5.2. SR 01-26-2004Item 5.2.
River
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Mayor and City Council
FROM:
DATE:
Stephen Rohlf, Building and Environmental Administrator
January 26, 2004
SUBJECT: Consider Contracting for Apartment Inspections
As discussed with the Council on several occasions, the Building and Environmental
Department is facing an incredible workload. The tremendous increase in building activities
is due largely to recent projects by D. R. Horton and Centex Homes. Staff is trying to avoid
hiring another building inspector to deal with the increased workload because it is
anticipated to return to more normal levels when the projects for these two contractors get
built out.
Typically construction activities slow down in the winter, which gives the Department time
to do inspections on apartments. A rash of home starts this past fail, however, has made the
winter of 2004 a non-typical time. In short, the city's Building Inspectors can't keep up with
building inspections and do apartment inspections both this year. Staff explored the
following options to deal xvith this issue:
License apartments in 2004, but don't inspect them this year. In past discussions,
every-other-year inspections have been considered. This option requires an amendment to
City Code, which now calls for annual inspections. A lot of problems can arise in two years
and staff is not sold on this option.
Turning apartment in.qpections and licensing over to the Fire Department. Staff has
also discussed this option in earnest. A great deal of an apartment inspection is fire related
and it is very common for fire departments to do the inspection and licensing. Bruce West,
Fire Chief, has indicated that he would need additional help if his Department were to take
over apartment inspections and licensing. Staff is looking into this option for 2005.
Hiring a temporary employee to deal with apartment inspections and licensing.
Finding someone qualified on a temporary basis is questionable.
Contract for apartment inspections in 2004. Attached is a proposal from Top Notch
Home Inspection for this service. Cliff Skogstad (Top Notch Home Inspection) is the
former Building Official for the city and is extremely qualified. Staff is recommending the
city contract with Mr. Skogstad's company for apartment inspections.
There are 1,056 apartment units contained in 52 buildings (41 with 10 or more units) within
the City of Elk River. The city charges $15 per apartment unit for its annual license, which
totals $15,840. The total cost for contracting apartment inspections using the figures in the
attached proposal comes to $12,610, leaving the city $3,230 for the administration of the
licenses. Money to pay for contracting apartment inspections would have to come from
Council Contingency Funds.
Staff has two issues regarding the Top Notch Home Inspection proposal. One is whether or
not to withhold some of the payment until corrections to an apartment, if any, are followed
through on. The second issue is ensuring that apartment inspections are done in a timely
manner. Mr. Skogstad will be at the Council Meeting to discuss this issue.
January 22, 2004
Top Notch Home Inspection
19889 Lander St. NW, Elk River, MN
55330
For All Your Inspection Needs
MR Steven Rohlf
Building and Zoning Administrator
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Road
Elk River, MN 55330
Re; Proposal for inspection services all of the apartment buildings in Elk River.
Dear MR Rohlf
Thank you.for the opportunity to provide a proposal for the inspections of the city's
apartment. Provided for you is a break down of the service Top Notch Home Inspection
will provide.
1. Inspect all the apartment unit, garages and common areas such as corridors,
mechanical rooms, game rooms and storage areas.
2. Provide a report on all apartment buildings to the Building Department and to the
landlord of corrections needed or if they can be licensed.
3. Re-inspect for corrections to determine if the apartment can be issued a license
4. All scheduling of inspections will be through Top Notch Home Inspections.
All legal actions needed for code compliance, notices of inspections and licensing will be
the city's responsibility.
All inspections will be billed at the end of each month, all inspections will be billed at the
completion of the first inspection, and the fees for this service are as follows.
$10.00 per unit
$ 50.00 per building commons, corridors, mechanical and storage areas for
buildings containing 10 or more units.
Clifford M Skogstad
Top Notch Home Inspection
Steven Rohlf
Building and Zoning Administrator
Date
Date