City Council Work Session Focusing on International Building Codes

There's only one topic to be discussed at Wednesday's Hazelwood City Council Work Session: the 2012 International Building Codes and whether or not to pass them as law in the . The work session is scheduled for 6 p.m.

The 2012 International Building Codes is a 722 page book that in a way governs how houses and other dwellings are constructed. It is a model building code developed by the International Code Council, which began in 1997 and is revised every three years. Different versions have been adopted throughout most states. The codes address a lot of fire codes and other areas including:

• Building occupancy classifications
• Building heights and areas
• Interior finishes
• Foundation, wall, and roof construction
• Fire protection systems (sprinkler system requirements and design)
• Materials used in construction
• Elevators and escalators
• Already existing structures
• Means of egress (ability to exit the structure, primarily in the event of an emergency, such as a fire)

City council does not have to adopt the 2012 codes, but rather decide to keep its current system or accept parts of the 2009 codes.

The purpose of the work session is to figure out which option is best for Hazelwood residents and those doing business in the city.

At the May 2 council meeting, various interest groups spoke during public participation taking up more than an hour expressing their views, opinions and figures on the impact the new codes would have on homeowners and home builders. Those organizations included: the Home Builders Association, The American Institute of Architects, McKelvey Homes and Sierra Club, along with city residents.

At that time Hazelwood Mayor Matthew Robinson said this is an issue that council members have received a lot of phone calls regarding.

"There's been a lot of confusing information and we'd like to go through it more in our work session," he said. "I've let the members of these organizations know the work session is open to the public, but also advised them we will not be holding a public comment section for them to speak."

Members of the public typically are not allowed to speak during work sessions as no action is taken on city matters. Council uses the time to gain clarity on items up for future vote during regular council meetings.

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