that is why we are practising today how we communicate and interact with each other, how we share information, and how we use that information, and then for the city as a whole, so that the city as a halt knows what is going on as well.

>> welcome. >> please mute yourself if not speaking first is roll call. >> president alexander-tut here. >> vice president shaddix here. >> commissioner chavez here. >> commissioner meng here. >> vice president neumann we have quorum and commissioner williams is excused next the land acknowledgement. will you read it for me. >> i read it are on the unceded ancestral homeland of the ramaytush (rah-my-toosh) ohlone (o-lon-ee) who are the original inhabitants of the san francisco peninsula. responsibilities as the caretakers of this place, as well as for all peoples who reside in their traditional territory.

ramaytush ohlone community and by affirming their sovereign rights as first peoples. >> okay. thank you. >>. my members of the public maybe listening in the listening in the public comment call in number call in number call in number call in number call in number code: 2663 240 9391. to raise your hand for public comment on a specific agenda item press *3 when prompted by the meeting moderator. >> 2. president's opening remarks. >> good morning and happy new year today two important items the important

items to focus items in addition to adopting a new code that is the first review of the annual budget to 40 before the board of supervisors and mayor for approval this is the first of two reviews the second is scheduled for february 12th and we'll have the details of that meeting later on today and the second on the hearing and appeal regarding expand compliance controlled programs that dbi endorse and has the authority to hear an appeal i want to highlight some of the focuses of the department this commission which i think are well-set and tenor for fiscal year 2024/25 continuing to demise for our

assess into the serviced and recognize um, the dbi staff and leadership on that front um, and just reiterate the importance for the commission as well with that, i know we have a lot on the agenda those are are any comments for today. thank you. any public comment on the presidents opening remarks new remotely seeing none, >> 3. general public comment: the bic will take public comment on matters within the commission's jurisdiction that are not part of this agenda. >> good morning. i have some handouts there please for the

members. >> um, i was the overhead was on and here we go i'm sorry. >> i'm ready. thank you. >> good morning. my name is jerry and extension complaint in the p t s was back dated and my

complaints are open and under investigation i filed two contemplates for improper permit issued to mark farrell for a $10,000 permit and the second for a $200,000 deck a third, that unanimous complaint for the same two kaengsz extensions was abated inspector i'll get back with you closed it and mr. winns comment closed both permit were granted final approval mr. winn should not be investigating this complaint and mr. farrell by 800 and 41 days after issued should have been expired not final and

the chief hernandez should not have having approved the permit extension the two mark farrell extensions were improper the permits were neutral and avoid under the building code and seven hundred and 20 day extension violated dbi three hundred and 60 day policy on the days allowed the unanimous complaint is back dated and don't data log shows that was back dated and p t s had a report that will show the date and user item in yellow i requested a transaction log and received an excel download reports are not on the

transaction log summary report i received. i paid dbi $732 for the report and received an inaccurate dbi spreadsheet with the unanimous claimant new data fields and those yellow items i highland should be there. >> the transaction log example report for a building permit shows the old data and new data note the text fields and the new data is it the permit scope of work that is missing in the dbi accelerate report. thank you. >> just to clarify that is general public comment so those are more items not 0 on the

building inspection commission agenda. >> good morning i'm sarah the director for the human rights of san francisco and we're a participating community partner in the departments code enforcement outreach program. we want to present you today, our report from the roughly 10 agencies that collaborate to make the associated divorcing program successful dbi funded to assist tenant to address habit ability and reducing the dbi involvement for the taxpayers but creates for availability for dbi inspections to be aware the not focused on the serious the c open was created decades ago and a means to sure that vulnerable

tenants assess the services. pet the barriers and challenges preventing those from being resolved in communities the most rampant the limited language and immigration status and past trauma led to fear the decimation this unfortunately, meant many property owners were violating without dbi having the opportunity to hold. abdominal so by partnering with community-based organizations a base in the community we're trusted and known by the tenant and provided you currently employee services not language and the city allowed for many more tenant in unsafe housing to resolve their tenant issues and our organization can be seen as deputies in of the department. um, and we help to go the ground

work for the code enforcement this shares the success in those roles we recognize some are new to the commission additional also a exchange of all the departments many programs we want to provide you with this overview and hope you'll take the time to read it is pretty short and happy to meet with you are present to this body with more information in the future and time for that q and a, etc. but mainly we want you to understand who we are and what we do (bell ringing) why we're valuable to the department other folks will have to add to this and good morning. my name is elita the leader the spanish for

the human rights in san francisco this is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to helping tenant affect the housing issues over 25 years partnered with the code enforcement outreach program. to support tenants face to face issues we have workshops on the rights and the habitability in 2024 h oc s handled over 4 hundred repairs and over 25 percent of those cases were resolved the spanish program which means the tenants will had not to contact government agencies due to fear trust and come to us for help. >> cop is for for the latino that allows the tenants to

secure permits without dbi intervention and insuring that tenants get the repairs without a formal complaint a senior latino orlando had unsolved issues and holes in the kitchen that allow mice to enter the unit but he hesitated he would be perceived as a nuance orlando come to us for help we evaluated him within two days the management company issued a twenty-four hour notice for repair this is the first time they responded fast and prop

this story highlights the impact of tenants who face barriers to assert their rights for rapes repairs. thank you. >> i'm the the coalition has over 20 minutes that works in the services citywide. >> your cop work we distribute educational materials in 7 languages on addressing habitability violations and tenant rights to repairs the 7 languages are english, spanish, chinese, filipino aerobic and

russian and materials are carefully vested by the services organization in the legal field but also carefully translate by the front line counselors serving directly with the community in language. our materials are in the form of flyers but on the website on average 6 hundred people um, presumably tenants visit the website about the tenant right and how to get clowning we send text messages to tenant remembered them of their tenant rights and reach about 4 hundred tenant in different languages periodically. we offer free clowning workshops for a network of over three hundred um, providers and those are outreach

works, counselors and staff that work in legal services. helping them to have all the materials and information they need to help tenants. many times your ability to facilitate strong connections collaborate means that tenant serving groups are able to support the tenants to get the services and repairs done. tenant living in buildings with mold and road dent and come back roaches some have open ceilings we've seen families trapped in elevators they stay housed with the support of our organization improve in their homes and common spaces (bell ringing) . thank you. >> good morning juan garcia

with the china town development center manages the sro collaborative and within the chinatown alcoholic we work with the tenants and many types of tenants with a family or individuals with habitability and repair requests. we also work with them on providing communication with landlord and they receive a notice or need to provide a notice to the laundry and in neither language within culture alter capacity as well. if any sort of case requires the tenant to file a notice the housing counsel chinatown provides that. the team the rapport with the community through in building training and workshops this is the fire and

staff workshops. as we all remember we had not only thank you memorandum a couple of earthquakes and unprecedent tornado warnings those disasters nothing happened and hover rare tenants need to be made aware to prepare for any disaster but if how to help their own tenants and neighbors but how to react with the community this is citywide as we have several subcontractors in the tenderloin anticipate in chinatown. we provide habitability assistance repairs with the communication with the landlord or communicating with dbi we can get the major repairs taken care of i will invite i to case with the city attorney loyal realty a

3 story case with a lot of violations to be reported with the to dbi with the assistance within our pam and with the tenants and partners able to assist the city to bring this case forward so those buildings get repaired and the tenants had the right to return. unusually what happens it effects primarily a lot of families a lot of repairs that needed to be taken care of (bell ringing) we don't they have to move that is a lower branch and move to a higher rent sro so look at this report and invite you to google that case request laurel realty. thank you. >> good morning,

commissioners. i'm working for the housing clinic and have to programs that is the collaborate and c open in the report we work with you heard from many of my colleagues from various organizations i want to highlight is and there is that on example there how we work in conjunction with the housing inspector and key that our program the devastating thing is happening i want to take the time to let you know we work with the sro the housing inspector alluded and told you about the tenants afraid to mention themselves they have so we did an outreach and brought the tenants together a 10 unit

building with tenants and families some of them don't have work orders and don't know who the new landlord is we brought them together and worked with each and every single tenant and told them so they can allow the inspector to be inside and see the concerns. there are several you see some pictures in the report advertise it horrible and i know that now the gun to the district attorney's office and let them know you have the right. i pay rent and how for the program is we do resolve cases without the inspections

but do a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes we invite you to reach out to us and talk with us before you do anything with our budget thanks. >> my name is c i represent the mission action we work for and tenants through our program. the mission sros alcoholic is a partnership between the san francisco coalition and center and the housing clinic. and your team organizeers educate the tenants and assert the rights for the repairs discrimination

and other harassment cases this helps tenant for the habitability and the program has an additional intime - this is a achieved there a leadership program with the monthly workshops the collaboration with dbi to improve the living conditions listed the community based agrees that address the language barriers and resources. we focused on building trust with the community as we see our key component of addition and the way demonstrates how to work with others. thank you.

