HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 2019-091 Setting Forth Findings for Amendments to the 2019 Building Standards CodeRESOLUTION NO. 2019 -091
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE,
CALIFORNIA, SETTING FORTH FINDINGS FOR AMENDMENTS TO THE 2019
CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS CODE
WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Section 17958 provides that the City of Lake Elsinore
( "City ") shall adopt ordinances and regulations imposing the same or modified or changed
requirements as are contained in the regulations adopted by the State pursuant to Health and
Safety Code Section 17922; and
WHEREAS, the State of California is mandated by Health and Safety Code Section 17922
to impose the same requirements as are contained in the most recent edition of the California
Building Code, the California Green Building Standards Code, the California Residential Code,
the California Plumbing Code, the California Mechanical Code, the California Energy Code, and
the California Electrical Code (hereinafter referred to collectively as "Codes "); and
WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Section 17958.5(a) permits the City to make
modifications or changes to the Codes, which are reasonably necessary because of local
climatic, geographic, or topographic conditions; and
WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Section 17958.7 requires that the City Council, before
making any modifications or changes to the Codes, shall make an express finding that such
changes or modifications are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geographic, or
topographic conditions; and
WHEREAS, the Building and Safety Division has recommended that changes and
modifications be made to the Codes and have advised that certain said changes and
modifications to the Codes are reasonably necessary due to local conditions in the City of Lake
Elsinore and have further advised that the remainder of said changes and modifications are of
an administrative or procedural nature, or concern themselves with subjects not covered by the
Codes or are reasonably necessary to safeguard life and property within the City of Lake
Elsinore.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE DOES HEREBY
RESOLVE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The above recitals are true and correct.
SECTION 2. Amendments related to life and fire safety contained in Sections 403, 403.1,
403.1.1, 403.4.7.2, 403.4.8.1, 412.7, 3109.4.4.3, Table 1505.1, of the 2016 Edition of the
California Building Code, and Sections R403.1.3, R405.1, R902.1, R902.1.3, and R902.2 of
the 2016 Edition of the California Residential Code, and Sections 202 and 4.304.1 of the 2019
Edition of the California Green Buirding Standards Code are hereby found to be reasonably
necessary due to the following local conditions:
A. Climatic Conditions
1. Hot, dry Santa Ana winds are common to all areas within the City of Lake Elsinore.
These winds, which can cause small fires to spread quickly, are a contributing factor
to the high fire danger in the area and create the need for an increased level of fire
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protection. This added protection will supplement normal fire department response
available and provide immediate protection for life and safety of multiple occupants
during fire occurrences.
2. Riverside County and the City of Lake Elsinore are in a semi -arid Mediterranean
type climate which predisposes all fuels, including wood shingles, to rapid ignition
and spread of fire. Therefore, there exists a need for additional fire protection
measures.
B. Geographic Conditions
1. Riverside County and the City of Lake Elsinore are in a highly active seismic
area. There are earthquake faults that run along both the northeastern and
southwestern boundaries of Riverside County including the San Jacinto and
Elsinore faults which are branches of the San Andreas Fault. There have been
several substantial earthquakes located along these faults in the Inland Empire
area in the past few years. The most recent was in June 2019, located in Riverside
California, in the Ridgecrest Area with a magnitude of 7.1 on the Richter scale. In
July Ridgecrest had a 6.1 and the City of Oxnard had a 6.4 earthquake and with
over 500 responses, the department was taxed to its full capabilities. The
Ridgecrest earthquake mains supplying water to the district burst during the
earthquake. If more fires had been ignited by the earthquake, it would have been
difficult for the fire department to contain them. Experts predict a major earthquake
in our area within the next 50 years. This situation creates the need for both
additional fire protection measures and automatic on -site fire protection for building
occupants since a multitude of fires may result from breakage of gas and electric
lines because of an earthquake. As noted by "Planning Scenario on a Major
Earthquake on the Newport- Inglewood Fault Zone, 1988, State Department of
Conservation," page 59, "unfortunately, barely meeting the minimum earthquake
standards of building codes places a building on the verge of being legally unsafe ";
2. Traffic and circulation congestion presently existing in the City of Lake Elsinore
often places fire department response time to fire occurrences at risk. This
condition will be exacerbated by any major disaster, including any earthquake
wherein damage to the highway system will occur. This condition makes the
need for additional on -site protection for property occupants necessary.
