July 19, 2001
| Members Present
John Augustine Patricia Childs Gary L. Coley Stephen Elssmann Michael Friess Peter Hemingway David Kelly Larry Litchfield Herman Orcutt Judy Pavsek Greg Russell Steve Speer Darrell Wilson
Members Absent |
Staff and Interested Parties
Ray Acuņa, City of Phoenix, Streets Carole Borrego,City of Phoenix, DSD Rick Doell, City of Phoenix, DSD Ray Dovalina,City of Phoenix, Streets Carole Fitz, City of Phoenix, DSD Carlo Geogen, City of Phoenix,Intern DSD Mitchell Hayden, City of Phoenix, City Mgrs Office Don Jones, City of Phoenix, Law Sumeet Mohan, City of Phoenix, DSD Kelly O'Neal, City of Phoenix, DSD Alan Olson, City of Phoenix, DSD John Parks, City of Phoenix, DSD Carnell Thurman, City of Phoenix, DSD Jeff Van Skike, City Of Phoenix, Streets John Verdugo, City of Phoenix, Planning
Rus Brock, HBACA |
Mr. Pete Hemingway, DAB Chairperson, convened the meeting at 3:00 p.m.
Mr. Hemingway began the meeting by congratulating Steve Speer, Greg Russell, Michael Fries, and Stephen Elssmann for their reappointment to the Development Advisory Board. Their terms will be from July 1,2001 through July 1,2004. He also recommended that they mail in their loyalty oaths to the City Clerks office to be a voiting member.
Mr. Hemingway also welcomed a new appointee, Mr. Larry Litchfield, who represents Design Professionals. Mr. Litchfield's term will be from July 1, 2004.
MINUTES OF JUNE 21, 2001:
Ms. Patricia Childs stated that Maeve Johnson's name was spelled incorrectly on page 3 of the minutes. Correcton will be completed.
MOTION was made by Herman Orcutt, seconded by Dave Kelly, to approve the meeting minutes of June 21, 2001. Motion carried unanimously.
REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
Mr. Larry Litchfield stated that while reviewing the June minutes, he didn't notice any further discussion on the Sprinkler Committee that the Board was forming. Mr. Litchfield stated that Gary Morris, past Board member, was assigned to give a report to the Board regarding the retroactive requirements of sprinklers based on the firefighters fatality that occurred earlier this year. He mentioned that the Fire Safety Advisory Board is creating a subcommittee that will be discussing the retroactive requirements of sprinklers in actual buildings over 5,000 square feet. There will be certain triggering mechanisms that will occur, depending when remodeling is done or changing use, etc. The Fire Safety Advisory Board has requested that a representative from the Development Advisory Board serve on this subcommittee.
Mr. Litchfield asked that the retroactive requirements of sprinklers in buildings be put on as a future agenda item.
Mr. Carlo Gegen, Summer Fire Protection Intern, informed the Board of the meeting dates. They are as follows: The Sprinkler Ordinance will be discussed on: Monday, July 30, 2001 8:00 a.m. Fire Administration Building 150 East 12th Street The Fire Safety Advisory Board will meet on: Thursday, August 2, 2001 11:30 a.m. Fire Administration Building 150 East 12th Street
DISCUSSION OF SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS:
Executive: No Report
Fiscal and Performance Subcommittee: No Report
Process and Procedures: No Report
Technical Subcommittee: No Report
Zoning and Planning Subcommittee/Hillside Ad Hoc Subcommittee: No Report
Black Canyon Corridor Design Guidelines Ad Hoc Subcommittee: No Report
Ad Hoc Planned Community District Subcommittee: No Report.
SEMI-ANNUAL DEPARTMENT REPORT - STREET TRANSPORTATION:
Mr. John Siefert gave a brief presentation to the Board about organizational structure and its role in development.
The Streets Department is primarily involved with the planning and design for the streets system in the City of Phoenix. Most of the works of development projects are done through the Development Services Department, which has Traffic Engineers on staff. Mr. Siefert continued to explain that after a street is constructed it is turned over to Street Maintenance in the Street Transportation Department. They maintain the streets and operate traffic signals.
FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES:
Mr. Ray Acuņa gave a brief overview of the Flood Plain Management Program. He began by stating that this program is federally mandated. In 1993 Mr. Acuņa was hired to be the Flood Plain Manager. He stated that even though the City of Phoenix is a desert city, it does experience flooding from time to time. The City of Phoenix has 10,000 flood insurance policy holders. The Fellow Emergency Management Agency looks for cities to have a Flood Plain Management Program so that flood insurance can be implemented.
Mr. Acuņa continued to explain that about ten years ago, the Street Transportation Department took over the responsibility of the Flood Insurance Program. When this program was assigned to the Street Transportation Department work was done in the Storm Drain Section and Flood Plain Management Area. After reviewing this program, Street Transportation suggested that the need for this information is important, as this information impacts many developers in the City.
