Council passes storm-related bills

During a special noon session, council passed three bills, the first of which was a resolution ratifying Mayor Tom Carlson’s Jan. 19 emergency proclamation that streamlined the process for certifying electricians.

A 30-day temporary registration is available for out-of-city electricians who meet several criteria, including registration with the city’s Building Development Services Department and evidence of workers’ compensation insurance. The registration applies only to storm-related work.

The measure is intended to aid residents who need electrical repairs to their home before City Utilities can restore power.

“This was an extraordinary measure,” Carlson said at the meeting. “It came about after (we) talked about what appeared to be a potential bottleneck in getting people hooked back up.”

In addition to the registration item, council also approved a plan to offer grants and/or loans to the 144 homeowners who have housing rehabilitation loans from the city. The program, which is to be used to pay for storm repairs, will be funded with money from the city's Small Business Loan Development Program.

A third approved bill gives the city authority to revoke business licenses for contractors found guilty of price fixing or price gouging in a court proceeding.[[In-content Ad]]