3. Placement of multiple occupancy buildings, location of arterial roads, and fire
department staffing constraints due to recent revenue - limiting state legislation have
made it difficult for the fire department to locate additional fire stations and provide
manpower sufficient to concentrate fire companies and personnel to control fires
in high density apartment or condominium buildings. Fire Department equipment
does not allow easy access to areas of buildings greater than 55 feet above the
level of Fire Department vehicle access. These conditions create the need for built -
in on- site fire protection systems to protect occupants and property until firefighting
apparatus and personnel arrive on the scene. The City of Lake Elsinore is in an area
subject to a climatic condition of high winds and low humidity. This combination of
events creates an environment, which is conducive to rapidly spreading fires. Control
of such fires requires rapid response. Obstacles generated by a strong wind, such
as fallen trees, streetlights and utility poles, and the requirement to climb 75 feet
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vertically up flights of stairs will greatly impact the response time to reach an
incident scene. Additionally, Section 6, Figure 6 -2 of ASCE 7 identifies a significant
increase in the amount of wind force at 60 feet above the ground. Use of aerial
type firefighting apparatus above this height would place rescue personnel at
increased risk of injury. The City of Lake Elsinore is in the middle of the seismically
active area. The viability of the public water system would be questionable at best
after a major seismic event. This would leave tall buildings vulnerable to uncontrolled
fires due to a lack of available water and an inability to pump enough quantities of
any available water to floors above the 55 -foot level. A severe seismic event has the
potential to negatively impact any rescue or fire suppression activities because it is
likely to create obstacles like those indicated under the high wind section above.
With the probability of strong aftershocks there exists a need to provide increased
protection for anyone on upper floors.
4. Untreated wood roofs cause or contribute to serious fire hazard and to the rapid
spread of fires when such fires are accompanied by high winds. Pieces of burning
wooden roofs become flying brands and are carried by the wind to other locations
and thereby spread fire quickly. Recent Grand Jury Report findings support this
concern.
5. Adopting 3109.4.4.3 allows the city to keep the current standards for pool safety
barriers. Current I.C.C. pool barriers are less restrictive.
SECTION 3. Amendments to the 2019 Edition of the Codes are found reasonably necessary
based on the climatic and /or geographic conditions cited in Section 2 of this resolution and are
listed in Table 1 as follows:
Table 1
Code Section Findings in Section 2
CBC 403, 403.4.7.2, 403.4.8.1, 907.2.13, 907.6.3.2 A -1, B -2, B -3
CBC 412.7
CBC 903.2
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CBC 1505, CRC R902.1
CBC 3109.4.4.3
CRC R403.1.3, R405.1
B -1, B -2, B -3
A -1, A -2, B -2
A -1, A -2, B -2, B -4
B -5
B -1
SECTION 4. Additional amendments have been made to the Codes. Such amendments are
hereby found to be either administrative or procedural in nature or concern themselves with
subjects not covered in such Codes. The changes made include provisions making each of
such Codes compatible with other codes enforced by the City.
SECTION 5. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution and
the same shall thereupon take effect and be in force as January 1, 2020.
CC Reso. No. 2019 -091
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PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a
Lake Elsinore, California, this 12th of November
ATTEST:
Candice A� a4 z, MMC
City Clerk A
STATE OF CALIFORNIA }
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.
CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE )
I, Candice Alvarez, MMC, City Clerk, of the City of Lake Elsinore, California, hereby certify that
Resolution No. 2019 -091 was adopted by the City Council of the City of Lake Elsinore, California,
at a regular meeting held on the Tuesday November 12, 019, and that the same was adopted by
the following vote:
AYES: Council Members Sheridan, Johnson and Magee; Mayor Pro -Tem Tisdale and Mayor Manos
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Candice Al re , MMC
City Clerk +