WABO President's Report
by Trace Justice

We have had some fantastic weather already this spring, which I hope is a good harbinger of the summer that is coming. The warmer spring weather and longer daylight hours certainly seem to lead to increased permit activity, which hopefully is seen all across the state and by each of your jurisdictions.

Unfortunately, the brighter outlook we are seeing in the market and the building industry has been blemished by all the tragedies that have taken place in recent days from Boston to Texas, as well as recently within our own state.  While these bring sorrow to our hearts, they serve as a reminder for us to do our part to protect the public in the built environment.

As code officials we are in a position to affect the safety of our communities and those visiting them through our enforcement efforts and our code development process at the state and national level. Even though most of our work goes on behind the scene, we are the first line of defense in the built environment where our citizens work and live. My desire is to see Building Officials in the headlines as a positive thing, being recognized for the great work we are doing, as opposed to when there is a structural failure and the official is put on the defensive. Unfortunately, it is the negatives that catch the attention of the press and the public, while sound structures performing as they should go unnoticed. 

Our newly-elected Governor Inslee has signed WABO’s proclamation designating May 2013 as Building Safety Awareness month, which provides an opportunity to bring safety to the forefront for the citizens in our jurisdictions.  I encourage you to promote the proclamation to your city or county leadership and the citizens you serve and bolster the importance of the role of the Building Official in their eyes. 

Moving to the national level, WABO received the ICC notification relating to an opportunity to be a future host for the Annual Business Meeting as locations are being sought for future ABMs around the country. Last year it was in Portland, OR, this fall it is in Atlantic City, NJ, and next year it will be in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. WABO has been approached by a fellow WPLBO member, Southern Nevada, to support their bid to host the 2015 ABM in Las Vegas. WABO sent a letter to ICC in support of the Southern Nevada Chapter's bid for the ABM, since this does not conflict with our relationship with Alaska as a Region II member. Alaska has extended an invitation to ICC to bring the ABM to their great state and, if successful, they would host the ABM in 2016.

Continuing on the national theme, Western Pacific League of Building Officials (WPLBO) met in Las Vegas in February. One discussion topic was the August Candidates Forum for those officials seeking an ICC Board of director’s seat. One candidate has already been in contact and is planning to participate.  ICC candidates recognize the huge benefit of sharing their desires and goals for ICC with multiple states at one time and location, allowing them to gain not only the support of WPLBO, but also that of the four individual western states. We are considering inviting a Region II representative and a Building Official Association of British Columbia representative to participate in the forum for even greater exposure and as an introduction for Region II and BOABC to the WPLBO process.

Another important discussion topic is the development of a strategic plan and goal setting for WPLBO. WABO has a strategic plan that we are continually reviewing and modifying both as the culture changes around us and as goals are reached. WPLBO will be developing their strategic plan and setting goals to have an even greater impact with ICC and potential organizational growth.

The final WPLBO note is that at the first of the year a new chair is appointed. The position cycles through the participating states and as this year is Washington’s turn, I have been appointed to chair WPLBO for the year.  I am looking forward to an exciting year and am planning to have my son teach me to juggle so I can keep all the balls in the air and look good doing it!

The WABO Board met with Interim ICC-CEO Dominic Sims before the Spring Business Meeting to discuss ICC/WABO interactions, areas of concern, recommendations to improve ICC and how chapters can work together with ICC to make it stronger and sustainable into the future while reducing negative effects on the members they serve. There will be future teleconferences to follow up to bring in additional ICC staff to better communicate our concerns and seek resolution. Dominic expressed an understanding of our concerns and a willingness to address the points WABO presented.

For a first hand update on these and other WABO news items, please plan to attend to the Annual Business Meeting in Bremerton June 27- 28.  I look forward to seeing you at the meeting.