January 20, 2005 minutes
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MEMBERS PRESENT: |
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Lee Queen - Chairperson, Janet Smalter Vice Chairperson, John Craft, Mark Stogsdill Mike Porter |
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MEMBERS ABSENT: |
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None |
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GUESTS PRESENT: |
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Ex-Officio |
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Adrian Jones, Structural Inspector |
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A quorum was established and Chairman Queen called the meeting to order at 4:06 pm.
Approval of December 2nd , 2004 minutes
Board reviewed minutes. Stogsdill moved to approve minutes as written, seconded by Porter. Motion passed 5-0,
Correspondence
- Johnson County Energy Code Compliance Checklist for One and two Family Dwellings
- Table N1102.1 as amended from in the Overland Park Ordinance adopting the 2003 International Residential Code
- Table N1102.2.1 as amended from the Johnson County Ordinance adopting the 2000 International Residential Code
Board offered comments on the Contractor licensing ordinance
Section 1202 Definitions
Section stated that only licensed contractors could pull permits. The intent of section 1204 appears to allows the homeowner to perform work on his own property. The ordinance does not define the homeowner as a contractor. There is a conflict is the ordinance.
Section 1209 Class B Contractor
Smalter if contractors had to get continuing education from the Johnson county program. Would other types of continuing education count toward the license? Specifically would the type of CEUs required by architects count toward the license. Would the contractor be eligible for a partial refund if he or she had CEUs from other than Johnson County.
Section 1219 Continuing education
States that the CLB may establish continuing education requirements. Further on in the section it states the contractor shall complete at least 8 hours of continuing education as required by the CLB each calendar year. The board felt there was a conflict between may and shall. Jones stated that in code language the word may typically gives the code official or in this case the CLB the authority to review individual cases. It might allow the CBL to examine a contractors CEDs and determine that they might not meet the exact requirements of the ordinance but can be considered as adequate.
Section 1220 Contractor Discipline
This section of the ordinance does not make it clear if a contractor fails to meet one or all of the items listed would be subject to disciplinary action by the CLB.
Section 1303 Qualifications of CLB members
The ordinance states that one member must be an architect or a civil engineer. Porter asked it mandated a civil engineer. He thought it would be more appropriate to require a licensed engineer or a structural engineer.
The board continued review of Chapter 11
Queen stated that new energy standards would raise the cost of new homes. He also stated that by raising the price on new homes, price increase would also be reflected in the existing housing market. This would punish home buyers of existing homes that would not benefit from the higher energy standards. Queen stated that by adding $1000 to $2000 to the price of homes some marginal buyers would be priced out of the market. Queen stated that the additional cost would more greatly effect entry level housing. The mid and upper end housing come closer to meeting the requirements.
Craft stated that the board was here to discuss the codes for new construction. He also stated that the City of Lawrence had to update the energy codes at some time and make homes more energy efficient. It would be better to update the codes now than to wait for higher energy and material cost. Home buyers of entry level home could least afford higher energy bills. The added cost to new construction should be considered as part of the total cost of home ownership. This included the initial purchase, mortgage payments and utility bills. Energy efficient homes had lower total cost of ownership. Craft also stated that homes that met the Energy Star Rating in some cases qualified for home buyers for lower mortgage rates because banks anticipated that owners would have to spend less on utility bills.
Porter stated that he has always factored in utility bills when deciding on the purchase of an existing home. Craft stated that the new code would increase the sticker price but lower housing cost. Porter stated that the new codes might add 1% to the price of a new home, while in the last 5 years housing and energy cost have risen between 5% and 10%.
Porter stated that he believed that the board could agree that as far as the new energy standards are concerned it would be cost effective for owners homes built to the new IRC standards. He agreed that the higher cost would affect existing housing.
Queen made a motion to amend chapter 11 table N1102.1
R13 exterior walls
R38 in attics
R30 in cathedral ceilings
If basement is finished insulate basement walls.
Jones asked Queen about the other elements of the table. Queen stated that those should remain as current construction practices. Queen stated that there was no energy code now and his proposal would be an improvement. Jones read the motion. The motion failed.
Stogsdill stated that he thought there may be a need for an energy code checklist, provide for more inspectors or an insulation inspection, but he didn’t feel that mandating chapter 11 was the way to go. Stogsdill suggested that the Board not adopt chapter 11. Porter thought that the board should adopt the chapter. Craft stated that the board should amend chapter rather that delete. Stogsdill stated the Building Code Board was a technical advisory board. The decision to mandate adoption of the energy provisions would be policy decision and not that of a technical nature. He stated thought that the Board should receive public input and direction from the commission on how to proceed.
Queen stated that he thought it was the board’s responsibility to make a recommendation to the commission. The Commission could decide to accept the recommendation or not.
Stogsdill made a motion to recommend adoption of the IRC with the exception of chapter 11 upon final review of amendments and to draft a statement to the commission asking direction on how to proceed. The statement should direct the board on the issue of affordable housing versus energy savings. Seconded by Smalter. Motion passed 3-2.
Adjournment
Stogsdill made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Porter. Motion passed 5-0
The meeting adjourned 6:25 p.m.