Members of the ICC Code Development Review Ad Hoc Committee (CDRAC) convened a fourth meeting on November 8-9 in Chicago to continue their review of member feedback regarding the Code Council's current code development procedures. The discussions resulted in a recommendation to tighten funding restrictions for Governmental Member Voting Representatives and to utilize survey information to inform next steps regarding electronic voting. A formal meeting report will be posted in December.

Committee members spent the first half-day reviewing concerns regarding the procedures contained in Council Policy 36 governing eligible sources for funding Governmental Voting Representative travel. The discussion addressed the current eligible sources: ICC Chapters, Governmental Member Jurisdictions, the Code Council itself through its Code of Honor program, and outside organizations sanctioned by the governmental jurisdiction.

Participants also agreed on the need for a greater number of Code of Honor participants, representing diverse disciplines and areas. Industry participants indicated their willingness to promote donations to this initiative from the private sector.

Much of the discussion centered on the feasibility of electronic voting, particularly in light of the large majority vote at the recent Annual Business Meeting which opposed a bylaws change that would have required ratification of code hearings votes. Code Council Board of Directors member and CDRAC Chair Cindy Davis indicated that there was "clear consensus, not only from the CDRAC members but from the listening sessions and Cracker Barrel sessions at Annual Conference, that there's a much greater interest in electronic voting than ratification." She added that the participants acknowledged that a move to electronic voting "will change our current process."

Accordingly, the Code Council is undertaking a review of electronic voting options and vendors, and conducting a survey of members regarding their engagement with the code development process. The CDRAC expects to review this data at its next meeting in February as a basis for outlining its final recommendations.

All communications received by the CDRAC, as well as feedback from previous communications, were reviewed to assure that all issues expressed by members and stakeholders were given consideration. An Interim Report will be presented to the Code Council Board of Directors at its Winter Meeting and Workshop in December. A Final Report will be submitted in March. The final meeting of the CDRAC has been scheduled for February 3-4, with the location to be determined. Updates will be provided on the Code Council website.