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Home My WebLink About1995-01-24 - AGENDA REPORTS - EARTHQUAKE RECOVERY UNIT (2)AGENDA REPORT CONSENT CALENDAR DATE: January 24, 1995 City Manager Item to be presented by: &1\ Ruben M. Barrera SUBJECT: CONTINUATION OF THE "NO FEE" EARTHQUAKE REPAIR PERMITS AND THE EARTHQUAKE RECOVERY UNIT DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Background Shortly after the January 17, 1994 earthquake, the City Council, in an effort to assist its residents, determined that earthquake repair permits would be issued for "no fee. In addition, the Earthquake Recovery Unit was established to provide the necessary resources and a central location for the administration and processing of inspection services for earthquake repairs. The City received the financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the California Office of Emergency Services (OES) to provide these services. It was anticipated that the recovery period would be completed within one year. During the recovery period, it has become apparent that the amount of property damage exceeded the initial estimates. Approximately10,000 safety assessments of earthquake damage were made during the first five months of the recovery period. An estimate of the length of the recovery period was based on these assessments. However, additional permits have been and continue to be issued for repairs of earthquake damage that had not been previously identified during the damage assessment inspection period. The number of buildings that are currently undergoing repairs, and those for which permits will be obtained soon, will demand additional and ongoing inspection and engineering services from Building & Safety. A sense of the amount of earthquake damage inspections to be completed for these repairs is as follows: Inspections required for currently active permits .......... . ..... 3,515 Anticipated inspections required for permits not yet issued ....... 14,531 (See attached report by Earthquake Recovery Unit) Total Estimated Inspections to be Performed for Earthquake Repair Permits ............... IQ ndR This workload continues to exceed the current staffing capacity of this Division. Based on this data, it is anticipated that an additional $1,146,000 will be necessary to complete this work through the Earthquake Recovery Unit and continue the "no fee" earthquake repair permit process. Reimbursement for the cost to provide these services is anticipated from FEMA/OES. Staff is recommending that we continue with the services of the consultant, Willdan Associates, who has managed the Earthquake Recovery Unit for the past eleven months. We believe that a continuation of these services would, be in the best interest of the public and the City. Recommendation 1. City Council approve and increase in estimated revenues account #90-3597-1994 Earthquake Reimbursement, in the amount of $1,146,000 to be funded by FEMA grant. 2. City Council appropriate a total of $1,146,000 in account #90-29937-227 Willdan Turnkey Contractual Services expenditure account. 3. City Council approve the continuation of issuance of fee exempt permits for repairs and reconstruction of earthquake -damaged buildings and approve $1,146,000 for Building & Safety services at the Earthquake Recovery Unit by Willdan Associates. Attachment - Exhibit A RKRMB:ce www1512495eq.rmb INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM CITY OF SANTA CLARITA To: Ruben Barrera Building Official I From: Richard Kopecky Deputy Building Official Earthquake Recovery Unit Date: December 7, 1994 Subject: Status Report Earthquake Recovery As we discussed, the earthquake recovery period is nearing the one year milestone and, there is a significant amount of recorded earthquake damage that has either not been repaired or been repaired without permit. In addition, we issue almost as many earthquake repair permits (80%) for projects without a safety assessment on file as those with a safety assessment. This is not unusual since many homeowners were able to determine the extent of the earthquake damage and called in their insurance company to make their damage assessment report. Another trend that we are seeing is that insurance companies are beginning to settle with homeowners that have homes that required more extensive analysis to determine the specific cause of the earthquake damage and the appropriate corrective measures. There may also be an increase in the number of chimney repairs as a result of the recent publicity on chimney fires. What we expect is that there would be no reduction in the number of earthquake repair permits being issued for earthquake damage that was not previously reported to the City. There is more detailed data available since the last estimate. We have determined the number of inspections necessary to complete all active permits and for the damage shown on those safety assessments for which a permit has yet to be issued. The details of our estimate are as follows: ❑ Current active permits (1,387) Inspections required............................................................... 3,515 Sub Total 3,515 ❑ Safety Assessments (No permit issued) ■ Wall damage interior and exterior 6742 x 1 inspection each ........................................................6,742 ■ Roof damage 251 x 2 inspections each ...........................................................502 ■ Shear wall repairs 52 x 3 inspections each.............................................................156 ■ Patios, porches, balconies, or carports 265 x 3 inspections each ...........................................................795 Status Report December 7, 1994 Page 2 ■ Pools (minor damage) 455 x 1 inspection each.............................................................455 ■ Water heaters 116 x 1 inspection each.............................................................116 ■ Foundation damage 799 x 2 inspections ■ Chimneys/Fireplaces 976 x 4 inspections ■ Block wall damage 1080 x 3 inspections ■ No Safety Assessments each........................................................1,598 each........................................................3,904 each......................................................3,240 Sub Total 17,508 80%, of all inspections necessary for safety assessments documented .80 x 17508............................................................................................14,006 Sub Total 14,006 Total Estimated Remaining Inspections 35,029 The earthquake recovery unit has averaged 1.87 inspections per inspector per hour. With five inspectors this averages 75 inspections per day. The table below presents some possible time frames to complete various percentages of the remaining inspections. Date June 30, 1995 September 30, 1995 December 30, 1995 April 30, 1996 September 30, 1996 Remaining Inspections Completed 14% 45% 58% 75% 100% However, what may happen is that minor repairs to walls, water heaters, etc. will be repaired without a permit or not repaired at all. Assuming this is the case, we estimate the following inspections would be necessary. ■ Current Active Permits...................................................................................3,515 ■ Safety Assessments (No permit issued).......................................................8,073 ■ No Safety Assessments.................................................................................6,458 18,046 MEMORANDUM Status Report December 7, 1994 Page 3 Utilizing these adjusted total inspections results in the following time scenarios. Date Remaining Inspection Completed June 30, 1995 61% August 30, 1995 75% November 30, 1995 100% Based on our experience with other earthquake recovery programs in California, a two year recovery period is normal. The November 30, 1995 completion date would fit within the normal recovery period. During the first 10 months of the recovery period, the average clerical, plan review, facility and permit issuance expenses have been approximately 1.6 times the expenses for inspection. This includes time for providing 'a representative at FEMA for 6 days per week, inspecting damaged chimneys for removal by the California Conservation Corps, repairing the damaged filing system, retrieving grading and geotechnical reports and issuance of encroachment permits for debris removal. Since some of the programs (debris removal and FEMA assistance) will not extend beyond December and some are complete (repair of the filing system) we anticipate a reduction in these expenses to 1.2 times the inspection expenses. Based on this analysis, the expected funds needed to provide no -fee earthquake repair permits for the various time sequences above is as follows: Date Additional Funds June 30, 1995 $573,000 November 30, 1995 $1,146,000 April 30, 1995 $1,719,000 September 30, 1996 $2,292,000 hope this information is sufficient for your needs. The detail was included to provide data for a Disaster Survey Report currently being prepared by the Emergency Preparedness Section. cc: Adele Macpherson Suzanne Lauver RK:rvh "hu