April 18, 2007 minutes
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MEMBERS PRESENT: |
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Chairman Frank Lewis, Co-Chairman Doug Dillon, Kenny Breithaupt, and Jim Carpenter |
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MEMBERS ABSENT: |
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Chuck Hoag |
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GUEST PRESENT: |
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Bobbie Flory, Executive Director, Lawrence Home Builders Association; Sid Ziegler, Ziegler Corporation and President of the Lawrence Home Builders Association; Barry Walthall, Building Safety manager |
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Ex-Offico: |
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Mark Mills, Plumbing Inspector |
Call meeting to order.
Lewis called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m.
Introductions.
The Board Members and guests introduced themselves.
Approve the April 4, 2007 minutes.
Carpenter made a motion to approve the minutes. Breithaupt second the motion, the motion passed 4-0.
Elect Chairman and Co-Chairman.
Breithaupt made a motion for Lewis to remain Chairman and Dillon to remain Co-Chairman. Carpenter second the motion, the motion passed 4-0
Receive Communication from Bill Schweitzer.
Staff handed out a Code Comparison Summary from Schweitzer that he had asked be distributed to the Board. Staff took the time to also hand out copies of two letters that Flory had asked to be given to the Board.
Breithaupt stated that in Flory’s letter to the Mayor she writes that the International Residential Code was one code that covered everything but Breithaupt disagreed saying as a plumber he would be using multiple books.
Breithaupt then stated that the Board had asked several times why a blended code would not work and no one gave us an answer. Breithaupt continued that the Board was told that a blended code would not work because of the Fire Code, so the Board asked for examples why it would not work with the Fire Code and did not get any examples.
Breithaupt stated that everyone keeps saying that this going to work so much better with the same codes but no one give a reason why it is so much better than a blended code.
Lewis stated that he thought they had received the references to the International Plumbing Code.
Staff responded that the Board had received a hand out on the references to the Plumbing Code from the International Fire, Building, and Residential Codes.
Carpenter stated that basically there were two or three references that were significant references and the others were just mentioned the Plumbing Code.
Walthall addressed Breithaupt’s question saying there were advantages and disadvantages for both the blended codes and the family of codes. Walthall pointed out some of the advantages of having a family of codes, the ease of use by builders, the ease of adopting coordinated codes, and the availability of training. Walthall stated that a copy of the report provided to the Commission for the March 13th Commission meeting would be forwarded to the Board.
Walthall went on to say he did not know if staff would be able to successfully answer Breithaupt’s question other than saying the blended codes could work but it would be more difficult.
Ziegler stated that the Lawrence Home Builders Association has not had one builder come to them against the adoption of the International Codes. Ziegler went on to say that there is going to be problems with any code. Ziegler continued stating that he was in attendance to show support for the International Codes.
Breithaupt asked Ziegler if he had talked to any plumbing contractors and were they all for the International Codes.
Ziegler replied that he had talked to plumbing contractors and not everyone was for the International Codes.
Breithaupt stated that the issue was that the Uniform Plumbing Code was a superior code compared to the International Plumbing Code. Breithaupt explained that he could go anywhere in Kansas, plumb a building using the Uniform Plumbing Code and it would pass inspection, but if he did the same with International Plumbing Code, the inspections in jurisdictions using the Uniform Plumbing Code would fail.
Lewis stated that the Board had already gone through the International Residential Code and the differences between it and the Uniform Code were very minute to a point. Lewis explained that the major difference was in the chapters on venting.
Dillon stated that it was unlikely that he would change the way he plumbed a building, but he would utilize the code and gave an example of using an air admittance valve on an island sink. Dillon explained that it would save him time.
Breithaupt stated that the Board may not like the way the International Codes address the venting but it will work or the International Code Council would not have put it in the book.
Review the 2006 International Codes.
Staff handed out the 2006 International Plumbing Code draft ordinance and the 2006 International Fuel Gas Code draft ordinance and the 2006 International Residential Code draft ordinance. Staff went on to explain that staff decided to reorganize Chapter 5 of the City Code and that the draft ordinances would be revised to reflect the changes.
Staff continued stating that the reorganization would help make Chapter 5 easier to navigate. Staff planned to remove all trade licensing and board sections from the electrical, mechanical and plumbing articles and create separate articles for each. Staff reassured the Board that anything related to plumbing would be reviewed and found acceptable to the Board before further action.
Staff informed the Board that the licensing would be the same with one exception and that was the experience required to take a licensing exam. Staff stated that the change would align the City ordinance with the State Statues of Kansas. Staff told the Board that the objective was to get all the trades licensing standardized.
Staff asked the Board if they were still adopting the International Plumbing, Residential, and Fuel Gas Codes without amendments.
Lewis replied that he would still like some more time to evaluate the codes and Breithaupt mentioned Hoag may need time on the gas portion.
Carpenter stated that the Board was relatively in agreement on the codes with a few possible exceptions. Carpenter suggested that the members review all the plumbing, residential, and fuel gas codes and come to the next meeting prepared to make any motions for amendments.
Staff stated that the Board could take any approach they wanted to review the codes but needed to move forward in the process to meet the target date.
Breithaupt replied that the Board already voted to accept the International Codes in their entirety pending Lewis and Hoag’s review. Breithaupt stated to Lewis that the thought was to accept the code the way it is and if a problem arises then address it at that time by amending the code.
Lewis replied that he had no problem with that idea.
Breithaupt stated that the Board needed to get these ordinances to the Legal Department so the Board did not hold up the process.
Staff stated that the updated draft ordinances would be available to the Board at the next meeting.
Adjourn
With no other business a motion was made by Breithaupt to adjourn the meeting, Carpenter second the motion, the motion passed 4-0.
Lewis adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m.