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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Reso No 2007-193RESOLUTION NO. 2007-193 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY CO~UNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA, SETTING FORTH FINDINGS WITH RESPECT TO LOCAL CONDITIONS WITHIN THE CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE WHICH MAKE CERTAIN MODIFICATIONS AND CHANGES TO THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE, CALIFORNIA REFERENCE STA.NDARDS CODE, THE CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE, THE CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE, THE CALIFOIRNIA ELECTRICAL GODE AND THE CALIFORNIA EXISTiNG BUILDING CODE AS AMENDED BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA REASONABLY NECESSARY FOR HOUSWG OCCUPANCIES Section 1. The City Council of the City of Lake Elsinore finds and resolves as follow: WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Section 17958 provides that the City of Lake Elsinore 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 Heaith 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, California Existing Building Code, the California Plumbing Code, the California Mechanical 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 & Safety Division have recommended that changes and modifications be made to the Codes and have advised that certain said changes and modifications to the California Building Code, 2007 Edition and the California Plumbing Code, 2007 Edition and the California Mechanical Code, 2007 Edition, the California Electrical Code, 2007 Edition, and the California Existing Building Code, 2007 Edition are reasonably necessary due to local conditions in the City of Lake Elsinore. Amendments related to fire and life-safety contained in Sections {202, 904.1.2, 1505, Table 1505.1 and 3109.4.4} of the 2007 Edition of the California Building Code as recommended by the Building & Safety Division are hereby found to be reasonably necessary due to the following local conditions. A. Climatic Conditions Hot, dry Santa Ana winds are common to all areas within the City of Lake Elsinore and Riverside County in general. These winds, which can cause small fires which spread quickly, are a contributing factor to the high fire danger in the area, and create the need for an increased level of fire protection. This added protection will supplement normal fire department response available and provide immediate protection for life and safety of multiple occupancy occupants during fire occurrences. Riverside County and the City of Lake Elsinore are located 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. The warm, dry climate is conducive to swimming pools which creates a higher probability of child drowning where pools are unprotected. B. Geoqraphic Conditions 1. Riverside County and the City of Lake Elsinore are located in Seismic Zone 4. There are earthquake faults that run along both the northeastern and southwestern boundaries of Ri~erside County. The Newport- Inglewood Fault Zone (NIFZ) which runs through Orange County was the source of the destructive 1933 Long Beach earthquake (6.3 magnitude, hypocenter off Newport Beach coast), which took 120 lives, with areas damaged from Laguna Beach to Marina del Rey and inland to Whittier, ancJ poses one of the greatest hazards to lives and property in the nation. Regional planning for reoccurrence is recommended by the State of California, Department of Conservation. There was also an earthquake in December 1989, with the epicenter located near the City of Irvine. The fault on which this quake occurred was unknown prior to this activity. The October 17, 1989, Santa Cruz earthquake resulted in only one major San Francisco fire in the Marina district, but when combined with the 34 other fires and over 500 tesponses, the department was taxed to its full capabilities. The Marina fire was difficult to contain because 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 as a result 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 aliow 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 fire fighting apparatus and personnel arrive on the scene. The City of Lake Elsinore is located 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 failen trees, street lights and utility poles, and the requirement to climb 75 feet vertically up flights of stairs will greatly impact the response time to reach an incident scene. Additionally ASCE-7, Section 6, Figure 6-2 Height Adjustment Table identifies a significant increase in the amount of wind force at 60 feet above the ground. Use of aerial type fire fighting apparatus above this height would place rescue personnel at increased risk of injury. The City of Lake Elsinore is located in the middle of the seismically active area identified as Seismic Zone 4. 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 sufficient 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 similar to 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. 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. C. Topoqraphic Conditions Section 1. The City of Lake Elsinore has a wide range of topographic conditions with hilly terrain and water ways which often create ground water conditions. Developing building sites often requires grading. Proper regulation of this process warrants adoption of the grading provisions. Section 2. Amendments to the 2007 Editions of the California Codes are found reasonably necessary based on the climatic and/or geographic conditions cited in Section 1 of this Resolution and are listed as follows: Code Section 202 CBC 403.10.2, 403.11.1 CBC 12.5.1 904 CBC 1505 CBC 1613.7 CBC 1614 CBC 1614A.1.8 1614A.1.12 1908.1.17, 1908.1.17.1, 3109.4.4 CBC Appendix I, CBC Appendix J, CBC 310.2(B), 310.16 CEC 1908.1.17.2 CBC Findinqs in Section 1 A-1, B-2, B-3 A-1, B-2, B-3 B-1, B-2, B-3 A-1, A-2, B-2 A-1, A-2, B-2, B-4 B-1, Administrative B-1, Administrative B-1, Administrative B-1, Administrative B-1,Administrative A-3 Administrative B-1,C-1, Administrative Administrative A-1, B-1 The aforementioned amendments have been incorporated in detail in this Ordinance. Section 3. The Building & Safety Division shall file copies of this resolution and ordinance with the California Building Standards as required by Health and Safety Code Section 17958.7. 2007. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED on this 13th day of November , ~ ~~ ROBERT E. MA E, MAYOR CITY OF LAKE SINORE ATT ST: An__ ~ VIVIAN MUNSON CITY CLERK APPROVED AS TO FORM: ~ ,~/~~,,..~- BARBARA ZEID LEIBOLD CITY ATTORNEY I, VIVIAN M. MUNSON, City Clerk of the City of Lake Elsinore, California, hereby certify that Resolution No. 2007-193 was adopted by the City Council of the City of Lake Elsinore at a regular meeting held on the 13th day of November 2007, and that the same was adopted by the foliowing vote: AYES: Mayor Magee, Mayor Pro Tem Hickman, Councilmember Buckley, Councilmember Kelley, Councilmember Schiffner NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: None . ~,~.-,-- VIVIAN M. MUNSON CITY CLERK