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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_BSC_01.23.2020City of Georgetown, Texas Building Standards Commission Minutes Thursday, January 23, 2020 at 5:30 PM Georgetown Municipal Complex- Williamson Room 300-1 Industrial Ave, Georgetown, TX 78628 Members: Bill Stump, Chairman, John Carey, Morris Greenberg, Lauren Carberry, Todd Treadway. Member Present: Bill Stump, Chairman, Todd Treadway, Morris Greenberg, Lauren Carberry Members Absent: Jon Carey Staff Present: Mark Moore, Assistant Chief Building Official, Kristina Neitsch Permit Technician, Glen Holcomb, Building Official, Jeff Cardwell, Commercial Plans Examiner, Jason Fryer, Fire Plans Examiner, John Sullivan, Fire Chief, Brad Hofman, Chief Code Enforcement Officer, Malcolm Brown, Code Enforcement Officer, Jack Daly, Community Services Director Chairman Stump called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Regular Session 1. Bill Stump pulls item D the "Possible Removal of a Junk Car" off the agenda. 2. Quorum present. Acknowledgment and approval of minutes from prior meeting September 2019. Lauren Carberry motions to approve minutes. Morris Greenberg second the motion 4-0 approved. 3. Brad Hofman presents moving from the 2003 Property Maintenance Code to the 2015 Property Maintenance Code. 4. Jason Fryer presents moving to the 2015 Fire Code 5. Glen Holcomb presents moving to the 2015 I -Codes and 2017 National Electrical Code 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.) 1. No Executive Session at this time. Building Standards Commission Minutes January 23,2020 Page 1 of 5 Regular Session Chairman Stump stated the order of the meeting and that those who speak must turn in a speaker sign-up form and oath to Kristina Neitsch, Permit Technician before the item that they wish to address begins. Each speaker will be permitted to address the Commission once for each item, for a maximum of three (3) minutes, unless otherwise agreed to before the meeting begins. 6. No speaker sign-up form and oath forms were submitted. 7. Discussion and possible action for the adoption of 2015 I -Codes, 2017 National Electrical Code, 2015 Fire Code, and 2015 Property Maintenance Code. Brad Hofman presents moving from the 2003 Property Maintenance Code to the 2015 Property Maintenance Code. Code Enforcement is asking to move to the 2015 code because there are very few changes between the two, with the major changes being section(s) 101.2, 102.3,103.4.1, 108.2.1. Chairman Stump questions what Brad means by broadening the code and how does that work. Mr. Hofman responds that the number of code books would be increased; that on the current code, Code Enforcement is only able to reference the IBC. Jason Fryer gives an example that on the new code if they ran into a fire issue and the citizen was unwilling to comply they would be able to have Code Enforcement send a letter requesting they correct the violation. Todd Treadway comments that broadening what code books are allowed to be used is a good idea rather than grandfathering certain things in. Glenn Holcomb agrees and states that they removed the word grandfathering from the code books. Mr.Treadway asks what happens if the citizen with the violation cannot afford the repair. Mr.Hofman agrees that it does happen, but Code Enforcement tries to find a way to help them by using different resources like Habitat For Humanity. He states that violations are normally happening in rental situations. For example, renters that are having trouble getting their landlords to fix issues can call Code Enforcement who then assist in getting the violation corrected. Mr. Stump would like Code Enforcement to give more detail of what section 102.3 is meaning when stating broadening the code. Morris Greenberg asks is esthetics can be considered a violation. Mr. Hofman says that they can enforce but has not seen that happen in the three (3) years that he has been with the City of Georgetown. Building Standards Commission Minutes January 23,2020 Page 2 of 5 Board member Treadway says that enforcing on esthetics would be considered property value not life safety. He also asks what steps the homeowner gets to fix the problem. Mr. Hofman explains that the property owner will receive certified mail and has 10-14 days to respond. Code Enforcement wants them to respond to try to resolve the issue. If there is no response, then a violation notice can be sent, the case would be presented in front of a judge, and a lien would be placed on the property. But, Code Enforcement tries to not take it to court because it is a dead-end process, with just a fine and the issue not being corrected. Mr. Treadway states that he is property owner, but also wants to protect people that need to be protected. Mark Moore states that the upper management has been very mindful of the public when enforcing rules. Mr. Treadway agrees but the rules is in place it can be enforced at any time. Mr. Moore responds with that is the case with any code that the city has or adopts. Mr. Hofman moves on to discuss disconnecting vacant properties. Mr. Greenberg asks if the building is vacant then Code Enforcement would have to break in to the building, he would like to know how the city is allowed break into buildings. Mr. Hofman replies that he has never broke into a building; that sometimes they are dilapidated and open. Otherwise to enter a sealed building they would need an order from the court, but in most cases