In this November’s election, it looks like Hollywood will win its independence from the City of Los Angeles. This means that we will have the opportunity to create from scratch a building and safety department for a city of about 230,000 people. How would you like to see that done? Can you offer any guiding principles or concrete suggestions? (BTW, I put this here and not in the Tavern because this isn’t just for fun. We might really have to do this.)
— J.S.
From building boxes and fitting face frames to installing doors and drawers, these techniques could be used for lots of cabinet projects.
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Replies
I'll be watching and learning on this one. We need some code enforcement in my area and may build one here soon. I'm on the Planning Board.
The ideal first step is to find a board of governers who are honest and able to subjugate their personal issues to professional standards. but then, I'm a realist....
John,
Start with professionals! Make sure those whos job is to act as inspectors have actual field knowledge. Engineers, architects and designers are all necesary on review boards and planning deptartments, but inspectors should have a hands on understanding of how construction actually applies to the real world. I don`t care how many degrees you have hanging in your office, more often than not conditions dictate procedure. There are no erasers on the back of a hammer.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
J.D. --
Yes, that's one thing I'd already thought of. And I think it shoud apply not only to inspectors, but also to plan checkers. I've just been thru that experience with a guy who had no clue how those lines on paper relate to concrete and lumber.
-- J.S.
Well, one early activity is to decide on who's boss and what is the chain of command. This would apply equally to the civil service and political wings.
Next, you have to ensure that all the bylaws, codes, etc. that you want to carry over from the old organization do and that there's a way to quickly amend the rest. Then you have to set approval, enforcement, and variance processes in place, and staff them.
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
Design the department with close links to related departments, such as zoning, sewer, engineering etc. so that people that need to work closely together are allowed and encouraged to do so (rather than encouraging separate fiefdoms).T. Jeffery Clarke
Quidvis Recte Factum Quamvis Humile Praeclarum
Jeff --
The way it works in the old city is that the applicant is sent, all under one roof, from window to window to deal with all the various agencies. What I'm thinking of is a change in job description for what is a plan checker in the old system. In addition to checking plans, in the new city this person would be the applicant's internal agent to deal with the rest of the government agencies. You talk to him, he talks to them for you. He knows the ropes. He's on your side, he has an incentive to get paperwork out of his way by expediting your project thru the system. A prerequisite for this job would be real hands-on experience in multiple building trades.
Thanks to all for the good ideas.
-- J.S.
Don't forget the loopholes for the DIY. E.g. no permit for under 200 ft sq, allowance to do own work, etc.
Favorites are still the counties that require no permits at all; however, just noted one county in TN is starting up permits due to out of state charlatans moving in and building/selling crap -- probably plenty of those in HW to start with?
John,
I hate to rain on your parade, but how many plan checkers to you intend to employ? Branching out their responsibilities will run them thin in a hurry.
It would be better for your new department to produce an informational packet that contains all the neccessary forms ( variances, zoning permits, occupational permits, requests for site inspection, water taps, elec./gas taps, etc.) plus phone numbers of appropiate agencies and their contact person. These packets should be readily available for the public at large. Relying on your plan checker to review the drawings, then fill out all necessary paperwork, plus co-ordinate all departments is asking too much.
You need a Director, and Assistant Director, Code Enforcement Inspectors ( each with hands- on trade experience) Engineers and draftsmen to check your plans, lots of secretaries, a specialized computer sytem that will help you map out all your present utilies ( water lines, fire hydrant locations, gas lines, underground electrical, etc. etc.) and will allow you to make changes to these mapped utilities when actual changes are made. A company named CH2 M Hill had a software program years ago (early 1980's) that enabled cities to do this kind of specialized mapping. It was a good tool.( One example of its use...You could "flag" fire hydrants that enabled you to set up a scheduled hydrant flushing, and told you the age of each hydrant so you could plan maintenace/replacement accordingly.)
I could go on and on...administrative functions, chain of command, charters authorizing such authoritative powers...all this needs to be in place.
No one likes administrators...I know, cause I used to be one myself. I have a degree in Public Administration, and worked in both State and Local governments for a number of years before going into the trades.
The best advice I can give you, is to look up ICMA (International City Managers Assoc.) and seek out their advice as to setting up your new form of government and your related departments. Inquire with ICMA as to what city they would reccommend as a model for your city. ICMA keeps records on many cities and their performance track records. I'm sure that they could give you some insights and contacts for you to check out . Have your Board of Directors ( Councilmen....City Manager....Public Utilities Director...etc etc.) attend one of these "model" cities and see how they are doing things. You could then get a better feel for what you think will work and what will not in your area.
A lot of times, ideas that you may think are "fresh" have all ready been tried and proven . Sometimes they have good results, sometimes not. It's good to check out a successful program already in place by a city of comparable size and find out why their program is successful. They would only be too glad to share this type of info, and could also provide you with copies of administrative forms and procedures that they follow, thus you would not have to re-invent everything from scratch.
LOL.
Davo
Edited 4/17/2002 1:49:13 AM ET by Davo
Post your forms and intro package online in PDF so applicants can have things filed out to bring in. The lines will be shorter.
Excellence is its own reward!
Great idea Piffin!
Having a website that the public can tap into for downloading information and acquiring the proper forms is a good thing. It would be possible to even have these forms filled out at home and then filedwith the appropiate department via E-mail. Administrative form filing fees/deposits could also be paid via E-Mail ( credit card). Conducting business via home /work computer would help to regulate traffic problems in and around City Hall.
Packets need to be kept physically on hand at City Hall as well; to be passed out to all who either do not have acces to computers and/or who prefer not to use computers when transacting business affairs.
Davo
Another thought -- After an initial visit by the inspector, perhaps some of the in-between inspections on small jobs could be handled by the homeowner or builder taking digital pictures and e-mailing them to the inspector. (In some cases, the inspector may have to e-mail back and ask for a closer shot of something.)
-- J.S.
Okay, here is what you've GOT to do. Go find an architect, run an ad, they'll call you. Offer 40K to all of them, then pick the one that will take that money. If they all will, then start the downward bidding till you have the winner. Call him "Chief building official"
Now have the "Chief" hire some inspectors from their respected trades .........or not, doesn't matter. Pay them $8.00, furnish them with an S-10 for transport, give them a cell phone(with the understanding that it is never to be turned on, it's just part of the uniform) The very best inspectors are contractors that have gone under. They have knowledge(of the best doughnut shops) and of how to do the job properly with the most amount of material and manpower. Plus they have that edgy, know it all, jelous of you attitude that is so respected in inspectors. Give pay raises for weight gain, and for vision loss.
What makes you so special that YOU should have it any better than the rest of us? Ain't it enough that you have all the tanned beauties with big hooters strutting around in Hollywood to gawk at( I hear they come in everyday in busloads from the heartland to be stars), so now you want the perfect building department? You make me sick...............he he he
Keith,
You're getting more coy in your old age.
Excellence is its own reward!