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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_BSC_12.18.2003Minutes of the Meeting of the Building Standards Board City of Georgetown, Texas Thursday, December 18, 2003 The Building Standards Board of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Thursday , December 18, 2003. Members Present: Jim Schiller, Chairman, Lloyd Potts, Richard Lenning, Edward Baxter Members Absent: Neal Daly, Edward Martin Staff Present: Dave Hall, Laura Anderson, Patricia Rinehardt Minutes Regular Meeting FINAL DRAFT OF PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES OF THE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION City of Georgetown December 18, 2003 Notice is hereby given that the City of Georgetown Building Standards Commission held a meeting at 4:00 p.m., Thursday, the 18th of December 2003, in the Council Chambers Conference room located at 101 E 7th , Georgetown, Texas to consider the following: ATTENDANCE: COMMISSIONERS: Jim Schiller, Richard Lenning, Lloyd Potts, Edward Baxter Staff: Building Official – Dave Hall, Secretary- Laura Anderson, Staff Patricia Rinehardt, Commercial Plan Examiner- Bob Stevenson Meeting called to order at 4:05p.m. Regular Session 1. Consideration of approval of the minutes from the Commission meeting held on June 19, 2003. Lenning motion, Potts Seconds approved 4-0 Executive Session (Commission reserves the right to convene into Executive Session at any time during the meeting regarding any agenda item. In compliance with the Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551 Government Code, Vernon’s Texas Code, Annotated, the item below will be discussed in closed session.) 2. Section 551.071 consultation with attorney. Regular Session 3.Action from Executive Session none 4. Presentation, public review and possible action on recommending to the City Council of Georgetown, for the adoption of the 2003 International Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, Electrical, Fuel-gas and Existing Building codes. 1995, Council adopted the 1994 Code, Council adopted the one and two family dwelling code for the first time. Codes are to be reviewed every three years, which Hall did, but chose not to bring them forward. Hall discusses the ISO ratings and view. The City of Georgetown previous rating was at a 6 and has moved to an 8 in March 2003. One of the reasons is because of the updating of the code. State of Insurance has not adopted the ISO rating as an official document yet, however they can use it as a tool for the insurance ratings. Hall asks for any input or suggestions from the public. There is no more SBCCI, now it is International Code Council. The purpose of having the International Code is so there can be one code in the United States. Hall shares why we have codes and why we need them. There are a few of the International Codes we are not going to be viewing. The intent of the Code adoption is to keep cost down and provide safety to the citizens. The City of Cedar Park has adopted all of the 2003 Codes, The City of Round Rock has adopted the 2000, City of Austin is working on Adopting the 2003 Codes. Codes constantly are changing, continuous studying of the code is unlimited. Potts ask about the Energy Code that was the adopted? The City of Georgetown is not looking at updating the Energy Code at this time. There is a legislative question on what can be adopted, due to the state mandate. The Energy code still runs hand and hand with what we are working on today. There is an Energy supplement out. We are still looking at Fire Codes, Plumbing Codes, and the 1994 adopted codes. The current plumbing code does run word for word. Some concerns on venting, Hall would like to look into due to sanitary plumbing. The ICC Codes should provide on newer materials, new plans. Property maintenance, electrical, flood plain etc. will not be adopted. Please try and keep amendments to a minimum. There will be a 60/90-day grandfather clause. Anticipation of the newer codes is to be adopted the end of February or first of March. Schiller is in agreement to updating and standardizing the codes. He knows we are not going to go with the Electrical, plumbing is okay. Are there any issues with Fuel-gas? Hall responds that it is still the same overall. The residential wouldn’t be affected by this, only commercial. What about Existing? Hall responds that it is Existing Buildings only. Baxter ask how often revisions are made by ICC? Hall responds that the are constantly changing and submitting supplements. Baxter respects the individual that works on the code and if they conflict with State or Federal that they wouldn’t be adopted. Why not go Cedar Park ways? What is the problem with the 2003 Electrical? Hall responds that ICC tends to get involved in the electrical code NFPA writes the National Electrical Code, ICC shouldn’t get involve in the electrical per Halls opinion. The electrical section is taken right out of the 1999 NEC. Why second-guess many of thousands of people? Hall explains it is not legal to just adopt without review. Would it be more or less difficult to adopt and then right Amendments? Hall explains the writing of the Amendments; the time frame for an amendment should take 2 months if everything goes smooth. Baxter asks if there is a specific 2003 code that violates State or Federal Code? Sometimes they don’t meet apples/apples. Potts ask what would be Halls best way to utilize the time spent viewing the codes? Hall responds it is part of his job, It is just a continuous project. Hall explains he has to have good documentation, Engineer data etc. before he brings it to the board. Schiller understands that next month will be another public hearing and Hall will try and have the ordinance ready. Schiller explains he understands Baxter’s thought about automatic adoption but still has to have review. Schiller doesn’t like the fact that just because they are a professional organization, they ought to let individuals that specialize write the codes. 5.Suggested items for the next regular meeting agenda. Schiller asks about 701 Main and the variance. Dave would have to research. Meeting adjourned at 5:00 Lenning motioned, Potts seconded I, _____________________, City Secretary for the City of Georgetown, do hereby Certify that the above notice of the meeting was posted on the bulletin board at the City Hall of the City of Georgetown, Texas on the ___day,of _______, 2003 at _______ o’clock_____.M.