Civil Grand Jury report - Superior Court of California

City and County of San Francisco2012-2013 Civil Grand JuryEmergency Orders, achieved abatement of 814 violations, and referred 358cases to the Code Enforcement Section. 2• The Code Enforcement Section received 1,202 complaints, scheduled 705 fora Director’s Hearing, and abated 1970 cases, referring six to the CityAttorney’s Office (CAO). 3• Housing Inspection Services (HIS), which is responsible for 20,194 buildingscomprising 188,716 units, performed 11,142 inspections and abated 3,711complaints. 4b. The Evolution and Mandate of the DepartmentThe DBI is mandated to ensure the safe construction, renovation, and maintenance ofhomes and buildings. San Francisco’s Planning Department is responsible for land usepolicy and planning codes. Prior to 1994 the Bureau of Building Inspection, under theDepartment of Public Works, handled building inspection. In November of that year,tenant advocacy groups dissatisfied with BBI enforcement of housing codes joined withthe powerful Residential Builders Association to place an amendment to the City Charteron the ballot. Proposition G was passed by voters, creating DBI and the BuildingInspection Commission (BIC). 5The seven-member BIC is empowered to “organize, reorganize and manage theDepartment of Building Inspection.” Four members are appointed by the Mayor and threeby the Board of Supervisors.The stated mission of DBI is:Under the direction and management of the seven-member citizen BuildingInspection Commission, to oversee the effective, efficient, fair and safeenforcement of the City and County of San Francisco's Building, Housing,Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing and Disability Access Codes.The BIC appoints the Director of the Department and approves the budget. DBI is an“enterprise” department that generates its own revenue from permit and inspection fees,penalties, and fines and does not receive money from the General Fund. The Departmentdoes not, however, operate on a pure “profit and loss” basis. It has a limited ability tohold funds in reserve and must maintain a balanced budget. Because many larger projectsmay take several years to complete, funds are put in reserve for work done after thecurrent fiscal year. During the 2007-09 economic downturn, revenues and permitapplications decreased to the point where staff layoffs were mandated, leaving thedepartment with a smaller complement and fewer experienced employees to handle thecurrent upswing.The DBI has a troubled history, including two FBI investigations in 2006 and a high rateof turnover in the director position. Since 2005, DBI has had five directors, none ofBuilding a Better Future at the Department of Building Inspection9