>> and the last one i'm lisa with the chinatown development center and today, we are chinatown families united and our code enforcement program quickly give you our annual report i'll pout that our services are central providing language capacity and our organization also has extensive experience for currently and linguistic working with the property owners and dbi to resolve housing and building code violations you heard we promote housing for protecting individual making sure they have access to the services they need and also help them to advocate that the city officers as well and my hope with our annual report we left when i you'll have a better finding of the

work we do but invite the commissioners and anyone to come to our sites chinatown mission any of our programs to see what we do this is will be valuable to see the conditions and all the work we do. um, and then also better to just so everything in person rather than the numbers i show you so again, please don't hesitant i believe sonya has my contact information. thank you very much. >> i want to do any disclosure. um, so in accordance with proportion d with my disclosure thank you, 2024 public comment and any disclosure i formerly

worked as a organizer and continue to have friendships and relationships with my coworkers including those who testified this morning, i want to open this up commissioners we have the intent to ask people that mad public comment questions if are any questions or comments. thank you. for coming. >> quickly say we'll e-mail the copies as well thank you, for louse allowing to be here and no more remote that is and no more remote that is our.

>> >> >> california existing building code; adopting findings of local conditions under the california health and safety code, in addition to other requirements. >> no. >> good morning legislate affairs manager and give you a little bit of background the background san francisco building codes are in turn based

the other codes and california codes developed and adopted on june 2023 the cdc voted to allow the board of supervisors ordinance (file # 241005) and san francisco previously not adopted them to pull up the building code those charts are not adopted in san francisco. this property ordinance board of supervisors ordinance (file # 241005) excuse me - followed the lead into the san francisco building code those charts introduced a work and currently the building code on the compliance medicine in the city and state requires the subject building to meet the standards and work area has been utilized

with the codes to utilize but is this is the first time into california adopted and it essentially is compliance requiring the standards for the area of work. we are proposing some necessary changes to this ordinance currently a lot of the requirements in the san francisco existing building code are in charter 5 it is specific to the compliance method if we're expanding that make sure the department in charter 5 qualifies both the compliance and methods will apply in all the requirements will apply regardless of methods utilized and. next slide, please. i believe circulated i have hard copies the proposals listed on

the screen and on this previous slide move numerous seconds from chapter 5 to chapter three other than we're proposing 1926 substantive amendments will large align and those are amending cdc for the - and then cdc chapter ten a change in occupancy for the triggers related to the key changes 506.11 so include those for hearsay and additions. this is an ordinance was introduced a few months ago over the course of a number of months but on during the welcome back of

january 6th the structural will be subcommittee and the advisory provided that list i'll be happy to answer any questions you may have. >> any public comment on item 4? >> any remotely? seeing none, the commissioners are any questions or comments. >> do we have motion. >> >> thank you for your presentation. especially for listing the areas to clean up to match and make sure the building code is sufficient. i move to recommend um, to move recommend to the board of supervisors. >> so motion to approve that ordinance. by president alexander-tut do i have a

second? and successor agency commissioner chavez roll call. >> quick clarification that includes the recommendation made by staff? >> yes. >> i believe so. >> okay. >> the intention sorry. >> okay.>> all right. >> (multiple voices.) >> just to be clear. thank you. >> okay. >> and again the roll call. >> a president alexander-tut, yes. >> vice president shaddix, yes. >> commissioner chavez, yes. >> commissioner meng, yes. and vice president neumann thank you, the motion carries unanimously. and item 5. >> 5a. director's report: director's update [director o'riordan]. >> commission i'm director

o'riordan and as this is our initial meeting of 2025 how we plan to further improve the services this year. >> first, i want recognize that 2024 starred with the biggest changes at dbi and the partners to the process in the years including requiring planning department approval before filing a building permit. >> we imagining to check the check in tandem with other departments and mandating electronic plan review for the in house review projects, and enabling simultaneous reviews by all city departments, creating a single comprehensive web pages for the documents and

information needed to obtain the building permit and have a timeline. and that was just what we launched in january of 2024 we continued to make improvements to make it easier to build in san francisco including reorganizing the services division and hiring new permit services supervisors. hire a new director for services and creating a issuance stamp and starting two no social tiers and demonstrate how we sure building safety and conversions and launching t roundtable united and expanding online scheduling for plumbing and mechanical inspections but all

that work is only for the worth if twenty show ourselves and speed up the times one of the metrics is the percent of the permits within the target t and happy to report according to the data we are meeting this goal more than twice as often for all buildings types of as far in the fiscal year 2024/25 and today month projects are meeting their revenue review we're getting faster every quarter at sometime we pass our goals over 60 and naerlg all applications complete this check and striking 94 percent of housing crisis are meeting their time targeted that is not just dbi every permitting

department is moving faster than the previous years the city has made great strides we will is a new support with all the key permitting information in one place including project scope, contacts, comments and dates. no longer will building permits heralds need to keep track of the receipts they'll be able to get a permit issued and that's it. >> at sometime we're creating and more consumer friendly and expanding online scheduling for this and electrical permits and hope to hire with the hiring freeze end working with the

other cities permitting departments will scope the permit tracking system replacement and requiring the check process to make it easier for you to add missing documents and test the automated routing systems and explore the a i work to support our work and we are improving the work in dbi one day at a time and one year at a time it is only potential through the ongoing oversight and thank you for your your partnering as we improve at dbi that concludes my report. >> thank you. any questions? >> then next move on to item 5

b. >> 5b. update on major projects. >> okay. good morning, again commissioners the following slide are highlighting the volume evaluation costing $5 million or more filed and issued or completed in the past month we will profile a few projects in terms of their contributions in december of 2024 one permit was a railway of $5 million filed with dbi. it was for a change of use and tenant improvement permit for a new restaurant at 211 jefferson

street valued at $6 million. last month too high valued permit with a total of $12.5 million one replacement on montgomery street valued at $6.5 million and at a new 6 story 7 unit apartment building on eight street valued as $6 million and lastly, dbi filed 5 valued permit one of the completion of a two-story with 250 occupants an treasure island and it is re-addressed as $30 million that was valued as one hundred and $30.2 million and another for an office improvement at 345 spearheading

valued at $3.6. million you, i'm available for any questions that you may have. >>. thank you. >> next item is c. >> 5c. update on proposed or recently enacted state or local legislation. >> technical

difficulty for a moment. >> sure. >> thank you. >> appreciate it. >> among commissioners affairs manager a file an ordinance for the subdivision to allow for in advance of as condos excuse me -

meeting with the supervisor enguard for concerns and recommended amendments before this filed before you all. next slide, please. this is the file an ordinance amending to remove to the have all preliminary travel in the building assessable for the people with disabilities and technical unreasonable hardship that you voted on, on november 20th. >> and lastly, file which is an ordinance amending to allow the hotels to be used for interim housing or discontinuing this clarification and amending the code for changing the

occupancy for the property that is introduced you heard the ordinance and supported it and the state legislation the bills are substance of the actual text on february 21st we'll have a better idea. and april 10th is spring recess for the legislation and may 2nd to hear and respect the fiscal bills and hear and report to the floor and i'll be happy to answer any questions you may have. >>. thank you very much. >> next item is 5 d. >> 5d. update on inspection services. good morning,

commissioners matthew greene and pleased to provide the activities of the intersection division. first slide please. and in december of 2024 the plumbing division conducted 9 thousand plus inspections were conducted within two days days requested by the customers meeting the 90 percent in the same month conducted seven hundred plus inspections with 56 routine mostly family housing. and the building electrical and plumbing received tlis complaints on a december and responded to 90 percent within that because days and additionally, our code compliant schedule 63 cases for a hearing. lastly you are housing inspection services received

hundred and 70 non-life complaints within the timeline and responded to 82 percent within one business day and the housing inspection abated those notice of violations and sent 28 cases to the directors hearing pecks i'm available for questions. thank you. >> >> 5e. update on dbi's finances. deputy director of private right of action. >> and i have the regular monthly update to present first and then item 6 will be the budget. >> so we are 50 percent of the

