HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Adopting Revisions to Electrical Code ORDINANCE NO. 3220
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE
CITY OF AMES, IOWA, BY REPEALING SECTIONS AND SUB-
SECTIONS 7.201(3), 7.302, 7.303(2), 7.303(12), 7.401 AS
THEY NOW EXIST AND ENACTING NEW SECTIONS AND
SUBSECTIONS 7.101(2), 7.201(3), 7.302, 7.303(2), 7.303(12),
7.401 FOR THE PURPOSE OF BRINGING THEM INTO
COMPLIANCE WITH THE MOST RECENT UNIFORM CODE;
REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH;
ESTABLISHING A PENALTY AND SETTING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
BE IT ORDAINED, by the City Council for the City of Ames, Iowa:
Section One. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames, Iowa is hereby amend-
ed by enacting a new Subsection 7.101(2) as follows:
"(2) Amend National Electric Code, Section 250-81. Grounding Elec-
trode Systems, by adding the following new subsection (e):
(e) Grounding Where Plastic Water Service is Installed
When plastic water service is installed, a plaque or sign
shall be installed on the electrical panel to warn the elec-
trician and the electrician shall then ground by means other
than the water service."
Section Two. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames, Iowa is hereby
amended by repealing Subsection 7.201(3) as it now exists and enacting a new
Subsection 7.201(3) as follows:
"(3) Application for permit. An application shall be made in writing at
the inspection division on the form provided by the city. Only
master electricians from a registered electrical contractor, may
apply for electrical permits, except as provided in Sec. 7.304."
Section Three. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames, Iowa is hereby
amended by repealing Section 7.302 as it now exists and enacting a new Section
7.302 as follows:
"Sec. 7.302. REGISTRATION.
Before doing any business in the city, an electrical contractor shall
register with the City Inspections Department according to the following
procedure:
(1) Conditions for Registration. An Electrical Contractor shall meet
both of the following requirements as a condition of registrations:
(a) Each electrical contractor shall have at least one licensed
master electrician employed by or working for the contractor
at all times.
7-1 Mar. 19, 1993
(b) Each electrical contractor shall have at least one licensed
journeyman electrician employed by or working for the con-
tractor at all times.
(2) Information to be provided. An applicant for electrical contractor
registration under this section shall provide to the Inspector the
following information:
(a) The complete name, complete mailing address and telephone
number of the firm or corporation.
(b) The name, position and private mailing address of a manager
or general agent of the firm or of each officer of a corpora-
tion and the registered agent for service of legal process on
the corporation.
(c) The name, position and private mailing address of a person
who is authorized to bind the firm in legal agreements.
(d) If the registration is to be as an individual only, the name
and mailing address, street address and telephone number of
the individual.
(e) The State Division of Labor registration number.
(f) Every registrant shall carry Contractor's Commercial General
Liability insurance in not less than $500,000.00 combined
single limit and shall provide proof of coverage to the Build-
ing Official before registration.
EXEMPTION: When registrant is the property owner, proof
of general liability insurance coverage of $500,000 is re-
quired in lieu of contractor's commercial liability coverage
and no state registration number is required.
(g) The names of all master electricians employed by or working
for the electrical contractor.
(h) The names of all journeyman electricians working for the
electrical contractor.
(i) The names of all apprentice electricians employed by or work-
ing for the electrical contractor.
(j) Other technical data and information pertaining to the work to
be done as may be required by the Building Official.
Every registrant shall provide accurate information on the regis-
tration application. The electrical contractor, if an individual, shall
come into the inspection office to register in person each year. When
the electrical contractor is a firm, a licensed master electrician of
the electrical contractor, shall come into the inspection office to
register in person each year. Any changes in that information shall be
reported to the office of the Building Official within ten (10) days
7-2 Mar. 19, 1993
from the date the information previously supplied has become inaccurate
for any reason.
(3) Inspector Shall Respond. After application for registration has
been received by the Inspector, the Inspector shall act promptly to
issue the registration or to determine on what basis the registra-
tion may not be issued. The Inspector shall so respond not later
than two weeks following application.
