I. Roll Call Members Present: Brian A Barrett (@ 9:10 am) Jeff O. Estabrook, Vice-Chairman George E. Killian David W. Miller, Chairman Christopher P. Reed Terry Salem Members Absent: Daniel J. Wellendorf MINUTES OMAHA PLUMBING BOARD Regular Meeting Wednesday, 9:00 am City/County Building 1819 Farnam Street Jesse Lowe Conference Room Third Floor Others Present: James Wonder, City of Omaha Planning Department Mr. Miller called the meeting to order at 9:04 am. II. Approval of Minutes from February 8, 2012 Motion by Mr. Estabrook to approve the minutes from last meeting of the Board. Second by Mr. Salem. AYES: Estabrook, Miller, Reed, Salem ABSTAIN: Killian Motion carried 4-0-1 I. Examination Reviews Master Plumber Bernard F Vacek 2928 Bridgeford Rd Omaha NE 68124 Plumbers Local Union 16 4801 F St Omaha NE 68117 Sewer Layer Jeffrey R Schnider 1113 Janbrook Bd Carter Lake IA 51510 Dave Janke Plumbing Inc 15013 Grover St Omaha NE 68144-3240 Marc A Chamberlain 10205 Ohern St Omaha NE 68127 Vrana Construction 4816 F St Omaha NE 68117
Plumbing Board Page 2 III. Cases 12-1-16 From 1/25/2012 Nick Bartholomew 17117 Oak Drive Suite D Omaha NE 68130 Variance of section 49-1104, grease interceptor Location: 16859 Q St 49-1104 1/25/2012: Nick Bartholomew appeared before the Board. Mr. Bartholomew intends to open a new restaurant, and requested a waiver of the required grease interceptor. Mr. Bartholomew stated that his restaurant will offer breakfast and lunch only. The menu is health-conscious; french fries are the only item on the menu that will be fried. Mr. Bartholomew s application stated that the installation of a grease interceptor would interfere with drive through customers being able to visit his business. It would also mean that the adjacent tenant (Pizza Hut) would not be able to receive deliveries, as the service entrances would be inaccessible during the time that the interceptor was being installed. Mr. Bartholomew stated that the previous tenant was a Blimpie s sandwich shop, which was not required to have a grease interceptor in it. When asked by Mr. Estabrook, Mr. Bartholomew stated that there are no plans to tear up the floor in this space. Mr. Estabrook asked Mr. Bartholomew to clarify his statement that a grease interceptor would inhibit the drive through lane of his business. Mr. Bartholomew replied that the area behind his restaurant currently contains Pizza Hut s grease catcher and a large trash dumpster. Service doors empty onto the drive through lane, and a local YMCA backs onto the other side of the drive-through lane. This leaves very little space for a grease interceptor. During the installation of a grease interceptor, customers using his business drive through window would be required to back out of the drive through in the direction in which they entered it instead of being able to drive around the back of the building. Construction would also prohibit deliveries of supplies to his neighbors. Mr. Wonder stated that the Plumbing Code requires a restaurant owner to have a grease interceptor if they produce grease. The previous tenant, Blimpie s, did not produce grease and was therefore not required to have a grease interceptor. Mr. Wonder asked for more information regarding the amount of grease that Mr. Bartholomew s menu will produce. Mr. Bartholomew stated that the only grease-producing item on the menu is a side order of french fries. The business will also serve turkey bacon and chicken sausage; however, the reduced amount of grease produced from these healthier items will be used for cooking. Mr. Estabrook pointed out that dishes must still be washed; grease on pans and cooking utensils would still enter the system. Mr. Wonder stated that the Board does have the option to allow a smaller grease interceptor if they feel that this would be an appropriate solution for this applicant. He added that he would be willing to work with Mr. Bartholomew to size an appropriate grease interceptor for this business, and to explore other grease-removal options for this applicant. After some discussion, Mr. Reed made a motion to hold this case over to the February 8 th, 2012 meeting of the Omaha Plumbing Board in order to allow Mr. Bartholomew time to meet with Mr. Wonder to discuss possible grease-removal options for this business. Second by Mr. Estabrook., Wellendorf Motion carried 7-0
Plumbing Board Page 3 2/8/2012: No one appeared in support of this request. Mr. Wonder stated that he has spoken to Mr. Bartholomew since the Board s January 25, 2012 meeting; however, the applicant has not yet met with Mr. Wonder with plans for his business. Mr. Wonder stated that he added that he is still willing to work with Mr. Bartholomew to see if a smaller grease interceptor would work for the needs of this restaurant. Motion to hold this case over to the meeting by Mr. Estabrook. Second by Mr. Salem. AYES: Barrett, Estabrook, Miller, Reed, Salem, Wellendorf 2/22/2012: No one appeared in support of this request. Motion to place this case on file by Mr. Estabrook. Second by Mr. Salem. AYES: Estabrook, Killian, Miller, Reed, Salem Motion carried 5-0. 12-2-27 Daniel M Wolfe 1520 William St Apt 3 Omaha NE 68105 Request for reactivation of a retired journeyman plumber s license 49-237 Daniel M Wolfe appeared before the Board to request reinstatement of a retired journeyman plumber s license. Mr. Miller read the following notes from the Board Secretary s records (please see case file for more information): 1. Mr. Wolf was missing 4 hours of continuing education in 2009. 