way through the year the only not able thing now is this monthly report includes elements of our upcoming six months budget status to the controller and the mayor we projection where we'll end at the year end so many uncertainly at this time of the year. that our only projection is um, revenue items. next slide, please. so we are doing well in revenue above 50 percent in the charges for services and listens fees great news we'll continue to monitor in winter is. next slide, please. our major cost is salaries and benefits and below 50 percent

allow the mayor announced a citywide hiring freeze will impact the fees but to what decree it is unmoney it will be savings but to be conservatively we're projecting on budget and row evaluate it in the months. next slide, please. permits are in the numbers like last year and slightly lower again in winter was slightly relative to last summer but our revenue is slightly ahead of where we anticipate. this is the monthly update and i'll be happy

to answer any questions you may have. >>. thank you. >> um, any public comment on the director's report. >> items 5 a through e any in-person or remotely? >> good morning. i'm jerry. my question is why is the departments still using job cards? in 2025 seems archaic. thank you. >> any remote public comment? >> okay. >> seeing none, we're >> 6. discussion and possible action on the proposed budget of the department of building inspection for fiscal years 2024/2025 and 2025/2026. >>

hello, again commissioners have i a presentation on our upcoming department submission. >> i included as you know there are two budget presentations the first of two. and i have tried to conclude a lot more in this first budget presentation to give everyone an opportunity to review and come up with questions and fully satisfactory everyone's expectations and again, i want to stress this is the budget is still a work in progress and much to be done we have many items that we're waiting from other departments those numbers will change and not final at that point dbi is a self funding organization and recovers the costs and last year

in 2024 or sorry fiscal 2024 we completed that san francisco fees have substantiating less than compatible cities and dbi is not fully rochester the costs for the services. so using the model to determine the costs and how many employees to provide those services and how much it needs to charge to recover those costs. next slide, please. so for the budget process city departments are required to provide an annual budget for the next two years and the supervisors and mayors will take the departments budget submission and make they're

changes and finally approve late in the summertime. so mayor london breed instructed auto departments to reduce the fund by 20 percent in 2026-2027 and mayor-elect daniel lurie is coming in the middle of budget process and soon before our budget presentation is due well working closely trying to determine they're priority and changes they're looking to make and we will implement those into the budget submission. >> so our budget is a reflection of the values and our budget has two preliminary goals one is cost recovery to make sure we have enough staffing

hours more the program obligations and two investing in new technology to modernize our agency and complete the digital transformation and the complies role to evaluate the proposal and vote whether or not to perhaps the adoption to the mayor and board and to answer vice president shaddix question again, the department will be involved and will definitely have influence over the budget process after budget commission but the ultimate decision makingers we are at the first item the next meeting on february 12th and the final submission due on the 21st and

we entered the mayor's budget in march and april and may 1st, the mayor will introduce their budget proposal for may 1st departments the selection of mostly funded departments and the board of supervisors budget will take over is analyst and provide the reports and feedback to the supervisors. the supervisors will make the decisions on budget adjustments and then the final budget will be approved around august. next slide, please. again more table setting this is a our word chart. the executive is the director director o'riordan and dean and deputy permit systems and for inspection is matthew greene and

deputy director myself. i believe we have a full sized copy of this available it is hard to read in the presentation in case anyone wants to see the details. next slide, please. so big thank you to our communication inspector patrick this is our attempt too, so the organizational structure this is how i think about the department in terms of the of services 33 it provides. and tend to group the departments within dbi into two groups those are generate fees and provide you direct services and those that support those direct services but don't actually generate their own (unintelligible) the fee model

calculates 3 hourly rates that is highlight in orange and one for it administration highland in blue both of those areas have departments that provides direct services and overhead they support land checking and they're costs are built into the planned check rate but doesn't provide the actual support. general overhead the costs for the secretaries financing and h.r. all of those are general overhead costs spread throughout the department and those are built into all the rates i mentioned. and hopefully this

gives the overall picture as far as the join breakdown it is approximately 60/40 in costs for direct services versus the non- overhead this is how i think about departments from the financial perspective and i'll be happy to answer any questions you may have. >> or go more in detail how the allocations work next slide, please. this is a graph i've shown before updated with the last information shows 20-year financial history of the department. the orange line is revenue and the gray line it expenditure and the other one of the fund balance that is the boom time after the great recession and out past the expenditure and after the pandemic things reversed and we

started using our registries to balance the budget of. the blue line is the end of the fiscal everything to the right is current year or budget year this is the plan. and as you can see in year two of the budget our plan is to have revenue excited the expenditures and reach and exceed the cost recovery for the reserves the next time they're needed. next slide, please. so here is a breakdown of some of the major thing that have gone into the budget so far and some of the things that we um, are expecting to come later on so we have updated our fees. we have new proposed fees based on

the budget that we have for will change by the mind time we are ready to present this hopefully not change much but different than the numbers today. varies technical changes apply premiums and will impact costs things and then the department initiatives so we collected requests from all of the departments about now spending items and new projects that staff and the executive team of the important to providing our services and enhancing our technology and providing better customer service are those minimal i'll

get senate bill soon compared to the overall budget and next is a 15 percent in reduction in general funds as previously mentioned the former mayor london breed constructed all city departments to reduce general funds supported by 15 percent. and we were told to make those changes to the budget now and the new in coming mayor will review and certainly working closely to talk about what that general fund support fund will be for the code enforcement i mean the sro programs the value of those programs and we will vaccine we're doing everything we can to make sure the departments provides the best service to citizens of san francisco and but it is so, so early we have

the mayor has been working for one welcome back now two weeks. so the big question mark what that collaboration will look like but we'll definitely be working closely with them. >> and then the last thing is the reestablishment of our technology reserve so before a fee city of attorney's office study in 18 near the height of the building in san francisco those are reduced at the time by 7 percent across the board and the technology reserve was eliminated the department was collecting admonish revenue than the expenditures. but, but we are working closely with the permit center and city planning public works and other cities agencies we know that permit

tracking systems in the apps are very old and out-of-date and risk of the failure grows as time going on that needs to be replaced and we have some funds set aside for that few but have received a range of cost estimates is very likely that additional funds will be need definitely from the general fund side as your system to support planning and other departments. so that portion of funding has not been identified yet and to make sure that funding is available in your reestablishing this reserve will be approximately 3 percent surcharge on those the final monuments to be determined some additional up and coming changes

that are the d b o funding discussion with it in coming mayor's office and work order from other cities departments that pay for various other services city attorney and our workers' compensation with the h.r. and thirty in total work orders with other departments and it is early in the budget process we know those other departments will be updating their costs and telling us okay. those services now cost this much those changes will be in coming. and lastly, policy changes by the mayor and the board. are not sure what those are got high-level goals from it in coming administration but looking forward to seeing what the details will be and again, it is they need to stress this is a difficult time financially for the city the general funds is going to need to make

difficult decisions so it in coming mayor's office has a steep learning curve not that much time to learn some difficult times. >> next item, please so our strategy tactics and outcomes are again janitors sufficient revenue from a staffing level this is the third up and coming 2026-2027 or are a third there and we increased the fees across the board and we are implemented targeted recommendations based on i pled fee study and to studio prevent rate shock to our customers in the final two years

of our fee. strategy number two, our the investments to the modernizing our agency system again, that is reestablishing the technology reserve and planning the details of that system replacement with both planning and permit center preliminarily but with the city partners we are contemplating our rfp processes and opening the contractor processes one within the next year this is becoming a reality. and the outcomes are to produce the additional revenue by increasing fees and to eliminate our dependence on the reserves next slide, please. >> so here is the the amounts

with the revenue and expenditure by category. the currents year 2025 the change from our current year to what was year two last year. year two 2-26-2027 this was approved is that column 5 the last column for finishing 27 see changes between all of those budgets. um, and i'll get senate bill what some of the changes are as much of it is technical and some of it is policy.

