01-19-1984
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CITY OF EDGEWATER
Building Code Board
January 19, 1984
Minutes
Mr. Robert Howard, Chairman, called the regular meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
in the Community Center.
Members present: Messrs. Troutner, Cole and Howard. Excused: Messrs. Hall
and Vanzin. Also present: Mr. Dennis Fischer, Building Official, Mr. Frank
Marshall, City Engineer, and Mrs. Taylor, Secretary.
Mr. Frank Opal was also present.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Mr. Cole, seconded by Mr. Troutner, and CARRIED 3-0, to
approve the minutes of the November 29, 1984 meeting.
OLD BUSINESS
Finished Floor Elevations
Mr. Howard explained to those present that the Board has tried for some time
without success, to have the finished floor elevations requirement changed
from 20 inches above the crown of the nearest paved road and 24 inches above
the crown of the nearest unpaved road, to 12 inches and 16 inches, respectively.
Mr. Marshall felt the present requirements are high. He explained that he and
Mr. Fischer had received information about the requirements of the surrounding
cities, and found that Edgewater's are higher than any other city. Mr. Marshall
said he felt a firm figure could not be set for the whole city, because of the
topography. Both Mr. Fischer and Mr. Marshall said they were ready to recommend
that the elevation be lowered, and specify that it should be left to the Building
Official's discretion when he does his first rough plumbing inspection. A small
berm could be required to be put around the lot, if it is called fo~ so that the
water does not run off onto the neighboring property.
Mr. Cole pointed out that in Florida Shores the Health Department sets the ground
level. Mr. Marshall agreed, and stated further that if the property is in the
100-year flood plain, there is no choice in the matter. It has to be above the
elevation set in that zone.
Mr. Howard said he favored the 12 and 16 inch elevations, as it helps retain
the water on the site, with the Building Official having the authority to order
proper and normal retention swaling and berming to keep the water, under normal
conditions, from going off onto someone else's property.
Mr. Fischer said eventually he would like to do a pre-site inspection, and at
that time, if there is a problem, the lot could be reshaped.
Mr. Marshall noted that when you have older areas of the city which were built
before the present laws were enacted, there needs to be some leeway for the
Building Official to make some decisions for a workable solution.
Based upon the recommendations from the City Engineer and the Building Official,
Mr. Cole motioned to recommend to City Council that the floor height of buildings
shall be 12 inches above the crown of the nearest paved road and 16" above the
crown of the nearest unpaved road unless otherwise determined different by the
Volusia County Health Department or the 100-yearflood plain data requirements,
and the Building Official has the authority to order proper berming, retention,
swaling, and final finished floor elevation in order to retain the normal sur-
face water on the site. Mr. Troutner seconded the motion, which CARRIED 3-0.
Mr. Fischer and Mr. Marshall will submit a memo to accompany the letter to
City Council, and the memo from the Board secretary to Mr. Fischer dated January
16 will also be attached to the letter.
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Mr. Marshall asked to be excused from the balance of the meeting.
OWner/Builder Work
Mr. Howard brought Mr. Fischer up to date on the efforts made by the Board
to have owner/builders have their work approved by State certified or state
registered subcontractors. He emphasized that the Board is not trying to
discriminate against owner/builders. It has been the Board's desire to have
the plumbing, heating, electrical and air-conditioning work signed off by
a master of that trade, before final inspection. The subject was tabled
for more time to get information. The motion on the table at this time is
that any work in excess of $500 in the above named trades must be installed
by a State certified or state registered contractor. This would give the
owner/builder the opportunity to do small jobs.
Mr. Fischer agreed that this recommendation was a good one, noting that if
the owner/builder does the work himself, he should at least have a Certified
contractor look at it, give help if needed and sign it off, then call for an
inspection. This is needed for safety purposes.
often
Mr. Cole pointed out that/more than one home is built in a year by the same
owner/builder by using a family member's name when the permit is drawn.
Mr. Howard stated that this practice can be stopped through the state
licensing department. If an owner/builder builds a home and does not reside
in the home for 12 months, and has built it for their residence, the City can
file a complaint against the individual and the State has the option to fine
the individual up to the amount of $5,000, for contracting without a license.
Mr. Howard reminded members of the motion made by Mr. Vanzin at the last meeting
to table the subject of owner/builder until further research on the affidavits
and the Washington reports on court cases are received, and asked if they
wanted to remove it from the table. He noted that Edgewater does have its
own affidavit for owner/builders to sign. The members agreed that they
should wait until Mr. Vanzin gets the reports on the court cases, because
this background information is important.
MISCELLANEOUS
Mr. Howard welcomed Mr. Dennis Fischer and expressed the hope that he would
attend all of the Board's meetings.
Mr. Fischer said that he has learned that there seems to be no knowledge of
what inspections will be made and what will be expected by him from the
builders. He will be making up an outline of things required in the in-
spections and he would like the Board members to look at it for their
input before he has it printed up and distributed to the builders. This
should eliminate a lot of call-backs for inspections.
Mr. Opal expressed his approval of the action taken regarding the floor height
of buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
Minutes submitted by Joan Taylor
Building Code Board
Regular Meeting, 1/19/84
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