Loading...
BCC Minutes 03/19/2007 W (w/Fire Service Steering Committee) March 19,2007 MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COLLIER COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS/FIRE SERVICE STEERING COMMITTEE JOINT WORKSHOP Naples, Florida, March 19,2007 LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Collier County Board of County Commissioners and the Fire Service Steering Committee, having conducted business herein, met on this date at 9:00 a.m. in WORKSHOP SESSION in Building "F" of the Government Complex, East Naples, Florida with the following members present: CHAIRMAN: Commissioner Jim Coletta Commissioner Tom Henning Commissioner Fred Coyle Commissioner Donna Fiala Commissioner Frank Halas Chairman Chuck McMahon, Golden Gate Fire District Chairman Floyd Crewz, Immokalee Fire District Chairman Thomas G. Cannon, E. Naples Fire District Chairman Crossan, Corkscrew Fire District Margaret Hanson, Vice Chair, N. Naples Fire and Rescue ALSO PRESENT: Jim Mudd, County Manager Sue Filson, Executive Manager, BCC Office David Weigel, County Attorney Leo 1. Ochs, Jr., Deputy County Manager ~ .a:..~( AGENDA March 19, 2007 9:00 a.m. BCC- Fire Commissioners Joint Workshop 3'd Floor Boardroom W. Harmon Turner Building Jim Coletta, Chairman, District 5 Tom Henning, Vice-Chairman, District 3 Donna Fiala, Commissioner, District 1 Frank Halas, Commissioner, District 2 Fred W. Coyle, Commissioner, District 4 NOTICE: ALL PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY AGENDA ITEM MUST REGISTER PRIOR TO SPEAKING. SPEAKERS MUST REGISTER WITH THE COUNTY MANAGER PRIOR TO THE PRESENTATION OF THE AGENDA ITEM TO BE ADDRESSED. ALL REGISTERED PUBLIC SPEAKERS WILL RECEIVE UP TO THREE (3) MINUTES UNLESS THE TIME IS ADJUSTED BY THE CHAIRMAN. COLLIER COUNTY ORDINANCE NO. 2004.05, AS AMENDED, REQUIRES THAT ALL LOBBYISTS SHALL, BEFORE ENGAGING IN ANY LOBBYING ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ADDRESSING THE BOARD OF RECORDS DEPARTMENT. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS), REGISTER WITH THE CLERK TO THE BOARD AT THE BOARD MINUTES AND IF YOU ARE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY WHO NEEDS ANY ACCOMMODATION IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCEEDING, YOU ARE ENTITLED, AT NO COST TO YOU, TO THE PROVISION OF CERTAIN ASSISTANCE. PLEASE CONTACT THE COLLIER COUNTY FACILITIES MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT LOCATED AT 3301 EAST TAMIAMI TRAIL, NAPLES, FLORIDA, 34112, (239) 774-8380; ASSISTED LISTENING DEVICES FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED ARE AVAILABLE IN THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' OFFICE. 1. Pledge of Allegiance 2. Overview of the governing statutes and existing conflicts in the Florida Building Code and the Florida Fire Prevention Code related to life-safety, building code construction, and inspections. 3. Overview of the duplication of plan review effort between the Collier County Building Review and Permitting Department and Collier County Fire Code Official's Office 4. Discussion of the requirement under statute to eliminate duplication of effort in plans review and inspections. 5. East Naples Fire Control and Rescue District Requested Issues . Phased permitting/start work early letters . Lifting North Naples Fire District red tag issue . Building Department issuing a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) without Fire approval Page 1 March 19, 2007 6. Review of the methods for adopting a local amendment to the Florida Fire Prevention Code as defined in state statute. 7. Discussion as to whether Collier County should of the repeal Ordinance 2005-32. 8. ALS Engine Program 9. Public Comment 10. Adjourn INQUIRIES CONCERNING CHANGES TO THE BOARD'S AGENDA SHOULD BE MADE TO THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE AT 774-8383. Page 2 March 19, 2007 March 19,2007 The Workshop was called to order by Chairman Jim Coletta at 9:00 a.