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Record of Proceedings

Building Related Fire Codes Appeals Advisory Board Meeting - February 10, 2026

Boards & Commissions — Tuesday, February 10, 2026
BodySan Antonio, Texas
SessionBoards & Commissions
DateTuesday, February 10, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 57:01

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:02

Mr.

0:02

Chair, do you want to call the meeting to order?

0:08

No, you're good.

0:09

You're you're learning it from the start.

0:11

So welcome.

0:13

My name is Jack Upmore, Chairman of the Building Related Fire Codes Appeals Advisory Board.

0:18

Call into order the meeting at 909 on February 10th, 2026.

0:26

So go ahead.

0:28

Before you we want to do the roll call or you want to do some commentary first.

0:34

All right.

0:34

So we need to do the roll call, please.

0:38

Jack Upmore.

0:39

Here.

0:40

Lewis Farokless.

0:44

Jeff Byer.

0:47

Scott Berger.

0:49

Here.

0:50

John Martin.

0:51

Present.

0:53

Gregory McFarlane.

0:56

Adrian Contreras.

0:58

Spencer Ramzel?

1:00

Here.

1:01

George Salibus.

1:03

Here.

1:05

Eduardo Del Toro.

1:07

Here.

1:09

Gary Kent.

1:12

Robert Hanley?

1:13

Here.

1:14

Lewis Colbertson.

1:17

Lon.

1:18

I'm sorry, Lon.

1:19

Apologize.

1:20

Michael Rust.

1:22

Here.

1:24

Mark Ross.

1:26

Brian Smith.

1:28

Here.

1:29

Joe Leos?

1:31

Here.

1:32

William Burris.

1:34

Present.

1:36

Karen Carpenter.

1:39

Frank Sittler.

1:47

Chair, we have a quorum.

1:50

Just real quick, if you don't mind.

1:51

My name is Emine Tomas, Director of Development Services.

1:55

I just want to make sure we all understand.

1:57

I have two primary members and two alternates sitting on the dais, and that's okay.

2:03

But when it comes to vote, only one needs to vote.

2:06

The primary, if if the primary is present, needs to vote.

2:09

Otherwise, you cannot vote if if again both of them are sitting on the dies.

2:16

Can you state who those are so they know one in the audience?

2:20

Yes.

2:21

Spencer Ramzell is the primary.

2:26

So Spencer, you need to vote.

2:29

George, you cannot vote, sorry.

2:32

And then let's see who else.

2:34

I have Brian Smith primary and Joe Leos is alternate.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Fire Safety█████████████████████████████████████████████71%
Procedural████████13%
Municipal Regulations████6%
Public Safety███5%
Engineering And Infrastructure██3%
Budget█2%
Summary of Proceedings

Building Related Fire Codes Appeals Advisory Board Meeting - February 10, 2026

The Building Related Fire Codes Appeals Advisory Board met on February 10, 2026, at 9:09 AM to hear an appeal from the owner of I-10 Ice House, an existing bar/nightclub, regarding the denial of a code modification request to avoid installing a fire sprinkler system. The board voted to deny the appeal, upholding the city's requirement for sprinklers due to the occupant load exceeding 300.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the minutes from the July 2, 2025, meeting by unanimous voice vote.

Discussion Items

  • Appeal of Denial of Code Modification Request (I-10 Ice House, 9518 Console Road): The applicant, Octavio Viramontes (owner Tim Etson), appealed the city's denial of a request to reduce the occupant load to under 300 without sprinklers. The proposed reduction relied on excluding yellow-highlighted areas (walkways, circulation spaces) from occupant load calculations, claiming the bar's typical attendance never exceeds 299 (highest recorded: 267). Staff argued these areas cannot be excluded per code, and the calculated occupant load remains 469. The applicant offered to cap occupancy at 299 and add exits and fire barriers. The fire department and development services recommended denial, stating the proposal would waive code requirements. The board discussed alternative designs (e.g., fire barriers) and costs ($220,000 for sprinkler system, $74,000 for water connection). The applicant had signed an agreement allowing a temporary TCO for 299 occupancy for six months if the appeal was denied.
  • Director's Report: Effective April 1, 2026, all boards and commissions will stop accepting phone/voicemail testimony.
  • Future Code Adoption Process: Staff noted the 2024 I-Codes are under review, and formal discussions will begin in 2026 with adoption in 2027.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion to Deny Appeal: Carried by voice vote (all in favor). The board denied the appeal, requiring the applicant to either install a fire sprinkler system or redesign the space (e.g., via fire barriers) to achieve an occupant load under 300.
  • Next Steps: The applicant may apply for a temporary TCO for 299 occupant load within 72 hours and has six months to install sprinklers. The city agreed to expedite permit reviews.

Meeting Transcript

Mr. Chair, do you want to call the meeting to order? No, you're good. You're you're learning it from the start. So welcome. My name is Jack Upmore, Chairman of the Building Related Fire Codes Appeals Advisory Board. Call into order the meeting at 909 on February 10th, 2026. So go ahead. Before you we want to do the roll call or you want to do some commentary first. All right. So we need to do the roll call, please. Jack Upmore. Here. Lewis Farokless. Jeff Byer. Scott Berger. Here. John Martin. Present. Gregory McFarlane. Adrian Contreras. Spencer Ramzel? Here. George Salibus. Here. Eduardo Del Toro. Here. Gary Kent. Robert Hanley? Here. Lewis Colbertson. Lon. I'm sorry, Lon. Apologize. Michael Rust. Here. Mark Ross. Brian Smith. Here. Joe Leos? Here. William Burris. Present. Karen Carpenter. Frank Sittler. Chair, we have a quorum. Just real quick, if you don't mind. My name is Emine Tomas, Director of Development Services. I just want to make sure we all understand. I have two primary members and two alternates sitting on the dais, and that's okay.

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