HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 - Building Review Board - Annual Reporti
fort collies building & zoning dept.
Ciro of Fort Collins, 281 N. College Ave., P.O. Box 580; Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580: Voice: 970 22
BUILDING REVIEW BOARD
2004 ANNUAL REPORT
BACKGROUND:
The Building Review Board consists of seven members. Meetings are held on the last Thursday of each month
in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The Board may also meet as needed in order to convene special
meetings.
Members who served during 2004 included David Carr, Charles Fielder, Leslie Jones, Gene Little, Brad
Massey, John McCoy, and Mike Smilie. Charles Fielder served as Chairperson and Brad Massey served as
Vice -Chairperson throughout the year. Council liaison to the Board was Council Member Karen Weitkunat.
Staff support was provided by Felix Lee, Paul Eckman, Delynn Coldiron and Stacie Soriano.
2004 YEAR IN REVIEW:
As the appellate body for building codes and contractor regulations, the Board held numerous hearings:
APPEALS:
• License Approvals: The Board heard six cases from contractors asking for approval of licenses that
had been denied by staff due to incomplete and/or insufficient project experience, due to the
specialized nature of the work done by such companies which did not fit well into any of the
available Fort Collins contractor license classes, or due to the fact that violations had occurred to the
City's licensing regulations.
• Michael Ikeler—Appellant requested approval of a Class D1 license that had been denied by
staff due to the fact that the appellant was caught performing construction work without a license
or permit in the City. The Board approved the appellant's request for a Class D1 license but
instructed the appellant to pay all applicable fines prior to the license being issued and staff to
place a letter of reprimand in the appellant's file summarizing the violations that had occurred.
• Mike Kochevar, d/b/a Kochevar Construction — Appellant requested a Class D2 license that
would enable him to do interior finish work that had been denied by staff due to insufficient
project experience. The Board approved a restricted Class D2 license allowing the appellant to
do interior finish work, including minor structural alterations as defined by the Building Official.
• John Duesing, d/b/a Yeti Mechanical, License #H-2252 — Appellant requested reinstatement of
his HVAC license that had been suspended by the Board. The Board approved reinstatement of
the appellant's license after assuring that all testing and other requirements imposed by the
Board at the time of suspension had been met.
• William O'Melia, d/b/a Reconstruction Experts, License #C2-96 — Appellant requested approval
of a Class B or Class C2 license that had been denied by staff due to insufficient project
experience because of to the specialized nature of the work done by this company. The Board
approved a restricted Class C2 license that enabled the appellant to perform any residential
reconstruction and additions. The approval was conditional upon the appellant passing the
City's C2 exam.
• John Mason, d/b/a Brentwood Renovation, License #D2-37 —Appellant requested approval of a
Class E license that had been denied by staff due to insufficient project experience. The Board
denied appellant's request but approved a one-time exemption to the appellant's Class D2
license enabling him to perform a pending Class E project.
BRB Annual Report - 2004
Page 2
• David Price, d/b/a 2 Men & a Hammer, License #74 —Appellant requested approval of a Class
D2 license that had been denied by staff due to insufficient project experience. The Board
approved the appellant's request based on a combination of education and construction
experience (some structural and larger finish projects).
• Exam and Experience Waivers: The Board heard three cases from contractors asking for waivers
from the City's exam or experience requirements.
• Randy Richardson, d/b/a Richardson Construction Company, License #D-138 —Appellant
requested an exam waiver based on his 20+ years of experience to reinstate his Class D1
license which had expired. The Board approved the appellant's exam waiver request.
Raju Jairam, d/b/a MBI Corporation, License #A-70 — Appellant requested an exam waiver and
approval to reinstate his license at the previously held Class A level. Staff had denied both
requests since the license had lapsed past the 60-day grace period and the project verification
forms in the file were no longer sufficient for the Class A license due to ordinance changes
through the years. The Board approved the appellant's exam waiver request and reinstated the
appellant's license at the Class A level due to the information provided by the appellant at the
meeting demonstrating his experience and education.
• Bruce VerSteeg, d/b/a Omni Custom Builders, License #B-354 —Appellant requested an exam
waiver based on the various licenses he currently held and his years of construction experience.
The Board approved appellant's request based on his current Denver license and due to the
current flux in status between the Uniform and International building codes.
• Exceptions/Uporades: The Board heard four cases from contractors and/or building owners asking
for exceptions that would allow them to build outside of the constraints of their current license.
