Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 RSTF Meetings and Materials Committee of the Whole May 19, 2004 Page 2 to enter into a long-term lease and to participate financially. An acoustician is developing plans for different levels of improvements. If the ESO invests in the City's building, the City would have to commit to giving ESO more dates, which would preclude some other performances and events at this multi-use facility. Because the costs are not known at this time, no commitment was made; however, there is no objection to continuing discussion. Discussion of Elgin Recreation Center The lease at the current East Chicago Street facility will expire in May 2005 and will not be renewed. Moving to another facility is being explored. Councilmember Gilliam stated that the Elgin Recreation Center provides a service to a population which is not served by the City of Elgin. Councilmember Sandor made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Walters, to pursue purchasing a building to be used by the Elgin Recreation Center. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. The meeting was recessed at 6:48 pm. and resumed at 7:20 p.m. Infill Development Sites Channing YWCA- City Manager Dorgan suggested options for the Charming YWCA site including a public park, townhomes or single family homes. The Council favored the single family home option. Lovelton Site—this 1.7 acre site has been considered as a possible site for Walgreens. It is in the Elgin Watch Historic District. D. C. Cook Site— lofts were mentioned as a possibility for this site if it is vacated by D.C. Cook. Discussion of Elgin Salvage Yard—Issues and Timetable The Council was briefed on the current status regarding the lease of this property and the timeline for having environmental tests completed and submitted to the State of Illinois. It was suggested that consideration be given to acquiring parcels in the"triangle"to have a more attractive area for redevelopment. Councilmember Sandor would like to have consideration given to having a Veterans Park along the riverfront. Councilmember Walters believes that the open space from the riverfront should be more than 75 feet. Bluff City Cemetery Operations Council was advised that staff has been looking at ways to reduce the cost of cemetery operations, which is a labor intensive operation and which had a shortfall in 2003. Council was furnished with a memorandum which outlined various options,which included contract burial and grounds maintenance services or contract burial services only. Council advised City Manager Dorgan they have no objection to his proceeding to review ways of changing the operation to save money. Residential Sprinklers Councilmember Sandor stated that Streamwood, West Dundee and Hoffman Estates have a sprinkler ordinance, and it is time for Elgin to enact this legislation for new residential construction. He stated his reasons for this legislation. Mayor Schock stated that he cannot . .. Committee of the Whole May 19, 2004 Page 3 support the outlay of millions of dollars for mandatory fire sprinklers when there hasn't been a single fire death in Kane County in the past 10 years in a newer than 10-year old house. Pros and cons were discussed by Councilmembers. Councilmember Sandor made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Figueroa, to adopt A NFPA 13 D standard for residential structures with more than two units and to lower the standard for the maximum square footage a building can be before it has to be sprinkled from 7000 square feet to 3000 square feet for new construction. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Rodgers, and Sandor. Nays: Councilmembers Gilliam, Walters, and Mayor Schock. Need for Additional Sports Fields Councilmember Figueroa stated that with the growing population, the Council needs to look at obtaining a site for a regional park. We are facing challenges to find space for some groups. Councilmember Rodgers added that Council has also been asked to find a location for playing cricket. It was stated that when a regional park is obtained, it will be necessary to determine what the public wants and what will work programwise. Local Cable Programming Update Assistant City Manager Stegall distributed the TV Studio Project Update which reflects an estimated cost of$122,000 for upgrading the facility, power, and HVAC system. The sum of $60,000 has been budgeted and the additional $62,000 could come from greater than anticipated riverboat revenue. Funds for the operations will come from the cable companies. Local programming will include the council meetings and two other shows a month. Mr. Stegall reported that he has met with WOW cable company about the possibility of doing local programming,but no decision has been made. Councilmember Sandor expressed concern about only one cable company showing the local programming. However, Mr. Stegall was given direction to proceed with the local programming with Comcast even if WOW doesn't want to do it. Mr. Stegall also stated that there is a real need to improve the audio system in the council chambers, and this would be an appropriate time to do it and include it with this project. Early Retirement Update The Council was furnished with a list of the number of employees who have already retired, are likely to retire, and those eligible for retirement. Prevailing Wages Involving Grants for Developers Discussion was held concerning whether the prevailing wage requirement should be applied to projects in which the City has provided substantial funding. Councilmember Sandor made a motion that payment of prevailing wages be required in cases where there is city participation in private projects over$50,000, excluding not-for-profit organizations. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Rodgers and Sandor. Nays: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Walters, and Mayor Schock. Code Enforcement/Maintenance Councilmember Figueroa stated that he has seen a lot of houses which are vacant or the grass has not been cut for months, and he would to have the code reviewed to consider expediting the process. There is a house that was burned and is still standing a year later. Community COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING APRIL 14, 2004 The regular Committee of the Whole meeting was called to order by Mayor Schock at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Present: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Sandor, Walters and Mayor Schock. Absent: Councilmember Rodgers. Approval of Minutes Councilmember Sandor made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Figueroa, to approve the minutes of the April 14, 2004, regular meeting. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Sandor, Walters and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. " Consideration of Water Main Easement with Matsushita Electric Corporation of America A resolution will be presented at tonight's Council meeting for adoption by the City Council. Consideration of a Resolution Adopting the Kane County Hazard Mitigation Plan A resolution will be presented at tonight's Council meeting for adoption by the City Council. Consideration of Construction Management Services for Fire Station No. 6 A resolution will be presented at tonight's Council meeting for adoption by the City Council. Report from the Residential Fire Sprinkler Committee The members of the Residential Fire Sprinkler Committee, William Freiberg, Mark Mastroroco, and Charles Miller, presented their report. Chairman Freiberg stated that the committee met regularly since November 2003 and heard testimony from many professionals both in favor of and opposed to a mandated residential fire sprinkler ordinance. They met with representatives from other municipalities, sprinkler contractors, fire departments and home developers as well as representatives from the Illinois Fire Inspectors Association, the Fair Housing Alliance, the Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board and the City of Elgin's Code Enforcement Department. The committee realized that the short term impact was cost and the long term benefit was safety. The committee's goal and mission statement were to gather all information. At the close of their final session, each of the members presented a position paper. Two members were in favor with one having reservations about cost and availability and one was opposed. Councilmember Sandor thanked the members of the committee and other entities who were involved in the fact-finding mission. Councilmember Sandor made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Figueroa, to receive the report of the Residential Fire Sprinkler Committee, take no action at this time, and have the Council consider the report in the future. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Sandor, Walters and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. 1) MEMORANDUM DATE: 03-15-04 FROM: The Elgin Residential Fire Sprinkler Advisory Committee TO: The Mayor and City Council of Elgin, Illinois RE: Residential fire sprinkler ordinance recommendation At the final meeting of The Elgin Residential Fire Sprinkler Advisory Committee on March 56, 2004,the 3 committee members each submitted our position papers. The committee has met regularly since November of 2003 and has heard testimony from many professionals both in favor of and opposed to a mandated residential fire sprinkler ordinance. Representatives of municipalities, sprinkler contractors, fire departments and home developers have appeared as well as representatives from The Illinois Fire Inspectors Assoc., The Fair Housing Alliance, The Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board and The City of Elgin Code Enforcement Dept. The committee respectfully submits the attached position papers to the Mayor and members of The City Council that they may make an informed decision relating to a residential fire sprinkler ordinance for new home construction in the City of Elgin. Furthermore, should the Council wish the committee to appear before it and answer questions, we remain at your service. Committee members William Freiberg, Deputy Fire Chief, retired Mark Mastrorocco, Pulte home Corporation Charles Miller, Charles Miller Builders March 5, 2004 RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLER ORDINANCE RECOMMENDATION The Elgin fire Sprinkler advisory Committee was authorized by The City Council and has met regularly since November of 2003. At each meeting we have been presented with a great deal of material and the professional opinions of many individuals who have both favored and opposed mandated residential fire sprinklers in newly constructed homes. Having studied the materials submitted and having listened intently to both sides of the issue, I have reached a personal decision regarding the enactment of an ordinance mandating residential fire sprinklers in all new homes to be constructed within the city limits of Elgin, Illinois. The major issue surrounding this proposed ordinance appears to be the initial installation cost. As I stated at an earlier meeting, "if they were free, everyone would have them". While cost is an important issue, one must agree that safety almost always comes with a price and that it is almost never voluntary. Yes, safety is expensive, but it is nowhere near as expensive as taking the attitude that "If it's not broke, don't fix it". It is my belief that it is broke and it badly needs fixing. My career was in the fire service for 28 years and at the many house fires that I have fought, I can think of very few incidents where the damage would have been as severe if the home had been equipped with an operating sprinkler system. During this time also, I can, with all honesty, say that of the many fatalities and burn victims I have seen, few, if any, would have perished or suffered life threatening and disabling/disfiguring injuries as a result of those fires. Furthermore, I join with Chief Falese of The Elgin Fire Department and with The Elgin Association of Firefighters, local #439 by supporting a sprinkler- ordinance. Taking all this into account, I cast my vote as a member of the Committee on behalf of an ordinance mandating residential sprinklers in new home construction and that the City adopt NFPA 13 D as its minimum standard. Respectfully subm- ed,, vy William J. Freiberg Charles P. Miller City of Elgin — Sprinkler Task Force Position Statement 3/4/04 In my opinion, a mandatory ordinance for sprinklers would definitely be a positive influence for fire safety of our community. I recommend a mandatory ordinance with some reservations. Being a small builder, it will impact my company differently than a larger organization. Some of my concerns, positive and negative, are: I. I personally have had a hard time getting competitive bids. 2. The different size factor of the building versus the cost can be very high due to the fixed costs of the system. 3. It is hard to compare smoke detector costs and benefits to a sprinkler system. 4. Sprinklers are definitely an asset for any fire department. 5. The:benefit of a mandated sprinkler system over an extended period of time is a positive force for the community and persons occupying the residences. 6. We, the building community, will need to help educate the public on fire safety. In conclusion, hopefully this outline will help the council consider the worthwhile proposal for fire safety enhancement. Mark Mastrorocco City of Elgin - Sprinkler Advisory Committee Position Paper 3/5/04 After full consideration of all the facts, I recommend the Elgin City Council not adopt the proposed ordinance mandating fire sprinklers in all new residential construction, for the following reasons: • No Demand by the Prospective Home Buyer—there is simply no demand by the consumer for residential sprinklers in the Elgin area housing market. Our experience shows prospective buyers are expressing no interest in sprinklers being installed in their homes. • Extremely High Cost -typical cost for sprinklers to a homebuyer in Elgin will be approximately an additional $10,000. To the typical prospective homebuyer considering a purchase in the City of Elgin, this amount represents a significant cost. This homebuyer strongly prefers to spend that money for other features in a home, and will make his/her buying decision accordingly. • Will Diminish the Market Attractiveness and Growth of New Housing in the City of Elgin—because the consumer would be required to pay for sprinklers, a feature that he/she does not see a corresponding value for,this mandate will position Elgin housing at a competitive disadvantage vs. similar housing in competing municipalities that do not require sprinklers. • • New Elgin Housing Already Has a Very High Cost Structure—the City of Elgin already mandates the highest impact fees in the area for new home construction, as well as mandates very expensive material design guidelines. To also mandate residential sprinklers,on top of these other costs, would seriously jeopardize the market competitiveness of new housing for the City of Elgin. • Slower Residential Growth= Less Attractive Commercial/Retail Market— if the City makes it's new housing less attractive to consumers via required sprinklers, the consumer market(i.e. growth in rooftops) in the City of Elgin as assessed by prospective retailers will also be less attractive. • Education is the Proven Solution for Residential Fire Safety—the number of fire related home deaths in the United States has dropped significantly over the last 20 years. The primary reason for this reduction, as stated by Fire Safety professionals,has been effective education programs. 