Building Code Board of Appeals Agenda and Packet 2018 01 18

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Building Code Board of Appeals Meeting Minutes November 16, 2017 Page 2 of 3 New Plans Examiner Hired Staff informs the board that Eleanor Maralit was hired as the department's new plans examiner. Staff discusses how her training process has been and how the transition is going within the department. Discussion Items: Adoption of the 2018 International Building Code Staff informs the board that the department would like to adopt the 2018 IBC. Staff discusses the positives and negatives of the 2018 cycle. It is most effective to skip the 2015 cycle because the cost of books and additional learning material are expensive. Skipping a cycle will save the department a substantial amount of money. Ramsey asked if there was a downside to skipping to the 2018 cycle. Staff said that getting caught up to 6 years of new code can be beneficial and that the most current cycle is as updated as possible. The technology will also more present in this cycle which could be a great benefit for the City. The 2018 cycle also has minimal changes from the 2015 cycle. Tribelhorn discusses her reservation or the 2018 building code. She mentions that jumping six years to a new building code would be expensive for homeowners and contractors. She is unsure that the transition to this code would easy. The board members who were present for this discussion concluded that the adoption of the 2018 IBC was the best move for the department and for the City, based on the ideas mentioned by Staff throughout the meeting. The board recommended that Staff reach out to the other board members who were unable to attend the meeting for their advice and counsel regarding adopting the 2018 code cycle. Staff and the board briefly discuss the 2015 fire sprinklers amendments made in past Building Code Board of Appeals meetings. Staff also mentions the benefit of adopting the 1997 Abatement of Dangerous Building Code. The City currently has not adopted any building code that instructs the City on what to do when buildings are deteriorating and worsening. Adoption of the 2017 NEC- a State Requirement Staff informed the board that the City will be adopting the 2017 NEC because it is a state requirement. The City is currently under the 2011 NEC, but Staff will be presenting to City Council the adoption of the 2017 NEC in their December meeting. Discussion of Expedited Plan Review Staff discusses the possibility of giving applicants the option to fast track their plan reviews. The process would be through third -party plan reviewers and if applicant wants to fast track the plans, he/she could pay the third -party plan reviewer costs. Testing of Public Portal on EnerGov as well as testing subjects Staff discusses the idea of using some board members and local contractors to test the online permitting public portal once the department is in the testing phase.