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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-40 2010 building code findingsRESOLUTION 2010-40 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF UKIAH ESTABLISHING FINDINGS OF FACT AND NEED FOR CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS TO THE STATE BUILDING STANDARDS CODE BECAUSE OF LOCAL CONDITIONS CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS: Pursuant to Section 13869.7, 17958.5, 17958.7, 17922 and 18941.5 of the State of California Health and Safety Code, the City of Ukiah in its ordinance adopting and amending the 2010 Edition of the California Fire Code with reference to the 2009 Edition of the International Fire Code, changes or modifies certain provisions of the 2010 California Building Standards Code (Title 24, Part 9) as it pertains to the regulation of buildings used for human habitation. A copy of the text of such changes or modifications is attached. Findings: Pursuant to Sections 17958.5, 17958.7, 17922 and 18941.5 of the State of California Health and Safety Code, the City of Ukiah has determined and finds that the attached changes or modifications to the 2010 California Building Standards Code are needed and are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geographic and topographic conditions. Local Conditions: Local conditions have an adverse effect on the prevention of (1) major loss fires, (2) major earthquake damage, and (3) the potential for life and property loss, making necessary changes or modifications to the 2010 California Fire Code, 2009 International Fire Code and the 2010 California Building Standards Code in order to provide a reasonable degree of property security and fire and life safety in the City of Ukiah Below are listed adverse local climatic (see No. 1), geographic and topographic (see No. 2) conditions. 1. Climatic a. Precipitation. Precipitation ranges from 13 to 71 inches per year with an average of approximately 37 inches per year. Approximately eighty-nine percent (89%) falls during the months of November through April, and eleven (11%) from May through October. b. Relative Humidity. Humidity generally ranges from 35% during daytime to 85% at night. It drops to 12% during the summer months and occasionally drops lower. C. Temperatures. Temperatures have been recorded as high as 115 degrees F. Average summer highs are in the 86 to 91 degree range. d. Winds. Prevailing winds are from the northwest. However, winds are experienced from virtually every direction at one time or another. Velocities are generally in the 3 - 18 mph range, gusting to 33 mph, particularly during the summer months. Extreme winds, up to 50 mph, have been known to occur. e. Summary. These local climatic conditions affect the acceleration, intensity, and size of fire in the community. Times of little or no rainfall, of low humidity and high temperatures create extremely hazardous conditions, particularly as they relate to the ignition of structure fires which have the potential to burn into the vegetation (wildland), and vice versa. The winds experienced in this area can have a tremendous impact upon structure fires in buildings of close proximity to one another, commonly found in the residential neighborhoods throughout the Ukiah Valley. During structure, or wildland fires, winds can carry sparks and burning brands to other structures, thus spreading the fire and causing conflagrations. In building fires, winds can literally force fire back into the building and create a blowtorch effect, in addition to preventing "natural" ventilation and cross-ventilation efforts. 2. Geographic and Topographic a. The fire environment of a community is primarily a combination of two factors: the area's physical geographic characteristics and the historic pattern of urban-suburban development. These two factors, alone and combined, create a mixture of environments which ultimately determines the area's fire protection needs. The service area of the City of Ukiah Fire Department has a varied topography and vegetative cover. A conglomeration of valley floor, mountainous slopes and ridges make up the terrain. Development has occurred on the flat lands in the central portion of the City. However, over the last thirty years, development has spread onto the surrounding mountainous slopes. b. Seismic Location. The relatively young geological processes that have created the San Francisco Bay Area are still active today. The City of Ukiah sits on the Maacama fault between the San Andreas fault to the west and the Bartlett Springs fault to the east. c. Size and Population. The City of Ukiah Fire Department covers approximately 5 square miles including a residential population estimated at 15,500. During day time hours it is estimated that population within the City of Ukiah can double in size, as the City of Ukiah hosts approximately 5,000 K-12 Students, 15,000 employed adults, and serves as the geographical hub for medical, retirement, governmental, and retail services. The City of Ukiah 2 Fire Department responds to more than 2,500 calls for service a year. The City of Ukiah has one fire station and a total of 46 career, volunteer and explorer personnel. The City of Ukiah handles diverse responsibilities including