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Building official asks for additional inspector as short-term rental inspections rise
Summary
New building official Brad Ward supported adding a full-time building inspector to handle an increasing inspection workload and noted the city has about 400 registered short-term rentals; annual inspection policy would require more staffing to reach full coverage.
Brad Ward, the city's newly appointed building official, told councilors he supports creating a full-time building inspector position to provide continuity and to help manage inspections, including the growing number of registered short-term rentals.
Ward said he was notified of the workshop late and did not present detailed budget numbers but emphasized the workload: with about 400 registered short-term rentals, performing annual inspections would require more staff than current staffing can provide. The administration said the fire department has been handling inspections for renewals, contractors have supplemented capacity during transitions, and the building department proposed restoring a contract-services line to retain outside help when needed.
Councilors asked whether lead-inspection work and certain violations are handled by building staff; Ward said lead work generally falls to the health department and violations are referred accordingly, and councilors urged better interdepartmental coordination to address lead hazards in historic housing stock.
