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Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 1.A
Meeting Date: March 1, 2023
From: Robert Rodriguez, Director of Planning/Building
Title: Staffing Review of the Development Services Department City Council
RECOMMENDATION:
This item is presented for information, discussion and direction only.
BACKGROUND:
As part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 biennial budget process and timeline, this is the opportunity to brief City Council and our constituents on the roles and responsibilities of the Development Services Department.
DISCUSSION:
The Department was recently renamed from Planning and Building to Development Services to better reflect the services provided and serves as an important step in the rebranding happening this year. Also, the Department’s budget has been restructured, and will have an Administrative Division starting in FY 2023/2024, that will include the Director of Development Services and future Department level staff, rather than being included in the Planning Division budget.
The Development Services Department currently includes the following divisions:
1. Planning
2. Building and Safety
3. Code Compliance
The following table compares authorized staffing in the Development Services Department in FY13-14 to the present. The table shows the staffing reductions made in June 2020 due to the COVID revenue reductions, which resulted in the elimination of five (5) positions, the adopted FY22-23 budget and the current authorization including the amendments made in September 2022. The FY13-14 numbers are from the printed budget revised only to reflect organizational structure changes that have occurred in the interim.
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FY13-
14 FY20-21
COVID
FY22-23
Adopted
Current (Incl.
Sept.
amendments)
Change
from
FY13-14
Development Services 1.00 0.00 0.00 1.00
Planning 2.50 4.00 5.00 6.00
Building and Safety 2.00 3.00 6.00 7.00
Code Compliance 4.00 5.00 7.00 10.00
Development Services Total 9.50 12.00 18.00 24.00 152.63% The additional staffing added over the last two years is reflective of the increased private development activity and continued support of the Council’s goals, especially as they relate to Code Compliance. The only new position included in the September budget amendments is the Deputy Director, who will primarily manage the Planning Division and help lead the Development Services strike team. The other positions are a result of the integration of the STVR team with Code Compliance and a reallocation of resources.
Planning
The Planning Division includes the following positions:
•Deputy Director of Development Services
•Administrative Assistant
•Associate Planner (x2)
•Assistant Planner
•Planning Assistant
The Planning Division is responsible for implementing and recommending land use policies including those within the City’s General Plan and Zoning Ordinance, the review of development applications for consistency with the City’s codes, standards and policies relating to land use and preservation of the environment and advising the community and Council on current planning practices to ensure the quality of life will be maintained or enhanced for future generations.
The services provided by the Planning Division are shown in the table below. Many of the services are time sensitive, require close and continued collaboration with the applicant and other City departments, and are challenging to determine the necessary resources due to the unpredictable customer and service demand.
Service Approx. %
Development and Entitlements
•Conditional Use Permits and Design Reviews
•Planned Unit Developments
•General Plan Amendments/Change of Zones
•Zone Ordinance Amendments
•Preliminary Reviews
35%
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•Inspections
•Coordination with other Agencies
Plan Review and Building Permits
•Commercial Tenant Improvements
•New Single-Family Homes
•Residential Remodels and Additions
•Pools, Patio Covers, and Block walls
•Interdepartmental Coordination
20%
Public Assistance
•Website, Counter, Phone and Email
•Zoning Confirmation Letters
•Public Records
•ABC Licenses
20%
Discretionary Permits
•Business Licenses and Home Occupation Permits
•Special Use Permits
•Administrative Design Reviews
•Sign Permits (temporary and permanent)
•Dance Permits, Sexually Oriented Business Permits, Christmas Tree Lots
10%
Commissions and Committees
•Planning Commission
•Architectural Review Committee
•Development Services Committee
•Historic Preservation Committee
10%
Department Initiatives
•Administration
•Long Range Planning
•Staff Development
•Community Engagement
•Technology and Innovation Enhancements
5%
Building and Safety
The Building Division includes the following positions:
•Chief Building Official
•Plans Examiner
•Building Inspector I
•Permit Technician II
•Permit Technician (x2)
•Office Assistant (reception area)
The Building and Safety Division is responsible for the issuance of building permits and collection of fees, providing plan check and inspection services, coordinating with the Cathedral City Page 4 of 6 Printed on 2/23/2023
Code Compliance Division on building and safety matters, and assisting the public in ensuring construction in Cathedral City is safe, accessible and code compliant.
Services provided by the Building and Safety Division are summarized in the table below.
With the support of the Council through additional staffing, turnaround times for services have been significantly reduced and have also allowed the Division to initiate needed service and program changes and enhancements.
Service Approx. %
Public Assistance
•Website, Counter, Phone and Email
•City Standards and Handouts
•Certificates of Occupancy
•Public Records
35%
Permit Issuance
•“Over the Counter”
•New Construction (Residential and Commercial)
•Remodels and Additions (Residential and Commercial)
•Monthly and Quarterly Reporting
30%
Plan Review
•In-house
•Contract
20%
Inspections
•Permits
•Business License
•Code Compliance Division (unpermitted construction and complaints) •Fire, Vehicle and other Damage (from Dispatch)
•California Disabled Access and ADA Compliance
10%
Department Initiatives
•Administration
•Program Development (Mobile Home Park Inspections)
•Staff Development
•Community Engagement
•Technology and Innovation Enhancements
5%
Code Compliance
The Code Compliance Division includes the following positions:
•Code Compliance Manager
•Administrative Assistant
•Code Compliance Officer II (x2)
•Code Compliance Officer I (x4)
•Analyst I
•Office Assistant (reception area)
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The City’s Code Compliance Division is responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable statutes or ordinances and managing programs that will maintain and improve property values and the quality of life within the community. The Division places an emphasis on public relations, education, and voluntary compliance with the law. By implementing new methods of enforcement, with an increased emphasis on education, the Division has been able to provide the citizens of Cathedral City with a healthier, safer, and more attractive place to live, work, and play.
Services provided by the Code Compliance Division are summarized in the table below.
Many services have expanded to weekend and night coverage (Friday – Sunday) and a proactive approach has been implemented to address a variety of compliance and visual nuisance issues.
Service Approx. %
General Code Enforcement
•Property Maintenance and Landscape
•Abandoned/Inoperative Vehicle Abatement
•Sidewalk Repair
•Shopping Carts
•Bulky Items and Illegal Dumping
•Abandoned Properties
•Sidewalk Vendors
•Cannabis
70%
STVR Program Administration & Enforcement
•Licensing
•Inspections
•STVR Reports and Records
•Coordination with Code Compliance Officers
10%
Administrative Support
•Intake of Complaints
•Filing/Removing Liens
•Notary Services
•Reports
5%
Vehicle Enforcement (on public streets)
•Patrol
•Marking Vehicles
•Citations
•Towing
5%
Public Assistance
•Website, Counter, Phone and Email
•MyCathedralCity App
•Garage Sale Permits
•Citations and Fines
5%
Department Initiatives
•Administration
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•Program Development (Proactive Enforcement)
•Staff Development
•Community Engagement
•Technology and Innovation Enhancements
5%
FISCAL IMPACT:
The original published budget for the Development Services Department (all divisions) for FY 22-23 was $4,107,460. The total amended budget (all divisions) for FY22-23 reflecting amendments through 12-31-2022 is $4,355,247.