next slide, please. psycho here are the dbi initiatives i mentioned previously those are and these non-lash initiatives no positions involved in this. i breakdown into technical and policy notifies the technical ones 90 non-discretionary just they're things that need to happen and not things that we have a choice to change. so special fund clean up we're doing technical things sub funds to manage the finances no cost impact there. and general fund reduction to expenditure and revenue with the mayor's office directive and we are moving some

of the work orders not need mostly due to um, changes to the mayor's office structure that is the uc m and public works work order paying a portion of housing coordinator and the d hr the department of human resources we're paying for special client services but taking those in house to hiring and have savings there. then on the policy side those are the ones we identified that are discretionary and that will um, help further the departments

goals. so the operating adjustment and this is our attempt to tighten the belt we are non-labor budget is very, very small compared to what we spend open positions buying office equipment and xurpz computers but again take a look at everything and found other 200 and $20,000 we can do without so this is our attempt to be good financial stewards this is the city work order a position cost neutral we're proposing don't want to get into positions too much but our proposal to hire and accountant counsel to coordinate our legal services and reduces what we pay to the attorneys will be led to

better outcomes and communication and then the disaster unit have identified the need for additional supplies and bought we can go go bags for staff emergency supervise in a backpack so staff in case of a earthquake or any disaster what take that bag and go and perform their dudes and some additional disaster training disaster coordinator has identified we plan to you be that is important to increase our advertising for now positions so been doing outreach to the colleges,

professional organizations and like to advertise more positions some job classes are difficult to recruit for some engineering classifies if you applicant trying to increase the advertisement and making videos like like a great place to work this is very important for. >> that's a great question. talent into supporting our work. so some costs there and then lastly new coincides every three years the codes are updated will cost one hundred thousand dollars for the code books for the international codes and lastly, under revenue is that $3 million technology reserves. i had prepared we had prepared additional slides with our labor

initiatives but next slide on january 9th a hiring freeze and cancelled all in progress requests including backfills everything so hiring is completing stopped that means for this up and coming budget and current year to be determined mayor's office is provided some guidance and has said an exemption progress we'll be able to request questions critical like plan checkers to we can provide the core services that means for the budget is urban known so we need to meet with the mayor's office go over

our position requests and future if this is in alignment with their priorities. so - we again do anticipate hiring staff one was the in house counsel and hopefully our our we'll need plan checkers to review the plans and hire new staff and working with the mayor's office and them learning about this hiring process and funding how that works and versus non-funding all that stuff will be happening soon. so i think we will have much more information on our labor and position requests at the next meeting.

next slide, please. on to fees dbi is proposing it's third and fourth fee greatest increasing we have not gone directly to the full cost recovery as identified in the fee study the consultant year two will get us to cost recovery unless if things keep going as they are unless something criterias happens in the economy and we've within under charging for the services for it is for that we recognize that we need to charge what our services cost

unless in the general fund is not wanting to subsidize the department which has not been currently done the fee model also determines how much, how much labor to provide the services. we have 10, we expect to perform one hundred permits at one hundred thousand dollars all will take 25 planned check hours if this calculation we'll know the total number of staffing to perform our services and know the divide the total costs by the staff needed and that results in the rate for plan check, inspections and

administration. so. next slide, please. this is the summary of the fee adjustments we're proposing. are various fees from one a s and at the end of this presentation are the individual fees in these fee schedules you can see every single changes we're promoting proposing and this slide shows what the fees and projected revenue is this year about $60 million and what full cost recovery about $93 million and what we're proposing to charge in finishing 2016 that is $75 million. the plan to use another $15 million of funds balance to balance the budget

this year and finishing 26 raise the fees to zero. what percent we are raising those fees it is starting point we're increasing the fees at different amounts i tried to answer that the third column? how much more revenue we're expecting to generate about 25 percent in total of revenue. but the individual fees themselves that second to the last column to the right the fees as you can see the range they're increasing in the lowest to the highest and the very last column is the medium if we have to say how much you're permits are increasing but on average 35

percent medium increases. next slide, please. then here is the um, a few tables that show our reserves so i would like to the term fund balance and reserves for our purposes some nuisances but interchangeable and i've highlighted our reserves at the end of 2026-2027 in the current year 2026-2027 going exactly to plan which they won't those are for planning purposes and in the bottom right highlighting the distinction two reserves one is economic stabilization and the

other is technology we're reestablishing the technology reserves as you can see the first year in 2016 deposit $3 million and 27 and other 3 million that what our fund balance in the last two years is the limit rates increases during bad economic times and help the community whether weather the storm there. so we anticipate ending fiscal year 27 made up of $6.6 million and working with the controller's office on the revenue policies to define the

rules of these what the reserve limits will be how much we deposit every year and how much of how much we can way and what are the rules when those are finalized we'll bring those before the commission as well. next slide, please. so again, the community community-based organizations with the amounts we are instructed to enter the budget by the mayors previous offers and year two of the budget approved last year was a 10 percent cut to $4.32 million. and now the mayor's office again asking for another 15 percent on top of that reduces the budget

again. >> we will ask the meyers to review that with the budget and report back to you as soon as we have more information. that the general presentation i'll be happy to go through the supplemental material in the last 20 pages of this and if you have any questions rear yard that um, supplemental material will show the 3 rates the 3 hourly rates how much time it takes to provide each of the services current year fees. full reform fees how much if we go to fulfill recovery and reducing

those in 26 i had a create a formula that determines how much we need to recessing reduce the fees to the increase will be the same in both years no special treatment given to my one fee where it is basically half a fee increase needed to get to full recovery with compound interest in the fee needs to increase 51 percent in total to get to the cost recovery we need to increase that by 23 percent for two years to get to that 51

percent. so i'll be happy to go into details walk you through either now or the next budget meeting hopefully providing the information will give everyone an opportunity to put their questions together i'm happy any questions? now or providing them through the commission secretary. thank you. >> any public comment on this item? >> hello commissioner i'm lisa on behalf of the i'm with sro united and i'm here to express our concerns about the community organization fund a quick revenue from 2023 got one hundred percent from cut we are

shocked as community we advocated to be added back hover only get added to the general fund that's where we are at and constantly on the chopping block 10 percent cuts last year were only able to recovery 2023/24 but not for fiscal year 2024/25 now we're facing a total of cuts a quarter of our budget because of compounding effect $4.8 million and to kind of put it in perspective for chinatown we have about 15 staff for the code enforcement and collaborate with it will cost us 4 to 5 staff we'll cut with the 25 percent budget you cut that that

shows it is detrimental and we prepared look what our program and a lot that we work with the department community and also with property owners i'll not two into that you ask for you to restore our budget 25 percent is a lot and since cutting since if we have succumb before the commissioners before the board of supervisors to push for our budget not only to not cut us but add us back to the department so we're not facing cuts that so we're for the fighting other departments.

thank you very much. >> you good morning. i'm jerry it would be useful if the dbi financial staff uses the dbi model to determine how many additional housing inspection will be required if one million dollars of funding was reduced for the sro programs assuming and mainly the current service load having this information prior to the presentation would be useful because many times discussion isn't as financially centered as i like to see it. thank you. >> thank you. >> any additional public comment? >> any remote. >> no remote commissioners questions or comments. >> open up to my fellow

commissioners. >> i'll start it off with. >> thank you for your presentation. and worked with one of the organizations that is the community grant and person and proof relationship with the services and who perform the services you testified during this budget item. >> um, so my question i have a couple of questions. the fee plan is to get 100 percent by 27; is that correct? >> correct. >> the reduction is based on what is the fees.

what the reduction two 27 to now, when it says in our additional supplication 17 percent not at downtown from 4 year but i want to. >> (multiple voices.) >> and from the full cost recovery. >> so the fees are not going down this this year. >> (multiple voices). >> indicates on page let me think 11 maybe you can help me understand yes on page 11 the reduction of $2 million; is that correct? for revenue reduction. >> on page 11 so, yes fee changed from that is a change in your base budget what was approved as year two last year.

