HomeMy WebLinkAboutA009 - Mechanical Board and Plumbing Board proposed policy changes September 9, 1999T S-_ _-
-S PAS
Mr.Ted Tedesco C11=Y CLERK
Ames City Mayor C!1 Y OF'AMES,IOWA
515 Clark
Ames,IA 50010
RE: City of Ames Mechanical Board &Plumbing Board Policy changes
Dear Mr. Tedesco,
This correspondence is in compliance with your letter dated September 1, 1999. We have included a copy
of that letter as well as a copy of a letter the Mechanical Code Board of Appeals and Plumbing Code Board
of Appeals sent to you. The letters identify serious concerns that both boards have in regards to Inspection
department policies and how infractions of the code policies are or not dealt with in a consistent manner. It
is our sincere attempt to treat all persons,companies and government bodies with fairness and equality.
We as Board members have come to the consensus that to dwell in the past is futile and not productive. In
the August 30, 1999 letter we sent to Mayor Tedesco,we showed that we do need to work together to serve
our communities best interest. With board participation in decision making regarding code enforcement
infractions we can start anew with innovative policy changes. We feel that if we do not learn from our
mistakes we are doomed to repeat them.
Each Board member feels that the City Mission Statement the employees follow also includes all voluntary
boards and commissions as they too represent the City as a whole. With the Mission Statement as our
guide,we are proposing the following be implemented as soon as possible;
1. Upon receiving municipal infraction complaint in the inspection office a complaint form must
be filled out as follows:Date of complaint,time of complaint,person or company in non-
compliance of code,what municipal infraction is occurring,where infraction is occurring.
2. Copy of municipal infraction complaint is sent to Department head,Inspection Division head,
appropriate city inspector and appropriate board chairman.
3. Inspection division head will contact City legal staff within a 2-day period to set date and time
of hearing on upon said infraction. Inspection division head will then contact appropriate
board chairman and members of said board to request their presence at hearing of municipal
infraction in question. The hearing shall consist of Inspection division head,City Legal staff,
board chairman,members of appropriate board and person/company in which the complaint is
against. In total,all five(5)of these persons will discuss and vote on what action will be
taken on the municipal infraction before them(person/company complaint is against has no
vote).
4. All of the above actions shall be responded to within a 15-day period of receiving said
municipal infraction complaint. Upon decision of the above mention hearing group,the City
legal staff shall act in no more than a 3-day period to pursue the decision of the hearing
outcome. Fines shall be levied in accordance to the municipal infractions all ready approved
by the City Council.
5. City Legal staff shall in writing report back to the Department head,Inspection division head,
appropriate inspector and appropriate board chairman and members of board regarding
compliance of municipal infraction.
We as members of the respective boards request this policy be enacted in no more than a 30-day period.
We are requesting this time frame due to the lack of follow through on the City of Ames motion to amend
the mechanical code to establish licensing which was requested by the City of Ames Inspection department.
This motion is part of the City's council meeting dated April 13, 1999. Item#24 Motion requesting City
This motion is part of the City's council meeting dated April 13, 1999. Item#24 Motion requesting City
Attorney to draft amendment to Mechanical Code to establish licensing requirement. Why hasn't this
amendment come back before the City Council to be voted on?
We too want to be proactive in the policies that will best serve our communities interest. This is why as
board members we request to be involved with the city staff as to the analysis and recommendation of
proposed policy changes. After appropriate review and discussion we will present our final decision
regarding the type and level of code enforcement policy that will be undertaken.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter. If you should have any questions or concerns please feel
free to contact the Mechanical Board chairman,Mr. Scott Stephan or Plumbing Board chairman Mr.John
Weiss.
Respectfully submitted,
Members of the City of Ames
Mechanical Board Plumbing Board
Scott Stephan John Weiss
Jim Linde Bill Soy
Matt Co erse Steve Hall
CC: Ann Campbell
Russ Cross
Judie Hoffman
John Parks
Herman Quirmbach
Sharon Wirth
Steve Schainker
Enc: 1. Boards letter 8-30-99
2. Mayor's letter 9-1-99
3. Mission Statement
4. Agenda from 4-13-99