New Computer System this should help and look forward to you coming to us and letting us know. I look forward to the discussion later in the meeting on accela. Any other Public Comment . Seeing none, roll call vote on the motion. President s mccarthy, yes. Vp mar, yes. Commissioner lee, yes. Commissioner mccray, yes. Commissioner clinch, yes. The motion carries unanimously. Item 7, update on dbi policy regarding decks and balcony. Good morning commissioners, ron tom assistant director of department of building inspecting. Last month we were tasked to provide a overview of departments effort to address the issue of balcony and deck safety. The balcony failure in [inaudible] decks balconys and other building elements. Those includes stairs, [inaudible] despite the cities marine environment. Dbi records of the past 5 years show very few ins dochbs deck, balcony and stair failures. The currents permit tracking system doesnt contain a data bis that provides nrfgz on specific building features such as balany decks stairs and fire escapes. We have existing Building Code sections that require [inaudible] like the projections of wood frame construction. They also require water flow management. If there is a impervious that exceedss 200 square feet the drainage has to be taken back towards and into the drainage system of the building. Unlike jurisdictions outside the city drain water [inaudible] terminated on a splaush block generally prohibited. We do have a housing code section 6 04 and applies to hotels that have balconys stairs fire escapes [inaudible] and inspected every 5 years. That is the responsibilities of the building owner. Under section 604 the owner retained the service of a license general contractor, a license pest control inspector, license architect or civil or structural engineer. Those parties have to complete a affidavit and submit to the department. The submittal could be done by email and we accept digital signatures. Move on to the outreach efforts. We are taking full advant squj plan to take advantage of radio and television interviews, press relaces and other media such as social media. We currently have in our site on the dbi website information sheet number s 10. That is currently available and it is signed by the director and included in this s 10 is the section 604 requirements and the compliance affidavit. Additionally, weve utilize thd website since very recently and we now feature a website page on deck safety. All is a screen shot. If you click on this, it will take you to the page that specifically needs youthrough the elements and content of the inspection of residential balcony and safety and deck safety. Contained at the bottom of this page is a link. And that link is the 7 on your side hosted by michael finny, very familiar figure in the bay yiria. That is a 2 minute clip and features our director showing how a person even a lay person can begin some of their own inspection by taking a screw driver and doing probing. Not just the support elements but the fall Protection Elements as well because those are exposed and can fail just as much as the deck and structural elements supporting the weight. Last june in our news letter we had a feature by director hui and he spoke about deck and balany safety. We are also going to feature a letter this month again on the subject of deck and balany safety. The Communications Group has been reaching out to bomo, San Francisco realsters association, San FranciscoApartment Association and small Property Owners. We also plan to attend Community Events and partner with Code Enforcement outreach organizations. What are our next steps . We are going to assess in plan review how to do training for our staff to reach out to people coming in for over the counter permit where they have deck, balcony and stair repairs and when those issues come up we want our staff to spend a little time and advice the applicant about not only the obligations but insure also that the details necessarily for Water Management and Water Proofing are contained when plans are provided. We want to also open a discussion at the Code Advisory Committee and other submities for code change recommendations. During cochbdo conversion we have inspections conducted by staff. We want to issue the affidavit at that time and make it part of the package. We also want to expand the use of the affdivot when we have a notice of violation well include it. When we investigate apartment and hotel complaints well include it at that point in time and during routine and complaint based inspection, what features we think are applicable well provide the affidavit. So, continuing the next steps, we are going to continue our outreach to Property Owners, contractors and other stakeholders. They include mailing notice reminders to Property Owners of affidavit requirements. We are start featureing a brown bag where we talk about deck and balcony safety and maintenance. Email submitted are available by the Property Owner and they can email to our department for the affidavit completion and the continuing on the web seat and on line outreach sharing with the news letter. We plan to put a nrgz information board on the 5th floor where we had other Green Building boards but now we are going to provide one for deck and balcony safety. We also hope to develop a Powerpoint Presentation that will be streamed on all the different floors where we have monitors which we currently show on a rotational basis probably a number of feature of important subject matters like earthquake safety in general. And well continue our outreach and partnering with organizations and stakeholders. Commissioners are there any questions . Commissioner mar, well start with you. I want to thank you for this. I think it is important that the department get ahead of these problems, but i have a problem because this deck and balcony has something that we have been dealing with and dealt with it as a nov and in litigation. For example, there was a clearly illegal deck in a neighborhood that i was aware of and the reason we got such heat about it is because the neighbors were calling me complaining about the illegal deck. We did everything we right. We filed the nov and moved it up as quickly as possible to director hearing and it finally got to the City Attorneys Office which i think is where it still sits. The