we put in a guesstimate fiscal year 2025/26 any with the fees is too million dollars less than the guess last year. >> (multiple voices.) >> okay the relationship that is how much we think the increased fees will bring in less than before for the rr-1 zone the fees. >> not reducing fees but how much we thought we'll reduce the fees in last year's budget and this is clear enough. thank you. >> um, i is where another question about um, how to

calculate overhead calculation and target that who we need to charge that to. >> the question came up the slide after - thank you. so 18. as you can see the direct services so permits inspections and admin, the first column is the direct costs. and then at the bottom as you can see the permit overhead that is technical services and inspection overhead code enforcement and general overhead that is directors office and finance and it you see costs there so $3.3 million overhead is allocated to code two the $36 million general admin

allocation as you can see how that is done but spreads based on the number of f pe in each area so of the 36, 7.4 is allocated to the plan right-of-way and 14.6 allocated to the inspection and 14 is allocated to the direct services provided by records management and swishgs services and admin and proceeding and next is you can solely allocated to the permits. and as you can see that code enforcement is solely advocated to inspectors and then the total cost recovery those allocated overhead costs so that the total costs provided the permit services is 23.5 appeals and inspections is $42 million and admin is $27.5 million and

next column the second from the right (coughing) (coughing) that is our productive ftes so not total fte that productive fte and we did a time study in 80 total hours minus people are taking off for vacations and second holidays and break time and their training, time and there are some people pend time at the counter and some people answer complaints the actual productive rate is restraining order percent of 2000 hours only half of 31,000 are available to actually progressing permits we divide the costs by the productive fte and that's how we calculate the rate for the 3 areas and the fee for the fees

as you can see the first 3 columns how much time how many hours it takes to provide each of those services and multiply that time by the rate add it up for all 3 that is people. >> do we include utilities and our payment i don't know what our agreement is that if there. >> yes. all the work orders the rent we're paying and the money (coughing) for our share the permit center. your d hr that overhead i think of admin i don't know that is a bad thing people, you know, the full. >> yes. >> (multiple voices.) >> and the departments consideration. >> the admin is both people for finance you have the others

and then a lot of the rent for the building put in those costs are spread to all the fees. >> how often do we recalculate this. >> my plan to do that annually after we reach full cost recovery in fiscal 27 after that the costs of cola and refrigeration is added into this and fees will go up another two percent, however, much. >> thank you. >> i have a couple of other questions but there are other folks. >> commissioner chavez.

>> the technology can you tell me again and to replace the permit expenditure we need to know is coming to replace our permit tracking system and the rest of our division applications we have p t s tracking and then a host of other small homegrown in 25 old applications so to replace all of that stuff no longer doing the final update to the final version and after that is done the risks grow for catastrophic out angle and. >> thank you for your presentation. that was a lot you did a great job. >> tanks for the presentation. there are so much information it was great to be with you walk

you through through that very well i had a couple of questions one of them is a follow-up to the question on page 11. um, i was executive director on the special fund clean up once again to clarify how much we're going to need fiscal year 2025/26 the approximate fund clean up the. >> sorry way restate that how much. >> i'm confused about i guess an expenditure i did looks like we're gaining nope i answered my other question. >> the third to the last one we're proposing for fiscal 25/26

was approved in last year. so we're then revisiting that is now year one of this year that so. so changes a difference it was an 25 and what was approved last year and changing that again so - hopefully 3 makes sense. >> i had another procedural question and then to the board of supervisors and to the mayor have we had a lot of changes how often do we seek changes. >> it is hard to say and especially request the new mayor's office. as the public comment mentioned few years ago the funding podium was reduced to zero with the mayor's budget and restored in the supervisors budget. so - it seems like the

incoming mayor's office and the in coming supervisors are interested in the permitting process and that the housing is reduced and the permitting process is running efficiently i think that is interest we'll see what if translate to the actual dollars. >> yeah. i want to say what great work and awesome impact report. um, the folks they serve we all know this i want to make sure that is stated that the folks that are c opt program we mentioned in the hearings that the dbi is very hard to nominate so sawgrass elementary school

folks on the ground that are hell studio navigate the system and love to figure out different ways and scenarios to play out how we can make sure to backfill from the mayor's office i think there is a great question from jerry what is the impact if we lose the funding to the cbos and um, sounds like you're looking at ways to have active conversation with the mayor's office um, but i want to say that is a priority for me, i hope we don't see a decrease in the expenditures something, you know, as stated at risk the last couple of years it is important what we do. um, supporting those

community-based organizations and doing that part of the work. >> sure. i think an important thing to discuss with the commissioners recommendations writing a separate letter making sure that language with the commissions goals priorities are made clear for the mayor's office and important. >> thank you. >> thank you for that. >> a long those lines i have two i love the letter i was speaking of that into understanding and i want to say i know a lot of staff watch the commissions i recognize that we can't do more with less and, you know, just the importance of hiring in order to keep projects moving in order to keep the projects going and is special services at the levels. i know

that, you know, always efficiency can be had but, however, this commission and however we can support the process to move the inspections of humboldt county or health and safety but on the same level will want to conclude in the budget and my advocacy is not baseline any support but the roll i fit in and the like to see either a proposal that includes a fee there to cover the cut. or, you know, the possibility of reserves or other

men o you for the mayor to consider to um, in covering that cost we did that same thing last year, we said you have the option you can increase the fees across the board to cover this loss not different from the action that the board took last year or is commission took last year rather but offering like a menu of options will be helpful. >> requires the city attorney to make sure that all questions are answered and all the funding was from the right place. >> i'll be happy to um, i agree with that we all agree with

that. >> and thank you very much. for the biggest presentation it was thorough and helps i like a lot of it i want to say i really shout out we don't give you all the times alex (laughter) i appreciate this particular slide a lot like this is the understanding like the fee generations no fee generations and just how these fees cover the full scope of dbi and that your presentation was fantastic and helped us to understand and highlight how fees cover the full work of the dbi so thank you to you and all the support. >> thank you to patrick and the hatred my original draft of that

slide and changed it into way like so so much now. >> i appreciate the original thinking he had to work with thank you, patrick and director. >> thank you all james very much. >> thank you, everyone. >> so we are few on >> so we are few on item [discussion and possible action] harold howell - discussion and possible action regarding an appeal pursuant to 103a.6.3.2 of the building code. >> let's take a 5 minute recess. >> we'll ( in recess). >> item no. 7 and i'll

>> item no. 7 and i'll read [discussion and possible action] harold howell - discussion and possible action regarding an appeal pursuant to 103a.6.3.2 of the building code. place him on the list pursuant to building code reverse the directors section 103a.6.3.2 of the building code and the code 77.3 that provides the building inspection commission may decide the decisions of dbi and including appeals pursuant to section 103a.6.3.2 of the building code of the building code or expanded listing. before we proceed with the hearing we'll administer the altogether all parties giving testimony

please right hand do you solemnly swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give will be the whole truth and nothing but the truth? >> okay. thank you, you may be seated. >> the hearing procedures are the bic rules and hearing procedures the department has 7 minutes and the department shall present first after this presentation an opportunity for public comment and each party has three minutes for rebuttal and the public comment is three minutes and the department will present it's rebuttal first and then the appellant and after that is commissioners may discuss the appeal and deliberate on the appropriate action. >> um. thank you. >> i want to make an for a moment we only have this to 1:30

we are not going to rush the process but let you know. >> department thank you, commissioners. thank you, commission secretary and you may speak at the presentation you have 7 minutes. >> my name is chris i'm the compliance manager for dbi and today we're respectfully requested that the commission uphold our notice of determination on the control list on section 103a.6.3.2 of the building code subdivision one of the building code the fees associated with 3 or more violations within an 18 but has 5 violation within the 18 months that period between january 2016 and the slide is coming up.

next slide, please. so they're all commissioner victor violations they meet categories one, two or four one is the miss preparation of the conditions with the scope of notification and demolition without or beyond the scope or non-compliant so we'll get into the first property. next slide, please. so the first property the green street was a permit for a remodel on the 6 there floor with a roofer deck the final report was filed in 2020 all work was - we did the site inspection and issued and not

built and the deck was closer to nine hundred and 46 secret the structural roof had no details we required a permit filed to show the changes that are made in january of 7, 21 a reservation permit was filed and an engineer of record to address the corrections this permit was never issued so um, on february - in january 25, 21 one of the inspects signed out in error and 2021 the permit holders we opened the complaint in

january 22nd and said the field reservation was not made and issued an nov that's the first property. next slide, please. 221, 5th avenue so back if may 2022 and opened a complaint there was an issued because multiple expired permit on the property and no final inspections we conducted the site inspection and the garage level if match the approved plans ending the plan to evacuate that and we noted the structure steel beams not on the traurz and wood framing was covered up with the final inspection a multitude of

different and issued a nov in 2022 side appellant is engineer of record back in 2015 all work was issued to plan was not and misrepresentation of condition. so multiple permits have been filed to renew the expired permits and obtain the final inspections but noting no permits were issued to legalize the structures that were made. next slide, please. and so back in july of 2022 we conducted a site inspection didn't match the work approved under two permits ending - was issued to convert the storage to a garage the second permit ending in 24877 was issued in

