10 Discussion re contractor licenses

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MEMORANDUM TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Paris FROM: Lisa A. Wright, Director of Community Development SUBJECT: Response to Request for Information Regarding Licensing of Contractors and Procedure for Acting on Reports of Zoning Violations DATE: July 17, 2006 At the City Council meeting on Monday, July 10, 2006, Mayor Manning requested that I provide information with regard to the licensing of contractors in Paris. Construction contractors are not required to be licensed locally. A few years ago, State law was enacted which allows cities to adopt provisions requiring local licensing; however, the City of Paris never adopted this provision. With regard to electricians, there is no State licensing requirement; however, there is a local licensing requirement, and the Building Official/Electrical Inspector maintains these records. Plumbers, irrigators, and HV AC contractors are required to be licensed by the State, and the Plumbing Inspector and Building Official both consult the State database regularly to ensure that these kinds of contractors are licensed. The Administrative Assistant of the Department is responsible for consulting our licensing records prior to the final issuance of a permit. The Mayor additionally requested information regarding the procedure related to zoning violations. Upon receipt of a complaint of this nature, the Director of Community Development, a Building Inspector, or a Code Inspector goes to the area to determine if they can ascertain whether a violation exists. Upon confirmation of the violation, a notice is sent to the property owner advising him that he must be properly zoned in order to conduct the activity, stating that the activity must cease immediately, and providing a phone number which can be called if the property owner wishes to request a zoning change. The vast majority of property owners usually cease the operation immediately, because most simply are unaware that they are violating the law. If a property owner does not comply with the notice, a case may be filed in the Municipal Court and fines may be assessed up to $2,000.00 per day. The Community Development Department currently has six (6) zoning violations pending as follows: (1) operation of activity without proper zoning - this property owner contacted our office just this morning regarding seeking a zoning change; (2) operation of activity without proper zoning - this property owner was contacted verbally this morning and we are awaiting to see if he will comply without necessity of an official notice; (3) operation of activity without proper zoning - this property owner will be mailed a notice this week after photographic evidence is obtained; (4) operation of activity without proper zoning - notice has been sent to both the property owner and the resident, and the owner advised that he will be making contact with the resident to have him cease the operation (time will expire next Monday and a case will be filed if the operation continues); (5) illegal fence - the property owner has been notified and this fence will be removed by the City r"