Member Benefit ALERTS

City Considers Tap Fee Reductions

HBA Members have been working with Colorado Springs Utilities, the Colorado Springs Economic Development Corporation, the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, and the Pikes Peak Association of Realtors on identifying barriers to business hindering the city's economic development efforts.  As a result of this process, Colorado Springs Utilities is recommending a substantial decrease in tap fees for commercial development.  The HBA is strongly supporting this proposal as we believe these costs add a substantial burden to the cost of commercial construction and can operate as a significant barrier to companies seeking to locate, or expand, their businesses in Colorado Springs.  The Colorado Springs City Council is scheduled to consider the tap fee reduction proposal during their February 28th meeting. 

Contact William Mutch at william@cshba.com for more information about this proposal and how you can become involved in our efforts to support this important economic development initiative with the Colorado Springs City Council. 
 

Proposed Fee Increase

The HBA has filled a request with the City of Colorado Springs to delay the proposed 6% increase in drainage, bridge, and pond fees for 2012. Currently the City has proposed no action on the recommendation of the Drainage Board and ongoing discussions are taking place.

Contact William Mutch at william@cshba.com for more information.

Carbon Monoxide Alarms- RBD Reminder
 

Recent code adoption reiterates the need for carbon monoxide detectors to be installed in new construction and existing structures. The State of Colorado already mandates that monoxide alarms be installed in residential properties. The 2009 International Residential Code reads as follows:
SECTION R315 -CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS
R315.1 Carbon monoxide alarms. For new construction, an approved carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms in dwelling units within which fuel-fired appliances are installed and in dwelling units that have attached garages.
R315.2 Where required in existing dwellings. Where work requiring a permit occurs in existing dwellings that have attached garages or in existing dwellings within which fuel-fired appliances exist, carbon monoxide alarms shall be provided in accordance with Section R315.1.
R315.3 Alarm requirements. Single station carbon monoxide alarms shall be listed as complying with UL 2034 and shall be installed in accordance with this code and the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
New construction requirements are obvious, but the existing dwelling requirements need some interpretation.
EXAMPLES
Permits requiring alarms
Remodels, basement finishes, additions, furnace, water heater, boiler replacements, AC installations, gas log, fireplace, or wood fireplace installations, electrical circuits, outlets, panel upgrade, potable water, DWV piping or relocation
Permits not requiring alarms
Decks, reroofing, stucco, siding, AC condenser replacement including electrical, Lawn sprinkler

Colorado Electrical Board

On October 1, 2011, the State Electrical Board revised permit fees for the 2012 fiscal year. The stated
purpose for the increase is “…to cover its expenditures with revenues, a change in fee structure is necessary due to
recent and future projected shortfalls in income.”
New permit fees may be found at: http://www.dora.state.co.us/electrical/2011EUpdate_EBPermitFeeChange.pdf.

Electric Fuel Cost Adjustment Proposed

New ECA rate approved
City Council has approved a change in the Electric Cost Adjustment rate, effective Oct. 1. The ECA rate covers Utilities' costs for coal, natural gas and purchase power. The change will increase the typical residential bill by $0.60 per month.

At the September 13 City Council meeting, Colorado Springs Utilities proposed a change to the Electric Cost Adjustment (ECA) rate.

• The current ECA rate is $0.0030 per kWh.
• The proposed ECA rate is $0.0040 per kWh.

Depending on your usage, the change will result in a 1% to 2% increase to your commercial or industrial bill. Contact your account manager or call 448-4800 for a more precise bill impact estimate.

Fuel cost adjustments are designed to compensate for changes in fuel expenses, which are pass through costs for Colorado Springs Utilities. No profit is made.

The ECA rate is expected to remain unchanged through the winter season.

Notification of New Administration Fee

Due to the costs to Pikes Peak Regional Building Department associated with record maintenance, registration issuance, and online access, all Electrical Registrants at Pikes Peak Regional Building Department will be charged an administration fee.  Beginning October 1, 2011, all new registrations and renewals will be assessed a $100 annual administration fee. This fee shall be paid at the issuance and/or renewal of registration.

If you have questions or concerns regarding this new administration fee, Please contact Pattie Benger, Contractor Licensing Supervisor at 719-327-2896 or pattie@pprbd.org or Dean Wemmer, Chief Electrical Inspector at 719-799-2865 or Dean@pprbd.org.

