HomeMy WebLinkAbout09 - Code Enforcement Services for Water Conservation — PSA - MemoMemorandum
To: Mayor and Council Members
November 10, 2015
Item No. 9
CITY OF NEWPORT Er
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPAI
100 Civic Center Drive
Newport Beach, California 92660
949 644-3200
newportbeachca.gov/communitydevelopment
From: Brenda Wisneski, Deputy Community Development Director
Date: November 10, 2015
Re: Agenda Item #9 - Code Enforcement Services for Water Conservation
Please see a correction regarding Item #9, as shown as strike -out and underline
insert in paragraph four of the staff report. This correction has no effect on the
proposed agreement or budget amendment.
Code Enforcement Services for Water Conservation
November 10, 2015
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The City has existing agreements with JAS Pacific and VCA Code to provide building
inspection and plan check services. Staff contacted each consultant to determine if
they have the resources to meet our code enforcement needs and to compare costs.
While both entities are able to offer qualified staff, JAS was more cost effective at $45 to
$55 per hour. VCA Code's code enforcement service was quoted at $75 per hour.
Due to the urgency of needing additional staff to assist the city in meeting it'd water
conservation requirements, entering into a new contract with JAS is justified. JAS was
selected following a Request for Proposal process in 2014, so it is clear that they offer
qualified services at competitive rates.
Based on the deployment of two code enforcement officers beginning in December
2015 for up to 30 hours per week, expenditures would total $14,300 per month. If the
conservation efforts continue for the term of the JAS agreement (19 months), the total
increased enforcement costs would be $271,700.
If approved, the cost of the additional staff (student aides and contract code
enforcement officers) for water conservation enforcement is $21,153-$32,357 per
month.
DISCUSSION:
On April 1, 2015, Governor Jerry Brown issued an Executive Order requiring mandatory
water conservation. Since then, Code Enforcement has issued approximately 1,150
warning notices, 200 administrative citations, conducted approximately 1,700
inspections, and has received 800-1,000 calls each month related to water conservation
efforts.
To date, part-time student aides have been retained to support water conservation
efforts in the Revenue and Code Enforcement Divisions. Their duties are limited to
administrative support such as answering phone calls, preparing letters, warning
notices, and citations which are later reviewed by senior staff prior to mailing. Student
aides cannot perform any enforcement related tasks or discuss enforcement matters
with callers or visitors to City Hall.
Starting on November 1, 2015, fix it tickets ("FIT") will be issued to residents who have
not met their mandatory water conservation requirements, and they will be given
approximately sixty (60) days to reduce their water usage to avoid an administrative
citation ($100, $200, $500). Staff anticipates that a minimum of 100 FITs will be issued
on a weekly basis, in addition to a significant amount of time spent analyzing water
consumption data to determine compliance with the Level 3 water conservation
regulations.
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