If you drive down Cypress Avenue these days, you can't help but notice the new civic center in its final stages of completion. For the construction community, this building represents a move to a more convenient, efficient way of doing business in Redding. The new Permit Center will provide a single location to deal with the vast majority of your development related needs. The Public Works Department, Fire Department, Planning Division, and Building and Code Enforcement Division will share a common counter so that customers do not have to travel from department to department to accomplish their mission at City Hall. Staff will be brought to the customer location rather than moving the customer all around the building.

In addition to bringing staff to the customer, we want to make the customers trip to City Hall as efficient as possible. To that end, we will provide a computer in the lobby area so that you can access information on the Internet. Currently, we have property information, inspection results, and plan check status information available on the Internet for your convenience. We will also have a fax machine in the lobby where you can receive fax transmissions or send to local prefixes.

There will be a few creature comforts as well, like seating in the lobby, coffee, and a phone for local or "800" long distance calls.

In the last month, there has been a flurry of cross training going on so that staff can be used more efficiently and are better equipped to answer your questions. For minor permits, handouts and information, staff from any represented department may be able to provide the assistance you need. Cross training will continue after we move to the new building to equip staff with a widening array of tools and information to serve a broadening range of customer needs.

All that being said, we are hopeful that you will see a renewed commitment to providing excellent customer service, to getting it right the first time, to making sure you get the whole picture before you leave the building. We look forward to serving you now and in the coming months

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Building Inspections

Call 225-4017, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and leave your inspection request. Call before 6 a.m. and you can get your inspection that day. We will make every effort to accommodate the individual needs for inspections on each permit that we issue. We will attempt to give you an AM or PM time frame. If you have a special time constraint for a particular inspection, you should first schedule your inspection on the inspection request line, then call your inspector between 7 and 8 a.m. on the day of the inspection and the inspector will to the best of his ability arrange a certain time to make the inspection. You may reach the inspectors at the following numbers:

¨ Larry Baldwin 225-4413 or 524-5765 cell

¨ Rob Trumbull 225-4410 or 524-5763 cell

¨ Dave Childs 225-4153 or 524-5706 cell.

¨ Frank Hanagan 225-4417 or 524-5702 cell.

If you do not know who your inspector is or if you can not reach him, call the Building Inspection Supervisor, Randy Van Orden at 225-4415.

The inspectors arrive at work at 7 a.m. and are usually in the field from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. and are off work at 3:30 p.m. They normally are off for lunch from 12 noon to 12:30 p.m. Weekend inspections are available for a fee of $80 per inspection.

The inspectors work hard to accommodate every request and they ask the following of you. Number one above all else, please be sure your job is ready for an inspection when you call it in and especially if you ask for a courtesy inspection. At times a busy inspector goes out of his way to arrive at a special time on the other side of town from where he is inspecting only to find the job is not even close to being ready for an inspection. If you call an inspection in and realize it is not going to be ready please call us and cancel it so we do not waste time going there. Most jurisdictions control this by charging re-inspection fees. We do not want to do this. We believe by working together we can all benefit.

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Installing Water Hammer Arresting Devices

Section 609.10 of the 1997 Uniform Plumbing Code requires water hammers as follows: "All building water supply systems in which quick-acting valves are installed shall be provided with devices to absorb high pressures resulting from the quick closing of these valves. These pressure-absorbing devices shall be either air chambers or approved mechanical devices. Water pressure shock arrestors shall be installed as close as possible to quick-acting valves at the end of a long pipe or near batteries of fixtures or both."

After surveying many other jurisdictions as to how they interpret this code and what is generally enforced, we have determined that the quick closing valves that would need a water hammer would be on the clothes washer and dish washer. While some other jurisdictions enforce the water hammer on the sprinklers and ice maker, we do not see these as problem areas. One jurisdiction we contacted required a water hammer on each and every plumbing fixture in a house.

The following two code sections regulate the type and installation of the water hammers.

