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RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE MAYOR OR DESIGNEE TO PREPARE A REPORT WITHIN NINETY (90) DAYS OUTLINING THE BEST METHODOLOGY AND IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE TO STREAMLINE AND ENHANCE THE EFFICIENCY, CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PERMITTING AND INSPECTION PROCESSES

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WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County, through its Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources and through its Fire Rescue Department, reviews plans, issues permits, and conducts inspections throughout unincorporated Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, the development of new commercial properties and the renovation of current commercial and residential properties in Miami-Dade County can create a significant source of economic development and job creation in our community; and
WHEREAS, small businesses in the United States are an integral component of the economy, and represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms; and
WHEREAS, investors looking to engage in large development projects, as well as entrepreneurs looking to open mom-and-pop shops, have to navigate the permitting and inspection process in Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, it has been reported that County inspectors are giving business and property owners inconsistent information and reasons for the failure of an inspection, resulting in delays, frustration, and confusion; and
WHEREAS, inefficient permitting processes, lack of customer service and support, and inconsistencies within the permitting and inspection process can result in structures being constructed without permits, creating a hazard to the public and future problems related to the purchase and sale of those properties with unpermitted improvements; and
WHEREAS, inefficient and inconsistent permitting processes deter business growth, development, and investments in our community, negatively impacting our local economy; and
WHEREAS, streamlining and enhancing the efficiency, customer service, and accountability of the Miami-Dade County permitting and inspection processes, including but not limited to the Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources and the Fire Rescue Department processes, should stimulate investments in development projects and increase the creations of small businesses in our community and the frequency in which permitted improvements are made to residential properties,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Directs the Mayor or designee to prepare a report outlining the best methodology and implementation schedule to streamline and enhance the efficiency, customer service, and accountability of the Miami-Dade County permitting and inspection processes, including but not limited to the Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources and the Fire Rescue Department processes, so as to encourage and foster growth, development, and improvements for businesses and residential properties in Miami-Dade County. The report shall consider, but is not limited to, the following:
a) When a permit is pulled for a property there should be one inspector per trade who should complete all trade inspections for that property until the permit is closed-out.
b) Review the manner in which inspectors are currently assigned and make any necessary changes to the assignment process, so that it focuses on making inspectors available and assigning them to complete all trade inspections for a property with an open permit, as outlined above.
c) Each inspector should have a supervisor who should actively oversee the permitting and inspection processes. If a property or business owner is given inconsistent information or direction at any time during the permitting and inspection processes, the assigned supervisor should be notified and should be in charge of resolving the inconsistency.
d) Implementation of a system in which each inspector should create a written report of what is told to a business or property owner during each inspection. The supervisor assigned to that inspector should review and sign-off on the report. If there are any inconsistencies between any reports created throughout the inspection process for an open permit, the supervisor should be notified and should be in charge of resolving the inconsistency.
e) Whenever an inspector goes to complete an inspection, said inspector should inform the business or property owner of the name of his/her supervisor, the supervisor�s contact information, and that the business or property owner can contact the supervisor if he/she is not satisfied with the inspector�s service.
f) All supervisors and inspectors, including but not limited to those from the Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources and the Fire Rescue Department, should complete customer service training.
g) Create a physical one-stop information and processing center for pulling permits and calling for inspections in Miami-Dade County, including, but is not limited to, the permitting and inspection processes of the Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources and the Fire Rescue Department.

h) Review the manner in which inspectors are trained, including but not limited to the Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources and the Fire Rescue Department inspectors, and increase or enhance the training of these inspectors so as to reconcile any inconsistencies between inspections in Miami-Dade County.
i) Any other changes that would streamline and enhance the efficiency, customer service, and accountability of the Miami-Dade County permitting and inspection processes, particularly, but not limited to the Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources and the Fire Rescue Department processes.
Section 2. The report shall be presented to this Board within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this resolution.