City of Lawrence

Building Code Board of Appeals

Meeting

June 14^th , 2007 minutes

MEMBERS PRESENT:	Lee Queen - Chairperson, Mark Stogsdill, John Craft,  Mike Porter
MEMBERS ABSENT:	Janet Smalter
STAFF  PRESENT:
Guess Present :
Ex-Officio	Adrian Jones
Attachments	Administration Draft.doc  - Draft of ordinance of adopting administration provision for Chapter 5 2006 International Building Code Draft.doc -  Draft of ordinance adopting 2006 International Building Code. 2006 International Residential Code Draft.doc. – Draft of ordinance adopting the 2006 International Residential Code 2006 International Existing Building Code Draft.doc – Draft of ordinance adopting the International Existing Building Code 2006 International Energy Conservation Code Draft.doc – Draft of ordinance adopting the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code.

Meeting called to order at 11:43

Review minutes from meeting 5-31-07

Craft motioned to approve the minutes as written, seconded by Porter. Motion passed 4-0.

Review draft ordinances

Porter suggested amending section 5-111.16 (1) to read “Meetings of the Board shall  be held at the call of the chairperson and at such other times as the Board may determine.

The Board discussed 5-111.16 (4) the consensus was to amend the section to read. “Each appellant decision of the Board shall be by majority vote of the entire Board. All other decisions shall be by a majority of a quorum.”  The reasoning was that without the change appeal decisions could be approved by a majority of a quorum, which would be two members.

Queen stated that he felt an appeal decision was important enough to require a full board vote.

Porter stated the only legal decisions were appeal decisions. The other decisions of the board were advisory decisions.

The Board discussed the types of decisions made by the Board and the impact on code changes.  The board discussed how and when decisions on the use of alternate materials and methods of construction should result in code amendments.

The Board amended section 5-111.17.2 to include a statement to limit the term of membership to 3 years.  

Porter motioned to accept the Administrative Ordinance as amended. Seconded by Queen.  Motion passed 4-0.

The Board reviewed the IBC ordinance. The Board discussed when
Appendix J Grading would be applicable. The Board directed staff to determine if there were currently any regulations that covered grading in the City of Lawrence. If there were no regulations that covered grading then the Board would consider adoption of Appendix J at a later meeting.

Queen motioned accept the IBC draft as written with the exception of Appendix J.  Seconded by Porter.  Motion passed 4-0.

The Board reviewed the ordinance to adopt the IRC. The Board discussed section 5-313 which was amended to require all underground ducts to be encased in concrete.

Porter stated there are PVC and PVC coated metal duct systems that designed and approved for direct burial.

Stogsdill thought with the few number of underground systems installed the implication of the amendment would not be significant.  Stogsdill stated the amendment to require duct sizing diagrams for each new single home would be a significant change from current practices.

Queen asked if homebuilders would now be required to have an architect provide mechanical drawings.

Jones stated he believed the drawings could be submitted by a mechanical engineer, architect or mechanical contractor.

Queen thought the Mechanical Board could provide reasoning for the amendments.

Update on IRC anchor bolt requirements.

Queen stated the National Association of Home Builders was successful in removing the anchor bolt requirements of the 2006 IRC from the 2009 version of the IRC. The 2009 IRC will only require anchor bolts at 6’ intervals instead current code which requires spacing as close as 7” intervals on some foundations.  

Motion to adjourn made by Porter Second by Queen.  Motion passed 4-0.

Meeting adjourned 12:55