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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2A Electrical Ordinance 4646 Dakot a Street SE Prior Lake, MN 55372 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: July 12, 2011 AGENDA #: 2A PREPARED BY : Frank Boyles, City Manager PRESENTED Frank Boyles BY: AGENDA ITEM: Consider Approval of an Ordinance Relating to Electrical Inspection DISCUSSION: Introduc tion The purpose of this agenda item is to request that the City Council consider ado p tion of an ordinance authorizing the City to conduct electrical inspections. History Cities may, at their discretion, hire their own electrical inspectors, contrac t with other pub lic entities for this service, contract with the State to provide inspections through a cooperative agreement or request that property owners arrange inspe c- tions with certain qualified and registered inspectors . For more than a decade, we have chosen to contract with the State. Accordingly, the Prior Lake City Code has no provisions regarding electrical i n spection. Current Circumstances When the State shut down on July 1, 2011, it ceased to perform its full array of r e sponsibilities . Among the responsibilities discontinued during the shutdown is electrical inspection. For a builder or property owner making improvements in Prior Lake, this means that a full array of inspection services is not avai l able. The bottom line is that with out electrical inspections new house co n struction and home improvement projects cannot be completed. In order to allow the City to provide electrical inspection, our City Code must be amended . Attached is a n ordinance prepared by the League of Minnesota C i ties which will authorize us to make provision for inspections of electrical installations . My desire is to provide this service through a contract or cooperative agreement with one or more public entities. If that proves unfeasible, then this service can be provided by supplying builders with a list of certified inspectors or inspection se r vices with whom they can work. Conclusion The Council should determine if the ordinance should be amended to allow the City to provide electrical inspections using the process and vendor(s) that best meet our needs. ISSUES: We have spoken with a considerable number of cities who are in the same situ a- tion we are. Our desire is to have expertise, flexibility and dependability in any electrical inspection opt ion we choose so that Prior Lake is a good place for res i- dential and commercial development. We believe this approach is consistent with the Strategic Plan and City Council’s priorities. FINANCIAL I M- Our intent is that the costs of any of thes e options be offset by the license fees charged. In the event that is not the case, we would advise the Cou n cil. PACT: ALTERNATIVES: 1. Adopt the ordinance amendment as proposed or with amendments. 2. Take no action recognizing that the City will be unable to p rovide electrical i n spection services until the State resumes its responsibilities and the backlog created by the shutdown has been completed. RECOMMENDED Alternative #1. MOTION: 2 ORDINANCE NO. 1 11 - _____ AN ORDINANCE AMENDING PART 4 OF THE CITY CODE TO ADD SECTION 404 MINNESOTA ELECTRICAL ACT The City Council of the City of Prior Lake does hereby ordain that: 1. Part 4 of the Prior Lake City Code is hereby amended to add the fo llowing language: SECTION 404 MINNESOTA ELECTRICAL ACT S : UBSECTIONS 40 4 .100 P URPOSE 40 4 .200: A I UTHORITY TO NSPECT 40 4 .300: A R DOPTED BY EFERENCE 40 4 .400: C OMPLIANCE 40 4 .500: P F ERMITS AND EES 40 4 .600: N A OTICE AND PPEAL 40 4 .7 00: V P IOLATIONS AND ENALTIES 40 4 .800: P I ROVISION FOR NSPECTIONS P 404.100 . The purpose of this Section is to establish an electrical URPOSE inspections program in the City of Prior Lake that is administered and enforced by the City. A I . 404. 2 00 The C ity of Prior Lake hereby provides for the UTHORITY TO NSPECT inspection of all electrical installations, pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 326B.36. subd. 6. A R . 404.3 00 The Minnesota Electrical Act, as adopted by the DOPTED BY EFERENCE Commissioner of Labor and Industry pursuant to Minnesota Stat utes Chapter 326B, Sections 326B.31 to 326B.399 and applicable Minnesota Rules governing the inspection of electrical installations are hereby incorporated into this ordinance as if fully set out herein. The Minnesota State Building Code incorporates by r eference the National Electrical Code pursuant to Minn. R. 1315.0020. All such codes incorporated herein by reference constitute the E lectrical C ode of the City of Prior Lake . C . 404.4 00 All electrical installations shall comply with the requir ements of OMPLIANCE the E lectrical C ode of the City of Prior Lake and this Section . P I F S . 404. 5 00 . The City hereby adopts and will ERMITS AND NSPECTION EE CHEDULE apply the inspection fee schedule and method of calculating inspection fees provided for and authoriz ed in Minnesota Statutes 326B.37 . Permit fees shall be governed by the fee schedule provided for as part of the Minnesota State Building Code. Permit, inspection , handling and surcharge fees are payable to the City of Prior Lake . The City will also c ollect a state mandated surcharge fee of 50 cents on all permits issued for work governed by this ordinance in accordance Minn. Stat. § 326B.148. N A 404.600 . All notices of violations and orders issued pursuant to OTICE AND PPEAL this Section shall be in conformance with Minn. Stat. § 326B.36, subd. 4. V P 404.700 . A violation of the Minnesota Electrical Act or this IOLATIONS AND ENALTIES Section is a misdemeanor. (M.S. 326B.082, subd. 16). P I 404.800 . The City may inspect elect rical installations by ROVISION FOR NSPECTIONS 1. Hiring a licensed inspector, 2. Contracting, 3. Cooperative agreement, 4. Through the State, or 5. Any other means. This ordinance shall become effective from and after its passage and publication. th Passed by the City Council of the City of Prior Lake this 12 day of July , 20 11 . ATTEST: _________________________ __________________________ City Manager Mayor th Published in the Prior Lake American on the 16 day of July , 20 1 1 . Drafted By: City of Prior Lake 4646 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake, MN 55372