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Building & Standards Commission
In the Municipal Building, Located in the Bill Watson Conference Room - f■
3800 University Boulevard. �►
West University Place, TX. 77005
Meeting Minutes
October 7th, 2004
MEMBERS PRESENT: Bryant Slimp, John Ayres, Dr. Peter Benjamin, J. Denis Powers, Darryl
Friday, Brian Hoogendam, and Muddy McDaniel.
MEMBERS ABSENT: David Flame and Kevin McMahon.
COUNCIL LIASION: Mike Woods (Absent).
STAFF PRESENT: Annette Arriaga, Dennis Mack and Jim Dougherty.
GUESTS PRESENT: Suzanne &Douglas Koch, Les Albin and Robert Riquelmy.
[Call to Order.] With a quorum, present Bryant Slimp called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.
1. Notices,Rules, Etc. Matters relating to notices, rules, meeting procedures and identifying parties.
1.) Stan Rosen with Georgian Homes. Stan. Rosen called the Development Services staff and
canceled his desire to address the BSC at the Thursday, October 7th, 2004 BSC meeting regarding
post tension foundations.
2. Meeting Minutes. John Ayres was first to approve the meeting minutes from the September 2"d,
2004 BSC meeting. Dr. Peter Benjamin seconds the motion. AYES: Bryant Slimp, John Ayres, Dr.
Peter Benjamin, J. Denis Powers and Brian Hoogendam. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: Motion
passed. Minutes approved.
3. Matters Relating to the Building Standard Commission Recommendations and Status
Report. A) Status of 2630 Tangley Street. Dennis Mack reported no change at 2630 Tangley
Street. B) Status of Old Stock Housing. Brian Hoogendam updated the BSC on his study of OSH
issues and stated that he would like to request one more OSH workshop before he meets with ZPC.
He will be going to the next ZPC meeting to discuss zoning and setbacks, surveys and any relief
and incentives for residents who want to remodel older homes that qualify as OSH.
4. Variance Request. Mr. and Mrs. Suzanne and Douglas Koch addressed the BSC in regards to two
large pecan trees that they desire to be removed. Mr. Douglas Koch was the first to address the
board. He stated that they live on 50 x 150 lot and they are concerned with two large pecan trees
located in their back yard. The large pecan trees drop large branches, limbs and debris. They
moved to West University Place eleven months ago and did not take into consideration the large
trees in the back yard at that time. He indicated that he has a XX year old special needs son and
that he is scared to go into their back yard due to the droppings of pecans and branches from these
two trees. Mrs. Suzanne Koch stated that her son has Moebius Syndrome, which includes facial
paralysis, loss of his right pectorals muscle, limited vision, and paralyzed eyes. She stated that
because of his limited vision he is scared to go into their back yard due to the falling of large
branches. She wants to have the trees removed so that he can feel safe and enjoy the back yard. The
only part of the back yard that he feels safe to play on is the porch area. Suzanne Koch continued to
add that the cost to have these two large pecan trees would be significant. The total cost to remove
these two pecan trees includes the contractor's fees and the calculated payment into the West U
tree fund. She is asking for a reduction of the payment to the Tree Fund. She stated that the price
that she was given to have the two pecan trees removed is $5,000. The calculated Tree Fund
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1 Building and Standards Commission Meeting Minutes
1 October 7th,2004
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assessment for removing these two trees is $5,000. She is asking for the board to reconsider the
$5,000 assessment to the tree fund and have the board consider lowering this assessment to $2,500.
Brian Hoogendam asked if she had ever considered pruning the trees. Darryl Friday also asked if
she planned on contacting the neighbors before she has these two pecan trees removed. Mrs.
I Suzanne Koch stated that she has considered all of these options.
Bryant Slimp informed Mr. and Mrs. Suzanne and Douglas Koch about the foundation ordinances
that the BSC has been working on for several months and the risk factors involved from the
removal of trees. He stated that the BSC has considered the serious effects that removal of trees
can have on the life of a foundation. He also stated that their foundation and possibly their
neighbor's structures and a swimming pool could be adversely impacted.
Bryant Slimp asked for Mr. and Mrs. Suzanne and Douglass Koch to take into consideration all of
the factors discussed. He asked them to get with CBO Dennis Mack and have Mr. Mack look over
their construction plans. Mrs. Suzanne Koch stated that she would call several Geotechnical
companies and obtain more information about the removal of trees to the effect of the removal upon
foundations.
Bryant Slimp requested that this item be put back on next month's agenda. No motion made. Item
tabled.
5. Foundations. Jim Dougherty discussed the latest draft amendment of the Standard Codes Schedule
regarding foundation with revisions through October 7, 2004. He discussed the various registered
professional engineering license requirements for the RLPE and the RLGE. He went over the
engineering subsets and the State Board's application to obtain the. Structural Engineering
classification. This application is referred to a Supplementary Experience record. Jim Dougherty
also discussed several branches of Engineering and how a specific list of disciplines can assist in
determining the applicant's competency. Applicants can now indicate a primary branch of
engineering under which experience has been gained etc. He went on to say that the city could
require the engineer to have a Structural classification prior to performing foundation design work
or being able to submit certifications on foundations in West University. John Ayres stated that
requiring errors and omission insurance is a good requirement.
Jim Dougherty added that you have to design a good foundation according to established design
criteria, and that the BSC is setting a design standard for a foundation in the code, and not after the
fact. Jim Dougherty continued to say that there is no test method available to set these design
criteria.
John Ayres stated that a few things still need to be addressed, for example what the PVR refers to
still needs to be cleared up.
Dennis Mack also stated that the trees on the lot as well as the trees on a neighbor's lot still need to
be addressed in the foundation design.
John Ayres asked about the benchmarks and surveyors shooting the correct elevation etc.
Dennis Mack discussed the possibilities of failures from the surveyors.
Bryant S limp reminded BSC of the foundation public hearings that.were coming up and that he had
met with Jim Dougherty on the order of proceedings, etc. for a public hearing. Bryant Slimp stated
that foundation draft would be put back on next month's agenda, and that the findings from the
public hearing would be discussed. No motion made.
J. Denis Powers motioned first to adjourn. Dr. Peter Benjamin seconds the motion: AYES: Bryant
Slimp, John Ayres, Dr. Peter Benjamin, J. Denis Powers and Brian Hoogendam. NOES: None.
ABSTAIN: Motion passed. Meeting adjourned.
[Adjournment.] Meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
Building and Standards Commission Meeting Minutes
October 7th, 2004
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PASSED THIS DAY OF , 2004.
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Bryant Slimp, Chairman
ATTEST:
Ms. Annette R. Arriaga Development Services Secretary