Butte County Board of Supervisors Agenda Transmittal

Transcription

1 Butte County Board of Supervisors Agenda Transmittal Clerk of the Board Use Only Agenda Item: 3.12 Subject: Resolution Recognizing May 2017 as Building Safety Month and Approval of the Amnesty Program for May and June Department: Development Services Meeting Date Requested: May 9, 2017 Contact: Tim Snellings Phone: Regular Agenda Consent Agenda Department Summary: (Information provided in this section will be included on the agenda. Attach explanatory memorandum and other background information as necessary). The Building Safety Month (May 2017) and the Permit Amnesty Program (May 1 through June 30) are aimed at protecting public health, home and business owner safety, and the environment by encouraging property owners to complete the County s permit process. These efforts are designed to ensure construction meets acceptable standards and to educate the public about building codes through outreach activities. The Amnesty Program provides property and business owners the opportunity to apply for permits for buildings, additions, and remodels not previously permitted with the following assistance: the 60% investigative building permit penalty fees would not be imposed; and a staff member will be assigned to assist the property owners through the application process. Compliance with the building permit process can assist property owners who may have their properties on the market where the sale may be jeopardized due to unpermitted work. Residential, industrial, and commercial unpermitted construction work or unpermitted commercial occupancies are eligible for the Amnesty Program. Fiscal Impact: General Fund will receive permit fee revenue, but penalty fees will not be imposed for the duration of the Amnesty Program. Personnel Impact: Does not apply. Action Requested: 1. Adopt resolution and authorize the Chair to sign; and 2. Approve a Building Permit Amnesty Program for May 1 through June 30 in which the 60% penalty fee would not be imposed to eligible applicants. Administrative Office Review: Casey Hatcher, Economic and Community Development Manager

2 Director Department of Development Services Tim Snellings, Director Pete Calarco, Assistant 7 County Center Drive T: Oroville, California F: buttecounty.net/dds MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: Board of Supervisors Tim Snellings, Director Department of Development Services RE: Building Safety Month (May) Amnesty Program for May 1 through June 30, 2017 DATE: May 9, 2017 Requested Action 1. Adopt the resolution recognizing May as Building Safety month; and 2. Approve a Building Permit Amnesty Program for May 1, 2017 through June 30, 2017 in which the 60% penalty fees are not be imposed. Background Staff is recommending the designation of Building Safety Month for May and an amnesty for property owners and business owners to obtain building permits on unpermitted work without the 60% penalty fee (Butte County Code Section 3-41(c)). This is similar to the Board approved program last year. The Building Safety Month and the Permit Amnesty Program is aimed at protecting public health, home and business owner safety, and the environment by encouraging property owners to complete the County s permit process. This helps ensure construction meets acceptable standards and is an opportunity to educate the public about building codes through outreach activities. The Amnesty Program provides property and business owners the opportunity to apply for permits for buildings, additions, and remodels not previously permitted with the following assistance: the 60% investigative building permit penalty fees would not be imposed; and a staff member will be assigned to assist the property owners through the application process Compliance with the building permit process can assist those property owners that may have their properties on the market where the sale may be jeopardized due to unpermitted work. Residential, Industrial, and Commercial unpermitted construction work or unpermitted commercial occupancies are eligible for the Amnesty Program.