This program has now been stretched beyond it's original intent. The development community has accepted the concept of non-structural non flood plain management through a master drainage plan. This plan will be going through a change by having more of a maintenance organization. The City cannot continue to ignore maintenance of facilities because eventually the dams and channels are going to fill up. The program will begin to look at funding both personnel resources and maintaining the projects that are currently built.
Mr. Acuņa stated that the direction of Flood Plain Management is going to take will start moving it into a more maintenance orientated program. This means that the development community will not have access to the master drainage planning for assistance like they have in the past. There was a time when developers didn't have assistance or guidance and residences in the desert didn't worry about flooding. Mr. Acuņa stated that we are beyond that. The Flood Plain Management role will not change. The developers need to look at how it's replaced in terms of resources and direction. The City will look and the maintenance of the flood control facilities that are already built. Five hundred billion dollars in flood control infrastructure has been built in the Phoenix area over the last 30 years.
Mr. Darrell Wilson asked why is Flood Plain Administration with the Streets Department as opposed to the Development Services Department. As Mr. Acuņa explained the maintenance aspect of this program, Mr. Wilson can understand why it's with Streets. Mr. Wilson stated now that the development is interfaced, does it still make sense to have a relationship between the developer and the Streets Department for flood plain issues.
Mr. Acuņa answered by saying, "Yes. There needs to be a link between Flood Plain Management, Street Transportation, and Development Services. There needs to be link where Streets facilitates development property that is taken out of the flood plain through the Flood Plain Management Program. This is were the linkage will occur."
Mr. John Augustine stated that in most cases in regards to a concrete channel there is an easement. If it's a wash, does the City get it as an easement?
Mr. Acuņa stated that there are no resources to maintain washes. As we move towards non-structural flood plain management, we need to start looking at the policy to maintain it. This is a whole new area that Mr. Acuņa will be moving flood plain management towards to get the message to the developers that they will not be getting the attention they have gotten before on the Master Drainage Plan. The City and Developers need to figure out how these will be maintained. Carnell Thurman and Mr. Acuņa have been working on ideas for this and they will be helping developers in any way possible.
Mr. Darrell Wilson mentioned that he can understand the need to focus on maintenance from a policy standpoint, but from a practical standpoint the development industry will be having more need than ever on the detail involvement. Mr. Wilson is concerned where the developers will go regarding issues such as the mechanics of pad certifications, verifying top of curb relations, and those kinds of mechanical items that seem disjointed from the Development Services roles and partnerships that we've had in the past. The developers don't have that avenue any longer to go to Streets to pursue that type of assistance. He stated that there is a void that will fall onto the Development Services Department to fill.
Mr. John Augustine suggested that this function be in Development Services. Mr. Wilson concurred with Mr. Augustine. Mr. Augustine also stated that the whole strategic plan for drainage, along with the detail to the height of a plat should be in Development Services.
Mr. Wilson suggested that this issue be addressed by a subcommittee.
Mr. Ray Acuņa stated that the administration of the program is not related to development. Mr. Acuņa explained that historically the flood plain management position also has department heads that sit on the Flood Control Advisory Board. The Streets Department Director sits on the Board for the purpose of representing the flood control interest for the City of Phoenix. When there is a flood control project, there is a cost share responsibility. The cost share from the City of Phoenix has comes from the Street Transportation Departments budget. This is how flood control projects are built. Development has occurred because of cost share projects. Streets administer those monies because they're responsible for building streets and flood control facilities. One of the primary functions of the Flood Plain Manager is to represent the City at the Flood Control Advisory Board.
Mr. Acuņa stated that flood plain management is not the answer to what this Board is looking for. He mentioned that what the Board is looking for is someone to do drainage management. This would be someone that is looking out for the drainage for storm water run-off in Development Services.
Pete Hemingway suggested that an ad hoc committee needs to be formed to address this item and come up with some recommendations. It was decided that this issue is assigned to the Process and Procedures Subcommittee. Mr. Hemingway stated that a representative from Planning and Zoning be present to discuss this issue at the Process and Procedures meeting. Staff that will be invited to the meeting are: Carnell Thurman, Ray Acuņa, and John Verdugo.
COUNCIL ACTION UPDATE PLUMBING CODE, MECHANICAL CODE, NO STEP ENTRY CODE AMMENDMENT:
Mr. Rick Doell reported that effective August 1, 2001 the 1994 Arizona Uniform Plumbing Code, the Journeyman's' License Process and the No-Step Entry Code will be in effect. August 5, 2001 the Mechanical Code will go into effect.
