HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06181991 - 1.64 1 . 64
To: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Contra
FR& Franklin Lew, Director of Building Inspection
Costa
County
DATE: June 18, 1991 :
SUBJECT: STATUS REPORT ON CODE VIOLATIONS IN THE BETHEL ISLAND AREA
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ACCEPT status report on code violations relative to substandard structures
in the Bethel Island Area.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS AND BACKGROUND:
When the Building Inspection Department (BID) .initiated abatement proceedings
for code violations on a specific. building on Bethel Island, the owners
allegedthat many buildings on the island have similar violations, and
submitted a list of such buildings. In checking out the list, BID found that
most of them likely were in compliance with regulations and policies in effect
at the `-time the buildings were built and given final inspections. However, it
is a, fact that regulations have changed over time, and interpretations.may not
have been completely.uniform, and policies consistently applied, as they. could
have been. It is understandable that owners who build a building today, and
are subject to today's requirements , may be confused and unhappy over being
denied certain uses and facilities to be located on the ground level, uses
that. BID did not raise objections over in buildings built earlier. It should
be noted that some conditions and changes in use were made, without BID's
knowledge, subsequent to final inspection. The vagueness of FEMA regulations,
insurance company policies, and the human tendency to .ignore laws that 'don't
make sense'. , all contribute to the perceived and real problems of code
violations in this area.
BIDis sensitive to the fairness and common sense issues raised, and have been
working to develop a rational policy on uses and construction that should be
allowed in new construction, and also on what uses should be al Dwed in
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: ,
■
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOARD ON .T1 i n t 1 A 1 991 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED _ OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT I III ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
..ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE'.SHOWN.
cc: Val Alexeeff, GMEDA .Director ATTESTED June 18, 1991
County Counsel PHIL BATCHELOR;CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Orig. Dept. Building Inspection
BY DEPUTY
M382 (10/88)
Franklin Lew -2- July 8, 1991
existing buildings. An ad hoc committee has been formed under the auspices of
the Growth Management and Economic Development Agency to assist BID.
Committee members include architects and engineers who are active in the .
Bethel Island area, representatives from the reclamation districts, FEMA,
BIMID, and County staff. One meeting has been. held, and another is scheduled
for mid-July. Participants at the first meeting felt the meeting provided a
level of communications and exchange among interested parties that was
unprecedented, and everyone expressed optimism over the prospects for clearer
policies and enforcement.