Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

BOARD MEETING February 27, 2024 Mechanical and Plumbing Board APPROVED MINUTES The Mechanical and Plumbing Board convened in a Regular Called Meeting on February 27, 2024. The meeting took place at the Permitting Development Center at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive. Chairman Thornton, called the Meeting to order at 9:39 a.m. Board Members in Attendance: Robert Thornton, Bill Harris, Joe Cooper, Stephen Cox, Joe Bowie, Bobbi Jo Foster and Ramon Perez Absent members: Alex Ramires, Mark Mapes, Blaine Butler and Kyle Smith Staff Members in Attendance: Marty Starrett (DSD), Charlie Ablanedo (DSD) Robert Stefani (AWU), Kevin Kluge (AWU) and Eric Reynolds (AWU) GENERAL CITIZEN COMMUNICATION- John Mata from the International Association of Mechanical and Plumbing Association (IAPMO) was on hand to listen in. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1.The minutes from the January 23, 2024 meeting was approved as written. Board member Cooper made a motion to approve the minutes, Vice Chair Bowie second the motion. Motion passed 6-0. Board member Foster, Butler, Ramirez, Mapes and Harris were absent. Board member Foster arrived after the minutes were conducted. DISCUSSION ITMES Prior to going into discussion with the board, Austin Water’s Kevin Kluge provided a brief presentation on Austin Water's landscape transformation and the 2024 Uniform plumbing amendments. In that presentation, Kevin pointed out that 42% of Austin water supply remains and very could hit 30% by fall. Potential dryer and hotter weather patterns tend to be trending this summer with La Nina taking control, which then could put Central Texas stricter stages of water conservation which will lead to reduced water needs for plants and turf. In his discussion on item 2, 2024 UPC amendment 614.1.9- irrigation pressure on compensation heads and item 3, UPC amendment 614.1.10-irrigation system pressure over 80 psi and Pressure Reducing valve, Kevin, noted that required pressure regulating heads on all new irrigation systems unless the pressure is less than 40 psi. Over pressurization on irrigation systems can lead to water waste through misting and overspray. Also noted, was to require a pressure regulating valve on mainline, if pressure is greater than 80 psi at the backflow device. The impact on affordable housing was determined by the Austin Housing department, the cost was a neutral impact and was determined to be around $550.00. This will be implemented by the irrigators putting in the system but will be monitored by Austin irrigation inspection. On discussion on item 4 of the 2024 UPC amendment 614.1.1-limitation on irrigation system installation, AWU in lieu of saving water are proposing to limit the irrigation to 50% to landscaped areas. This would only apply to new residential properties with irrigation systems permitted after January 2025, which will include no other irrigation permits for the other 50%. Properties built prior to January 2025 are not subject to restriction. This will be implemented by AWU irrigation inspections. In Item 5 of the 2024 Uniform Plumbing amendment 1503.10.2 in relation to laundry to landscape installation, would be mandatory for all new homes with laundry connections and would require a clothes washer adjacent to an exterior wall. With proximity to the exterior wall, this would require a 3-way valve that could divert clothes washer water outside to be used for outdoor irrigation or to diverted to the sewer. The intention was to keep this requirement simple and inexpensive by specifying the clothes washer being near the adjacent wall, so that the amount of piping is limited. DSD plumbing inspections will be the source of inspections on this. After completion of this topic, board members raised numerous concerns on the design, its intent as well as the cost, functionality and health issues of this installation.. After hearing many of the questions that the board had with AWU, a future meeting for discussion will be held when AWU address these questions with their own staff. DISCUSSION AND ACTION 6. Approve a recommendation for Parking Garage Exhaust to identify garage exhaust as a class 2 environment exhaust- In a brief discussion, board members unanimously agreed that parking garage exhaust should be identified as class 2 environment exhaust to keep aligned with ASHRAE and other recognized standards. It was previously debated that parking garage exhaust should be identified as class 4. Board member Harris made a motion for a recommendation to identify parking garage exhaust as environmental exhaust class 2, board member Cooper second the motion. Motion pass 7-0 FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS No future agenda items were discussed for March. ADJOURN – Vice Chair Bowie made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:46 am, board member Cooper second the motion. Motion pass 7-0 The minutes were approved at the June 25,2024 meeting on board member Cooper motion, Board member Smith, second the vote. Board member Butler and V.Chair Bowie were absent. Motion passed 7-0.