Local Government Affairs Committee (LGAC) Meeting Date and Speaker
4:00 PM Monday, August 17 via Zoom and at the CATT office
Guest Speaker: Tim Wegner, Chief Building Official, Placer County
The next CATT Truckee North Tahoe Local Government Affairs Committee meeting is Monday, August 17, at 4:00 PM. Masks will be required and social distancing implemented for attendees at the office. For those who are not attending in person, participating by Zoom is an option. Here are the instructions to join the Zoom Meeting:
Go to https://zoom.us/j/5776601960
Meeting ID: 577 660 1960
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Our August 17 guest speaker via Zoom is Tim Wegner, Placer County Chief Building Official. Tim will cover two items of interest: the Tahoe Building Services Manager vacancy and CalFire’s 30 foot defensible space setback rule.
Sitting with Tim at the Zoom meeting will be Gabe Armstrong. Tim emailed CATT, “With the unfortunate departure of Eric (Simonson), I’ve developed a patch plan until such time we can employ a new building manager in Tahoe. Gabe Armstrong, a Supervising Inspector in Auburn, will travel to Tahoe twice a week to provide oversight of the building department. He plans to be in the Tahoe office Tuesday and Thursday of each week. Gabe has years of experience and will serve us well during this gap period.”
Tim will also explain what’s included so far in the County’s draft procedure for enforcing CalFire’s requirement for a 30 foot defensible space setback from a structure (CA Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Sub Chapter 2 – Fire Safe Regulation). The requirement became effective January 1, 2020 and applies to all parcels. CATT member Brad Altman (Evolve Design Works) deserves a lot of credit for bringing this issue to the forefront. Brad started asking questions of North Tahoe Fire Protection District (NTFPD) and CalFire when it became clear that many parcels in our area are not large enough to have a residence plus a 30 foot setback for defensible space surrounding the home. Going through a variance procedure could add significant time and money to the home building process. Brad’s questioning and similar questions being posed by others led to a May 29 letter from NTFPD to the CA Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, stating that the NTFPD does not meet the definition of “local jurisdiction” per Title 14 and that Placer County, not NTFPD, is the “local jurisdiction” with Title 14 enforcement authority. Tim said in an email to CATT, “The County has been working closely with CalFire on this issue. We’re discussing internal workflows and hope to have a process to share in the near future.” Tim has already agreed to reach out to CATT’s Placer Plan Check Committee when he has a draft ready for their review.
Other agenda items for Monday’s meeting include: CalFire tree removal permit, Truckee General Plan and climate actions, Truckee planning/building issues, and LGAC Budget for 2021.
Please contact CATT Truckee North Tahoe Government Affairs Manager Pat Davison at 530.550.9999 or pat@ca-tt.com for more information about LGAC activities or issues of concern to CATT.
UPDATE FROM TRUCKEE CBO DAN WEST RE PLAN CHECK & STAFFING
The Building Department has been extremely busy since the first of the year with the code changes that took effect and the large amount of projects that were submitted to avoid the new changes. Then when Covid hit and everyone was working from home we thought things would slow down. They did not.
At one time, we had over 70 projects in the queue waiting for plan review. We’ve got that number down to 42 but still have 70 projects that are waiting for resubmittal with corrections. When those come in we have to try and work them into the queue along with everything else. We only have one full time Plans Examiner (Darcey) and one half time Plans Examiner (me). We send about 1/2 of our SFR’s and the majority of our commercial projects out to third party review. Planning and Engineering are dealing with the same number of projects.
Unfortunately, our goal of meeting posted turnaround times are not happening. SFR’s and additions are about 40 to 45 working days. Decks and minor improvements are 18 working days. Detached garages 30 working days. Residential Fire sprinkler and PV systems 10 working days.
We are hoping to get back to normal in the next few months by making a few staffing changes.
Please contact me with any questions. Thanks. Dan West, Building Department Supervisor, Building & Safety Division, Town of Truckee, phone: D 530.582.2482, O 530.582.7821, M 530.414.3318 email: dwest@townoftruckee.com
CATT COMMITTEE SUBMITS COMMENT ON TRUCKEE GPU
CATT members on the CATT Land Use Subcommittee for the Truckee General Plan Update (GPU) have been working overtime to respond to Town meetings and surveys. The Land Use Committee Chair is Jake Hudson (NV5). Committee Members are: Paul Laudenschlager (Alpen Engineering, Inc.), Chip Huck (CSJV), Heather Rankow (Developer’s Connection), Craig Weaver (MOBO Law), and Brian Marsh (TNT/The Rock Garden).
