HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdditional Appropriation of $150,000 for Professional Fire P � _)�� -I-/ .
City of Huntington Beach
File #: 19-1096 MEETING DATE: 11/18/2019
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Oliver Chi, City Manager
PREPARED BY: David A. Segura, Fire Chief
Subject:
Approve additional appropriation of $150,000 for professional Fire Prevention inspection, plan
check, and environmental engineering services, and increase professional services authority
accordingly
Statement of Issue:
The Fire Department requires professional fire prevention inspection, plan check, and environmental
engineering services on an as-needed basis. These professional services are critical to making sure
development related and inspection services are provided to the community in a timely manner. The
Department requests an additional appropriation of$150,000 for these services.
Financial Impact:
The FY 2019/20 budget for professional services under 10065201.69365 is currently $100,000 so an
additional allocation of $150,000 is requested. The recommended action is primarily cost-neutral
since a major portion of these expenditures are reimbursed by developers and also offset by
revenues generated from inspection and plan review services.
Recommended Action:
A) Approve an additional appropriation of $150,000 for Fire Prevention inspection, plan check and
environmental engineering services as these expenditures are primarily cost-neutral and generally
offset by reimbursements from developers and revenues generated from inspection and plan review
services; and,
B) Increase the Fire Department's professional services authority by $150,000 to ensure compliance
with Administration Regulation No. 228.
Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve the additional appropriation and provide staff with alternative direction.
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File #: 19-1096 MEETING DATE: 11/18/2019
Analysis:
The Fire Prevention Division is responsible for enforcing local, state, and federal codes in order to
reduce the loss of life and property from preventable fires and other emergencies. These
responsibilities are achieved through the use of professional services to cover the increase in
workload.
In Fiscal Year 2018/19, the Fire Prevention Division conducted 10,050 inspections and 1,870
development and fire protection/life safety plan check reviews that yielded approximately $1.2 million
in annual revenues. These inspections covered businesses, residential facilities, hazardous materials
occupancies, oil wells, and new construction. This Division also performed annual inspections of
approximately 1,992 multi-family residential complexes as mandated by the State.
Whenever City staff can no longer meet the increased demands of development activity, including
performing life safety, business, and state mandated inspections, these services are usually
supplemented with professional fire prevention inspection and plan review consulting services. This
approach is a cost effective method of closing the gap between the demands for inspection and plan
review services and the ability of City staff to meet those demands.
Typical Fire Prevention inspection, plan check, and environmental engineering services include:
• Performing over the counter plan check services and consultations
• Performing plan checks for detailed technical projects, including oil well abandonments
• Performing field inspections of operational fire permits, fire protection systems, fire master
plans, and architectural plans
• Determining plan compliance with applicable codes, specifications, and City standards
• Submitting a list of items requiring correction to achieve conformance with City regulations
• Providing technical reports of findings and recommendations
The Fire Prevention Division is taking steps in evaluating our service priorities and the potential of
redirecting a portion of our staff hours based upon a community risk assessment. Our mission will
remain intact while we find ways to reduce our use of professional services. We also recognize that
the volume of new development and redevelopment in Huntington Beach can fluctuate year-to-year.
We will continue to monitor the need for contract services and create a long-term staffing plan based
upon the ability to fulfill the mission of our division while addressing the ebb and flow of development
and redevelopment needs.
The Fire Department is requesting an additional appropriation for professional environmental
engineering and plan check/fire inspection services. The current funding for FY 2019/20 is $100,000
and is anticipated to be exhausted by the end of the calendar year. An additional appropriation of
$150,000 to the Fire Prevention business unit (10065201.69365) is requested. This amount will
sustain these services through June 30, 2020. These expenditures are primarily cost-neutral since a
major portion of the services are reimbursed by developers and offset by General Fund revenues
generated from cost recovery fees associated with fire inspection and plan check services.
The additional allocation is needed to enable the Fire Prevention Division maintain its mission of
providing development related and inspection services to the community in a timely manner.
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File #: 19-1096 MEETING DATE: 11/18/2019
Environmental Status:
None.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Enhance and modernize public safety service delivery
Attachment(s):
None.
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