2016 that was to remodel the 2 and 3 floors and appellant is engineer of record. and on august 2022 we issued - the additionally the few driveway was 20 percent on the escape was greater than 25 percent and the appellant signed off on the work based on the 2017 inspection letters misrepresents this and opens the notice of enforcement case was not completed. and this property multiple 3ri789s have been filed to apply with the nov and i think that is it is those

-. next slide, please. 214 fair oaks this property on february 2020. >> complaint scoped of approved permits and we conducted a site inspection in july and that if match what was approved under four separate permits the main one of the addition of a too car garage and appellant was the engineer of record we issued nov citing's a number of issues and e vacation was performed and the rear structure in the - appellant

submitted that false stated e e vacation a laundry list of lack of fire sprinklers with fire hazards a one car garage and so forth and basically saying everything was in accordance to the plan and last property on fillmore harold howell signed the report on this and was open baseline is complaint and permit history that revealed an nov back in 2016 was not resolved a 15 structure had been demolished (bell ringing) a new structure is approximately 18 feet high the nov documented the new structure was built without proper permits that was

beyond the scope and at that point the structure was occupied that was built and required without the building permits or building inspections he's associated with 5 nov and notation notice of determination should be upheld. thank you. >> appellant you may begin your presentation. >> good morning. >> so harold howell dbi termination of this section

103a.6.3.2 of the building code is wildly consistent and applied inner correctly with the full roundabout and having permits and nov dbi purposely focused on harold howell had outstanding spent years would not movement didn't follow the code for dbi but with the sole transmission to - dbi actions are significant are inhe correct but fits as intended westbound that program sections for the record as confirmed with my meeting with dbi his position all those associated with how responsible in perpetuity regardless of their scope of work and any work done by the owner or listens and

unlicensed workers and the reasoning to exactly where harold howell is at the mercy of 24 commission throughout the process dbi has flaunted the due diligence and is a district attorney's advantage for harold howell. >> the response if change i need to say past is 8 days is commission for not hearing the

process and is bic rules. >> i would love to explain why each dbi is not correct and - but in the interest of time it is around two items the garage door and per dbi the driveway is a misrepresentation of the conditions and dbi has gone against industry standards an independent engineer has 15 to 18 percent is less than the scope need that no structural implementation and dbi citing for a garage door is outside of his agreement that was constructed and i think you agree that is clearly a

misrepresentation of the conditions. and for the record dbi conveniently left out a permit in late 24 that satisfied this and leafs it on to conversation based on this periodically targeted harold howell this is noted conjecture as a reminder per dbi the discussions to conclude harold howell was paid before any dbi drafted any memorandum of understanding harold howell was a copy any and paste and closed on outstanding nova and opened a new nov so geico go against harold howell and dbi will try to convince i that harold howell is responsible and harold howell

provided that letter it was in accordance with the structure and that was all. i have supplied the commission how emptying supplied and continues to supply in commission with inaccurate information what worries me dbi does so. it is the commission duties to help and if this commission can't agree that is abiding by the rules how can the people of san francisco trust and have faith in this commission should the commission agree this commission will set up a dangerous precedence and allow dbi to - and regardless of time and dbis own errors the lack and trust if

application by fy is the real question before you today. dbis argument is shaky the correction is in the commission da can do the right thing and for the sake of all licensed professionals in san francisco the correct and sensible thing to do is say the nov is not warranted. thank you. >> does that include the appellants statement? >> okay. then next, we'll have public comment now and have three minutes each for public comment.

>> good afternoon, i'm davis and i've been a dbi um, person who formed the design services and received permits and have followed dbi from the ma clefrt to now on 49 south van ness and worked with harold howell for many, many years 15 years and know because of this the compliance control list he was on that took me completely by surprise he's not a building inspector or a yacht the engineer of record on those projects that's all he is 82 year-old suffered two headaches and loves his root beer floats i

love him we worked together for 15 years i know that the city of san francisco and dbi so many benefits and learned from many of you here and or not all the engineers and set forth i have a continued relationship with all those in planning commission. and co-tests and we had a design harold howell does that inspection and walks away that is my first time here what we have homeowners they do to establish those errors is not part of harold's involvement harold does his inspections required and that said and move on to other projects many of

those listed those 5 items no idea what those projects are but harold is called by other contractors to provide services he's a stand-up guy i've known and worked with him and make if known to everyone he's not the contractor of record didn't represent the homeowners and the engineers and does great work he's sick going through medical procedures he's fine so - and (bell ringing) >> thank you is there any additional public comment? >> yes. there is. thank you. >> good afternoon my name is jerry. >> harold howell licensed moved and the revocation was stayed for similar violations by the states since 2014 why harold howell - representations by the

structural engineer of record in the final lot is important to sure the construction is code compliant and adheres to approved plans. and many of the violations you heard about um, are addressed by that. thank you. >> any additional public comment in-person or remotely? >> okay. then seeing none, public comment is closed. >> okay. the department may give the rebuttal you have three minutes. >> thank you just to address some of the comments made

regarding wherever civil engineers to be considered according to the code in terms of our tracking of the significant violations we are to identify all individuals accountants and other entities ordinary with the permit tracking system or known to be associated with the permit and/or with the project with the notifications issued i believe this language covers the contractors on this performing work but all engineers of record and um, and we believe should apply to harold howell key countered the facts and the roles in the violations and we believe that um, engineer of record or engineer is civil service the work is done according to plan and providing the reports we rely on to determine whether or not things

are coat compliant so my virtue of his statement owe even referenced the fact that had part ownership a conflict of interest i believe the code requires the specific independence from a special inspection looking to a contractors work otherwise you're looking at your own work we are looking at his role was to certificate that those things were built according to the plan they are clearly were not and my time as chief inspector that's all. thank you. >> did you want to yield your time to others staff at dbi. >> i'll be happy to. >> okay. the appellant you may give our rebuttal you have three

minutes. >> hi. >> very, very quickly. um, green street we don't have time to go though every but the roof-deck was again approved for that amount and taking green for example, harold howell is the engineer dbi complaining about that was not issued that is not the scope of work the issues of a permit that is was it boils down to an green street that the required permit was not issued and as such that was quarantine and harold howell didn't withdraw that and just to be clear, dbis perspective in all of that if our associated with

the permit as listens professional regardless of whatever it is you provided and an nov dwayne from the work an unlicensed contractor you as a listened professional are tried to the nov unfairly that's the point. it is seriously underwayed how they're applying this and again, i'm hoping with common sense this commission can see that and if you want to go through every nov i'm happy to i have an argument for each and everyone one thank you for your time. >> thank you. >> okay. >> so, now the commissioners will have the discussion and commissioner any questions? >> to either party? >> this is not for discussion

just four clarifying questions. >> seeing none, i have to the department could you um, could you right hand for the assertion that the was performed after the signature of special reports or after the engineer of record signed or certified the report. >> i'll defer to achieve inspection birng ham. >> thank you what's your question i'm sorry. >> so the response to the assertion that any out of permit work was performed after the um, appellant would have signed on the special inspection report. >> yeah. most of the work was done during the construction

period that was dennis herrera vagz from the permits the work that was performed conformed to his plans we don't expect we hold some responsible for something that is objective or obviously but the work that is under the permit and the signed off complied with his design obviously not and that's why the permit nov was issued. >> walk you through who's the nov the novs were how to the property owner. >> department?

>> - okay. >> actually have a connection setting question we jumped readily into the materials here if someone cocoa set the

intention of compliance and is consequences on it i think that helps. >> with the conversation. >> sorry couldn't quite hear you. >> the intention behind the compliance control list and is consequences put on it would be a good context for this conversation and so with the extended mayor klein don't protect the members of the public from bad actors it is - the whole purpose not to stop from the or things of that nature really subscribed if 103

point um, section 103a.6.3.2 of the building code section 103a.6.3.2 of the building code and all the actions one of the things we have to report to the licensing board any time we put it on the list but a review and have to notify people filing permits that are using those people will be another layer of review and really for protection of the members of the public. >> okay. additional layer of review in terms of department. >> (multiple voices). >> yeah own. >> all permits that they file intung we do an additional layer other questions. >> um, yes. >> um, seems a little bit

detailed coming to us and if you look at the timeline for when the department discovered this how we got to today. >> i believe the novs were issued in 2022 then we sent a notification out but give a notification i think in 2023 where we gave notification to the listing hey you're candidate and give them 10 days to respond and meet with us when the appellant did we thought after that even with the information provided we would posted with the listing and which we did on

april 1st, 2024, and then after that yeah 15 days to appeal and that is when we got the appeal and waiting for the rules what it was like a long delay and discovery period we didn't submit that in summer of 24 and then multiple continuance based on harold howell got sick and led us to where we are now. thank you. >> um, any questions?

