Local Government Affairs Committee

CATT Local Government Affairs Committee (LGAC) Meeting Dates and Speakers:

February 11	See Agenda items below
March 18	Truckee Interim Chief Building Official Dan West
April 15	Truckee Town Council Member Anna Klovstad

Agenda items for the February 11 LGAC meeting include: Truckee General Plan and Housing Element Updates, North Tahoe Fire hydrant code requirements and CATT-requested changes to that code, Placer County Tahoe Building Department draft budget proposal for new staff, potential for self-certification by Placer County, and results of the CATT-sponsored technical memo questioning the Placer County affordable housing inlieu fee study. CATT Government Affairs Manager Pat Davison will present a matrix showing, by jurisdiction, when 2nd units and residential additions pay mitigation fees and when they do not.

LGAC meetings are usually held the third Monday of the month at the CATT office and start at 4:00 PM. The February meeting date was changed to the second Monday (February 11) because of the Presidents’ Day holiday. Any CATT member is welcome to attend LGAC meetings. Please contact CATT 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.

FACTORY OS TOUR DATE NOW FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8

The date for CATT’s tour of Factory OS has been changed to Friday, February 8. Any CATT member who is interested in seeing firsthand the way these pre-fab units are built should contact CATT Government Affairs Manager Pat Davison (530.550.9999 or pat@ca-tt.com) to get more details about the tour.

CATT PRESIDENT NAMES TONY COMMENDATORE AS NEW LGAC CHAIRMAN

In January, CATT President Peter Greenberger appointed Tony Commendatore as the Chairman of CATT’s Local Government Affairs Committee. Tony has been on LGAC for almost five years. Tony most recently served as Vice Chair of CATT’s Affordable/Workforce Housing Committee and has helped direct CATT policy on a wide variety of housing issues.

Tony has been a Truckee resident for 22 years and founded Aegis Insurance Markets 20 years ago. He is married to Krissy Commendatore who is the Speech Pathologist at Glenshire Elementary School. Tony and Krissy have twins who are sophomores in college - Jayden at Linfield College and Kassidy at the University of Nevada, Reno. Although Tony has been developing and growing Aegis Insurance Markets as his profession, he has also been heavily involved in numerous groups because he strongly believes in giving back to the community. Tony was a member of the Alpine Meadows Volunteer Ski Patrol for 22 years and acted as Volunteer Patrol Director for 4 years. Tony has also coached in the following organizations; National Ski Patrol, Pop Warner, Little League, and AYSO. Additionally, Tony has served as a board member for a variety of organizations, including Truckee Youth Football, Truckee Football Foundation, Truckee Baseball Foundation, Truckee Donner Horsemen Association, Old 40 Cycling, Cambridge Estates HOA, and the Truckee Industrial Park HOA.

As the new Chairman of LGAC, Tony’s goal is improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the committee by prioritizing and focusing on the most impactful issues to the CATT members.

NORTH TAHOE FIRE AND CATT HOSTED BUILDING INDUSTRY WORKSHOP JANUARY 9

Fire Prevention Officers Casey Ransdell (L) and David Rodriguez (R) present the concurrent review process

Fire Marshal/Division Chief Todd Conradson and Chief Mike Schwartz explain the fire boat donation program

CATT Government Affairs Manager Pat Davison describes our work to seek federal funding for a hydrant/fire flow needs assessment

42 people plus staff from North Tahoe Fire Protection District (NTFPD) and Placer County CDRA/Building Department attended a January 9 public workshop covering a variety of topics related to the 2019 building season. Two NTFPD Board members were also present – Heidi Doyle and Luke Ragan.

The 90 minute workshop featured these speakers and topics:

NTFPD Administrative Assistant Blanca Lundin explained the mitigation fee changes for North Tahoe Fire and Alpine Meadows. The increases are effective March 30, 2019.
NTFPD Fire Prevention Officers Casey Ransdell and David Rodriguez presented two different plan review process changes: Third Party Plan Review with Interwest and concurrent review with Placer County. These changes are almost ready to launch and are designed to help when there is plan check overload.
NTFPD Fire Marshal Todd Conradson informed attendees of the proposed increase in cost recovery fees from $80 per hour to $140 per hour. The increase will be agendized for a public hearing at the NTFPD Board of Directors’ meeting February 20.
NTFPD Fire Marshal Todd Conradson and NTFPD Chief Mike Schwartz described the purpose behind the NTFPD’s Charitable Fund to purchase a fire boat – donations are tax deductible.
NTFPD Fire Marshal Todd Conradson went over the State and NTF Fire Code Requirements for Hydrants and alternative mitigation aka the Fire Flow Initiative.
CATT Government Affairs Manager Pat Davison said CATT will be submitting changes to the NTFPD Fire Code for short term solutions to the hydrant shortage while also looking for big dollars (i.e. Lake Tahoe Restoration Act monies) to provide background for a long term solution (hydrant/fire flow needs assessment)
NTFPD Fire Marshal Todd Conradson gave a heads up about State and Local Fire Code changes to be reviewed later this year. CATT will be kept informed of code changes.
NTFPD Public Information Officer Erin Holland asked attendees to fill out a form if they would like a followup meeting on any topic or project.

