Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

BOARD MEETING October 27, 2020 Mechanical and Plumbing Board APPROVED MINUTES The Mechanical and Plumbing Board convened on Tuesday in a Regular Called Meeting on October 27, 2020. Meeting was using thru Webex teleconference. Board Chairman Cox, called the Meeting to order at 10:12 a.m. Board Members in Attendance: Stephen Cox, William Harris, Joseph Cooper, Joseph Bowie, Robert Thornton, Bianca Tafares, Basheer Mohamed and David Nichols Absent members: David Dixon, David Dixon, Bobbi Jo Foster , and Joseph Hernandez Staff Members in Attendance: Rick Arzola(DSD), Charles Ablanedo(DSD), Chad Watson(DSD), Tony Hernandez (DSD), Robert Stefani (AWU), Steve Villatoro (AWU), Daniel Cavazos (AWU) 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes from the April 29, 2020 meeting was approved as written. Vice Chair Board Member Thornton made a motion to accept the minutes as written, Board member Bowie, seconded, and the motion passed 8-0. 2. DISCUSSION: A. COOLING TOWER ADMIN PENALITIES – Robert Stefani from Austin Water Utility addressed the board regarding Cooling Tower Penalties. In his address, Austin will begin to assess administrative penalties for the failure to submit cooling tower water efficiency registration and inspection report that is required by 1126.1 of the City Mechanical Code. In his report, Austin’s “Water Forward” recommended the adoption of ordinances that would increase water use efficiency by commercial, industrial and institutions that operate water uses that specifically include cooling towers. B. UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE ORDINANCE- Commercial Plumbing Inspector Supervisor Chad Watson gave a quick update to the board on where Development Service Department (DSD) is with Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC). In his report, DSD directive was to eliminate as much amendments as possible and go back to publish code. The two biggest concerns were involving Chapter 422 and all of the testing procedures to be relocated to the Building Criteria Manual. DSD plans to bring the plumbing code to stakeholders in February and the adoption of the 2021 UPC is scheduled to be adopted sometime in November of 2021. C. UNIFORM MECHANICAL CODE ORDINANCE- Commercial Mechanical Inspector Supervisor Charlie Ablanedo also gave a quick update and much like the UPC, the Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) is eliminating as many amendments as possible and go back to publish code. Its biggest concern at this time is the cloth dryer section is being deleted from the UPC and using section 504 from the International Mechanical Code (IMC). For DSD plan reviewers and inspections, staff is working on new innovative ways to bring help to everyone in involved. Currently the largest concern is domestic cloth dryers. DSD is working to bring the 2021 UMC to stakeholders in February and then soon to the board. The adoption of the 2021 UMC is sometime to be adopted in or around November 2021. 3 DISCUSSION AND ACTION: A. APPROVAL OF 2021 SCHEDULE- Chairman Cox made a recommended motion to the board to accept the 2021 Board Schedule. Vice Chair Robert Thornton approved the schedule as written, board member Nichols seconded the motion. Motion pass 8-0 Scheduled approved. B. ELECTION OF OFFICERS- Chairman Cox made a recommended motion to continue as Chairman of the Board until the next re-election. Board member Nichols made a motion for Chairman Cox to continue as Chair, and board member Cooper made a motion for Robert Thornton to continue his role as Vice Chair. Motion pass 8-0 4. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: 1. Update on Uniform Plumbing Code 2. Update on Uniform Mechanical Code. 5. ADJOURN – Chairman Cox made a motion to adjourn the meeting, board member Cooper second the motion. Motion pass 8-0. Meeting adjourned at 10:56 am.