HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013/01/14 BOAA MinsMINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF APPEALS AND ADVISORS
CITY OF CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA
January 14, 2013 Conference Room #137 5:15 PM
276 Fourth Ave. Chula Vista, CA 91910
MEMBERS PRESENT: Sanfilippo, Lopez, Sides, West and Starkey
MEMBERS ABSENT: Meservy (Excused)
CITY STAFF PRESENT: Lou EI- Khazen, Building Official
OTHERS PRESENT: Dan Martin, Otay Water District
CALL MEETING TO ORDER: Chair Sanfilippo called the'meeting to order at 5:15 p.m and asked the
secretary to call roll. Building Official El- Khazen noted Member Jones resigned as of November 5, 2012, and
the City would be in the process of finding a replacement. Also, Member Meservy had emailed stating he
would not be able to attend tonight's meeting. The Committee voted to excuse his absence.
1. ROLL CALL: Members present constituted a quorum.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: November 5, 2012
MSC (JL /BW) (5- 0 70 -1) Approve the Board of Appeals & Advisors minutes of November 5, 2012.
Motion carried with Member Meservy absent.
3. NEW BUSINESS:
A. Proposed residential clothes washer graywater stub -out ordinance (recommendation to City
Council)
Mr. Lou El- Khazen, Building Official commented this ordinance was the same one presented at their
November 5th meeting. At the last meeting it was presented as a discussion item because staff was
not ready to take it before City Council, as the Otay Water District had concerns about the laws and
regulations (Title 17) as they applied to graywater. Now staff is comfortable bringing it to the
committee for recommendation to Council, as the city and Otay Water has received correspondence
from the California Department of Health Services explaining their position on the regulations and
clothes washer graywater systems.
Lou said the state understood the plumbing code exempted a homeowner from getting a building
permit for this system. They felt the 12 conditions in the plumbing code ensured the clothes washer
graywater system would be safe if implemented correctly. It was the state's position that the backflow
prevention device (RP) is not necessary. They felt it was ultimately up to the water authority on how
they wanted to handle that. Staff said Otay Water was ready to move forward without requiring an RP
device on the meter; Dan Martin with the water authority was here to answer any questions.
Mr. Dan Martin, with Otay Water District reiterated their primary concern had to do with the
interpretation of Title 17 of the state code. Once they received clarification from the state (in written
communication) that backflow was not required, Otay Water did not have any concerns with the
ordinance.
Committee Members Concerns /Comments:
• If a homeowner deviates from the twelve conditions outlined in the plumbing code how will
that be dealt with? The building official said a complaint could be made to Code Enforcement
and Code Enforcement will investigate and abate any violations.
Board of Appeals & Advisors Page 2 January 14, 2013
Meeting Minutes
Are there recommendations on the type of detergent used for this system, and what are the
environmental consequences if the wrong detergent is used? Lou said it's not part of the
policy; however; a Best Practices Manual is being created that will address questions. This
information will be available to the public, the homeowner; it will be available at the front
counter and on our city web page. Currently there are products available that are low in
sodium, no bleach and phosphates but you have to order them. If a homeowner uses a
detergent that wasn't specified he would wind up harming some of his own landscaping.
What happens if there is run off into the storm drain? Lou said the Storm Drain Manager had
asked him for a copy of the report, which he reviewed, and had no issues with it.
Further discussion ensued concerning the levels of bacteria that might be found in the
graywater emitting from washing machines, and if there were any concerns how it may
environmentally affect the general population. Lou responded that if there was an
environmental concern, stakeholders such as the California Department of Public Health,
California Department of Housing and Community Development and other state health and
water agencies that were involved in the adoption of the plumbing code would not have
exempted single- source clothes washer systems from a permit.
If the Board of Appeals & Advisors (BOA) recommends it to city council what other groups
have already seen it? Lou stated he had presented it to the Resource Conservation
Commission this afternoon and they had unanimously approved it as a recommendation to
council to adopt it. Also the Oversight Committee has already reviewed it and they didn't
oppose it.
After further deliberation the committee members unanimously decided to recommend the ordinance
for adoption by the City Council.
MSC (AS /JL) (5- 0 -0 -1) Recommend to the City Council that proposed Residential Clothes Washer
Graywater Stub -out Ordinance be approved.
4. MEMBERS COMMENTS /CHAIRMAN'S COMMENTS /REPORTS: None
5. BUILDING OFFICIAL'S COMMENTS /REPORTS: None
6. COMMUNICATIONS (PUBLIC REMARKS/ WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE): None
7. ADJOURNMENT:
Chair SanFilippo adjourned the meeting at 5:45 p.m. to a regular meeting on February 11, 2013 at
5:15 p.m. in Planning and Building Conference Room #137.
MINUTES TAKEN BY:
ROSEMARIE RICE, SECRETARY
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT - BUILDING DIVISION