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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Mechanical/Plumbing Advisory Board - 01/12/2012N NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING Mechanical/Plumbing Advisory Board Thursday, January 12, 2012 Time: 2 pm. 2406 Leopard St., Corpus Christi, Texas 78408 Development Services 3rd Floor, Fire Department's Training Room Affolfrerfre Meeting was called to order at 2:05 p.m. III IM - Rellwo 11 Board Members Present: Stacey Gallagher, Karim Salighedar, Bruce Hawn, Billy Largin, Mike Wanzer, Sean Rodriguez, Bud O'Bryan, Sean Rodriguez, David Mathews and Jim Mok Board Members Absent: Butch Bailey City Staff Present: Rudy Garza, Stephen Draper, Steve Van Patten, Ronald Bounds, Deborah Brown, Jennifer Knox - Walker and Catherine Garza 111. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding: A. Board's Objection to Termination of Chief Plumbing/Mechanical Inspector, Joe Elliott and to New "Code Facilitator Approach of Development Services; B. Proper Procedure to be used to Forward Objection to the Attention of City Council. Mrs. Brown began discussion by clarifying the powers of the Board. She explained that there are two scenarios that the Boards powers fall under. She then read from Chapter 14, Advise and Recommendations: Powers, Section A. AdvicelPowers "The Plumbing/Mechanical Board shall advise the City Manager regarding any matter in the Plumbing/Mechanical and Irrigation fields which it considers should be brought to the attention of City Council and the Board shall recommend changes to the City Plumbing/Mechanical/Gas Codes to City Council." Mrs. Brown interprets this to mean, anything related to Code changes can he directly forwarded to Council. If the Board wishes for Council's consideration and it relates to the 'field" of PlumbingIMechanicallIrrigation, in this case the letter itself, then it would be forwarded to the City Manager. From there he can determine whether it should be brought to the attention of City Council. Discussion then took place about different interpretations. Mr. Bounds stated that the word "advise " is not defined and Mrs. Brown agreed, and that the "power " of the Board is limited to advising the City Manager about what should be brought to the attention of Council. Mr. Hawn feels that it can be interpreted both ways. Mr. Wanzer expressed that since they are appointed by Council then that should be who the Board reports to. Mr. Hawn asked Mrs. Brown if she foresees any problems as to why the letter would not be forwarded to either the City Manager or City Council. Mr. Garza interjected and stated that the issue at hand is a matter of government protocol and who is responsible for employees, which is ultimately the City Manager; City Council has no authority in the hiring1firing process of City L Minutes of Plumbing/Mechanical Advisory Board Regular Meeting January 12, 2012 Page 2 employees. Mr. Garza said that the Board is charted for advice on matters of policy related to Codes. He told the Board that their concern is already out there and he has had conversations with the Manager and Council. He stated he has no objection as to what direction the Board wants to take. He is willing to hand deliver the letter himself to the Manager and the Board are free to copy Council if they so desire. Mr. Hawn made the first motion to forward their letter to the City Manager and to carbon copy City CounciL Mr. O'Bryan made the second motion; all were in favor. IV. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Current Amendments to Technical Construction Code Sections Concerning Backflow Regulations and Adherence to TCEQ requirements. Mr. Garza began discussion with informing the Board about the background of how Backflow regulation issues came about within the City Council. He said that Councilman Loeb raised the issue of eliminating annual inspection regulations for "hazardous vs. non - hazardous " backflow device systems, concentrating more on the Residential side rather than Commercial; how penalties are considered to be criminal instead of civil. Mr. Garza said that at the moment, the department and certain members of council cannot come to agreement on inspection requirements but that we will do our part in putting forth more effort to educate customers about the penalty aspects who have these devices. He admits that there was a disconnect in communication between the two. Currently, the department is working on making administrative changes that allow penalties /fines to be more reasonable. In Mr. Wanzer's opinion, he feels that the Board was miss lead as far as what was presented at Council. He said that the Board was told that the Plumbing Code will mirror TCEQ guide lines but in reality it differs with respect to the inspection requirements. Mr. Garza apologized on behalf of the Department if he feels that we had miss lead the committee in any way, but the inspection requirements have not changed. Mr. Rodriguez then asked what the status of the Backflow regulations are and Mr. Garza told him that they remain intact but council can still vote to change the inspection requirements which are against staff recommendation. If they choose to do so then it would affect the residential aspect; staff will recommend keeping inspections no less than biannually. That recommendation would then come back to the advisory board for their recommendation as well that will be forwarded to Council for consideration. Further discussion took place regarding TCEQ regulations distinguishing frequency of inspections between hazardous and non - hazardous devices. V. Review, Consider, Discuss and Possible Action concerning Board Member Terms, Appointments, and Bio Forms and Reappointment of Chairman and Co- Chairman The Board began with a vote to move Mr. Mokry's position from filling the Journeyman slot to the Master position in order to replace Bud O'Bryan who has exceeded his terms. Mr. Mathews made the first motion and Mr. Gallagher seconded; all were in favor. Mr. Wanzer has also exceeded his terms, leaving the HVAC position open for voting. The candidates are Ron Klepac and Roger Perez. The Board decided to nominate Ron Klepac. Mr. Wanzer made the first motion and Mr. Rodriguez made the second motion; all were in favor. i Minutes of Plumbing/Mechanical Advisory Board Regular Meeting January 12, 2012 Page 3 Next the Board discussed the candidates for the Journeyman vacancy. The candidates are Paul Brailey and Gilbert Canales. The Board nominated Gilbert Canales. Mr. Mathews made the first motion and Mr. Hawn seconded; all were in favor. Finally, the Board decided on electing new Chairman/Co-Chairman. The Board nominated Sean Rodriguez to be Chairman. Mr. O'Bryan made the first motion and Mr. Mathews seconded; all were in favor. The Board elected David Mathews as Co-Chairman. Mr. Gallagher made the first motion and Mr. Wanzer made the second motion; all were in favor. VI. Identify items to be placed on next Agenda The Board would like to add an update regarding Water Taps; Green Building Codes. They would also like an update on their letter regarding Joe Elliott once it has been forwarded by the liaison to the City Manager. VII. Building Official's Report A. Department Updates Mr. Draper informed the Board that the 2009 Technical Construction Codes were passed by Council this past Tuesday and will go into effect on April 10, 2012. At this point, the plan is to start outreach to the industry for implementation. There will be upcoming training seminars in March But just around the corner our next mission will be to begin the review on the 2012 Code series. B. Staffing No updates on staffing. VIII. Public Comment No one addressed the Board during public forum. IX Adjournment Mr. Rodriguez made the first motion to adjourn; Mr. Wanzer made the second motion. Meeting adjourned at 3 :17 p. m.