HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8481 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8481
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Date: March 25, 2003
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SUBJECT: Metroplex Electrical Licensing Agency
Over the past 2 years, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) Electrical Advisory Board and
Regional Codes Coordination Committee has been working with member cities and the private electrical industry on
establishing a regional electrical licensing agency.
Briefly, the program would allow the electrical industry to obtain a license for use in all participating North Texas
cities in lieu of obtaining a license in each individual city. This is seen as a benefit to the industry and a reduction in
a duplicated effort among cities.
The establishment of the licensing agency would remove the annual licensing responsibility from the City for six of
the seven electrical related licenses. The six licenses that the agency will issue are Master Electrician, Journeyman
Electrician, Master Sign Electrician, Journeyman Sign Electrician, Maintenance Electrician and Residential Wireman
Electrician. The City will continue to license Residential Maintenance Electricians. The Residential Maintenance
Electrician is a program developed by the City in response to the apartment and residential management association.
This license is related to minor repairs to residential units and no greater than 240 volt applications.
r;"rhe City's revenue from the annual licensing would be eliminated as well. In prior years, Fort Worth has received
annual revenues totaling approximately $120,000 from the electrical licensing process. The electrical industry has
agreed that the City can increase fees for electrical permits to offset the lost revenue. As part of the evaluation of
fees and rate adjustments recommendations to the City Council during the formulation of the FY 2003/04 General
Fund Budget, this sum would be included.
While the NCTCOG's program is projected to begin on July 1,2003, the City of Fort Worth will not begin using the
services of the Agency until the existing City licenses expire on December 31, 2003. This lag time will also allow
the Agency to formulate their database and the City to develop, test and implement the necessary computer
programming to accept the licensing information.
The next step in the process to implement the Metroplex Electrical Licensing Agency is to enter into an interlocal
agreement with NCTCOG. On March 11, 2003, the Economic and Community Development Committee reviewed
this program. The Committee recommended the consideration of the interlocal agreement be forwarded to the full
Council.
Staff will place an M&C on the April 1, 2003 City Council agenda for consideration. Favorable consideration would
allow the City Manager to enter into the interlocal agreement to participate in the regional program.
Should you have any questions regarding this issue, please contact Bob Riley at 871-8901.
,vary W Jackson
amity Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS