NEW ULM — City Council considered changes to demolition processes and swimming pool requirements during their meeting Tuesday, Feb. 6.

The demolition process change would require the removal of footings and foundations during the building demolition process. City Planner John Knisley said city building officials have encountered situations with buried foundations which had affected contractors and property owners.

“At the soil surface, you can’t see there’s any demolition debris or footings,” he said. “Once you start digging into them, you have to remove all of the debris and footings before any construction or foundations can be placed. For the contractor and new property owner, that can add to project costs they might not have thought about when proposing the project.”

Council President Andrea Boettger asked if this was common elsewhere, Knisley said in his conversations with area contractors that most cities have this regulation already in place.

Councilman Les Schultz asked if this is something contractors do anyway, regardless of a regulation being put in place. Building Inspector Elwood Zabel said some contractors will cut corners.

“It’s cost savings on the front end of the demo,” he said. “They leave stuff there, crumble it in, and leave it set.”

Councilman Eric Warmka made the motion to approve the first consideration of a zoning change regarding the removal of footings and foundations during the demo process. Councilman Dave Christian provided the second.

The ordinance change on swimming pool requirements revolved around the required construction of a fence. If a pool has a depth greater than 24 inches and a total volume greater than 5,000 gallons, the city requires a fence to be built around the pool area. The proposed ordinance change would provide two alternatives to this requirement.

For in-ground residential swimming pools, an automatic cover maintained and in working condition could be used. This cover would have to conform to the requirements of standard ASTM F 1346-91.

For above-ground residential swimming pools, a sidewall or barrier of 60 inches can be installed. Any ladder, ramps, or steps installed in this barrier would have to be secureable, blockable, or removable to prevent unwanted access to the pool.

“We checked with other communities in the area,” Knisley said. “The cities of Mankato, Hutchinson, and St. Peter have these regulations in place. It’s fairly common throughout the state of Minnesota.”

Christian asked if the ASTM standard is in the state building code. Zabel said it is, through the pool and spa code. Schultz asked how they should get the word out to citizens about this change. Zabel said citizens will know because they’ll have to come in to get permits.

“If they’re doing an in-ground pool, they have to come in and get a building permit for that,” he said. “If they’re doing a pool they think requires a fence, they’re coming in for a fence permit. We can let them know at that time if it meets the requirements.”

Zabel also confirmed that a pool has to meet both specifications to fall under this rule. If a pool is deeper than 24 inches but doesn’t have more than 5,000 gallons in it or vice versa, the rule doesn’t apply.

Warmka made a motion to approve the first consideration of changes to fencing requirements around pools that meet certain depth and water volume numbers. Christian seconded the motion.