Along with evaluating appropriate land use and density for sites presented in the Town surveys, committee members contacted various property owners of parcels included in the Town surveys. With one exception, owners who were contacted by CATT said they were not consulted in advance of the Town survey being released for public consumption. Several owners made it very clear to CATT that they do not agree with the Town’s vision for their property. CATT is encouraging those owners to get engaged in the process. From a policy standpoint, the Town can improve communication practices by making advance consultation with owners a necessary step before any maps, surveys, reports, or planning documents targeting specific parcels are released.
Here are copies of recent CATT committee correspondence to the Town:
7-28-20 CATT letter to Truckee Town Council re GPU progress and public engagement process
7-31-20 CATT response on Town preliminary land use alternatives survey for five areas
For more information about CATT position statements and activities on the Truckee GPU, please contact CATT Truckee North Tahoe Government Affairs Manager Pat Davison at 530.550.9999 or pat@ca-tt.com.
PLACER COUNTY JOB OPENING FOR TAHOE BUILDING SERVICES MANAGER
The Tahoe Building Services Manager position became open as of the July 24 departure of Eric Simonson. This is an upper level job with day to day oversight of the Building Department at Tahoe. Here is the job posting for this position:
https://www.jobapscloud.com/Placer/sup/bulpreview.asp?R1=2020&R2=11713&R3=01
Thanks to CBO Tim Wegner for making CATT members part of the interview team for this management position. Given the importance of the Building Services Manager and concerns about plan check backlog, CATT has a strong interest in the selection of the right candidate to run the Tahoe Building Department office. Interviews will likely be held before Labor Day.
PLACER COUNTY ADDS COMPLETENESS REVIEW TO BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS
In reference to the large number of building permit applications Placer County receives, the county is now including a completeness review of the application submittal prior to plan check. Complete submittal packages will proceed directly to plan check. Please contact H. Schiller Cassell III, Supervising Building Inspector for Placer County if you have any questions: (530) 745-3028 or hcassell@placer.ca.gov.
PLACER COUNTY WANTS YOUR FEEDBACK FOR NEW TRANSPORTATION PLAN TO REDUCE TRAFFIC
Placer County is seeking community feedback on a draft transportation plan for the “Resort Triangle” area, which connects the North Lake Tahoe area of Placer County and Interstate 80.
The draft plan, currently open for public review and comment, identifies strategies that seek to ease mobility throughout the region, reduce transportation impacts on the environment and encourage commute options other than driving such as transit and non-motorized travel choices.
Community members can provide their feedback on four key topics including micro transit, managed parking, encouraging commute options, and moving people along corridors. Participants can learn about each topic through an informational, animated video and respond to the proposed strategies through a short questionnaire.
The virtual workshop is available at www.triangle-transportation.com in both English and Spanish. The community’s input will help to refine the plan recommendations for a presentation to the Board of Supervisors later this summer.
CATT TRUCKEE NORTH TAHOE PRIORITIES FOR 2020
Priorities for Pat and the Truckee North Tahoe Local Government Affairs Committee were approved by LGAC at their regular meeting December 16, 2019:
2020 PRIORITY ISSUES TO BE HANDLED BY CATT TRUCKEE NORTH TAHOE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MANAGER PAT DAVISON
Mitigation Fees – coordinate with LGAC as a whole
a. Alpine Springs County Water District Fire Mitigation Fees – annual update
b. Squaw Valley Public Service District Fire Mitigation Fees – annual update
c. Northstar Community Service District Fire Mitigation Fees & Martis Valley West Annexation – expect new fee study
d. North Tahoe Fire Protection District Mitigation Fees – annual update
e. Truckee Fire Protection District Mitigation Fees – annual update
f. Truckee Traffic/Facilities Mitigation Fees – annual update
g. Placer County Traffic Mitigation Fees – expect new fee study
h. Placer County Traffic Mitigation Fees Conversion to SF basis – may be part of new fee study
i. Tahoe Truckee Unified School District Mitigation Fees – biannual update
Truckee General Plan Update – coordinate with LGAC GPU Committee
- continual work all year
Housing – coordinate with LGAC Housing Committee
- Achievable/locals housing incentives (large and small projects) – all jurisdictions
- ADU programs – Town and two counties
- Placer affordable housing requirement - request small project exemption
- TRPA ADU Housing Program
OTHER – Attend and provide monthly reports for the CATT Board, write articles for the CATT newsletter and CATT Weekly, prepare agendas and invite speakers for LGAC and committees, create LGAC email reminders and alerts, conduct leadership training and identify committee recruits, assist with fundraising for the Issues Action Fund, attend CATT member orientations and budget meetings, prepare content for WOW flyer, prepare Annual Report, read files for scanning, and perform other administrative duties as needed. Continue to emphasize the importance of CATT members being involved in issues to affect the outcome.
