Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Electrical Advisory Board - 05/28/2015 Minutes of the Electrical Advisory Board Regular Meeting Thursday,May 2 ,2015 Time:3:00 p.m. I. Call to Order: 3:26pm 11. Roll Call: Present: Vernon Wuensche, PE, Steve Deases, PE, Robert Aguilar,Alfred Tristan, Kevin Martinez,Jesse Gatewood Nat present: Marylou Herrera-no reason given, Michael Douglas-no reason given, William Pitchford-no reason given, and Robert Sandate-no reason given Staff:Gene DeLauro, Michelle McCollum, Bill Green,Norman Walters 111. Approval of Absences: February 28,2013, Regular Meeting: Attendance Sheet not located to identify absent board members; Motion to approve absences-Steve Deases, Vernon W second the motion, Motion carried 6:0 IV. Approval of Minutes:February 28,2013,Regular Meeting: Steve Deases made a motion to approve the minutes, Jesse Gatewood second the motion. Motion carried. 6:0 V. Public Comments:None. Motion made to move this agenda item to the end ofmeeting located after "Building Official's Report"but before "Items to be placed on next Agenda." and motion made to close public comments, Vernon second the motion. Motion carried 6:0 VI. Introduction of new Board Members: Michael Douglas-NP-Commercial Builder Marylou Herrera-NP Robert Sandate-NP William Pitchford-NP Mr. Vernon Wuensche, PE former city employee, engineer by trade Jesse Gatewood-Journeyman electrician, training director at]BEWfor the electrical apprenticeship program, 17 years in the profession Kevin Martinez-Serving as a master electrician on the board, currently employed at Scott Electric, 24 years in the profession Steven Deases-licensed engineer Allred Tristan-has been with AEP for 36 years Robert Aguilar-Master Electrician, in the profession for 32 years Michelle McCollum-New board secretary Norman Walters-PMfor inspections Bill Green-Retired city employee, consultant Gene Delauro-Building Official VII. Discussion and possible action regarding election of a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson. Vernon made a motion to nominate Steven Deases as Chairperson,Jesse Gatewood second the motion. Motion carried, 6:0. Steve made a motion to nominate Jesse Gatewood as Vice-Chairperson, Vernon second the motion. Motion carried, 6:0 VIII. Discussion and possible action regarding a Citizen complaint of a City Licensed electrician. Gene-local citizen's complaint regarding a city licensed electrician work ethics; citizen decided to pursue the complaint legally. Grievance or complaint procedure involves the complaint being brought forth on application, notarized/affidavit, then brought to board for decision by board. No financial penalty imposed to inspector, but status of license is dependent on the outcome of hearing. State licensed complaints against electricians go to state- not city for action. No action taken on this item just discussion at this time. Staff will keep board informed IX. Discussion and possible action regarding a timeline for the adoption of the 2014 National Electric Code and the scheduling of workshops to review the significant changes and proposed local amendments. Gene-need to finalize ordinance to bring to council in the fall 2015 to adopt the new codes by spring 2016 Dates of workshop discussions will take place over the summer:June,July and August 2015. Discussion is regarding current city electrical amendments as well as significant changes of 2008 NEC vs 2014, adopt "as is"or will local amendments required? 3 meetings total, not board meetings, but discussions. Norm—First date set right now with TDLR June 22, 11 am-Spm-to discuss 2014 NEC Gene-dates are tentative right now:June 9, 10 or I1;July 14, 15 or 16;August 11, 12 or 13. Dates will be emailed by the board secretary and based on the consensus of the board, the dates will be annotated on the board calendar,finalized and new calendar sent via email. Nov 9`i',first reading for council, Nov 17' second reading and approval by council for the amendments. X. Discussion and possible action to eliminate service being located inside any enclosed porch. Norm-AEP is concerned regarding enclosures at home residences. Meters need to be located outside of the enclosures; technicians cannot accommodate issues if the meter is located in the enclosure. Enclosures are screened in porches, or anything with a door. Staff is asking board to approve an ordinance regarding the enclosures. Robert Aguilar made a motion for an approved ordinance adopted by EAB to address the meter location outside of an enclosure. Steve D-suggests city staff advise the board on the verbiage of the ordinance defining and incorporate into the local amendment to council in fall of 2015. No present action taken, will table for discussion during code changes regarding 2014 code changes. XI. Building Official's Report A. Department Updates 1.Implementation of new department policies for floodplain and fire review- New flood plain manager: Yvette Dodd. FEAV audited us and we are working on our deficiencies. Fire review-new employee that only does fire plan review. Building reviewers were reviewing the plans for fire compliance with little background and the fire inspector was not accepting at their end. This new fire review should improve the overall process. 2.Implementation of new INFO entley software and requirement for electronic plan review.- September 1st is the live date for the new software program-we will go from HTE to INFO . Bentley is an electronic plan review software that eliminates paper-based submissions. All business will be done electronically. With review being electronic and the comments or revisions also done electronically. Workshops prior to going live to demonstrate the software and show them how to use it. Training will be done over summer. You will have to be a registered user with a valid email address. If you come in with paper plans after I August, 2015-we will scan them and hand them back to you; there may be a small fee. 3.Staffing- Full staff of inspectors-3. Inspecting section has been stable for over a year;newer inspectors finishing their probation period with the city. B. Permit recap 2015 to date- Gene-the volume is the same as it was last year. We will be budgeting with the down cycle in mind Weare having an independent fee study done by an outside source to determine the cost of our fees based on our current operations. We maybe charging too much for somethings and not enough for others;we will see a balancing of fees once the study is complete. Also, the Budget Department will dictate how much of the General Fund will be used for DS costs. XII. Identify items to placed on next agenda: Safety concerns and work practices regarding NFPA 70E XIII. Adjourn: 4:12pm ri Presiding-Off cer