CR 91-80 Repeal City Code Section 430
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March 25, 1991 Council Report # 91-80
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REPEAL OF CITY CODE SECTION 430 - THE COMMERCIAL STRUCTURE CERTIFICATE
OF OCCUPANCY INSPECTION PROGRAM
Proposed Action
The Building Inspection Department recommends the adoption of the
fOllowing motion: Move approval of city Ordinance #91-676 deleting
City Ordinance #430 relatinq to commercial structures and Certificates
of Occupancy.
By approving this ordinance, the City Council would be deleting the
City Code Section 430 which requires an inspection and new certificate
of occupancy be issued for all commercial structures when a change of
ownership occurs.
Overview
In 1990, the City Inspection Department had a series of meetings with
the city Council at which the image of the Building Inspection
Department and the various codes we enforce was discussed.
As a result of the discussions in December, the staff proposed a Truth
in Housing Ordinance that included a recommendation, supported by the
Council, to shift the emphasis of inspection of commercial properties
from inspection at time of sale to regular Fire Code inspections of
all commercial properties in the city.
The Fire Marshal has started upgrading his inspection program and is
working on computerizing the commercial occupancies in the city.
Since the Truth in Housing Code has not as yet been adopted, we have
decided to start cross training the Housing Inspector to do fire
inspections and he will be, next week, assisting in the Fire Code
program.
Primary Issues to Consider
0 If the motion is approved is there adequate staff to preform
the fire code inspections?
Supportinq Information
0 Analysis of Issues
0 Alternatives
0 Ordinance No. 91-676
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Tom Anders n
Building Official
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Page 2
Primary Issues to Consider.
0 If the motion is approved, is there adequate staff to perform the
fire code inspections?
The fire code inspections are currently done by the Fire Marshal and
two part time fire Inspectors. The current program is aimed at the
high hazard occupancies only. These occupancies include apartments,
restaurants, assembly occupancies, body shops and commercial,
industrial occupancies storing or using hazardous materials.
The initial plan to expand the fire code inspection program to include
all commercial occupancies was to increase the part time inspectors
hours and to shift the fire inspection responsibilities for apartment
occupancies from the fire inspectors to the housing inspector. In the
1991 Budget process there was an increase in the fire Department
budget to allow for an increase in the number of part time inspector
hours. This increase however, was put on hold for possible cuts
considering the current state cuts in local government aid.
Since the truth in Housing code has been put on hold because of the
state cuts, we have decided to at least temporarily shift more
responsibility on the Housing Inspector. He will be starting next week
to assist and be trained by the Fire Marshal to do Fire Code
inspections.
We feel that with this switch in responsibilities we can start
immediately to change the focus from enforcement at time of sale to
regular fire code inspections. This shift will allow us to better
utilize the staff in improving fire safety in the community and at the
same time utilize the full flexibility inherent in the fire code.
Alternatives
I. Adopt the motion as recommended. This will allow the
staff to complete the implementation of a shift to regular
fire code inspections of all commercial properties and
utilize the flexibility built into the fire code.
2 Do not adopt the recommended motion. The staff would
continue to make inspections at the time of sale on all
commercial properties.
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Ordinance No. 91-676
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HOPKINS DOES ORDAIN:
Ordinance No. 430 relating to Commercial structures and
certificate of occupancy is hereby repealed in its entirety.
Adopted this day of , 1991.
Approved this day of , 1991.
Mayor
Attest:
City Clerk
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