Wildland Fire, Urban Fire, Freeway and Auto Collision Response, and Advanced Life Support Medical Response, Hazardous Material Response, Urban Search and Rescue, and Swift Water Rescue Response. d. Roads and Streets. The roadway systems within the City of Ukiah are for the most part a grid or loop system. Many of the roads servicing residential areas on the west foothills of the City are narrow and winding affording difficult ingress to emergency apparatus. Ingress and egress into the foothill areas will be made extremely difficult by large-scale emergencies such as earthquake and wildland fire. e. Topography. The City's service area is a conglomeration of valley floor, and mountainous slopes. The flatter lands are found in the Urban portion of the City. Most of the existing urban and suburbanized areas are on relatively flat lands (0 - 5% slope). Correspondingly, there is much diversity in slope percentages to the west of the valley floor. Slopes on the west side of the City average 48% and range from 6-80%. Slope is an important factor in fire spread. As a basic rule of thumb, the rate of spread will double as the slope percentage doubles, all other factors remaining the same. L Vegetation. The Ukiah Valley's semi-arid Mediterranean-type climate produces vegetation similar to that of most of Mendocino County, with specific growth a result of topography and prevailing wind. The west facing slopes are heavily wooded from lower elevations to ridge with oak, madrone, Douglas-fir, Redwood, and minor shrubs of the general chaparral class. Expansion of the residential community into areas of heavier vegetation has resulted in homes existing in close proximity to dense natural foliage. Often such dwellings are completely surrounded by highly combustible vegetation. g. Hydrology. The City of Ukiah adjoins Lake Mendocino, the Russian River, Mill Creek, Robinson Creek and multiple ephemeral streams. Annual precipitation at or above the annual average of 37 inches can result in flooding along the Russian River and its tributaries. These flooding events lead to increased emergency response times for apparatus responding through or around the flooded roadways. h. Summary. The above local geographic and topographic conditions increase the magnitude, exposure, accessibility problems and fire hazards presented to the Ukiah Fire Department. Fire following an earthquake has the potential of causing greater loss of life and damage than the earthquake itself. The majority of the Ukiah Valley's industrial/commercial complexes are located in close proximity to the Maacama fault. This fault zone also contains the largest concentration of hazardous materials. Hazardous materials, particularly toxic gases, could pose the greatest threat to the largest number, should a significant seismic event occur. The City's resources would have to be prioritized to mitigate the greatest threat, and may likely be unavailable for smaller single-dwelling or structure fires. Other variables may tend to intensify the situation: 1) The extent of damage to the water system; 2) The extent of isolation due to bridge and/or freeway overpass collapse; 3) The extent of roadway damage and/or amount of debris blocking the roadways; 4) Climatic conditions (hot, dry weather with high winds); 5) Time of day will influence the amount of traffic on roadways and could intensify the risk to life during normal business hours; 6) The availability of timely mutual aid or military assistance; Conclusion: Local climatic, geographic and topographic conditions impact fire prevention efforts, and the frequency, spread, acceleration, intensity and size of fire involving buildings in this community. Further, they impact potential damage to all structures from earthquake, or flood, and subsequent fire. Therefore it is found to be reasonably necessary that the California Fire Code and the State Building Standards Code be changed or modified to mitigate the effects of the above conditions. Furthermore, California Health and Safety Code Section 17958.7 requires that the modification or change be expressly marked and identified as to which each finding refers. Therefore, the City of Ukiah finds that the following table provides code sections that have been modified pursuant to Ordinance which are building standards as defined in Health and Safety Code Section 18909, and the associated referenced conditions for modification due to local climatic, geological and topographical reasons. Section Number Local climatic, geological and topographical conditions 505.4 le, 2c 605.3.1.1 le, 2h 903.2 le, 2h 506.2.3 1e, 2h NOW, THEREFORE, BE, IT FURTHER RESOLVED AND ORDERED that the Fire Chief of the Ukiah Fire Department shall file a copy of the change or modification together with a copy of this resolution with the California Buildings Standards Commission, and shall obtain an endorsed copy from said department to be filed with the City of Ukiah. PASSED AND ADOPTED, by the Ukiah City Council, County of Mendocino, State of California on November 3rd, 2010, by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Landis, Rodin, Baldwin, and Mayor Thomas NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Councilmember Crane Benj Thom s, Mayor ATTEST: arl- pt(lnl~ J Arnie Currie, City Clerk 5