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Home My WebLink About12022010 Agenda Item 2 • • OLM) City of West University Place A Neighborhood City ® Recycled Paper Building & Standards Commission o Located in the Council Chambers, 3800 University Blvd, West University Place, Texas 77005 Meeting Minutes April 1, 2010 MEMBERS PRESENT: Bryant Slimp, David Flame (arrived at 6.29, agenda item #4), Laurinda Lankford, Frank Griffin, Thomas Kearns, Gerami Granello and John Tsertos (arrived at 6.•10, agenda item #3) MEMBERS ABSENT: Karen Johnson and Ed Heathcott STAFF PRESENT: Building Official John R. Brown, Permit Technician Josie M. Orosco and City Attorney Alan Petrov GUESTS PRESENT: Karl Breckon, Dan Jaggers, Robert Riquelmy, David Eastwood and Ron Kelm [Call to Order] Bryant Slimp called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. 1. Notices, Rules, Etc. Bryant Slimp welcomed BSC members, visitors and staff members to the meeting. There were introductions of BSC members, staff and visitors. Bryant Slimp stated Gerami Granello and Thomas Kearns would be the alternate voting members for the meeting. 2. Meeting Minutes. Frank Griffin made a motion to approve the March 4, 2010 meeting minutes as amended. Thomas Kearns seconded the motion. AYES: Bryant Slimp, Laurinda Lankford, Frank Griffin, Gerami Granello and Thomas Kearns. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. Meeting minutes approved. 3. BSC variance form change to include a "signed under Oath" notary signature and stamp section. Bryant Slimp stated Laurinda Lankford brought it to the board's attention that it states in the ordinance that the BSC variance application needs to be signed under oath. There was general discussion regarding taking out the last two digits of the year in the date on the application so it will be more flexible. Gerami Granello asked if there should be an actual oath section on the application as well. City Attorney Alan Petrov stated the ordinance does not state the application has to be sworn to as being true and correct; the notary signature is acceptable. Laurinda Lankford made a motion to approve the application with the date correction. Thomas Kearns seconded the motion. AYES: Bryant Slimp, Laurinda Lankford, Frank Griffin, Gerami Granello and Thomas Kearns. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed. 4. Docket 2010-02, request of an advisory opinion of the Geotechnical Report for foundations. Note 2 and 3. Bryant Slimp stated the current foundation ordinance was generated in 2005. John Brown stated he has received about three calls from builders within the last six months asking if it was going to be required for a suction test be performed on any and all geotechnical reports. John Brown gave an overview of the Code of Ordinance, Appendix C, Section C-104(3). Mr. Brown explained how the current and past Chief Building Official's interpreted the ordinance, 3800 University Boulevard 0 West University Place, Texas 77005-2899 0 7130668.4441 • www.westu.org 0 Building and Standards Commission Meeting Minutes Aprill 1, 2010 specifically, Notes 2 & 3 allowing for a "Limited" soils report when foundations are designed to meet the "Limited" structural type foundations. John Brown stated that Debbie Scarcella, nor Sean Landis (the previous Chief Building official) required the suction test when the limited foundations were used based on Notes 2 & 3 that are incorporated in the Technical Codes. David Eastwood, P.E. of GeoTech Engineering and Testing, gave his professional opinion during the conception discussions for the current ordinance. Mr. Eastwood stated in his opinion that soils suction tests are required because it is one of the only tests that can determine the depth of active suction and the depth of constant suction. Mr. Eastwood stated the cost of the tests is not expensive when compared to the cost of the price of the house. Mr. Eastwood stated GeoTech Engineering is currently the only company who does perform suction test in the city. There was general discussion regarding if the suction test is absolutely necessary, then why it is not mentioned in the special engineering notification section. Mr. Eastwood spoke as to the intent of the adopted "Recommended Practice for Geotechnical Explorations and Reports", document number FPA-SC-04-0, Rev. #0 and Section 1.3 Laboratory Testing (f) which calls for a suction test to be performed on required borings to determine the stable suction depth for deep foundations (drilled piers). Ron Kelm, Forensic Engineer, stated he also recommends for suction tests to be required. Currently the ordinance states "suction test are recommended", Bryant Slimp asked why it does not state "required". Ron Kelm stated originally when the committee was trying to decide on what verbiage to use, the committee was threatened with a lawsuit by some people in New Jersey. To avoid that from happening, the committee decided to use the work "recommended" instead of "required". Mr. Kelm also stated that suction tests are performed to determine the minimum necessary depth for the foundation piers. John Tsertos asked what the additional cost for a suction test to be done. Mr. Eastwood stated the price of the additional test is about $1500; which also includes the data for the engineering. Bryant Slimp asked if the agenda item could be tabled so he can remind himself of the intent behind the "Limited" requirement since he is the only commission member that was on the BSC when those provisions were adopted. After general discussion, Frank Griffin made a motion to table the item until a workshop meeting could be held so all current commission members could review the adopted documents and discuss how the foundation ordinance should be interpreted by staff. David Flame seconded the motion. AYES: Bryant Slimp, David Flame, Laurinda Lankford, Frank Griffin and Gerami Granello. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed. 5. Docket 2010-03, request an approval of the increased errors and omissions insurance and general ordinance clean up regarding current code section number reference and deleting verbiage reaurring different enforcement after 2006. John Brown presented the changes approved by the commission at the January 2010 meeting that increased the Errors and Omissions insurance amount as it will appear in the ordinance. There was also discussion regarding other minor typographical errors and a date requirement that needed to be corrected or removed. After some discussion of Laurinda's observations, Bryant asked if she would be willing to work with John Brown to improve or standardize the format of the ordinance. Laurinda Lankford made a motion to approve the changes as amended to present the ordinance to City Council for their approval. Frank Griffin seconded the motion. AYES: Bryant Slimp, David Flame, Laurinda Lankford, Frank Griffin and Gerami Granello. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed. Page 2 of 3 • 0 Building and Standards Commission Meeting Minutes April] 1, 2010 [Adjournment] David Flame made a motion to adjourn. Laurinda Lankford seconded the motion. AYES: Bryant Slimp, David Flame, Laurinda Lankford, Frank Griffin and Gerami Granello. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. Meeting adjourned at 7:09 p.m. PASSED THIS DAY OF , 2010 Bryant Slimp, Chairman ATTEST: Ms. Josie M. Orosco, Permit Technician Page 3 of 3 • i City of West University Place A Neighborhood City ® Recycled Paper Building & Standards Commission a o Located in the Council Chambers, 3800 University Blvd, West University Place, Texas 77005 Workshop Meeting Minutes April 20, 2010 MEMBERS PRESENT: Bryant Slimp, Karen Johnson, Laurinda Lankford and Thomas Kearns MEMBERS ABSENT: David Flame, Frank Griffin, Ed Heathcott, Gerami Granello and John Tsertos STAFF PRESENT: Building Official John R. Brown, Permit Technician Josie M. Orosco and City Attorney Alan Petrov (arrived at 4: 56 pm) [Call to Order] Bryant Slimp called the meeting to order at 4:41 p.m. 1. Notices, Rules, Etc. Bryant Slimp welcomed BSC members and staff members to the meeting. There were introductions of BSC members and staff. 2. Docket 2010-02, request of an advisory opinion of the Geotechnical Report for foundations Note 2 and 3. John Brown stated he compiled a list of geotechnical firms that probably produce about 85% of soils reports that are supplied to the City for foundations regarding what their views were about requiring suction test. Mr. Brown was able to speak to three of the six firms that he had on the list. All three of the engineers that he spoke with basically told him the same thing; if a "Limited" foundation is designed and the piers are set below nine feet in depth, at that point, the suction stabilizes and the necessity for running a suction test is an added expense that is not required and should not be done. The only foundations that are being done in the City of West University Place are structural foundations. There has been one or two that have been pier and beam since John Brown has been with the city. There was general discussion regarding Notes 2 and 3 of the Technical Codes Section and what the intent of the section was. Bryant Slimp stated the intent was to get people to build the safest foundations. Bryant Slimp stated the previous City Attorney, James Dougherty and the previous BSC wanted to hold someone responsible if the foundations failed. The burden was put on the professional engineer on the job. Karen Johnson asked who is stating suction test are not necessary. John Brown stated suction test are not currently being required. Mr. Brown is the third Building Official since the ordinance was adopted. None of the previous Building Officials, since the ordinance has been adopted, have required the suction test when the limited foundations were used. There was a brief background of the discussion regarding the suction test for Karen Johnson since she was unable to attend the previous BSC meeting. John Brown stated the engineers that he did speak to, suggested the suction test to be performed if the drilled piers were less than nine feet because the moisture level frequently changes. The engineers stated the suction test would run if they thought it was necessary since they are the responsible party. Laurinda Lankford made a motion that, based upon the original intent behind the Chart and related notes in Appendix C, Section C-104, Subsection 3, the BSC agrees with the Chief Building Official's interpretation of Notes 2 and 3, 3800 University Boulevard • West University Place, Texas 77005-2899 • 713.668.4441 • www.westu.org 0 Building and Standards Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes April 20, 2010 to not require a suction test for types of foundations where only a "Limited" Geotechnical Report is designated. Thomas Kearns seconded the motion. AYES: Bryant Slimp, Karen Johnson, Laurinda Lankford Thomas Kearns. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed. 3. Docket 2010-03, reauest an aunroval of the increased errors and omissions insurance and P-eneral ordinance clean up regarding current code section number reference and deleting verbiage renuirmg different enforcement after 2006. Laurinda Lankford stated she also searched Section C-104 on the municipal code website to make sure no reference numbers needed to be changed in any other part of the Ordinances and she did not find any. There was a brief discussion regarding the changes that were made and city Attorney Alan Petrov was asked if he agreed with the changes and he stated he thought it made the code a better read and approved them. Laurinda Lankford made a motion to accept the ordinance revisions to Appendix C, Section C-104 and to present this ordinance to City Council for their approval. Thomas Kearns seconded the motion. AYES: Bryant Slimp, Karen Johnson, Laurinda Lankford and Thomas Kearns. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed. [Adjournment] Karen Johnson made a motion to adjourn. Thomas Kearns seconded the motion. AYES: Bryant Slimp, Karen Johnson, Laurinda Lankford and Thomas Kearns. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. Meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m. PASSED THIS DAY OF , 2010 Bryant Slimp, Chairman ATTEST: Ms. Josie M. Orosco, Permit Technician Page 2 of 2