Versión en español a continuación. Regular Meeting of the Building and Standards Commission April 28, 2021 Building and Standards Commission Meeting to be held April 28, 2021 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, April 27, 2021 by Noon). To speak remotely at the April 28, 2021 Building and Standards Commission Meeting, you must: •Call or email Melanie Alley at 512-974-2679 or melanie.alley@austintexas.gov no later than April 27, 2021 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 will 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. Reunión del Building and Standards Commission 28 de avril de 2021 La junta se llevará a cabo el 28 de avril de 2021 con modificaciones de distanciamiento social. Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores (propietarios, representantes y / o interesados) deben registrarse con anticipación (el martes 27 de avril de 2021 antes del mediodía). Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunion el miercoles 28 de avril 2021, los residentes deben: • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de la junta en 512-974-2679 o melanie.alley@austintexas.gov a más tardar al mediodía (el día antes de la reunión). La información requerida es el nombre del orador, los Page 1 números de artículo sobre los que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutrales, y un número de teléfono o dirección de correo electrónico. • Una …
AUSTIN CODE DEPARTMENT 2021 Inclement Weather Response PRESENTED BY Elaine Garrett April 2021 Response to Winter Storm Uri On February 15, 2021, the City Manager announced that the City of Austin would suspend normal operations due to the hazardous weather conditions. The Austin Code Department (ACD) temporarily halted its business operations, including routine code inspections, from February 16 through February 19, 2021. ACD mobilized an initial emergency response team of field personnel to remain on standby, ready to address any urgent complaints reported to Austin 3-1-1 during this timeframe that would require immediate attention. Initial Planning ACD communicated with Development Services Department (DSD) Building Official to determine emergency repair and permitting protocols moving forward, consider any fees that may be required, and coordinate timelines for obtaining emergency permits. ACD joined with Austin 3-1-1 intake staff to create a standardized response to code complaints received for Winter Storm Uri damages. Initial Communications • ACD’s Community Engagement and Outreach (CEO) team developed standardized messaging that was uploaded to the ACD website and provided to ACD Code Connect Line and code inspectors to communicate news and resources about the storm to the public. • Developed bilingual Cold Weather Informational Flyer. • Collaborated with cross-departmental PIO teams to create ATXrepairs. This site has information about contractors, repairs, permit assistance, code updates and more. • • Provided messaging to the City’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM). Issued a communication with specific instructions to field operations staff focused on 1) addressing the backlog of 3-1-1 complaints received related to Winter Storm Uri 2) supporting the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) request for inspections to determine locations in the city that were without water service and to support the water distribution effort. Procedural Outlines • • • • • • Responded to Priority 2 (non-imminent/dangerous conditions) and COVID-19 cases as the top priorities. Responded and inspected properties in accordance with the department’s ACD-103 Case Management Standards policy. Temporarily delayed the issuance of an NOV, if an acceptable Action Plan was received from the landlord within 48 hours. Advised owners to contact DSD with any questions pertaining to permitting requirements for repairs, and provide the following link: http://austintexas.gov/page/emergency-repairs For tenant-occupied properties, tenants were advised to reach out to their landlord to request a service repair order. Cases were not to be closed until it was determined that the landlord had followed up with DSD regarding any necessary permits …
