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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBuilding Review Board - Minutes - 06/27/2019City of Fort Collins Page 1 June 27, 2019 Alan Cram, Chair City Council Chambers Tim Johnson, Vice Chair City Hall West Brad Massey 300 Laporte Avenue Bernie Marzonie Fort Collins, Colorado Katharine Penning Eric Richards Staff Liaison: Justin Robinson Russ Hovland Chief Building Official The City of Fort Collins will make reasonable accommodations for access to City services, programs, and activities and will make special communication arrangements for persons with disabilities. Please call 221-6515 (TDD 224-6001) for assistance. Regular Meeting Minutes June 27, 2019 A regular meeting of the Building Review Board was held on Thursday, June 27, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Fort Collins Municipal Building at 300 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado. • CALL TO ORDER Chair Cram called the meeting to order at 1:03 p.m. • ROLL CALL PRESENT: Cram, Massey, Marzonie, Penning, Richards ABSENT: Johnson, Robinson STAFF: Hovland, Van Hall, Schiager • AGENDA REVIEW There are no changes to the posted agenda. • PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA None. Building Review Board City of Fort Collins Page 2 June 27, 2019 • DISCUSSION AGENDA 1. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 28, 2019 MEETING. Mr. Richards noted that he would abstain having not been officially on the Board at the time of that meeting. Mr. Marzonie moved to approve the minutes of the February 28, 2019 meeting. Ms. Penning seconded. The motion passed 4-0, Richards abstaining. 2. 2019 CAPITAL EXPANSION FEE & UTILITY FEE UPDATE DESCRIPTION: This purpose of this item is to provide information about the 2019 Capital Expansion Fee & Utility Fee Update. Staff is seeking thoughts and feedback from the board that can be shared with Council Finance Committee in August. STAFF: Jennifer Poznanovic, Senior Manager of Sales Tax & Revenue Lance Smith, Utility Strategic Finance Director Staff Presentation Ms. Poznanovic provided an overview of the utility and expansion fees. She explained the purpose of the fee review. She reviewed the fee timeline. She explained that the development review fees may or may not make it into this update. Mr. Smith discussed the various utility fees, highlighting the changes and explaining the reasoning behind them. Ms. Poznanovic talked about how inflation impacts the fees. She provided fee comparisons to demonstrate that Fort Collins’ fees are in line with other jurisdictions. Ms. Poznanovic talked about the outreach plan and roadmap for the fees. Public Input None Board Questions and Discussion Chair Cram asked about the City’s budget and its relationship to the increased fees. He commented that fees seem to continually increase. Mr. Smith explained that Staff cannot spend more than is budgeted. He said these are the impact fees needed to maintain current levels of service. Chair Cram stated he could not as a Board member justify supporting these increases without a lot more evidence of the expenses. He further commented that he didn’t think comparison to Boulder’s fees was appropriate. Mr. Smith explained that some of the increases are to support expansion. Ms. Poznanovic mentioned the parks waiting to be built. Chair Cram would like further detail and clarification on the expenses in comparison to the fees. He stated he had requested that information the last two times they presented about fees and has never received anything. Ms. Poznanovic said they could quickly provide detail on the Parks fees, which was discussed and researched extensively during the 2017 fee working group. Mr. Massey asked if the fees included any of the Connexion expenses. Mr. Smith the start-up debt incurred should be recovered from customer fees over time. Mr. Massey pointed out that several other jurisdictions in addition to Boulder were included in the comparisons. He stated that the fees did not seem out of line. He commented that when you visit other municipalities, you really appreciate what we have in Fort Collins, and understand there are costs associated with the amenities here. Mr. Richards asked about the 24% increase in water fees. Mr. Smith noted that fee hadn’t been increased in a decade, which accounted for the 24% increase effective 2018. He stated they are narrowing the gap to where the fees need to be. He also mentioned the addition of the Halligan Reservoir. City of Fort Collins Page 3 June 27, 2019 Mr. Marzonie asked if Fort Collins was facing a shortage of water. Mr. Smith said that could be addressed in the next item. Ms. Poznanovic clarified that Staff is seeking feedback or a position statement from the Board, but not a formal motion at this time. Ms. Penning stated that she also would like to see more detail, which Ms. Poznanovic said would be provided. 3. HALLIGAN WATER SUPPLY PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this item is to update the Building Review Board on the current status of the Halligan Water Supply Project (Project), including a project summary, key milestones, and activities planned for 2019. STAFF: Donnie Dustin, City Manager, Water Engineering Staff Presentation Mr. Dustin addressed Mr. Marzonie’s earlier question about water supply. He explained that the City is prepared to withstand a 50-year drought event. He stated the water supply is currently sufficient, but climate change and other factors could impact that down the road. Mr. Dustin showed a film about the project (https://www.fcgov.com/halligan/). He described the Fort Collins water districts. He provided additional detail about the project, including discussion about planning for future needs and Environmental Impact Study (EIS) alternatives. He outlined the impacts of the project and its benefits to the river and gave an overview about the project timeline. Public Input None Board Questions and Discussion Mr. Massey asked if the new dam would be built on top of the old one. Mr. Smith explained that this would be a replacement of the existing arch dam and would be about 25 feet higher. Mr. Massey asked about Joe Wright Reservoir. Mr. Smith responded that is the only water storage the City owns and operates. Mr. Smith said the City has control over the Halligan dam, but not the water currently stored there. The additional water would be for Fort Collins. Mr. Massey said this seems like a much better project than Glade, and he would