HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/15/2003 - STAFF REPORTS (4) DATE: October 15, 2003
TO: City Council
FROM: Director of Planning & Zoning
REVISION TO THE ALLOCATED POSITIONS PLAN BY ADDING A PLANS EXAMINER,
PLANNING MANAGER, AND ENGINEERING FIELD TECHNICIAN.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council revise the Allocated Positions Plan by adding a Plans Examiner,
Planning Manager, and Engineering Field Technician.
SUMMARY:
Approval of the proposed revised Allocation Plan will result in the addition of three new
positions and reallocate one position. Additional costs will be offset by development fees.
All new positions are necessary due to increased planning and development activity.
BACKGROUND:
The Departments of Building and Safety, Public Works, and Planning and Zoning provide
development services to the community. Current planning,engineering,and building permit
activity for both renovation to existing structures and new development are at a level where
current staffing levels are unable to keep up with customer demand and maintain the quality
of service. The City development services departments strive for quality of service,
approval of high quality developments, to meet public expectations of professional and
timely permit review and issuance.
Palm Springs Economic Development Corporation and the Development Task Force have
prepared a report which recommends that the City add a Planning Manager and a Plans
Examiner position. Both positions were supported after the Task Force completed a six-
month review of the City's development services program.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS:
The Engineering Field Technician is a proposed new position which will be assigned to
grading plan review, grading inspections, and field enforcement of federal, state, regional,
and local dust control (PM-10) regulations. Currently the grading inspection function is
under the responsibility of the Building and Safety Department, to be carried out by
whichever of the five building inspectors is assigned to the particular development project.
There are concerns that grading inspections are not being accomplished as the building
inspectors are not experienced in grading inspections; therefore, work is not consistently
following approved plans. These errors are not caught until complaints are received or
other City staff discovers them. This creates expensive correction requirements and fosters
bad relationships between the developer/contractor, the complaining party, and the City.
In addition,fugitive dust control enforcement is of major importance as AQMD plans valley-
wide ordinance revisions this year as part of the State Implementation Plan. Estimated cost
$70,625.
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DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND SAFETY:
The additional Plans Examiner position was recommended by the Development Task Force
in order to accomplish in-house plan check services for 80% - 90% of submittals. It is
anticipated that the addition of this position would significantly reduce the need for an
outside plans examiner and also reduce the number of plan checks going to the City's
contract plans examiner in San Diego. Estimated cost $77,963.
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ZONING:
The Planning Manager position will manage the City's current planning and environmental
review programs. Current planning activities include overseeing all development permits
and City compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act.
Current planning and permit activity has increased steadily since 1996 and is currently
outpacing staff's ability to ensure timely permit processing. Providing timely and quality
permit assistance adds economic and quality of life value to the community.
By adding the Planning Manager position, the Department will be able to focus on long-
range, strategic, and other community planning programs including the General Plan
Update, neighborhood planning, historic preservation, multi-species plans, and other
programs. Attachment 2 outlines a number of Planning/Community programs which most
other Coachella Valley communities do not provide.
Current planning projects which are currently being evaluated are noted in the Development
Services Activities Report and Staffing Recommendations(provided underseparate cover).
A review of discretionary permits shows that the city has/is processing 708 permits from
January to September 22, 2003. Last calendar year, the City handled a total of 664
discretionary permits. In addition, past records indicate that the fourth quarter is one of the
busiest of the year. Estimated cost $87,725.
In summary, the City building permit valuation, year-to-date, is $119.4 million, compared
to $74.2 million in 2002. Based upon current planning activity, staff anticipates strong
development interest over the next several years. Adequate staffing levels are needed to
meet customer and community expectations. Funding for these changes would be a
combination of existing and proposed fees and other programs. The total cost will be
$236,313.