11704) Elgin Association of Fire Fighteis -5 Local 439 :r ��O �' / �: 550 Summit Street • Elgin, IL 60120 847-931-6177 6—h)VW €3 'f� IG0 Bill Freiberg, Chairman Residential Sprinkler Task Force On behalf of the Elgin Association of Fire Fighters I would like to thank all the members of the committee for taking the time and effort to research and develop a residential sprinkler ordinance. As you well know we in the fire service have advocated the use of sprinklers in all buildings for years. We believe that this ordinance will not only make it safer for the residence who buy homes with these systems but also for the fire fighters who will be protecting them. If the members of the fire department can assist the committees in any way please feel free to contact me or any of the other members of the fire department. eilk Sincerely, Joe V President Elgin Association of Fire Fighters Local 439 rm.' e®, Affiliated with the International Association of Fire Fighters Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois Illinois State Federation of Labor AFL CIO rib* RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLER ORDINANCE February 9, 2004 POSITION STATEMENT Progressive and effective fire service organizations encourage and nurture practices that help them to better service the public. These ideas and practices range from training concepts to response patterns to public education tools. In addition, effective fire departments scour all possibilities to find items that can transition a"reactive" organization to one that consistently places itself in proactive and preventative positions. Over the last two decades,there have been several laws, ordinances, and mandates that have been put in place to address proven public safety dangers. Examples of these are typically found in building codes (building exiting, for example). Probably the most common one,however, is the Public Act that requires smoke alarms in residential occupancies. These new requirements over the last several years have had significant, documented, and proven success in the area of life safety. The current item that is now being embraced by communities is the requirement of sprinklers in newly constructed residential buildings. The intention of a residential sprinkler system is to provide a basic fire suppression system in the place where most fires occur. They are specifically designed to extinguish fires in their incipient or beginning stage. Many associations,however, are opposed to residential sprinkler rb ordinances. The opposition states that there is little fire problem in new homes, smoke detectors make sprinklers unnecessary, sprinklers cause water damage, sprinkler systems are unsightly, and that sprinklers are not cost effective. Each one of these positions can very effectively be countered with supportive statements for a residential sprinkler system. Specifically,Congress continues to become increasingly aware of the nation's fire death problem,and is contemplating legislation designed specifically toward fire safety in America's homes. The Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board conservatively projects that the majority of Chicago suburbs will have residential fire sprinkler ordinances by 2010. The position one takes on residential fire sprinklers certainly is impacted by an individual's perspective. Although fire sprinklers certainly provide a tremendous advantage, they are not the entire answer to life safety. They must be complimented by a community that has a well equipped and appropriately staffed fire department. In addition,the type, amount, and efficiency of the department's training have a significant impact on the overall effectiveness of the fire department. Finally,a true measure of a fire department's success are the abilities of the Fire Prevention Division. In other words, the requirement of residential sprinklers can be one very positive element in the overall administration of a fire department. It is important to evaluate what the expectations would be of such an ordinance. The required sprinklers would undoubtedly have an overall positive impact in the areas that rib* require them. However,this type of ordinance does not prevent fires nor reduce the fire activity in the structures already in Elgin. I do believe that this ordinance would reflect very positively on the Elgin Fire Department and the City of Elgin. It would demonstrate that the fire department is pursuing proactive measures that support the obtainment of life safety initiatives. The issue of mandating safety in one's home,however, is a policy decision that rests with the City Council. Deu /10C, r r 2 ATTAINABLE HOUSING ALLIANCE RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLERS POSITION PAPER AHA POSITION: The Attainable Housing Alliance (AHA)supports the position that all homebuilders should offer sprinkler systems as an option in communities with underlying sprinkler ordinances. Further,AHA opposes any ordinance that mandates residential sprinkler systems for new one and two family homes. Homebuilders should offer brochures,materials and any other information that would best inform and educate the homebuyer as to the benefits of installing a sprinkler system as well as the costs. Additionally,we believe that local programs should be developed to educate the public,including existing homeowners,as to the proper placement and maintenance of smoke detectors.This will bring the issue to the buyers attention yet not force it upon them. AHA does not feel that this is builder-only issue and should not be portrayed as such. The new homebuyer will incur all costs relating to the purchase,installation and up-keep of the sprinkler system AHA holds the health,safety and welfare of a community as one of its top priorities;although,we do feel that this ordinance causes undo financial burden on new homebuyers. The homebuyer should decide,they are the ones that incur the fmancial burden. 1'HE HISTORY: One and two family residential sprinkler systems made there way into IL municipal ordinances in the mud-1980's.Ordinances may be voluntary but most are mandated with requirements varying from municipality to municipality. Some municipalities require sprinklers in hot spots while others require them throughout the entire home. rilE ISSUE: The National Association of Home Builders studied national trends and concluded that residential tire-related deaths have been reduced dramatically—by more than 40%during the last 30 years and by 54%in the last 10 years.(Nation's Building News, 06/03) According to the National Fire Protection Association,fire deaths dropped by almost 10% from 2001 to 2002. When population accounted for fire death rate per million people-a better measure of fire safety-from 1991-1999 decreased by 54%. (Housing Economics, 11/02) This is mostly due to updated fire safety codes. New homes are simply built better then they used to be,incorporating better fire retardant materials,better electrical systems and electrical installations,improved heating systems, improved framing and blocking techniques,better egress(i.e.Ways to get around the house),and the installation of interconnected hardwired smoke detectors. Statistical analysis of fire data for DuPage and Kane Counties was used to determine the average age of home at time of ignition,deaths or injuries due to fire,ignition factors and working detectors/sprinklers at time of fire, over a 10-year period.Based on the information supplied by the Illinois State Fire Marshals Office,a home that is 10 years or older is approximately three(3)times more likely to have a fire incident compared to a home built today. The research further shows that the overwhelming majority of injuries and deaths occurred in older homes without working fire detectors. Requiring fire sprinklers in all new one and two family homes will impose an additional financial burden on already strapped homebuyers. It is the common practice of our members to willingly work with customers who may wish to include sprinkler systems in their home. As we have seen first hand,homebuyers choose against installing a sprinkler system because of the extremely high cost. Cost estimates from different sprinkler installation companies estimate that the average cost for a 3400 sq. ft.home is in the ballpark of$8,000 to $15,000($2.35 to$4.41 sq ft.). DuPage County Fire Statistics (1992-2001) Fire Occurrences (1992-2001) Based upon the Year Built 255 Homes 7.6% 558 Homes •1990-2000 16.7% ■1980-1989 '::;;-=„1',73.2 ;71.4111W - __.: , i 1876 Homes O 1970-1979 56.0% 660 Homes ®Before 1970 19.7% Charts arc based on homes with available age data. Total Fires: 3879 Deaths Due to Fire: 27 Injuries Due to Fire: 390 **244 injuries occurred in homes without working smoke detectors. **21 deaths occurred in homes without working smoke detectors. **71.10%of total home fires did not have working smoke detectors. Note:Statistics assume less than 1.2%error. Data supplied by the Illinois State Fire Marshals Office and DuPage County's township assessor's offices. Information is based on Addison,Aurora,Bensenville,Bloomingdale,Burr Ridge,Carol Stream,Clarendon Hills,Darien,Downers Grove,Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn,Glendale Heights,Hinsdale,Itasca,Lisle,Lombard,Naperville,Oak Brook,Oakbrook Terrace,Roselle,St.Charles,Villa Park,Warrenville, West Chicago,Westmont,Wheaton,Willowbrook,Winfield,Wood Dale,and Woodridge. r'' DuPage County Synopsis Total Household Units: 335,621 Total Number of Fires(1992-2001): 3,879 Percentage of Fires to Total Household Units: 1.16% Yr. 2000: 60,230 homes age 0-10(18%), 255 homes age 0-10 reported fires Distribution of Housing Stock as of Mar. 2000 Fires:Total Housing Age Fires Fires: Housing Stock of Age Stock Deaths 0-10 255 0.42% 0.08% • 1 11-20 558 0.85% 0.17% 1 21-30 660 0.76% 0.20% 6 31+ 1876 1.52% 0.56% 19 Chart based on Mar.31,2000 Top Ten Causes of Fire Cost of a sprinkler system: $8,000-$15,000•• Combustible too dose to heat 511 Short circuit 312 Total cost of sprinkler installation for all homes Lack of maintenance 275 that reported fires and were 10 years old or Electrical failure,misc 217 younger at the time of the fire (1992-2001): Abandoned/discarded material 217 $2,040,000-$3,825,000 Unattended 206 Part failure,leak,break 191 Total cost of sprinkler installation for all homes Children misusing heat of ignition 152 ages 0-10 in the year 2000: Lightning 151 $481,840,000-$903,450,000 Suspicious,not during civil disturbance 137 Conclusion The total cost of installing sprinkler systems in all homes ages 0-10 (2000) would have been between approx. $2,040,000 and $3,825,000. However, new homes would benefit little from sprinklers, since only .42% of the 60,230 homes built in DuPage County between 1990 and 2000 have caught on fire. Putting mandatory sprinklers in all these homes to minimize damage in only 255 fires would have cost between $481,840,000 and $903,450,000. According to our data, a home over 10 years of age is almost 3 times as likely to have a fire incident. Further, there were a total of 27 deaths related to fires in Dupage County; and 26 out of the 27 deaths occurred in homes that were over 10 years of age. In light of these statistics, a costly precautionary measure such as fire sprinklers should not be mandated for all new household construction. Cost of sprinkler system for a 3,400 square foot home. Statistics based on information and data from the U.S.Census Bureau,Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office,and DuPage County's Township Assessor's Offices r KANE COUNTY FIRE STATISTICS (1990-2000) Age of Home At Time of Ignition 68 Homes 13% 50 Homes 9% ■1 TO 10 -qillIllp ■11 T020 57 Homes 021 TO 30 11% 031 + 355 Homes 67% -- rill6' **Chart is based on homes with available age information TOTAL FIRES: 578 INJURIES: 143 DEATHS: 3 **110 injuries occurred in homes without working smoke detectors. **100% of the deaths occurred in homes without working smoke detectors. **75% of total home fires did not have working smoke detectors. Note:Statistics assume less than 2.6%margin of error. Data supplied by the Illinois State Fire Marshals Office and Kane County's township assessor's offices. Information is based on Batavia,Carpentersville,Dundee,East Dundee,Elgin,Montgomery,North Aurora,Sleepy Hollow,South Elgin,and West Dundee. eglik Kane County Synopsis Total Household Units: 138,998 Total Number of Fires (1992-2001): 578 Percentage of Fires to Total Household Units: .4% Yr. 2000: 32,189 homes age 0-10(23%), 68 homes age 0-10 reported fires Distribution of Housing Stock as of Mar. 2000 Fires:Total Housing Age Fires Fires: Housing Stock of Age Stock Deaths 0-10 68 0.2% 0.049% 0 11-20 50 0.3% 0.036% 0 21-30 57 0.2% 0.041% 0 31+ 355 .5% 0.25% 3 Chart based on Mar. 31, 2000 Census data Top Ten Known Causes of Fire Cost of a sprinkler system: Combustible too dose to heat $8,000-$15,000" Lack of maintenance Or $2.35 - $4.41 a square foot r Unattended Short circuit Total cost of sprinkler installation for all Abandoned/discarded material homes that reported fires and were 10 years Incendiary,not during civil disturbance old or younger at the time of the fire(1992- Electrical failure,misc 2001): $544,000-$1,020,000 Inadequate control of open fire Part failure,leak,break Total cost of sprinkler installation for all Children misusing heat of ignition homes ages 0-10 in the year 2000: $257,512,000-$482,835,000 Conclusion The total cost of installing sprinkler systems in all homes ages 0-10(2000)would have been between approx. $257,512,000-$482,835,000. However,new homes would benefit little from sprinklers,since only .2%of the 32,189 homes,ages(0-10)built in Kane County between 1990 and 2000,have caught on fire. Putting mandatory sprinklers in all these homes to minimize damage in only 68 fires would have cost between $544,000-$1,020,000. According to our data, a home over 10 years of age is almost three(3)times more likely to have a fire incident. There were a total of 3 deaths related to fires in Kane County; and all deaths occurred in homes that were over 10 years of age. Further,75%of all homes with a fire incidence did not have a working smoke detector; and 110 out of 143 injuries also occurred in home with no working smoke detector. In light of these statistics, a costly precautionary measure such as fire sprinklers should not be mandated for all new household construction. Cost of sprinkler system for a 3,400 square foot home.Statistics based on information and data from the U.S.Census Bureau,Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office,and Kane County's Township Assessor's Offices CITY OF ELGIN SPRINKLER ADVISORY COMMITTEE NOVEMBER, 2003 MISSION STA FEMENT Having been appointed by the Mayor and City Council of Elgin, the Sprinkler Advisory Committee will gather any and all information available relating to residential fire sprinklers including but not limited to: • Costs incurred by the builder/developer and home owner • Existing residential fire sprinkler ordinance already in place locally and elsewhere • Life safety and loss reduction statistics attributed to such ordinances CITY OF ELGIN SPRINKLER ADVISORY COMMITTEE NOVEMBER, 2003 GOAL STATEMENT The Elgin Sprinkler Advisory Committee will present the results of all research and information gathered by this committee along with our recommendation to the Mayor and City Council of Elgin that they may make an informed decision relating to the enactment of a residential fire sprinkler ordinance affecting all new single and multi-family residences to be constructed within the City of Elgin. MINU IES OF THE ELGIN FIRE SPRINKLER ADVISORY COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 7th 2003 PRESENT: Bill Freiberg, Mark Mastrorocco ABSENT: Chuck Miller Chairman Bill Freiberg called the meeting to order at 0925 hours. Materials from the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board were distributed to the committee. The Mission Statement and Goal Statement of the Elgin Fire Sprinkler Advisory Committee was discussed and both were accepted (see attached). It was discussed that the committee must operate under the Illinois Open Meeting Act and that the committee would meet on scheduled Fridays in the Mayor's Conference Room at City Hall at 0900 hours. Chairman Freiberg called for adjournment at 1005 hours. Seconded by Mark Mastrorocco. AGENDA RESIDENTIAL FIRE SPRINKLER ADVISORY COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 21,2003 9:00 A.M. MAYOR'S CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL L Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Presentation by Elgin Association of Firefighters 4. John Rothenberger— Code requirements in sprinklered single and multi-family residences 5. Representative from the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board 6. Assignments to Committee members 7. Scheduling of future meetings 8. Adjournment MINUTES OF I'H E ELGIN FIRE SPRINKLER ADVISORY COMMITTEE ELGIN CITY HALL 0900 HRS NOVEMBER 21, 2003 PRESENT: Bill Freiberg, Chairman Charles Miller, Charles Miller Real Estate Mark Mastrorocco, Pulte Home Corporation GUESTS: John Rothenberger, City of Elgin, Dept. of Code Enforcement Thomas Lia, Northern Ill. Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board David Danley, Fire Safety Consultant Thomas Sandor, Elgin City Council Joseph VanDorpe, Elgin Association of Firefighters OTHERS PRESENT: Mary Loucas, Attainable Housing Alliance Jamie Reap, U.S. Fire Protection of III., Inc. Chairman Bill Freiberg called the meeting to order at 0905 hours. Joe VanDorpe stated that as President of the Elgin Association of Firefighters, the Association Local #439 of the International Association of Firefighters, strongly advocates the use of sprinklers in all buildings as they have for years. The Association further advocated enactment of a sprinkler ordinance to ensure the safety of not only the residents of the community, but the firefighters who protect them (see attached). Chairman Freiberg addressed a concern also, that such an ordinance must not be considered as a substitute for a well trained, properly equipped and correctly staffed complement of firefighters in close proximity to any area of the city, even though they may be protected by fire sprinklers. John Rothenberger stated that he foresees few, if any, trade-offs in construction methods if the residence is sprinklered, but with the city's water supply there would be no need for fire pumps in the systems due to our more than adequate water main pressure. He also stated that he receives a 20% reduction in his fire insurance rates since his own home is sprinklered. He further thought perhaps the city could offer an incentive of some sort to developers or buyers of these homes. Mark Mastrorocco asked if John saw any cost or other burden to the city as a result of such an ordinance and John saw none. Tom Sandor stated he was informed by Mark Biernacki that the only burden would be some added time doing the plan reviews of the homes. Tom Lia stated that the N_I.F.S.A.B. is not looking to have homes fully sprinklered and advocated staying within the N.F.P.A. 13 D Standard. Pg.2 Tom Sandor stated that the intention is to legislate only minimum standards and also that the developer may be in the community for up to 10 years; however, the city must protect the development for its lifespan. Chuck Miller stated that from an economic standpoint, should the city pass such an ordinance, either the buyer pays or the developer takes less profit. Mark Mastrorocco had concerns that these homes may not sell as quickly as a result of such an ordinance. Chuck Miller advocated heavy public education for buyers and also the legislators to encourage support of the ordinance. Mark Mastrorocco agreed as did the other members and he cautioned that we must attract home buyers in what is a very competitive market. Bill Freiberg asked those present if they had seen any resale benefits to owners of sprinklered homes and none were noted. Bill Freiberg gave the following assignments to the committee to be presented at the next meeting on Dec. 5th at 0900 hours. Chuck Miller will invite 2 local residential sprinkler installers to verify the $1.50 to $2.00 per sq. ft. installation cost of the N.F.P.A. 13 D System. Mark Mastrorocco will contact Rep. Tim Schmitz of Batavia to inquire about his proposed legislation allowing tax incentives in sprinklered buildings and if it would apply to single and multi family residences. Bill Freiberg will invite Fire Marshal Jim Feit of the Barrington Fire Department and a representative of the Hoffman Estates Fire Department. Both Barrington and Hoffman Estates have enacted such legislation and the committee wished to know first hand how their ordinances were accepted along with all the pros and cons these neighboring communities encountered from citizens, buyers and developers. We also wish to know of any obstacles encountered by their municipal officials. Tom Lia submitted a copy of the Clarendon Hills sprinkler clarification document and Bill Freiberg will make copies to distribute at the Dec. 5th meeting. There being no further business, Mark Mastrorocco motioned to adjourn and Chuck Miller seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 11:20 a.m. AGENDA RESIDENTIAL FIRE SPRINKLER ADVISORY COMMITTEE DECEMBER 5, 2003 9:00 A.M. MAYOR'S CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL • Call to order • Roll call • Presentation from local sprinkler contractors(C. Miller) • Research from Hoffman Estates and Barrington regarding impact of enacted sprinkler ordinances (B. Freiberg) • Research from Rep. Tom Schmitz regarding proposed legislation allowing for tax incentives applied to sprinklered buildings (M. Mastrorocco) • Schedule of future meetings • Adjournment MINUTES OF THE ELGIN FIRE SPRINKLER ADVISORY COMMITTEE ELGIN CITY HALL 0900 HRS DECEMBER 5, 2003 PRESENT: Bill Freiberg, Chairman Mark Mastrorocco, Pulte Homes Corporation GUESTS: Thomas Sandor, Elgin City Council Fire Marshal James Feit, Barrington Fire Protection District Interim Fire Marshall Mario Tristan - Hoffman Estates Fire Dept. OTHERS PRESENT: Jamie Reap, U.S. Fire Protection of Ill, Inc. ABSENT: Committee Member Charles Miller, Charles Miller Real Estate Chairman Bill Freiberg called the meeting to order at 0910 hrs. Motion to adopt the minutes of the Nov. 21' meeting made by Bill Freiberg and seconded by Mark Mastrorocco. Jim Feit stated that prior to any hearings, the Village Board of Trustees was given packets and educated as to the value of a sprinkler ordinance before they were pressured by other interest groups who were adverse to this legislation. He further stated the fact that lives lost in fires every year are by far, the result of residential fires as opposed to commercial fires (85%-90%). Also, that these residences in and of themselves do not catch fire by themselves. The 3 major causes of these fires are men, women and children. He further stressed the education factor, noting that their building department was educated about and strongly believed in residential fire sprinklers. Additionally, he urged that the building and fire inspectors be educated as well, so as not to force a builder to exceed the standards ofN.F.P.A. 13 D which is the standard that Barrington adheres to. While the standard does not require sprinklers in garages and attics, one developer in the village has elected to install them in their homes regardless of the minimum standard. It must be noted also that this ordinance applies only to the village of Barrington, Il. and, that the Barrington Fire Protection District protects several dozen square miles outside the village including South Barrington and Barrington Hills. Since enactment of the ordinance in the village limits, several developers and potential homeowners have contacted his office requesting information about fire sprinklers in their new homes, even though none are required in those jurisdictions. Pg. 2 Jim advocated separate permits for building construction and fire sprinkler systems to avoid any holdups in home construction because of potential delays in plan reviews, etc. Mario Tristan agreed strongly that education is the key to acceptance of such an ordinance and that the solution must be a partnership between the developers and home buyers along with all levels of city government, from elected officials to management, code enforcement inspectors and the fire department. He stated that Hoffman Estates saw no loss of new home sales following enactment of the ordinance. Jim Feit agreed with this, saying that developers saw areas