HomeMy WebLinkAboutMeeting SummaryCity of Oshkosh
Division of Inspection Services
PO Box 1130
Oshkosh, WI 54903-1130
(920) 236-5050 (920) 236-5084 FAX
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°~ TAE WATER Advisory Committee on Inspection Services
Summary of April 1, 2009 Meeting
Present: Allyn Dannhoff, Jason Geffers, Tom Karrels, Jeff Rasmussen, Ryan Olson, Del Tritt
Absent: Dan Shea, Tony Cook, Deb Lederhaus
Meeting commenced at 2:00 PM
Allyn handed out the packets with the agenda and explained that he e-mailed them to the members so they
could review it before the meeting. He also doesn't want to take time from the meeting going over the previous
Meeting Summaries and would like you to review them and get back to him with any comments/concerns.
Review Permit Fee Increase Suggestions
Allyn explained the suggested fee increases were developed by comparing our fee schedule to those of our
sister cities and developing fee increase that would not put us on the high or low end of the spectrum but in the
middle. Allyn estimated the 2008 permit fees equaled about 75% of the Division's budget last year, and the
suggested increases may equal about 80- 85% for 2010. Allyn would like to get a Permit Fee Increase proposal
ready by the end of August, 2009 to have the new fee schedule go into effect January 1, 2010.
Allyn advised that in response to previous comments about Plumbing fees for replacement fixtures that the
office is now tracking replacement fixture versus new or relocated fixture permits. He stated hopefully by the
end of summer we would have a better handle of the difference in revenue that would make if we would opt to
not have permits or a reduced fee for replacement fixtures. One member responded that he feels the mechanical
contractors are taking a big hit on these fee increases. Allyn explained that the building contractors usually
typically pay larger fees than the mechanical contractors and has placed some effort at increasing the
mechanical permit fees so those fees would cover a greater percentage of each mechanical program. Some
concern was expressed about the Plumbing Fees in table 6 because they were higher than the Building Permit
Fee. Allyn advised he would take a look at that issue and re-evaluate the fees.
Another member suggested establishing set or category fees for furnaces and air conditioners. In the example
given table 6 for a new single family residence he says that $4800.00 for new construction for a furnace and a/c
seems low. He thought that maybe you may have some contractors that would put in top line equipment and
take the permit value for bottom line equipment. Allyn indicated this is a concept that has been given thought
in the past, the
A comment was made towards the fact that he feels that residential is being hit harder than commercial and
industrial from a permit fee to value ratio stance. Allyn advised regardless of any increases, permit fees
generally do represent a higher value for residential and other lower valued projects than high valued projects.
Yet high valued projects pay many times more in permit fees than what is paid for a new home.
Allyn then advised the members, that the division did attempt to devise a new fee schedule taking many of these
ideas into account. In this effort, the Fee schedule from Green Bay was used as a pattern, because they had
created a system that categorizes projects based on residential, multifamily and commercial/industrial. The
division then took a two week period and applied the fees to all permits issued during this two week period.
What was discovered was the Green Bay style fee schedule caused confusion and inconsistency in applying the
fees. Even when calls were made to Green Bay for clarification, the answers were not always consistent. As a
result, the staff determined that the benefit of Oshkosh's Fee Schedule is its simplicity. Therefore a
determination was made to keep this schedule to avoid the complications that would be encountered with other
fee schedules. He also stated he would take the feed back that he received and take another look at the schedule
increases. There will be more discussion at the next meeting.
Overview -Code Changes
Allyn wanted to remind everyone that the Safety & Buildings Summary of Uniform Dwelling Code Changes
are in effect starting April 1, 2009.
Future Meeting -Next meeting is scheduled for July 1, 2009 at 2pm in room 404.
Meeting adjourned at 2:35 pm
Respectfully Submitted,
Sandra Steinike