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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.23.2003 (2)• • COUNCIL WORK SESSION June 23, 2003 4:00 p.m. Council Chambers Members present: Mayor Rooff, Kincaid, Welper, Greenwood, Clark, Jordan, Hurley, Getty. Moved by Jordan, seconded by Clark that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes: Six. Absent: Hurley. Motion carried. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the proposed building permit fee schedule and concerns of the contractors. Jim Crandall reported that seven years ago there was a meeting with about 50 contractors and the Chamber of Commerce to discuss the same issues. Out of that meeting, the Contractors Board was created to listen to contractors and home owners' complaints. Councilperson Hurley now present at 4:20 p.m. Mr. Crandall stated that not one contractor has appeared before the board to file a complaint. The prodigal is to first appear before the Contractors Board, and if the problem can't be solved or if it is a council issue, then the board would refer the complaint to the council. Mr. Crandall reported that people are doing construction work on evenings and weekends and the city needs to look at that problem. A lot of people know there are no inspections on weekends and after 5:00 p.m. Mr. Crandall stated there is a lot of money that could be made on the weekends with the issuance of permits. Mr. Crandall stated he has no problems with the Building Department, and he talked with two home builders and one concrete contractor and they do not have any problems with the Building Department. Greg Fairbanks reported he used to build 90 percent of his homes in Waterloo, and now its not even 50 percent. Mr. Fairbanks stated he doesn't understand why we continue to pick on areas that generate revenue, as we need to give incentives rather than more fees. Mr. Fairbanks thinks the system needs help rather than fees. He would like the Building Department to be made more high tech. Mr. Fairbanks stated he does not object to raising fees, but more money needs to be put into the Building Department. Andy Miller, Service Roofing, stated the city wants to generate an additional $50,000 in building permit fees when there are probably 20 roofing jobs going on throughout the city every weekend. The building permit fee for roofing is $90, or $180 if no permit is taken out. Travis Young, Young Plumbing & Heating, stated he is not opposed to increasing the building permit fees, but he would like better communication and more technology for the Building Department, such as cell phones. Mr. Young stated he would like the money generated by the new fees to be used by the Building Department for technology. Mayor Rooff stated that the city has to cut $1.2 million from the general fund due to cuts by the State of Iowa, and we have tried to spread these cuts equally. Mayor Rooff read a letter from Mark Gardner, Don Gardner Construction, who wanted to go on record that he thinks the Building Department staff is user friendly. Mr. Gardner is not in favor of an increase in building permit fees. However, everyone is aware the city is short of money and this may be a way to generate more income, but he cautions this could backfire if less permits are purchased and more construction work is done on the side or weekends. Mr. Crandall suggested that police officers and fire fighters driving around town could be watch dog for the Building Department if they would write down addresses and contact the Building Department. It would only take about 30 seconds for them to write the address down. Rick Young, Young Plumbing & Heating, stated the city needs to stop calling this a user fee as it is more a builders tax. This is a profit center for the city and the permit fees already pay for the Building Department. Council Work Session June 23, 2003 Page 2 Mayor Rooff stated that we are always compared with Cedar Falls, and our fees are not the same as Cedar Falls. Should we have one fee structure for the Cedar Valley. Councilperson Hurley stated that two out of the last three increases the additional income has been used to add another inspector and another person for the Building Department so the income was put into the Building Department to make it more efficient. Lou Cutwright, Building Official/Maintenance Administrator, stated that the city's current permit fee schedule is below the National Code. Rick Young stated that the Building Department has been pretty good lately, but some building inspectors are arbitrary even when there have been no changes to the code. Mr. Young stated the Contractors Board would help. Wayne Magee, Magee Construction, stated we have an excellent Building Department, and they are easy to work with. Mr. Magee stated he is not opposed to raising the building permit fees if the funds go to the right place and not the general fund. Mr. Magee stated he would like to see the fees more equitable for all builders, and that the existing fees need to be brought into reality so all are charged the same. Mr. Cutwright reviewed the proposed building permit fee schedule which would be based on square footage using national average based on National Building Code. Mr. Cutwright stated if people would call his office with an address where remodeling work is going on, they could look up the address to see if a permit has been taken out and make a call to the address, if necessary. Dennis Fossman stated he would like to see a flat fee of $10.00 for all installation of fencing, such as Cedar Falls. In Waterloo, no permit is needed for a four foot high fence, but if a six foot high fence is installed a permit is required. The Building Department would not need to inspect every fence as there already is a strict factory requirement. Mr. Cutwright stated that there will be discussions about the proposed code at the General Contractors meeting in July. Then the code will be brought to the council for review. The new code does have some relief and caveats, and Mr. Cutwright feels it will be an easy code to work with. The goal is to have as few exceptions as possible. Mr. Crandall stated he feels he is getting good service from the city's Building Department. In order for the city to enforce the building permit requirements, they will need to hire another inspector. Mr. Crandall stated that using square footage and enforcing the code will bring in a lot of revenue. Mayor Rooff stated the council will take these suggestions into consideration. With no further business before the council, it was moved by Jordan, seconded by Clark that the meeting be adjourned at 5:05 p.m. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. Nancy Eckert City Clerk • •