August 16, 2001, Business Meeting Minutes / Joint Meeting with the Orange Empire Center

Location: Embassy Suites, 3100 East Frontera Street, Anaheim

Call to Order: Richard Lucas, LABC Vice-President and Buster Scholl, Orange Empire Chapter President, called the August Joint Meeting to order at approximately 11:50 a.m.

Roll Call of Officers:
President John Cheng - Absent
Vice President Richard Lucas - Present
Treasurer Rick Becker - Present
Secretary Stuart Tom - Absent
Past-President Carol Jacobson - Present

Host: There was no host city for this meeting.

Introductions:  The meeting began with self-introductions. Fifty-eight (58) Los Angeles Basin Chapter Members, Orange Empire Chapter Members & Associates attended.

Approval of minutes:  It was moved and seconded to approve the July 10, 2001 minutes.

Action Items:  None

Communications:  Upcoming educational seminars descriptions.

Committee Reports:  Morris Reaves, City of Los Angeles and Code Committee Coordinator invited members to draft and submit proposals for Committee review. He also invited members to become involved by joining one of the several committees.

Henry Huang, County of Los Angeles and Structural Committee Chair, described some of the structural issues that need to be addressed during the upcoming code adoption.

Rick Becker, Treasurer, reported that the August 14^th Seminar "On the Front Line: The Public Counter" was extremely successful. Instructor Yvonne Christopher, County of Monterey Building Official, provided valuable information and insight to the audience. Due to the popularity of this class, which was completely filled and had a waiting list, the Chapter has arranged a second class. Yvonne has agreed to teach the class again Thursday November 29, 2001 at the L.A. County Building in Alhambra.

With funds received from the seminar plus membership renewals, the Chapter Treasury is now $11,000.

Richard Lucas reported on an another upcoming Chapter seminar. September 10 & 11, 2001 - Seminar 380i; 2000 IBC Nonstructural Provisions; ICBO-LABC in cooperation with ICBO HQ; location: L.A. County Building, Alhambra.

Richard also announced that the Chapter Annual Installation and Holiday Banquet is scheduled for Sunday, December 2 at "Occasions", a special events facility in El Segundo. Mac Dagleish is in the process of arranging the event. The entertainment will be geared for the whole family. Additional information will be available in the upcoming months.

Gaddis Farmer, Building Official, City of Simi Valley and ICBO Board of Directors re-emphasized that acceptance of the I-Codes is progressing across the country. Press releases are on the ICBO website. He invited everyone to attend the Joint ICBO/BOCA Annual Conference in Cincinnati next month. For those not able to attend, the Conference has been working to develop regional sites to both view conference activities and vote electronically.

Julie Seay, City of Anaheim Building Official and CALBO Board Member, advised of recent CALBO Board activities. A new Fire Advisory Committee has been created. A regional meeting with the CALBO Board and local ICBO Chapters is scheduled for September 2^nd, in Rancho Cucamonga. The CALBO Newsletter Committee, which includes Rick Becker and Jay Elbattar, will soon be issuing a Request For Proposal, with the goal of a unveiling a completely upgraded website design within six to eight months. The monthly newsletter will now be sent 1^st class mail for quicker delivery.

Isam Hasenin, City of Long Beach Engineering Plan Check Officer and CALBO Training Institute (CTI) Board Member, announced IBC and IRC introduction classes will be presented in the near future. CTI welcomes local Chapters to cosponsor classes with them.

All in attendance paused for a moment of silence in honor of Bob Fowler, P.E., FAIA, C.B.O., City of Pasadena Building Official, who died tragically August 1^st in a vehicle accident. Jon Traw, ICBO, announced that Bob's funeral service in Texas was August 6^th. ICBO, in conjunction with the City of Pasadena, is planning a local memorial service, to be held late afternoon on September 11^th, in Pasadena. Additional information will follow.

Program:  Stan Nishimura, Executive Director of the California Building Standards Commission (BSC), gave an overview of the BSC, its duties, and current activities. Following is a outline of topics discussed during his presentation and subsequent discussion with the members.

• The BSC office is the depository for local amendments to the model codes. The BSC does not check the merit of the amendments. Any challenges to amendments would be handled by the courts. Local jurisdictions are to file local amendments with the BSC before it can be made effective.
• The BSC goal is to adopt the model codes in September of 2001, and publish the codes by the end of 2001.
• The BSC can hear appeals of local code decisions subject to the local Building Official agreeing to the appeal.
• Mr. Nishimura highlighted several items challenged during the current model code adoption:

• Status of the BSC challenge to the recently enacted City of Pasadena alternate methods ordinance. This ordinance allows codes other than California model codes to be used under the alternate methods provision. Mr. Nishimura originally prepared a letter to Pasadena requesting clarification of the ordinance's intent. The BSC office believes that Pasadena had misapplied the alternate materials section, and the ordinance could allow the preemption of State amendments. Several months ago the BSC office referred the matter to the California Attorney General's Office (AGO) for an opinion. At this time the AGO has not yet issued an opinion. Any follow-up action would be handled through the AGO. If the Pasadena ordinance is found to be acceptable by the AGO, the BSC would not file objections if any other jurisdictions adopted the same ordinance.
• New versions of the California Codes will be printed by varying sources: ICBO, NFPA, and IAPMO.
• Fire code amendments should be included by jurisdictions' amendment submittal packages to the BSC.
• The differences between the seismic provisions of the 1997 UBC and the 2000 IBC were discussed. Local jurisdictions may adopt local modifications, and make and submit findings to the Commission; however, according to SEAOC, there are no significant differences between the 1997 UBC and 2000 IBC.
• BSC discussed with FEMA it’s reimbursement policy, if the State of California continue the 1998 California Building Code into the 2001 California Building Code. According to FEMA, they would provide reimbursement regardless of the code applied in California.
• Local amendments that create equivalent or more stringent requirements are acceptable to the BSC.
• The Commission’s Code Advisory Committees are to be reconstituted soon, and a new partnership for adoption of the 2003 codes may be needed. Mr. Nishimura plans to distribute a general announcement when applications will be accepted.
• A building official questioned the appropriateness of certain logos now displayed on the State codes. Mr. Nishimura will look into this concern.
• It was suggested to Mr. Nishimura that the BSC system needs to be re-evaluated. An opinion was expressed that the California model code review and adoption process has changed over the years from the original intent, and the process is now susceptible to abuse.

The members thanked Mr. Nishimura for his presentation.

Adjournment: Richard Lucas and Buster Scholl adjourned the August Joint Business Meeting at approximately 2:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Rick Becker, Treasurer