BUILDING DEPARTMENT Poised to meet future needs
By Clayton L. Parker, Building Official / Administrator

With several large construction projects at various stages of development in Sunny Isles Beach, the building department is processing an increased number of permitting applications. In anticipation of this increase, several months ago, under the direction of the City Manager, Christopher Russo, Jorge Duyos of JD & Associates worked with the Building Department to examine its operations and ensure that the Building Department was poised to meet these future needs.

After analyzing the impact of increased development on building department operations, Duyos made several recommendations including: 1) additional staffing, 2) a further commitment to customer service, 3) an improvement in technology for permit processing, and 4) a review of the fees schedule.

After reviewing the recommendations from Duyos, the City Manager and I determined a plan of action to handle the increased workload. To demonstrate a commitment to this plan of action, and to help implement the plan, city employee Robert Solera was promoted from his position as a Sr. Code Enforcement Officer in the Code Enforcement and Licensing Department, to the Building Department as Assistant Administrator.

Robert, who holds a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration, has been with the city for four years assisting the Code Enforcement and Licensing Director. Prior to that his professional experience includes 4 years with Miami-Dade County in the Zoning and Planning Department, and 12 years in the private sector in building construction, enforcement and management.

Working with me to increase staffing, Robert is assisting to fill two newly created permit clerk positions. To demonstrate a further commitment to customer service, Robert has been made responsible for training staff and executing any changes in procedures to improve workflow, which in turn will positively impact customer service.

More than a year ago, the city developed a strategy for long-term improvements in technology allowing for automated intradepartmental integration. This strategy involved purchasing a new software system, and included this past year installing a new permitting software application and implementing a new document scanning system. Long-term we anticipate being able to integrate these two applications.

Within this past year the city also entered into a contract with Calvin, Giordano and Associates to build a customized GIS application. GIS applications provide information in a graphics format. This project includes two initial phases, a website application and an in-house application for use by city employees. The GIS website application showing property information and city services debuted in December 2003 and is available on the city's official website, www.sibfl.net through City Maps. The in-house GIS application is scheduled for implementation in the next few months.

Working with the Administrative Services Department we are in the process of producing information for printed brochures and for publishing on the City's website. All of these actions improve service to the community.

The Building Department is in the process of reviewing the fee schedule that dictates the fees associated with various types of permits, with an eye toward minimizing the fees for the simplest of permits typically requested by the average homeowner for minor work.

With a plan of action designed to meet the needs of the increased development in Sunny Isles Beach, and a disciplined approach to executing this plan, it is clear that the Building Department is poised to meet the needs of current and future development in the city.

Building Department staff are here to serve you as facilitators of permit processing. My office always welcomes comments or concerns. You can visit or contact Robert Solera and me at:

17070 Collins Avenue, Suite 268
Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160
305.947.2150
fax: 305.947.5107
www.sibfl.net



TOP