Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/11/1992 COW minutes Minutes COMMITrEE OF THE WHOLE ~August 11, 19~92 ^UG 2 0 1992 I Roll Call The meeting was called to order by Mayor Gerald L. Farley at 7 35 p m. Trustees present wcrc Mark Bussc, George Clowes, T~n Corcoran, Leo Floros, and Paul Hocfert. Trustee Irvana Wllks was absent Also present were Village Manager Mtchael E. Janoms, Fire Ch,cf Edward Cavello, Inspection Services Director Chuck Benclc, Inspect,on Coordinator Dan Jakes and Finance Director David Jepson In addition, Tom O'Connell of the National F~re Spnnkler ,~sociaUon, two members of the print media and three residents were ,n attendance. II Minutes of July 28, 1992 The minutes of July 28, 1992 were accepted and filed Ill Citizens to be Heard No citizens expressed ~a d~lre to make any comments ~ ., IV Proposed changes tO the Building and Fire Protection Codes' ~ Village Manager Janon~ stated that the Committee vail continue d~scuss,on' regarding proposed changes to Building and F, re Prevent,on Codes Mr. Janonls said that because some concerns had been expressed regarding tigh]er requirements for sprinkler systems, he requested the F, re Chief to d,seuss some of the benefits for mcluchng the more restrictive features in the Code revisions F, re Chief Cavello stated that there are four basic types of spnnkler systems 1. The Wet System - thi~ system includes a standpipe and sprinkler h~nes ~thr0ughout the build,ng that are filled w~th water and are 9ctivated by heat. Only the spnnl~ler heads In the proxtm~ty of the heat are act,vated ~ · 2 The Dry System - this syste'~~ ,s used where the ~spnnkl,er lines are subject to freezu~g~' condmons or where water would da ~m~age equ, pment 3. The Pre-Action System - this system works in conjunct,on wuth some other alarm mechan~m 4 The Deluge System - th~s system is activated by heat but all spnnkler heads open in the event ~ of a fire. Chief Cavello stated that the wet system is the most common and is widely used m Mount Prospect He said that the advantage of a spnnkler system is that it is like having a firefighter w~th a charged hose every ten feet in the braiding. He added that the activation of a spnnkler system also sends an automatic alarm to Northwest Central D~spatch. Chief Cavello said that sprmlder systems are successful 97% of the time, and that they keep down fire loss and reduce the demand for manpower Chief Cavello ~ntroduced Mr. Tom O'Cennell, the Midwest Regional Representative for the National Ftre Sprinkler Association Mr O'Connell had prevaously been employed by the Clucago Fire Department for 31 years. Mr. O'Connell stated that he had enloyed a long relationship with the Mount Prospect Flr~e Department and that he knew Mount Prospect was a leader m pubhc education He said he strongly supported the proposed sprinkler requirements and that staUstlcs indicated that 66% of all fires can be controlled wath one sprinkler head. He added that there is a general fear that sp6nklers can cause water damage if they are se, t-off inadvertently However, he said actual damage ~s msigmfica~nt. Mr. O'Connell pointed out that sprinkler systems are now available for res~dential properties. He also quoted an article from the American Crees and Counties magazine and a Florida newspaper citing reduced costs for a mumclpahty when buildings are sprmklered Mr O'Connell stated that some of the cost benefits of spnnkler systems include interest and depreciat~on deductions for income tax purposes, life safety benefits; complying with Federal requirements, hablhty avoidance;~ and reduced business~ interruptions. He concluded by saying that sp~nMer systems save hves an~ m~ney Mayor Farley asked what it would cost to install a sprinkler system and whether it was reasonable to expect the owner of an existing building to pay the extra cost of a sprinkler system. Mr O'Connell responded that the Wet System, the most commonly used system, costs about $1.50 to $2 00 per square foot in new construction or about the same cost as carpeting He also smd that addmg a ?pnnlder to an older building generally will allow the building to be more competitive. Trustee Hoefert asked if some ?ystems can be activated by smoke and if partial systems are effective Mr. O'Connell replied that some of the 'Pre/Action Systems can be used in conjunction vnth smoke detectors He added that current standards do not provide for partial systems. Chief Cavello stated that usually the largest expense m a sprinkler system is bringing the plumbing into the building and there is not much of a sa~vings to install a partial system Trustee Busse asked if any homes in Mount Prospect were sprmklered and if there are any incentives to encourage sprinkler systems Chief Cavello responded that currently th~:re are no residences in Mount Prospect that are spnnklered. Mr. O'Connell said that there are certain budding tradeoffs, 1 ~, fewer ex~ts required .w~th a spnnklered budding Also, he said studies have shown that lt~ ~s cheaper t? build a school wi~'th a si~rinkler syste~m than, .~vnth°ut a system , ~ · Trustee Busse recommended that these advantages be commumcated w~th local arctutects Trustee Clowes asked how much it cost to retrofit an ex~stm~g budding Mr. O'Connell stated that the cost would range from $1.50 to $3 00 per square foot Trustee Clowes stated he would prefer that the reqmrement for spnnkler systems be voluntary He also said he would hke to see the specific mcenOves that may be avadable and that he would support the change if the incentives are exphc~t. Inspection Services Director Bencic said he would supply a hst of the incentives that are avadable. Trustee Floros asked specifically what change was being requested Vdlage Manager Janoms responded that the change would require spnnklers in any new construction over 5,000 square feet m place of the 2 current requirement of 10,000 square feet. Additionally, if an existing buildmg changes use and the remodeling costs exceed 50% of the value of the building, the new standards would apply. Trustee Floros said he supported the proposed change. Trustee Corcoran asked if there would be any exceptions Mr. Janoms stated that there is an appeals process that can be utilized for extraordinary circumstances Trustee Coreoran said he thought it was a prudent step Mayor Farley a~ked why the 5,000 square foot was chosen rather than some other figure between 5,000 and 10,000 Chief Cavello stated that because of newer build~ng materials, the fiash point of a fire ~s much higher than in prior years He said this gave the braiding a greater level of protection In response to a question about the addition to the Senior Center, Chief Cavello said the new addition would be sprlnklered and the rest of the building would be added at a later time. Mayor Farley sa~d that a local contractor had requested the opportumty to comment on the proposed changes and that that information will be provided at a later date Mr Benclc then rewewed the balance of the proposed changes under items A (30-37), B, C, D, E, F, G, and H in h~s memo of June 2, 1992. The only points of discussion were items A-37 where the term "part~cle board" was changed to "composite board" and item H Item H proposed deleting the Architectural Commission and authorizing the Director of Inspection Sermces to determine if a specific building vnll d~mm~sh the value of the neighborhood Mr. Bencic explained that the Architectural Commission has not met in 10 years and that the appeals process included first the Director of Inspection Serwces, then the Village Manager and then the Village Board Mayor Farley requested that the committee stop at this point and said the d~scussion on the proposed changes would be continued at the September 8, 1992 Committee of the Whole. VI Manager's Report Mr. Janoms stated that because of a heavy agenda for the August 25, 1992 Committee of the Whole, the report from the Solid Waste Commission and the Refuse Coordinator regarding the 2 can vs. the 1 can refuse program will be deferred until September 8, 1992 VII Other Business No other business was presented VIII Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 10 08 p_tn ' Respectfully submitted, David C. Jepson, Finance D~rector 3