HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 5.C 10/17/20055.0
MEMORANDUM October 17, 2005
To: Mayor & Council
From: Mike Healy -.L
Date: July 29, 2005
Re.: Downtown Snrinkler Retrofit Ordinance
I would like to propose the following package of policies to incentivize downtown
property owners to move forward with the sprinkler retrofits required under the City's recent
ordinance:
1. City to provide appropriate water service to an exterior wall of each building, at
the City's expense.
2. Water connection fees to be waived. This is appropriate because water connection
fees are intended to represent a new user's buy -in of the investment by existing ratepayers in
the existing infrastructure. In this situation (1) all of the buildings to be retrofitted are
already long-standing water ratepayers, and (2) the water usage by these sprinkler systems
will be so low and infrequent that there should not be any significant need to upgrade the
water infrastructure because of them.
3. Analogous to the City's support of seismic upgrades, the redevelopment agency
should reimburse 10% of the costs of sprinkler retrofits, up to a maximum of $5,000 per
building.
I will raise this issue at Council comment on Monday, and ask that it be placed on a
future Council agenda for discussion and possible direction.