Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Building Code Board Of Appeals - 10/15/2009 Minutes of the Building Code Board of Appeals Regular Meeting Thursday,October 15,2009, 1:30 p.m. RECEIVED Fire Department Conference Room RECEIVED C (3rd Floor Development Services Building) APR 1 6 2010 I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Cliff Atnip at 1:41 p.m. CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE II. Roll Call Board members present: Cliff Atnip, John Dykema, Chris Hamilton, John Kendall, Mike Lippincott, and Ricardo Martinez, Board members absent: Bill Ewing City staff present.: Joseph Elliott, Stephen Draper, Steve Van Patten, and Elsa Martinez III. Approval of Minutes: June 18,2009,Regular Meeting July 16,2009, Regular Meeting Mr. Mike Lippincott made a motion to approve the minutes of the June 18, 2009, regular meeting as presented;the motion was seconded by John Dykema. The notion carried 6-0. Mr. Ricardo Martinez made a motion to approve the minutes of the July 16, 2009, regular meeting as presented; the motion was seconded by Mr.John Dykema. The motion carried 6-0. IV. Building Official's Report A. Department Updates B. 2009 Building Codes C. Staffing Mr. Draper introduced himself and shared a brief overview on his work history. He informed the board that City staff will be moving forward with the review of the 2009 international codes and incorporating these with the recommendations of the 2006 codes made by the board. Mr. Elliott responded to an inquiry made by a board member about the changes between the 2006 and 2009 codes. He informed that was not aware of much of the review this board had accomplished with the 2006 codes, but it was his understanding the board had completed the review and that legal was drafting the recommended changes. He added that the 2009 codes would reflect changes from the 2006 codes, therefore, the board would still need to reference the 2006 codes. He informed that it is his understanding that on this occasion, City staff is assuming the responsibility of reviewing the 2009 codes and code change recommendations and that City staff will have the burden of bringing the recommendations before the board for review, discussion, and/or action. Mr. Elliott also informed the board that staff and the board will be working with limited time to accomplish the review of the 2009 codes and make decisions on recommendations by the end of 2009. He admonished board members to work with City staff to help accomplish this task. Mr. Draper informed the board that the time lines discussed are not definitive, but that City staff was hoping to move through the process as quickly as possible to get the board's decisions to legal in order to assist them with getting the information drafted quickly and ready during the first part of the year. Mr. Draper allowed Mr. Elliott to provide an overview on staffing. Mr. Elliott informed that Building Services' staffing is stable. He informed that staff will be looking to fill one more building inspector position. Mr. Elliott informed that the inspectors are utilizing computers out in the field as they are completing inspections to result in real time. Mr. Kendall made an inquiry from staff about whether it was true that customers are not able to speak to plan reviewers on a walk-in basis and are re-directed to project managers who are not familiar with the code. He asked if it was true that there are specific days and times set aside during the week for the SCANNED Minutes of the Building Code Board of Appeals Regular Meeting October 15,2009 Page 2 customer to meet with plan reviewers. Mr. Elliott defined the early assistance process described by Mr. Kendall. He explained that this is one of the newer processes implemented by the department and its purpose. Mr. Elliott informed that this concern relates to the departmental process and therefore, it is out of the purview of this board. He informed Mr. Kendall that he may have a valid concern but this forum was not the appropriate one to engage and address that discussion. Mr. Atnip inquired on the status of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) audit. Mr. Draper provided the board with a brief update based on his knowledge of the subject and informed the board that the Department is responding to FEMA according to the time lines provided by correspondence. On inquiry by a board, Mr. Draper informed that the Department anticipates having a complete review and response to the agency within two years or so. Mr. Elliott identified Daniel McGinn, Mr. Perales, and himself as certified flood plain managers, when asked if the City had such designations(s). Mr. Elliott asked for the discussion of this item to come to a close since it was not itemized for discussion on the agenda. On the note of agenda items, Mr. Hamilton made an inquiry about the board's responsibility to review the building codes. Mr. Elliott informed him that Chapter 14 of the City's Code of Ordinances describes the duties and responsibilities of this board. Mr. Elliott informed Mr. Hamilton that he would be provided with a copy of Chapter 14. Mr. Dykema took the opportunity to inform Mr. Hamilton that Chapter 14 has been utilized to amend codes for the past thirty years. V. Public Comments Board members may not deliberate or make a decision on any matter presented at this time. The Open Meetings Act limits Board response to only two options: I) a statement of specific factual information given in response to an inquiry; or 2) a recitation of existing policy in response to the inquiry. Any deliberation of or decision about the subject shall be limited to a proposal to place the subject on the agenda for a subsequent meeting. Ms. Jeri Morey addressed the board informing she would share some points of information. She informed she attended some legislative meetings this past summer. On the topic of sprinklers for single family homes, Ms. Morey shared that a proposal was brought forward by the home builders association. She shared she believed that what was passed on the proposal was the right of a purchaser of a single-family home, before they obtained the permits, to sign a waiver that would go in with the permits so the sprinkler would not be required. Ms. Morey informed she was also there(legislative meetings)for the Home Builder's Association proposal for a special committee to be set up to review codes before these are adopted by council. She said this was eventually taken out of the codes so, as she saw it, this board would be the one to still do so. She shared she recalled there is notice required prior to the adoption of the codes to the point that city council could actually vote on it. VI. Identify items to be placed on next agenda Update on FEMA audit VII. Adjourn The meetin_ was adjourned. .•18 p.m. Presiding Off` -r t