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RAB – Approval of Minutes 07-27-99 NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVED BY THE ROSEMEAD REHABILITATION APPEALS BOARD MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ROSEMEAD BUILDING REHABILITATION APPEALS BOARD JULY 27, 1999 The regular meeting of the Rosemead Building Rehabilitation Appeals Board was called to order by Chairman Vasquez at 7:03 p.m. in the Conference Room of City Hall, 8838 E. Valley Boulevard, Rosemead, California. The Pledge to the Flag and Invocation were waived as having been completed during the meeting just adjourned. ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS: Present: Boardmembers Bruesch, Imperial, Taylor, Vice-Chairman Clark, and Chairman Vasquez Absent: None APPROVAL OF MINUTES: JUNE 22, 1999 -REGULAR MEETING MOTION BY BOARDMEMBER BRUESCH, SECOND BY BOARDMEMBER TAYLOR that the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of June 22, 1999, be approved as submitted. Vote resulted: Yes: Clark, Bruesch, Vasquez, Imperial, Taylor No: None Absent: None Abstain: None The Chairman declared said motion duly carried and so ordered. I. ADMINISTRATION OF OATH The Board Secretary administered the oath to all persons wishing to address the Board. 11. HEARINGS A. 9324-9326 GLENDON WAY The subject property consists of two, tenant-occupied units located in the R-I zone. A'Please Letter" was mailed to the property owner on November 19, 1998. Inspection on January 6, 1999 revealed no progress. The Building Official declared the property substandard and filed a Declaration of Substandard with the Los Angeles County Recorder's office. A "Fifteen Day" certified letter was mailed and posted on the property on February 17, 1999, requesting abatement of the substandard conditions. Inspection on March 18, 1999 revealed very minor progress. At that time, the building inspector noted additional substandard conditions at the property. A revised list of defects was compiled and a copy was mailed to the property owner. Inspections on May 10, and June 10, 1999 revealed no further improvement at the property. A Notice of Hearing was mailed and posted on the property on July 12, 1999. All interested parties have been notified. The City Building Official recommends that the Board find the property substandard and order that all substandard conditions be removed and/or corrected by September 1, 1999. However, if the required permits are obtained, and sufficient progress is achieved by September 1, 1999, the abatement date may be extended to October 4, 1999. REBAB:7-27-99 Page 91 Dora Rodelli, property owner, and James Hennessy, son-in-law, 5932 Rosemead Boulevard, Temple City, were present. Ms. Rodelli stated that most of the repairs have been made and the house in front and back is now vacant to allow them complete access. Two broken windows need to be replaced and that job should be done within the week. Ms. Rodelli stated that the two houses will be completed within the month. James Guerra, Consulting Building Official, stated that Ms. Rodelli needs to obtain a repair permit from the City. Boardmember Taylor asked why they need a permit. Mr. Guerra responded that typically, when a building is declared substandard by the City and the owner wants to abate the substandard conditions, a general repair permit is required unless the work being done does not require one. Mr. Guerra stated that the work being done on this property requires a permit, but a final decision will be made upon inspection of the final scope of the work in progress. Ms. Rodelli stated that the property looks worse than it actually is because of the on-going work being done, but it is almost completely cleaned up. Boardmember Taylor questioned the permit review process and referred to the List of Conditions regarding the ha>ardous wiring at the electrical panel and the missing proper dead front cover. Mr. Taylor asked why an electrical permit is necessary when the inspectors are already out there. Mr. Taylor asked what the cost is for the rehab process. Mr. Guerra responded that the only costs would be for the permits. Mr. Guerra stated that the minimal fee for an electrical permit is approximately $75. Mr. Guerra added that the owners are typically asked to pull a building permit that covers minor electrical or plumbing repairs to the project. Mr. Guerra stated that an interior inspection has not been made yet, and if the work is minor in nature, the permit will be waived. Boardmember Taylor stated that he has received several complaints about permit charges for incidental items. Mr. Taylor asked if the water heater item, which lacks the required t/p piping to exterior, on the June 10, 1999 List of Defects requires a permit. Mr. Guerra responded that it could be a separate permit or covered under the rehab permit, and that the owners have that option to choose. Boardmember Bruesch asked how much a rehab permit costs. Stever Bailey, Building Official, responded that the rehab permit costs $385, and it is an all inclusive permit which would cover any electrical, plumbing, building related work, and any mechanical work. Boardmember Imperial asked if these requirements fall under the L.A. County amendments. Mr. Guerra stated that the County amendments can be amended by the City, and that those changes would be considered administrative and do not fall under the requirements for local findings. Boardmember Taylor stated that that means the City determines the fees, not the County. Boardmember Bruesch asked the City Attorney if the fee structure can be tied into the number of times an inspection has to be made. REHAB:7-27.99 Page#2 Boardmember Imperial asked what happens after an initial inspection is made and a list of corrections is established, and then upon further inspections, possibly by another Inspector, additional items are discovered to add to the list and so on. Mr. Bailey stated that upon an initial inspection, the inspector makes as accurate a list as possible. Mr. Bailey continued that often, access to the interior is not available for some time, and, typically, when access is gained, additional items are added on. Robert Kress, City Attorney, responding to Boardmember Bruesch's question, stated that that type of fee system is possible. It could be a deposit type system where an estimated fee is lodged with staff time logged against that. At present, the City has a fixed fee system. MOTION BY BOARDMEMBER TAYLOR, SECOND BY BOARDMEMBER BRUESCH that the Board direct staff to inspect the property to determine what permits are required and to find the property substandard and order that all substandard conditions be removed and/or corrected by September 1, 1999. However, if the required permits are obtained, and sufficient progress is achieved by September 1, 1999, the abatement date may be extended to October 4, 1999. Before vote could result, more discussion ensued: Mr. Guerra stated that there are several advantages to the flat building permit fee of$385. Absentee property owners are not allowed to obtain electrical, plumbing, or mechanical permits on properties they do not live in. Mr. Guerra explained that with the flat fee, the absentee owner can obtain a building permit which allows for minor electrical, plumbing, or mechanical repairs. Boardmember Bruesch stated that this topic needs further study. Mr. Bruesch called for the question. Vote resulted: Aye: Clark, Bruesch, Vasquez, Imperial, Taylor No: None Absent: None Abstain: None The Chairman declared said motion duly carried and so ordered. Boardmember Bruesch suggested that at a future Rehab Meeting, time be set aside for discussion on the permit fee structure. B. 2726 KELBURN AVENUE The subject property consists of a tenant-occupied single family dwelling and a tenant- occupied illegally converted guest house. The property is zoned R-2. A "Please Letter" was mailed to the property owner on February 17, 1999. On March 2, 1999, Mr. Kim Tom, the owner's brother, came to the Building Department to discuss the list of defects and permit requirements. Inspection on March 10, 1999 revealed no progress. The Building Official declared the property substandard and filed a Declaration of Substandard Property with the Los Angeles County Recorders office. A "Fifteen Day" certified letter was mailed and posted on the property on March 24, 1999, requesting abatement of the substandard conditions. On March 30, 1999, Mr. Tom returned to City hall with a site plan which had been requested by Planning Department. The plan was incomplete and Mr. Tom indicated that he would return the following day, but he did not. A "bulky item" trash notice was mailed to both the owners and tenants on April 5, 1999, On April 21, 1999, the building inspector met with Mr. Tom at the site, however, no interior access was gained to the guest house. On April 26, 1999, Mr. Tom returned to City Hall with a more detailed site plan. On May 5, 1999,Ms. Wilkinson from Planning Department staff did gain access to the guest house. She verified that a full kitchen had been added without permits or approvals. Other Planning Department violations were also noted. Ms. Wilkinson made several attempts to contact Mr. Tom by telephone, pager, and by mail. As of July 12, 1999, no response REHAB 7-27-99 Page 03 had been received. A Notice of Hearing was mailed and posted on the property July 12, 1999. All interested parties have been notified. The City Building Official recommends that the Board find the property substandard and order all substandard conditions be removed and/or corrected by September 1, 1999. However, if the required permits are obtained, and sufficient progress is achieved by September 1, 1999, the abatement date may be extended to October 4, 1999. Kim Tom, 2522 Pine Street, Rosemead, stated that he is the brother of the property owner. Mr. Tom stated that his sister bought the property as two units in October, 1997 and that the escrow papers state that the property has two houses. After inspecting the escrow papers, Mr. Kress stated that those papers appear to be mortgage documents and not the disclosure documents. Mr. Kress stated that without the disclosure document a determination cannot be made as to what was disclosed by the property seller. Boardmember Taylor stated that nothing has been done on the property. Mr. Tom stated that tenants occupying that house do not allow them to remove anything. Boardmember Taylor stated that some of the items are minor repairs, and there does not seem to be any effort made to correct the list and that Mr. Tom needs to notify his sister to start making those repairs. • MOTION BY BOARDMEMBER TAYLOR, SECOND BY BOARDMEMBER BRUESCH that the Board find the property substandard and order all substandard conditions be removed and/or corrected by September 1, 1999. However, if the required permits are obtained, and sufficient progress is achieved by September 1, 1999, the abatement date may be extended to October 4, 1999. Before vote could result, more discussion ensued. Boardmember Imperial asked if an inspection has been made on the wrought iron bars on the windows. Mr. Bailey responded that the Building Inspector made an interior inspection today; however, they were not able to gain access to those bedrooms with the bars on them. Vote resulted: Aye: Clark, Bruesch, Vasquez, Imperial, Taylor No: None Absent: None Abstain: None The Chairman declared said motion duly carried and so ordered. III. STATUS REPORTS A. SUBSTANDARD BUILDINGS AND PROPERTIES No action required on this item. B. BUILDING REHABILITATION APPEALS BOARD No action required on this item. REHAB.7-27-99 Page N4 C. CITY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY REFERRAL UPDATE No action required on this item. IV. MATTERS FROM OFFICIALS Boardmember Bruesch asked if the Building Inspectors have a policy of prioritizing the inspection of safety bar latches on windows with wrought iron bars. James Guerra, Building Official, stated that all items on the list of defects are given the same deadline, whether it be 15 days to correct 10 items, or 30 days. Any extension of time beyond that is done on a priority basis per the Inspector's judgement as to whether hazardous conditions exist. Boardmember Bruesch asked what are hazardous conditions. Mr. Guerra responded that it would include such items as exposed electrical wiring, unvented heaters, or wrought iron bars blocking access from the bedrooms. V. ADJOURNMENT There being no further action to be taken at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m. The next regular meeting is scheduled for August 24, 1999, at 7:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted: APPROVED: Board Secretary CHAIRMAN RE BAB3.27.99 Page#5