In response to various letters to the editor, I feel that it is
necessary to provide information that is based on fact.
1. It was asserted by one writer that zero permits have been
issued in the last 18 months and none would be issued in 2004 and
2005. In fact, the number of permits issued in the last 18 months
is 1,230. Eight hundred twenty-three of those permits were issued
during the 2003 calendar year.
In response to various letters to the editor, I feel that it is necessary to provide information that is based on fact.
1. It was asserted by one writer that zero permits have been issued in the last 18 months and none would be issued in 2004 and 2005. In fact, the number of permits issued in the last 18 months is 1,230. Eight hundred twenty-three of those permits were issued during the 2003 calendar year. Through Friday, Jan. 23, the building division has issued 42 permits for January 2004.
The moratorium only prohibits the issuance of permits that require a new sewer connection. Structures with existing sewer connections may be added to as long as no new plumbing fixtures are proposed or installed. Plumbing fixtures may only be added to buildings that have not had, nor are proposed to have, square footage added. Permits and inspections are required for this work.
2. It was also asserted that there are 15 planners and building inspectors. The fact is there are two planners in the planning division; an associate planner and a planning manager. The number of staff planners are proposed to remain unchanged.
In the building division there are two building inspectors, two senior building inspectors and the building official. Three of these five positions are proposed to be cut; one building inspector, one senior building inspector and the building official. That will leave one building inspector to perform over 2,300 inspections annually and one senior building inspector to review plans and write permits for the jobs that require plans. Of the 823 permits issued last year, approximately 50 percent required some form of plan review or research prior to issuing the permit.
The proposed cuts in staff will require a commensurate reduction in service. What that reduction will be has not been discussed, but it will adversely affect the number and quality of inspections and plan reviews to be performed.
Ray Proffitt,
Building Official
City of Hollister
