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Miami-Dade County Permitting and Inspections Center
Policy Changes
Policy Changes
Subject: Appointments by Keith Wilson
Today our visit to the Miami-Dade County Building Department permitting and inspection center felt as though we encountered a government department of “The other kind”.
“Government cannot place itself above the needs of the people.
Convenience in government must always err on the side of the public.”
Miami-Dade County Building Department Microfilm section
Believes access to government is best served by appointment
“Here’s what happens”
We were advised, in the past, of the Microfilm Department’s intent to change it’s business practice with the public.
They're changing it from walk-ins to appointments; but even then, the logic or reasoning behind this radical move wasn't’t clear; and it's certainly not clear today.
To force the public to sign up for an appointment to get microfilm documents needed to close out a permit, pay fines or other important reasons is tantamount to “Government Gone Wild”!
Access to government has been reduced to copying fees and appointments.
Not exactly what the Florida government in the sunshine laws had intended...
Why should Charles Danger’s office subject the people of Miami-Dade County to endure such harsh treatment when visiting their government for business?
Who thought up this appointment idea?
What benefit does the public gain?
How are the people of Miami-Dade County adequately served in such a manner??!
Put yourself in the already frustrated consumer’s shoes.
He or she, already standing in long lines at the permit/process window; all but to be advised by the permit processing agent that certified copies of their plans are required before the department would be able to complete their permit or item Renewal process request.
The agent then advises the consumer to go upstairs to the micro film department; but upon communicating the situation to microfilm staff, the consumer is immediately told "an appointment is required before we can assist you...our next available appointment is next week at XYZ time.”
The consumer is startled - shocked even. “Excuse me...”, the consumer replies.
Yes, we are serving the public by appointments and this is told to unsuspecting consumers each day. All of whom are set back with disbelief - anger even - but because the staff personnel is so deliberate and smooth in breaking the shocking news, some people sign up for the appointment scam anyway. Others demand to see a supervisor.
At that point the consumer is advised by the supervisor, if they choose to wait as they walk in, they are welcome to, but it could be a couple of hours.
Naturally the consumer decides to “Ride the tide and wait” or come back 4 days later on an appointment.
Let’s take a closer look at what could be the underlying factors behind Mr. Danger’s decision to invoke the rule
“Access to government by appointment only” - changing standard government business practice and the relationship with the public from walk-in to "appointment only".
It’s self-serving to the department making the change and does not serve the public interest.
If this kind of administrative thinking is allowed to continue, tomorrow, the Building Department may come up with another
"off the wall idea":
White folks may visit the Building Department on Mondays, "with an appointment"
Latin Folks may visit the Building Department on Tuesdays, "with an appointment", and as usual,
Blacks may visit the Building Department at the back entrance on Wednesdays, "with an appointment".
Sounds ridiculous, right?...but you never know what’s next with our government.
If various government directors are allowed to set policies for government that benefit government, the people are mere afterthoughts in the policy making process.
Our communities are headed for some difficult days....
We interviewed Microfilm Department staff member, Mr. Fabeo, concerning his department appointment policy. He quickly advised, "it wasn't him - it’s the policy of the department".
“It was decided” the department can best serve the public by scheduling appointments.
Less time is required to assemble the required documents and more personalized time could be given to assist the customer.
Yet another staff member simply advised that the department is understaffed, and what few employees are left to service the public are overworked, and often required to multi-task....
While we stood in the lobby interviewing staff members, a consumer entered.
She walked up to the counter and advised the agent at the window that she needed certified copies of some plans.
She was immediately asked if she had an appointment. She replied “No”.
“We require appointments” she was told. The woman was shocked, and very upset.
“An appointment?” she asked. “Yes, to better serve the public we now require appointments”.
Out of frustration, and an obvious need for the requested document, the woman reluctantly accepted an appointment date.
While advising the woman of the department policy, the staff agent was busy stamping and reviewing plans, then the phone rang. He stopped talking with the woman, picked up the phone and started communicating on the phone while his confused customer stood at this window.
By this time 3 other consumers entered the office lobby, for similar service...
I’ve conducted business with the Miami-Dade County Building Department for many years ...it is without reservation when I say, this appointment concept is not in the best interest of the public, but rather exclusively benefits the department, and is not consumer friendly.
People expect to make appointments to see their doctor or their dentist, but not to visit their government.
We were also advised by Mr. Raul Chinea that the microfilm department is self-sufficient and does not operate using tax payers’ funds, nor does the department receive a budget from county general fund (distribution pool).
We feel it is bad management or inappropriate management skills for the Miami-Dade County Building Department Officials to force the public to pay twice for the services already paid for, out of billions of tax dollars.
Mayor Carlos Alvarez’s office is already collecting from tax payers to provide government services.
To allow the Miami-Dade Building Department Director to take his department out of the county’s yearly fiscal budget distribution pool, so as to create independent income from the public services is tantamount to allowing the Miami-Dade Police Director the ability to charge the public $2.00 for a 911 call, $15.00 per domestic call for police service and for all arrests, the public must pay $75.00 each.
Understand this....the people of Miami-Dade County pay billions of dollars to government in taxes and other forms with the expressed understanding that government use these funds to run, and/or operate the many departments of government.
To allow various government department directors to create a government within a government, with the ability to charge the public for services rendered, over and above taxes already paid to government is illegal and fraudulent.
The unsuspecting tax payers continue to pay increased tax dollars for county wide services and for the day- to -day operations of our various government departments which includes every department of government (no exceptions)!
Aggravated grand theft count up all government departments who allegedly no longer receive tax dollars (Funding) to operate, but instead, generate their own operating budgets via cost applied for services rendered.
They then reduce the tax burden to the public for the dollars (as the were in the past), and in all likelihood still is.
Deduct the difference from the tax payer’s burden and advise the public of the reduction...
Our government is “Back dooring the public” by increasing government taxes and decreasing government departments, using tax dollars to operate.
To allow these departments to charge the public directly, fees and charges that are simply off the wall, unreasonable and price gouging would be described as a “government gone wild.”
In general, the public can walk up to the Building Department Permit window, stand in long lines and eventually get documents processed and receive process numbers the very same day.
Then, once the permit has been approved, go to the cashier’s window and pay for the permit or item...
Now here’s where the “rubber leaves the road” with the Building Department.
The public’s quick and convenient visit to the Miami-Dade Building Department turns into a nightmare.
If copies or plans are required by the permit processing department downstairs, you will need an appointment before the department can continue to serve you..
“That Dog Don’t Hunt”.
You can’t force the public to an appointment system, when 99% of the government departments are open to the public and have a walk-in policy.
Something is going to back up and the real victims here are the People.
The Miami-Dade County Building Department is setting the stage for a showdown with Florida’s Sunshine laws!
Government access “By Appointment only” as per Miami-Dade County Building Department
If the Miami-Dade County Building Department Microfilm section is permitted to force the public into an
"appointment before service concept",
then all of the building department services should be provided by appointment only.
• Permit/process window “By Appointment only”
• Cashier window “By Appointment only”
• Clerk of the court “By Appointment only”
• Public access to department facilities “By Appointment only”
• Got an emergency? Need 911? Sorry, “By Appointment only”
We ask for a response to our complaint and demand the microfilm department stop requiring the public to get an appointment before being able to get service...or allow the public direct usage of Microfilm equipment, so as to allow the public to self-serve.
Presently the Miami-Dade County Building Department policy on interacting or doing business with the public is flawed
and not consumer friendly.
If the Microfilm Department truly wanted to better serve the public, perhaps employing adequate staff would be a great move in the right direction.