Dave Barakian Don Duckworth Douglas Evans
City Engineer Manager of Building & Safety Director of Planning & Zoning
y M nager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Planning/Community Programs
2. Coachella Valley Cities Staffing Levels
3. Resolution
Department of Planning and Zoning
Planning/Community Programs
October 15, 2003
1. Office of Neighborhood Involvement and Public Participation
A. Mailing of Planning Commission, Design Review Committee, and other agendas
B. Neighborhood meetings (year-to-date 10 meetings)
C. Development related neighborhood meetings
2. Historic Preservation Program
A. Historic Site Preservation Board
B. City-wide survey underway
C. Community outreach
D. Public inquiries
E. Frances Stephens Park/School State Historic Site Designation
3. Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
A. Tribal Land Use Ordinance
B. Section 14 Master Plan
C. Tribal Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan
D. Tribal Development projects
E. Cultural Resources Program
F. Public information requests
4. Palm Springs International Airport
A. Airport Master Plan support
B. Airport Master Plan environmental document support
C. Airport Noise Compatibility
D. Airport Land Use
5. Downtown/Uptown — Land Use and Sign Permits
6. Seasonal vs. Permanent Population — community is planned for peak season not
current census figures.
7. Coachella Valley Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan
8. Environmental Issues/Litigation
9. Age of community and property redevelopment issues— nonconforming buildings and
uses, illegal structures, and neighborhood design issues.
10. Wind Energy (and other alternative energy) —development and permits (wind,
hydrogen, natural gas, and solar).
11. Active and involved citizens.
Coachella Valley Cities Staffing Levels
Planning Departments
October 15, 2003
Palm Springs
1 Director
2 Principal Planners
2 Associate Planners
2 Assistant Planners
1 Planning Technician Add: 1 Planning Manager
3 Secretaries
11 employees
Palm Desert
1 Director
1 Manager
1 Associate Planner
1 Assistant Planner
1 Manager of Parks
1 Parks Technician
2 Secretaries
8 employees
Rancho Mirage
1 Director
1 Planning Manager
1 Senior Planner
2 Associate Planners
1 Assistant Planner
1 Planning Technician
2.5 Secretaries
9.5 employees
La Quinta
1 Manager
2 Principal Planners
3 Associate Planners
2 Secretaries
9 employees
Indio
1 Director
1 Principal Planner
1 Senior Planner
1 Associate Planner
2 Assistant Planners
2 Secretaries ^�
8 employees ('l/
Cathedral City
1 City Planner
2 Associate Planners
1 Planning Assistant
1 GIS Coordinator
1 Secretary
1 Contract Associate Planner as needed
6 employees
Indian Wells
1 Director
1 Senior Planner
1 Assistant Planner
1 Planning Technician
1 Secretary
5 employees
�IA ��
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
Proposed Staff Changes and Cost Estimate "
V
SALARY RANGE Total Salary
DEPARTMENT POSITION UNIT Low High MAX RANGE BENEFITS and Benefits
Buildin Plans Examiner GU/46 $48,156 $58,692 $58,692 $22115 $80807
Plannin Plannin Mana er MAPS/63 $71,880 $87,552 $87,552 $24,736 $112,288
Engineering Field Technician(Dust Inspection) GU/40 $41,520 $50,592 $50,592 $20,033 $70,625
TOTAL PERSONNEL COST $196,836 $66,884 $263.720
TOTAL POSITIONS ADDED 3
Revised 10/7/2003
RESOLUTION NO.
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS,
CALIFORNIA, APPROVING AMENDMENT #5 TO THE
ALLOCATED POSITIONS AND COMPENSATION PLAN,
ADOPTED BY RESOLUTION 20641.
WHEREAS an Allocated Positions and Compensation Plan was adopted effective June 18,
2003, for the 2003-04 fiscal year by Resolution No. 20641; and
WHEREAS the City Council desires to amend said Allocated Positions and Compensation
Plan to include the addition of a Plans Examiner, Planning Manager, and Engineering Field
Technician for Dust Inspection.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Palm Springs, that
the Allocated Positions and Compensation Plan for positions in the City Service for fiscal year
2003-2004 is hereby amended as follows:
SECTION 1
Classification Range No. Added No. Deleted Additions/Deletions
Authorized Positions
Plans Examiner GU46 1.00 1.00
Planning Manager MAPS63 1.00 1.00
Engineering Field Technician GU40 1.00 1.00
Total authorized positions 2003-2004 Budget 442.75
Total (deletions) prior Amendments
Total additions prior Amendments 3.00
Total (deletions) this Amendment N/A
Total additions this Amendment 3.00
Total authorized positions as amended 448.75
SECTION 2. All provisions of this Resolution shall be effective October 1, 2003.
ADOPTED THIS day of 2003.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ATTEST: CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
By
CITY CLERK CITY MANAGER