09/14/1970 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

318 e !---'~--'-"--.._~-" Ii 11 " I I ,I i Ii Council Chamber I. I' Eugene, Oregon " September 14, 1970 Regular meeting of the Common Council of the city of Eugene, Oregon was called to order by Council President H. C. McDonald in the absence of Mayor Anderson at 7:30 p.m. on September 14, 1970 in the Council Chamber with the following Councilmen present: Messrs. Teague and Purdy; Mrs. Hayward and Mrs. Beal ;-':-apd - Mr. - _WilTiams--.===-M~-., Gribskov and Mr. Mohr were absent. - '- ---:...r-- . PUBLIC HEARINGS l. Discussion of City Electrical Inspection Service versus State Electrical Inspection - The Eugene Branch Oregon Columbia River National Electrical Contractors Association requested the City to discontinue its electrical inspection services and instigate performance of electr.~eal inspection by the State Bureau of Labor in the city of Eugene. The effect of such a decision :! b~ the city building regulation enforcement program should be recognized in-evaluating these questions. e The Building Division of the city has proposed a special program to perform all inspections in one and two family dwellings, including zoning, building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical codes as related to dwelling construction. It is felt that removal of one segment of enforce- ment would diminish the coordination and effectiveness of the enforcement procedure. There has been some question about delay which might be caused builders with State inspection. I The State has indicated service could be given within 48 hours, and plan checking could be accomplished within a 72 hour period. ! Mr. George Keating, 1943 Onyx, said he had used 'city building inspection for many years, and has found inspectors to be quite capable and responsive to the needs of citizens of Eugene. I: He endorsed retention of city inspection within the Building Department. Mr. Thomas Hedgpeth, 1526 West 2nd, was in favor of retention of city inspection service, I' saying control was ~ocal, and could be implemented at less cost. , Mr. Otto Poticha, 1820 Kona Street, said as an architect he had found city inspection to be advantageous. When he had worked in other cities he had found use of state inspection extremely cumbersome. He wished to support the city inspection. Mr. James Mitchem, chairman of the Electrical Board, wished to go on record favoring state inspection. He felt this was in line with retention of the National Electrical code with state amendments. The State Electrical Department has well-qualified inspectors, and a supervisor in this area. He felt the proposed triple inspector would not be qualified for electrical inspection, and that he could not be adequately trained in four or five crafts. Mr. Gary Bader, Manager of Oregon Columbia Chapter National Electrical Contractors Association said he felt inspection fees for permits were 25% to 40% higher than those for state inspection. , ,I Mr. Emerson Hamilton, Hamilton Electric, supported state inspection, and was concerned that I the city had indicated it felt dwelling inspection was not as important as commercial. There I was a potential of danger no matter what the size of the IDstallation. An untrained inspector ,. 'i might not recognize potential hazard or might overlook. it. He said the state had agreed to , cooperate and furnish records to the city, and he felt thefuilding Department could cooperate " with another agency. Les Lynch, Director of the Bureau of Labor, clarified the question of appeal raised by I Mr. " Mr. f,oticha, and said there was no length of delay before a request for hearing was granted. e Mr. Allen Hamilton, Hamilton Electric, felt no one person could be well-versed in both 'I electrical and mechanical matters, and he felt one and two family dwellings were entitled to complete inspection. Councilman Williams asked if the City Manager could give an indication of other cities who had a unified inspection program, and what experience they had with this program. The City Manager did not know of any except small cities in Oregon who had a single building inspector. Mr. Mortier said the single inspector system is used extensively in california and has been implemented in cities that had not used it before. Mapy cities use single inspectors b~yond dwelling inspection. The single inspector system is also used in Washington State. Mrs. Hayward asked the implications of stateillnspection in connection with the idea embraced by the Council of a single building code. The City Manager said the idea of a single building I code will be considered by the legislature and if that takes place the state should be organized into one agency for inspection service under nationally recognized codes. If this took place, the city might not retain building inspection function at all. Until that time, it would be to the city advantage to retain its own inspection. Councilman Mohr entered the meeting. , Mr. Teague was in favor of local inspection, but was concerned that a single inspector would be trained in a short time for all phases. He felt an inspector needed considerable training. e 9/14/70 - 1 ~