Commissioner jacobo here. Commissioner tam present. We have a quorum. Our item is item 2, president s announcements. President mccarthy good morning, everybody. Welcome to november 2020 b. I. C. Commission, once again apologizy in advance if i mispronounce anybodys names. Im president of the building inspection commission. And im joined by fellow commissioners and director, Patrick Oriordan and staff. Mayor breed of the Public Health director, the city is unfortunately experiencing another increase in covid cases and hospitalizations. Resulting in more than citywide measures as of november 13 that hopefully will reduce the pandemic infections. D. B. I. Leadership and staff for the ongoing hard work under these complicated circumstances. Even though the Public Health protocols, our new space is open on a limited basis to the public and the department continues to issue permits, conduct and schedule onsite job inspections and respond to complaints and task Code Enforcement steps as warranted. The director and the staff have been communicating regularly with customers and stakeholders on the departments progress and issuing more permits and addressing customers needs. Well hear more on this in the commission meeting. I want to take a minute to congratulate the city newly elected and reelected supervisors based upon the november 3rd election results, including one of our own, we look forward to working closely with her in district 7. Supervisor melgar. It was a good race. Im proud to be in district 7. Look forward to working with her. On behalf of the commission, i want to thank who ever is washing their clothes, can you stop i want to congratulate lily maddist who is leaving the department and moving to the new position with the transbay joint authority. She began her career in november 2006 with the Public Utilities commission and with the mayors Communication Office and joining d. B. I. In august 2014. Lilys professionalism and skills have been much appreciated and valued during her tenure and we wish her every success with her new exciting responsibilities. Is lily online with us today, madame secretary . Hi, angus. Im in the middle of president comments, but i wanted to congratulate you. Thank you, angus, take care. President mccarthy finally i want to remind everybody we continue to achieve our safety and on behalf of all the commissioners, we say thank you, again, to our hardworking and dedicated professionals for the terrific jobs theyre doing and have been doing under this enormous stress caused by the deadly virus. These constant adjustments and flexibility, and were deeply impressed with our staffs achievements to date. Obviously, i want to wish everybody a happy thanksgiving to all our staff and to all the city family and to my fellow commissioners and all out there, stakeholders and everybody who uses d. B. I. Have a happy and safe thanksgiving. Thank you for joining our Virtual Commission meeting today. And please continue to participate and that concludes my comments. President comments, madame secretary. Secretary thank you. I just wanted to we have our certificate of appreciation from the commission for lily. I dont know if you can see it. Well give it to her in person. And also director oriordan wanted to wish her something as well. President mccarthy can we do that now . Yes, we can do it now. President mccarthy great, thank you. Lily, youre back on. Yes. Lily . Is it okay if i say a few words. Maybe you can allow me to share my screen if you wouldnt mind, thank you. Yes, yes. You can begin while i figure the screensharing privileges. Id just to like to say lily, d. B. I. Communications director is leaving us after six years of service to the department. I want to congratulate her on her new position at the Transbay Joint Powers Authority. And thank her for her many contributions to d. B. I. It has been an eventful six years in the department, especially in the last six months. And her role is critical to keeping our customers and stakeholders informed about d. B. I. Services. Thank you, lily, for your service. We wish you well in your new position and youve got to promise to keep in touch. Were going to hold you to that. If i can share my screen here, i will try to um okay. So can you all see my screen . So this is not going to be a virtual award. It is actually a piece of paper behind glass in a frame and it is a real award that will be presented to lily here at the office today. But i just wanted you all to see what is being presented to her. And we truly appreciate her service over the past six years like i said. And we wish her every best wish for the future. Thank you, lily. Would you like to say a few words . Hello, everyone. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. Sorry, im speaking on behalf of john because my computer wasnt working. Its been my pleasure to work for the department of building inspection. Its been great to work with you, the commission, the staff. The different programs weve had, mandatory, accessible business entrance, accessory dwelling unit. Now i have a better understanding how the Building Code works and the Different Things that im very proud of and im proud of the different work weve done over the years. Thank you so much. Its definitely bittersweet. Again, im actually leaving the city. Ive been working for the city over 14 years. I joined about 14 years ago during thanksgiving week. And im leaving actually during thanksgiving week. Which is kind poignant i guess. So its going to be really interesting on my next adventure at the Transbay Joint Powers Authority and working on the transit center. But i thank you again. I thank everyone on staff and our different partners throughout the city and working together on d. B. I. And the initiatives and efforts. Thank you so much. Thank you, lily. And thank you, patrick, for that. And thank you fort certification. Were losing for my commissioners familiar were losing a really good one here. Calm, cool, collective. Never panics under