problem is this illegal deck and unsafe deck which the neighbors didnt know about. The reason they complained is they knew it was built illegally but what they were complaining about is this Apartment Building was rented mainly to callling students so every friday and saturday night this deck was Party Central so that was the main concern and why i got these phone calls and finally i put heat on our Code Enforcement and finally the City Attorneys Office. The bottom line is, it is still there. This is one of these owners. The deck is still there and so august is rolling around where there will be a new host of College Students moving into this Apartment Building and there will be the friday, saturday night goings on again. It is these things where unfortunately with the berkeley situation, if that tradagy didnt happen, that deck would have been probably still there and it would probably still be used and this is what is happening with this deck. I know the City Attorney is moving on it because i called them on it, they are pushing it and putting as much heat as possible on the Property Owner financially and all that, but the bottom line is, the deck is still there and if the deck is still there and the young people in the building are attracted to it obviously. I was wondering if there is anything the department can do . It is like the previous discussion about nov, there are intransit owners thats will not deal with the nov so is there a way to say this deck is red tagged andiocannot use this deck . Put a ply wood door on the deck because it is unsafe to walk out there. Short of that, i dont know how well prevent people from walking on that deck. We dont have that right now. Commissioner mar, i really appreciate not only bringing this to our attention but also the concern as a individual. We will all be remiss if anything should happen. In this situation i think first of all in this particular case where it is now perhaps our department can make contact with City Attorneys Office and get a response and convey our concern about the conditions that can potentially endanger people. Injury and death in the wirs case scenario. For future conditions like this, i think what we need to do is insure for the public as well as for the commission that we do everything in a timely fashion. What that means is we dont put it under a pile. It takes a priority and moves to the top of the pile and we have continued oversight and high level within the department all the way to the executive level to insure that everything that we legally and administrative processes can do well do quickly and hold the and schedule a hearing as soon as we can. But, we are faced from time to time with this dulima as a department over many many years. This is one that escalated because we know it can endanger lives. In other situations where we know we have people who thumb their nose at the process in place, this is a process we had to try to address but with very great difficulty and know it is right in front of us, but someone in their own volition says well, im going to not do what you require me to do. What are you going to do about it . It is something that needs to have a greater open discussion and it takes on the effort of more than just our department alone. We would initiate the process and we can watch over it and shepherd it best we can but probably needs a greater discussion on higher level and engaging other agencies as well. I dont have the magic bullet to provide but i have taken note of it, everyone hear heard it, the directors heard and well definitely bring it back for discussion and well get back it the commission. Okay. First a question for director hui, does chapter 17such Building Code require special inspection for Water Proofing . [inaudible] special inspection for Water Proofing and such because Water Proofing is not in the inspection needs. Because everything you presented today or most of what you presented today is about existing conditions but what concerns me is that the balcony collapse in berkeley was a fairly new structure and it points to we dont know the findings but it suggests there was a error in application of the Water Proofing membrane or fasteners or such. I agree with you commissioner. First of all, when i review a case in that particular deck [inaudible] quh you have a hole under you see the water coming down and the water damage wont be much. Second thing is they put the Water Proofing of the concrete on top and further the [inaudible] you dont see the damage there. Also, the Engineering Materials when they have a composite, once you touch the water it detearierates a lot faster than [inaudible] as you are aware. That is what i see from the sheer off and that is sudden failure and overcrowding is another issue in this particular case. That is why we want to go back to improve our code. That is why we are going back to the [inaudible] committee to make sure the regulation under neath the [inaudible] sometimes when we dont have the specification on that we wont to improve in that area and also maybe the material we are thinking about a pressure treated wood or something but want to go through the process. The Water Proofing is one issue but [inaudible] the water will seep through there. Water migration is a big issue i agree with everything you said in the sense there is a need for better oversight in the detailing and assembly and that is a difficult one because the dbi is responsible for enforcing the code and the code isnt that explisant on durability which is a life safety issue in this case. I think we can strengthen the requirements our Building Code for durability issues. 