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e e e Mr. Holmer suggested that the City continue to use the University of Oregon as a resource on its other projects as well. Students might be able to identify broader options for problem solution than have been generated in the past. Ms. Bascom pointed out that the areas immediately surrounding the University of Oregon are good examples of the type of development that are envisioned for a successful downtown. Mr. Gibons agreed that the University area has benefitted from organic kinds of growth and can serve as a microcosm of what downtown could be like on a larger scale. III. WORK SESSION: MODIFICATION OF BUILDING CODES Doug Eveleth, Planning and Development Department, provided the council with an overview of code origination. He indicated that because several code adoptions will come before the City Council in the preceding months, discussion would revolve around the adoption of the State structural code, mechanical code, and plumbing code. Code adoptions are updated on a three- year cycle. Mr. Eveleth said that the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) creates the model codes used in the western United States. He emphasized that model codes evolve slowly over time; code modifications can be proposed by any person in the form of an amendment submitted to the ICBO. The State of Oregon receives its model code from ICBO and has the authority to make amendments to this code. Amendments which are proposed must be at least as strict as the model code requirements. Ms. Bascom drew attention to the numerous volume of pages which signify Oregon's amendments to the building codes and asked whether other states in the western region also make numerous amendments to the code. Mr. Eveleth commented that Oregon is considered fairly active in terms of making amendments to the model code. Mr. Eveleth said that although all construction within the State must comply with the rules and regulations of the State codes, local agencies can be responsibility for administering their own building codes. Eugene has chosen to administer building codes locally. Responding to a question from Mr. Holmer regarding the rationale behind this decision, Mr. Eveleth said that local administration of building codes ;s more efficient. Tom Rogers reviewed items which have been identified for changes in the building code. He said that the section of the code which deals with hazardous use has been changed to correspond better with the Fire Code and to catch up with technology. Changes in this regard will affect businesses which contain some type of hazardous material. Mr. Rogers said that changes have also been made with respect to group-care facilities. Although such regulations do not appear in the model code, they are needed to fill a gap between residential and institutional type nursing homes which, over time, have tended toward the smaller types of care facilities. MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 31, 1990 Page 3