on program success in returning properties to productive use.

Supervisors focused on enforcement scope and equity. Supervisor Carmen Chu pressed DBI on whether the fee applies when only part of a mixed-use building is vacant; Day said the ordinance treats residential and commercial portions separately and the department has methods to determine active vacancy where fees could apply.

Action: Supervisor Chiu (Chiu) moved to accept the budget analyst recommendations and send the items, as amended, to the full board with recommendation; the committee took the motion without objection. The ordinance to increase DBI—s revolving cash fund was also moved and taken without objection and will be forwarded to the full board.