Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

Building and Fire Code Board of Appeals Board Meeting Approved Minutes The Building and Fire Code Board of Appeals met in a Regular Called Meeting on February 24, 2021 via Web Ex Video Conference Vice Chairman, Aubrey Brasfield called the meeting to order at 1:45 p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Ben Abzug, Aubrey Brasfield, Peter Sybesma, Ashley Juraska, Tim Arndt, Marco Fiorillo, Ron Buys and Alicia Jones Board Members Not in Attendance: Alan Schumann, Bobby Johns, and James Wilsford. Staff in Attendance: Rick Arzola (DSD), Beth Culver (DSD), Mitchell Tolbert (DSD), Kelly Stilwell (DSD), Moses Rodriguez (ACD), Kecia Lara (ACD), Jennifer Verhulst (DSD), Adam Smith (DSD), Armand Daigle (DSD), Tony Hernandez (DSD), Kalissa Tozzi(DSD), Ben Flick (AFD), Elaine Garrett (ACD), Daniel Word (ACD), Jameson Courtney (WPD) and Jose Roig (ACD) February 24, 2021 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Nov 9, 2020 minutes were approved as written by Board member Juraska and second by board member Sybesma. Motion passed 7-0. No Modifications. 2. OPENING REMARKS- Building Official Beth Culver opens up the discussion of the 2021 codes with presentations of the 2021 International Building Code, International Existing Building Code and the International Residential Code. With stakeholder meetings and public comments still taking place, Beth gives a preview of these codes. Goal is to adopt these codes and implement them by September 2021. 3. DISCUSSION -2021 CODES A. International Building Code- DSD Manager for Commercial Review Mitchell Tolbert presented numerous of proposed amendment changes to the 2021 IBC. The reasons for these amendments are business needs, options for the public with exempt from permitting, clarification and Insurance Services Office (ISO) and council mandated. The goal was to reduce the number of amendments by more than 50% by comparing them to 2015 adoption process and return them back to the publish code. After the completion of the IBC presentation, board members Sybesma, Arndt and Jones all had questions regarding height of clearances, exemption from permit/energy efficiency and separate facilities. Board members will review the code and come back in March for recommendation. B. International Residential Code- DSD Chief Building Inspector Kelly Stillwell presented to the board the IRC. Much like the IBC, the goal was to minimize the number of amendments by more than 50% due to council business needs, options for public being exempt for permitting, clarification and ISO’s ratings as well as council mandating these ordinances. After the completion of the presentation, board member had questions on Climatic changes and if DSD or the City was tracking the damages and how many were caused by tank less water heaters that were placed by outside walls. Staff replied that the climatic changes are rare in these parts of the country but does bring awareness to many issues that has occurred and that the City is compiling information from communities and plumbing partners to identify the source of so many issues.  C. International Property Maintenance Code- Austin Code Department Supervisor Moses Rodriguez presented to the Board an overview of the 2021 IMPC. ACD is still in the process of conducting stakeholder meetings before coming back to the board for their recommendation before receiving a final recommendation from the Building Standard Commission. Code Department is hoping to have the IPMC implemented in September 2021. Major changes to the IPMC is ordinance 108.1.3-Structures Unsafe for Human Occupancy, 504.3-Plumbing systems hazards, 505.4 Water Heating facilities, 602.2 Residential Occupancies and 604.3 Electrical System Hazards. Some of the questions that the board had were definition or examples of plumbing hazards and smart thermostats controlled at 68 degrees by Austin Energy. Austin Code will provide literature on this topic in the coming days. 4. DISCUSSION/UPDATE- FLAT TOP FENCES- Austin Building Official Beth Culver presented to the board an update on Flat Top Fences. In her presentation, she is recommending that the board to begin discussions to form a resolution directing the City Manager to pursue code amendment change after stakeholder meetings. Along with her presentation, information was provided for the proposed language to prevent Entrapment and does it meet entrapment. After the presentation was completed Ashley Juraska and Aubrey Brasfield volunteered to serve on the work group along with the possibility of staff from the Building Standards Commission to create a resolution and send to council. Workgroup discussion could begin in April. 5. FUTURE AGEND ITEMS- a. Recommendation and Action- IBC and IEBC b. Recommendation and Action- IRC c. Recommendation and Action- IPMC d. Discussion and Possible Recommendation and Action- IFC 6. ADJOURN –Board member Juraska made a motion to adjourn. Board member Sybesma seconded the motion. Motion pass 6-0. Board member Jones left the meeting early. Vice Chair Brasfield adjourned the meeting at 3:28 PM.