HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.19.2003•
ORDINANCE COMMITTEE
May 19, 2003
4:30 p.m.
Council Chambers
Members present: Kincaid, Welper, Clark, Jordan, Hurley, Getty.
Members absent: Greenwood.
Moved by Jordan, seconded by Clark that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes: Six.
Absent: Greenwood. Motion carried.
Lou Cutwright, Building Official, reviewed the 2003 International Building Code and the
International Residential Code. Five years ago the city adopted the 1997 Uniform Building
Code. Since that time, Waterloo received one of the highest ratings in the state from the
Insurance Service Organization (ISO) on building department activity. The building code
industry has been working over the past eight years to produce a single family of codes for the
building industry across the United States. The International Code Council (ICC) began this task
eight years ago, and in 2000 the International Building Code (IBC) was released. The 2003 IBC
was published in January 2003. Mr. Cutwright reported that the General Contractors Board has
reviewed these changes over the past few months. The General Contractors Board has also been
addressing and refining the building ordinance as it relates to residential contractor licensing. All
trades (electrical, plumbing and heating) have to be licensed to work on residential property.
General contractor licensing for residential was started in 1998, and the General Contractors
Board has made a few changes.
Mr. Cutwright stated that the new International Building Code is a less restrictive code. Mr.
Cutwright stated that there will be amendments to the Building Code as it refers to the
International Electrical Code, International Mechanical Code and International Plumbing Code
along with other amendments.
Mr. Cutwright reviewed the proposed building permit fee schedule. The city's current building
permit fees are between five and ten percent lower than Cedar Falls' building permit fees. The
proposed fee increases will bring us up to the level of Cedar Falls. Overall the proposed fees will
bring an additional eight to ten percent increase in revenues. Mr. Cutwright stated that the fees
cover the expenses of the Building Department. The fee scale was put together by the Uniform
Building Code years ago.
Mr. Cutwright stated that adoption of the International Building Code and International
Residential Code will require more informed inspectors, but no increase in staffing. Mr.
Cutwright stated that the new code will give inspectors more flexibility in determining what can
be used. The Building Department is going to develop several sets of seminars on the new code
to help educate the contractors. The new code will define residential remodeler and residential
roofer. A section of the ordinance will require homeowners building their own home to have an
electrical contractor install the electrical wiring. A homeowner building his/her own home will
be required to sign a document that they will live in the home for one year and the document is
recorded with the abstract of the home. The new code establishes a new General Contractors
Board of Licensing, Examiners and Appeals.
Mr. Cutwright will meet with the general contractors to review the proposed ordinances and fee
scale.
Councilperson Clark asked that contractors have an opportunity to come before the council prior
to adoption of the International Building Code. Councilperson Hurley stated he is interested in
an opportunity to air in general why there is a perception that the city is hard to work with.
With no further business before the council, it was moved by Jordan, seconded by Clark that the
meeting be adjourned at 5:11 p.m. Ayes: Six. Absent: Greenwood. Motion carried.
Nancy Eckert
City Clerk