(no audio). >> i'm i want to build off the question around the um, internal audit may have raised and question about the dbi improperly signing off on the permit is that something you can give information about. >> the internal audit or - >> the statement that the dbi wrongfully or incorrectly closed is permit and then. >> yeah. >> that action can you give us backward. >> i'm not sure but it showed that one of the inspectors signed off on the original

permit so then they had approved the revision you permit an investigation and h.r. i think going through a process now so, yeah i mean were for instances but issued the nov after the fact and the final sign off a neighbor noticed something wrong a code violation we investigated and something as we would issue an nov. and then would um, notify all people responsible considering concerning the nov but we are taking feet when the errors are made and discussion with that personnel with our attorney or h.r. division i

don't know how much i can go into the personnel issue. >> yeah. >> thank you. >> irony other commission questions? >> from the commissioners or the department. >> i also have been point of correction we met with the appellant when we notified him i was on the list we took one of the nov removed from the list because we converged not associated or shouldn't be qualified and so we made a change after that. >> thank you. >> thank you to the department and want to give the appellant and is the appellant that is your opportunity to respond to any of the responses provide by the department.

>> there's a lot of i'm trying to get through them as quickly as i can with the discussions it is correct there is an avid layer of review it is i can no longer get over the counter permits. but that was if you're on the list it makes it very, very difficult because why stick with an engineer that can take you x amount of months from additional reviews from every depth of departments whereas, you can go do anyone else and you're push them out of business. >> i want to go over how harold howell came on this list it is

important. he was notified i was on this list in february. and then we had an initial meeting in march. and if chris is telling me they acted at meeting they made the determination baseline that i am bebe wirmentd nothing came from if meeting. i asked all the questions how you fit into harold howell within the full spriptd categories and kevin was there and harold howell no one could give me the answer sorry he couldn't give me the reasons why each nov could be put in each scarring we were all left in the blind and hey

you were supposed to give me feedback and then instead my request was e-mails and not given an opportunity as an information request that went there the channel that's how that went a don't get me wrong the process here has given mr. harold howell on this it's and find reasons how to get there. and that is what they've done have to jump we should apply this after the fact it is important. i do want to go through a few of novs it is important to provide some contraceptive. >> three or four fillmore. >> pardon me sorry not additional time for rebuttal if

you can respond to the responses that the department made for responsive questions from the commission. >> thank you. >> okay.. thank you. >> i do have questions. >> so you asserting; is that correct? you assert that harold howell signed the special inspections reports and the work was later on given the evidence to back up that claim. >> not with me by so if you're an yerg the foundation and you're verified it is done. so once you give the special order to dbi they'll go ahead and finish up so at that point i'm saying he's done his best and

said is verified the structure is done and dbi is saying after the fact hey you are responsible for, you know, the drywall and painting the electrical and plumbing and the actual finish of the house and i'm trying to put across shouldn't be the case every professional should be tied with that. and again, we're focusing on the engineer but if it were the case we're going to be attaching an engineer didn't stop there but with the architect and it says that and the site inspections are the garage level if conform to the approved plan but so we heard that the garage was about two

feet distance a difference in 2 feet and the width of the garage is that something the engineer will see before they sign off. >> the two feet for a garage door you're referring to? >> perhaps yeah. >> (multiple voices). >> yeah driveway i believe and i believe that the 5th avenue said at the garage level. >> that access was the garage door. if my memory serves me right a frame across that building have - again harold howell specific space in the frame has been installed convention my work is done and among but again specific to the

garage door that's done hire a contractor or a garage door contractor that is not under harold howells agreements. but again dbi said. the garage door you're right but the hole i don't know go i'm not a professional i don't know the term did structure of or the framing of garage the entry that the garage door would fit into is part of a special section is. >> correct completely open with the garage door a side door as well so harold howell would have been here's the frame and framed in but again how where the garage door is blazed and the side door not under the agreement of his support.

>> do you have anything to demonstrate what he as i understand off the work was done the out of compliance work was done after signature. >> not with me but i can get to you. >> can i ask a similar question. >> is two feet within- >> (multiple voices). >> you're thinking about the open structure versus the framing that is put if it is two feet wider square foot within the range of tolerance if you are an engineer looking at the site um, i'm trying to get clarity like room for tolerance i work with engineers all the time. um, but that seems a bit

more than you would normally see. >> in regards to tolerance what i'm say again the fwram it is for the garage area as well as the side door so there is again and where the garage fits within that specific opening what i'm trying to say harold howell is not responsible. >> vice president shaddix. >> questions for i, sir. >> fast we can 5 instances are you saying all 5 were issued erroneously. >> okay. >> thank you. >> commissioner meng. >> i have a couple of questions

for you sounds like have been process issued with the whole process but i haven't heard you present evidenced like proving point work in violation was done do we have adoption we can only go off what was present to us we've not seen evidence this is true. >> seems like the department signed off the work was done but sounds like work was for the done according do you have evidence. >> i don't have evidence with me. >> so should this slide and exhibits again going back to your specific point it is dbi holding renner boulevard the engineer the front part of the

project wrobl for the complete a end of the project whereby a contractor or homeowner contracting out the work and that's my second question isn't and the engineer of record. >> no doubt. >> (multiple voices.) >> for the like he's the structural engineer if he walks away is still responsible for the contractor autopsy what i'm trying to get at the construction starts he's called out observations and then applies with the approved plans will provide his final letter. and then which ever contractor or homeowner will complete the remaining progress so the timeline on the project these only at the start not in the middle or the end is only at the

start. >> he's at the end right has to sign a special inspection and sign off the work was done and only a cat . >> i think he signed off he again go back to verify. >> verified after the fact. >> uh-huh (coughing) >> one thing he signed off with the letter to start the process once is structural agreement is finished. >> um, still not (coughing) 0 i feel like as an architect signing and the let's say no

other engineer of record i'm signing off on the i'm verifying the work done is for the approved drawings i was for the the one i'm still signing so i'm responsible to each engineer of record in signing off they end of the project turn out was not done that's seems and misrepresentation of the truth unless he has evidence- >> (multiple voices). >> no, no, i understand the position. >> so again, i hate to repeat myself, you know, the the agreement is really after the fact didn't go back and check hey this was done with the structural work. >> with the agreement with who

the homeowner or who. >> that agreement was with so and so what do you mean. >> he has the agreement with the actual agreement that is at the start but coming after when the work is done it difficult obviously the structure was not covered. >> about the structural you'll reviewing structure about walls are closed the same for dbi inspectors you can't close the walls until a sign off i'm confused by that statement. >> i don't understand. >> if you're responsible for using the walls you're responsible for the cyber structure and you're the industrial engineer or an

electrician have to not allowed close the walls i'm confused by the comment that though he couldn't know because he's signing off they end if you're the engineer of record should be looking at at the process which engineering is required to be signed off on and the led up to dbi doing the final inspections like going to be closed within an equal so a foundation work (multiple voices). >> again, i agree with 3 position. >> want to say that's what i was trying to refer to his work at the start with the inspections that is the point of

what he provides with the special inspections. letter. >> i'm still for the following sorry all right. i was not maybe you can help clarify. >> i'm in agreement and looks like the department has going to help me understand. >> my good afternoon director for the services at dbi. i was speaking primarily as a regulatory official and listens engineer that practices and does the observations one of the things that going to be known that the engineer not only stamps the plan bus the architect and a lot of the projects are designed professional by desire

professionals to take think responsibility for that project and harold howell knew that and the starched the architectural and the testimony that these special inspections happened at the beginning of a project and the engineer if have a responsibility to for the project through is incorrect a requirement to fulfill a final report one of the department that design professional it responsible to verify that the project meets the plans. that was not done here. >> thank you. >> does the appellant have a response. >> um. >> thank you i is where one final question for the appellant can you state the relationship

that meshingy had with harold howell and with the ownership. >> your statement said harold howell owned this with the appellant and mr. pollard yoinl owned mercury engineering and was inspecting pollard's work on these. >> i believe so >> can you respond to the um, assertion a conflict of interest in that.