• Ron Grace, d/b/a Grace Commercial Builders, Inc. — Appellant requested a one-time exemption
to his Class E license that would enable him to perform some structural modifications as part of
a tenant finish project. After hearing the appellant's explanation and reviewing plans it was
determined that there was not structural work involved. Appellant withdrew his appeal.
• J. McElroy, d/b/a Penhall Company — Appellant requested an ongoing exemption to his
demolition license that would enable him to perform selective and/or partial demolition work.
The Board approved appellant's request with the condition that a general contractor be involved
in the project and listed on the permit.
• Byron McGough, d/b/a Wattle & Daub Contractors, License #E-162 — Appellant requested an
exemption to his Class E license to enable him to perform structural modifications as part of a
pending job. The Board granted the appellant's request.
• Chris Ray, d/b/a Vantage Properties, License #D-156 — Appellant requested a one-time
exemption to his Class D1 license to enable him to remodel and perform some structural
modifications to the Cambridge House Apartments' Clubhouse which he owns. The Board
granted appellant's request.
LICENSE HEARINGS:
The Board heard eight cases against contractors who had violated the City's licensing regulations.
• Alan Strope, d/b/a Savant Homes, Inc., License #C2-77 — Staff withdrew the allegations and
recommended that no action be taken based on testimony from the respondent during the Board
hearing. No action was taken.
BRB Annual Report - 2004
Page 3
• David Boss, d/b/a Lefever Building Systems, License #13-311 — The Board found that the respondent
had violated items 2 and 5 of Section 15-162 of the Contractor Licensing Regulations. They lifted
the suspension imposed by the Building Official and instructed that a letter of reprimand be placed in
respondent's file.
• Christian Ray, d/b/a Vantage Properties, License #D-156 — The Board found that the respondent
had violated items 1, 2 and 6 of Section 15-162 of the Contractor Licensing Regulations. They lifted
the suspension imposed by the Building Official and instructed that a letter of reprimand be placed in
respondent's file.
• Marven Roth, d/b/a Colony Construction, License #13-84 — The Board found that the respondent had
violated items 1, 2 and 6 of Section 15-162 of the Contractor Licensing Regulations. They lifted the
suspension imposed by the Building Official and instructed that a letter of reprimand be placed in
respondent's file.
• James Larm, d/b/a Choice City Heating & Air Conditioning, License #H-823 — The Board found that
the respondent had violated items 1, 2 and 6 of Section 15-162 of the Contractor Licensing
Regulations. They lifted the suspension imposed by the Building Official and instructed that a letter
of reprimand be placed in respondent's file. They also instructed that the inspectors be notified
when inspecting respondent's jobs to thoroughly check the workmanship of the job.
• Carl Glaser, d/b/a Advocate, Inc., License #C1-88 — The Board found that the respondent had
violated items 2 and 9 of Section 15-162 of the Contractor Licensing Regulations and directed that a
letter of reprimand be placed in respondent's file for the issue of utilizing unlicensed framers. The
Board found that the respondent had violated items 1, 2 and 7 of Section 15-162 of the Contractor
Licensing Regulations and imposed a 30-day license suspension for the supplying a lender with a
fraudulent CO.
• Steve Steele, d/b/a Chateau Custom Builders, License C1-106 —The Board found that the
respondent had violated items 1, 2 and 9 of Section 15-162 of the Contractor Licensing Regulations
and directed that a letter of reprimand be placed in respondent's file.
• Jeremy Hayes, d/b/a JAC & Company, Temporary License #F-205 — The Board found that the
respondent had violated items 1, 2 and 8 of Section 15-162 of the Contractor Licensing Regulations
and directed that a letter of reprimand be placed in respondent's file. They also lifted the
suspension that had been imposed by the Building Official.
3. BUILDING CODE HEARINGS:
None.
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS:
Two Board members continued participation on the IRC Task Force reviewing the International
Residential Code. The March, 2004 meeting was reserved entirely for public comment on the
proposed Code changes, including changes and requirements associated with the energy code and
radon. The Board recommended adoption of the proposed IRC changes without the radon
component. The IRC with a passive radon system component was passed by City Council in July,
2004 with scheduled implementation in January, 2005.
• Two Board members began participation on the Licensing Review Committee which is reviewing the
current Contractor Licensing Ordinance. This project is ongoing.