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Home My WebLink About2006 - Building Review Board - Annual ReportCommunity Planning and Environmental Services Neighborhood and Building Services BUILDING REVIEW BOARD 2006 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 2006 included David Carr, Charles Fielder, Leslie Jones, Gene Little, John McCoy, Jim Packard and Mike Smilie. Charles Fielder served as Chairperson throughout the majority of the year. Gene Little served as Vice -Chairperson. Both Charles Fielder and Leslie Jones resigned from the Board due to moves outside of the City's Growth Management Area. Mike Smilie served as Chairperson for the remainder of the year. Alan Cram and George Smith were appointed to the Board in December, 2006, with terms starting immediately due to the vacancies. Mike Gust was also appointed to the Board in December, 2006 and will start his term in January, 2007, replacing John McCoy, whose term expired December 31, 2006. Council liaison to the Board was Council Member Kelly Ohlson. Staff support was provided by Felix Lee, Paul Eckman, Delynn Coldiron and Angelina Sanchez -Sprague. 2006 YEAR IN REVIEW: As the appellate body for building codes and contractor regulations, the Board held numerous hearings APPEALS: • License Approvals: The Board heard seven 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. Joseph Videll — The appellant was seeking a waiver of the experience criteria needed to obtain a D1 license since he had not completed the construction of three entire homes as required by the City's licensing ordinance. He had started a new construction company and was preparing to purchase a lot in Ft. Collins. The Board granted approval of a D1 license that was limited to the construction of one Ft. Collins project based the appellant's documented construction experience and based on the fact that he had passed the City's D1 exam. • Forest Glaser, d/b/a Rutt Construction -- The appellant was seeking approval of a C2 license but did not have the prescribed amount of experience for a multi -family building that was either over three stories tall and/or contained 16 or more units as required by the City's licensing ordinance. The Board approved a restricted C2 license limited to multi -family projects that are less than three stories in height based on the appellant's documented experience and the fact that he had taken and passed the City's C2 exam. • Tony Willman, d/b/a Carrier Commercial Service — The appellant was seeking a waiver of the experience criteria that would enable him to obtain an HVAC license that would allow for retrofit and service work. The Board approved appellant's request based on the appellant's documented experience and the fact that he had taken and passed the City's HVAC exam. • Brian Storm, d/b/a B & R HVAC -- The appellant was seeking a waiver of the experience criteria that would enable him to obtain an HVAC license since he did not have any projects that included new system installation work or a project that dated back 3 years. The Board approved appellant's request with the 281 North College Avenue — P.O. Box 580 — Fort Collins, CO 80522.0580 — (970) 221-6760 — FAX (970) 224.6134 BRB Annual Report January 22, 2007 Page 2 stipulation that he take and pass the City's HVAC exam. They accepted a letter from Comm, Inc. as satisfaction of the 3+ years of experience requirement. • Randy MCBlalr, d/b/a Millennium Basements -- The appellant was seeking a Class D2 license limited to basement finish construction. The Board granted a limited D2 license restricted to residential finish work, based on appellant's documented experience and the fact that he had passed the City's D2 exam. • Norm Brown, d/b/a Brown Roofing -- The appellant was seeking reinstatement of his roofing license and supervisor certificate which was previously revoked by the Board. The Board approved re -issuance of appellant's license and supervisor certificate based the appellant's experience and the fact that he had taken and passed the City's roofing exam. They added the stipulation that should any violation occur, license suspension would be immediate and the appellant would have to come back to the Board for a disciplinary hearing. • Ron Foust, d/b/a United Multifamily Construction -- The appellant was requesting a restricted C2 license that would enable him to perform restoration, alterations and structural modifications to multi -family and associated buildings. He did not have sufficient experience for a full C2 license. The Board approved the appellant's request based on documented experience and the fact that he had taken and passed the City's C2 exam. • Exam Waivers: The Board heard four cases from contractors asking for waivers from the City's exam requirements. • Charles Vernon, d/b/a Vernon Construction — The appellant was seeking re -issuance of his expired D2 license and supervisor certificate and a waiver of the required exam. The Board approved the exam waiver based on the appellant's experience with the stipulation that he take a class covering the 2003 IRC by January, 2007. • Dick Jefferies, d/b/a Stoner Company -- The appellant was seeking approval of a Class D1 license and supervisor certificate as well as an exam waiver. He had previously held a Class C1 license with the City that expired. The Board approved the appellant's request based on his experience with the stipulation that he take a class covering the 2003 IRC by January, 2007. • Lorin Walker, d/b/a The Eagle Group -- The appellant was seeking a waiver of the requirement that he take a class and/or complete a refresher exam covering the 2003 IRC prior to the renewal of his license and supervisor certificate based on the fact that he only performs commercial construction. The Board approved the appellant's request for a waiver of this requirement with the stipulation that the appellant's license be limited to commercial construction only. • Norm Graham -- The appellant was seeking a waiver of the exam requirement to get his HVAC license reinstated. The Board approved appellant's request based on appellant's experience with the stipulation that the license be restricted from all commercial or new residential work. • Exceptions/Upgrades: The Board heard six cases from contractors and/or building owners asking for exceptions that would allow them to build outside of the constraints of their current license. • Andy Rex, d/b/a Rex General Contracting — The appellant was seeking a project exemption to his D2 license that would enable him to perform a 1,300 square foot residential remodel project. The Board approved the requested exemption. • Louis Sitch, d/b/a Marlou Consulting Enterprises -- The appellant was seeking a project exemption to his Class E license that would enable him to perform structural modifications as part of a pending tenant finish/remodel project. The Board approved a one-time project exemption enabling the appellant to perform structural modifications for the upcoming project. 281 North College Avenue • P.O. Box 580 • Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580• 970-221-6760 • FAX 970-224-6134 BRB Annual Report January 22, 2007 Page 3 • Abel Ramirez, d/b/a Ramirez Enterprises, LLC -- The appellant was seeking approval to construct two single family homes prior to his D1 license being finalized. He had obtained a temporary D1 license that had expired and needed to take and pass the City's exam to finalize things. The Board approved the appellant's request to construct two single family homes prior to his D1 license being finalized. • Ray Hartzell -- The appellant was seeking an exemption from the City's contractor licensing regulations that would enable him, as a building owner, to construct an addition to the upper level of his duplex. The Board denied the appellant's request due to the fact that he appeared to have the necessary experience to obtain a contractor's license and encouraged him to move forward with this. • James Black, d/b/a Black Construction -- The appellant was seeking a license upgrade to a Class B. Staff could not approve the request due to insufficient documented project experience. The Board approved an upgrade to a Class B license, but limited construction to repairs, damage restoration and capital improvements on any building five stories or less in height. • Steve Josephs, d/b/a Craftsmen Builders -- The appellant was seeking a one-time exemption to his D2 license that would enable him to perform a commercial tenant finish project. The Board approved the appellant's request. 2. LICENSE HEARINGS: The Board heard one case against a contractor who had violated the City's licensing regulations. • Bruce Brown, d/b/a CJR Construction -- The appellant was seeking approval of a Class D1 license which could not be approved by staff since violations to the licensing ordinance, including work without a permit and license had occurred. The Board found that no willful violations had occurred. They approved appellant's request for a D1 license. 3. BUILDING CODE HEARINGS: None 4. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS: Review of the 2006 International Building Code commenced in October, 2005. Board Member Smilie is a member of the committee. It is anticipated that a recommendation on adoption of this code will be forwarded to the Board and City Council during the first quarter of 2007. 281 North College Avenue • P.O. Box 580 9 Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 • 970-221-6760 • FAX 970-224-6134