Inspectors

adding that it’s “a reality that is leaving many of our business customers frustrated.”

Freitas said it’s a simple matter of San Jose not offering a competitive salary.

“We’re about 12 to 15 percent behind adjacent cities,” he said. “Coincidentally, that’s about the same pay cut that employees have taken.”

Liccardo said voluntary cuts that haven’t been restored are part of the problem but said private sector salaries often eclipse what any city can offer.

“People are in high demand, and we know we’ll never compete with the highest levels of pay,” he said, “but we can come within spitting distance.”

While a compensation study will arrive before officials in coming months, Liccardo and Freitas both said a solution — meaning increased compensation — needs to be discussed immediately.

“San Jose appears to enjoy its best days since the Great Recession, and the growing economy has homeowners and companies investing in tenant and capital improvements at a peak rate,” Liccardo wrote. “Staffing resources do not support these workload demands, however. The burden of service falls on the shoulders of a few, and we must remedy this situation immediately.”

Sal Ventura, of the electrical workers union, said most electrical inspectors come from within the electrician trade. During a boom, they sometimes are lured back to the private sector. The city’s pay cuts may have added to that incentive, he said.

“When you see electrical workers in the field making $ 54 an hour,” he said, “it’s not hard to make a decision based on what is best for your family.”

While Freitas said some developers have faced delays, David Gibbons of Barry Swenson Builder said his company’s major 21- story downtown luxury apartment project hasn’t had problems.

“It’s clear to us that they’re short- handed, but they have done a great job of managing with the staff they have,” he said. “Our projects have been taken care of pretty well, but I’m not sure everyone else’s have.”

Liccardo agreed that employees have redoubled efforts to be responsive to needs of major projects such as the Centerra apartments or the expansion of tech campuses in North San Jose.

“But we are very thinly staffed,” he added. “Where it is felt most is at the small and midsize projects.”