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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04012004 BSC Agenda Item 3 • • • Status of Reaching 2004 City Council Goals by the Building Standards Commission The West University City Council has assigned four goals to the 2004 West University BSC. The BSC has been diligently working on these goals. The following is a short summary of the progress towards completing these goals: • Review of Foundation Codes and Practices-The Building Standards Commission has been aggressively discussing issues to establish stronger criteria for foundations and their design. In addition to the monthly BSC meetings where Foundations is a standing agenda item, the BSC has meet in a special workshop sessions on February 10, 2004 and March 11, 2004 to discuss ways to strengthen the codes, practices and guidelines on house foundations. Position 3 Commissioner John Ayres and BSC Alternate Muddy McDaniel have provided strong emphasis toward this goal, which has created positive results. The BSC has: o Heard from West University homeowner Rosa Kym about foundation problems caused by poor construction methods and procedures at her three year old home on Ruskin that is suffering major foundation problems. o Studied what Bellaire has done regarding foundation ordinances and codes, invited comments and input from both current and former commissioners from the Bellaire BSC. o Received input from builders, and foundation association special reports on the West University area about the weak links in the current procedures and processes on foundations and the types of slabs that work the best on West U area soils. o Studied the necessary elements that make quality soils report and studied useful foundation construction checklists, with the goal of implementing these findings in West University. o Sought and incorporated the great assistance of both City Attorney Jim Dougherty and Chief Building Official Dennis Mack into drafting an ordinance that strengthens the codes and procedures requirements. o Completed draft ordinance on foundations that will be on the BSC agenda for discussion at the April 1, 2004 meeting. The BSC intends to recommend this draft ordinance to the City Council for its review and approval. o Requested that the Chief Building Official, Dennis Mack, file a formal complaint with the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers on the engineer who was responsible for the foundation at the Kym residence. Dennis has submitted this complaint to the state Board. • Review of Building Codes and Uniformity-The Building Standards Commission has requested the Chief Building Official, Dennis Mack, to review the Building Codes and Uniformity with City Councilperson Mike Woods. Dennis Mack has streamlined the Code application process and information package so that it is less cumbersome to those seeking to build in West University. Dennis is making some smaller refinements to the information package after his meeting with Councilperson Woods, and will have the r • • changes ready to issue by March 26, 2004. Once this task is complete, this City Council goal will be completed. • Retention of Old Stock Houses—The Building Standards Commission has been actively discussing old stock housing (OSH) issues. BSC has met in two special workshop sessions on March 2nd 2004 and March 11, 2004 to discuss this goal. Discussions on OSH are a standing agenda item at the monthly BSC meetings. BSC Alternates Brian Hoogendam and Kevin Mc Mahon along with Position 2 Commissioner David Flame have spearheaded this activity. Thus far, the BSC has: o Contacted Sunny McKinnon, who is involved with West University's Historical Society, to obtain the historical society's views on this issue. o Invited Councilperson Mike Farley to address and clarify this goal. o Reviewed ordinances and processes used by other cities in the U. S. that have been researched by Ron Wicker. o Discussed potential areas of relief for owners of old stock housing. o Started developing a preliminary draft of OSH definitions incorporating elements of age, size (footprint) and other demographics, as well as some BSC goals and objectives concerning OSH. After gathering and digesting this information, the BSC hopes to present some ideas to City Council within a couple of months. • Review of Building Materials-The Building Standards Commission has: o Tabled most discussion on this goal while it addresses the other goals. Once foundations have been addressed, the review of building materials used on the structure of new houses, the use of rot resistant materials and other related issues will be addressed. o Discussed allowing the use of double 2x4s verses 2x6s and 3x4s for use as vertical framing studs. Dennis Mack has communicated with both the Austin and Birmingham offices of the IBC on this issue and they have rendered written opinions detailing the specifics on how double 2x4s can be used in this manner. The BSC has voted to recommend the use of double 2x4s in vertical studs when installed using the IBC guidelines. Dennis Mack has generated an administrative function document and has implemented this change. The 2004 BSC has been a very proactive commission. All of the commission members and alternates participate actively and all have a great deal of interest in keeping the city of West University a great place to live.