pressure and gets the job done. Shes always watched my back and told me, no, angus, thats not the way we can do it, we can only do it this way. And was always diplomatic with me and helped me through and had me scripted and was there for me and had my back particularly in the public arena. We lost bill, now losing why you, im feeling alone here. But im so happy for you, its a huge job youre taking on and i know it was a hard decision for you after many years at d. B. I. Good luck to you. Youre going to be amazing no matter where you go. Thanks, angus, thanks, everyone. [applause] congratulations. Thank you, lily, congratulations. Thank you, commissioners. Is there any Public Comment on the president s announcement . Seeing none, then our next item is item 3, general Public Comment. Well take Public Comment on the matters within the jurisdiction which are not part of this agenda. We have one caller, john. Sorry, lily was handing off the computer. No problem. Caller 4159, youre unmuted. This is me, Kevin Oconnor, am i unmuted . Good morning, thank you. Members of the b. I. C. Thank you for the opportunity to share my story and seek resolution in arabance with of our Construction Permit for our home. My name is Kevin Oconnor im a fourth generation san franciscan and speaking on behalf of myself and my 87yearold retired teacher, marilyn james, who is in hospice care. Back in december 2017, we applied for a permit to remodel and expand our home. A street both of us were raised on. Now three years later, were farther from issuance than we were when we applied. Were in limbo as every time we achieve approval, he has more tasks. In fact, not only does he admit he cant get it done soon, he wont even explain what needs to be done. I still to this day have not received any other answers. At this point, patience is not the issue. The countless delays have my mothers savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars as the neighborhood nuisance and liability. And that is why i appeal to you. My questions are. Number one, why is our permit delayed while identical permit was issued . Why are the new requirements what are the new requirements and why were they added . Why is d. B. I. Declaring when it was wasnt required for 159 meryeta. And number four, why still no work order in place even though i have other valid permits like exterior. And why has no one answered my previous request to remove the order like the failing safety fence . And then why did d. B. I. Issue us an n. O. D. Even though i had not built retaining walls. The policy dictates that this be treated try to wrap up. In fact, many of the actions i bottom line i want to thank all of you for what has been done and chief inspector, i appreciate all the help, but have no one to turn to, so please help. Thank you very much. Sorry i went so fast. Thank you, caller. Appreciate your comments. This is commissioner clinch. I just want to state for the record that mr. Oconnor did reach out to me. I basically reminded him explained to him that the only real way i could help him as commissioner and as a if he wanted to get the if he wanted to state his case to the commission in Public Comment. I want to say that for the record. Thank you. Are there any further callers . Seeing none, next item is item 4. Commissioners questions and matters. A. Inquiries to staff. At this time commissioners may make inquiries to staff regarding various documents, policies, practices and procedures which are of interest to the commission. And just as a reminder, before we get to this item, if you arent speaking, if you could mute yourself. Members of the public, again, im sorry, we are meeting remotely. If you are listening and you would like to call in, the call in number is 14156550001. Access code, 146 145 0470. And to raise your hand for Public Comment on a specific agenda item, press star 3 when prompted by the meeting moderator. Thank you. And then back to president mccarthy. President mccarthy secretary, i guess commissioner moss, Vice President moss, has any comments . Vice president moss no comment at this time. Commissioner alexandertut is chief Housing Inspector [indiscernible] secretary i dont see him on the call. Yes, i do. Yes, i do see him on the call. President mccarthy yes. Commissioner alexandertut i wanted to ask about as its getting colder, specifically in the housing code section, 204 violation, it specifically calls out fire hot water and heat as the possibility of a misdemeanor or infraction. You know for failing to for outstanding violations. And i just wanted to ask for your response to what is the departments procedure for as were getting to the colder months and the rainy months, for the heating ordinance . Before i answer, id like this acknowledge commissioner alexandertut, happy birthday . Commissioner alexandertut thank you [laughter]. Yes. We enforce the heat ordinance when were in buildings to check boilers. Make sure that the time clock is properly set. Within 24 hours. We do that even under the code of restrictions. An essential violation allegation that we respond to in 24 hours. I dont know if we have candidates for the criminal citation right now. There is one that were looking at. And you know, i wanted to acknowledge your help in helping us to connect with the new District Attorney during the really early days of the covid emergency when we were able to use the criminal citation power to enforce the health order, the s. R. O. S, where Christina Dang has been doing some of her work. I really helped turn around the situation both with a number of s. R. O. Hotels, and there was another one. We saw a really miraculous turnaround with some of those. And we couldnt have done it without your help. So thank you. Thank you. And just to clarify. So you do a citation, you respond to a complaint, you issue the citation and then at what point im just im curious about this enforcement power you have under section 204. At what point does it become you know it seems like you look at