HomeMy WebLinkAboutFS 2015-02-03 Item 2A - Budget - Transfer of Funds for Third Code Enforcement OfficerTO:
City of Tukwila
Jim Haggerton, Mayor
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
Mayor Haggerton, David Cline
Finance and Safety Committee
FROM: Jack Pace, Director of the Department of Community Development (DCD)
BY: Jerry E Hight, Building Official
DATE: February 3, 2015
SUBJECT: Additional Code Enforcement Officer to support residential neighborhoods
and Tukwila International Boulevard
ISSUE
Should the money in the DCD professional services budget be shifted to salaries to hire one
additional Code Enforcement officer to address continual efforts to improve the image and
conditions in residential neighborhoods and along Tukwila International Boulevard?
BACKGROUND
In preparing the 2015/16 Budget, Citizens, Administration and the City Council had expressed a
desire to see an increase code enforcement in residential areas, as well as, along Tukwila
International Boulevard. The City Council adopted the budget with an increase of $87,000 in Code
Enforcement Professional Service as a place holder with the understanding administration would
review ways to improve efficient before hiring additional staff.
DISCUSSION
At the Committee of the Whole meeting on January 27, 2015, Code Enforcement staff presented a
summary of what staff had learned and the methods to improve process in all aspects of Code
enforcement. As noted in the presentation, LEAN is both a process and a "way of life ". The first
steps involve understanding how we currently perform our tasks. The analysis phase looks for
inefficiencies and devises alternative ways of accomplishing the task in less time without sacrificing
quality. The implementation phase allows us to test drive our new process with an eye to
continuous improvement and fine tuning.
In Mid -May of last year, DCD temporarily added an additional Code Enforcement Officer. This has
allowed us to address the backlog of unresolved cases. As shown by the attached chart, the Code
Enforcement Team has been able to achieve a dramatic increase in both the number of cases
opened and more importantly, the number of cases we have achieved compliance on. There was
a 42% increase in cases opened and a 64% increase in cases resolved.
As noted in the presentation, in order to ensure that we meet our goals, code enforcement has
developed an implementation plan "30, 60, and 90 Day Plan. The 25 years of code enforcement
expertise tell us that the time it takes to achieve compliance is about as short as it can be, given
the individual variations code enforcement staff are presented with and legal constraints. Lean has
shown that implementing the Mayor's and Councils plan for neighborhood improvement with
require additional staff and resources.
RECOMMENDATION
The Council is being asked to consider this item at the Committee of the Whole on February 9,
2015 and the Regular February 17, 2015 meeting, consent agenda.
ATTACHMENTS
Comparison Three Year Average (2011 -2013) and 2014
1
CODE ENFORCEMENT LEAN PRESENTATION
January 2015
Comparison Three Year Average (2011 -2013) and 2014
Detailed Comparison OPEN 3yr average and 2014
Case Type
Building — No Permit
3 Year Average
2011 -2013
72
2014
78
2014/3 Year
Average
2%
Rubbish /Garbage
69
76
10%
Parking Issues
30
71
137%
Lack of Rental License
16
69
331%
Signage (Illegal no permit)
42
59
40%
*Misc — Other
52
58
12%
Overgrowth /Weeds
30
55
83%
Business License
28
20
(29 %)
Junk Vehicles
11
19
73%
Graffiti
9
3
(67 %)
Total Cases
359
508
42%
Detailed Comparison CLOSED 3yr average and 2014
Case Type
Building — No Permit
3 Year Average
2011 -2013
74
2014
102
2014/ 3 Year
Average
38%
Rubbish /Garbage
52
93
79%
Parking Issues
27
75
178%
Lack of Rental License
14
57
3Q7%
Signage (Illegal no permit)
38
53
38%
*Misc — Other
52
86
65%
Overgrowth /Weeds
37
55
47%
Business License
27
24
(11 %)
Junk Vehicles
13
16
23%
Graffiti
8
1
(87 %)
Total Cases
342
562
64%
Top 3 — OPEN 2014
1. Building — No Permit
2. Rubbish /Garbage
3. Parking Issues
Top 3 — CLOSED 2014
1. Building — No Permit
2. Rubbish /Garbage
3. *Misc. - Other
*Roosters, Trees, Wetland Issues,
Storm Water Drain Issues, etc.
Code Enforcement - LEAN Presentation pg. 10
Slide #17
3