1. Building Services Moving Back To County Center
New One-Stop Center Will Improve Service To Customers

Hillsborough County’s Building Services Division will be closing the doors to its main customer service location in the NetPark business complex next week and moving to County Center in order to save money and consolidate its services. When the Division re-opens to the public on the 19th Floor of County Center, it will feature a brand-new comprehensive one-stop service center for residents and contractors.

The NetPark location will officially close at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 16, and the new County Center location at 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. in downtown Tampa will re-open on Tuesday, Nov. 24. During next week when staff is moving their operation, the Division will increase the number of staff at its South County satellite office to handle the expected increase in permitting and plans examination at that location. The South County office is at 410 S.E. 30th Street, Ruskin. This location will be the only satellite location remaining for the Planning & Growth Management Department after NetPark closes.

During the move next week, the Building Services Division main number – (813) 272-5600 – will continue to be answered and messages relayed to staff. Residents also can call the Planning & Growth Management Department’s main number – (813) 272-5920 – for assistance. Both of these phone numbers also will be active after the move.

Additionally next week, Building Services’ staff will still be conducting inspections and the Division’s Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) will be active to allow users to request inspections. The Division’s online services also will be available, such as the online permit request system.

Once the Division re-opens on the 19th Floor in County Center, the following services and staff will be available at that location: the Building Official, residential and commercial plans review and permitting, sign permitting, contractor licensing and code compliance, and hazard mitigation. The South County satellite office will continue to offer the same services of residential plans review and permitting, and the Division’s inspection staff will be housed there.

As part of this consolidation effort, the Planning & Growth Management Department will open a consolidated customer service one-stop center on the 19th Floor for the residents and contractors that it assists. In addition to the service windows that will be available for Building Services, such as contractor licensing, permitting requests, plans review and code compliance, the other Department Divisions also will house their customer service windows there. This includes zoning requests and information, and site plan and subdivision intake.

Public parking is available across the street from County Center in the pink-colored Pierce Street parking garage. Parking is free in the garage for the first 30 minutes, and is 80 cents thereafter for every additional 30 minutes.

2. Planning & Growth Management Department's Citizen Advocate

By: Maricela Medrano de Luna, MPA
Land Use Ombudsman

“Ombudsman” is a Swedish term meaning “defender of citizen’s rights.” An article published by the U.S. Ombudsman Association states that, “An ombudsman can provide the freedom of access that is desired in order to reach all segments of the population, particularly those whose voices usually go unheard.” The first public sector ombudsman’s office in the U.S. was established in 1967. Since then, many state and local governments have included ombudsmen in their organizations.

For a common citizen, going through a land use and permitting process can be very complicated and intimidating, especially when their case requires the completion of numerous applications and hearings. Before the Hillsborough County Land Use Ombudsman’s office was created, County Commissioners tried to help these citizens. Now it’s my job. I spend most of my time addressing citizens’ issues and assisting them with their land use applications, code enforcement violations and building permits. I don’t consider myself as much an advocate for individual citizens, as I am for good government and good customer service.

Most citizens I help cannot afford to hire a professional private practitioner. Fortunately, I am able to provide each constituent with a free alternative for solving their problem. For example, when a citizen needs to convert an existing accessory structure into an accessory dwelling, there may be issues relating to setbacks and easement encroachments. Vacating an easement and obtaining a variance prior to obtaining a building permit may be necessary.

Knowing that they have a helping hand increases the citizen’s confidence and trust in government. This is especially important to our non-English speaking citizens who often find themselves in violation due to their lack of knowledge regarding our rules and regulations. To address this problem, we have instituted a very successful bilingual outreach program consisting of explanatory literature and radio broadcasts to educate the public. The demand for these services has risen steadily since the inception of the ombudsman program in 2003. The job of the Ombudsman is very challenging, but also very rewarding.

Mills, Michael. “Municipal Government Ombudsman.” United State Ombudsman Association. http://www.usombudsman.org/en/references/more_references/municipal_government_ombudsman.cfm

More Information on PGM’s Land Use Ombudsman

FAST FACT:
In six years, the Ombudsman’s office has assisted more than 1,000 citizens. This assistance has included over 600 variances, rezonings, special uses, conditional uses, minor subdivisions, determinations of non-conformity, administrative waivers, code enforcement cases, vacating petitions, appeals and complaints.