>> i again, i'll say that they still have to have high standards if harold howell signed off it would be on his license in doing so and yeah companies can't sign off on their own projects. >> i have no further questions any questions?? >> thank you. >> so i'd like to thank the parties the evidentiary portion of this hearing is concluded and for possible action so we will um, [off mic.] now open up for discussion for the

commissioners. >> um, any comment or a motion? >> i guess i feel like we can only go off what was presented to us and have evidence that with the facts are incorrect we are to again by the exhibits and said that was signed off and determined it wasn't like we don't have most of evidence is incorrect 0. >> anyone else (coughing). >> is there a motion

(coughing) (no audio). >> um, based the information that is presented today um, i'd like to move to uphold the directors determination to place harold howell on the compliance list. >> second. >> so there is a motion by acquit and seconded by vice president neumann i'll do a roll call vote on that motion. >> president alexander-tut, yes.

>> vice president shaddix, yes. >> commissioner chavez, yes. >> commissioner meng, yes. >> vice president neumann, yes. that motion carries unanimously. >> and um, that concludes this item next, we are on to - was another statement? >> okay. so um, the board has made the final decision to uphold the final decision requires to render this in writing within any applicable 90 calendars days and of these and facts to establish the department has not made a error and complies we ask the madam

secretary to have the written finding no matter than 90 days if you need guidance to have in the finding. >> um, not at the moment, no. >> great. and all right. that's all that concludes the hearing. thank you. >> okay. >> thank you. >> okay. >> okay. >> okay. inquiries to staff regarding various documents, policies, practices, and procedures, which are of interest to the commission. commission.

commission. those items that could be placed on the agenda of the next meeting and other future meetings of the building inspection commission. um, our next regular meeting on february 19th and special budget meeting on the 12 any inquiries of staff? >> um, i'd like to perhaps receive a report or information on the um, what happened with the - nov or the permit that was improperly signed off and what does the department do we we find that i'd like to hear that to i'm trying to understand the checks the department has built into the system. >> the state an h.r. component

and we don't want to hear about that policy and approach for the department not on individual cases. >> absolutely. >> thank you. >> thank you. any public comment on 8 ab seeing none, item did. >> 9. review and approval of the minutes of the special meeting of december 11, 2024. and and a motion by acquit and seconded by by vice president shaddix any public comment on the minutes? >> seeing none, all commissioners in favor and, aye. >> >> all in favor, say "aye." >> the minutes are approved. and the next item 10 adjournment a motion to adjourn. >> so moved. >> second.

>> thank you. >> all commissioners in favor. >> aye. >> we are now adjourned it is one 28 p.m. thank you. [meeting adjourned].

>> hi. welcome to san francisco. stay safe and exploring how you can stay in your home safely after an earthquake. let's look at common earthquake myths. >> we are here at the urban center on mission street in san francisco. we have 3 guest today. we have david constructional engineer and bill harvey. i want to talk about urban myths. what do you

think about earthquakes, can you tell if they are coming in advance? >> he's sleeping during those earthquakes? >> have you noticed him take any special? >> no. he sleeps right through them. there is no truth that i'm aware of with harvey that dogs are aware of an impending earthquake. >> you hear the myth all the time. suppose the dog helps you get up, is it going to help you do something >> i hear they are aware of small vibrations. but yes, i read extensively that dogs cannot realize earthquakes. >> today is a spectacular day in san francisco and sometimes people would say this is earthquake weather. is this earthquake weather? >> no. not that i have heard of. no such thing.

>> there is no such thing. >> we are talking about the weather in a daily or weekly cycle. there is no relationship. i have heard it's hot or cold weather or rain. i'm not sure which is the myth. >> how about time of day? >> yes. it happens when it's least convenient. when it happens people say we were lucky and when they don't. it's terrible timing. it's never a good time for an earthquake. >> but we are going to have one. >> how about the ground swallowing people into the ground? >> like the earth that collapsed? it's not like the

tv shows. >> the earth does move and it bumps up and you get a ground fracture but it's not something that opens up and sucks you up into haddes. >> it's not going anywhere. we are going to have a lot of damage, but this myth that california is going to the ocean is not real. >> southern california is moving north. it's coming up from the south to the north. >> you would have to invest the million year cycle, not weeks or years. maybe millions of years from now, part of los angeles will be in the bay area. >> for better or worse.

>> yes. >> this is a tough question. >> those other ones weren't tough. >> this is a really easy challenge. are the smaller ones less stress? >> yes. the amount released in small earthquakes is that they are so small in you need many of those. >> i think would you probably have to have maybe hundreds of magnitude earthquakes of 4.7. >> so small earthquakes are not making our lives better in the future? >> not anyway that you can count on. >> i have heard that buildings in san francisco are on rollers and isolated? >> it's not true. it's a

conventional foundation like almost all the circumstances buildings in san francisco. >> the trans-america was built way before. it's a pretty conventional foundation design. >> i have heard about this thing called the triangle of life and up you are supposed to go to the edge of your bed to save yourself. is there anything of value to that ? >> yes, if you are in your room. you should drop, cover and hold onto something. if you are in school, same thing, kitchen same thing. if you happen to be in your bed, and you rollover your bed, it's not a bad place to be. >> the reality is when we have a major earthquake the ground shaking so pronounced that you are not going to be able to get

up and go anywhere. you are pretty much staying where you are when that earthquake hits. you are not going to be able to stand up and run with gravity. >> you want to get under the door frame but you are not moving to great distances. >> where can i buy a richter scale? >> mr. richter is selling it. we are going to put a plug in for cold hardware. they are not available. it's a rather complex. >> in fact we don't even use the richter scale anymore. we use a moment magnitude. the richter scale was early technology. >> probably a myth that i hear most often is my building is just fine in the loma prieta earthquake so everything is fine. is that true ?

>> loma prieta was different. the ground acceleration here was quite moderate and the duration was moderate. so anyone that believes they survived a big earthquake and their building has been tested is sadly mistaken. >> we are planning for the bigger earthquake closer to san francisco and a fault totally independent. >> much stronger than the loma prieta earthquake. >> so people who were here in '89 they should say 3 times as strong and twice as long and that will give them more of an occasion of the earthquake we would have. 10 percent isn't

really the threshold of damage. when you triple it you cross that line. it's much more damage in earthquake. >> i want to thank you, harvey, thanks pat for ♪♪ ♪♪ i'm shawn quigley the founder of paxton gate that's where we are here on ra11sia street. >> it started more of a quirky gardening store. we leaned in this quirky side over the years and started with insects and learned how to hydrate them and symmetrical or natural poses. which then went into small taxidermy.

i saw interest in the oddity side and purposely expanded that to more of a natural side oddity store. this is interesting mechanical parts in the beetle. african porcupine is cool. they look at their eyes. i grew up on what many call a farm but it was in the to us. we raised animals it a garden i was involved with plant. had a rock collection. collection goes from your basic house plants to an air plant. avoid this term people happening they survive on air alone they do need water. i went to school for business here and finishing up at sf state. and this idea fell in my lap and masterfuled my interests and i

learned a lot over the years. i like to view it as like a museum experience. rather hahn sales people they might be like dossants they are not hard selling you but more conveying informing or knowledge about the products. teeth, that's the giant shark that would get up to 60 feet long. we are launching class we did them before the pandemic. a bunch of hand's on learn to do things classes that we are getting around to relaunching. this is our insect spreading kit. inside is a striped needles, forceps, instructions and the other tools you need to take up the hopy of spreading insects. had is a prize to many people is

80% of the stuff we get is from vendors or merchants. people think do you tremendous finding these. i don't get to do this. that is a still born kitten that had one eye. the most common question is, is it real. almost everything is. we have replicas like the sabre tooth tigers and things that would be present low expensive to procure and sell or illegal we'll do replicas we have, lot of real stuff. ♪♪ >> i'm sabrina, i own vintage in north

beach san francisco. i started 7 years ago online selling vintage clothing and 9 months ago i opened my brick and mortar in san francisco. i have always been passionate about vintage clothing. always just been so passionate about what i do and i felt it was the right time after 7 years online. i ink is what north beach needed. especially because vintage clothing is so good for the environment as well. very anti--i think it is great and a opportunity to be here. we have everything from the 20 to 90. i personally like to create more towards the 60 and 70 as you can tell. there is something for everyone. i just always want everyone to feel very welcome in here. i want to treat everyone like a guest in my apartment. i want everyone to have a good time in here and just enjoy all this

very clothing.