HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Electrical Advisory Board - 04/22/2010 4
Minutes of the Electrical Advisory Board RECEIVED
Regular Meeting
Thursday,April 22,2010 ,JAN 2 8 2011
Development Services 402406 Leopard
3rd Floor Fire Department Training Room
3 p.m. CITY SECRETARY'S OFFlCE
I. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 3:13 p.m.
II. Roll Call
Board members present: Lee Montgomery, Craig Loving, Bhaskar Patel, Billy Ashcroft, David
Schury, and William Pitchford. Mike Riley joined the meeting at 3:52 p.m.
Staffpresent: Stephen Draper, David Lewis, Deborah Brown, and Elsa Martinez
Ill, Approval of Minutes: September 24,2009, Regular Meeting
Mr. Loving made a motion to accept the minutes as presented and was seconded by Mr. Patel.
The motion carried unanimously.
IV. Report from AEP Texas on Gridsmart Initiative
Mr. Ken Griffin (Manager of External Affairs) introduced himself and Mr. Raul Trevino
(Supervisor) as representatives of AEP to the board Mr. Griffin engaged the hoard in a
presentation regarding the Gridsmart Initiative that has been implemented in the Corpus Christi
region. Mr. Griffin went through the process of explaining the steps AEP is taking to notify the
Corpus Christi Community. He informed AEP will be replacing the current meters with electric
meters which will provide a number of benefits to the consumer. He also share that over time,
retail providers will have the ability to develop incentive products to give consumer the option of
how and when they best want to use their energy. Mr. Ashcroft responded to an inquiry about
tamper proof of the meters. lie informed that these meters are not tamper proof but the meters
will have the ability to communicate with each other and information will he registering to a
database. He added that the data will be monitored and if someone tampers with a meter, AEP
will be able to pick up sigma( if someone has done something to a meter. AEP will in turn send
someone out to check the meter. Mr.Ashcrgft informed that AEP will now be able to determine
who has service and who doesn't rather than having to call customers at inconvenient hours of
the night Mr. Griffin informed that they will now he able to do connections and disconnections
from remote locations. Discussion continued on how controlled blackouts can occur when
necessaty, the process and position AEP takes in situations where meter cans are damaged, and
the City's involvement with regards to inspections.
V. Building Official's Report
A. Department Updates
B. Status of Codes' Adoption
C. Staffing
Mr. Draper informed of the staff's refinement of the plan review process. He reported that staff
is encountering situations involving building plans .submitted in poor quality. He added that
these submittals consume much of staff's and the Department has taken the stance to not accept
incomplete plans. Mr. Draper informed that about ten to fifteen percent of the plans coming in
were in this status. Mr Draper shared that the Department is working on a residential handbook
to address the residential building construction; once completed, a commercial handbook will be
put together to address such projects.
Mr. Draper informed that staff has completed the review of the building codes. He informed that
Building Services continues to work with Legal to finalize an ordinance for approval.
SCANNED
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Minutes of the Electrical Advisory Board
Regular Meeting
April 22,2010
Page 2
Mr. Draper informed of the staffing needs of the division. He informed that the
mechanical/plumbing inspectors are short one staff due to a recent vacancy.
Mr. Draper informed that the Department continues to make changes to improve the
department's services to the community. Mr. Lewis added that .staff is engaging in interacting
with the customer to get them the answers the customer seeks. Mr. Draper complimented the
training efforts to better prepare staff and believes this is making the difference in employees'
engagement. Mr. Draper left the board with an open invitation to contact him, Mr. Lewis, Elsa
or anyone in the Department to address any concerns they may have.
Mr. Lewis informed the board that beginning the next regular meeting absences will need to be
addressed to provide accountability to the City Secretary's office. Mr. Montgomery instructed
board members to contact Elsa if they will not be able to attend the meeting.
X. Public Comments
Board members may not deliberate or make a decision on any matter presented at this time. The
Open Meetings Act limits Board response to only two options: I)a statement of specific factual
information given in response to an inquiry;or 2)a recitation of existing policy in response to the
inquiry. Any deliberation of or decision about the subject shall be limited to a proposal to place
the subject on the agenda for a subsequent meeting.
No one addressed the hoard during public forum.
Xl. Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 4.17 p.m.
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