 

2011 REGIONAL BUILDING CODE ADOPTION

2009 INTERNATIONAL CODES/ 2011 RBC-.
The 2011 PPRBC has been adopted and implemented in all jurisdictions except Manitou Springs. There is a 6 month grace period which will end February 1st 2012. All plans submitted on or after August 1st must be submitted to the 2011 PPRBC in full (commercial and residential). Plans that have been submitted under the 2005 PPRBC prior to August 1st will have until February 1st 2012 (6 months) to be permitted under the 2005 PPRBC.
Any permits NOT requiring plans (reroof, water heaters, etc.) will be permitted to the 2011 PPRBC effective August 1st.

Details can be viewed at: http://www.pprbd.org/codes/PPRBC_Notice.pdf  

Plans must be permitted under the code that they have been reviewed.
The proposed 2011 RBD can be found at www.pprbd.org

Are you having Land Use and development review concerns or stresses? 

You may want to consider a Post-Project Review which can yield helpful information for both the City and the customer in dealing with similar cases in the future. The Land Use Review Advisory Board (LURAB), comprised of the development industry and neighborhood representatives who are familiar with both the development process and the regulatory system, provides a neutral “safe  haven” for the customer and review staff to look back upon the issues and circumstances surrounding difficult projects. Because they view issues from multiple perspectives, LURAB members can offer advice and guidance to all parties, thereby decreasing the likelihood of the same issues arising in subsequent project reviews. Post-Project Reviews are informal and will vary depending on the complexities to be reviewed. Usually, the project chronology is outlined, followed by a roundtable discussion of what went well and where difficulties occurred.  In all cases, LURAB will strive to maintain a respectful conversation, asking questions to clarify details. 
For more information, or to request a post-project review, contact the Planning & Development Team Leader Dick Anderwald at (719) 385-5347 or danderwald@springsgov.com
Click here for more details


 

REMOVAL of IRRIGATION BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLIES

Over the past few years, Colorado Springs has experienced an increase in backflow prevention thefts. To this end, Colorado Springs Utilities has been working with affected customers as well as representatives from the irrigation and plumbing industry to develop a possible solution to this problem.

BMP Academy

From Rick Willard at CDOT: Enrollment for training classes are now open for registration at the CDOT BMP Field Academy. Nine classes have been scheduled June 2 through October 6. These all day sessions are hands-on opportunities to install erosion and sediment control BMPs in the field and evaluate their performance under simulated precipitation run-off conditions. These training sessions are being offered at no cost to the attendees by CDOT and are open to non-CDOT employees and industry professionals that have completed the CDOT ECS Certification training. For more information and registration forms, go to http://www.altitudeta.com/bmpacademy.htm to be taken to Altitude Training Associates website.

CDPHE's Proposed Changes to Industrial Stormwater Permits

From Janice Lopitz, Boulder Co. - CDPHE is revising the Stormwater Permit for industrial activity (light, heavy and recycling) that includes airports, recycling facilities, trash haulers, waste water treatment plants and other typically private activities like auto recycling, concrete manufacturing, asphalt paving, and chemical manufacturing. The light industry permit is slated to expire June 30, 2011 - CDPHE will be extending it as they undergo the public process for the new permit. The Permit Compliance Committee attended a pre-public meeting on April 29, 2011. The state's slide presentation is available at http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/wq/PermitsUnit/index.html. CDPHE is considering adopting a hybrid approach of EPA's Multi-Sector General Permit for Stormwater Discharges (http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/msgp2008_generalfs.pdf<http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/msgp2008_generalfs.pdf) and combining light, heavy and recycling into one permit and extractive industries (sand and gravel) into another. More outreach will continue and then an 'official' public meeting - though a time table was not defined.

EPA Launches New Strategy to Promote Use of Green Infrastructure for Environmental and Economic Benefits (continued) (April 29th press release)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launching a new strategy to promote the use of green infrastructure by cities and towns to reduce stormwater runoff that pollutes our nation’s streams, creeks, rivers, lakes and coastal waters. As part of the strategy, EPA will work with partners including local governments, watershed groups, tribes and others in 10 cities that have utilized green infrastructure and have plans for additional projects, which includes Denver. Ken MacKenzie, UDFCD, informed us that Denver's Green Infrastructure Community Partner Organization project includes the following organizations: City and County of Denver, Denver Housing Authority, Greenway Foundation, Trust for Public Lands, and Urban Drainage and Flood Control District. Lisa Ross, Colorado Springs, provided the attached EPA memo on "Protecting Water Quality with Green Infrastructure in EPA Water Permitting and Enforcement Programs" We will look for updates as the program progresses. 

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