HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Bill 7.C 09/13/20044
CITY OF PETAL'UMA, CALIFORNIA
AGENDA BILL September 13,
Ap.en . d . a Title: Sprinkler Retrofit Ordinance for Existing Meetine Date
Buildings e Historic Downtown Business District. September 13, 2004
Meeting Time 7:00 PM
Cate&ry (check,one) ❑ Consent'Calendar X Public Ilea ring ❑ New Business
Unfinished Business ❑ Presentation
Department Fire
Director-
Contact. Person
Phone Number 778 -4365
Chris' Albertson
Chris Albertson
Cost! of• Probosal Costs variable due to future construction and.
Account Number
individual sizes (square footage) of occupancies.
Name of Fund:
Amount.:Budgeted
Private funding
Attachments to Agenda Packet Item Ordinance language, Findings of Fact (Exhibit A); letter & article
from. Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce endorsing the retrofit proposal; 2003 Guest Commentary
from Argus- Courier; editorial endorsement of the proposal; copy of "Bill Summary" for House of
Representatives Bill HR -1824.
Sumtnary Statement Petaluma's Historic Downtown Business District is unique. The architecture and
building; configurations contribute to the. charm and ambiance'.of the 'dowritown area.. Since 1960, the
Historic Downtown has suffered 16 major -structure fires. The potential. exists to have a fire that destroys
several of our vintage buildings and forever changes'.the face. of the downtown area. The installation of fire
sprinklers in these buildings would significantly reduce the risk .of fire and preserve the City's structural
heritage for years to come.
Recommended City Council Action /Suggested Motion '
Council approve the Fire Sprinkler Retrofit Ordinance for Existing Buildings in the Historic Downtown
Business District.
Reviewed. b y Finance Director:
Reviewed b City Attorney:
A rove City Mana ec:
Daft:
Date.
se6 2
_ o 2064
To` a 's Date:
Y Revision. # 1 an Date evised:
File Code:
#
June 21, 2004
CITY OF PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA
SEPTEMBER 13, 2 004
AGE NDA REPORT
FOR
TIRE SPRINKLER RETROFIT ORDINANCE .FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS IN THE HISTORIC
DOWNTOWN BUSINESS.I)ISTRICT.
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Petaluma's Historic Downtown Business District is unique. The
architecture and building: configurations contribute to the charm and ambiance ofthe .downtown area.
Since. 1960, the Historic Downtown has suffered; 16 major structure fires. This number averages out
to one major fire every:two'years and nine months. Thepotential exists to have a fire that destroys
several of our vintage buildings, and forever changes the face o.f the.downtown ;area: The installation
offire sprinklers in these buildings would significantly reduce the,risk of fire and preserve the City's
structural heritage for years to come '
2.
B ACKGROUND . In November 2001, the Fire Chief explained. to "the City's, administrative and
political leadership, that if ' a, .fire started in one of the historic downtown buildings and was
i undetected for a period of time allowing the fire to free burn, it would be unlikely that the on -duty
firefighting resources would ' '.be _able to catch that fire and extinguish it before major damage
occurred. One year ,later,, on November 18, 2002 that position was: roved correct when a major fire
on Kentucky Street destroyed four successful businesses. 1 December 2002, members of City Staff
from the Fire Department. Water Resource Department, Community Development Department, and
i
the City's Redevelopment Agency, came together to discuss the possibility of requiring the retrofit
installation of fire sprinklers in the existing buildings -of the Historic Downtown Business District.
In early 2003, representatives from the .Petaluma Area 'Chamber of Commerce and the Petaluma
Downtown Association were invited to join the committee exploring the retrofit installation of fire
sprinklers. The Committee met monthly until the holiday season of 2003.
On the Committee'sl recommendation and with the; support of the, Water Resources Department and
the Redevelopment Agency;, new water mains were: installed and existing water service enhanced in
the Western Avenue /Kentucky Street areas: Water flow,for fire protection has been significantly
improved over what to the ne_ w water rnains future�instal ation of fire addition, the City has pre - plumbed connections
p ers.by property owners. These new water
mains and pre- plumbed lateral lines :for'fire sprinklers represent a significant capital investment on
the part of the city: New water mains and ,pre- plumbed laterals along .Petaluma Boulevard will be
installed in the future The ordinance language does not start the timeline for the required fire
sprinkler installation, until after the city brings the new laterals to the adjacent curb lines.
,Tor the purposes of this ordinance-requirement, the geographic boundary of the Historic Downtown
Business District is all buildings located inside the area formed by Kentucky Street, east to the
Petaluma River and Washington Street, south to `B' Street.
Address specific : 1 to 199 Petaluma Blvd. North (including 246, 312, 314, 316 `B' Street; 25, 23,
21', 19, 17, 15, 9, 7, 5, 3, 1 Fourth. Street)
10 to 1'90 Kentucky Street;
5 to 27 Western Avenue;
21 Washington Street
Also within the ordinance : 204 -Washington Street , (Phoenix Theater)
132 Keller Street Formerly Tuttle Drug)
Fire s rinklers would be required in all' existing buildings in
the historic downtown business area
whenever there is,a: change, i.,US a& defined by the U Building Code an /6 the size of the
d r
occupancy is increased by 25%'or the b uilding 'is increased by 25 %0.