OVERVIEW OF ON LOT RETENTION REQUIREMENTS FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES:
Mr. Carnell Thurman stated that Mr. Acuņa's discussion ties into this issue. He mentioned that currently the City is allowing on-lot retention for certain size lots. Some of the challenges that the City is currently experiencing are non-compliance. There are residences that don't know or they ignore stipulations to retention on their property. Taxpayers currently need to handle storm water retention issues that are not being maintained in subdivisions.
Mr. Thurman explained that customers go to the Streets Department and proceed to implement drainage structure or facilities that help the run-off to our streets. Taxpayers are spending their money on combinations of properties, individual basins, and on storm drains. In previous submittals, the customer never looked at retention issues, which was a challenge for the City. Currently, we find that the homeowner is not complying. The City is trying to find ways to help the homeowners. The pool companies are now providing the City with plot plans, which show retention to attempt to try and close the gap.
Mr. Thurman stated in the future that the City is looking into eliminating the existing zoning ordinance for on lot retention. Currently the City is in a draft form of a new grading and drainage policy, which will eliminate on lot retention for single family homes. The solutions that the City has come up with are very challenging. The need for master drainage planning is a necessity and Mr. Acuņa and Mr. Thurman have met and discussed what resources and what will it take to develop a master drainage plan. Mr. Thurman suggested that a master drainage engineer, along with support staff, needs to meet to develop a master drainage plan.
Mr. Michael Fries commented that it's only been the last one to two years that City staff has attempted to reinforce this issue on residential. Mr. Thurman stated that was true. The reason being the City has consolidated inspections. Before on-lot retention, on site, was not inspected. Mr. Fries asked what the cut off date is. Mr. Thurman stated that the 100-year two-hour retention requirement was not implemented until 1985.
Mr. Thurman stated that the subdivisions are platted as on-lot retention is required on single lots. Developers are not selling that. They are developing single lots, homeowners are not aware of them, and the homeowners are not aware that they do not have a retention met when they start doing additions and pools. Mr. Thurman stated that based on research, forty percent have on-lot retention requirements. Research indicates that less than 8,000 square feet were required on on-lot retention.
Mr. Steve Elssmann commented that if the developer didn't provide original retention on the grading and drainage plans as required by Development Services, would this be the homeowner's fault. Whose fault is this? Who do we hold responsible for this mistake five-years later when the homeowner wants to put a pool in? Mr. Elssmann stated that on-lot retention is turning into a real problem, especially in smaller lots. Mr. Thurman stated that currently the City is requiring that pool companies provide us with plot plans showing retention areas on the drainage area.
Mr. Rick Doell stated that the process for reviewing plot plans started with the Field Inspectors. When this process started at the counter on the 2nd floor, the issues tried to be resolved. Currently, the Field Inspectors are working with Jim Taschner to create a process to put together the plot plans to help the homeowner and the pool builder up front if they have these items to build the pool.
Mr. Fries suggested that in some of the older neighborhoods the City distribute a one-time flyer that states if a resident ever installs a pool or does an addition, the resident needs to check with the City regarding on-line retention.
Ms. Kate Krietor, Neighborhood Services Department, stated that if the Board continued this discussion further, their department would like to be participants in the discussion.
Mr. Pete Hemingway suggested that a separate Ad Hoc Subcommittee be formed for further discussion regarding this issue. The topic will be On-Lot Retention Requirements for Single Family Homes. Serving on this Ad Hoc Subcommittee will be Gary Coley, Steve Elssmann, Carnell Thurman, Sumeet Mohan, Mitch Hayden, Kate Krietor, Joe Belval, Brad Dixon, CMX, and an assistant that works with Darrell Wilson.
CANCELLATION OF AUGUST 16, 2001 BOARD MEETING:
MOTION was made by Gary Coley, seconded by Herman Orcutt, to cancel the Development Advisory Board Meeting on Thursday August 16, 2001.Motion carried unanimously.
CALL TO THE PUBLIC (NO BOARD DISCUSSION):
ADJOURNMENT:
MOTION was made by Gary Coley, seconded by Dave Kelly, to adjourn the July 19, 2001 DAB meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
Session adjourned at 4:37 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Carnell Thurman P.E.
Engineering Supervisor
Minutes Prepared by:
Carole Borrego, Secretary III
| c: |
Board Member Mayor Skip Rimsza City Council Members Mr. Fairbanks Mr. Washington City Clerk Mr. Lyons Mr. Olson Mr. Wendt Mr. Goodhue Mr. Litchfield |
Mr. Dolasinski Mr. Davila Ms. McKinley Ms. Beckley Mr. Bunyard Mr. Doell Mr. Fleming Mr. Horn Mr. Mundy Mr. Mushtaq Mr. Parks |
Ms. Reed Mr. Singbush Mr. Thurman Mr. Kienow Mr. Taschner Mr. Adams Ms. Fitz |
Last Modified on 10/01/2001 10:15:22