Heads Up-Building Codes
Go to the Council Agendas link on the lower right side and checkout the agenda for Thursday night, June 1st. The subject I would like to address is the International Building and assorted Codes.
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Throughout my career as a city manager I was responsible for recommending the content of the ordinances adopting the same Codes. You should think of them as National Laws with a small “l”. Professionals in the field prepare and revise them to address changes and procedures governing the construction of buildings and the safety of the public. They are designed as a Model for all governmental jurisdictions throughout the country. Adopting them as written for the entire nation is not expected or advised.
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Another reason for not adopting them as written is the need to compare each code to the present where one exists and another is to check for conflicts with existing local ordinances. The Municipal Code is full of restrictions on most aspects of our life and property such as the Code Enforcement regulations, the Zoning Code, the Subdivision Code and the various water, sewer and storm water regulations. The City staff should take months to prepare the City Council with some sound recommendations.
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In addition to a thorough internal review the staff would be wise to spend some quality time with the appropriate staffs of our neighboring cities. Why reinvent the wheel? Other Councils have approved many of these international model codes and revisions but only after picking and choosing certain paragraphs and chapters. I think this cross-check is critical at this time since our City does not have a Certified Building Inspector on the staff.
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Thanks to some careful thought, some members of our Council have put up a little fuss about Thursday’s agenda item as it was intended. The building inspector wanted to summarize all the International Codes and then ask the Council Members what amendments THEY wanted; believe it or not. And just how would our elected representatives know what changes to make in over one thousand pages? Hopefully, the “intent” of the presentation will be radically changed and the horse will get in front of the cart.
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I will follow up with the results as they occur.
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Throughout my career as a city manager I was responsible for recommending the content of the ordinances adopting the same Codes. You should think of them as National Laws with a small “l”. Professionals in the field prepare and revise them to address changes and procedures governing the construction of buildings and the safety of the public. They are designed as a Model for all governmental jurisdictions throughout the country. Adopting them as written for the entire nation is not expected or advised.
-
Another reason for not adopting them as written is the need to compare each code to the present where one exists and another is to check for conflicts with existing local ordinances. The Municipal Code is full of restrictions on most aspects of our life and property such as the Code Enforcement regulations, the Zoning Code, the Subdivision Code and the various water, sewer and storm water regulations. The City staff should take months to prepare the City Council with some sound recommendations.
-
In addition to a thorough internal review the staff would be wise to spend some quality time with the appropriate staffs of our neighboring cities. Why reinvent the wheel? Other Councils have approved many of these international model codes and revisions but only after picking and choosing certain paragraphs and chapters. I think this cross-check is critical at this time since our City does not have a Certified Building Inspector on the staff.
-
Thanks to some careful thought, some members of our Council have put up a little fuss about Thursday’s agenda item as it was intended. The building inspector wanted to summarize all the International Codes and then ask the Council Members what amendments THEY wanted; believe it or not. And just how would our elected representatives know what changes to make in over one thousand pages? Hopefully, the “intent” of the presentation will be radically changed and the horse will get in front of the cart.
-
I will follow up with the results as they occur.
posted by Gene Wieneke at
3:08 PM
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