AIA Austin Commercial Advocacy Roundtable

June 26, 2017

Meeting Minutes

In an effort to effectively advocate for AIA members, the commercial advocacy round table hosts a series of round table discussions to help determine how AIA Austin can best advocate for its membership. The purpose of the round table is to offer a venue for AIA members to express what they feel is important to them and to communicate that information to the Advocacy Commission for action.

The focus of this Roundtable is: To provide update and brief discussion on significant issues affecting commercial architects.

Documents related to agenda items are available on AIA Austin’s website, under “Commercial Advocacy Roundtable.”

The following constitutes topics, discussion, and comments from members of AIA Austin. Any opinions contained herein are from members, and do not constitute a statement by AIA Austin or its affiliates.

  1. Introduction:Mark Odom
  2. Miscellaneous updates:
  3. Quick Turnaround:
  4. Online submittal goes live in mid-July.
  5. Expedited Permit:
  6. The City is hiring new staff to handle Expedited Permit process, so as not to crowd out existing review processes.
  7. Adoption of Codes:
  8. 2015 International Building Code must go through City Council before being adopted. It is anticipated, but not confirmed, that the 2015 IBC will go into effect on September 1.
  9. E-Plan Review:
  10. Remains a pilot program, with no anticipated launch date.
  11. Looking for volunteers to test the system.
  12. Commercial Plan Review, Review Times:
  13. Published review time for new buildings: increased from 7 business days to 15 business days.
  14. Published review time for renovations: increased from 1 week to 3 weeks.
  15. Solar-Ready Ordnance:
  16. Has passed through Council without recommendations from AIA.
  17. Anticipated to go live on October 1.
  18. Refer to AIA Austin website for recent updates.
  1. Code implications for townhomes:
  2. It was discussed that townhome projects may be permitted under either the IRC or IBC, as long as they are at or below three stories.
  3. Members are advised that if they choose to use the IRC, all utilities have to be located in the unit that they serve.
  4. Tap Plan issue:
  5. Members are advised that, at present, per Austin Water, design professionals cannot submit for a building permit without an approved tap plan; this is a sequential, not concurrent, process.
  6. The City may go back to concurrent review for these items, but this has not been confirmed.
  7. Payments to the City of Austin:
  8. Members are advised that payments to the City (for review fees, etc.) may be made via the following methods:
  9. Check;
  10. Credit card bearing the name of the person presenting it.
  11. Thus, the following methods of payment are not being accepted at this time:
  12. Credit card from the individual’s company, but bearing the name of a person not present;
  13. Credit card from a client, bearing the name of a person not present.
  14. An explanation was given to a member recently that this inconvenience is because of recent fraudulent payments made to the City.
  15. Online Queuing at City departments:
  16. The QLess mobile app (available for iPhone and Android) allows an individual to reserve a place in line, from a mobile device, at all City departments that require queuing. As wait times increase, this is a significant advantage in time efficiency.
  1. Closing:Mark Odom

We will post the results of this meeting on AIA Austin's website, and we will keep you posted for the next Commercial Advocacy Roundtable.Thank you for your participation!