Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Permitting And Inspections topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City to pilot local electrical inspections with master electrician to speed permitting
Summary
City Administrator announced a pilot to allow local master electrician Steve Mills to perform electrical inspections starting immediately to address delays under the current IBTS inspection arrangement; city staff said the program will be invoiced and is expected to be less expensive than current fees from IBTS.
City Administrator Mister Kerman told the council the city plans to launch a pilot program to allow local master electrician Steve Mills to perform electrical inspections on behalf of the city starting the following day, with the aim of shortening turnaround times that contractors said were too long under IBTS. Mister Kerman said the change was prompted by feedback at a town hall with local contractors and that Steve Mills volunteered to help. He said Mills will invoice the city and that the city expects the new arrangement to cost less than the $150 inspection charge the city had been paying IBTS. Kerman said the city will treat the arrangement as a pilot, will involve the electrical and plumbing boards for oversight, and may pursue a similar option for plumbing inspections after the plumbing board meets. He described the local option as a way to provide "local alternative" inspections accountable to the respective trade boards, and expected it to speed permit processing. Why it matters: faster, local inspections could reduce construction delays and local contractors cited this as a key barrier to timely building and trade work. The arrangement shifts some inspection work from an external firm (IBTS) to a local tradesman operating under municipal oversight. Next steps: the city will implement the pilot, accept invoices from Mills, and report results to the council; staff also said they will present fee and accounting comparisons at a future meeting.
