April 15, 2010
PUBLIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEETING NOTES
Thursday, April 15, 2010
2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
1660 Mission Street
Room 2001
1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
Director Day welcomed attendees to the meeting and introductions were made.
2. REVIEW OF BPR FLOWCHARTS
Director Day reviewed the OTC operations as it should be, based on the BPR review. The pre-application process will happen due to the Development Fee ordinance. Once permit application forms are filled out, customers are to go to the Registration Counter. Submittals are to occur on the 1st floor. Due to the staffing crunch, submittals are currently also being taken on the 5th floor.
The 5th floor was meant for the frequent users who are familiar with the process, and those that need help are to begin on the 1st floor for assistance.
Director Day reported the Q-matic system should be installed and operational by July 1. They are in the process of installing monitors throughout the building.
It was also stated that staff would be brought back by the end of June. There will be staffing changes on the 5th floor. Sonia Alarcon has announced her retirement. One plan checker, Richard Tam, will return to work on May 1. Four 1408 positions will also be returning to DBI.
3. ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
There was an inquiry on permit status in the Permit Tracking System. Some completed permits are still being shown as expired. When one goes in to renew an expired permit, the original permit number will maintain its expired status and the renewal will be shown as complete. Director Day stated this will be fixed once the new tracking system is in place. The new system will have projects under one permit number. Revisions will not need a new permit number.
There was issue brought up regarding wait time on the 5th floor. It was said staff should be cross trained to provide better service and decrease wait time. Director Day is meeting with Permit Services managers to further discuss.
At the last meeting, an item was mentioned about EPA booklets that were to be provided by DBI. The booklets were not received, and are in the process of being revised by the EPA. The information is posted on the EPA website.
Director Day stated that effective May 1, DBI will require 30-day notification to property owners/licensed professional of record, if a request is made for copies of plans. If there is no response from the owner/professional after 30 days, plans can be released.
There was a question about the Owner/Builder packet. In one case, the property owner does not want to be named on the permit and wants the tenant to be responsible. If the lessee is a long term tenant (more than 5 years), a letter should come from the property owner stating that they are allowing the tenant to be responsible for improvements to their building. This letter would then be attached to the owner/builder form.
It was requested to have a representative from Planning to attend the monthly Public Advisory Committee. Planning staff are aware of the meeting, but were unable to attend this month. Jonas Ionin or Kelley Amdur will be attending future meetings.
There was a discussion on the mandatory seismic program. The voluntary program goes into effect April 19. Staff will be going to the Building Inspection Commission with a revised administrative bulletin defining soft story and what the guidelines are for the voluntary program.
DBI will be having a mini summit on May 14 in the Koret Auditorium at the SF Public Library from 1:00-5:00 p.m. It will be a town hall format and consist mainly of Q&A with expert panelists to answer questions.
4. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
No future items were discussed.
5. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 3:25pm.
