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HomeMy WebLinkAboutInformational Item - CALBO Building Department of the Year01_ CITY OF PALM DESERT BUILDING & SAFETY DEPARTMENT STAFF REPORT REQUEST: Informational Item — Building Department of the Year Nomination SUBMITTED BY: Amir "Ali" Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safety DATE: February 23, 2006 CONTENTS: Nomination Submittal for Building Department of the Year Each year the Califomia Building Officials (CALBO) invites nominations for their most prestigious award, "Building Department of the Year". On February 9, 2006, the City of Palm Desert Building and Safety Department submitted a nomination packet for consideration by CALBO, and it is attached for your information. The attached nomination submittal documents an impressive list of personal and professional accomplishments and community involvement for the team members of the Building Department. Some of the notables are 359 years of experience, and 146 professional certifications amassed by staff. Each of the certifications earned by staff entailed a personal commitment to learn the subject matter, and to demonstrate their proficiency in that field. The certification examination usually consists of a two or four hour examination. The City of Palm Desert continues to be trendsetters and leaders in the Coachella Valley and the State, and the Building and Safety Department is proud to be an essential member of this team. We consider this nomination well deserving for the City of Palm Desert and know that CALBO will give it favorable consideration. Submitted By: Amir "Ali" Hamidza(eh, P.E. Director of Building and Safety Approval: Carlos OrOa, City Manager Review and Ccur: Homer Croy, A tant City Manager Development rvices G:\BIdgSftyWmir Hamidzadeh\Staff Reports\DepartmentoftheYear.info2.doc I I I y Of PRIM 0EfERi 73-51 o FRED WARING DRIVE PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA 92260-2578 TEL:760 346—o6ii FAX: 760 341-7098 info@palm-deserr.org February 9, 2006 California Building Officials Board of Directors 2215 21 sc Street Sacramento, CA 95818 RE: Building Department of the Year, Award Nomination Dear Sirs: Please accept for consideration, the nomination of the Palm Desert Building and Safety Department for CALBO's Building Department of the Year award. A relatively small jurisdiction within the Coachella Valley area of Riverside County, the City of Palm Desert's Building and Safety Department has, and continues to be one of the areas trendsetters and leaders within the codes enforcement community. e"1111 The staff of the Palm Desert Building and Safety Department has amassed an impressive list of personal and professional accolades. As an example, the staff has obtained 146 state and nationally recognized certifications from various organizations. The Palm Desert Building and Safety Department is an integral member of a team effort to provide unprecedented service to the citizens of the city. The creation of an independent Energy Management Department, and the renowned programs of the Redevelopment Agency are evidence of this. Attachments to this letter include some of the more notable efforts by the Building and Safety Department staff, their personal and professional accomplishments, community involvement, support and involvement in industry activities, as well as the departmental involvement towards the betterment of the construction enforcement industry, in general, and also in support of CALBO's efforts. Thank you in advance for your consideration of this nomination of this well deserving City and Building and Safety Department for CALBO's most prestigious award. Sincerely, Amir (Ali) Hamidz deh, P.E., C.B.O. eo""Director of Building and Safety `J 'UTIC oY mcfam Pun TABLE OF CONTENTS Mission Statement ........................................... 1 City Organizational Chart ................................. 2 City & Department Budget Information ............... 3 Building Department Permit Activity .................. 4 Inspection & Plan Review Activity ..................... 5 Code Compliance Activity ................................ 6 Staff Certifications .......................................... 7 f Fascinating Fun Facts & Figures ...................... 8 Building Department Key Players ..................... 10 Expanding Expertise City -Wide ........................... 12 ki s tu CL 0 � . � � $ ti ■� 7 $g « o / $t «0 6 t� $� s� r� �t k 6 \ s - k 3 % ) \ \ 0 $ 0 3 \ � w � \ ® } » � - t iFs - ® \ { a I t a \ \ CD $ ° ; _ \ \ D m � 0 6 ¢ a � k _ \ « E $ i t CD 3 � � # 3 � a ■ o 2 k g \ f $ k A f k 7\ƒ. 2 k ƒ ¢ 2« n c f ■ 2 a$ \? 7 to wo c© t o k Q■ o Q$ I.