built and sold out in some cases up to a year ahead of projections. Mario Tristan did admit that originally Hoffman Estates enacted a modified version of N.F.P.A. 13D, but that at a later date reverted back to 13 D standards, requiring no sprinklers in places such as small bathrooms or small closets. He stated that the homeowners were pleased with the ordinance and the protection it provided. Jim Feit agrees saying he had gotten the same comments in Barrington, particularly from mothers with small children. Bill Freiberg asked about the true cost of the system and whether it was close to the $1.50 to $2.00 or square foot figure presented by the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board. James Reap said his company has been able in most cases to hold to the $1.50 sq. ft. figure and that often it is less in the much larger homes. However, owing to some custom designs, occasionally it may cost up to but not exceeding $2.00 sq. ft. Jim Feit said one home owner came to this office with a complaint that her system had exceeded this figure and he was able with her help to discover that her home builder had added a 20% profit margin to the fee he was charged by the sprinkler installer. This issue was resolved by the builder and the owner, and he is unaware of any other such complaints. Jim Feit added that their systems do not go through the water meter and there have been no instances of anyone cheating by bypassing the meter and taking household water from the sprinkler system, as this would be a complicated maneuver requiring professional assistance. Jim Feit suggested also that while it is the responsibility of the committee to educate the city officials, the builders and developers in partnership with the city should educate the buyers. Pg.3 Mario Tristan submitted a copy of an educational pamphlet on residential fire sprinklers from Hoffman Estates(see attached) and also said that most systems he has seen have been installed in only 2 or 3 days at most. James Reap agreed with this time frame. Jim Feit complimented the Committee and Councilman Sandor on their slow and methodical approach to this issue and cautioned against moving too quickly to pass this legislation as apparently was the case in Clarendon Hills, Il. (see attached) He also stated that Clarendon Hills also must rely on outside consultants to not only do their plan reviews but also their on site inspections of the buildings. Elgin, of course, does this all in house. There being no further business, it was agreed that the next meeting will be scheduled on Jan. 9th at 0900 hours at City Hall. Mark Mastrorocco will invite Mark Guenther, the Director of Construction from Pulte Homes and also Scott Withington, Director of Sales from Pulte and perhaps one of their sales people. Bill Freiberg will invite Mary Lucas of the Attainable Housing Alliance, an organization that advocates buyer choice over mandatory sprinkler legislation. He will also contact Tom Lia of the N.I.F.S.A.B. to request sample copies of all such ordinances in force now in Northern Illinois and elsewhere. A self help binder in developing an ordinance is also available and this will be requested as well. These will be copied and distributed to committee members and also to the City Corporation Counsel who hopefully can attend the Jan. 9th meeting. Chairman Freiberg moved to adjourn was seconded by Committee Member Mastrorocco and the meeting was adjourned at 11:00 hrs. AGENDA RESIDENTIAL FIRE SPRINKLER ADVISORY COMMIT LEE JANUARY 30, 2004 9:00 A.M. CITY HALL, 2" FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM, NORTH TOWER 1, Call to order 2. Roll call 3. Presentation by Attainable Housing Alliance Mary Lucas and Associate 4. Discussion on installation cost for NFPA 13D System — C. Miller 5. Scheduling of future meetings 6. Adjournment MINUTES OF THE ELGIN FIRE SPRINKLER ADVISORY COMMITTEE ELGIN CITY HALL 0900 HRS JANUARY 30, 2004 PRESENT: Bill Freiberg, Committee Chairman Committee Member Charles Miller, Charles Miller Real Estate GUESTS: Thomas Sandor, Elgin City Council Mary Loucas, Colin McRae, Attainable Housing Alliance OTHERS PRESENT: Tom Lia, Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Committee Jamie Reap, U.S. Fire Protection of Ill., Inc. Lonnie Jackson, Ill. Fire Inspectors Assoc. ABSENT: Mark Mastrorocco, Pulte Home Corporation Chairman Freiberg called the meeting to order at 0900 hrs. Motion to adopt the minutes of the December 51h meeting made by Bill Freiberg and seconded by Chuck Miller. rek Ms. Lucas and Mr. McRae of the Attainable Housing Alliance, referred in future as the AHA, introduced themselves as members of a not for profit organization representing the interests of over 500 builders in the greater Chicagoland area. Ms. Lucas and Mr. McRae submitted a position paper from the AHA stating its opposition to any form of mandated residential sprinkler ordinance. (See attached). Mr. McRae stated that the AHA is chiefly concerned with issues affecting costs incurred by builders relating to mandated ordinances and that the organization believes that sprinkler systems in residential dwellings should be at the option of the home buyer and not mandated by law. He stated also that using the NFPA 13d standard for residential sprinklers, the cost to the homebuyer exceeds the $1.50 to $2.00 per sq. ft. price for the system as stated by both the Illinois Fire sprinkler Advisory Board and Mr. Reap of U.S. Fire Protection of Ill., a residential sprinkler contractor. Mr. Reap and Mr. Lia disputed this allegation. At this time committee member Miller submitted a bill from Mr. Reaps firm that exceeded this amount because of the need of an auxiliary pump required for the system in one of his buildings. It was determined that the pump, at a cost of$1400.00 pushed the cost to approximately $2.30 per sq. ft. and if the pump were not needed' the system would have cost $1.83 per sq. ft. Mr. Reap stated he did not know why the pump was required in this development, but would get back to Mr. Miller with an answer. eift Pg. 2 Mr. McRae then stated that the potential homebuyer should be informed of the availability and also the cost/benefits of an installed sprinkler system and also that this educational information should be offered by the builder/developer. Mr. Miller suggested that perhaps, a modified version of NFPA 13D could be proposed and, this was countered by Mr.Lia and Mr. Jackson, who both stated that a deviation from a standard such as this invites litigation since it deviates from national standards. Mr. Lia advised that NFPA 13d is already a compromised standard and should not be further diluted. Mr. Jackson submitted figures from the Illinois Fire Inspectors, the United States Fire Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, disputing earlier claim made by the AHA relating to fire deaths in sprinklered/non-sprinklered buildings. Following a lengthy discussion on the above matters, it was decided that the next meeting of the committee will be at 0900 hours on Friday, February 6th at City Hall A motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Freiberg and seconded by Mr. Miller. The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 hours. F AGENDA RESIDENTIAL FIRE SPRINKLER ADVISORY COMMITTEE FEBRUARY 6, 2004 9:00 CITY HALL, ELGIN 1. Call to order 2. Roll call 3. Presentation by Committee member Mark Mastrorocco and associates of Pulte development. 4. Committee review of residential sprinkler ordinances enacted by surrounding communities. 5. Scheduling of future meetings. 