Section 609.10.1 Air Chambers. Where air chambers are installed, they shall be in an accessible place, and each air chamber shall be provided with an accessible means for restoring the air in the event that the chamber becomes waterlogged.

Section 609.10.2 Mechanical Devices. Where listed mechanical devices are used, the manufacturer's specifications as to location and method of installation shall be followed.

These devices will be required for all dishwashers and clothes washers beginning March 1, 2000.

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Contractor's Quiz

1 Who is the new building inspector for the City of Redding?

2 What is the address of the new City Hall?

3 When do the building inspectors switch areas?

4 Who is the new secretary for Code Enforcement?

5 How much did single family dwelling construction increase in the City of Redding in 1999 over 1998?

6 What percentage of the suggested new fee increases (those mentioned in the newspaper lately) in the City of Redding pertain to Building Division fees?

7 Does the requirement to install water hammers after March 1, 2000 pertain to houses under construction on that date or houses submitted for plan check?

8 The minimum lap lengths for concrete reinforcing bars has increased with the adoption of the current UBC. What is the required lap length for a horizontal #4 bar at the top of a residential stem wall?

A) 12" B) 18"
C) 24" D) 27"

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Who's Who in plan checking

Just who are Don White, Ed Jestes, Jim Wright, Ron Boese, and Chris Hanna and what function do they perform?

Ed Jestes and Jim Wright are the two Life/Safety plan checkers. They are responsible for checking both residential and commercial plans for code compliance in the areas of Mechanical, Plumbing, Electrical and Building. They check for things such as footing size, shear wall details, placement of electrical outlets, number of plumbing fixtures, size of framing members, and proper stairway design.

Don White checks the plans for proper energy calculations, zoning, subdivision conditions, and site requirements on the property.

Chris Hanna and Ron Boese are the two structural plan checkers. They check the plans structural elements and calculations.

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Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Update

On December 7 the Council provided the Planning Division funding to begin work on the first comprehensive revision to the zoning ordinance in 40 years. The City has had land use regulations in place since the 1930's. The framework of the current Zoning Ordinance was established in 1956. Although the zoning ordinance has been amended numerous times, a truly comprehensive update has not been undertaken.

The City's updated General Plan will include some new policies governing land use, neighborhood character, development standards, recreation amenities, economic development, and the preservation of natural areas. The City is also required by State law to adopt a zoning ordinance which is consistent with the General Plan within a reasonable period of time after the amended Plan is adopted. Our goal is to have the comprehensive update ready to be implemented at the time the Plan is adopted.

Proposals to prepare a revised zoning ordinance have been solicited, and a selection team has reviewed them. The selection team recommended that the City award a contract for preparation of the update to the firm of Dyett & Bhatia. Michael Dyett, principal of the firm, is well versed in the direction of the Draft General Plan, having recently prepared the General Plan Peer Review on behalf of the City Manager/City Council. He is also a nationally recognized land use planning practitioner with the special expertise necessary to create a modern zoning ordinance. Few consultants have as wide a background in this area.

The updated ordinance will include the following elements:

¨ Participation of stakeholders in developing the ordinance framework.

¨ Flexibility in administration vs. ability to get the desired General Plan outcomes will be carefully weighed.

¨ Day-to-day implementation costs will be kept as low as possible by focusing regulatory efforts on areas of development that have the greatest potential for negative impacts to the community.

¨ Common language will be used in the ordinance including reduced "legalese" and more graphics.

¨ The new ordinance will be available on the web including explanatory graphics. This capability will be a key element of the new Permit Center concept.

Completion of the update is scheduled for the end of August 2000.

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New Home Based Business Rules

The City Council has approved new rules governing "home occupations" - businesses that operate from a residence. Specifically, home based businesses will no longer need to obtain a separate permit to operate in residential areas. Home based businesses remain subject to compliance with specific performance criteria and zoning standards, and must still obtain a business license.

Under the new process prospective business owners will be required to acknowledge in writing at the time that they apply for a business license that they understand and will abide by the performance criteria which govern home occupations.

This change becomes effective on February 2, 2000. Anyone with questions concerning home occupations, or the business performance criteria that they must operate under, is encouraged to contact the Planning Division at 225-4020.

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City/Property Owner Funding Agreement

At their December 7 meeting, the City Council approved a Specific Plan funding agreement between the City and two major property owners in the Oasis Road/I-5 interchange area. The funding agreement allows the Planning Division to move forward and seek out a consulting team to prepare the Specific Plan.

In October the Planning Commission expanded the designation of commercial land around the interchange to support a truly regional scale commercial area. Because of traffic and environmental issues the Commission also recommended that a Specific Plan be prepared before significant development is undertaken. The benefits of this include:

¨ Insures development patterns are well planned, avoiding circulation issues such as those that affect the Dana Drive area, and which ultimately increase development costs.

¨ Maximizes the benefits of Redevelopment investments and tax revenues to the benefit of the entire community.

¨ More reliable infrastructure needs analysis and better infrastructure dollar management for land owners/developers and the public.

¨ Benefits property owners by creating a mechanism for sharing equally infrastructure planning and development costs.

¨ Can provide expedited project processing after adoption of a Specific Plan.

¨ A Specific Plan and Master Environmental Impact Report can be utilized as an excellent marketing tool to attract prospective buyers, developers, or commercial users to the Oasis area.

Policies requiring the Specific Plan are contained in the Draft General Plan which will be forwarded to the City Council in the spring of 2000. Once the final modifications to the Draft General Plan are completed, final work will be undertaken to complete the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Circulation of the Draft EIR should commence in the spring of 2000. The final step in the Planning Commission process will be formal public hearings on the Plan and the EIR, with a formal recommendation to the City Council.

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Shot Pins for Interior Braced Wall Panels

The 1997 UBC Section 1806.6 has a new requirement for 2"x2"x3/16" plate washers on foundation sill plate anchor bolts in Seismic Zones 3 and 4, which include all of California. Conventional Framing Provisions Section 2320.11.3 requires foundation sill plate anchor bolts in accordance with Section 1806.6 at all braced wall panels.

Redding Building Division Policy number BC-2 accepted several brands and sizes of powder-actuated shot pins to anchor foundation sill plates at interior braced wall panels based on their ICBO evaluation reports under the old 1994 UBC.

So far, only one brand and size of shot pin has received an ICBO evaluation report updated to meet requirements of the 1997 UBC. The ITW Redhead Ramset 1524 SDC fastener is a 0.152" diameter by 2-7/8" long pin with a pre-mounted 0.848" diameter washer. ICBO Evaluation Report 1147 states that 1524 SDC pins, placed 6" and 10" from each end of sill plates, with 18" maximum spacing between pins, "provide lateral resistance equivalent to that of nominal plate anchorage using 1/2-inch diameter anchor bolts spaced 6 feet on center." Other provisions of ICBO ER-1147 and Redding Building Division Policy BC-2 limit the use of these shot pins in braced wall panels to interior walls with a thickened slab 10" thick by 8" wide, cured for 7 days.

These pins and several other brands are still acceptable for foundation sill plate anchorage of interior, non-bearing walls which are not on braced wall lines.

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Power On

Many times when contractors come here from other jurisdictions, they are surprised that we do not require the power to be on when doing a final inspection of new construction. We also receive questions such as "How do you check for electrical problems if the power is not on?" The fact is there are many deficiencies that go unnoticed by the inspector because there is no power on at the final inspection to enable him to check the circuits.

In an effort to avoid such deficiencies, beginning March 1, 2000, all circuits must be energized at the time the final inspection is made. This will require all fees to be paid by the time of the final inspection to enable the power to be turned on.

