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Home My WebLink AboutTB Study Session 2015-09-22 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado September 22, 2015 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 22nd day of September, 2015. Board: Mayor Pinkham, Mayor Pro Tem Koenig, Trustees Ericson, Holcomb, Nelson, Norris and Phipps Attending: All Also Attending: Town Administrator Lancaster, Assistant Town Administrator Machalek, Chief Building Official Birchfield, Town Attorney White and Town Clerk Williamson Absent: None Mayor Pinkham called the meeting to order at 5:18 p.m. INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE (DANGEROUS BUILDINGS CODE) AND ADOPTION OF NEW INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE. Chief Building Official Birchfield stated the Board of Appeals (BOA) has been meeting monthly since January 2015 to review the 2015 International Codes, current local amendments and the significant change to the 2012 International Codes. Although the Town bypassed the adoption of the 2012 International Codes, the changes would apply to the 2015 International Codes and warrant review. The International Building Codes contain three primary codes and seven codes adopted by reference, including the International Property Maintenance Code. The National Energy Code and the Fire Code with local amendments would also be adopted. The BOA has agreed to and recommended local amendments to each of the codes and identified other issues that need further discussion and public feedback. Staff has not received a lot of public comment or opposition to the adoption of the 2015 International Codes with the exception of the Property Maintenance Code. CBO Birchfield has recommended a local amendment to prohibit ventless gas appliances, permitting for electric water heaters, and non-refundable plan reviews for permits that are submitted and never built. Existing buildings have been governed by the Building Code in the past; however, the new 2015 codes have removed the chapter from the Building Code. The Existing Building Code directs the degree for which a building being remodeled must be brought up to code. Staff would propose the Town’s local amendments be as consistent with Larimer County Building department as possible. Wind and snow loads would be examples of items the Town and County should have consistent requirements for citizens, designers and builders. Key Issues Requiring Further Discussion  Wind Speed – Adopt new wind speed maps or retain current wind speed maps. The design wind speed has increased from 90 to 140 miles per hour. Should the Town use the current Larimer County wind speed maps or use the new 2015 I-Code wind speeds with three different wind speeds based on the use of the building. The advantage would be to use more accurate maps. The disadvantage for designers would be the use of two different methods to calculate wind speed depending on the location of the structure inside or outside Town limits. Town Board Study Session – September 22, 2015 – Page 2  Egress (Emergency Escape and Rescue) Windows – Every room used as a sleeping room shall have 5.7 square feet. Need to determine whether or not to allow “size for size” window replacement when emergency escape and rescue windows are not required. Option 1 would allow size for size replacement and Option 2 would require window sizes to increase to address life safety concerns for habitants and emergency responders.  Condensation and Mechanical Equipment – High efficiency boilers and hot water heaters release condensation. The 2015 Codes would require the installation of a shut-off switch for condensing appliances located in a non-visible area such as a crawl space so the equipment shuts off if the condensate pump fails. Option 1 requires a shut-off switch, Option 2 would provide a local amendment to remove the requirement of a shut-off switch or require an alarm, and Option 3 would disallow mechanical equipment in the basement or the crawl space.  International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) – The Code is referenced in the Building Code and can be adopted, deleted or modified with the adoption of local amendments. Currently the CBO can act on a dangerous building only when a building would be considered an imminent danger to public safety and welfare. The building official has limited authorization to act thorough the building codes. The BOA has proposed the adoption of the IPMC with local amendment to include the exemption of single-family dwellings and exempt the perimeter of structures such as weeds, outside rubbish, and exterior painting. The BOA does not recommend the regulation of non-life threatening property maintenance standards. The Board expressed concern with the exemption of single-family homes as they are being used for commercial purposed as vacation homes. If single-family homes are exempt they would not be regulated by the IPMC. The proposed schedule for adoption of the codes includes Oct 1 Board of Appeal meeting; October 13 Town Board Study Session to review draft code amendments to determine if they are ready for public review; hold public outreach meetings the weeks of October 19 and October 26; November 10 Town Board Study Session to review public engagement; November 24 first public meeting at Town Board; and December 8 second public meeting and proposed adoption at the Town Board meeting. Staff stated the importance of completing the process right rather than adopting the new codes quickly. The codes do not need to be adopted by the first of the year. TRUSTEE & ADMINISTRATOR COMMENTS & QUESTIONS. Staff and Trustees Holcomb and Nelson would meet with TDS Broadband to discuss their plans and level of service for the valley moving forward. Trustee Norris stated the Visit Estes Park (VEP) Board would review the proposed Operating Plan and submit to the Town and County by the end of the month. VEP has been approached to rename Performance Park to Dick Orleans Park. He stated the renaming of the Park should not be addressed by VEP; however, the Town does not have a process for naming property and should develop a policy. He commented on the need to discuss the current zoning and how changes to vacation rental regulations might affect zoning. Discussion followed on the recent discussion within the community regarding the reestablishment of a URA. The Town nor the staff have been discussing URA, DDA, etc. Trustee Nelson stated the public comment he has received continues to ask why the URA was voted out with the current development needs and the downtown neighborhood plan. Trustee Ericson commented the Downtown Neighborhood Plan or the Avalanche report may suggest the need for a URA or DDA to address development and economic growth. FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS.  The Board agreed to add the review of the Building Code local amendments to the October 13th study session and the review of public comment to the November 10th study session. Town Board Study Session – September 22, 2015 – Page 3  Staff confirmed the finances for the Event Center would be reviewed during the budget process.  Discussion of the Town’s role in Economic Development should be discussed after the Avalanche report has been completed. The report has been postponed and will be rescheduled in November.  The interview process for Boards and Committee would be reviewed on October 13th.  The Local Marketing District Operating Plan would be reviewed at the October 27th study session. There being no further business, Mayor Pinkham adjourned the meeting at 6:40 p.m. Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk