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2016-07-25 Committee on the Environment Minutes MINUTES CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT July 25, 2016 After determining that a quorum of the Committee of the Environment of the Denton City Council was present, the Environmental Committee thereafter convened into an Open Meeting on Monday, July 25, 2016 at 1:00pm in the City Council Work Session Room, 215 E. McKinney Street, Denton, Texas. Present: Council Member Dalton Gregory, Council Member Joey Hawkins and Council Member Keely Briggs Also Present: Howard Martin, ACM; Kenneth Banks, Director; Aimee Bissett, Director of Development Services; Munal Mauladad, Deputy Director of Development Services; Rodney Patterson, Building Inspector Division Manager/Building Official; Chris Lanzi, Assistant Building Official; Stephanie Corley, Environmental Services Sustainability & Grant Coordinator; Kathy Jack, Conservation Program Coordinator; and Kim Mankin, Administrative Supervisor 1. REGULAR MEETING: A. COE16-016 Receive nominations and hold election for the Chair of the City Council Committee on the Environment of the City of Denton, Texas. Council Member Hawkins nominated Council Member Briggs. Council Member Gregory seconded the nomination. Passed unanimously. B. COE16-014 Consider approval of the Mobility Committee meeting minutes of June 6, 2016. Approved as circulated. C. COE16-011 Receive a report, hold a discussion and give staff direction regarding an ordinance to adopt the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) as amended by the City. Rodney Patterson gave the presentation starting with background of the history of the State Code adoption. The first state wide energy code in the State of Texas was adopted in 2001, this was called Senate Bill 5. It adopted Chapter 11 of the 2000 IRC (International Residential Code) and the entire 2000 Energy Conservation Codes as the Energy Conservation Codes for the State of Texas. One of the caveats in that original adoption was the fact that any municipality located in the County that was in an EPA non-attainment area for ozone (Denton is) had to adopt a state code that was at least as stringent as the code that was adopted by the State of Texas. NCTCOG (North Central Texas Council of Governments) proposes amendments to every code cycle. April 2011 the state energy codes were updated to the 2009 version of the IRC and the IECC. In May 2015 the state legislature met again and with house bill 1736 they updated the codes to the 2015 versions state wide. Those codes take effect September 1, 2016 for residential construction and November 1 for commercial construction. The changes from the 2009 IECC to the 2012 IECC were significant on the residential side. The 2015 IECC changes for residential are minimal in the range of one to four percent. The 2015 IECC changes for commercial are extensive with 145 changes. Patterson went over some of the most important changes on both residential and commercial construction. Patterson showed a table with the major changes for residential that included a sample of a one and two story house with 2012 IECC with COG amendments and the 2012 IECC without COG amendments. There was discussion regarding these findings. Patterson stated air leakage and insulation was the biggest components. Residential: Net change from current City Ordinance with 4% above 2012 Code with amendments to 2015 Code with proposed amendments (no above code requirement) 16-20%. Estimated additional costs of residential construction associated with changes from the 2009 IECC to the 2015 IECC is $2,500. Commercial: New efficiency requirements for motors, commercial refrigeration and freezer units including walk-ins and warehouses, elevators and escalators, as well as numerous new standards for commercial kitchen ventilation systems. Set new commissioning and testing requirements before final inspection. Key Points included: Residential requirements of 2015 IECC increased between 16-20% over currently adopted code (2012 with COG amendments plus 4%). Numerous changes for commercial structures relative to lighting, equipment efficiency and commissioning of equipment and lighting systems. Patterson lastly stated that the current code reads as follows: Projects choosing to comply with either 2 or 3 above shall surpass the performance approach in Section R405 or the energy rating index in Section 406 by a minimum of four percent. Staff is recommending that straight IECC 2015 code be adopted. Gregory stated that it would be helpful to add a column on the table of major changes for residential with 2015 IECC when this item is presented to Council. There were some last discussions regarding the code changes, other cities and their codes. There was a motion by Council Member Hawkins to recommend adoption of the straight IECC 2015 code with city amendments, the second by Council Member Gregory. Vote to approve 3-0. D. COE16-019 - ACM Update: 1. Matrix 2. CONCLUDING ITEMS A. Under Section 551.042 of the Texas Open Meetings Act, respond to inquiries from the Committee on the Environment or the public with specific factual information or recitation of policy, or accept a proposal to place the matter on the agenda for an upcoming meeting AND Under Section 551.0415 of the Texas Open Meetings Act, provide reports about items of community interest regarding which no action will be taken, to include: expressions of thanks, congratulations, or condolence; information regarding holiday schedules; an honorary or salutary recognition of a public official, public employee, or other citizen; a reminder about an upcoming event organized or sponsored by the governing body; information regarding a social, ceremonial, or community event organized or sponsored by an entity other than the governing body that was attended or is scheduled to be attended by a member of the governing body or an official or employee of the municipality; or an announcement involving an imminent threat to the public health and safety of people in the municipality that has arisen after the posting of the agenda. New items: Gregory Tree Canopy 1960 compared to today Gregory Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center Update Briggs Ways to protect old tree stands Briggs How can citizens be more involved in sustainable and be more engaged. Briggs PACE Program Information The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 1:48 p.m.