08-23-2021 Council Work Session Packet

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CITY OF ORONO MEMORANDUM DATE: August 23, 2021 TO: Mayor Walsh, City Council members FROM: Jeremy Barnhart, AICP, Community Development Director RE: Building Official At the workshop on July 26th, the City Council directed staff to review the possibility of returning to the in-house building services model. On July 30th, the personnel committee met with the administrator and requested information related to the costs and recommendations. Staff analyzed three options: 1. Outsource Building Official and Building Inspection (current model) 2. Outsource Building Inspection with an Internal Building Official* 3. Internal Building Official and Building Inspector *A city could have an internal inspector and outsource the Building Official, but staff has not seen an example of that scenario. On March 15, 2021, MnSpect began as the Building Official. Invoices for May, June, and July have been reviewed, and the hours spent on 4 main building related tasks noted in the table below: Inspections Code/ Plan review Building Official General/ Clerical Hours Cost ($85.00- $105.00) Hours Cost ($85.00- 105.00) Hours Cost ($125.00) Hours Cost ($75.00) May 105 $ 9,477.50 130.44 $ 13,761.90 4.85 $ 606.25 105.25 $ 7,406.25 June 146 $ 12,562.50 128 $ 13,650.00 3.75 $ 468.75 72.75 $ 5,381.25 July 115.75 $ 10,081.25 170 $ 17,810.00 3 $ 375.00 69.75 $ 5,231.25 Resources spent on Code/ Plan review and Building Official average 146.7 hours and $15,577 per month (extrapolated to $186,924 per year) over the last three months. With an internal Building Official, the city could expect 160+ hours per month and based on the pay schedule step 12, $72-90,000 per year. Wage plus benefit costs should be expected at $125,000. Resources spent on inspections have averaged 122.25 hours and $10,700 over the last 3 months. Applied consistently throughout the year, the expense would be $128,400. With an internal inspector, the city could expect 160 hours per month and, based on the pay