support it. Mr. Richards asked for a comparison in cost between this and the Big Thompson. Mr. Smith explained that the cost of water from the Big Thompson is $90K per acre foot compared to $10K per acre foot from this project. The fact that the City already has the water rights for this project is a big factor in the cost savings. Mr. Richards agreed with Mr. Massey that this is a good, viable option. Mr. Richards asked whether this project would help or impact the other water districts throughout Fort Collins. Mr. Smith explained that the other providers were part of this project at one time but backed out in 2009 due to uncertainties and are now pursuing other water supply options. Chair Cram asked about the impact on the Poudre through the Fort Collins metro area. Mr. Smith explained there would be a 2% reduction in flow overall, mostly because of what they remove in the summer. Ms. Penning asked whether this might help with flooding issues with the Poudre. Mr. Smith said that was possible, but that wasn’t part of the analysis. Chair Cram asked about an increase in surface evaporation. Mr. Smith said about 5% of what is stored there evaporates, which is common. He added that since it is cooler up there, there is less evaporation than there would be here. 4. GRANT EVERITT APPEAL OF DENIAL OF ONE TIME EXEMPTION OF CLASS D1 LICENSE TO BUILD A CLASS C2 LICENSE-LEVEL PROJECT (5-PLEX MULTI-FAMILY) DESCRIPTION: The Board will hear an appeal of the Chief Building Official’s decision regarding a contractor licensing issue. The Board will make a ruling as to whether to uphold, overturn, or modify the decision of the CBO. STAFF: Russ Hovland, Chief Building Official City of Fort Collins Page 4 June 27, 2019 Mr. Everitt introduced himself to the Board. Staff Presentation Mr. Hovland presented the staff report. He provided background about this case. He explained the request and his reasons for denial. He referred the Board to the documents included in the packet. Appellant and Parties-in-Interest in Support of Appeal Arguments Mr. Everitt spoke to the Board. He explained his reasoning for his request. He mentioned two examples of similar work he had done. He shared some of his background and expressed his confidence in his ability to do this project. Staff Response Mr. Hovland reported to the Board that the last contractor mentorship they approved is proceeding in a satisfactory manner. Board Questions of Staff and Parties-in-Interest Ms. Penning disclosed she had worked with Mr. Everitt previously, but stated that would not present a conflict. Ms. Penning asked whether a tenant finish would require fire sprinkling. Mr. Hovland explained that it would in some cases. Mr. Massey disclosed having worked with Mr. Everitt in the past. He said the fire separations are his biggest concern. Mr. Everitt responded that about 70% of their tenant finishes have had a fire sprinkler component. He said he had done a fire separation wall for the project he did at Intersect Brewery. He commented that this particular design by architect Greg Fisher has been built several times before, and they will be working with sub-contractors who have been involved in those projects. Mr. Massey asked whether Greg Fisher would be providing construction administration services for this. Mr. Everitt said they haven’t discussed it, but he has in the past, and he would likely do so this time. Mr. Massey asked for a description of the 5-plex. Mr. Everitt explained that there would be three units below and two above and provided additional details about the project. Ms. Penning asked if Mr. Everitt had attempted to take the exam for the C-2 license. Mr. Everitt said he had.passed it. Ms. Penning asked if Mr. Everitt had identified a willing mentor. Mr. Everitt replied in the affirmative. Chair Cram mentioned complications with commissioning this kind of project. Mr. Everitt explained that there would be five standalone furnaces and he didn’t anticipate much crossover in the HVAC, so he didn’t think there would be an issue. Mr. Hovland clarified that since this has dwelling units over and under, in addition to wall separations and sprinklers, they will also have floor and ceiling separations. Board Discussion Mr. Richards mentioned having worked with Mr. Everitt in the past as well. Mr. Richards suggested a motion to support a mentorship. Mr. Marzonie agreed, and asked Mr. Everitt who would act as the mentor. Mr. Everitt stated that Patrick Elder with Elder Construction had agreed to do that. Ms. Penning suggested Mr. Everitt should pursue his C2 license after this project. Mr. Hovland explained that he would need to do two projects under this type of mentorship first. If he then applied for a third permit, it could be granted administratively by the CBO and then used as his third project to apply for his C2. Motion Mr. Richards moved to allow Mr. Everitt to obtain this building permit under the agreement that ·he would operate in a mentorship with a C2 contractor in order to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Board that the applicant possesses other qualificatitJns not specifically listed in this Article, such as specialized training, education or additional experience, which the Board has determined qualifies the applicant to perform in a competent manner any construction authorized under the license or certificate sought, and provided that such relief may be granted without substantial detriment to the public good and without substantially impairing the intent and purposes of this Article. Mr. Marzonie seconded. agreementsigned Mr. The Hovland motion which passed stated would he 5-would 0. also be meet signed with by Mr. the Everitt property and owner. the mentoring contractor to execute a • OTHER the Mr.BUSINESS Hovland board. Chair proposed Cram allowing agreed these with that decisions approach. to be done Ms. Penning administratively stated that rather having than coming inspections before to isn't ensure followed. the mentor Mr. Hovland is on site explained is a good that control. if there She is a asked lack of about supervision, the repercussions the contract if can the be agreement nullified and a contractor with the proper license would have to take over the permit. • ADJOURNMENT Chair Cram adjourned the meeting at 2:39 p.m. Minutes respectfully submitted by Gretchen Schiager. Minutes approved by a vote of the Board on ____ _ �� Russell Hovland, Chief Building Official Alan Cram Chair ' City of Fort Collins Page 5 June 27, 2019 10/31/19