The Development Services Department (DSD) sent four staff members to Memphis, Tennessee for the International Code Council (ICC) Committee Action Hearings. The hearings, held April 19-28, provided an opportunity for stakeholders to propose code changes for the 2018 edition of the I-Codes.

Michael Shannon, Assistant Director; Richard Chamberlain, DSD Engineer; Sylvia Cortez, Inspections Supervisor and Crystal Kastner, Engineer participated in several days of proposed changes to the International Building, Plumbing, Fuel Gas, and Existing Building Codes.   Michael Shannon was also a member of the International Building Code - Fire Safety Committee which is responsible for hearing proposed changes to Chapters 7-9, 14, 26 and Appendix D of the IBC. 

"What I enjoyed most about attending the committee action hearings was the opportunity to meet other Code professionals and ICC Board members," said Sylvia Cortez. "The Women In Code Enforcement and Development (W.I.C.E.D.), an ICC Chapter, recruited me as a new member, and I'm very happy about that."

"I enjoyed hearing discussions on parts of the code where we have worked hard to determine what the code states, and then to set forth, sometimes in writing, how to apply it as a department," said Richard Chamberlin.  "At the code hearings, the same topics come up with very valid and opposite interpretations of the same section with discussions as to what the intent of past language was. I realize all the more that the codes are very fluid changing documents."

Michael Shannon and Sylvia Cortez on the left; and Michael on the jumbo tron on the right.

Congratulations to the Development Services Department (DSD) employees who participated in this year's Beach to Bay Relay Marathon. The event took place on May 16, Armed Forces Day, in Corpus Christi, Texas.

DSD fielded two teams and finished strong and healthy!!!  Martin Ruiz, Development Services Manager, Code Enforcement, said "the race was a blast, lots of fun, and a healthy way to spend some time together."

A big thank you to our team captains Dieudonne Joasidy (DJ) and Sandra Garza who did an excellent job of rallying the troops and keeping everyone motivated and kept the high energy going. 

"This is my fourth year running the marathon and my second time as the team captain," said DJ. "Once you are in, you cannot come out."

"I've been doing the marathon for three years but this is my first time as being captain," said Sandra. "It is so much fun and exciting to watch our team members come in at the last leg! That's when you realize the team has succeeded the goal!"

The teams were as follows:

Team 1 (Red) - WTF! (Where's The Finish!) / 4 hours, 52 minutes

DJ - Team Captain, DP Officer - West Central Field Unit

Israel Villa, CE Officer, Zoning & Permitting

Christopher Dominguez, DP Officer - West Central Field Unit

Sergio Quintanilla, CE Officer - West Central Field Unit

Yvette Ramirez, Solid Waste Management

Joel Garza, Solid Waste Management

Team 2 (Green) - San Antonio Coast Busters / 5 hours, 42 minutes

Sandra Garza, Admin Assistant II, Plan Review

Elias Alcaraz (not present), CE Investigator - Northwest Field Unit

Martin Ruiz, Dev. Services Manager, Code Enforcement

Norma Silva Cantu, Management Analyst, NET

Albert Mora, Training Officer, Training
Oscar Aguilera, Planner, Zoning Section

Honorable mentions:

Alice Guajardo - CE Supervisor - West Central Field Unit; team cheerleader!!!

Zeke Solis - Senior Planner, Zoning Section; ran in the Mixed 3 and 3 Division, placed 9th in division!

Nicole Cantu - CE Officer - Southwest Field Unit; ran on another team as the anchor and last leg (arguably the toughest leg) to her team.

Roman de la Luz - CE Officer - North Field Unit; Team 2 shirt design