What Happened
The city manager in Columbia, Missouri, wants private building inspectors to provide after-hour services, at a cost to residents. The move would allow for inspections at times when the city is typically closed, and would complement existing services—municipal inspectors would conduct quality assurance audits on the work completed by the private sector.
Who Cares?
Gov1 readers can file this story under “Doing More With Less.” As cities layoff—or choose not to replace—full-time staffers, the outsourcing of traditional municipal functions has become not just an option, but a necessity. As Gov1 has covered recently, other cities such as Peoria (IL) and Chicago have outsourced or consolidated city inspection processes and functions.
Background
In the past year, two city building inspectors retired, and those positions will not be filled. Since those retirements, inspections have been moved out of the Department of Public Works and into a “Community Development” department.
The Genesis
The idea for adding private commercial building inspections came from City Manager Mike Matthes, who was previously the assistant city manager in Des Moines, Iowa. That city allows commercial property owners to hire private inspectors, and has done so since the mid-1980s. Gov1 readers can view the Des Moines municipal code (“Chapter 60: Housing Code”).
Implementation
In order to allow private contractors to perform inspections, a certification process would need to be implemented. Additionally, in Des Moines, city staff still review any inspection work done by a private contractor.
Other Examples
Boulder, Colorado, is seen as a leader in the area of private inspections. In September of 2010, the city passed new SmartRegs ordinances that updated building codes, rental licensing codes, and new baseline energy-efficiency requirements for existing rental housing. As part of the new ordinance, Boulder also made it possible for private contractors to perform inspections. Those interested can ready about how the city licenses and trains inspectors for the SmartRegs ordinance.