Approved Minutes — original pdf
Approved Minutes
Electric Board APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR CALLED MEETING March 19, 2025 The Electric Board convened in a Regular Called Board Meeting on March 19, 2025, at the Permitting Development Center at 10:04 am. Board Members in Attendance: David Johnson, Delwin Goss, Michael Grant, Kenny King, Gabe Flores, Rogelio Wallace Christian Spies Members Not in Attendance: Joel Cochren, , Victoria Shope, David Deshaine and Ben Brenneman, Staff in Attendance: Rick Arzola (DSD), Jessica Surber (DSD) James Epperson (DSD), Marty Starrett (DSD), Hyatt Dunn (DSD), Aaron Finney (DSD) and Robert Ruiz (AE) PUBLIC CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: No one registered to speak. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. The minutes were approved for the January 15 ,2025 special called meeting on board member Johnson motion, board member Grant second the motion. Motion passed on a 7-0 vote. DISCUSSION 2. Austin Energy Meter Review Team- Robert Ruiz of Austin Energy meter review team addressed the boards request from January’s meeting to answer questions from board members. As of today, Robert’s team consist of 4 electrical reviewers and 3 business process specialist who assist with the intake of applications. Currently working with Development Service commercial electrical plan review staff to assist with plans being submitted, where this review team, oversees the utility side, which includes metering equipment and or meter installation. Also addressed, the design criteria will be updated in December 2025. Not sure if there will be any public hearings, Josh Contreras will be heading the design criteria manual. Some of the changes that AE meter review team will be contributing to the design criteria, is change in verbiage of fuse and breaker sizes. Presentation of AE meter review will be provided on March 25 at Austin Energy. Any questions, contact Robert at robert.ruiz@austinenergy.com or at aemeterreview@austinenergy.com or at distributionmetering@austinenergy.com, which is for equipment that can be used. 3. Board Consolidation- Development Services staff informed the board that the future of consolidation of the technical board is still unknown at this time. In a recent post, council member Ryan Alter has updated his recent Appendix A board consolidation commissions after feedback from staff and public, which included members of boards and commissions, has now excluded the technical boards (Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing and Building and Fire Board of Appeals) from being consolidated to the Building and Safety Life commission. Development Services executive office is encouraged by the new update, however, still wants us to be on guard for possible any late changes. 4. Discussion on Electrical Registration enforcement 80.38- No discussion took place on this agenda item. Agenda item will be postponed to a future date. 5. Discussion on Plan Review update- James Epperson with Commercial plan review provided from October to March of last year, staff performed 1749 reviews, this year staff has reviewed 1508. Currently still at 98% on time with 1 vacancy and continue to be on a hiring freeze. 6. Building and Trade Contractor Services- BTCS supervisor Jessica Surber gave an update to the board on staff and permit applications that are being submitted to her office. In that update, staff was roughly at 10 business days behind in February due to budget cuts, staff migrating to other departments and hiring freeze. Currently working with 13 staff members, down 5-6 from normal capacity of 18-19. To assist in catching up, staff has been allowed for overtime work to get caught back up to where now they are at 1-3 business days behind. Staff does fear if the overtime is cut short, there could be a rise on the days of falling behind. 7. Commercial and Residential Electrical update- Residential inspection update, Residential supervisor Aaron Finney, is currently at 100% on time for next day inspection, but will change soon with 8 inspectors vacating due to retirement and migrating to other departments for better opportunity along with a hiring freeze, expect a lower percentage of on time inspections in the coming months. Commercial inspections, Hyatt Dunn commercial electrical supervisor remains with 6 inspectors in the field. From January to March, running about 95% on next day inspections. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 1. Discussion on Austin Energy Criteria Manual update 2. Discussion on any further updates regarding 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 Grant made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Board member Goss seconded the motion. Motion passed 7-0. Minutes were approved at the August 20, 2025, meeting on board member Grant motion, board - member Goss second the motion. Motion passed 7-0. Board members Joel Cochren, Gabe Flores and Rogelio Wallace were absent.