At the October 26, 2015 City Council meeting, Mayor Geno Martini requested that consideration be given toward an amendment to Title 15 of the Sparks Municipal Code (SMC) to remove the requirement for certificate of qualification for any person who labors at the trade of plumbing or electrician in the City of Sparks.

Currently, Section 15.05.115.1 of the SMC states: "It is unlawful for any person to labor at the trade of plumbing or the trade of electrician in the City of Sparks without first having had issued to him a valid certificate of qualification."   Sections 15.05.115.2 through 15.05.115.4 detail the method for applying for certificate of qualification, set fees for certification, and allow for issuance of certificates by the Sparks Building Official if substantiating evidence of qualification is provided by the applicant.  Section 15.05.115 is attached for Council's review.

Staff determined that the requirement for certification of plumbers and electricians was introduced to the SMC in October of 1992 via Ordinace Number 1760 (See pages 63,64 and 86 of Ord. 1760, attached).  As the ordinance was adopted 23 years ago, current staff is unclear as to what the original intent of the requirement may have been.

To Staff's knowledge, the requirement has for certification of qualification of plumbers and electricians included in Title 15 of the SMC has not been used or enforced over the last 23 years.  Sparks Building and Safety staff inspect electrical and plumbing work with a focus on quality and conformance to the drawings and specifications approved with each building permit.  As such, staff is of the opinon that the the requirement for certification of qualification of plumbers and electricians is not needed and that Section 15.05.115 of the SMC can be removed in its entirety.

1. The Council could direct the City Manager to prepare an amendment to  Title 15 of the Sparks Municipal Code to remove the requirement for certificate of qualification for any person who labors at the trade of plumbing or electrician in the City of Sparks .
2. The Council could provide alternative direction to the City Manager.

"I move to direct the City Manager to prepare an amendment to Title 15 of the Sparks Municipal Code to remove the requirement for certificate of qualification for any person who labors at the trade of plumbing or electrician in the City of Sparks."