Building Inspection Commission
BUILDING INSPECTION COMMISSION (BIC)
Department of Building Inspection (DBI)
NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING
Wednesday, February 5, 2003 at 1:00 p.m.
City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 408
AGENDA:
(The BIC will take public comment on every item appearing on the agenda. Members of the public who address the Commission have the discretion on whether or not they wish to identify themselves for the record.)
1. Call to Order and Roll Call.
2. Election of BIC President and Vice-President.
3. President's Announcements.
4. Director's Report. [Director Chiu]
a. Status of meet and confer sessions with various bargaining units regarding DBI's Handbook for Professional Conduct.
b. Status of grievance filed by United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Union Local No. 22 regarding Standby list for Building Inspectors and Senior Building Inspectors.
5. APPEAL PURSUANT TO SECTION D3.750-4 OF THE CITY CHARTER:
Appeal of Mr. Christopher James, property owner of 1573 Shotwell Street (Block 5545/Lot13), of the determination by Barbara Moy, Bureau Manager of Street Use and Mapping at the Department of Public Works (DPW) to deny applications for Street Improvements and Minor Encroachment Permits to construct a privately maintained concrete driveway, with low retaining walls and sub-drainage system, within an unimproved portion of Shotwell Street. (DPW Order No. 173627)
a. Report, discussion and possible action regarding the Building Inspection Commission's jurisdiction pursuant to Section D3.750-4 of the city Charter over this appeal.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION
Alfonso Fillon, President
Bobbie Sue Hood, Vice-President
Matt Brown, Commissioner
Denise D'Anne, Commissioner
Roy Guinnane, Commissioner
Esther Marks, Commissioner
Rodrigo Santos, Commissioner
DEPARTMENT & COMMISSION STAFF
Frank Y. Chiu, Director (415) 558-6131
Amy Lee, Assistant Director (415) 558-6250
Jim Hutchinson, Deputy Director (415) 558-6142
William Wong, Deputy Director (415) 558-6139
Ann Aherne, Secretary (415) 558-6164
b. Presentation by parties including witnesses.
c. Deliberation and possible decision by the Building Inspection Commission.
6. Update on Litigation Committee Meetings. [Commissioners Brown, Guinnane & Santos]
7. Update, discussion and possible action regarding supplemental of $1M+ for additional City Attorney's fees for current fiscal year.
8. Presentation by Build Folio on mobile hand held devices for use by Housing Inspectors.
9. Review of Communication Items. At this time, the Commission may discuss or take possible action to respond to communication items received since the last meeting.
a. Copy of letter dated January 24, 2003 from Jim Hutchinson, Abatement Appeals Board Secretary to Louis M. Hamman regarding Notice of Decision in Case No. 6659, Order of Abatement, 702 Earl Street.
b. Copy or Letter dated January 24, 2003 from Jim Hutchinson, Abatement Appeals Board Secretary to Frederick J. & Carol A. Engelbrecht regarding Notice of Decision in Case No. 3414, Order of Abatement, 100 Spruce Street.
c. Copy of memorandum dated January 24, 2003 from Director Frank Chiu to Controller Edward Harrington regarding the City Attorney Work Order.
d. Copy of letter dated January 29, 2003 from Director Frank Chiu to Director Jared Blumenfeld, Department of the Environment regarding a request for additional funding.
e. Copy of memorandum dated January 16, 2003 from Assistant Director Amy Lee to DBI staff regarding Clarification on Credit Card Usage.
f. Copy of memorandum from Deputy Director Jim Hutchinson to All Inspection Services Program Managers regarding Deputy Director Coverage during vacation.
g. Copy of memorandum dated January 24, 2003 from Director Frank Chiu to Chief Housing Inspector Rosemary Bosque regarding Staff Attending BIC Meetings. Copy of Memorandum dated January 27, 2003 from Chief Housing Inspector Rosemary Bosque to Director Frank Chiu in response to memorandum dated January 24, 2003.
h. Copy of letter dated January 28, 2003 from Director Frank Chiu to Controller Alison Stephens of Hines Interest Limited Partnership regarding additional fees owned to DBI and Fire Plan Check for 560 Mission Street.
i. Copy of Memorandum dated January 30, 2003 from Director Frank Chiu to All DBI Staff regarding reporting of MIS staff.
j. Copies of thank you letters dated January 17, 2003 from Director Chiu to Mr. Charles Bridinger, Mr. Bartlett Dixon, Mr. Tom Coleman, Mr. David Green and Mr. James Reed for their participation in the Code review process.
k. Copy of correspondence dated January 13, 2003 from Eleonora Bletnitsky to Building Inspectors Edward Sweeney and Joe Duffy regarding work without permit at 101-17th Avenue.
l. Copies of thank you letters received from the public commending DBI employees and Director Chiu's response letters to the public.
