by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
The City’s campaign to improve its permitting process will take its first tangible steps forward with the addition of six new building inspectors.
Pending City Council approval, the new hires will cut wait times for construction site inspections and should allow inspectors to be more responsive when visiting the sites. The increase in staff is the first recommendation from Mayor John Peyton’s permitting overhaul that has reached the City Council. Council member Daniel Davis, who also works for the Northeast Florida Builders Assocaition said more improvements would follow.
Adding inspectors will benefit both builders and the City’s current staff. Davis told the Council’s Finance Committee that the City’s inspectors are stretched thin. The average inspector visits about 20 sites a day. The first round of hires won’t cut the workload down to 15 visits, where Inspections Chief Tom Goldsbury wants it, but Davis said the new staff would allow inspectors to spend more time at each site.
“The bottom line is it will improve customer service,” said Davis.
More time on site would translate to more thorough inspections, said Goldsbury. Once the new hires arrive, Goldsbury said his inspectors could take time to explain the inspections to contractors, meaning builders will understand better why they pass or fail.
The permitting improvement process has made small improvements since it was launched about a year ago, said Goldsbury. For instance, in December the City changed its code to allow builders to work up until the first inspection while plans were still under review. But Goldsbury said the addition of new inspectors would be the biggest change made so far.
“We’ve taken some little steps. This is a big step,” he said.
The City would spend $261,000 to pay for the new positions. However, Goldsbury said the new employees would save money by allowing him to cut his staff’s overtime hours. Goldsbury said his staff works past a 3:30 p.m. quitting time almost daily. Goldsbury said his inspectors would still work overtime to handle periodic surges.
If the Council approves funding Tuesday, Goldsbury said his new inspectors should be on the payroll by the end of August. Goldsbury expects Council approval. He’s already advertised the positions. The Finance Committee approved the ordinance unanimously.
Goldsbury said there were other recommendations for permitting improvements on the way. After a year of review, the four committees charged with reviewing Jacksonville’s permitting have put together a package of recommendations for the mayor’s consideration.
It will be up to Peyton which recommendations are implemented and which ones are left on the cutting room floor. Goldsbury said the next change Peyton will consider will be a reorganization that would streamline the number of reviews necessary for plan approval.