Recommendation 20250122-002: Wildland Urban Interface Code — original pdf

Recommendation

City of Austin Founded by Congress, Republic of Texas, 1839 Planning and Development Center, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr 78752 P.O. Box 1088, Austin, Texas 78767 January 23, 2025 To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members From: Alan Schumann, Chair, Building and Fire Code Board of Appeals Meeting date: January 22, 2025 Subject: Recommendation 20250122-2 for Council Action: 2024 WUI Dear Mayor and Council Members, At the January 22, 2025 Special Called Meeting, the Building and Fire Code Board of Appeals held a public hearing regarding the adoption of the 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code. Members present were Alan Schumann, Chair, Aubrey Brasfield, Vice Chair, Ben Abzug, Ron Buys, Oren Mitzner, Allison Satt, Chris Gannon, Cecilia Paredes-Juarez and Jim Rumbo. The public hearing began with the presentation of Ben Flick and Andre DeLaReza, Development Services Department and there a number of questions. The Board had been briefed on the 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code and proposed amendments at our regular meeting on 6/26/2024 and 7/11/2024 by Beth Culver, Ben Flick and Andre DeLaReza, Development Services Department. Board members asked about the criteria used to determine the proximity zones, and staff responded briefly. Chair Schumann closed the public hearing. After review with Board Members and Staff, the Board was satisfied with the staff amendments. Aubrey Brasfield made a motion to recommend the City Council adopt the 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code with local amendments as written by staff, and seconded by Alan Schumann. Several members remained concerned about the map updates. Alan Schumann amended his second requesting a one time map update occur within a year, while keeping the text of the code unchanged. Future updates are expected to follow the 3-year cycle. The amendment was acceptable to Aubrey Brasfield. The Board members voted and the motion passed unanimously, 9-0. Sincerely, Alan Schumann Chair, Building and Fire Code Board of Appeals Xc: Building and Fire Code Board of Appeal board members Jose Roig, Director, Development Services Department Todd Wilcox, Building Official, Development Service Department Brenda De La Garza, Assistant Director, Development Service Department. Tim Taylor, Chief Building Inspector, Development Service Department Martin Starrett, Commercial Building Division Manager, Development Service Department Scott Cochran, Residential Building Division Manager, Development Service Department