Click here to download a pdf with all documents related to the workshop.

Many comments afterward were positive and several people suggested CATT and NTFPD should do this every year. CATT Government Affairs Manager Pat Davison noted, “My big takeaway is that giving plenty of advance notice and opportunity to comment helps everyone understand the rules and work together better. Open lines of communication are so important, especially when something new or different is being proposed.” NTFPD Division Chief Fire Marshal Todd Conradson added, “We appreciate every opportunity to communicate directly with building professionals and to share the efforts we’ve made to streamline the plan review process. We maintain a high standard of working with residents, builders, and developers from a fire and life safety perspective to ensure residential and commercial projects meet state and local codes and ordinances.”

For more information about the NTFPD/CATT workshop, please contact CATT Government Affairs Manager Pat Davison (530.550.9999 or pat@ca-tt.com).

IT’S COMING - NEW CA SOLAR REQUIREMENTS FOR RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION

In May of 2018, the California Energy Commission took several actions to cut energy use in new homes by more than 50 percent. The effective date of the 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards is January 1, 2020 (for building permits submitted on or after that date). Building energy efficiency standards are designed to reduce wasteful, uneconomic, inefficient or unnecessary consumption of energy, and enhance outdoor and indoor environmental quality. The standards are adopted into the California Code of Regulations (Title 24, Part 6).

One of the specific actions taken last May was the adoption of building standards that require solar photovoltaic systems in new residential dwellings starting in 2020.

Thanks to Vicki Burlingham, general manager of CATT-member company CRDS (Capital Rating and Documentation Services, Inc.) for providing the “compliance manual” pertaining to solar in newly constructed residential dwellings, including single-family, and low-rise (three or fewer habitable floors) multifamily buildings. Vicki says, “I’m sure individual building departments will have their own versions…”

Click here for the residential solar requirements as contained in Title 24: 2019 Residential Compliance Manual

Here is a link to the main home page for the CA Energy Commission with all compliance manuals, fact sheets, and related documents: https://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/2019standards/

Any questions? Contact Vicki at 916.515.6391 or capitalratingvicki@gmail.com

SIGN UP NOW FOR MAY 10 CA ENERGY CODE SEMINAR IN TRUCKEE

The Town of Truckee, Nevada County, Sierra County and Placer County invite you to the 2019 California Energy Code Seminar to discuss the challenges and mandatory changes of California’s Energy Code.

Click here to download the May 10 seminar flyer.

CAL Green defers to California’s Energy Code in regard to building efficiency standards. It is the strictest code of its kind in the nation. Years ago, it was announced that when the current revisions became mandatory in January 2020, all new residential construction will be required to meet Zero Net Energy requirements. The 2019 updates address this efficiency goal.

This three-hour seminar will bring you up to date on changes to the Energy Code (commonly referred to as Title 24) for residential and non-residential buildings. Will the code require rooftop solar for every new home? What changes in the 2019 code relate to the state’s long-term carbon reduction goals? Where is the code likely to go next?

Get answers to these questions, and more, and come with your questions regarding compliance with existing code requirements.

Date: Friday, May 10, 2019

Time: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Location: Town of Truckee Council Chambers - 10183 Truckee Airport Road, Truckee, CA 96161

Registration: $25 per person - SPACE IS LIMITED!

To register, please contact Kelly Huelskamp at 530.582.5083 or khuelskamp@townoftruckee.com

TAKE TRUCKEE HOUSING SURVEY - NEXT HOUSE TRUCKEE FIRST WORKSHOP FEBRUARY 7

Two CATT committees are urging members to fill out a quick survey on future housing in Truckee. Here is a link to the survey. https://www.truckee2040.com/share-ideas/survey_tools/housing-survey1 You will be asked to register onto the site before answering the questions.

The CATT General Plan Committee, chaired by Chip Huck, and the CATT Affordable/Workforce Housing Committee, chaired by Kristi Thompson, see benefit in having a variety of members answer the survey questions as part of the Town’s Housing Element/General Plan Update.

