The City of Irving Inspections Department recognizes the value of sharing information in an effort to assist in the development of our industry. We recognize the importance of working together and sharing our efforts with our colleagues, especially in this time of International Code development. Therefore, we would like to share our 10-Year Strategic Plan with you. This plan may or may not be of specific value to you but it is only intended to serve as an example of how a 10-Year Strategic Plan can be developed in a governmental inspections department.

The Plan:

For better understanding we have broken our 10-Year Strategic Plan into phases. Instead of stating specifically what we plan to accomplish in years 1,2,3,…10, we have separated our plan into phases as follows;

Phase 1 (years 1 & 2): In phase one we have listed specific items (28-goals) that we know we will accomplish over the next two years. In this phase it is our intention to list concrete goals that our community will see us successfully achieve. For clarity we also sub-title our goals under headings such as: Update and expand, Reduce, Implement, Department Make-Over, and Future Staffing. This is a technique we use throughout our strategic plan.

Phase 2 (years 3 through 6): In phase two we also mention specific achievements but as we move to the latter years of our plan we begin to make reference to more conceptual achievements (goals) instead of specific achievements.

Phase 3 (years 7 through 10): In phase three we make reference only to conceptual achievements (future goals). Because we are a service-oriented operation and not an operation that has long term capital projects (i.e. building highways) we intend to keep our plan flexible. It is important to recognize that technology may take us in a totally different direction ten years from now. So instead of abandoning our plan in the latter years we have designed it with the understanding to recognize changes in technology and to go with it not against it.

It is our hope that you find our 10-Year Strategic Plan a helpful example and we look forward to seeing things that your organizations are developing. Once again I must reiterate the importance that we place on sharing our efforts to develop our industry during these dynamic and technically evolving times.

INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT STRATEGIC PLAN
Strategic Phases/Departmental Objectives

Phase I - (Years 1 - 2 )

• The adoption of the 2000 International Building Codes
• The adoption of the new State Health Food Code
• The adoption of the new State Pool Code
• The adoption of the new Fence Ordinance
• Development handbook
• Departmental policies & procedures manual
• Inspections department web-site
• Tree identification program web-site
• Training & certification programs
• Number of dangerous & substandard multi-family and hotel/motels
• Number of dangerous & substandard structures
• Number of residential code violations in Irving neighborhoods
• New multi-departmental inspections software
• New Interactive Voice Response System (IVR)
• New computer generated permits
• Interactive GIS mapping (manufactured home parks)
• GIS permit and construction project identification
• Bilingual informational Inspections Procedures brochures
• New e-mail fax directly to PC software capability
• New web-site video streaming (public informational segments)
• New program to change issuance of red-tags to issuance of computer generated inspection reports
• Inspections Department (Zoning/Code Compliance Division)
• Vehicle name change to Inspections Department
• Combine 2nd & 3rd floor customer service staff for improved customer service
• Encourage staff to become more involved in local, state and national code committees and professional organizations
• Be recognized throughout the metroplex (state) as a progressive Inspections Department
• Survey similar size cities & compare staff sizes to construction valuation ($) to maintain high standard of customer service
• Evaluate need to expand staff to support special services (ie: community service workers, arborist, MEP plans examiner)

Phase II - (Years 3 - 6 )

• Adoption of most current up-to-date codes & ordinances (no code older than 5 years)
• Changes in construction methods and technology
• The feasibility of receiving permit fees over the internet
• The feasibility of permit kiosks at remote locations (such as: Home Depot)
• The feasibility of office/in the field Tele-Conferencing (on-call emergency web-cam)
• Professional image with community and code industry (review/improve)
• Feasibility of sending Zoning/Code Compliance staff to police academy
• Document imaging hardware/software
• On-line permitting (interactive applications)
• GIS inventory of trees (arborist)
• Bilingual code/permit information on web-site
• Education of the public on the benefits of new departmental services
• Automated turn-key self service p.c. at front desk (contractor registration/fees)
• Check confirmation software & hardware at front counter (point of use check & return)

Phase III - (Years 7 - 10)

• Internet/e-mail plan review
• Keep abreast of changes in construction technology
• Training & certification programs (all staff certified professionals)
• Staff involvement in local, state & national code and professional organizations
• Improve appearance of facilities, vehicles, and equipment
• Expand understanding of customer needs to expand quality customer service
• Review the feasibility of a program to improve multi-family housing stock through demolition of sub-standard buildings, encourage by tax abatement incentives
• Continue to expand reputation as a progressive Inspections Department