Approved Minutes — original pdf
Approved Minutes
January 15, 2025 SPECIAL CALLED MEETING Electric Board DRAFT MINUTES The Electric Board convened in a Special Called Board Meeting on January 15, 2025, at the Permitting Development Center at 10:04 am. Board Members in Attendance: Victoria Shope, David Johnson, Delwin Goss, Michael Grant, David Deshaine, Ben Brenneman, Kenny King, Members Not in Attendance: Joel Cochren, Gabe Flores, Rogelio Wallace and Christian Spies. Staff in Attendance: Rick Arzola (DSD), Maria Jaramillo (DSD) James Epperson (DSD), Marty Starrett (DSD), Hyatt Dunn (DSD), Brydan Summers (DSD) and Josh Contreras (AE) PUBLIC CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: No one registered to speak. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. The minutes were approved for the August 21,2024 , regular called meeting on board member Grant motion, board member Deshaine second the motion. Motion passed on a 7-0 vote. DISCUSSION 2. Technical Advisory Panel, its functions, responsibilities in the Austin Criteria Manual- Land development rules administrator (LDRA) Brydan Summers reported to the board that the Technical Advisory Review panel, know as TARP was established in March 2023 when council passed a resolution to have a review panel to discuss existing and proposed rules in the administrative criterial manuals. To consider ways to better align criteria manuals with existing city council policies, city housing goals and industry best practices as well as needs of individual departments and the protection of public health and safety. TARP review staff consist of city staff and housing and development industry professionals, which include architects, landscape architects, engineers, traffic engineers and arborists to assist with the city’s 8 criteria manuals. Each department with the city has 1 person to administer these manuals to the LDRA. 3. Austin Energy Technical Advisory panel- Josh Contreras with Austin Energy, summarized the process for AE version of the TARP process with Austin Energy Criteria Manual. In that, AE meets internally for discussion of any updates and or changes to the Criteria manual with external input. AE’s internal review team will then review and write the proposed changes, AE will then review those changes and look for inconsistencies before submitting it to Austin Energy’s management team for review. Forward it to community stakeholders for input and comment, after feedback from community stakeholder, AE review team will then adjust as necessary before sending it back to Austin Energy management team for final review before submitting to the LDRA and TARP panel for review and posting. 4. Discussion on Electrical Registration enforcement 80.38- Currently Development Service inspection staff does not have the personal to monitor and track electrical violations that are seen in the field. Currently the main objective is to keep high percentage rate for next day inspection. Any egregiously violations seen, are reported to 311 and to Austin Code, those violations include work without permits, not keeping with the scope of work at the permitted worksite and unlicensed contractors doing work at property sites. 5. Discussion on Plan Review update- Commercial plan review is averaging a 7-day average of 97% permit on time since Nov 2024. In 2023, there were 18,929 commercial review, 2024 there were 20,699 reviews. This month alone, there have been 4824 reviews with 1 vacancy. Most of these rises in reviews, are multi-family units. 6. Building and Trade Contractor Services- Currently employing 13 staff members, down 6 employees from May 2024. Since December 2024, there have been 3371 submittals thru the AB+C portal for permits, which is not including chat questions, phone calls and in person live meetings, leaving a 7-day turnaround for permit issuance, up from 2–3-day turnaround from May 2024 when there were 19 employees staffed. Currently unable to fill these vacancies due to hiring freeze. 7. Commercial and Residential Electrical update- Residential inspection update, 96% on time for next day inspection, 1 electrical inspector vacancy with a total of 3 vacancies and continuing under a hiring freeze. Commercial inspections, 97% on time, fully staffed with no vacancies and receiving assistance from residential staff in the ETJ areas. 8. Approve recommendation 2025 Electrical Board Schedule- Board unanimously approved the 2025 Electrical Board schedule. Board member Brenneman motion to approve the schedule, board member Goss second the motion. Motion pass 7-0 FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 1. Discussion on Austin Energy Meter review team. 2. Discussion on Board consolidation 3. Discussion on enforcement on suspension of Electrical Registration 80.38 4. Discussion on Commercial Plan Review Update 5. Discussion on Residential and Commercial inspection updates on vacancies and inspections. 6. Discussion and updates on Building and Trade contractor services. ADJOURN: Board member Goss made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Board member Deshaine seconded the motion. Motion passed 7-0. Minutes were approved at the March 19, 2025, meeting on board member Johnson motion, board - member Grant second the motion. Motion passed 7-0. Board members Joel Cochren, Ben Brenneman, Victoria Shope and David Deshaine were absent