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Inspectors on a mission

The Building Inspectors have produced the following Mission Statement:

The mission of the Building Inspection Team is to be thorough and consistent in enforcing the applicable codes and standards, while maintaining a professional level of customer service; have a willing attitude to help the public with information and knowledge to the best of our ability; and have projects completed correctly and safely.

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Pollution Prevention Practices

Your help is needed to prevent pollution at construction sites. There are many potential pollutants at construction sites, including: dirt, paint, concrete, fertilizer, trash, etc. Rainwater washes these pollutants from the site directly to our storm drains and watercourses. Storm drains lead directly into our creeks and the Sacramento River, unlike household drains that flow to a treatment plant before discharging to a watercourse. This tainted water can seriously impact our water resources.

What's the solution? Don't let construction materials and dirt go down the storm drain.

The following practices should be considered for all construction and building sites.

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR CONTRACTORS & BUILDERS

Soil, organic matter, and building materials are often washed from construction sites, into storm drains, and eventually into streams and rivers. These materials can be harmful to fish and aquatic life and therefore require proper management practices, as described below.

Erosion and Sediment Control:

Keep dirt, mud, and landscape materials off sidewalks, gutters and streets to prevent pollutants from entering storm drains and watercourses.

¨ Store loose materials (dirt piles, landscape materials, etc.) at least 5 feet behind sidewalk.

¨ Cover stockpiled materials with tarps or plastic.

¨ Surround stockpiled materials with berms, fiber rolls, sandbags, etc.

¨ Install sediment controls (silt fence, fiber rolls, matting) in back of sidewalk.

¨ Stabilize soil with mulch a distance of 20' behind sidewalk.

¨ Do not drive vehicles on unpaved areas during the rainy season. Park on pavement.

Storm Drain Inlet Protection:

Keep silt, construction materials, and contaminated runoff from entering storm drains and watercourses.

¨ Protect drop inlets with appropriate control measures (e.g., block & gravel barriers, filter sacks, sand bags,).

¨ Clean accumulated materials from drop inlet protection. Remove debris to appropriate area.

Street Cleaning:

Keep silt and construction materials from entering storm drains, streams and watercourses.

¨ Shovel, scrape, broom, or dry sweep the streets and sidewalk prior to any rain event.

¨ Do not use water to remove accumulated materials.

Saw Cutting:

Keep saw slurry and contaminated runoff from entering storm drains and watercourses.

¨ Use as little water as possible during saw cutting.

¨ Contain the slurry and protect storm drain inlets with filter fabric.

¨ Absorb, vacuum, and or shovel the slurry residue from pavement or gutter and dispose of properly.

Concrete/Stucco/Paint/& Other Liquid Materials:

Prevent stucco, concrete, paint, and wash water from entering storm drains and watercourses.

¨ If the mixer is placed on the street or sidewalk, place plastic or tarps under equipment.

¨ Use a shovel to clean up concrete mixture that is spilled on sidewalks or streets. Do not wash concrete into storm drain.

¨ Designate an appropriate area for washouts. Construct a berm around the washout area.

¨ Provide a designated area for workers to clean equipment and tools.

¨ If possible, provide a wash out tub that is connected to a sanitary sewer. Excess paint must be removed from equipment prior to washing.

¨ If a wash out tub is not available, contain wash water in an excavation.

¨ Never clean brushes or equipment in a street, gutter, storm drain, or watercourse.

Waste Management:

Manage wastes and discarded building materials to minimize the discharge of pollutants to storm drains and watercourses.

¨ Designate waste collection areas away from streets, gutters, storm drains, and waterways.

¨ Cover dumpsters during the rainy season.

¨ Do not dispose of hazardous wastes in dumpsters.

Contacts:

City of Redding Building Dept.

(530) 225-4013

City of Redding Ind. Waste Dept.

(530) 225-6050

Shasta Co. Div. Environ. Health

(530) 225-5787

Shasta County Building Div.