- - » k f % \ % $ 2 % S a�\ k t c«�� f Q $ $ ' $ � E k 3 n k 17% �r—rpv 28% Where the Money Goes City of Palm Desert 6% Total Appropriations = $191.5 Million ■ General Government ■ Public Safety /0 0Public Works ❑ Housing, Economic & Comm. Dev. 9% ■ Parks & Recreation ■ Debt Service ■Capitol Improvement Projects B Transfers to other funds Where the Money Goes Building Department ■ Personnel $2,253,100 85.5% ■ Professional Services $245,000 9.0% p Education / Seminars $50,000 2.0% p Archiving & Printing $40,000 1.5% ■ Supplies & Tools $23,000 1.0% ■ Miscellaneous $15,700 0.5% ■ Equipment & Machinery $11,500 0.51/6 FY 05-06 $ 2.63 Million Page 3 of 13 City of Palm Desert Building Department Activity 2005 Permit Activity These 5557 permits represented a construction valuation of Approximately $ 190 Million i ■ New Residential 202 ■ Residential - Alteration/Additions 529 ❑ New Commercial 13 O Commercial - Tenant Improvements 141 ■ New Industrial 25 i ■ New Office / Professional 24 ■ Mobile Home Installations 44 ® Demolitions 17 ■ Miscellaneous 4562 Page 4 of 13 W 2005 Inspection Division Activity ■ Building Inspections - 30,841 ■ Investigations - 147 0 Business License Inspections - 698 i 2005 Plan Review Division Activity 9% 8% 4% <�C V, 79% ■ New Residential - 159 11 ■ Residential Additions/Alterations - i 1571 0 New Commercial/Industrial - 70 0 Tenant Improvements - i 184 i Page 5 of 13 r� STAFF Certifications International Code Council (ICCI Certification Cateqories Inspector Categories 8 Building Inspectors - UBC 8 Building Inspectors - IBC 1 Commercial Building Inspector 3 Commercial Combination Inspectors 1 Commercial Electrical Inspector 4 Combination Inspectors (Uniform Codes) 2 Commercial Mechanical Inspectors 2 Commercial Plumbing Inspectors 1 Light Commercial Combination Inspector 3 Electrical Inspectors - IEC 1 Fire Inspector I 1 Fire Inspector II 3 Mechanical Inspectors - UMC 5 Mechanical Inspectors - IMC 3 Plumbing Inspectors - UPC 3 Plumbing Inspectors - IPC 1 Property Maintenance & Housing Inspector 1 Residential Building Inspector 1 Residential Combination Inspector 1 Residential Electrical Inspector 1 Residential Mechanical Inspector 1 Residential Plumbing Inspector 3 Combination Dwelling Inspectors Plans Examiner Categories 2 Accessibility Inspector/Plans Examiner 3 Building Plans Examiners Code Official Categories 1 Building Code Official 2 Certified Building Officials (C.B.O.) 1 Housing Code Official Special Inspector Categories 1 Prestressed Concrete Special Inspector 3 Reinforced Concrete Special Inspectors 2 Spray -Applied Fireproofing Special Inspectors 3 Structural Masonry Special Inspections Other Orqanizations' Certifications International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) 3 Certified Plumbing Inspectors 3 Certified Mechanical Inspectors International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI) 2 Certified Electrical Inspectors American Construction Inspectors Association (ACIA) 2 Certified Construction Inspectors 1 Certified Plumbing Inspector California Association of Building Consultants (CABEC) 3 Certified Plans Examiner for the 2005 Residential Energy Standards 3 Certified Plans Examiner for the 2005 Non -Residential Energy Standards International Fire Code Institute (IFCI) 1 Certified Fire Inspector 1 Certified Company Fire Code Official California Department of the State Architect (DSA) 1 Structural Safety Inspector Architects Institute of America (AIA) 1 ADA Guidelines Certificate State of California, Department of Consumer Affairs (CA) 1 Licensed Professional Civil Engineer 1 Engineer -in -Training Certificate CALBO/OES 12 Safety Assessment Program Evaluators 2 Safety Assessment Program Coordinators Southern California Association of Code Enforcement Officials (SCACEO) 12 Various Certifications Peace Officers Standards & Training (POST) 8 PC 832 — Powers of Arrest Certifications South Coast Air Quality Control Management (SCAQMD) 8 Air Quality Control Management Certificates National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) 5 Storm Water Pollution Control Enforcement Certificates American Water Works Association 1 Grade 1 Water Distribution Operator 146 Total Certifications for the Building Department Personnel Page 7 of 13 io*N V1 Fascinating Fun Facts & Figures About the Building Department Team In addition to the impressive list of formal certifications, the Building Department team is proud to include the following in their list of accomplishments: Additional Personal Accolades The staff of 22 has amassed 359 years of Building Department and public service. (An average of 16.3 years per employee.) Individual team members have been awarded an array of jurisdictional awards which include: o 31 City Employee of the Month Awards 0 1 City Employee of the Year Award 0 6 City Manager's Employee of the Quarter Awards 0 1 Mayor's Certificate of Appreciation Among the formally educated; staff members hold o 6 Associates of Arts Degrees, o 2 Bachelor Degrees, and o 2 Masters Degrees are currently under construction Staff has participated in approximately 1900 hours of Construction Technology/Codes Enforcement training over the past two years. CALBO Service Palm Desert staff has served, or is currently serving on the following CALBO committees: o Communications & Technology o Disabled Access o Emergency Preparedness (Current Chair) (3 years) o Historical (3 years) o Legislative (2 years) o Training (CTI) (3 years) - Palm Desert staff volunteers as Instructors for several of CTI class offerings. - Palm Desert staff has developed or assisted in the development of several CTI class offerings. - Palm Desert staff has provided Moderator services on numerous occasions for CTI. - Palm Desert staff assisted in the Emergency response coordination for CALBO members during last year's Gulf Coast Disasters. Page 8 of 13 Fascinating Fun Facts & Figures About the Building Department Team Other Communitv Involvement - A Palm Desert