Meeting Minutes -February 7, 2007



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MINUTES OF February 7, 2007  

CALL TO ORDER ( 5:40 PM )
President Tom Garcia, City of Fairfield , called the February 7, 2007 meeting of the Napa/Solano Chapter ICC to order. There were 44 members and 1 guest speaker in attendance.

ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS
President Tom Garcia: present; Vice President Steve Jensen: present; Secretary Dennis Corbett : present; Treasurer Dan Kasperson: present.

INTRODUCTIONS: ( 5:45 PM )
Self-introductions were made by 44 members.

(The meeting adjourned briefly for the dinner buffet.)

SPEAKER OF THE EVENING ( 6:05PM )
Jerry Parks, Director of Marketing Services for the Western Wood Preservers Institute, gave a presentation to the Chapter about recommended fasteners to use with treated wood; types and applications of wood preservatives; standards and specifications; where treated wood is required in the 2006 International Building Codes; and quality assurance issues – in particular, the CheckMark Quality Assurance Identification Program developed specifically for code enforcement.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES ( 6:55 )
Motion and second to approve the November 2006 meeting minutes.  Motion passed.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: ( 6:50 P.M )
President Garcia gave the ICC report for John LaTorra (see below).  Chapter member Jay Salazar, City of
Vacaville , has written an excellent article about accessibility for the February CALBO news.  An online survey will be sent out for members to provide input regarding dinner choices at Chapter meetings.  In order to help everyone become familiar with the change from the Uniform Code to the International Code, President Garcia proposed having mini-education sessions at upcoming meetings.    

COMMITTEE REPORTS: ( 7:00 PM )
Education:  David Cliché,
County of Solano , reported on upcoming Chapter seminars.  A class on Load Path will occur in April, and the CALBO Post-Disaster SAP training in May.  The Chapter plans to offer additional classes on Plumbing, Mechanical & IBC.  There is interest in trying to do half-day seminars, repeating the material both in the am & pm, so that department staff can be split up to attend either session.  

Treasurer:  Dan Kasperson, City of Suisun , reported several jurisdictions have renewed their membership, but some still lagging.  He reviewed the two choices of membership available and chapter benefits.

ICC: Submitted by John LaTorra, City of Redwood City , Chapter Liasion, ICC Board Member.

California Codes- The Building Standards Commission has adopted the 2006 editions of the International Building Code, International Fire Code, International Existing Building Code Appendix A, Uniform Plumbing Code, and Uniform Mechanical Code, and the 2005 edition of National Electrical Code with California amendments. ICC is committed to publishing a quality California Code in a short time period. The scheduled effective date will be determined soon; currently scheduled for January 1, 2008 . Thanks to Chapters, members, and the industry for the tremendous effort that finally made the adoption happen.

ICC President California Visits- ICC President Wally Bailey, CEO Rick Weiland, Board Member Barbara Koffron, and I will be visiting with California Chapters and members during the weeks of February 12-16 and March 12-16, 2007 . We look forward to meeting with as many members as possible, discussing ICC business, and hearing what is important to the members and any suggestions on ways we can improve our service. The itinerary for the visits is attached to the email message that delivered this report. Please encourage your members to attend one of the meetings in February or March.

ICC President Initiatives- ICC President Wally Bailey wants to focus on several issues during his term: spotlighting code officials including a national advertising campaign and working with ICMA, partnering with AIA to include codes in the architectural school curriculum, establishing a committee to evaluate what is important to the membership, more communication with the members, promoting sustainability and green buildings, partnering with others on promoting building safety throughout the world, and emphasizing that ICC is no longer a legacy organization.

New Headquarters Building - ICC’s new headquarters office is located at 500 New Jersey Ave. NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20001 This building is a LEED-certified green building, a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol. The toll free number to reach all ICC offices remains the same, (888)423-7233, or (888)ICC-SAFE, if that is easier to remember. Please make a point to visit the ICC headquarters office if you are in DC.