(530) 225-5761

Calif. Regional Water Quality Control (530) 224-4845

Report Hazardous Material Spills to Office of Emergency Service

1-800-852-7550

Reference Materials:

Shasta County/City of Redding Erosion and Sediment Control Standards

(530) 225-4170

California Best Management Practices for Construction

(510) 287-5485

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Home Improvement Certification

What is home improvement certification?

¨ The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) is mandated by the Legislature (AB1213) to establish a certification program for home improvement contractors.

¨ Current law requires that the CSLB's home improvement certification program includes a study booklet.

¨ "On and after July 1, 2000, a contractor may not engage in the business of home improvement or provide home improvement goods or services, as defined in Section 7151, unless the contractor is certified as a home improvement contractor (B&P Code, Section 7150.2c.)"

¨ Home improvement means the repairing, remodeling, altering, converting, modernizing of, or adding to, residential property land or structures. It also covers providing home improvement goods and services.

Who is required to be certified?

¨ Any contractor or subcontractor who engages in the business of home improvement or who provides goods and services for home improvement.

How is certification obtained?

¨ Only applicants who hold a current and valid contractor's license may apply.

¨ The applicant must take and pass an open book examination on the business, the law, and the construction skills related to home improvement contracting.

¨ If a license has been obtained by a qualifying individual, the qualifier must take and pass the license certification examination.

¨ The open book examination will consist of approximately twenty multiple-choice questions based on the Home Improvement Reference Booklet provided by the CSLB.

Where is the examination taken?

The home improvement contractor (qualifier) may take the open book examination on the CSLB's Internet site (www.cslb.ca.gov) in 1999.

¨ Only applicants(qualifiers) with the appropriate identification information will be logged onto the examination.

¨ The application, booklet, and examination will be on-line.

¨ The examination will be scored on-line, providing immediate results to the applicant and the CSLB.

¨ The examination may be retaken until passed.

¨ The application must be PRINTED and SIGNED, then mailed to the specified address.

Taking the Home Improvement Examination by Mail.

ALL licensed contractors (qualifiers) will be mailed a home improvement certification packet in 1999.

¨ This packet will contain a copy of the booklet, an examination, and an application for certification.

¨ After completing the open-booklet examination and SIGNING the application, the application-answer sheet must be mailed to the CSLB at the specified address.

¨ If the examination was passed, a new pocket license bearing the home improvement certification will be mailed to the contractor.

¨ If the examination was failed, a new examination will be mailed to the contractor.

¨ The Internet may be used instead of the paper exam at any time.

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Fire Prevention Bureau

The City of Redding Fire Department, Fire Prevention Bureau, has a new member. Bruce Becker has accepted the Fire Department's position of Deputy Chief/Fire Marshal. Bruce comes from Port Angeles, Washington, where he served as Fire Marshal for eight years, and Fire Chief for five. Filling out the rest of the Fire Prevention staff are Assistant Fire Marshal Ray Johnson, Fire Inspector Dean Herzberg, and Fire Prevention Assistant Matt Oliphant.

The Fire Prevention Bureau is always open to new ideas, and we look forward to serving our customers in the City of Redding.

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Answers to Contractors Quiz

1 Frank Hanagan came to Redding as a building inspector on January 26, 2000. Frank has worked the last four years for the City of Anderson as a plan checker and building inspector. Frank Hanagan took Frank Womacks' place. Frank Womack went to the front counter taking Jim Wrights place. Jim Wright took Tom Haltoms' place as a plan checker. Tom Haltom took employment outside the City of Redding.

2 777 Cypress Avenue

3 Every January 1st, However, we delayed the switch until February 1st this year because of our new inspector starting at the end of January.

4 Debbie Morgan started as full time secretary for the code enforcement section of the Building and Code Enforcement Division in September. Debbie has worked for various Departments in the City of Redding prior to accepting this position.

5 30% increase; from 322 units in 1998 to 417 in 1999.