staff member is an ICC Instructor - A Palm Desert staff member is an ICC committee member assisting in the development of a new ICC Certification program - A Palm Desert staff member is a Community College Instructor - The Palm Desert Building Department is the home of two Past Presidents of local ICC Chapters o The Coachella Valley Chapter, and o The Citrus Belt Chapter A Palm Desert staff member was awarded the Code Official of the Year Award by the ICC Citrus Belt Chapter (Twice) - Staff members have further served, or is currently serving the community as: o Council Member (currently serving) o Architectural Review Commission member o Planning Commission member o Rotary Club member Building Officials— Buildina Officials — Building Officials — Buildinq Officials The City of Palm Desert is proud to boast that it employs FOUR Building (00*11 Officials. In addition to Amir Hamidzadeh, the City of Palm Desert is honored and proud to have on staff three former Building Officials. Each of these former Building Officials is serving this community in key responsible positions. One as an Assistant City Manager, one as the Administrator of Special Projects within the City Manager's office, and one as the Deputy Building Official. Memberships & Affiliations The Palm Desert Building Department maintains active memberships in: International Code Council (ICC) California Building Officials (CALBO) California Association of Building Energy Consultants (CABEC) International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI) National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) Concrete Reinforcing Institute (CRSI) American Society of Training and Development (ASTD) Coachella Valley Structural Engineers and Architects (CVSEA) American Construction Inspector's Association (ACIA) Coachella Valley Chapter, ICC Citrus Belt Chapter, ICC Page 9 of 13 t� A Few of the many key player's Within the City of Palm Desert Building Department Amir Hamidzadah — Director, Building & Safety Department Amir "Ali" Hamidzadeh has nineteen (19) years of government experience in Building and Safety, Public Works Engineering, and Community Development and five (5) years in private architectural and engineering firms. In addition to his many years of work experience, he is a California licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.). Mr. Hamidzadeh has a Bachelor of Science degree in City and Regional Planning, with a minor in architecture and an Associates of Art in Architecture. He also has thirteen (13) professional certifications, including Certified Building Official, and Certified Building and Energy Plans Examiner. Mr. Hamidzadeh is an active member of California Building Officials (CALBO) and serves on two committees. He is a member of the International Code Council (I.C.C.) and past President of the Coachella Valley Chapter of the I.C.C. His other professional memberships and affiliations include California Building Officials, California Association of Building Energy Consultants, International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, Building Officials Code Administrators, International Association of Electrical Inspectors, Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute, American Society of Training and Development, and Coachella Valley Structural Engineers and Architects. Dan Kaiser - Deputy Building Official Mr. Kaiser has served in several cities throughout his career, and held a variety of positions within those building departments. He has served as a Building Inspector All, Plans Examiner, Code Enforcement Officer, Housing Enforcement Officer, Senior Inspector, Supervising Inspector, Deputy Building Official and Building Official. He has obtained, an impressive, 33 Certifications over his career. Mr. Kaiser is a very active member of CALBO and ICC. He has served on many of CALBO's committees and commissions over the years. Dan has been a member of CALBO's CTI Commission for the past three years, and is currently the Chair of CALBO's Emergency Preparedness Committee. Additionally, he currently serves as a member of an ICC examination development committee that is creating the certification examination for the Multi -Hazard Response Inspector Certification. As one of CALBO's statewide emergency responding coordinators, Dan coordinated CALBO's response in assistance to California's statewide effort of support during last year's Gulf Coast disasters. Page 10 of 13 r1` A Few of the many key player's (Continued) Hart Ponder — Code Compliance Division Manager Mr. Ponder has been in public service since 1989. Hart has an extensive list of abilities and expertise, including overseeing various City programs including Code Compliance, Business License, Solid Waste Reduction, Animal Control, Environmental Health, Illegal Parking Administration and Animal Shelter Services. He now serves as the City of Palm Desert's Code Compliance Division Manager. The Code Compliance Division provides Housing Enforcement services and support for the Department and is integral to the overall effectiveness of the department. Mr. Ponder has obtained numerous certifications related to Code Compliance, Business License Administration and other municipal related functions. He has served as a consultant for a number of other jurisdictions, and as a Hearing