Regular Meeting of the Building and Standards Commission July 22, 2020 Building and Standards Commission Meeting to be held July 22, 2020 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers (property owners, representatives and/or interested parties) must register in advance (one day before the scheduled meeting, Tuesday July 21, 2020 by Noon). To speak remotely at the July 22, 2020 Building and Standards Commission Meeting, you must: •Call or email Melanie Alley at 512-974-2679 or melanie.alley@austintexas.gov no later than July 21, 2020 by Noon, (one day before the meeting). The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, a telephone number and email address. •Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, speakers be contacted with the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak. Late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to melanie.alley@austintexas.gov by Noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. •Residents may watch a live broadcast of the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn- live Page 1 BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2020 AT 6:30 P.M. VIA VIDEOCONFERENCING http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live AGENDA The Building and Standards Commission (“Commission”) may go into a closed session under Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code to receive advice from legal counsel or for other reasons permitted by law as specifically listed on this agenda. Further, if necessary, the Commission may go into a closed session as permitted by law regarding any item on this agenda. Building and Standards Commission Members Wordy Thompson Jessica Mangrum Timothy Stostad James Briceno Sade Ogunbode Edgar Farrera Elizabeth Mueller Thomas Vocke, Fire Marshall (Ex Officio) Andrea Freiburger, Chair Pablo Avila, Vice Chair Natalya Sheddan John Green CALL TO ORDER APPROVAL OF MINUTES PUBLIC HEARINGS Approve the minutes of the Building and Standards Commission’s June 24, 2020 regular meeting. Continued Case(s) Pending Commission Action: The Commission will hear the following returning cases and may issue orders to vacate, relocate occupants, repair, demolish, or secure the premises, or modify …
Annual Internal Review This report covers the time period of 7/1/2019 to 6/30/2020 BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION The Board/Commission mission statement is: The Building and Standards Commission (BSC) was established to hear cases concerning alleged violations of the City’s housing and dangerous building regulations. The Building and Standards Commission shall have the powers and duties and comply with the procedures established by the Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 54, Subchapter C (Quasi-Judicial Enforcement of Health and Safety Ordinances), and Chapter 25-12, Article 9 (Property Maintenance Code) of the Austin City Code. 1. Describe the board’s actions supporting their mission during the previous calendar year. Address all elements of the board’s mission statement as provided in the relevant sections of the City Code. • The Commission met on 8 occasions to hear cases involving substandard and unsafe or dangerous properties, and appeals. • The Commission heard a total of 56 new cases. • The Commission heard a total of 11 returning cases. • Of the new and returning cases heard by the Commission, 41 or 61% were registered with the Repeat Offender Program, of which 28 have now achieved compliance. • Of the new and returning cases heard by the Commission, 14 were deemed dangerous by the Code Official or the Fire Division Chief. • The Commission received updates on 19 cases. • The Commission met as a body on 8 out of 11 monthly meeting dates during this period, with one meeting cancelled due to a posting error and two meetings cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns. The Commission also held its annual retreat in November. Annual Review and Work Plan Year 2019-20 Page # 2 2. Determine if the board’s actions throughout the year comply with the mission statement. • The Commission issued 55 repair orders, of which 30 have achieved compliance, and 2 have achieved compliance with an unpaid penalty. • The Commission issued 2 demolition orders, neither of which has achieved • The Commission issued 1 order for an engineer’s report. • The Commission heard 5 appeals for short-term rental licenses, all of which compliance. were denied. • The Commission issued 5 reduced civil penalty orders. • The Commission reduced the civil penalty to $0 in 21 cases. 3. List the board’s goals and objectives for the new calendar year. • Staff will coordinate a Building and Standards Commission retreat. • Staff will prioritize Repeat Offender (ROP) cases, …
BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION Covid-19 Impact on the BSC July 2020 Robert Moore Division Manager, Austin Code Department Objectives July 22, 2020 Discuss the formal boards and commissions meeting changes due to COVID-19. Inform the Commission about field inspection impact and opportunities moving forward. Update the Commission on permitting and planning review services during COVID-19. Meeting Changes due to COVID-19 ▪Since March 16, 2020, the City has been allowed to operate through the Governor’s disaster declaration for Texas, temporarily suspending certain meeting requirements in the Texas Open Meetings Act. The Governor most recently renewed the declaration on July 10, 2020. ▪Mayor Adler also ordered a local disaster declaration for B&C meeting processes, 2-1-6 (E). What this means for the Boards and Commissions (subject to change): ▪The Governor’s for videoconference meetings in order to maintain social distancing and encourage safe stay home practices. and Mayor’s declaration allows order ▪The process for public comment has been modified for remote meetings requiring registration, in advance, to address agenda items. Field Inspection Impact & Opportunities Moving Forward ▪Emergency order violation (COVID) cases became major focus. Response teams created Influx of covid-19 complaints ▪Interior inspections have been limited to imminent situations only. Possible reduction of BSC cases. ▪Opportunity moving forward. Virtual inspection process Permitting & Planning Review Services ▪All commercial/residential regular & in-person services are still offered but are now virtual and online Permit applications Plan reviews Expedited Permits Quick Turnaround Times One Hour Paid Consultation for Plan Reviews ▪Website has been updated to provide this information Questions? THANK YOU
BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING Date: July 22, 202 The Building and Standards Commission (BSC) convened remotely via video conference for a regular meeting on Wednesday, July 22, 2020. The meeting was available for viewing at http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live. Commission Members in Attendance: Andrea Freiburger, Chair; Pablo Avila, Vice Chair; Commissioners: Jessica Mangrum, Wordy Thompson, Timothy Stostad, James Briceno, John Green*, Sade Ogunbode, Edgar Farrera, and Natalya Sheddan. John Green was not present when the meeting was called to order.* He was present at approximately 6:50 p.m. when the Commission considered and voted on case number item 1 (11311 Walnut Ridge Drive). Commissioner Elizabeth Mueller was absent. Staff in Attendance: Melanie Alley, Code Review Analyst/BSC Coordinator; Robert Moore, Division Manager; Marlayna Wright, Investigator; James Candelas, Program Specialist; Moses Rodriquez, Supervisor, David Downing, Supervisor, Rich Lamancusa, Inspector, Eliza Torrez, Inspector, Joe Lucas, Tamara Kurtz, Business Process Consultant Sr. and Brandon Carr, Assistant City Attorney. CALL TO ORDER Chair Andrea Freiburger called the Commission Meeting to order at 6:33 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Vice-Chair Avila moved to approve the minutes from the June 24, 2020 regular meeting seconded by Commissioner Mangrum. The motion passed 8-0-1; thus, approving the June meeting minutes. Commissioner Sade Ogunbode abstained from the vote. PUBLIC HEARINGS Case(s): Case Number(s) 1. CL 2020-018491 Street Address 11311 Walnut Ridge Drive Owner(s) Richard Cogbill The property was not represented at the hearing. Chair Freiburger admitted Staff’s Exhibits 1 and 2A-2I. Commissioner Mangrum made the motion to adopt the proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law and adopt Staff’s recommended order for repair within 45 days from the date the order is mailed, with penalties of $1,000 to begin to accrue on the 46th day if not in compliance. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Green. The motion carried 10-0. Commissioner Mueller was absent. 2. CL 2020-040297 7216 Meador Avenue John Henry Fletcher, et.al. Julie Kuglen, Attorney, represented John Henry Fletcher, property owner, at the hearing. This property owner has 80% ownership interest; there are 10 other heirs. Albert Louise Clemmons Hill, Cynthia Johnson, and Donald Powell also attended this hearing. Chair Freiburger admitted Staff Exhibits 1 and 2A-2J. Commissioner Mangrum made the motion to adopt the proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law and adopt Staff’s recommended order to demolish to the residential structure within 45 days from the date the order is mailed, with the Code Official authorized …
