Approved Minutes — original pdf
Approved Minutes
ELECTRICAL BOARD REGULAR CALLED MEETING APPROVED MINUTES 21, JANUARY 2026 The ELECTRICAL BOARD convened in a REGULAR CALLED meeting on January 21, 2026, at 6310 WILHELMINA DELCO DR. in Austin, Texas. Chair JOHNSON called the ELECTRICAL BOARD Meeting to order at 10:03 a.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Chairman: Johnson V. Chair Flores, Goss, Delwin; King, Kenny; Shope, Victoria Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Deshaine, David PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL No Public speakers were registered APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1 The minutes from the meeting of November 19, 2025 were approved on board member King motion, board member Flores second on a 6-0 vote. Board members Cochren, Grant, Hernandez and Wallace were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Austin Energy Disconnect Program- Austin Energy’s Jeff Diaz gave an update that AE Disconnect program would be discontinued. Timeline of this discontinued program has not been determined but will be around summertime. With this news, there will be no new registration for the disconnect program and will allow only current registrants to perform outages. The reason for the discontinuation of the program, Austin Energy, is not experiencing long delays as it was prior to long timelines for a disconnect reservation. With the aid of Austin Development services in opening 12 inspections daily for disconnect inspections and allowing contractors to perform their own outages, the program itself caught back up and no longer sees delays that it once had. 1 3. Discussion: Update on Austin Energy metering on the proposed changes in the Austin Energy Criteria Manual- There were no updates provided from Austin Energy at this time. 4. Discussion and update on Commercial Plan review- James Epperson with Commercial plan review updated that staff had a large influx of submittals from the end of November through December which led to a small backlog. November on-time ratio was at 88%, December at 96% which led into to January. Currently staff are now at 84% on time with 1057 reviews currently submitted and reviewed with 1 reviewer short. 5. Discussion and update on Building and Trade Contractor Services- Building Trade Contractor service manager Maria Jaramillo updated that her staff were 1-2 business days behind in December. Currently now sit 3-4 days behind which is due to an uptick of permit submittals post the holidays and the continued staff shortage. As of December, there were 3312 submittals with 14 staff members with one borrowed staff from Austin Code. As of last week, 3 new temporary staff members came board and are currently in training which will take roughly 6 months, but Maria added that they are being strategically trained in taking on easier processes and then working them into more complex issues. Maria reminded that the submittals that are being submitted are from the Inspection AB+C portal and the Austin Development Services webpage, they are not being accounted from phone calls, chats and in-person meetings appointments. Chats request was over 1000 requests for December, in person appointments over 200 and calls over 900. 6. Discussion and update on Commercial and Residential Inspections-Residential supervisor Aaron Finney provided that residential is at 96% on time, which fell off a little due to the holidays. Currently 4 positions are vacant and are still assisting ETJ properties for commercial inspection help. Commercial Supervisor of Electrical inspection Hyatt Dunn updated that he still has 2 positions vacant and awaiting with the outcome of the current hiring freeze. Currently 4 inspectors out in the field since October with a 90% on time ratio. 7. Discussion and Action- Approve recommendation of the 2026 National Electrical Code- Division Manager of Commercial Building Inspections Marty Starrett recapped the Upon the completion of the presentation of the 2026 National Electrical Code. presentation with no questions from the board, Chairman Johnson entertained a motion to approve the 2026 National Electrical code as presented, board member Goss made the motion to recommend the 2026 National Electrical Code to council for adoption, V. Chair Flores second the motion. Motion passed 6-0. Board members Cochren, Grant, Hernandez and Wallace were absent. 2 FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 1. Update with Austin Energy Contractor disconnect program. 2. Update with Austin Energy metering on proposed changes in the Austin Criteria manual. 3. Discussion on Commercial Plan Review on updates with staff vacancies and review timelines. 4. Discussion on Residential and Commercial inspection updates on vacancies and inspections. 5. Discussion and updates on Building and Trade contractor services with staff vacancies and review timelines. Prior to adjourning, Vice chair Johnson entertained a motion to cancel February 18th 2026 Electrical Board meeting. Board member Goss made the motion, board member Shope second the motion. Motion passed 6-0 ADJOURN: Board member Goss made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Board member Shope seconded the motion. Motion passed 6-0. Meeting adjourned at 10:59 am. The minutes were approved at the April 15, 2026 meeting on Grant’s motion, Goss second the motion. Motion passed on a 7-0 vote. 3