The Town has also announced that the next House Truckee First workshop will be Thursday, February 7, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Community Arts Center (old Rec Center) downtown. Click here for the workshop flyer

For more information about the House Truckee First planning effort, please contact CATT Government Affairs Manager Pat Davison 530.550.9999 or pat@ca-tt.com

from the Mountain Housing Council blog –

Photo courtesy of Mountain Housing Council

CA GOVERNOR MAKES HOUSING TOP PRIORITY, SEEKS $1.75 BILLION TO SPUR HOUSING PRODUCTION

Incoming California Governor Gavin Newsom has made solving California’s housing crisis a top priority for his administration, including proposing a record $1.75 billion in the state budget to spur housing production.

Newsom’s housing proposals combine innovative new approaches to the housing crisis as well as tried-and-true housing measures. He has ordered state officials to assess excess state land that could be used for affordable housing projects — a unique new approach to the lack of land for affordable housing projects. Under Newsom’s budget proposal, $500 million would be dedicated to incentives for localities that increase housing production and another $500 million would be offered as tax credits — some targeting the elusive “missing middle” housing that falls between market-rate project and subsidized low-income housing.

Newsom has made housing a cornerstone of his “California for All” agenda. Calling housing the “defining quality-of-life concern” for the state, he called for a bold new focus on solving the issue, and has even proposed withholding state funding from municipalities that do not meet housing production targets.

“The California Dream is in peril if we don’t act to address this housing crisis,” said Governor Newsom at a housing event in San Jose on January 15.

The state’s renewed focus on housing should mean more state funding for housing programs within Truckee-North Tahoe when the new state budget is approved. Click here for the complete press release from the Governor’s Office.

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 https://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

CATT PRIORITIES FOR 2019

This list was unanimously approved by LGAC at their regular meeting December 17, 2018:

2019 PRIORITY ISSUES TO BE HANDLED BY CATT GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MANAGER PAT DAVISON

1. Mitigation Fees – coordinate with LGAC as a whole
Review Annual Updates (all jurisdictions)
Resolve issues with Placer County Traffic Mitigation Fees
Seek Placer County Traffic Fee conversion to SF
Monitor/Comment on Northstar Fire Mitigation Fee Study (if Martis Valley West annexation occurs)
Update CATT Mitigation Fee POLICY re when mitigation fee is calculated and 500 SF trigger for additions (all jurisdictions)

2. Truckee General Plan Update – coordinate with specific LGAC committee

3. Placer County Plan Check/Inspection Procedures & Timelines – coordinate with specific LGAC committee

4. Affordable/Workforce Housing – coordinate with specific LGAC committee (House Truckee First, Truckee funding options, Truckee 2nd unit incentives, Placer in lieu fee and small project exemption, 2nd units on smaller parcels with septic systems, Mountain Housing Council, Factory _OS tour, etc)

5. North Tahoe Fire Hydrant Requirements – coordinate with specific LGAC committee

OTHER - Continue to provide reports and information, conduct leadership training and identify committee recruits, assist with fundraising for the Issues Action Fund, attend CATT meetings, 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.

2019 PRIORITY ISSUES TO BE HANDLED BY LGAC MEMBERS & OTHERS:

Placer County Structural Observations Report – John Wood
Multi-Jurisdictional Building Working Group – Jamie Brimer & Mike Nethersole
North Tahoe Fire Plan Check Process – Pat Souza
Truckee Citizens Oversight Tax Committee – Craig Weaver

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 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 the three Counties. Find out what CATT is doing to improve conditions for you and the building industry.

WHO IS LGAC?

CATT’s Local Government Affairs Committee (LGAC) has 18 members. LGAC Chair is Tony Commendatore (Aegis Insurance Markets). Committee members are: Eric Slominski (Barrish Pelham & Associates), Jamie Brimer (Brimer Construction & Plumbing), Chip Huck (CST Holdings, LLC), Dan Fraiman (Daniel Fraiman Construction), Valerie Brinker (Dickson Realty), Michael Forshee (Forshee Construction), Cody Heller (Heller Construction, Inc.), Pat Souza (Heslin Construction), John Pruyn (High West Landscape Architects), John Wood (Loverde Builders, Inc.), Jim Smith (Mark Tanner Construction, Inc.), Ryan Marsden (Marsden Architects, Inc.), Brian McEneaney (McEneaney Construction), Mitch Clarin (Mitchell T. Clarin), Craig Weaver (Molsby & Bordner, LLP), Kristi Thompson (MWA, Inc.), and Justin Bertoli (NSM Corporation).

If fees, regulations, codes, and policy interest you, contact LGAC Chair Tony Commendatore at 530.582.6000 or tony@aegisins.com

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