2. Mr. Wolfe completed 0 hours of continuing education in 2010. 3. Mr. Wolfe completed 16 hours of continuing education in 2011. He requested that the Board move eight of these hours to cover his 2010 totals. 4. Mr. Wolfe has so far completed 8 hours of continuing education in 2012. He requested that the Board move four of these hours to cover his missing hours for 2009. The Secretary commented that, if the Board decided to move these hours as requested, it would result in Mr. Wolfe s records being brought up-to-date. Mr. Wolfe would be left with four hours of continuing education credit in 2012; he would need to take one more 4-hour class before the end of this year. Mr. Estabrook inquired as to whether Mr. Wolfe would be subject to penalty hours. Mr. Miller stated that this license was retired; the Board assesses penalty hours only for active license holders that are delinquent in their completion of continuing education hours, not retirees. After some discussion, the other Board members agreed with this statement. Mr. Wonder stated that he recommended that the Board grant Mr. Wolfe s request. Motion by Mr. Killian to four hours of continuing education credit from 2012 to 2009; to move eight hours of continuing education credit from 2011 to 2010; and to reinstate Daniel M. Wolfe s journeyman plumber s license as requested. Second by Mr. Estabrook. AYES: Estabrook, Killian, Miller, Reed, Salem Motion carried 5-0.
Plumbing Board Page 4 12-2-28 Charles J Welsh 2221 N 90 th St Omaha NE 68134 Mr. Welsh was not present. Variance of Section 49-630, Toilet rooms for two sexes Location: 8411 W Center 49-630 Motion to hold this case over to the March 14, 2012 meeting of the Board by Mr. Estabrook. Second by Mr. Killian. 12-2-29 Joseph S Meyers JSM Enterprises Inc 10064 S 134 th St Omaha NE 68138 Variance of fixture count requirements Location:5013-5025 S 110 th St 49-636 Jon Meyers appeared before the board, representing his brother, Joseph S. Meyers. Mr. Miller stated that according to the application file, the tenant at this location has fifteen employees; and plans to use 71.2% of their rented space for fulfillment, light storage, and warehousing. Mr. Meyers requested that this location be allowed to operate with one water closet, one urinal and one lavatory for men and two water closets, one lavatory for women. The application asserted that the warehouse space contains existing stub-ins for any future fixture needs. Mr. Wonder stated that he had spoken with Mr. Joseph Meyers; he said that the tenant plans to use this space to fulfill orders as they come in; few people will be in this space at any given time. Mr. Meyers stated that this tenant will be occupying several bays of a strip building; offices will be at one end of this space. The Board reviewed the proposed plans for the tenant s business and a letter submitted by the tenant which explained their plans for operation. Mr. Meyers stated that the tenant would have an opportunity to install additional fixtures if the employees in this area increased; however, the majority of this space is used for storage, and will not have the headcount that one might expect in a space of this size. Mr. Reed and Mr. Killian reviewed the plumbing code, stating that according to Mr. Meyer s request, he is short one water closet and one lavatory for females. Mr. Miller asked how many fixtures currently exist for each sex at this site. Mr. Meyer stated that there was one water closet and one lavatory for each sex currently installed in the space. Mr. Miller inquired as to whether Mr. Meyers was going to need to rough-in plumbing for the additional fixtures that he plans to install in the space. Mr. Meyers replied that plumbing has already been roughed in at several spots due to the fact that this area is a series of bays that has been combined into one large space. Mr. Miller stated that according to the case file, Mr. Meyers is planning to install one additional water closet for females in the tenant space. He asked Mr. Meyers as to what hardship prevented him from installing the proper number of fixtures as required by Code. Mr. Meyers stated that there are only nine women in this space. Mr. Wonder stated that the tenant needs room for assembly and stock. Mr. Miller asked Mr. Meyers what prevents their tenant from hiring more people. Mr. Meyers stated that there is nothing preventing the tenant from increasing staff, except for space. He reiterated that the space will be filled with product, not people. Mr. Meyers stated that he didn t see how the tenant could fit any more people in this space, given the need to have enough room for product. Mr. Miller said that he has seen this happen in the past, and he didn t know how the Board could police this situation if the tenant suddenly increased their number of employees. Mr. Meyers stated that the tenant is trying to retrofit an existing space for their needs. Mr. Estabrook stated that it appears that substantial construction must be undertaken in order to retrofit this space he added that since construction was going to be done, the space should carry the required number of fixtures as per Code. Mr. Meyers offered to call someone at the job site to check on the total number of existing fixtures in the space. Mr. Barrett stated that the Code outlines fixture requirements based on square footage, not on the number of people working within a space.
