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Home My WebLink AboutPACKET Town Board Special Meeting 2019-02-26NOTE: The Town Board reserves the right to consider other appropriate items not available at the time the agenda was prepared. The Mission of the Town of Estes Park is to provide high-quality, reliable services for the benefit of our citizens, guests, and employees, while being good stewards of public resources and our natural setting. The Town of Estes Park will make reasonable accommodations for access to Town services, programs, and activities and special communication arrangements for persons with disabilities. Please call (970) 577-4777. TDD available. SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING BOARD OF TRUSTEES - TOWN OF ESTES PARK Town Hall Rooms 202/203 Tuesday, February 26, 2019 4:00 p.m. AGENDA FACILITATED LISTENING SESSION: 1. BUILDING DIVISION OPERATIONS AND PERFORMANCE. Contractors, members of the Building Advisory subcommittee and Contractor’s Association to provide feedback. ADJOURN. Prepared 02-15-2019 *Revised 02-21-2019 * Town Clerk <townclerk@estes.org> Fwd: Feedback For Town Building Division: Kate Rusch <krusch@estes.org>Tue, Feb 19, 2019 at 11:31 AM To: Town Clerk <TownClerk@estes.org> ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Cynthia Fleischer <fleischercynthia@yahoo.com> Date: Tue, Feb 19, 2019 at 11:16 AM Subject: Feedback For Town Building Division: To: <krusch@estes.org> Kate, Due to a prior conflict, cannot attend forum/ feedback on 26 February 2019. SIDE BAR: I do however have a suggestion/ thought for Town Building Division: What about an oversight Board that would discipline/sanction contractors, builders; going to targeting elder, disabled, veteran [et al.] homeowners? *Perhaps this is a discussion going to the formation of a Chamber of Commerce/ local BBB... While many builders, contractors, are competent professionals; some in the Estes Valley engage in less than ethical practices. BBB complaints fall off [their] records leaving consumer ill informed as to said history! I have run into those who deliver faulty materials, take money and never return to finish job [even if it was only half payment], have stolen tools, attempted a break in on part of a sub’s employee, or whom mean well- but just do not have the skills needed to do the job contracted for. *If the Building Division is charged with permit issuance- then shouldn’t it also be charged with oversight [going to compliance] and holding parties to International Building Codes- ie ALL phases vs cursory examinations and inclusive of all builders/ contractors? TO ISSUE: Is E- filing utilized to expedite any phase of permitting process? Should it be expanded? Should more frequent hearings be scheduled? Is there a designated position solely tasked to a specific permit? Ie are your hearings dependent on Town department schedules? Are your permit fees too high for the “little guy”? There are some great, hardworking smaller contractors that may find themselves being pushed out of your process... And lastly- perhaps the Town should rethink the overbuilding ramifications being visited on the Estes Valley~ my opinion. Kind regards; P.S. Who and what is the alleged “strong arming of contractors” that I keep hearing about? Are your builders/ contractors being threatened, vics of extortion from a consortium in the Estes Valley or elsewhere? Sent from my iPhone SUMMARY OF MEETING WITH TOWN BOARD, FEBRUARY 26, 2019 Town Board:  Process works/doesn’t work  Policy/Administration-partnership with builders  Make things easier/more efficient  Customer Service  Future-focused/outcomes Building Community:  11 months  Everyone should attend meeting  Staff missed deadlines  Documents not distributed  Conflicting information between town/county  Staff turnover  Permits not timely  Late notice on new requirements  Plan reviews  Submitted comments not passed on  Discrepancies in fees and fines  Valuations incorrect  Different valuation method-better explanation  Delays=rising construction costs  Disregard to timeliness-key point  Penalized, punitive, vindictive  Third party delays, inconsistencies with plan requirements  Stakeholder inclusion  Bewildered by submittal requirements  No public review  New codes-too many code changes (IBC)  Minutiae on drawings  Local amendments/interpretation  Local control/governance  Higher snow/wind loads  Chief Building Official and Administrator  Lost projects/business  3rd party consultants nitpicking to prove they are doing their job  How to get flexibility back vs exactly as drawn. Expedite small changes  ELECTED OFFICIALS-PRIMER ON PROCESSES  Educating contractors and designers on new codes  Process flow chart: steps, fees, timelines  How to agree on ONE process  Building department flailing, no structure, high turnover  Strain on the industry  Can’t talk about performance of building department without CBO; need time to succeed  Need the most flexibility in site work  3rd party plan checkers are completely abstract; think they are doing their job with a long list of comments  Adopt building codes every 6 years, not every 3 (be in synch with county or just every 6 years?)  Board of Appeals and Advisory Committee redundant?  Stay focused on new codes for life safety  Getting a Certificate of Occupancy; other departments hang us up: planning, zoning, public works  Need them to pay attention  Business licenses-timing with CO  Better coordination of all Town departments to get the CO  People can’t finalize mortgage without CO  Documentation process is broken  Laserfiche will improve the process  What is the mission statement that can be measured to be held accountable?  Vacation home permits taking away from dealing with core  Number of requests for vacation home life safety inspections overwhelming Building Inspector, he is overbooked with these  Board has the power of the purse and this department needs support. Larimer County has over 40 people  Staffing needs to be addressed