2ndly, i wonder if we can require a special inspection of the Water Proofing assembly. That would be just making sure that the installation is done right. We can talk to the [inaudible] committee, but Water Proofing is very specialized. The manufacturer of the product. [inaudible] they do a good job and shouldnt have that type of problem. That why it is a combination. Well give our inspector [inaudible] just to follow through on that, as a part of special inspection criteria we need engineering letters if we did a retaining wall and so on that the department it is in their scope to make sure it is done correctly but the special inspection at the end of the job saying it was done. Could the Water Proofingim cog of the fact we could be over killing there to your director, if it is done roit it shouldnt be a issue, but what would it take to be a part of special inspections in Water Proofing like for decks where there will be a life safety possibility problem if it isnt done right and we can make it part of the special inspection at the end of job or a letter is sent in saying it was done correctly and all the guided principles how it should be installed was done correctly . One thing we can think about but the problem is you have toop find architect or engineer to sign off on it and then how do you find a special guys to sign off on it . Who is qualified . [inaudible] i gree with everything you said. Plus at the end of the day when i do a project and i have student to bring in a Water Proofing contractor who specializes in Water Proofing is because im not doing it so why not have a issue of where they can back up their work in some form . I know a engineer has to do it. It is a interesting point he brings up here because the venting was a big problem on the deck and you eluded there was no venting and that is a remedy for disaster. It is something we couldi see mr. Rod rige rosales taking notes so if is on it, but it is something we could look at if there is a form of where we as a department feel that little bit better there is another set of eyes on the Water Proofing and there is a form of communication to the department saying in our opinion this is done correctly and deshould sustain for many years as commissioner was saying this is only a 5 year old deck or 7 or 10 year olds deck which is rel tivly young so something seriously went wrong there. To your point i think that is something we should consider. I dont want todo you have anymore . Commissioner lee . Yes, im curious about what programs we have in place for the smaller buildings . I understand we programs for apartments and hotels but what about Single Family unit. Last mupth we had an abatement appeal case before us which was a rental home and the back deck was deteariated and had to decide to close that off. Im curious to hear what the plans are for the smaller buildings or is it just all voluntary . I think it is a matter of resources related to the numbers. With the apartments there are more people involved and in terms of tenants and we have a Housing Inspection Services division. Single family and 2 family dwellings generally fall into the purview of our plan revuiew inspection and Building Inspection Division and the numbers there i think are spread out and all over the city, so it is a matter of developing a database. Wrun one of the things we hope to do and think you brought up a excellent point here commissioner lee, we intend to roll out the accela program and expect the project permit tracking system to provide the opportunity to capture features more so than the current permit tracking system. Right now basics are the unit count, construction type, height, story count. Adding and capturing features like decks and balcony, stairs fire escapes, if we start developing that especially for Single Family and duplexes perhaps that is where we can over a period of time be able to develop a program that is effective. Right now there is only one way to make a determination. You go out and drive out or you make note of it when you do a regular kitchen or bathroom remodel inspection or when you go and search through our Records Management division to see if there are drawings and then you can verify it. The issue now is we dont have a complete data base available to put together a effective program. I think it is something we definitely want to think about and think you bring up a slnts point. We talked about what are we going to do about the smaller buildings and well continue this discussion and i think that is currently perhaps director hui has a problem. Commissioner lee, to answer your question up to this point there are 1 and 2 family [inaudible] our results can not be [inaudible] we want to concentrate on [inaudible] and also some of the small commercial buildings. There are 2 thing tooz look at, one is a [inaudible] and the other one is a self supported polls and beams to support the back [inaudible] is more dangerous because they have Water Proofing on top you may not see and that is why we want to capture thoseright now this time with the [inaudible] regulation type of construction, Water Proofing is a issue we want to make sure. The other for Single Family or 2 unit buildsings that is why we encourage the owner using a screw driver and [inaudible] trying to see themselves. You walk on top of the deck and you feel it isnt safe then you should ask professional opinion to come in and fix it. [inaudible] they should come in to do it right away. That is the advantage thrai v. Thereat is why we encourage them for repairing your deck or rear stair or anything, you dont need a plan, you just come in and file a permit and you dont need it go through planning. Everyone knows you issue it right away. What we call a [inaudible] that is what we approach to encourage people to get permit and come in sfr small building. The bigger building we want to encourage them to come in [inaudible] how to improve the Water Proofing situation. Water proofing is a issue eerfben 20 or 30 years ago i remember when was outside, evethen roof before they were [inaudible] water migration into the building that is why the roof want a quarter inch per foot otherwise they dont guarantee [inaudible] your water wont come in. It isnt a new things it is a old thing but they come back again and again and we learn from it. I see the point where it can be a challenge to document all the balconys and stairs and decks for Single Family home jz duplex but it is incumbent on the Property Owners to take a look at their buildings. Since the tragied in berkeley, i look around at the build squgz i see small Single Family homes with whault i call decorative balconys. They are just metal looking balconys and not real bal conys just bolted on the wall and see people standing on them and they are smoking. I have seen a case where they are bbq. Maybe Single Family home people dont know that structure is safe or not and it is incumbent for them to find out. Thank you commissioners. I just close my comment is a observation. When i received this i saw balcony deck