the meter can be pulled from outside of the house. Chairman Stump states lets move on to the Fire Code. Jason Fryer gives his presentation on the proposed new Fire Code. He explains that adopting the new code would not only make it easier on builders but increase the cities ISO rating. Mr. Greenberg asks what happens when people park on the street and the fire trucks are unable to get through. Mr. Fryer responds that fire would investigate the situation to see what steps need to be in place to prevent it from happening again. Mr. Greenberg would like an explanation on how City of Georgetown operates on the 2012 fire code and Williamson County operates on the 2015 Code Building standards Commission Minutes January 23,2020 Page 3 of 5 Mr. Fryer explains that Williamson County Fire Marshall has jurisdiction where no city in the county does. For example, City of Taylor has a fire department and the surrounding areas only have volunteer fire departments therefore in the surrounding areas of Taylor Williamson County Fire Marshall would have jurisdiction. Mr. Fryer continues with his presentation bringing up a new retroactive requirement that everyone in the I-2 Group will have to bring themselves up to the current code. That the State of Texas is on the 2006 Life Safety Code, and that businesses are required to meet state and city code. Mr. Stump would like to know if the city will be talking to the facilities that it will cost a lot of money to update to the current code before adopting. Mr. Fryer agrees that most facilities will not know, and they will try to speak with them about it. John Sullivan states that most places will not have an issue with it. Mr. Fryer explains that an annual inspection is done, and they all must be licensed in order to pass the yearly fire inspection. Mr. Stump expresses his concern for the Wesleyan by St. David's Georgetown because they are so old. Mr. Fryer says they can sit down and come up with a game plan to try to get the places up to code; while not putting businesses in a huge bind. Jeff Cardwell states that Mr. Fryer's fire code is similar to the 2015 IBC section 1103. Mr. Holcomb explains that one thing the 2015 code does is bring Building and Fire Code more in line with each other, rather than trying to enforce two (2) different codes. Mr. Fryer goes into explaining how the 2015 code will require Carbon Monoxide alarm systems. Chairman Stump speaks about the Building Standard Commission list of questions and concerns about the proposed code, ordinances, and amendments. Mr. Holcomb gives his presentation on the 2015 I -Codes and 2017 National Electrical Code stating that he is working on the amendments. Mr. Cardwell adds that most things that are coming in for plan review are already meeting the 2015 code. He has done many reviews both in the 2012 and 2015 code, they are very similar Mr. Holcomb states that the city would like to go from the 2014 to the 2017 National Electrical Code. That it will make is easier for the builder because the State of Texas has adopted the 2017 Building Standards Commission Minutes January 23,2020 Page 4 of 5 National Electrical Code. One amendment that will be made is The City of Georgetown will not allow line side taps, they are too dangerous. In the 2015 Code, swimming pools will no longer be combined with the IRC; instead they will have their own book. This will help make pools safer for everyone, but mainly protect children by requiring an audible alarm system. Mr. Stump asks if we will adopt the 2015 Irrigation code. Mr. Holcomb states that the City of Georgetown is waiting on TECQ to decide if the will make all irrigation systems high hazard. Mr. Holcomb explains that greenhouses will be added to the 2015 IECC. Mr. Cardwell adds that the State of Texas has adopted the 2015 IECC similar to the 2017 National Electrical Code; that builders are required to meet the state adopted code already, so it would not majorly impact them. Mr. Holcomb explains how the 2015 code will make an easier path for the building of tiny homes. Mr. Stump asks if anyone is building tiny homes in Georgetown. Mr. Cardwell explains that up to this point we had rules that made it very hard for them to be built. Mr. Stump suggest that the city bring a revised code of ordinances to the next meeting. Mr. Holcomb states that he wanted to have it tonight but will get ready to have another meeting in February. Mr. Treadway motions to adjourn; Mr. Greenberg seconds the motion. Approved (4-0) Building Standards Commission Minutes January 23,2020 Page 5 of 5 Consent Agenda The Consent Agenda includes non -controversial and routine items that the Commission may act on with one single vote. A Commissioner or any member of the public may request that any item from the Consent Agenda be pulled in order that the Commission discuss and act upon it individually as part of the Regular Agenda. The Planning and Zoning Commission's approval of an item on the Consent Agenda will be consistent with the staff recommendation described in the report, unless otherwise noted. 2. Consideration and possible approval of the Minutes of the September 26, 2019 meeting. Motion by Carberry to approve the Consent agenda including the September 26, 2019 minutes. Second by Greenberg. Approved. (4-0) Regular Agenda Comments from Director. Comments from Commissioners. Motion to adjourn i Approved, Bill Stump, Chair Attested, Lauren Carberry, Secr�fary Building Standards Commission Minutes January 23,2020 Page 6 of 5