6. Adjournment. r MINUTES OF THE ELGIN FIRE SPRINKLER ADVISORY COMMITTEE ELGIN CITY HALL 0900 HOURS FEBRUARY 6, 2004 PRESENT: Committee Chairman, Bill Freiberg Committee Members, Mark Mastrorocco, Pulte Home Corporation, Charles Miller, Charles Miller Real Estate GUESTS: Scott Withington, Vice President of Sales, Pulte homes Mark Guenther, Vice President of construction, Pulte Homes Lonnie Jackson, Illinois Fire Inspectors Jamie Reap, U.S. Fire Protection of Illinois Inc. ABSENT: Tom Sandor, Elgin City Council Chairman Freiberg called the meeting to order at 0915 hours. Motion to accept the minutes of the January 30 meeting made by Mr. Miller and seconded by Mr. Mastrorocco. Scott W. addressed the impact of mandated sprinklers by stating that the $10K to $15K cost will price homes out of the market for buyers who are already strapped for financing and that such an ordinance will stunt growth in the area. He stated that no potential buyers have ever asked for a price on an installed sprinkler system. He further stated that many potential buyers, when touring a model equipped with sprinklers, did not like the appearance of the heads and have asked if they could be deleted from their home if they purchased one. Mark G. stated that homes built on a slab are more difficult to sprinkler since pipes cannot easily be run under the home. A number of other problems were noted by Mark G., such as: * Many who spend their winters in warmer climates routinely drain all water lines, add anti-freeze, etc. and shut down heating plants completely. This would disable a sprinkler system. * He said he has seen maintenance problems from abuse of the system by children, although Bill F. stated that parents must educate and supervise children around this equipment the same as they would for a child playing with an electrical outlet. • Mark G. agreed but believed that the education process would take a long time. Pg. 2 He saw sprinkler costs in W. Dundee at $150 to $4.00 per sq. ft., not adding the basement to the square footage of the house. Jamie R. stated that since the piping for the system must be run through the basement in order to access 1' and 2nd floors, the cost of adding heads to those pipes does not significantly add to the cost. Jamie R. asked if perhaps architects could help cut costs through design features in the drawings but Pulte personnel stated this would only add to the cost since more material would be needed to create pipe chases in the structure. He also suggested that more density of homes would bring down overall costs, but Scott W. was certain that the city would not allow greater density. Jamie R. asked if the City would consider lowering impact fees to help offset the cost and This remains unknown. Chuck M. suggested the possibility of an ordinance affecting homes over a set square footage since a home he recently finished was only 1300 sq. ft. and would have far exceeded the $1.50 to $2.00 per sq. ft. cost because of its' small size. Chuck M. also questioned why there is such a drive for residential sprinklers in the area recently. Lonnie J. stated that the drive is not local but nationwide and he submitted figures from the NFPA citing figures on deaths, injuries and causes of home fires in the US from 1994 to 1998. He stated that while we have improved our fire statistics greatly in the last 25 years we still have far to go. He further stated that as technologically advanced as the USA is, we still have the most fires of any country on the planet and that the United States Fire Administration has embarked on a mission to drastically reduce these numbers. It is estimated that it will take one hundred years to achieve this goal. Mr. Jackson also submitted a copy of the book AMERICA BURNING, published in 1972 that first recognized the major scope of the problem of fires in the USA. Bill F. stated that the problem of house fires does not target the safety of the homes being built today, but rather the things in the homes that cause these fires. A motion to adjourn was made by Chuck M. and seconded by Mark M. and the meting was adjourned at 1055 hours. r rk AGENDA FEBRUARY 13, 2004 9:00 A.M. RESIDENTIAL FIRE SPINKLER ADVISORY COMMITTEE CITY HALL, 2ND FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM, NORTH TOWER 1. Call to order 2. Roll call I Presentation of position paper by Fire Chief Michael Falese 4. Discussion of Committee recommendation pertaining to an ordinance 5. Discussion of possible public hearing 6. Scheduling of future meetings 7. Adjournment r MINUTES OF THL ELGIN FIRE SPRINKLER ADVISORY COMMITTEE ELGIN CITY HALL 0900 HOURS FEBRUARY 13, 2004 PRESENT: Committee Chairman Bill Freiberg Committee Members, Charles miller, Charles Miller Real Estate Mark Mastrorocco, Pulte Home Corporation GUESTS: Councilman Thomas Sandor, City of Elgin Chief Michael Falese, Elgin Fire Department Fire Prevention Officer Robert Bradbury, Elgin Fire Department Lonnie Jackson, Illinois Fire Inspectors Association Jamie Reap, Bill Winzentsen, U.S. Fire Protection of Illinois, Inc. Kara Spak, Paddock Publications Inc., The Daily Herald Chairman Freiberg called the meeting to order at 0905 hours. Motion to accept the minutes of the February 6th meeting made by Mr. Miller and seconded by Mr. Freiberg. Chief Falese and F.P.O. Bradbury of the Fire Dept. addressed the committee relating to a position paper on a residential sprinkler ordinance from Fire Department administration (See attached). The overall message was positive in favor of a sprinkler ordinance and it was pointed out that such an ordinance would place a proactive organization like The Elgin Fire Department in a positive light as well. It was further stated that residential sprinklers are not meant to replace a well-trained and adequately staffed and equipped fire service in the areas protected by sprinklers. Mr. Miller suggested that perhaps if the impact fees were increased, extra fire stations could be built and staffed with these monies instead of a mandated sprinkler ordinance. Mr. Sandor answered by saying that our impact fees are the highest in the area already and that the cost of personnel cannot be taken from this income. Mr. Miller asked about possible delays(trains, etc.) in fire dept. response to a house fire in a sprinklered residence and if the sprinkler would continue to operate indefinitely. ("14 Mr. Reap stated that since none of the homes in Elgin would be operating on wells, the water supply would not be overcome even if multiple heads fused to control the fire. Pg.2 Mr. Miller asked Chief Falese if a much smaller home posed less of a life safety hazard under fire conditions from an escape hazard and the Chief stated that the hazard is as great in any size home, noting that even in smaller dwellings, victims are found next to doors, windows and other means of escape. Mr. Miller estimated that over the years of the far west development in Elgin, the cost for residential sprinklers could exceed 40 million dollars and he asked the Chief if this was an acceptable expense. Chief Falese stated that question was not his to answer, however most fire fatalities in the US are the result of house fires. F.P.O. Bradbury stated that while this is a very large sum of money, it is a one-time cost. Mr. Miller then stated that it is not a one-time cost as there is a yearly mandated test for a sprinkler system and the cost is between $250.00 and $300.00 per year per home. Both Mr. Winzentsen and Mr. Reap stated that the sprinkler costs can be misleading because basements must be sprinklered even though they are not considered livable space, and not counted in the square footage of a home. They also stated that it is more expensive per sq. ft. to sprinkler a small home than a large one because of the fixed costs such as water main size, etc. Mr. Miller questioned how much should be mandated in new construction and Mr. Reap addressed the life safety issue of a sprinkler ordinance. Mr. Sandor stated that much is already mandated such as street size and width, brick facades, side loading garages and street lighting and this is the cost of doing business. He also stated that it is the responsibility of government to set standards. Mr. Sandor stated further that this mandate must be considered because of the scope of the development and the time frame before construction begins. He said that many communities surrounding us have enacted legislation and others are considering it in the future. He closed by commending the Committee for their hard work. Mr. Freiberg received a letter written by Mr. Winzentsen listing many developers who would not allow him to install his own sprinkler system in a home he would purchase from them. Mr. Mastrorocco was unfamiliar with this and Mr. Winzentsen stated that the developers did not offer the system and would not allow an outside contractor to do work on their homes without voiding all structural guarantees. Mr. Miller proposed that in lieu of a mandated sprinkler ordinance, would it be possible to mandate that the systems be offered to prospective buyers along with educational material showing the benefits. Pg.3 Mr. Freiberg stated that we have heard from both sides of the sprinkler ordinance argument and that we must first vote to recommend or not recommend such an ordinance. Following that, he aid, we can convene to consider offering the systems to buyers. Mr. Freiberg requested that each member take a week to make his decision and return to the table on Friday, 2-20-04 to make our statements and cast our votes. Mr. Jackson urged the Committee to read America Burning and also The Scottsdale Report before making any decisions. The meeting was adjourned at 1030 hours. 