MINUTES OF MEETING OF BOARD OF ELECTRICAL APPEALS November 8, 2005 - 3:00 p.m. OFFICE OF CENTRAL INSPECTION CITY HALL, 455 NORTH MAIN METROPOLITAN AREA PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING ROOM, 10th FLOOR Chairman Roy Meinhardt called the meeting to order at 3:09 pm, with Board members Dale Johnson, John Whittit, Harold Ragland and Secretary Tom Kerschen present. Also present was Steve Schauner and Chris Nordick electrical inspectors. Board members Larry Clark, Jerry Addington and Larry Hackney were absent. The minutes of the October 11, 2005 meeting were read. Board member Ragland made a motion the minutes be approved as written, it was seconded by Board member Whittit and approved. The recent examination results from Experior Assessments for electrical examinations administered by their office for City of Wichita approved applicants were presented to the Board. The results were as follows: APPLICANT APPLICANT EXAMINATION EXAMINATION NAME NUMBER CLASSIFICATION RESULT Bradley Ashcraft 4938 Master Failed Travis Eck 6152 Master Failed One (1) Master Electrician and two (2) Residential Journeyman Electrician examination applications were reviewed for approval to be administered the appropriate examination for certification. The results were as follows: NAME NUMBER CLASSIFICATION ACTION Joe R Coleman Jr 4951 Master Approved Alan Lee Rader 5744 Res. Journeyman Approved Justin T Page 4179 Res. Journeyman Approved Under part A of the unfinished business section of the agenda, secretary Kerschen gave the Board an update on the status of the ordinance adoption. The law department has reviewed and signed, as to legal form, the proposed amendments. They are on the City Council agenda for November 15. Central Inspection is looking at an enforcement date of January 1, 2006 with three exceptions; 1) Permit fee increases, per section 19.08.150, will go into effect April 1, 2006 this will allow contractors to bid the new fees into future jobs. 2) Marking of service vehicle with license numbers, per section 19.08.180, will go into effect April 1, 2006 to allow time to comply. 3) Change in use of aluminum wire on residential, per section 19.12.080, will go into effect April 1, 2006 to allow contractors time to comply. Under part A of the new business section of the agenda, this has been postponed until the December 13, 2005 meeting at the request of Boyd Howard attorney for Saint Electric. Under part B of the new business section of the agenda, Kurt Schroeder, superintendent of Central Inspection, talked to the Board about the proposed expansion of the trade boards to add two positions, 1 for a residential builder and 1 for commercial builder. Mr. Schroeder wanted to make the Electrical Board aware of this proposal as he had already talked to the Plumbing and Mechanical Boards. He said the consensus of the Boards was to not change the make up but for builders who are interested on serving on the Boards to utilize the position of Public at Large which is available on each Board. Mr. Schroeder introduced Ray Fredrick, chairman of the Mechanical Board, and asked that he explain to this Board the Mechanical Board's position and action. Mr. Fredrick explained the Mechanical Board is opposed to the expansion of the number of required members as they felt what is in place at the current time is working quite well. He explained the Mechanical Board had an issue that happened a couple of years ago that the mechanical code and the residential building code had contradicting requirements, but the set up a special committee to look into the problem. The problem was resolved and Mr. Fredrick said that WABA agreed the problem was handled in a professional manner. Mr. Fredrick gave the Board a sample letter he wrote, as chairman of the Mechanical Board, to the City Manager stating their opposition to the expansion of the board members and requesting anyone that is interested in serving on a trade board apply for the public at large position that is already in place. He said the Plumbing Board is writing a similar letter and requested the electrical board do the same. The Board continued to discuss the issue in detail and agreed that expanding the boards could present a hardship as it is difficult already to have quorum. They also feel that the public at large position is an excellent avenue for an interested person to serve on the trade boards. That position is normally hard to fill with someone outside the industry as most issues that are presented to the boards are very technical. After considerable discussion Board member Ragland made a motion that Board member Whittit be appointed to draft a letter, approved by Chairman Meinhardt, to the City Manager stating the opposition of this Board in regards to increasing the members by creating 2 additional positions. It was seconded by Board member Whittit and approved. Under part C of the new business section of the agenda, Secretary Kerschen handed each of the Board members a copy of the invitation mailed to all electrical contractors that hold a current active license with the City. This seminar is sponsored by WESTAR and the City of Wichita Inspection Department and is free to all electricians, to inform them on the changes in the City electrical ordinance and the major changes in the 2005 National Electrical Code. The seminar is November 29, 2005 at the downtown Hyatt hotel from 6:00PM to 10:00PM. A meal will be provided and copies of Title 19 as well as other handouts will be available. Reservations are required no later than November 23, 2005. With no other business to conduct, Board member Ragland made a motion to adjourn. Board member Whittit seconded the motion and the meeting adjourned. The time was 4:35 pm. Tom Kerschen, Secretary, Board of Electrical Appeals 1