Florida Building Commission

Education POC Minutes

March 2007

 

POC Members Present: Dick Browdy (Chair), Jon Hamrick, Pete Tagliarini, Steve Bassett

Absent:  Herminio Gonzalez

 

     

Meeting Attendees:

 

Bill Norkunas                                     Dale Griner

Rick Dixon                                         Sharon Mignardi

Alex Kobryn                                       Med Kopcznski

Jim Richmond                                                Michael Clark

Bob McCormack                                Larry Schneider

Don Fuchs                                           Michelle Stripoli

Cam Fentriss                                      Ila Jones

Lorraine Ross                        

                                   

 

                       

     

1. Review and Approval of March 2007 Agenda

 

Motion: Pete Tagliarini

2nd:  Jon Hamrick

Approved Unanimously

 

 

2. Review and Approval of February 2007 Minutes

 

Motion: Pete Tagliarini

2nd:  Jon Hamrick

Approved Unanimously

 

 

3. Discuss budget issues (how fees will be spent) regarding FY 2008-2009 Budget

 

Ila Jones stated that there are currently two contracts dealing with education, training, and outreach activities---relevant to education. One contract is with Building A Safer Florida (BASF) for $350,000.00 and the other is with Building Official’s Association of Florida (BOAF) for $190,000.00.

 

The Chair stated that all of the POC and TAC chairs would be meeting in the afternoon to discuss how the budget should be divided. The Chair asked the attendees for any recommendations regarding education---to take to the afternoon meeting. No recommendations were made. No other action was taken.

 

 

4. Discuss and give update (FBC General Counsel) of the language changes to 9B-70 that were approved at the February Commission Meeting.

 

Jim Richmond stated that the process was moving as it should and that the proposed implementation date for this language is April 2, 2007.

 

 

5. Discuss proposed statutory language regarding the “Building Code Compliance and Mitigation Education and Outreach Program”

 

Jim Richmond stated that the FBC wanted to move forward under one entity regarding education and that the intent of this language was to make the Department of Community Affairs that one entity.

 

Cam Fentriss stated that this language is contained in a building code bill and that this language has not been finalized---but rather is a work in progress.

 

The Chair stated that he didn’t see any language that “sunsetted” the Building Code Education and Outreach Council. Cam stated that it wasn’t necessary to do that as it would happen if this new language was approved.

 

Larry Schneider asked how this language would affect what the boards do, regarding their education activities. Cam stated that it is not intended to change what the boards do.

 

Cam went on to state that an outcome of the language is to streamline or reduce the time that it takes to have a course approved. Specifically, she stated that with the language, a course would be accredited, then skip the current POC and FBC approval, and go straight to the boards to be approved. The essence of the FBC’s role would be to approve the accreditors.

 

Med Kopcznski asked that with these stated differences from the current process, would the recently approved 9B-70 language be obsolete, or at least parts of it? The Chair stated that he would prefer that the accreditation process stay with the FBC, not just DCAs approval part. Cam stated that the intent is to keep the accreditation process.

 

Med Kopcznski stated that as he sees this, the goal is to take the POC/FBC out of the course approval process, but keep the POC/FBC as oversight of the accreditation process.  The Chair stated that the accreditation process and the approval of accreditors needs to be protected---and that it should be the FBC’s job, not DCA’s.

 

Bill Norkunas asked if it would be possible to list the accreditors names on the agenda for course approvals, instead of their company or entity name. This will happen for the next agenda as 9B-70 language will be implemented, which does call for names of individuals, not entities.

 

Cam Fentriss stated that over the next weeks, this proposed language should be looked at and compared to the newly approved 9B-70 language, to see which parts should be saved and/or modified of the 9B-70 language. Cam re-stated that this language is only proposed, and is still being modified.

 

Jim Richmond stated that on the dates of April 9, 16, 23,and 30, conference calls have been set up for Commissioners to discuss legislative issues. The public can listen but not participate. No action was taken.

 

 

6. Review Pending “Accreditor” Applications for Recommendation to the Commission

(None pending)         

 

 

7.  Education Administrator Activity Report

 

The Education Administrator reported to the POC what activities he performed between February 8, 2007 and March 22, 2007. The following areas were reported on:

  • Phone calls handled
  • Emails handled
  • Correspondence written and sent
  • Meetings attended

The administrator gave a presentation to training providers who were attending a CILB sponsored meeting on March 14, 2007, in St. Petersburg, Florida. Approximately 150 providers were in attendance at the meeting. A few of the topics presented were:

  • An explanation of the accreditation process
  • How to register on the BCIS as a provider
  • Course development information
  • Where to find the 2006 Supplement, to be used to update courses
  • How to buy a course
  • Etc

No comments were made or offered about the reports contents.

 

 

8. Identify future POC member discussion items.

 

The Chair asked for future discussion items from the POC members and none were forthcoming at this time.

 

 

9. General Public Comment

 

Med Kopcznski asked for some clarity from the POC regarding an issue. The essence of the issue was---if an approved provider develops a course and has it accredited, then sells that course to another provider to teach, does that course need to be accredited again. Med’s position is that the course should not have to be accredited again, as long as there are no code updates or that the course is used in the same format (e.g., instructor – lead vs. internet) as it was accredited.

 

Ila Jones stated that the answer to that question should come from the boards---that they determine what kinds of courses and approvals they require. She further stated that the BCIS was not set up to track courses under this scenario.

The Chair stated that he agreed with Med’s position conceptually, but there needed to be more discussion as to how to handle the procedural aspects of how to handle the tracking of these courses.

 

 

10. Summary and Review of Meeting Work Products/Action Items, Assignments, and Next Steps

 

The Chair stated that the next FBC meeting was in May and if anyone had ideas for agenda items, that they should contact the Education Administrator.

 

Adjourn

Motion: Pete Tagliarini

2nd:  Jon Hamrick

Approved Unanimously

 

 

 

Recommended Commission Actions

 

 

The following course, under the ‘Accredited, Pending FBC Approval” status, was approved by the POC.

 

Course: Advanced Code Training 2006 Amendments to FBC

Provider: Contractor’s Exam School, Inc.

Accreditor: BCIC LLC

BCIS #: 229

Motion: Course approved based on the FBC accreditation process that only verifies the accuracy of the Florida Building Code related content

Motion: Jon Hamrick

2nd: Pete Tagliarini

Approved Unanimously

 

 

 

Updated Course Approvals

The courses listed below have been updated with the 2006 Code Supplement. The chair listed all of the courses and asked for a Consent Agenda approval for all of the courses.

Motion: Jon Hamrick

2nd:  Pete Tagliarini

Approved Unanimously

 

 

Course and #               Provider                      Accreditor                   Date of Approval

 

Advanced 2004           Cunningham               BCIC LLC                   2/26/07

Building/Structural    Construction  

 (#164.1)

 

Advanced Code -        Fla. Refrigeration       BCIC LLC                   2/26/07

Mechanical/Energy    & Air Conditioning

(# 224.0)                     Contractor

 

Application of Chpts. BRB Code Educators Bill Dumbaugh           2/26/07

3,5,6,7, & 9 of FBC,

Bld., w/s (#223.0)

 

Advanced 2004 fbc     Zara & Associates,     BCIC LLC                   3/19/07

w/updates                    Inc.

(#120.1)

 

 

 

 

Note: This document is available in alternate formats upon request to the Department of Community Affairs, Codes and Standards, 255 Shumard Oak Blvd., Tallahassee, Fl. 32399, (850) 487 – 1824.