6 0%

7 Houses submitted for plan check.

8 D) 27"

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BUILDING DIVISION MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT

(January 1, 1999 through December 31,1999 )

ACTIVITY	1997	1998	1999	CHANGE 98-99	%CHANGE98-99
BUILDING PERMITS
-Single Family Units	329	322	417	95	30%
-Single Family Valuation	$37,623,714	$41,254,381	$55,059,106	$13,804,725	33%
-Multi-Family Units	45	65	52	-13	-20%
-Multi-Family Valuation	$2,142,155	$3,491,686	$1,238,544	$-2,253,142	-65%
-Mobilehome Units	8	4	7	3	75%
-Total Dwelling Units	382	391	476	85	22%
-Commercial- New Buildings	32	41	46	5	12%
-Commercial- Valuation	$13,030,930	$15,896,366	$16,064,638	$168,272	1%
-Remodel- Res & Commercial	1,066	1,210	1,242	32	3%
-Remodel- Valuation	$10,983,985	$10,400,399	$14,389,321	$3,988,922	38%
-Structures not Buildings (ie. pools, signs)	150	119	177	58	49%
-Structures not Buildings Valuation	$3,258,099	$2,640,395	$3,675,257	$1,034,862	39%
-Interagency Permits- (Hospitals government owned buildings)	37	31	43	12	39%
-Interagency Permits- Valuation	$1,258,631	$14,320,746	$1,872,739	$-12,448,007	-87%
-Total Permits with Valuation	1,680	1,794	1,996	202	11%
-Total Valuation	$69,030,767	$88,987,999	$93,693,102	$4,705,103	5%
-Demolition Permits	31	42	52	10	24%
-Plumbing Permits	319	298	321	23	8%
-Mechanical Permits	92	101	110	9	9%
-Electrical Permits	159	182	187	5	3%
-Total - All Permits	2,281	2,417	2,666	249	10%
PLAN CHECK
-Plans Received for Review	1,089	1,086	1,249	163	15%
-Plans Resubmitted for Review	533	645	711	66	10%
-Energy Checks	826	886	1,037	151	17%
INSPECTIONS
-Construction	10,961	10,518	11,784	1,266	12%
-Substandard Housing Complaints	229	284	329	45	16%
-Average # Inspections/Inspector	10.5	12.5	15.1	2.6	21%

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Swimming Pool Safety

For the past decade, residential swimming pool drowning has remained one of the leading causes of injury death for California children ages 1-4. Each year an average of fifty-eight toddlers and preschool age children drown in their own swimming pools or those of friends or relatives. The majority (65%) of all drowning incidents among young children occur in the family's own pool and 33% occur in the pool of a relative or friend.

Studies show that the typical scenario is one in which, just moments prior to the event, the child was last seen playing safely indoors, taking a nap or watching television. The caretaker is momentarily distracted by a doorbell, the needs of other children or other household activities. During this momentary lapse in visual supervision, the toddler or preschool age child slips out of the house and gains access to the backyard swimming pool. Because children this age do not thrash about or call for help in a submersion incident, the caretaker is often unaware the child has fallen into the pool.

For every child that dies from drowning, approximately four are hospitalized as victims of near drowning. Many of these suffer from brain damage and long-term disabilities. Brain damage occurs in five minutes or less among children this age.

Beyond the human toll, drowning and near-drowning among young children results in significant financial costs to the families and society. In 1993 alone, hospital charges for near-drowning in California totaled nearly five million dollars. To address the drowning problem, local and state governments have passed codes or laws requiring barriers between the home and the pool.

We would like to remind you that the Redding Municipal Code requires that an outdoor swimming pool shall be provided with a barrier that shall be installed prior to filling the pool with water. The barrier shall include a fence surrounding the pool with self closing and self locking gates and an alarm installed on all doors with direct access to the pool. Please see section 16.16 of the Redding Municipal Code for details of fence, gates, alarms and alternatives.

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