Task Force on Hearings- I chaired this committee in 2006, which has developed recommendations on improving the ICC code hearings (i.e. electronic voting, investigating remote access and voting, 8am to 8pm maximum hours, no member activities scheduled to conflict with the hearings, rotating the order of the hearings, etc). The first interim report is available on the iccsafe.org website. Wally has reappointed me to Chair this committee, so we can continue with the work of improving our hearings. The next committee conference call meeting is February 21, 2007 . I will expand the membership feedback and welcome your suggestions on methods to improve our code hearings.

Chapter Benefits- The Board of Directors approved an enhanced Chapter rewards Program. Active Chapters now have an opportunity to earn benefits in addition to the free ICC training, complimentary Chapter President registration at the Annual Meeting, newsletter, magazine subscription, 20% chapter discount on publications, banner, etc. Training- CALBO and ICC are working in partnership with local chapters and other organizations to provide much needed training in California . CALBO and ICC have merged their training plans and signed a MOU which was reviewed and approved by a committee of local chapter representatives. California Chapters in good standing (merely file your annual chapter report) are entitled to a day of free training and an additional day of transition training, provided the transition training is coupled with a free or purchased training day.

CALBO agreed to provide a shared calendar which is now operational on the calbo.org website. CALBO, ICC, and ICC Chapters can post all training seminars. Members of CALBO can submit the chapter training events on line, which will be reviewed and posted by CALBO. The goal is a coordinated training effort in preparation for enforcement of the new California Codes. We can support and promote Chapter training efforts. Kelly Midgley, CALBO Director of Training & Communications, (916)457-1103 and Sol Alba, ICC Education Program Coordinator, (888)423-7233 x4333 can help us with posting and scheduling training.

Meeting Locations- The 2007 Final Action Hearings are in Rochester , New York , May 21-26. The 2007 Annual Educational Conference is in Reno , Nevada , September 30- October 4. Both events are great opportunities for us Californians to receive valuable training and code knowledge prior to the effective date of the new codes. Reno is “just over the hill”….make your plans now.  

CALBO:  Jay Salazar reported on CALBO board activities, the access committee and the Energy Commission.  Bonnie Patterson, CALBO, spoke to the group. She talked about leadership advocacy day, the AB2977 interpretation controversy regarding the last minute wording change, ABM activities, PAC high rollers night, committee applications, foundation, education efforts with ICC, and the 24 Code Academies throughout the state.

Building Standards:  Steve Jensen, City of Napa , gave a report on the Building Standards Commission.  Everyone is pleased with last month’s unanimous approval of the new California Codes, however there was six hours of testimony regarding the Chapter 11 accessibility changes.  The changes should be on the CSLB website within the next few weeks.

OLD BUSINESS:

President Garcia spoke above some confusion regarding the approval of PEX and CPVC.  The previous requirement of findings by the Building Official before approval has been removed for the installation of CPVC. He also reminded everyone that local amendments and adoption of the new codes can not become effective before the state adoption date. 

David Cliché still has 3 certificates from last seminar.

NEW BUSINESS:
President Garcia shared an interpretation from Jay regarding pool & spa entrapment drain covers and AB2977.  The wording of the legislation requires the installation of an anti-entrapment cover any time a building permit is issued for a repair or modification at a single-family home with an existing pool, toddler pool, or spa.  Jay is preparing a press release for his department, but we are working toward a consistent interpretation and application of these requirements in the Chapter.  The actual bill can be found at: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/05-06/bill/asm/ab_2951-3000/ab_2977_bill_20060926_chaptered.pdf.

Dan Devine, City of Vacaville , noted that they have purchased new AFCI testers for their inspectors.

The three story height limitation for single-family homes was discussed and will be brought up for discussion at next month’s meeting.

The Plan Review Standards committee will be re-activated and is also to be discussed at next month’s meeting.

INSPECTORS TIME:
None.

INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVE:
None

ADJOURNMENT: ( 7:35 PM )

There was a motion to adjourn and President Garcia adjourned the meeting at 7:35 PM. The next meeting is on March 7, 2007 with Dinner at the Paradise Valley Golf Course.  Start time is 5:30 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Dennis Corbett
Secretary




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