Plumbing Board Page 5 After some additional discussion, the Board came to the consensus that the applicant could not show any hardship in installing the correct number of fixtures. Motion to deny by Mr. Salem. Second by Mr. Barrett. 12-2-30 Terry Vail 3403 S 112 th St Omaha NE 68144 Renewal of Approval of Provider Renewal of Approval of Instructor(s) Approval of Instructor(s) Renewal of Approval of CEU Class(es) Approval of CEU Class(es) 49-215 Terry Vail appeared before the Board to request approval of continuing education classes for 2012. The Board reviewed the submitted application materials. After extensive discussion, Mr. Vail decided to table his request for several instructors; he plans to bring these instructors credentials back to the Board at a later date. Motion to renew approval of Region 12 American Backflow Prevention Association as a provider by Mr. Estabrook. Second by Mr. Killian. Motion by Mr. Estabrook to renew approval of the following instructors: Rich Koenig (backflow prevention), Ray Ann Brammer (legal issues pertaining to backflow prevention), and Jim Purzycki (backflow prevention). Second by Mr. Salem. Motion by Mr. Estabrook to renew approval of Clancy Dempsey as an instructor for backflow prevention. Second by Mr. Salem. Motion by Mr. Estabrook to renew approval of Doug Woodbeck as an instructor for backflow prevention. Second by Mr. Salem.
Plumbing Board Page 6 Motion by Mr. Estabrook to renew approval of George Hanssen as an instructor for backflow prevention as it relates to kitchen equipment. Second by Mr. Salem. Motion by Mr. Estabrook to renew approval of Justin Daniel as an instructor for backflow prevention. Second by Mr. Salem. Motion by Mr. Estabrook to approve Kevin Ross as an instructor for backflow prevention. Mr. Ross class must be audited by Mr. Wonder, who will report back to the Board at a later date. Second by Mr. Salem. Motion by Mr. Estabrook to approve Ron Peters as an instructor for backflow prevention. Second by Mr. Salem. Motion by Mr. Estabrook to approve Terry Vail as an instructor for backflow prevention, Omaha plumbing code and plumbing theory. Second by Mr. Salem. Motion by Mr. Estabrook to approve a four hour backflow continuing education class as submitted for journeyman and master plumbers. Second by Mr. Salem. Motion by Mr. Estabrook to grant a waiver of the 49-person class size limit for this seminar. Second by Mr. Salem.
Plumbing Board Page 7 II. Approval of Apprenticeship Renewals Jack Bogatz Plumbers Local 16 Local 16 Jake Kelly Able Plumbing Inc ABC Joshua D Huston Dave Janke Plumbing Inc Completed Ben Morgan Midwest Mechanical Local 16 Tommy Smith Southwest Mechanical Inc Metro Lucas Williams Motion to renew the above-listed apprentice licenses by Mr. Estabrook. Second by Mr. Salem. IV. Discussion The Board discussed creation of a form for continuing education instructors in order to help the Board confirm the qualifications of those wishing to teach classes. The Board Secretary will create this and the Board will discuss it at a later date. The Board discussed an instructor substitution for an upcoming continuing education class due to a last-minute emergency. After discussing the situation, the Board mutually agreed to consent this substitution, with the stipulation that Mr. Wonder will monitor this class. The Board will make its final decision to approve or deny at their next meeting. *NOTE: The instructor s emergency situation was resolved following today s meeting, meaning that the instructor did not require a substitute teacher for his class. No further action is needed on this item*. V. Executive Session Mr. Wonder requested that the Board go into executive session to discuss plumbing examinations. Motion to go into executive session by Mr. Estabrook. Second by Mr. Salem. Board entered executive session at 10:07 am. VI. Adjourn Meeting adjourned by mutual consent at 10:30 am. * = APPLICANT MUST BE PRESENT AT MEETING A full, continually current agenda is available for public inspection in Room 1110 of the Omaha/Douglas Civic Center during normal business hours. The Omaha Plumbing Board reserves the right to modify the agenda at the public meeting. If alternative (tape) to the agenda is needed, please advise Jim Wonder. A 72-hour notice is required. Applications for the meeting to be held at 1:30 pm on Wednesday, March 14 th are due no later than 9:00am on Thursday, February 23 rd. Visit the Planning Department s Site on the Internet at http://co.douglas.ne.us/omaha/planning/boards/plumbing-board