3 Property owners who secure retroactive permits through the Amnesty Program must still comply with all provisions of Butte County development regulations (i.e. Building and Fire codes, Planning and Public Works/Land Development zoning and improvement standards, Health Department regulations, etc.). There may be circumstances due to zoning limitations or building codes, that the unpermitted construction cannot be permitted. Under this scenario, the property owner could be required to restore the structure and/or site to its previous condition. Building Permit Amnesty Program Goals Cost Effective Remedy. Give property and business owners a cost effective way to remedy any existing violations that may exist on their property. Resolve Violations. Resolve existing violations throughout Butte County to enhance the representation and appearance of the County. Ensure Safety. Ensure that all buildings and structures meet minimum fire safety, life safety, and minimum code requirements. Positive Relationship. Help create and maintain a positive relationship between the citizens of Butte County and County departments. The Amnesty Program would be from May 1 to June 30, Building and Safety Month, founded by the International Code Council (ICC), is celebrated by jurisdictions worldwide during the month of May. It is a public awareness campaign to help individuals, families and businesses understand what it takes to create safe and sustainable structures. The campaign reinforces the need for adoption of modern, model building codes, a strong and efficient system of code enforcement, and a well-trained, professional workforce to maintain the system. The campaign is presented by the ICC and its 57,000 members worldwide along with a diverse partnership of professionals from the building construction, design and safety community. Corporations, government agencies, professional associations, nonprofits, and more come together to support Building Safety Month because they understand the need for safe and sustainable structures where we live, work, and play. This year s theme is Code Officials Partners in Community Safety and Economic Growth. Each week of Building Safety Month spotlights a specific area of building safety. Week One - May 1-7, 2017 is Mentoring the Next Generation of Building Professionals Week Two - May 8-14, 2017 is Building Design Solutions for All Ages Week Three May 15-21, 2017 is Manage the Damage Preparing for Natural Disasters Week Four May 22-28, 2017 is Investing in Technology for Safety, Energy & Water Efficiency Additional information and resources on these weeks is available on the ICC website at the following link: Staff will have several outreach events in recognition of these weeks and event. Page 2 of 2

4 A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING MAY 2017 AS BUILDING SAFETY MONTH Resolution No. WHEREAS, through our continuing efforts to address the critical issues of safety, energy efficiency, water conservation, and resilience in the built environment that affect our citizens, both in everyday life and in times of natural disaster, give us confidence that our structures are safe and sound; and WHEREAS, our confidence is achieved through the devotion of vigilant guardians building safety and fire prevention officials, architects, engineers, builders, tradespeople, laborers and others in the construction industry who work year round to ensure the safe construction of buildings; and WHEREAS, these guardians dedicated members of the International Code Council use a governmental consensus process that brings together local, state, and federal officials with expertise in the built environment to create and implement the highest quality codes to protect Americans in the buildings where we live, learn, work, worship, play; and WHEREAS, the International Codes, the most widely adopted building safety, energy and fire prevention codes in the nation, are used by most U.S. cities, counties and states; these modern building codes also include safeguards to protect the public from natural disasters such as hurricanes, snowstorms, tornadoes, wildland fires, floods and earthquakes; and WHEREAS, Building Safety Month is sponsored by the International Code Council, to remind the public about the critical role of our communities largely unknown guardians of public safety our local code officials who assure us of safe, efficient, and livable buildings; and WHEREAS, in an ongoing effort to ensure that residents and individuals patronizing businesses within Butte County are afforded the highest construction standards available, the Building Division is proud to participate in Building Safety Month; and WHEREAS, Code Officials Partners in Community Safety and Economic Growth the theme for Building Safety Month 2017, encourages all Americans to raise awareness of the importance of building safe and resilient construction; fire prevention; disaster mitigation, water safety and conservation; energy efficiency and new technologies in the construction industry. Building Safety Month 2017 encourages appropriate steps everyone can take to ensure that the places where we live, learn, work, worship and play are safe and sustainable, and recognizes that countless lives have been saved due to the implementation of safety codes by local and state agencies; and

5 WHEREAS, each year, in observance of Building Safety Month, Americans are asked to consider projects to improve building safety and sustainability at home and in the community, and to acknowledge the essential service provided to all of us by local and state building departments, fire prevention bureaus and federal agencies in protecting lives and property. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Butte County Board of Supervisors hereby proclaims the month of May 2017, as Building Safety Month. To urge all citizens to participate in activities to help promote building safety, to create awareness as to the importance of construction and building codes, and to spotlight the role of dedicated code officials in administering these codes. Accordingly, citizens are encouraged to join with their communities in participation in Building Safety Month activities. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Butte County Board of Supervisors this 9th day of May, 2017 by the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: NOT VOTING: ATTEST: PAUL HAHN, Chief Administrative Officer and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By: Deputy Bill Connelly, Chair Butte County Board of Supervisors