1 ew AGENDA FEBRUARY 20, 2004 9:00 A.M. RESIDENTIAL FIRE SPRINKLER ADVISORY COMMITIEE CITY HALL, 2ND FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM, NORTH TOWER I. Call to order 2. Roll call 3. Committee discussion on individual positions 4. Committee vote 5. Further committee recommendations 6. Scheduling of future meetings 7. Adjournment rib's MINUTES OF 1'HE ELGIN FIRE SPRINKLER ADVISORY COMMITTEE ELGIN CITY HALL 0900 HOURS FEBRUARY 20, 2004 PRESENT: Committee Chairman Bill Freiberg Committee Members, Charles Miller, Charles Miller Real Estate Mark Mastrorocco, Pulte Home Corporation Guests: Councilman Thomas Sandor Jamie Reap, U.S.Fire Protection of Illinois, Inc. Bill Winzentsen, Alliance Fire Protection, Inc. Chairman Freiberg called the meeting to order at 0915 hours. Motion to accept the minutes of 2-13-04 made by M. Mastrorocco., seconded by C. Miller. As discussions on individual positions began, Mr. Miller stated that an important question still needed to be answered and that he required this information before he was prepared to cast his vote. He wished to speak with Mr. Tom Lia of The Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board about bids he has put out for installed residential sprinkler systems. He has noted price differentials of 20%to as much as 30% in bids from plumbing or electrical contractors etc., but bids from different sprinkler contractors on the same home seem to be consistently within about $150.00 of each other. Mr. Freiberg stated that this information should come to the committee before a vote was taken and the committee vote was deferred until Mr. Lia could attend our meeting and explain why bids were not more competitive. It was agreed that John Rothenberger of Code Enforcement would be requested to attend this meeting as well. The committee then held a round table discussion addressing benefits versus cost for residential sprinkler systems. No conclusions were reached. The meeting was adjourned at 1045 hours. r r AGENDA FEBRUARY 27, 2004 9:00 A.M. RESIDENTIAL FIRE SPRINKLER ADVISORY COMMITTEE CITY HALL 2"D FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM, NORTH TOWER 1. Call to order 2. Roll call 3. Discussion with Mr. Tom Lia relating to competitive bidding of residential sprinkler systems 4. Committee vote(if all members are prepared following bidding discussion) 5. Committee discussion of next step in the process 6. Adjournment rbk • MINUTES OF THE ELGIN FIRE SPRINKLER ADVISORY COMMITTEE ELGIN CITY HALL 0900 HOURS FEBRUARY 27,2004 PRESENT: Committee Chairman Bill Freiberg Committee Members, Charles Miller, Charles Miller Real Estate Mark Mastrorocco, Pulte Home Corporation GUESTS: Councilman Thomas Sandor, City of Elgin John Rothenberger, City of Elgin Code Enforcement Tom Lia, Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board Jamie Reap, U.S. Fire Protection of Illinois, Inc. Bill Winzentsen, Alliance Fire Protection, Inc. Chairman Freiberg called the meting to order at 0910 hours. Motion to accept the minutes of 2-20-04 made by Chuck M., seconded by Mark M. Mr. Miller produced estimates for a sprinkler system in one of his homes from 3 bidders: Alliance Fire Protection Inc., U.S. fire Protection of Illinois and Orion Fire Sprinkler Inc. He stated that all 3 bids were for approximately $8,000.00 and that all 3 were within $200.00 of each other. el"h' With this in hand, he questioned whether there was competitive bidding in the residential home sprinkler industry. Mr. Lia stated that there were 79 contractors associated with the Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board. He thought the closeness in these bids reflected a very competitive market since the profit margin was so close. Mr. Reap and Mr. Winzentsen concurred with Mr. Lia and they stated that bids from competitors were close because of operating costs. Chief among these operating costs are the labor expense with fixed wages, since almost all installers are members of The Sprinkler Fitters Union, Local #281 and also because of the high cost of liability insurance, which is also standard. Mr. Lia then stated that there was a bill currently on the senate floor that would allow a $2,000.00 tax credit for buyers of a home with residential sprinklers and allowed for a . $150.00 tax credit each year thereafter. He will get copies of this bill to the committee. It was agreed that each member of the committee would present a position paper at the March 5th meeting and following this, a committee vote on a residential sprinkler ordinance would be taken. The next order of business would then be to draft a recommendation from the committee to be presented to City Council. The meeting was adjourned at 1040 hours. AGENDA MARCH 5, 2004 9:00 A.M. RESIDENTIAL FIRE SPRINKLER ADVISORY COMMITTEE CITY HALL 2ND FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM,NORTH TOWER 1. Call to order 2. Roll call 3. Presentation of position papers 4. Committee vote 5. Begin draft of committee recommendation 6. Scheduling of future meetings 7. Adjournment MINUTES OF THE ELGIN FIRE SPRINKLER ADVISORY COMMITTEE ELGIN CITY HALL 0900 HOURS MARCH 5, 2004 PRESENT: Committee Chairmen Bill Freiberg Committee Members, Charles Miller, Charles Miller Real Estate Mark Mastrorocco, Pulte Home corporation GUESTS: John Rothenberger, City of Elgin Code Enforcement Jamie Reap, U.S. Fire Protection of Illinois, Inc. Bill Winzentsen, Alliance Fire Protection, Inc. Anne Marie Apollo, Fox Valley Publications, Inc., The Courier News Chairman Freiberg called the meeting to order at 0915 hours. Motion to accept the minutes of 2-27-04 made by Mark M., Seconded by Chuck M. Having spoken with and heard presentations from many groups both in favor of and opposed to a mandated sprinkler ordinance since November of 2003, the 3 committee members each presented individual position papers on the issue. (See attached). One member favored the implementation of a mandated sprinkler ordinance, one member favored an ordinance with certain restrictions and one member was not in favor of a mandated sprinkler ordinance at this time. All members were in favor of a public education program informing homebuyers of fire safety issues in the home and the value and cost associated with a residential sprinkler system. It was then decided that the Elgin Fire Sprinkler Advisory Committee would submit to Council these position papers along with a cover letter. Much other information, both pro and con, was also submitted to the committee. This will be submitted to the Council as well, that they may be given the information necessary to make an informed decision relating to the enactment of a residential sprinkler ordinance affecting new home construction in the City of Elgin. No further meetings are scheduled and the Committee awaits the further wishes of the City Council before they convene again or are requested to make a presentation at a formal meeting. The final meeting of the Committee was adjourned at 0950 hours.