HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 17553-05-2007Ordinance No. 17553-05-2007
AN ORDINANCE INCREASING APPROPRIATIONS IN THE ENGINEERING
FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $42;300 AND DECREASING THE UNRESERVED,
UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE BY THE SAME AMOUNT, FOR THE
PURPOSE OF FUNDING BOOKS AND TUITION FROM TARRANT COUNTY
COLLEGE FOR THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT'S CONSTRUCTION
INSPECTION CERTIFICATION PROGRAM; PROVIDING FOR A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; MAKING THIS ORDINANCE CUMULATIVE OF PRIOR ORDINANCES
IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH,
TEXAS:
SECTION 1.
That in addition to those amounts allocated to the various City departments for Fiscal Year 2006-
2007 in the Budget of the City Manager, there shall also be increased appropriations in the
Engineering Fund in the amount of $42,300 and decreasing the unreserved, undesignated fund
balance by the same amount, for the purpose funding books and tuition from Tarrant County
College for the Engineering Department's Construction Inspection Certification program.
SECTION 2.
That should any portion, section or part of a section of this ordinance be declared invalid,
inoperative or void for any reason by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision, opinion or
judgment shall in no way impair the remaining portions, sections, or parts of sections of this
ordinance, which said remaining provisions shall be and remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 3.
That this ordinance shall be cumulative of Ordinance No. 17142 and all other ordinances and
appropriations amending the same except in those instances where the provisions of this ordinance
are in direct conflict with such other ordinances and appropriations, in which instance said
conflicting provisions of said prior ordinances and appropriations are hereby expressly repealed.
SECTION 4.
ADOPTED AND EFFECTIVE: May 22, 2007
This ordinance shall take effect upon adoption.
City of Fort IlVorth, Texas
Mayor and Council Communication
COUNCIL ACTION: Approved on 5/22/2007 -Ordinance No. 17553-05-2007
DATE: Tuesday, May 22, 2007
LOG NAME: 30TCC FOR CICP REFERENCE NO.: **C-22127
SUBJECT:
Authorize Payment to Tarrant County College for Books and Tuition for the City's Construction
Inspection Certification Program and Adopt Supplemental Appropriation Ordinance
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Adopt the attached supplemental appropriation ordinance increasing appropriations in the Engineering
Fund by $42,300 and decreasing the unreserved, undesignated fund balance by the same amount; and
2. Authorize payment to Tarrant County College in the amount of $42,300 for books and tuition for the City's
Construction Inspection Certification Program.
DISCUSSION:
In order to extend the life of its newly constructed infrastructure, the City engaged the services of an
independent engineering consultant to determine what could be done to reduce the potential for premature
infrastructure failure. The consultant has recommended that the City change its street design standards,
control third-party materials testing on new development projects, and increase the level of on-site project
construction inspection.
The City has already changed its design standards and is requiring paving designs that take the existing
site specific soil conditions into consideration. The City has also established and is administering third-party
material testing contracts instead of the work being performed by the developers as in the past. In order to
respond to the need for increasing quantity and quality of on-site inspections, the Engineering Department
has streamlined processes and is providing training and deploying new technology tools to its construction
inspectors.
Staff has determined that the current and projected future capital project needs of the City will require the
construction and inspection of an unprecedented number of capital improvement projects. In anticipation of
future inspection needs, the Engineering Department, with the assistance of Tarrant County College (TCC),
has determined that the current basic and technical skill set levels of its construction inspectors are not
uniform and in some cases not at the desired levels.
In response to the identified training needs, staff searched nationally for an off-the-shelf construction
inspection certification program. It has been determined that no such program exists and that the City
should develop its own program to ensure that future capital projects are more durable and constructed the
Fort Worth way.
The City's Construction Inspection Certification Program is being developed in partnership with TCC. It is
the first in the nation and will serve as a model for other municipalities struggling with aging infrastructure
and limited financial resources. The program combines the investment of multi-year training funds and the
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personal commitment of inspection personnel, which will result in setting the national standard for municipal
construction inspection. It is anticipated that the five level certification program will take several years to
fully implement.
Currently, project workload, staffing levels and desired actual on-site inspection levels require class
attendance after regular working hours. Under the recommended program, the City will pay for books and
tuition and will compensate the inspection personnel while traveling to and attending class. It is estimated
that the cost to the City will be approximately $3,800 per inspector over a three and one-half year period
(excluding salary) to achieve Level I and II training. It is anticipated that the first year salary investment for
the 62 inspectors and construction materials testing personnel will be approximately $250,000. This cost is
approximately 0.125 percent of the construction value of the projects inspected on an annual basis.
The construction inspectors and materials testing personnel have spent the past two semesters attending
classes to develop their computer skills. These efforts were initiated to better prepare the inspection
personnel for the roll out of the City's new Capital Projects Management System (CPMS) and the. use of
electronic reporting forms. Each inspector is currently equipped with a Tough book laptop computer and is
involved in changing the way business is done on a daily basis.
The department is preparing to register its construction inspectors and materials testing personnel in
summer and fall classes. The anticipated cost of books and tuition for these two upcoming semesters is
$42,300. The estimated salary cost for attending the summer and fall classes is $76,800.
Funding for the continuation of the Construction Inspection Certification Program beyond the 2007 Fall
Semester will be included in the Department of Engineering's proposed FY 07/08 budget request.
FISCAL INFORMATION/CERTIFICATION:
The Finance Director certifies that upon approval of the above recommendations and adoption of the
supplemental appropriation ordinance, funds will be available in the current operating budget, as
appropriated, of the Engineering Services Fund.
TO Fund/Account/Centers FROM Fund/Account/Centers
PI19 531180 0302010 $27.100.00
PI19 522030 0302010 $15.200.00
Submitted for City Manager's Office by: Marc A. Ott (8476)
Originating Department Head: A. Douglas Rademaker (6157)
Additional Information Contact: Andy Anderson (8648)
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