safety and looked at the picture and saw a fire escape, no deck, fire escape and was only in the last comment that we mentioned fire escapes. Whatever the codes are i hope we are also including information about having these checked and these kept up to date because they are everywhere and i been thinking balcony and deck and when i saw this i said i have one of those. [inaudible] was included. We are going go into all those because they attach to the building with a screw in there. That is covered in our section 604. To commissioner mars point i am off line and would like to talk about concern to the regards of the other deck and maybe we can talk after the meeting. First of all i want to thank you mr. Tom, i asked for this last meeting and wasnt aware you had done so muchwork so quick and give such a great presentation today. It is a outstanding first step for the department to be taking and so im happy with what you presented here today and feel confident the department is doing everything within their prirfby to do the right thing Going Forward because now after the tragied that is all we can do is look real hard Going Forward and how do we do what we need to do to make sure it doesnt happen. [inaudible] to 3 of the families left here and visit with them today. Ill share this with them and say this is yourthis tragied is triggering a great awareness this can happen to anyone and will do our part to make sure it doesnt happen in this city. As a part of the policy we are going to do i believe up to now i havent shared any of this yet. Our housing chief has been in contact with the berkeley representatives and maybe perhaps our Communications Group has done it, im just not aware of it i think it is something as soon as you feel is appropriate to do that becausei just to my commissioners points here, i think this is touched everybody so dramatically so if we could and i also want to thank lily, i know she worked hard on this, if we can keep updates how the outreach is going if you feel confident it is getting through. I want tobook you for the buildsers meeting which will come up soon. You mentioned you are outdreaching to the groups and think you do a great job presenting it [inaudible] greater step forward. Thank you to the the staff and your hard work. I wasnt expecting this great report so thank you. Thank you very much on behalf of our staff. It is a team effort and we convene and everybodywhat you saw today is a contribution of many people and we just happened to put in a Powerpoint Presentation but the collective effort of different ideas because everybody has a different take how to reach out to people. Thank you commissioners with time to share thoughts and concerns about this very important subject that we are not going let it go and continue to pursue the outreach and bringing this into the collective consciousness of building owners. Thank you. Thank you. Any Public Comment on item 7 . Seeing none, item 8, directors report. 8 a, update on dbi finances. Good morning commissioners [inaudible] deputy dreper for department of bilgdsing inspection and in the packet is july 2015 year to date financial report. Given july is the first month of the fiscal year there very limited data so ill give a brief summary. The revenue there is a slight reduction in revenue, but one percent compared to last year. I see this as being the same what we collected as last year. On the [inaudible] side we are spending slightly more than we did this year last year, however because july is the first month of the fiscal year we are doing a lot of prep rakez for the year so we are setting up contracts and pos and work orders. Also i discussed this earlier, july is the month that we use to close out the prior fiscal year so we are doing a lot of close outs and hope well be done with the close out of 14 15 and can provide a report next month. Happy to answer questions if you have any. Commissioner mar . Thank you for that. Just probably a little off topic but the reduced fee in progress . Yes, the reduced fees are not in progress yet. The legislation is currentsly approved by the board at the last meeting july meeting so we have to wait for a meeting in september so hope it will be effected after the mayors signature so in october so that is timely because a few months ago we had approval to extend the temporary fee to the end of october. Bill strom will have more information about the legislation in his report too. Thank you deputy. Item 8 b, propose a enacted state or local legislation. Mr. Stom. Pub luck comnlt for the directors report will be taken at the end. Good morning bill stom legislative and public affairs. To Deputy Director madisons point just a minute ago, the mayors legislation did pass for the budget. It was attach today the full budget for our fee changes and one reading took place so the second reading will take place at the boards fist meeting in september and expect that to pass unanimously and the mayor to sign it that same week so roughly around the week of october 6 or 7 is when we expect new fee tables to go into full effect. As the director mentioned earlier, it is going to be roughly a 10 percent reduction. It will be a little higher than the 7 percent that we have right now. There will be finer gruidations on the evaluations tables as well. That will be fully in place by the middle of october. I know i had more than one conversation with some of their directors staff and berkeley did not have the requirement that we had since 20s 2 where owners are required at least every 5 years to have a engineer or architect reinspect those types of appendages to buildsings subject to climate deterioration and wood root. The new ordinance is fashioned on housing code 6 04 that i and mrs. Bosky sent it them. [inaudible] they added a couple additional elements in the adopted code such as pressure treated wood being now a requirement and i believe they will require even more frequent reinspections. I believe what the council decided is every 3 year, which is possible and berkeley was a more limited building supply, that would be very challenging in San Francisco given our overall situation. But with that i want to mention too that the mayors legislation for waving plan review fees for building and planning on the legalization of in laws did pass and that will take effect in early septembe