HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Building Code Board Of Appeals - 05/16/2019REGULAR MEETING
Building Code Board of Appeals
Thursday, May 16, 2019 at 1:30 p.m.
Frost Bank Building, 2406 Leopard, Corpus Christi, Texas
3rd Floor Training Room
MINUTES
1) Call to Order: 1:35pm
2) Roll Call
a) Members Present: Garry Camp, Robert Knowles, Randy Farrar, Ramiro Munoz, Chuck Anastos,
Hilary Davis
b) Members Absent: none
3) Approval of Minutes: Regular Meeting held on February 21, 2019
a) Motion to approve made by Garry Camp; seconded by Randy Farrar
4) Approval of Absences:
a) Regular Meeting held on February 21, 2019: Chuck Anastos, Hilary Davis
b) Garry Camp moved to approve absences; Chuck Anastos seconded. Motion passed
unanimously.
5) Appeals
a) none
6) Public Comment
a) none
7) Floodplain Management Update
a) Floodplain & Coastal Protection Manager Yvette Dodd-Wallace gave an overview of changes
made to floodplain management standards including adding 1 foot of freeboard and non-
conversion agreements.
8) Discussion on Change of Occupancy
a) Gene Delauro expressed the Fire Department’s concerns about bars & clubs that sit vacant for
years and can reopen without upgrading to the current fire code. Once a space is established as
an A2, a bar, they may continue to be an A2 unless someone requests to change it; the building
code in place when the designation was bestowed stays in effect indefinitely. Several large clubs
and bars are reopening downtown after years of vacancy, and nothing in the code requires them
to meet the current fire code. Fire would like to establish a timeframe for a designated use to
expire after the business closes, so if they reopen after that timeframe, they must bring the
building up to current codes.
b) It was suggested if utilities were turned off due to going out of business that the new owner must
bring the building up to current fire codes before utilities can be turned on; the occupant load be
lowered based on the requirement of the grandfathered code; establishing a fire watch system,
etc.
c) it was acknowledged that retrofitting a building with a sprinkler system is expensive, and no one
wants to negatively impact development.
REGULAR MEETING
Building Code Board of Appeals
Thursday, May 16, 2019 at 1:30 p.m.
Frost Bank Building, 2406 Leopard, Corpus Christi, Texas
3rd Floor Training Room
9) Dynamic Portal Demonstration
a) Angelita Ramirez gave a demonstration of applying for a permit through the Dynamic Portal.
10) Building Official’s Report
a) Gene Delauro gave an overview of the budget, anticipating a revenue shortfall; commercial
permits are down; the department is freezing all vacant positions until revenues stabilize; zoning
and platting have picked up, which indicates development is moving.
b) Started implementing administrative fees for work without permits.
11) Adjourn: 3:05pm