(4) Expiration and Renewal of Registration. Registration shall expire
annually on January 1 and may be reactivated as long as the regis-
tration information remains accurate and proof of continued liabil-
ity coverage is submitted.
(5) Transfer of Registration is Prohibited. No registrant under this
section shall allow their registration by name or other identifica-
tion to be transferred or assigned to or in any manner directly or
indirectly used by any person, firm or corporation other than the
one to whom issued, for any purpose.
(6) Registration Suspended. The Electrical Board shall have the au-
thority to suspend any registration issued under this section for
any of the following acts by the Registrant:
(a) Continued work after the issuance of a stop order.
(b) Initiating work in violation of the Board's decision or prior
to the Board's decision.
(c) Causing or permitting the unauthorized or prohibited use of a
valid registration, by another, such as to allow the rights
and privileges of registration to be applied to one not duly
registered.
(d) Judgment entries of two (2) violations of any of the provi-
sions of this chapter committed within a period of twelve (12)
consecutive months.
Such suspension of registration shall be for a time not to
exceed six (6) months. After expiration of such period of
time as the Board shall have designated, and after payment
of any outstanding fines and routine renewal fee, if it has
become due in the interim, the suspended registration shall
again become valid and effective.
(7) Registration Revoked. The Electrical Board shall have the authori-
ty to revoke any registration issued under this section for:
(a) Judgment entry of a violation constituting the practice of any
fraud or deceit in securing (a) a license or (b) a permit.
(b) Judgment entry of three (3) violations of this chapter commit-
ted within a period of twelve (12) consecutive months.
7-3 Mar. 19, 1993
Such revocation of a registration by the Board shall be full and
final cancellation of such registration, made effective on the date
of the Board's decision. Any Registrant so judged by the Board
shall not, thereafter, be allowed to be registered again in the
City.
(8) Suspension or Revocation Hearing. In considering allegations under
this section regarding suspension or revocation of a registration,
the Electrical Board shall proceed upon sworn information furnished
it by an official of the City, or by any person. Such information
shall be in writing and shall be duly verified by the person famil-
iar with the allegations made. The Board shall issue an order
setting the matter for hearing at a specified time and place, and
the Secretary of the Board, with the advice of the City Attorney,
shall cause a copy of the Board's order, and of the allegation, to
be served upon the Registrant by registered mail at least fifteen
(15) days before the date set for the hearing. The Registrant
may appear in person or by counsel at the time and place named
in the order and present his/her defense to the Board. The City
Attorney shall provide counsel for the Board. If the Registrant
fails or refuses to appear, the Board may proceed to hear and
determine the charge in his/her absence. If he/she admits the
allegation, or if, upon hearing, the Board finds any of the allega-
tions to be true, it may enter an order suspending or revoking
the registration. Suspension or revocation resulting from a deci-
sion of the Board shall preclude the Registrant from securing a
permit for work controlled by that registration in the city, or
from becoming so registered under alternated identification, as
long as the suspension or revocation is in effect.
(Ord. No. 3195, Sec. 1, 9-24-92)"
Section Four. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames, Iowa is hereby
amended by repealing Subsection 7.303(2) as it now exists and enacting a new
Subsection 7.303(2) as follows:
11(2) Application for License Required; Examination Fee. Each appli-
cant for a license either as a Journeyman or Master Electrician
shall fill out and file an application for such license on forms
furnished, and shall pay a fee to the city clerk. Prior to test-
ing, proof of four years' of apprenticeship to a licensed journey-
man electrician is required. Should the accuracy of the applica-
tion or qualifications of the Applicant be questioned, the Board of
Appeals shall render its judgment in the matter."