10. Review and approval of the minutes of the January 15, 2003 BIC meeting.
11. Review Commissioner's Questions and Matters.
a. Inquiries to Staff. At this time, Commissioners may make inquiries to staff regarding various documents, policies, practices, and procedures, which are of interest to the Commission.
b. Future Meetings/Agendas. At this time, the Commission may discuss and take action to set the date of a Special Meeting and/or determine those items that could be placed on the agenda of the next meeting and other future meetings of the Building Inspection Commission.
12. Public Comment: The BIC will take public comment on matters within the Commission's jurisdiction that are not part of this agenda.
13. Adjournment.
Copies of all documents referred to in the agenda are available for public inspection and copying between the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Building Inspection Commission, 1660 Mission Street, 6th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103 and will be available at the February 5, 2003 meeting. [Ann Aherne, 558-6164]
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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE SUNSHINE ORDINANCE
(Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code)
Government's duty is to serve the public, reaching its decisions in full view of the public. Commissions, boards, councils and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people's business. This ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people and that City operations are open to the people's review.
The ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers and similar sound-producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. Please be advised that the chair may order the removal from the meeting room of any person(s) responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager, or other similar sound-producing electronic devices.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE SUNSHINE ORDINANCE, TO OBTAIN A COPY OF THE SUNSHINE ORDINANCE, OR TO REPORT A VIOLATION OF THE ORDINANCE, CONTACT DONNA HALL, ADMINISTRATOR, CITY HALL, ROOM 409, 1 DR. CARLTON B. GOODLETT PLACE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102-4689. OFFICE (415) 554-7724, FAX (415) 554-7854, E-MAIL: DONNA_HALL @CI.SF.CA.US.
Copies of the Sunshine Ordinance can be obtained from the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force Office, the San Francisco Public Library and on the City's website at sfgov.org
In order to assist the City's efforts to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illnesses, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical based products. Please help the City accommodate these individuals.
MISSION STATEMENT
As a policy-making and supervisory body mandated by the City Charter, the seven-member citizen Building Inspection Commission will manage the Department of Building Inspection and the bodies subordinate to the Commission by overseeing the effective, efficient, fair and safe enforcement of the City and County's Building, Housing, Plumbing, Electrical and Mechanical Codes, along with Disability Access Regulations.
ACCESSIBLE MEETING INFORMATION POLICY
The meeting will be held at the City Hall Building, located at 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, 4th Floor, Room 408. The closest accessible BART station is the Civic Center Station at 8th (at the United Nations Plaza) and Market Streets.
Accessible MUNI/Metro lines servicing this location are the J-Church, K-Ingleside, L-Taraval, C-Ocean View, and N-Judah at Van Ness and Civic Center Stations; 9-San Bruno, 71-Haight, and 42-Downtown bus lines. For information about MUNI accessible services call (415) 923-6142.
The Commission meeting room is wheelchair accessible. Accessible curbside parking spaces have been designated on the Van Ness Avenue and McAllister Street perimeters of City Hall for mobility-impaired persons. There is accessible parking available within the Civic Center Underground Parking Garage at the corner of McAllister and Polk Streets, and within the Performing Arts Parking Garage at Grove and Franklin Streets.
Accessible seating for persons with disabilities (including those using wheelchairs) will be available. Assistive Listening devices will be available at the meeting. A sign language interpreter will be available upon request. Agendas and Minutes of the meeting are available in large print/tape form and/or readers upon request. Please contact the Commission Secretary, Ann Aherne (415) 558-6164 at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting to request these services.
Individuals with severe allergies, environmental illness, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities should call (415) 558-6164 to discuss meeting accessibility. In order to assist the City's efforts to accommodate such persons, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical based products. Please help the City to accommodate these individuals.
POLICY STATEMENT OF PUBLIC HEARING OR MEETING
Pursuant to Section 67.7-1(c) of the San Francisco Administrative Code, members of the public who are unable to attend the public meeting or hearing may submit written comments regarding a calendared item to the Interim BIC Commission Secretary, Ann Aherne, at 1660 Mission Street, 6th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103 or at the place of the scheduled hearing before the proceedings begin. These written comments shall be made a part of the official public record and these comments will be brought to the attention of the members of the Building Inspection Commission. [Twenty copies are necessary.]
POLICY STATEMENT OF PUBLIC COMMENT
Pursuant to Section 67.16 of the San Francisco Administrative Code, each member of the public may address the Commission once for up to three minutes on any agenda item.
SAN FRANCISCO LOBBYIST ORDINANCE
Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance [SF Administrative Code Sec. 16.520-16.534] to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the Ethics Commission at 1390Market St. #701, SF, CA 94102 or (415) 554-9510 voice, or (415) 703-0121 fax, or http://sfgov.org/ethics web