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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.16.2004• ORDINANCE COMMITTEE February 16, 2004 4:30 p.m. Council Chambers Members present: Kincaid, Greenwood, Clark, Schmitt, Gunderson, Welper. Members absent: Cole. Moved by Kincaid, seconded by Schmitt that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes: Six. Absent: Cole. Motion carried. Lou Cutwright, Building Official/Maintenance Administrator, reviewed the proposed changes to Chapter 5 of the Waterloo Code of Ordinances as it pertains to Heating, Air Conditioning and Ventilation. Over the past year, the Mechanical Board met to review and update Chapter 5 of the Waterloo Code of Ordinances regulating HVAC in the city. The board is recommending the city adopt the 2003 addition of the Uniform Mechanical Code. The amendments 9-5A-2 to the 2003 addition have been reviewed, and the board recommends the amendments be a part of the code addition. The amendments update the code to allow utilization of new items that will make building a home less expensive. The changes will help the city maintain its Insurance Service Organization (ISO) rating of three. The contractors will be notified of the changes through the invoicing process. When billing mechanical contractors, the invoice will note the date the changes take effect. Moved by Clark, seconded by Schmitt that said proposed changes be approved. Ayes: Six. Absent: Cole. Motion carried. Moved by Welper, seconded by Gunderson that said proposed changes to Chapter 5 of the Waterloo Code of Ordinance pertaining to Heating, Air Conditioning and Ventilation and adoption of the 2003 Uniform Mechanical Code be placed on the council agenda for formal approval. Ayes: Six. Absent: Cole. Motion carried. Lou Cutwright, Building Official/Maintenance Administrator, reviewed proposed changes to the Building Code to replace the 1997 Uniform Building Code with the 2003 International Building Code and 2003 International Residential Code, adding a policy governing homeowners building their own home and creating the General Contractors Board as the Appeals Board in code actions. The Building Department has been working with the General Contractors Board over the past year in moving forward with code changes. The city is presently under the 1997 Uniform Building Code (UBC). The UBC is no longer being published. The three model code organizations merged into one code body in 1999 under the International Code Council (ICC). The ICC began to publish the international body of codes. The Building Department and General Contractors Board have reviewed the IBC and IRS (International Residential Code) and found them to be good documents to govern building in the city. Because of the friendliness of the "I" codes to designers and buildings, the Building Department has allowed the new schools and many commercial structures to use the "I" codes as their design reference. The ordinance would replace the 1997 Uniform Building Code with the 2003 International Building Code and 2003 International Residential Code. The IBC will amend Section 903.2.10 by deleting it in its entirety. This section shall be replaced with Section 903.2.10 form the 2000 IBC. The IRC will be amended by removing all references regarding regulating the mechanicals, electrical, plumbing or HVAC. These three areas are governed by separate codes. General contractor licensing has been refined in three areas. Adding a policy governing homeowners building their own home. Homeowners will still be allowed to build their own homes, but the restrictions will produce a better home. It will also regulate the homeowner from trying to become a general contractor without testing and providing their qualifications. With the changes, the General Contractors Board will also become the Appeals Board in code actions. The grandfather clause (Section 9-1A-5) would be deleted in its entirety. The adoption of the International Code is necessary because the city's Insurance Service Organization (ISO) rating of three is being challenged because we are not on the current codes. Also, the industry across the United States and Iowa are finding that the structural changes required by the International Codes are not producing hardships on the construction industry Ordinance Committee February 16, 2004 Page 2 when incorporated into the design of the structure up front. In fact, many are finding that the geometry is getting positive reviews from homeowners after construction. The IRS covers one -and two-family homes. All other residential construction is covered by the IBC. The sprinkling requirement for residential construction in the IBC is aggressive. Our present code requires any residential building three or more stores in height, or sixteen or more units to be sprinkled. The IBC requires sprinklers in all residential construction. It covers three units and up. This portion of the IBC could be amended to reflect our present sprinkler requirements for residential construction. Under the Mechanical Code, homeowners cannot install air conditioning, plumbing or electricity, but must have a license contractor. Some homeowners felt as owner of the lot they could become the contractor and do the electrical, plumbing and heating and then put the home up for sale, getting around the licensed contractor doing the work. General contractors wanted to regulate residential home builders. The Board of Appeals meets every third Thursday of the month. The Code says the Board of Appeals does not have the authority to overrule the code, but they can look at alternative methods. The Building Department will have the codes available to purchase and will have one located at the library. Moved by Clark, seconded by Gunderson that the proposed changes to the Building Code to replace the 1997 Uniform Building Code with the 2003 International Building Code and 2003 International Residential Code be approved and place on the council agenda for formal approval. Ayes: Six. Absent: Cole. Motion carried. With no further business before the committee, it was moved by Clark, seconded by Gunderson that the meeting be adjourned at 5:06 p.m. Ayes: Six. Absent: Cole. Motion carried. Nancy Eckert City Clerk