Article LV. BUILDING PERMITTING AND INSPECTION SERVICE DELIVERY SUB-AGREEMENT  

This Building Permitting and Inspection Services Delivery Agreement (the "Agreement") is made and entered into this 29 day of September, 2009, by and between the City of Webster ("City") and Sumter County ("County").

WHEREAS, the City possesses Municipal Home Rule Powers pursuant to Article VIII, Section 2(b), Florida Constitution and Section 166.021, Florida Statutes; and

WHEREAS, the County possesses powers of self government as provided by general or special law, so long as such acts are in the common interest of the people of the County, said powers being held and exercised pursuant to Article VIII, Section 1(f), Florida Constitution and Section 125.01, Florida Statutes; and

WHEREAS, The County and City each provide building permitting and inspection services within their respective jurisdictions. This independent approach to building permitting and inspections does not allow for the most efficient provision of this service. Currently, there is minimal coordination of building permitting and inspection issues; and

WHEREAS, the Florida Interlocal Cooperation Act of 1969, Section 163.01, Florida Statutes, encourages and empowers local government to cooperate with one another on matters of mutual interest and advantage, and provides for interlocal agreements between local governments on matters such as building permitting and inspection services; and

WHEREAS, the Municipal Annexation or Contraction Act, Chapter 171, Part I, Florida Statutes, and the Interlocal Service Boundary Agreement Act, Chapter 171, Part II, Florida Statutes, recognizes the use of interlocal service boundary agreements and joint planning agreements as a means to coordinate public services such as building permitting and inspections.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants set forth in this Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the City and the County agree a unified approach to building permitting and inspection services will result in a more efficient and cost effective method of service and promote the safety and welfare of all of the citizens of Sumter County and agree a need exists to change said service delivery arrangements in the following manner:

1.

Service Delivery Agreement.

a.

The County shall serve as the single, unified point of service for building permitting and inspections services in unincorporated areas of the county and within the City. This service shall be known for purposes of this Agreement as the "Consolidated County/City Building Services". The Consolidated County/City Building Services shall provide the staffing and resources for all building permit application processing, building permit plan review, building inspections, and code enforcement. The Sumter County Building Official shall serve as the Building Official for the City. The building permit processing, review, inspection services, and code enforcement shall be provided consistent with the City's local ordinances and State law.

b.

The Consolidated County/City Building Services will function and be funded as a Sub-division under Sumter County Board of County Commissioners.

c.

The County shall be responsible for funding of the staff and operational costs of the Consolidated County/City Building Services. Funding for the Consolidated County/City Building Services shall be generated from fees collected for building permit applications, reviews, and inspections within unincorporated Sumter County and the City. Fees collected for building permits, reviews, and inspections within the City shall be based either on the City's fee schedule in effect on September 8, 2009, or the County's current fee schedule, as may be amended from time to time. The choice shall be at the discretion of the City. If the City's fee schedule is adopted, each month, the County shall return to the City 20% of fees collected for building permit applications, reviews, and inspections for properties within the City. If the County's fee schedule is adopted, there shall be no compensation to the City. The City shall provide written notice to the County of its fee schedule determination within 30 days of the adoption or amendment of this agreement. The City may revise its selection of the applicable fee schedule during the effective period of this agreement by written notice to the County at least 30 days prior to the desired effective date of the change.

d.

The County and City agree to prepare and adopt unified operational procedures for building permit processing, review, and inspections to assure a high level of service to customers without undue delay.

2.

Fire Inspections and Plan Review. Consistent with existing interlocal agreement(s), the County, through Sumter County Fire Rescue, shall, pursuant to Section 633.0215, Florida Statutes, and Section 901 of Florida Building Code, utilize the Florida Fire Prevention Code in providing all fire prevention/safety inspections and complete all fire building plans reviews within the City and unincorporated areas.

(Ord. No. 2009-21, § 1(Att.), 9-29-09; Ord. No. 2013-10, § 1, 7-23-13)