HomeMy WebLinkAbout04012010 BSC Minutes
OL=) City of West University Place
A Neighborhood City
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Building & Standards Commission
Located in the Council Chambers,
3800 University Blvd,
West University Place, Texas 77005
April 1, 2010
MEMBERS PRESENT: Bryant Slimp, David Flame (arrived at 6:29 pm, Agenda Item #4)
Laurinda Lankford, Frank Griffin, Thomas Kearns, Gerami
Granello and John Tsertos (arrived at 6:10 pm, 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
GUEST 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, visitors and staff. 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. Motion
passed.
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 section 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,
specifically, Notes 2 and 3 allowing for a "Limited" soils report when foundations are designed
3800 University Boulevard 9 West University Place, Texas 77005-2899 0 713066804441 0 www.westu.org
Building and Standards Commission Meeting Minutes
April 1, 2010
to meet the "Limited" structural type foundations. John Brown stated neither Debbie Scarcella, or
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 tests in the city. There was
general discussion regarding if the suction test is absolutely necessary, then why is it not
mentioned in the special engineering notification section. Mr. Eastwood spoke as to the inteni 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 the 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 $1,500; which also includes the date for the engineering. Bryant Slimp asked if the agenda
item could be tabled so he could review the intent behind the "Limited" requirement since h is
the only current 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, Laurinda Lankford Frank Griffin, Gerami Granello and Thomas
Kearns. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed.
5. Docket 2010-03, request an approval of the increased errors and omissions insurance and
ueneral ordinance clean up regarding current code section number reference and deleting
verbiage requiring 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 Lankford's observation, Bryant Slimp 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,
Laurinda Lankford Frank Griffin, Gerami Granello and Thomas Kearns. NOES: None.
ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed.
[Adjournment]
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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 THI~QDAY OFWV~\ f , 2010
Bryant Slimp Chairman
ATTEST: )~;Q-
Ms. Josie M. Orosco, Permit Technician
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