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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03031994 BSC Minutes~~~ a~ • BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION 3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD. THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 1994 6:30 P.M. MINUTES The Building and Standards Commission convened in the Municipal Building, 3800 University Blvd. in the City of West University Place on March 3, 1994 for a regular session with the following regular members and alternates present: Craig DuCote, Vice-Chairman, Jim McDaniel, Les Albin, & Roy Harper. Members absent were Craig Hughes, Evelyn Dravis, James Todd, Drew McManigle and James Collier. Present from the City were Dennis Holm, Building Official and Susan Thorn Building Secretary. Present also was Michael Skoller, P.E. Hearing of Residents: No residents were present to speak on behalf of anything not on the agenda. The second item on the agenda was discussion of changes to inspection procedures. Dennis Holm explained that since his arrival he has been looking • at the entire building process which includes inspections. Mr. Holm explained that he would like to discuss some changes that would not lessen or decrease, in his view lessen or decrease the construction mechanism here. Jim Dougherty the City's Attorney has provided new form which replace a single form now in use. The engineers now sign a compliance letter regarding foundations. The new forms would replace the one in use. These forms are included as a part of these minutes. Mr. Holm explained that what they are trying to do is to look at in several different aspects. One is to make the system so that for example if, a Builder determines that he wants to do something on the weekend or make some changes wi.thoiit the .,Builder ~iaving to . submi.t amend~d ,p~~ns . At times this thig does crea~.e ~ 8 del8y problem,:a ~- ~Mere are othe~+ ~ times ,. they may want to ~relocate a- pier or ~make a moderate change a•nd 'th~,s is a~ eng£neer' ~ c.~ll.,i~tr ~the fie],d ~and~ that~ change.. couL~~ be'•made... in ~.he ffeld. Mr. ~Holm,. e~piained, that• his though,,ts were ~~in~~` th~ Engineers are basieally required to desiqn.the-faundations;,~nd to .. . . certi.fy tha~ the• fc~urtdatibn is,-con's~Cruc~3on p~r the deesign. HiR con.cern •was' that wi;th -the Lngineer making `the: ~~.nspectiort~_y ~].~a~~dy, why are the City Inspectors out -maki~~'~tgie s,ame,;~iX~sgec~ion~ ~-].~#-. It places~~ the 1-iability o~_ the C~ity.~ ~Iost Engin$er~ •th~'t ~~~~ ~,~1 aware o-f do not ca~r~ liabi~'i,~y ~ insurance. Tlie City cannt~~~ ~~ require Enginee=s to be ,insured; beca~i•~e they are licensed ~~ '~~i~ State:of Texas and`the State sets the standards: Mr. Holm ~~.t~o stated that the professiort~-~:..groups do rno~ requirg tt ~i~~-~~. ~1 l__.~ ~~ . ~~A~~` ~ Mr. Holm explained the Board were to require the Engineer to be responsible this would put the responsibility back upon the Contractors, but it would require the Surveyors and the Engineers to do their work and to do it properly. He referred to the form and explained that it simply tightens up the language that is already there. Mr. Holm explained that they would still make the necessary inspections, making sure that the interior walls are sleeved, inspecting the inground plumbing, inground electrical etc., but as far as getting into the location of the piers, the depths of the bells, the City would be removed from that part. He explained that the City would still make some cursory inspections just to make sure that the Engineer was on sight. In fact, in the past week the inspectors had checked a couple of sites and in both cases the Engineers were there. He explained that he just wants to see if there is a mechanism with the Boards approval and consent that the City can put requirements back onto the people who are doing the professional work. Mr. Holm explained at this point require insurance. He explained that the Soils Labs are not licensed by the State they are certified by a national organization and they can be required to have insurance. Michael Skoller, P.E. expressed the opinion that the soils report is a good requirement. • Roy Harper remarked that he would not like to see the City stop inspecting foundations. Mr. Harper would rather have the City spend sometime making the inspections just to make sure that something in error is being done. Mr. Holm explained that the City would not be totally out of the picture. They would be making sure that the proper testing is being done. He felt that there needs to be things to done to strengthen the requirement. He stated the foundation is the most important part of the house. There are still going to be failures no matter what the City does. Le~ Albin stated that compression test on concrete could be required. After further discussion among the members it was decided that a workshop session needed to be scheduled in the near future. The third item on the agenda was the approval of minutes. Jim McDaniel made a motion to approve the minutes. Les Albin seconded the motion. All voting aye. Voting no. none ~ Les Albin made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Jim McDaniel seconded the motion. All voting aye. Voting no. none. The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. ~ • r Attest: Secretary Chairman ~