Officer, hearing nuisance and parking cases for the past 16 years. He has obtained an AA degree in Public Relations. Joe Pudis — Building Inspection Division Manager Mr. Pudis has over 32 years of experience within the building profession. He began his career installing underground utilities for a municipal agency. Several years later the City of Palm Desert, Code Compliance Division hired him. During his tenure as a Code Compliance Officer he obtained his Building Inspection Certification and was transferred into the Inspection Division. Mr. Pudis has received a number of promotions over the years and has been the Department's Inspection Division's Building Inspection Manager for the past 16 years. He has obtained multiple certifications through ICC and IAPMO, and holds an AA Degree in Structural Inspections. He is active in the codes enforcement community, and maintains memberships in IAPMO and the local ICC Chapter. Page 11 of 13 BUILDING and SAFETY Department Spreads It's Expertise Into City -Wide Programs The Building Department and Redevelopment Agency TEAM One of the more notable team efforts within the City of Palm Desert occurs between the Building Department and the Redevelopment Agency. The Redevelopment Agency is ranked a in the State, based on Tax Increment dollars spent, approximately $80 million, when compared to other redevelopment agencies throughout the state. Particularly impressive when one looks at the top four jurisdictions: City of San Jose, City of Los Angeles, Industry Urban Development and the City of San Diego. (The City of Palm Desert has a permanent resident population of approx. 42,500.) The Redevelopment Agency's Housing Division efforts require unprecedented team collaboration with the Building Department. The Housing Division currently owns approximately 980 residential units, with another 156 residential units under construction. All of the over 1100 residential unit are either already in compliance with, or are in the process of being upgraded to meet Fair Housing, ADA and/or State Accessibility standards. The Building Department also assists the maintenance staff and contractors with the planning and inspections of alterations to these units. The maintenance and especially, the upgrading of these residential units require a particularly well -versed and qualified Building Department staff to assist in the process. The Housing Division programs also assist approximately 25 families a year with the home improvement program, which the Building Department staff is integrally involved with. Under the agency's Redevelopment Division, commercial and public projects within the city are provided financial assistance to improve the business community with several programs including facade enhancement, building remolding and accessibility improvements, thereby meeting the needs of the city's residents. Each of these projects has been a team effort with the Building Department to provide for and to ensure compliance with City, State and Federal regulations in addition to providing for a safer and user -friendlier community. Page 12 of 13 BUILDING and SAFETY Department Spreads It's Expertise Into City -Wide Programs The Building Department and the Energy Management Department The City's leadership has embraced the State's direction, and recognized the Building Department's efforts in the field of energy efficiency. The City of Palm Desert has created an independent Energy Management Department. This newly created City Department will be tasked with reducing citywide energy usage by 30% in addition to reducing the peak -load demand by 30% over the next five years. This program is aptly named as the City's "30:30 Partnership Plan" and will be working closely with the Building Department staff for their assistance and expertise throughout this effort. Prior to (state) public funds being spent, the City of Palm Desert has been tasked by the California Public Utilities Commission to create a model program design with the ultimate goal of developing a replicable partnership program model. The replicable program model must have features that may be transferable to other cities throughout California, in affluent and less affluent cities alike, as well as being applicable to the different climate zones and demographic compositions throughout the state. The "30:30 Partnership Plan" will be multi -faceted in order to achieve those goals. It will build upon the serving utility company's existing programs - It will provide a strong educational element - It will require a coordinated community organizational component - It will require a working team effort between contractors, building department staff, and the city's energy department - It will require a comprehensive commitment by the existing residential and commercial building owners within the city to retrofit existing buildings (Early preliminary projections of retrofitting costs are approximately $207 million.) The Building Department's involvement in this partnership will be extensive. Not only in providing the expertise during the standards development stage of the program; with the educational component for building owners, contractors and designers alike; and assisting with our true strength — the inspections of the installations of the energy features. fool*, Page 13 of 13