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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Mechanical/ Plumbing Advisory Board - 02/12/2009 ftur 1.10 Minutes of the Mechanical/Plumbing Advisory Board Regular Meeting RECEIVED Thursday, February 12,2009 at 2 p.m. Fire Department Training Room AUG 1 7 2009 3rd Floor, Frost Bank Building 2406 Leopard,Corpus Christi, Texas CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE I. Call to Order Meeting was called to order at 2:05 p.m. II. Roll Call Board members present include: James Horman, Mike Wanzer, Scott Corliss, Ray Johnson, James Dildy, Bob Hughes, Sean Rodriguez and Robert Pate Board members absent: Everest Huerta, Bud O'Bryan, and Robert Sells City staff present include: Joe Elliot, James Pendleton and Catherine Mireles III. Approval of Minutes Mr. Johnson made the first motion to accept both minutes from December 18th, 2008 and January 8th, 2009, seconded by Mr. Wanzer. Motion carried unanimously. IV. Review, Discuss, and Act as Appropriate on the 2006 International Plumbing Code, International Mechanical Code, International Fuel/Gas Code, International Energy Code, International Residential Code, and Local Amendments D Mr. Corliss confirmed that the Board has completed this agenda item. D Mr. Elliot stated that Mr. Reining is currently working on the codes and in May or June they will be presented to City Council. He also hopes that a rough draft will be provided to the Board next month for review and modifications. V. Review Candidates' Resumes for New Board Members and Make a Determination on Submittal of any Recommendations to City Council D Mr. Elliot went on to discuss Board vacancies, expirations and reappointments. He felt that at this time the Board should not take any action on this item until all applications, bio's and recommendations were turned in, then at that point they would make decisions to submit to City Council. The Board returned to Item IV of the agenda to discuss a tabled item from the last scheduled meeting regarding Atmospheric Vacuum Breakers (in the style of Rainbirds that are sold in DIY stores). D Mr. Johnson is under the assumption that that these devices are not up to code or not allowed to be used in the City of Corpus Christi and that Sec. P2902.5.3 (IRC) is reverting back to allowing them. Mr. Johnson feels that all sprinkler systems SCANNED 4 w 440, Minutes of the Mechanical/Plumbing Advisory Board Regular Meeting February 12,2009 Page 2 should have a testable backflow prevention device and AVB's should not be allowed on a lawn sprinkler system. > Mr. Elliott said that he does not see anything in the code were it specifically prohibits the use of these devices. Mr. Elliot stated that an A VB is not a testable device by industry standards,you can not hook it up to a gauge. Staffs recommendation is for Sec. P2902.5.3:Lawn Irrigation Systems in IRC to be read as: "The potable water system to lawn irrigation systems shall be protected against backflow by a pressure type vacuum breaker (PVB) or reduced pressure principle backflow preventer; where chemicals are introduced into the potable water supply shall be protected against backflow by a reduced pressure principle backflow preventer." Therefore making the vacuum valves mentioned the only types approved for irrigation and omitting "atmospheric vacuum breaker" and the sentence: "A valve shall not be installed downstream from an atmospheric vacuum breaker (AVB)". Mr. Johnson made the first motion to support City Staff's recommendation,seconded by Mr. Hughes. Motion carried unanimously. > Mr. Rodriguez questioned if this recommendation needs to also be considered for the IPC which opened up other topics for debate regarding City Staffs interpretation of what constitutes a lawn sprinkler system verses drip emitters and what approved means of backflow prevention will be allowed. > Mr. Johnson suggests making the same changes to the IPC, Sec. 608.16.5: Connections to the Lawn Irrigation Systems. > Mr. Corliss stated that the action taken above regarding Sec. P2902.5.3 has a direct affect on irrigation systems whether it is a drip emitter or lawn sprinkler system. > Mr. Pendleton believes that a drip emitter would be considered a type of irrigation. ➢ Mr. Elliot suggests looking up the definition of Irrigation System under TCEQ for some clarification before proceeding with the next action to be taken. ➢ Mr. Pendleton reads the definition from TCEQ under Title 30, Chapter 344: "Irrigation System is an assembly of component parts that is permanently installed for the control, distribution and conservation of water to irrigate any type of landscape, vegetation in any location and or to reduce dust or control erosion." Once the board was provided this definition, it was agreed upon that the term "permanently installed" was the determining factor of what action to take regarding the IPC. Minutes of the Mechanical/Plumbing Advisory Board Regular Meeting February 12,2009 Page 3 > Mr. Pendleton does not oppose to amending Sec.608.16.5 of the IPC. Mr. Johnson made the first motion for Sec. 608.16.5 of the IPC to mimic Sec. P2902.5.3 of the IRC (action taken above) and Mr. Dildy seconds. Motion carried unanimously. VI. Identify Items to be Place on Next Agenda Approval of Special Meeting Minutes: December 12, 2008&January 20, 2009 Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes: February 12, 2009 VII. Building Official Report: Department Update Building official was not present so Mr. Elliot gave the department update regarding the Backflow department. Mr. Elliott explained that two notices are sent to individuals who own backflow preventers that require testing. If the individual fails to comply with the testing then they are forwarded to the Environmental Municipal Court. Mr. Pendleton has been going to the Environmental Municipal Court for the past several weeks every Monday. Individuals can assess up to $300 in fines plus court costs and if they do not appear at their scheduled court date then a warrant can be issued for their arrest. Mr. Elliott wanted to make aware to the board that backflow testers carry the responsibility of getting test reports to us in a certain amount of time so that those notices do not get sent out to the owners. VIII. 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: 1) 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. No one addressed the board during open forum. IX. Adjourn Meeting was adjourned at 5 p.m. iftittgAlA Presiding Officer ''