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Participant introductions made. II -VILCommissioner Coletta turned the meeting over to Mr. Joe Schmitt, Administrator for Community Development and Environmental Services, to present summaryfbriefing of the agenda covering items II through VII. Mr. Schmitt explained a change of meeting name to "Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners/Fire Service Steering Committee Joint Workshop." Mr. Schmitt introduced Bill Hammond, Director of Building Review and Permits, and Ed Riley, Chief of Fire Review Collier County, Fire Code Official. Briefing/summary of agenda was done in slide presentation (see attached). . Ordinance 2005-32 (fire code). . Building review statistics. . Revenue generated. . The Code (Florida Building Code and Florida Fire Prevention Code). . Protocols to eliminate duplicate reviews. . BOAA (Board of Adjustment and Appeals). . State Fire Marshal discourages local amendments, unless truly needed. . Number of local codes. . Summary of the three methods to amend a code. . Questions to be answered during workshop. Mr. Schmitt concluded with asking how the two departments should proceed with issues above as well as phase permits and guidance on how to proceed with fire ordinance due 2008. VIII. Commissioner Coletta presented Dr. Robert Tober, Medical Director Collier County EMS to present the ALS (advanced life support) Engine Program. Dr. Tober gave the history of the EMS in Collier County. Collier County EMS ran its first call on February 2, 1979, having six ambulances with scattered assistance of fire departments. The system has grown to 24 ALS ambulance transport units and a helicopter, plus much wider participation of multiple independent fire agencies. With rapid expansion of paramedic forces, Dr. Tober requested an extremely coordinated, well- executed system of accountability of actions, documentation of actions, central authority to be in place. Best care of patient and least hazard to the public to be at its core. IX. Public Comments SPEAKERS Michael Stein - Developer, General Contractor - RE: Sierra Grande Issues related to coordination between building and fire departments permits. It took over 480 days to receive building permit, examples given of delays. 2 March 19,2007 Also, official notification in letter form very long in coming. Mr. Stein asked this situation be examined and perhaps coordinate the efforts of review of permit applications, of both departments which Mr. Stein felt individually were trying to do a good job. 9:30 a.m. Margaret Hanson, Vice Chair N. Naples Fire and Rescue joined the meeting. Michele Harrison, President of Collier Building Association (CBIA) - read a statement from membership expressing concern about duplication, ambiguous expectations and much money lost by homeowners. Also, membership feared retribution from the government agencies. Ms. Harrison called for a task force to streamline permitting process in Collier County. Gary Beaumont, Beaumont Electric - expressed concern that over the past five years there has been a 500% increase in cost in fire alarm permits; also from a one paragraph state code, a 150 item checklist has been developed by local fire officials. Don Peterson, Fire Chief Golden Gate - RE: fire code and plan review asked that plans submitted for review is complete. RE: ALS engine program. Roads and FPL access should be completed prior to permitting to allow EMS to reach work sites when needed. AI Zichella, CBIA - echoed Ms. Harrison's comments, questioning fire review process, also questioned the possibility of retribution. Jack Glenn, CCBIA - indicated that the state has duplication in all counties. The state has a common code checklist which could be used, as it is available to all. Karl Reynolds, Deputy Chief N. Naples Fire Department - stated that at meetings of the State of Florida Fire Code Personnel, it was found that by duplication of inspections assures that all work has been done properly. RE: ]2/29/06 red tag item; on this date, no stamp was on the permit. When the fire department returned on 03/09/07, permit had not been picked up even though permit had been issued 02/14/07. Bill Schreck, V.P. Henning Construction Company - expressed that for one project it took one year and 10 days to obtain permit. He also wanted the Commissioners to know that there is a fire alarm company which is refusing to work in Collier County due to permitting difficulties. Robert Metzger, Assistant N. Naples Fire Protection - RE: ALS agreement. Mr. Metzger wanted the Commissioners to know that fire service leaders have 3 March] 9,2007 been meeting regularly since January to work on the agreement. On 03/14/07, fire service