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Building commissioner asks committee to codify commercial "110" inspections; item tabled for two weeks
Summary
Lawrence building commissioner asked the ordinance committee to add recurring commercial "110" inspections to the city code and to include a fee schedule; the committee voted to table the item for two weeks so staff can provide draft ordinance language and fee details.
Building Commissioner Peter Blancheta asked the Lawrence City Ordinance Committee to add a city ordinance codifying recurring commercial “110” inspections and to include an associated fee schedule.
Blancheta told the committee the city has for many years performed chapter 110-style inspections for commercial properties when businesses move in and has been renewing those inspections every five years. He said the inspections have been carried out for more than 20 years but the city code does not explicitly include commercial-space inspections and he asked the committee to codify the practice.
Committee members questioned authorization and enforcement details. Blancheta said he had discussed the proposal with the city attorney and that fines and enforcement language should be included in the draft ordinance. He noted the current inspection charge is $100 and that the department is considering a $25 increase to align with a planned schedule update.
The ordinance language referenced an existing fee section (ordinance section 8.04.13(o)) as a place to record inspection fees. Committee members recommended circulating draft language from the city attorney and combining related items into a single public hearing to avoid duplicative hearings.
A motion to table the item (listed as item 47 34 in the record) carried on a roll-call vote so staff could supply draft ordinance text, a proposed fee schedule and city-attorney review. The motion to table was made by Councilor Santiago and seconded by Councilor Del Rosario; Councilor Serena Reyes, Councilor Del Rosario, Councilor Santiago and Ordinance Committee Chair Michael Flynn voted yes.
