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HomeMy WebLinkAbout120403 BSC Minutes .s A City of West University Place 0 Building & Standards Commission ® Recycled Paper Municipal Building, Bill Watson Conference Room 3800 UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD Meeting Minutes December 4th, 2003 MEMBERS PRESENT: Bryant Slimp, David Flame, John Ayres, Dr. Peter Benjamin, Darryl Friday, Brian Hoogendam, Muddy McDaniel and Kevin McMahon. MEMBERS ABSENT: J. Denis Powers COUNCIL LIASION: Mike Woods STAFF PRESENT: Annette Arriaga and Dennis Mack. [Call to Order.] With a quorum, present Bryant Slimp called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. 1. Notices, Rules, Etc. Bryant Slimp asked Dennis Mack about the Fence Draft and if it was in the final stages of going to City Council. He also asked about the Sign Draft that was sent to him. Dennis Mack said that the Sign Draft was for review only. Bryant SlimP reminded BSC of the next scheduled meeting date falling on a holiday. BSC voted to have the next meeting on Thursday, January 8, 2004. . 2. Meeting Minutes. Dr. Peter Benjamin made a motion first to approve meeting minutes from the November 6th, 2003 BSC meeting. John Ares seconds the motion. AYES: Bryant Slimp, David Flame, John Ayres, Dr. Peter Benjamin, and Muddy McDaniel. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: Motion passed. Minutes Approved. 3. Public Items. Rosa Kym a resident at 3804 Ruskin Street stated that she purchased a house in West University Place in September 2001 and after a year of owning the house she started noticing visible foundation problems. Doors won't close, cracks throughout the house in corners and windows. The whole first floor and in every room was a sign of extensive damage. On the outside of the house you could visually notice the foundation lifting and cracking from underneath the house. She contacted the City and Dennis Mack the Chief Building Official, who came out to her house discussed the problems she was having and what could she do at this point. Dennis Mack stated that he was in fact embarrassed to see a house in that physical shape. Rose Kym continued to speak and passed out visual photos of her house to BSC. She stressed again that she is letting the Building Standards Commission know of the faulty construction by George Goettee Construction. She had since then consulted several independent engineers and confirmed that the foundation was damaged due to the load bearing elements and related damage to non-lead bearing elements. Denis Hanys another engineer reported, the structure appeared to be a result of inadequate support to the slab. She provided a copy of all the engineer's reports to Dennis Mack. She said that she doesn't want this to happen to any one else. She continued to state that maybe perhaps that the City should have stricter fines on builders who don't comply and follow the necessary building codes and requirements. Rosa Kym added that she has consulted someone to give her an estimate of fixing all the interior of the house and the consultant concluded that the cost of fixing the interior of the house would be substantial. She also mentioned that the engineers stated that the house would have to be lifted in ordered to be repaired. Rose Kym summarized her issues and her husband Linus Ho agreed that he would like the BSC to implement better record keeping of resident complaints and stiffer penalties for code violators. Bryant Slimp indicated that he would have to review the information further. Dennis Mack stated he had looked up the information in regards to contacting the State. He said that he would follow up and contact the State on Rosa Kym situation. Dennis 3800 University Boulevard 9 Houston, Texas 77005 9 713/668-4441 Building and Standards Commission Minutes December 4th, 2003 Page 2 of 2 Mack said that he is confident that Rosa Kym has a very good case and that the State should respond accordingly. Bryant Slimp asked if the City of West University Place could suspend the contractor from building while this is under review. Dennis Mack stated that George Goette, with Geotte Construction, is not currently building in West University Place. The City does not require the Engineers to be registered, only the contractors. Dennis Mack also stated that the engineer's registration couldn't be revoked with the city. The City currently requires that the engineers submit an original letter stamped' and sealed certifying the design is in accordance with the design and meets all required specifications. Elias Fayes Hourani is required to be registered with the State and Dennis Mack would report Rosa Kyms case to the State. Dennis Mack stated that we could use a third party engineer to review plans if this would help in future problems. The City could pre- quality the engineers like as it has done with the company's that were chosen for Energy Conservation reviews. Dennis Mack said that if the BSC wanted to they, could interview the engineers to make sure all the issues where addressed. Bryant Slimp expressed his apologies for this happening to Rosa Kym and he stated that this would be looked into to further and Dennis Mack will forward the information that he has to the State Board of Engineers. 4. Goals and Obiectives. City Councilman Mike Woods introduced himself and briefly discussed the future goals and objectives that City Council hopes that all of the Commissions will review. City Council has generated a list of goals. The Building Standard Commission goals are to look at a few items A) Retention of Old Stock Housing. B) Review of Building Codes and their uniformity with the International Building Codes. C) Review of Tree Ordinance, Tree Master Plan, and Tree Fund. Mike Woods said the Retention of old Stock Houses, needs to be examined. West University Place has a wide range of people who live in both new and older homes: City Council is looking at trying to look for ways to enhance and protect the neighborhood. Council is looking for a reasonable balance. The examination of foundations, structural materials, and the use of rot resistant materials are areas of interest. There are a lot of areas to examine and Mike Woods would like for BSC to consider all of the areas of constant concern. 5. Foundations. Bryant Slimp asked BSC if they wanted to make any changes to the foundation draft. Dennis Mack will get with the City Attorney, Jim Dougherty and note the changes. Dennis Mack stated that the City could hire a third party engineer to review the foundation plans. Currently that is how the City is handling Energy Conservation. John Ayres stated that the City could provide a complete package for the engineers to follow. Bryant Slimp asked Dennis Mack to revise the foundation draft, add to it and bring it back to BSC for review. 6. Studs and Materials. Bryant Slimp stated he would put this topic back on next months' agenda. No motion made. [Adjournment.] Dr. Peter Benjamin motioned first to adjourn. Muddy McDaniel seconds the motion to adjourn. AYES: Bryant Slimp, David Flame, John Ayres, Dr. Peter Benjamin and Muddy McDaniel. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. PASSED THIS~DAY OF 52004. Bryant Slimp, Ch it a1 ATTEST: ' Ms nnette R. Arriaga Development Services Sec t