leaders had their most recent meeting. DISCUSSION: Commissioner Halas thanked the building industry members for coming and speaking up and hoped he would not hear of any retribution to any of the speakers. Commissioner Halas asked Mr. Beaumont about the 150 item fire inspection. Process was described. Fire Chairman Cannon said there should never be retribution. He has had but 2 complaints in the past 2 years; it would be preferred that he heard these complaints much earlier rather than it getting to this point. Mr. Schmitt and Mr. Hammond spoke about phase permitting and Board of Adjustment Appeals that Fire Department and Building Department need to work together. Ed Riley, Fire Code Official responded to speakers by asking for specific permit numbers, so that issues can be addressed with documentation knowledgeably. Mr. Riley wanted to know what review comments were permit seekers subjected to that were not required by code. Discussion ensued regarding county parking garage and its permitting. Early start letters, phase permits were defined. Commissioner Halas inquired about restaurant kitchen hood permit delay, delay of parking structure at Waterside Shops. Commissioner Coletta stated this meeting was held in order to meet the needs of the public. Commissioner Coyle suggested considering Ms. Harrison's recommendation to create a task force. The task force compiled of a fire code official, building department representative, community members, CB1A; task force to review documents and work out a better way to do permitting. The task force then would come to the Collier County Commissioners with recommendations on what could be done to solve this problem. BREAK - 10:34 a.m. RECONVENED - 10:46 a.m. Chairman McMahon asked if drawings are being submitted to the fire departments since February 22, 2007 BOAA meeting. Ifnot, perhaps that could be done. Mr. McMahon asked that phase permitting be reviewed by the task force for improvement or perhaps be done away with. Since department 4 March 19,2007 codes are presently working in concert, Mr. McMahon expressed concern that the fire code not be considered for repeal until after task force has given the Commissioners recommendations. Commissioner Fiala made suggestion that task force be comprised of 5 to 7 people; problem solvers. Communication and compromise for safety of the citizens is needed. Commissioner Henning expressed concern that more reviews were performed on overtime than on regular time in the fire plan review. Fire code official stated he answers to state officials only was concerning to the Commissioner. Commissioner Henning agreed to a task force of the community not Board of County Commissioners task force. Commissioner Coletta discussed the word "retribution" heard from public today. He wanted this to be part of the task force findings; so that a complaint can be placed without fear ofretribution. Mr. Mudd stated that he heard no Commissioner speak against the task force, he heard Commissioner Fiala say 5-7 members. After consult with the County Attorney's office that the task force is objective, he would report back to Board of County Commissioners. Commissioner Halas asked for discussion on Commissioner Henning's concern that this be a community task force not a County task force. Commissioner Coletta stated Collier County Commission is to make the ultimate decision on whether to proceed or not. Mr. Weigel, County Attorney, said if the County were to set up a task force, the task force would come under Sunshine law requirements. Fire chairmen were polled; they agreed to a task force. 11 :30 a.m. Fire Chairman Crossan joined those seated at table. It was decided a task force be established; but it could not be agreed upon who will be on the Committee. The workshop participants agreed that Mr. Mudd would consult with the County Attorney's office for an objective task force membership, and the fire services personnel would give Mr. Mudd input. Mr. Mudd will report back to the Board of County Commissioners. 5 March 19,2007 ***** There being no further business for the good ofthe County, the meeting was adjourned by order of the chair at 11 :40 a.m. COLLIER COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ATIEST:. E"" DWIGHT E .BROCJio) Cl "" These Minutes approved by the Board/Committee on presented 7' or amended . , as 6