2020 PRIORITY ISSUES TO BE HANDLED BY LGAC COMMITTEE (OR POINT PERSON):
a. Placer Plan Check – Committee Chairman Pat Souza
b. North Tahoe Hydrant Flow Needs Assessment – Committee Chairman Pat Souza
c. Multi-Jurisdictional Building Working Group/Code Implementation – Committee Chairman Ryan Marsden
d. Affordable/Workforce Housing Solutions – Committee Chairwoman Kristi Thompson
e. NTFPD Schedule 80 piping requirement – Jamie Brimer
f. Truckee Tax Oversight – Craig Weaver
g. CA Bldg/Energy Code solar panel exemption – Committee Chairman Mitch Clarin/Ryan Marsden
h. Truckee Oversight Committee – Committee Chairman Kurt Reinkens
USE COMPLAINT FORM FOR PLAN CHECK & INSPECTION PROBLEMS
CATT Government Affairs Manager Pat Davison created a complaint form that can be used to document a problem with plan check or building inspection. This form allows CATT to track the complaint and also gives the managing entity specific detail for remedy. The complaint outline is simple:
- Project address
- Building permit #
- Date problem occurred
- Brief description of what happened
- Your opinion – what should have happened instead
- Your name and contact info
Click here to download the form. A fillable form is also posted on the CATT webpage at http://www.ca-tt.com/lgac-issues
For more information about the complaint form and CATT involvement once the form is filed, please contact CATT Government Affairs Manager Pat Davison at 530.550.9999 or pat@ca-tt.com
DONATE TO CATT "ISSUES ACTION FUND"
The Construction Industry is heavily regulated, with codes, fees, and policies changing on a regular basis at all levels of government. Many times, CATT dialogue with agency staff or elected officials can remove impediments or resolve problems.
But sometimes, CATT needs to take action to protect your industry in a different way. That's why you will hear the refrain: The World Is Run By Those Who Show Up with a call to action - comment now or attend a meeting. That's also why you will hear about CATT hiring experts or consultants to provide supporting information as a way to change the outcome of some code, fee, or policy proposal.
Consultants and experts give CATT an added boost, reinforcing a point from an outside perspective. That could make the difference between a questionable proposal getting adopted as is and one getting modified to be more reasonable.
CATT's Issues Action Fund is a dedicated fund set up to channel donations to those special issues where an expert or consultant can make a positive difference. LGAC oversees the Issues Action Fund. Please consider making a donation to the IAF today as a way to protect your tomorrow. Download the donation form here.
For more information about the CATT Issues Action Fund, please contact CATT Government Affairs Manager Pat Davison (530.550.9999 or pat@ca-tt.com).
WHAT IS LGAC?
CATT's Local Government Affairs Committee is a permanent committee composed of members who are interested in Fees - Codes - Regulation - Policy. This is the committee that analyzes issues affecting the building industry and determines CATT position and strategy. This committee works very closely with CATT Truckee North Tahoe Government Affairs Manager Pat Davison.
Bring your problems or concerns to LGAC. You may think you are alone when in reality others may be experiencing the same problems. LGAC could be the place to help you find a remedy. Experience the power of numbers with CATT as your ally.
Come to the LGAC meeting and learn what is happening with TRPA, the Town of Truckee, Special Districts, and Placer, Nevada, and Washoe Counties. Find out what CATT is doing to improve conditions for you and the building industry.
WHO IS LGAC?
CATT’s Truckee North Tahoe Local Government Affairs Committee (LGAC) has 17 members. LGAC Chair is Craig Weaver (MOBO Law, LLP), Vice Chair is Cody Heller (Heller Construction, Inc.). Committee members are: Steve Cooper (Aegis Insurance Markets), Jamie Brimer (Brimer Construction & Plumbing), Dennis Troy (BUILT), Chip Huck (CSJV), Heather Rankow (Developer’s Connection), Jaime Legare (Elements Mountain Company), Michael Forshee (Forshee Construction), Pat Souza (Heslin Construction), John Pruyn (High West Landscape Architects), John Wood (Loverde Builders, Inc.), Robbie Jamison (Mark Tanner Construction, Inc.), Ryan Marsden (Marsden Architects), Mitch Clarin (Mitchell T. Clarin), Kristi Thompson (MWA, Inc.), and Justin Bertoli (NSM Corporation).
If fees, regulations, code, and policy interest you, contact Truckee North Tahoe LGAC Chair Craig Weaver at 530.214.8700 or weaver@mobolaw.com.