Explanation
The Department of Building and Zoning Services recognizes the importance of attracting the best and most qualified tradespeople in the construction industry. While the Department of Building and Zoning Services is primarily a regulatory agency, it desires to expand its role in promoting and advocating for future tradespeople to have the skills necessary to excel in this vital economic sector. This ordinance will revise Section 4103.14, Fees and assessments, of the Columbus Building Code, Title 41, to allow the Department of Building and Zoning Services to use revenue to implement education and career-based training programs in partnership with the construction industry and Columbus City Schools.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Title
To amend Section 4103.14, Fees and assessments, of the Columbus City Code, Title 41, to allow revenue of the Department of Building and Zoning Services to be used for education and career-based training programs in partnership with the construction industry and Columbus City Schools.
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Building and Zoning Services is not only a regulator, but also a partner, working with all aspects of the construction industry; and
WHEREAS, the basis of this partnership relies on the ability to have an industry that is able to attract the best and most highly skilled tradespeople possible; and
WHEREAS, to further enhance this partnership and ensure that future tradespeople have the skills necessary to enter this vital economic sector, the Department of Building and Zoning Services seeks to expand its current educational role and develop, in concert with Columbus City Schools, a new career-based training fund and program; and
WHEREAS, this code change will lay the ground work for this new partnership and program, and will ensure that students are prepared to enter pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs with the skills needed to thrive and become successful members of this highly competitive employment sector; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Building and Zoning Services to amend City Code Section 4103.14 to allow revenue to be used for education and career-based training programs; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That Section 4103.14 of the Columbus City Codes is hereby amended to read as follows:
4103.14 - Fees and assessments.
(A) Council shall, by ordinance, establish and periodically adjust the fees for all types of applications, licenses and permits provided by the Department, hereinafter referred to as the "Fee Schedule," for the purpose of defraying the costs of providing service thereunder, conducting inspections, preparing necessary documents, keeping records, education and career-based training programs, and other related work. The fee in effect on the date of receipt of any application shall be the fee charged.
(B) In accordance with the provisions of C.C. 121.05, the Director shall set the charge to be made for administrative services reasonably in line with the cost of providing such services and revise same as necessary when such administrative costs change. Administrative service fees which are hereby authorized shall include, but not necessarily be limited to charges for making copies, searching records, setting up a customer's account, handling electronic mail, preparing special reports, and making microfilm copies. The charges so set shall be published in the City Bulletin and become effective on the tenth day following such publication.
(C) Any person desiring to do or cause to be done anything for which a license registration, permit or variance is required by this Building Code, shall upon application or prior to issuance pay to the Department through the cashier the fee prescribed by the then current fee schedule. The fee schedule shall be posted in the offices of the Department and shall be made available upon request.
(D) An application or service request by a city employee or official for the benefit of the city, shall require no fee or service charge.
(E) All fees and service charges shall be paid to the City Treasurer for deposit in the Development Service Special Revenue Fund.
(F) The fee schedule may contain unique definitions and specific fees based on variants of codified applications as may be necessary to fully implement the requirements of this Building Code and/or other services the Department makes available for its application.
(G) The Department shall collect on behalf of the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance, Ohio Board of Building Standards (OBBS), an assessment equal to the percentage prescribed in the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) for acceptance and approval of plans and specifications and for making inspections pursuant to Ohio Revised Code 3781.102(F). Said assessments shall be paid to the city treasurer daily for deposit in the OBBS Assessment Fee Fund.
(1) Such assessment shall apply to fees for any new building, addition, alteration, fire protection equipment, plumbing, electrical, sign, demolition, relocated structure, tent, air-supported structure, swimming pool, awning, canopy, fence over six feet (1829 mm) high, retaining wall, or industrialized unit.
(2) However, the assessment shall not apply to fees for excavation, site work, street barricades/blocking, parking lots, agricultural buildings, fences under six feet high, zoning, and maintenance and repair work specifically exempted from approval by the Building Code.
(3) The Chief Building Official shall report on the prescribed form and remit monthly, by check, the amount of the assessments collected on behalf of the OBBS not later than 60 days following the end of each month in which the fees are collected.
(4) The City Treasurer shall issue the city's check for such assessments collected during said month payable to the treasurer of the State of Ohio from the OBBS Assessment Payment Fund.
SECTION 2. That prior existing Section 4103.14 of the Columbus City Codes is hereby repealed.
SECTION 3. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.