Memo 2nd Reading 91-702 Amended
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CITY OF HOPKINS
MEMORANDUM
DATE:
December 30, 1991
TO:
Mayor and city Council
FROM:
Tom Anderson
SUBJECT: Second reading of ordinance # 91-702 amending the
Contractor licensing ordinance
The City Council requested a further explanation of the proposed
contractors licence ordinance amendment as it pertains to
business owners doing work on their own buildings. The current
City Code section 440 require~ that all persons wishing to obtain
building permits be licensed under the city's contractor license
ordinance. The only exception is a home owner doing work on his
own residence.
The proposed language is consistent with all other State
licensing laws that have been adopted, ie plumbing, electrical,
and now State residential contractors. The reasoning behind the
language is that a homeowner doing work on his own home endangers
only himself and his family if the work is not done correctly. An
owner of a duplex, apartment or business could jeopardize the
public and therefor, in theory, he should be qualified to do the
work.
In the proposed amendment to the City's contractor licence
ordinance, staff chose not to recommend major changes to the
local licensing law at this time but rather attempted to bring it
into conformance with the new state residential contractors law.
Staff also wanted to address a problem we have been having with
business owners wishing to do minor alterations to their
buildings.
We experience one or two owners of commercial properties each
year who wish to do very minor remodel work on their building
where a permit is needed but where the work is so minor in nature
that no real skill or training is needed. Under the current City
license ordinance a permit cannot be granted even though these
individuals are qualified to do the work. In order to obtain a
permit they must become licensed and provide a certificate of
insurance and post a bond. The bond costs alone have on occasion
been more than the cost to do the work. It is this problem that
staff is attempting to solve.
We have not experienced any business owner, with the exception of
Knox lumber and Alliant Tech wishing to do work in excess of
$2500. Both Alliant Tech and Knox have full time competent people
on staff and are City licensed contractors. Even these two firms
use outside licensed contractors on their major remodeling
projects.
The city council does have the option of changing the city's
licence law to exempt any or all owners of buildings from local
licensing as long as it is not in conflict with those required to
be state licensed.
I intend to be in attendance at the meeting on the 7th to answer
any specific questions you might have.