HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Study Session 2011-05-10
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, May 10, 2011
Minutes of a Study Session meeting of the TOWN BOARD of the Town
of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held at Town Hall in
Rooms 202 & 203 in said Town of Estes Park on the 10th day of May,
2011.
Board: Mayor Pinkham, Mayor Pro Tem Levine, Trustees
Blackhurst, Elrod, Ericson, Koenig and Miller
Also Attending: Town Administrator Halburnt, Deputy Town Administrator
Richardson, Town Attorney White, Town Clerk Williamson,
Fire Chief Dorman and Fire District Board Members Doylen
and Theis
Absent: None
Mayor Pinkham called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m.
FIRE CODE.
Fire Chief Dorman provided a presentation on the Fire District’s approval of the 2009
International Fire Code. The fire code works in conjunction with the building code to
ensure items such as number of exits required are maintained. The code was designed
to emphasize the maintenance of systems designed to project occupants and property;
to educate the public on how to prevent fires and what to do in the event of a fire;
enforce the code requirements; and to identify causes and prevent future fires.
With the approval of the Fire District in 2009, a strategic plan was developed for the
district which identified the need to adopt the fire code to protect citizens and visitors.
The Fire District Board approved the adoption the fire code at their April 27, 2011
meeting. Public outreach prior to the Board’s consideration included six outreach
meetings with stakeholders, two articles and multiple meetings with the volunteer
firefighters. The pros for adoption include public safety, identify potential hazards,
reduce the risk to the general public and firefighters, reduction in property loss, ensure
fire protection systems are maintained, allow for pre-incident planning, credit on ISO
survey which can help reduce insurance costs, and protect the economy of the Town.
The cons for adoption include overcoming the fear factor, costs of compliance, costs for
enforcement, and more requirements from the government. The next steps require the
District to receive ratification of the adoption from both the Town and Larimer County in
order to enforce the code, hire a Fire Marshall by July 1st, and prioritization of
inspections based on life hazard and large property loss hazard. Education of the code
would also be a key issue at the beginning prior to any enforcement action.
Concerns and questions from the Town Board included concerns with plan reviews in
conjunction with the Building division; questioned how buildings built prior to building
codes would be addressed; concerned with unintended consequences; expressed
concern with enforcement of the code; and questioned what agency would be in charge
during a major incident.
Town Attorney White advised the Town Board that the entire code could be ratified or
parts of the code could be adopted within the Town.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS.
The future agenda items were reviewed for upcoming Study Sessions. The TVC would
like to provide a status report at an upcoming session.
There being no further business, Mayor Pinkham adjourned the meeting at 6:37 p.m.
Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk