HomeMy WebLinkAbout2a. COW Minutes 5-10-11
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES
May 10, 2011
I.CALL TO ORDER–ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order at 7:04p.m. in the Village Board Room of the Village Hall, 50
South Emerson Street,by Mayor Irvana Wilks. Present at the meeting were TrusteesPaul
Hoefert, Arlene Juracek, John Korn, John Matuszak, Steven Polit andMichael Zadel.Staff
present includedAssistant Village Manager David Strahl, Fire Chief John Malcolm and Fire
Marshall Brian Loomis.
II.APPROVAL OF MINUTES FORSPECIAL MEETING MARCH 8, 2011
Motion made by Trustee Polit seconded by Trustee Zadel.Minutes were approved.
CITIZENS TO BE HEARD
III.
None
Mayor Wilksrecognized Boy Scout candidate John Tworekin the audience for his Citizenship
and Community badge for his Eagle Scout designation.
IV.UPDATE ON RESIDENTIAL FIRE SPRINKLERS
The topic was introduced by Fire Chief John Malcolm. He statedthatthe ordinance was passed
in 2003 and wanted to highlight the activity and impact that the compliance of the ordinance has
had from2003 until now.
Fire Marshall Bryan Loomisstated that at the time of the passage of the Residential Sprinkler
Ordinance in 2003 the Village was only one of fifteen towns with such an Ordinance.Since then
there are now seventy-one communities and fire protection districts in the area and 361
communities nationwide that have passed a Residential Fire Sprinkler Ordinance. Since 2003 the
Village has experienced three fire deaths and twelve fire injuries in single familyhomes. All of
these incidencesoccurred in homes without fire sprinklers. He stated there have been six fire
sprinkler saves to property and life and one single family home save due to fire sprinklers since
the ordinance was put in place. Since the ordinance has been put in place in 2003 there have
been 143 single family homes, 104 townhomes and 944 condo unitsthat have been installed with
sprinkler systems. This also includes condo conversions. He expects about ten homes to be built
in Mount Prospect with fire sprinklers this calendar year.
He stated the International Building Code has now created standards definingsingle family
sprinkler codes which havebeen used by many other communities. Although this item couldbe
amended out by local municipalities,it has at least established standards that were clearly
recognized for residential sprinklers,relieving communities of creating their own standards. He
also statedthat the International Code requires residential sprinklers for homes built after January
2011 anyway. He said the Village is currently on the2006 version of the code. The nextupdate
would be the 2009 version which would include the residential sprinkler requirements. He stated
the department did a study in 2006 which found the average cost for the sprinkler system
installation to be $1.81 per square foot. He stated the department has changedthe configuration
requirement for backflow preventers to reduce the cost for homeownersandthischange occurred
in 2006. He stated these changes saved the homeowner approximately $1000in installation
costs. He also stated some incentives have been suggested in the past including reduction in
permit fees, reduction in wall construction for fire ratings and reduction in fire flow requirements in
addition to increasing the distance between hydrants. While none of theseitems are suggested
for consideration at this time he did want to make sure that theseitems were at least mentioned
and some of these options have been adoptedby other communities. He stated thathomeowner
insurance does get reduced with a fire sprinkler installation, however;the current reduction is
anywhere from 5 to 7% of the premium.
4/12/11
Committee of the Whole
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General comments from the Village Board members included the following items:
It was acknowledge that the staff has been flexible in modifying the water/sprinkler
connection to save the homeowner money. It wasalso confirmed that based on the
pressure in the system there is no need for a fire pump.
It was also noted that the plastic supply lines are acceptable because they are a
specially treated PVC pipe which does reduce the cost compared to copper piping.
It was noted that a sprinkleractivation did extinguish a grease fire which occurred due to
the constant flow of water and did not allow a flash over.
It was also noted that there is no need to have electrical power to operate the sprinkler
systems during activations. An audio bell must be installed inside and outside the home
and is not connected to electrical power for activation since it is tied to the water flow.
This has been successful in notifying occupants inside the home and persons on the
outside just in case no one is home.
There have been very few false alarms in single family homes for sprinkler activation.
There was a discussion regarding the square footage costs as it relates to the entire
livable space within the home which includes the basement and a dry sprinkler head in
the garage.
It was further clarified that the lighter weight construction materials used in modern
single familyhomes justify the use of sprinklers to keep the fire knocked down due to the
speed of a fire going into aflashoverbased on the materials in the homes these days.
The sprinkler system is pressure tested before being put on line and the code has been
modified to address issues that have been observed in attic spaces regardingunheated
areas.
The only annual expense for a homeowner would be the certification of the backflow
preventer which requiresa plumber for certification and maintenance.
Finally it was noted that the homeowners’ insurance policy does cover damage due to
accidental activation or due to the fire.
VILLAGE MANAGER’S REPORT
V.
Assistant Village Manager Strahlnoted that this Saturday is Coffee with Council which will take
place from 9:00-11:00 a.m., the Public Works Open House from 9:00 -1:00 and the Colony and
Crown Revolutionary reenactmentwill be this Saturday and Sunday at Lions Park.
VI.ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Trustee Kornwanted to note a personal incidence in which the owner of the barber shop that he
works at was recently found dead inside the shop and he has since been locked out of the shop
and is no longer working there.
ADJOURNAMENT
VII.
Meeting adjournedat 9:07p.m.
DAVID STRAHL
Assistant Village Manager
4/12/11
Committee of the Whole
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