Section Five. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames, Iowa is hereby
amended by repealing Subsection 7.303(12) as it now exists and enacting a new
Subsection 7.303(12) as follows:
"(12) Suspension or Revocation Hearing. In considering allegations
under this section regarding suspension or revocation of a license,
the Board shall proceed upon sworn information furnished it by an
official of the City, or by any person. Such information shall be
in writing and shall be duly verified by the person familiar with
the allegations made. The Board shall issue an order setting the
matter for hearing at a specified time and place, and the Secretary
7-4 Mar. 19, 1993
of the Board, with the advice of the City Attorney, shall cause a
copy of the Board's order, and of the allegations, to be served
upon the licensee by registered mail at least fifteen (15) days
before the date set for the hearing. The licensee may appear in
person or by counsel at the time and place named in the order and
present his/her defense to the Board. The City Attorney shall
provide counsel for the Board. If the licensee fails or refuses to
appear, the Board may proceed to hear and determine the allega-
tions in his/her absence. If he/she admits the allegations, or if,
upon a hearing, the Board finds any of the allegations to be true,
it may enter an order suspending or revoking the license. Suspen-
sion or revocation resulting from a decision of the Board shall
preclude the licensee from doing any electrical work in the city as
long as the suspension or revocation is in effect.
(Ord. No. 993, Sec. 20 - 28, 4-18-61; Ord. No. 2360, Sections 1, 1,
12-15-70; Ord. No. 3042, Sec. 1, 3-28-89; Ord. No. 3138, Sec. 1,
7-23-91; Ord. No. 3203, Sec. 2, 12-8-92; Ord. No. 3195, Sec. 1,
9-24-92) "
Section Six. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames, Iowa is hereby amend-
ed by repealing Section 7.401 as it now exists and enacting a new Section 7.401 as
follows:
"Sec. 7.401. ELECTRICAL BOARD CREATED; MEMBERSHIP,
APPOINTMENT; QUORUM; AUTHORITY
(1) Electrical Board Created. There is hereby created a Board of
Electrical Examiners and Appeals, of three (3) members, at least
one of whom shall be a Master Electrician and one shall be a Jour-
neyman Electrician and the third shall be either a Master or Jour-
neyman electrician or shall have professional teaching experience
or study in engineering of electrical systems, appointed by the
mayor and approved by the city council. Only one (1) employee,
representative, or associate per business or firm shall be on the
Board at a time. Two (2) of the voting Board members shall con-
stitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The electrical
inspector employed by the city and one person from the Building
Code Board of Appeals shall be members ex officio of the Board
without voting power.
(2) Records of Board Proceedings. A record of all proceedings of the
Board shall be kept which shall set forth the issues or requests
submitted to the Board, the reasons for the Board's Decisions, the
vote of each member, the absence of a member, and any failure of
a member to vote.
(3) Authority of Board. The Board has the responsibility and authori-
ty to:
(a) Prepare and conduct written examinations, and examine the
practical qualifications of applicants for the licenses and
certificates required by this chapter, and to rule on the
qualifications of applicants prior to examination.
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(b) Act as a Board of appeals to hear appeals from decisions of a
electrical inspector when it is claimed that the true intent
of the electrical code has been incorrectly interpreted, the
provisions of the code do not apply, or an equally good or
better form of construction can be allowed.
(c) Review proposed changes to this chapter and make recommen-
dation to the city council.
The Board shall have no power to waive any provision of this code.
The Board shall have no authority over activity within city right-of-
ways or easements. This authority is reserved to the director of the
Electric Utility.
The Board shall adopt, from time to time such rules and regulations as
it may deem necessary to carry into effect the board's duties as set out
in this chapter.
(Ord. No. 993, Sec. 11, 4-18-61; Ord. No. 2922, Sec. 1, 4-9-85; Ord. No.
3195, Sec. 1, 9-24-92)"
Section Seven. Violation of the provisions of this ordinance shall consti-
tute a municipal infraction, punishable as set out in Section 1.9, Ames Municipal
Code.
Section Eight. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith
shall be repealed to the extent of such conflict if any.
Section Nine. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect April 1,
1993, from and after its passage and publication as required by law.
Passed this 23H day of March 1993.
Sandra L. Ryan, ity Clerk Larry R. Cur is, Mayur
0233
7-6 Mar. 19, 1993