AUSTIN CODE DEPARTMENT Order to Vacate & Tenant Relocation Overview PRESENTED BY Robert Moore April 28, 2021 Overview • What authority speaks to issuing an order to vacate? • When is there a need for an order to vacate? • What happens when an order to vacate is issued? • What happens when Owner responsibility fails? What authority speaks to issuing an order to vacate? Texas Local Government Code Sec. 214.001 Authority Regarding Substandard Building. (a) A municipality may, by ordinance, require the vacation, relocation of occupants, securing, repair, removal, or demolition of a building that is: (1) dilapidated, substandard, or unfit for human habitation and a hazard to the public health, safety, and welfare;… What authority speaks to issuing an order to vacate? Texas Local Government Code Sec. 54.036 Functions. A commission panel may: (1) order the repair, within a fixed period, of building found to be in violation of an ordinance; (2) declare a building substandard in accordance with the powers granted by this subchapter; (3) order, in an appropriate case, the immediate removal of persons or property found on private property, enter on private property to secure the removal if it is determined that conditions exist on the property that constitute a violation of an ordinance, and order action to be taken as necessary to remedy, alleviate, or remove any substandard building found to exist;… What authority speaks to providing relocation assistance? Texas Property Code - PROP § 21.046. Relocation Assistance Program (b) This state or a political subdivision of this state shall, as a cost of acquiring real property, pay moving expenses and rental supplements, make relocation payments, provide financial assistance to acquire replacement housing, and compensate for expenses incidental to the transfer of the property if an individual, a family, the personal property of a business, a farming or ranching operation, or a nonprofit organization is displaced in connection with the acquisition. (e) If a person moves or discontinues the person's business, moves personal property, or moves from the person's dwelling as a direct result of code enforcement, rehabilitation, or a demolition program, the person is considered to be displaced because of the acquisition of real property. What authority does the City have to recover its costs? Texas Local Government Code Sec. 214.001(m) and (n): (m) If the building is not vacated, secured, repaired, removed, or demolished, or the occupants are not relocated within the …
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: April 28, 2021 BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION The Building and Standards Commission (BSC) convened remotely via video conference for a regular meeting on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. The meeting was available for viewing live at http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn- live. Commission Members in Attendance: Chair Andrea Freiburger; Vice Chair Pablo Avila; and, Commissioners: Wordy Thompson, John Green, Elizabeth Mueller, Timothy Stostad, Edgar Farrera, Sade Ogunbode, James Briceno and Ex Officio Commissioner Chief Thomas Vocke. Commissioner Natalya Sheddan was absent. Staff in Attendance: Melanie Alley, Code Review Analyst/BSC Coordinator; Robert Moore, Austin Code Division Manager; Marlayna Wright, Austin Code Supervisor; James Candelas, Program Specialist; Farah Presley, Investigator; Jose Roig, Austin Code Director; Elaine Garrett, Austin Code Assistant Director; Daniel Word, Austin Code Assistant Director; Dedric Knox, Austin Code Field Supervisor; Kecia Lara, Austin Code Field Supervisor; Moses Rodriguez, Code Acting Supervisor; Justin Brummer, Code Acting Supervisor; Johnny Serna, Code Inspector; Bill Evans, Code Inspector; Patricia Link, Assistant City Attorney; Daniel Murphy, CTM A/V Technician. CALL TO ORDER Chair Freiburger called the Commission Meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of the March 24, 2021 regular meeting minutes was continued, with approval of Chair Freiburger to the next meeting. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION Three persons, i.e., Ann Marie Romero, Eduardo Canul and Lorraine Garrett, who introduced themselves as tenants at Mueller Flats Apartments, provided information to the Commission as to the conditions at Mueller Flats Apartments. PUBLIC COMMENT No one signed up to provide public comment on any agenda item. PUBLIC HEARINGS New Case(s): 1 Owner/Appellant Street Address Rajkumar Janakarajan 8412 Garcreek Circle, Exterior, Unit A & 6801 Airport Boulevard, Unit 150 Case Number(s) 1. CL 2021-050163; CL 2021-050393 and Unit D CL 2021-050180 The property’s three cases were heard concurrently and were represented at the hearing by the property manager, Julie Cardenas. Chair Freiburger admitted Staff Exhibits 1 & 2A – 2M, 3 & 4A-4D and 5 & 6A-6J. Commissioner Mueller moved to close the public hearing, and to adopt Staff’s findings of fact and conclusions of law, as well as staff’s recommendation for repair within 45 days, with penalties of $1,000 per week to begin accruing on the 46th day if not in compliance. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Farrera. The motion passed on a vote of 8-1-0. Commissioner Green voted nay and Commission Sheddan was absent. 2. CL 2021-050109 The property was represented at the hearing …
