HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 95-33 - Building Standards CommissAN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GEORGETOWN, TEXAS, AMENDING CHAPTER 2.64 OF THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN, TEXAS, TO AMEND
CHAPTER 2.64 RELATING TO THE BUILDING STANDARDS
COMMISSION; REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES AND
RESOLUTIONS; INCLUDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; DECLARING
AN EMERGENCY; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the Building Standards Commission must be active in order for active
code enforcement to proceed within the City;
WHEREAS, State law requires that most actions taken by the Building Standards
Commission have an affirmative vote of at least four (4) members;
WHEREAS, State law limits the number of regular members to five (5) members;
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that additional members are needed
to serve on the Building Standards Commission; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that the appointment of alternate
members to the Building Standards Commission would be in the best interest of the City,
by allowing the Commission sufficient membership to meet more regularly to conduct
business;
WHEREAS, due to the increased construction activity and code enforcement
activity, the City Council has determined that this ordinance should be passed on
emergency reading in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the community;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF GEORGETOWN, TEXAS, THAT:
SECTION 1. The facts and recitations contained in the preamble of this ordinance
are hereby found and declared to be true and correct, and are incorporated by reference
herein and expressly made a part hereof, as if copied verbatim. The City Council hereby
finds that this ordinance implements Facilities and Services Policy 1 of the Century Plan -
--Policy Plan Element, which states: "The City will endeavor to increase the quality of life
through the upgrading of existing facilities and services and the provision of new services
to meet the specific needs of the community", Governmental Affairs Policy 2 of the
Century Plan -- Policy Plan Element, which states: "The City will encourage all citizens
to actively participate in governmental functions", Historic Preservation and Urban Design
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Policy 1, which states: "The City will preserve, protect, and Promote its prehistoric,
historic, and cultural resources", and further finds that the enactment of this ordinance is
not inconsistent or in conflict with any other Century Plan Policies, as required by Section
2.03 of the Administrative Chapter of the Policy Plan.
SECTION 2. Section 2.64.015 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of
Georgetown, Texas is hereby added to read as follows:
"2.64.015 Alternate Board Members.
The City Council shall be authorized to appoint up to four (4) alternate members
to serve on the Commission. Any one of these alternate members shall be eligible to
serve on the Commission in the absence of one of the regular members. Two (2) of the
alternate members appointed under this section may be selected from the City at large,
and not required to fill a position from one of the construction trades represented by the
regular members. At least two (2) of the alternate members shall be chosen from the
construction trades represented by the regular members.
In order for the Commission to maintain the technical expertise necessary to review
variances to any of the City's construction codes, one of the following methods shall be
utilized by the panel of the Commission that hears the request for a variance:
(a) The panel of the Commission shall include the regular member of the Commission
that represents that particular construction trade on the Commission;
(b) The panel of the Commission shall include an alternate member that represents that
same construction trade;
(c) In order that the meetings of the Commission not be unduly delayed by this process,
if neither the regular member or the alternate member representing that construction trade
can be available to attend the scheduled meeting of the Commission, the regular member
that represents that particular construction trade shall be authorized to submit written
comments to the Chairperson of the Commission prior to the consideration of the
variance, which comments shall be entered as a part of the record of the hearing and
considered as part of the evidence when the Commission is rendering its decision.
However, prior to the Commission taking action on the proposed variance, the applicant
shall be authorized to request that the variance be tabled until the regular or alternate
member of that particular construction trade can be present at the meeting."
SECTION 3. Section 2.64.030 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of
Georgetown, Texas, is hereby amended to read as follows:
"2.64.030 Membership ---Term of office.
The appointed members of the Commission shall hold office for a period of two
years or until their successors have been duly appointed and qualified; ..."
SECTION 4. Chapter 2.64 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Georgetown,
Texas, is hereby amended to replace the word "Board" with the word "Commission",
throughout the entire chapter, in order to be consistent with the current title of the Building
Standards Commission.
SECTION 5. All ordinances and resolutions, or parts of ordinances and
resolutions, in conflict with this Ordinance are hereby repealed, and are no longer of any
force and effect.
SECTION 6. If any provision of this ordinance or application thereof to any person
or circumstance, shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions,
or application thereof, of this ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid
provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this ordinance are hereby
declared to be severable.
SECTION 7. The Mayor is hereby authorized to sign this ordinance and the City
Secretary to attest. The City Council hereby declares that this ordinance should be
adopted on emergency passage. This ordinance shall become effective and be in full
force and effect in (10) ten days on and after publication in accordance with the provisions
of the Charter of the City of Georgetown.
PASSED AND APPROVED on Emergency Reading on the 25th day of July, 1995.
ATTEST:
.
Sandra Lee
City Secretary
ROVED AS TO FORM:
Marianne Landers Banks
City Attorney
THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN:
By: LEO WOOD
Mayor