directors hearings. You know, we hear penalties from the department. What is the difference between those actions and misdemeanors and infractions . Can they coincide . Can you just explain how those three things interact . Well, its an important tool. Its a tool that i was involved in helping to develop in the 90s with supervisor roberta. If anybody remembers when she was a member. A lot of people in the community and myself and the supervisor had a series of meetings where we felt a criminal citation would make the property owner, the landlord take the violation more seriously. So the department it was kind of a trial and error process. When you saw an owner that was not going to comply, thats when you used that. We didnt have much luck using it, because it ended up in the hall of justice with judges who see more difficult arent really interested in the housing Code Violations issue, so they got tossed. But we met with the District Attorney and renewed that tool. It has helped a lot. There is a building with a fire exit issue. Weve been discussing it. And see if that would be a good candidate for using that tool. Weve talked to a couple different people at the District Attorneys office. So we talked to one person originally. We found another person that helped us move on. So thats where were at right now. Commissioner alexandertut thank you. Thats all my questions. Thank you, president. President mccarthy thank you, commissioner. I do agree with you. I know you will see some of these cases coming up, particularly with the heat and the cold coming in. Turnaround time to get the boilers up and running was the big one we used to come across. But you know, hopefully every landlord will be doing the right thing. Okay. Commissioner clinch . Commissioner clinch nothing for me, thank you. President mccarthy commissioner jacobo. Commissioner jacobo i wanted to thank commissioner tut for bringing that up and wish her happy birthday again, but no, nothing else for me thank you. Commissioner tam it doesnt look like he has comments. Commissioner tam i had technical difficulties. Thank you. President mccarthy okay. Madame secretary, no Public Comment on that . Secretary all right. So the next item is 4b, future meetings agendas. At this time the commission may discuss and take action to set the date of a special meeting and or determine those items that could be placed on the agenda of the next meeting and the other future meetings. Our next meeting is december 16. President mccarthy so december 16, if thats okay with everybody. I always check in. Do we have enough for quorum . Is there anybody ill open the floor. Is there anybody who would not be here . Okay. Ill reach out again as it gets closer. President mccarthy yeah, and obviously, if anyone has action item, for special meeting between now and then to let you know. Okay. Through the chair, if i could say that not a question about the next meeting. I need to say that i need to leave at 1 00. Does that affect the quorum . I do believe were going to be okay. I think were going to be out of here by 12 30. Ive been trying to keep it light fort holidays, thanksgiving, christmas. Ill hit you heavy in january, so dont be making any appointments then. [laughter] secretary any Public Comment on 4a or b . Seeing none, item 5. Update regarding d. B. I. s initiatives to accelerate permit processing during the health crisis. President mccarthy interim director, thank you. Hi. Sonya, can i share my screen . Secretary sure. President mccarthy justine, sorry, is doing the presentation. Thank you. Good morning, president and commissioners. This is the department of building inspection. And in my presentation this morning, ill provide an update on our permit services and our initiative to heat up the permitting speed up the permitting process. Quick recap. Our current permit processes, weve converted all overthecounter permits, paper, as well as the inhouse review, from the digital system. We have auto generated permits, reroofing permits. People go online and pull those permits down. We have a system to expedite any emergency permits. And we continue to use the electronic plan review. We just want the accessory dwelling units, which ill talk about more later in the presentation. And we still take inhouse review. Were still processing inhouse review permits that were already submitted electronically and were taking permits for 100 Affordable Housing and Development Agreement projects. Our inperson overthecounter services we continue to do our note plan dropin service from 7 30 a. M. To 9 30 monday through friday. The volume fluctuates, but we average two a day in the morning. The fire takes in the fireonly permits down on the first floor of the building. And from 9 30 to 3 30 p. M. , customers can drop off over the counter permits am indications. Thats applications. Thats by appointment only. Our numbers are tracking about the same as what i reported last month. Precovid, before march of this year, we were issuing about 110 permits a day. And last month we issued approximately 100 permits a day. Were just below our precovid numbers and continuing to look at ways that we can increase the number of permits were issuing per day. We also issue on average about 130 trade permits a day, and those are the electrical, mechanical, plumbing, boiler permits that are on our online system. So addressing some of the permitting challenges and the initiatives that weve implemented over the past few months. We continue to work on Technology Improvements and work flow improvements to streamline the digital processing system. [please stand by] we are hiring an executive level permit services administrator. We have finished the interview process for that. We have chosen a candidate going through the background check process. We hope to have him on board in the next few weeks, and we continue to add permits tech. We are helping with that administrative work with possessing permits. We continue to offer over time to the staff so we ca