HomeMy WebLinkAboutFire Prevention ReviewCITY OF PALM DESERT
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
To: Carlos L. Ortega, City Manager
From: Homer Croy, Assistant City Manager for Development Servic
Date: June 19, 2006
Subject: Fire Prevention Review — Follow up
Last year during budget session, we reviewed the contract for fire prevention services,
and the possibility to assume those duties as provided by State law. Council's direction
was to continue contracting those services with the Riverside Fire Prevention (RFP),
find space within City Hall to locate them, and to follow-up with a report next year.
There has been a positive change in the area of plan review, inspection and customer
service by RFP during this last year.
• Plan review services have been completed at an acceptable rate as compared to
previous years. Citizen complaints related to past plan reviews have reduced as
well. RFP has also been performing plan reviews with more accurate and
complete information.
• Inspections have also improved in that RFP staff are following approved plans,
providing more inspections and minimizing field changes at final inspection. RFP
now provides better progress inspections and issues correction notices during
construction, which has reduced the number of complaints that were a result of
last minute or incomplete inspections.
• Staff has been unsuccessful in locating space that would bring RFP into City
Hall. If RFP were relocated in City Hall, communications and service would
improve. RFP is currently located in the Park View office building, and no citizen
complaints have been logged related to their new location. Cost to remodel
Development Services that would relocate RFP to City Hall is estimated at $
650,000.00.
Recommendation:
Therefore, it is recommended that RFP remain in their current location, and that we
keep monitoring their service levels another year. Staff further recommends that in FY
2006-2007 funding be established to remodel the lobby of Development Services for a
one -stop service, and that new offices be constructed to allow RFP to be relocated
within this new one -stop service area.
G:\DevServices\Homer Croynord files \Memorandums\Fire Pro. Service 06.dot
cc, I Fire PreuerAvY-) kiliteoAD re ((ow- ckio
CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
APPROVED
RECEIVED cr_04,41.,
MEETING DATE _fl
AYES:
fq0ES:11102._.
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN: -7'r/(J
VERIFIED BY: Kont
Original on File wi
DENIED
OTHER
4-0(9
laartr-IPAErGainr1
4ftty Clerk's Office