Fite sprink.lersvou.Ube required in all basements Within 10 years of the installing pre-plumbed
l�tera,tc.onnec,tiom'to the�adj,,qceht cur , b I I - Mes. The, entire building would hAve: . to b , e s . rkl withih20years. The'l 0 & 20 year periods:allo'w,property owners and. bud tenants the fime to plan and: to
get for
this c' ital, im 'nun
ap. provement, and imizo inconvenience anddisruptio'ns,
3. ALTERNATIVES: The alt ernative to th ' e Fire ' Department I s proposal requiring I the. retrofit
'installation
of fire sprinkl exists the
ers is to maintain �gtatb quo. With the status quo, there: : risk of a major
fire tragedy in the - Historic: Downtown. Business District that would change the, fade, of old Petaluma
f6reve'r.
4. FINANciALIMPACTS: Reeogtiizing the - potential, for a tragedy, the City of Petaluma has been proactive
and has already made the water main
ant investment in the cit
i
signficy'siftftastructure,up
Y
and pre-olu n i6ing - spf cant
laterdl,lifies' froftithe fiew w grading C .
wa ter inaffis to the _curb line through mu - h;
ofthe SeRedevelo'mebtAgeric
Ort
p y would fund further
,infrastructure improvements. Actualinterior installation of the fire- sprinkler kle r system
1—— interior _ w ould ould , he�.pr
funded. This involves an investment by the private property Owner but the ordinance, a llows I'D and 2'0
years to plan for the. Improvements., There- fire - will be in iremsurance
premiums and possible tax incentives via Congressional. legislation (HR-1824),,whic wi ll ill aIlow for
depreciation,of.,the installation costs over ,5years.
5. CONCLUSION: Looking, to the future lfitd firik]
sp _ in the historic . downtoAin . buildings will help protect,
the unique architecture and. coritfibute the continued charm, ambiance, and commercial success of the
downt6wna
6o RECOMMENDATION: Ci Co th'e.ordina -le -rt'
ty nd nce requiring fife. spriftk t e rofit for existing
buildings irkhe 'histofic business, district.,
x/for692003 agenda bill
Introduced by
ORDINANCE NO.
N.C.S.,
Seconded by
AN ORDINANCE,.OF' THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PETALUMA
AMENDING SECTION 17.20.070 OF THE PE.TALUMA MUNICIPAL
CODE REQUIRING INSTALLATION OF AUTOMA'T'IC FIRE.
SPRINKLERS I'N PRE - EXISTING' BUILDINGS IN THE
HISTORIC, DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PETALUMA AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1 . Pursuant to California Health and Safety Code section 17958.7, the City Council
makes the factual findings set ,forth,, .in .EXhibit " A" attached' hereto and incorporated herein by
reference, and finds that, the amendments made in this ordinance to the California Building
Standards Title 24, Part 9, 20011 California ',Fire Code, incorporating the 2000 edition of the
Uniform Fire Code and Uniform,'Fire Code Standards, are reasonably necessary because of the
local climatic, geological or topographical conditions set :in said exhibit:
SECTION 2 . Petaluma Municipal. Code section 17.20.070, entitled "Amendments made in the
Uniform Fire Code ". shP amended byadding.section 217 as follows:
217 Definition. "Property Owner ".shall mean the persons or entities shown as
owner and/or assessee of the',property - the latest available equalized municipal
assessment roll:
SECTION 3 . Petaluma.Muni'cipat Code section 17.20.070 entitled "Amendments made in the
Uniform Fire Code" is hereby amended by adding section 1003.2:1.2.as follows:
1.0.03.2.12 Installation :of Automatic Fire Sprinklers in Pre - existing Buildings -
Historic Downtown Business District..
A. Geographic Boundary - 'Historic Downtown District:
For the purposes of this ;section, 'the Historic Downtown Business District
shall include all ;buildings located inside the geographic area generally
formed by Kentucky Street to the west, Washington Strea to the .north,
the Petaluma River to the east,' and B Street to the south. Also included':in
this ordinance is 201 Washington Street (Phoenix Theater) and 132 Keller
Street (formerly Tuttle Drug), as more particularly described. `iii' Figure
10012:12:
g li e
oN
...............
tl h
ALITOMATIC FIRE
K I N DIN90fl
6PRINLE" N PRE EX 9 (31S
IQTIN0 OU;LO1NG IN: THE a A } as
1 !�OOWNTOWN 6LISINE65:OISTRICT ./l Y 2 004 -
} G
Figure 1003.2.12
B. Installation (Requirements
An automatic sprinkler . system. conforming; to the Standard' for the
Installation of Sprinkler Systems (NFPA -13.)' shall be installed in all
existing buildings in' the Historic Downtown Business District in
accordance with:the following criteria:
(1) Kentucky Street and Western, Avenue'..
a. In any building wherein a change of use as defined by the
Uniform Building Code occurs.
b. In any building or occupancy where the square footage of
the building or occupancy is increased in area by greater
- than : or equal to 25 % of the building's or occupancy's
, existing square footage.
c. All buildings with basement or space below street grade
used for storage, business, or public use shall have
automatic fire sprinklers installed within the basements or
the below street grade areas no later than December 31,
2014,
d All buildings not meeting the criteria of `a', or `b' above,
shall have automatic fire sprinklers installed throughout the
structure', including all public; private storage and/or
concealed spaces, as defined by the Standard for the
Installation of Sprinkler Systems '(NFPA -13) by no Iater
than December 31, 2024.
(2) Petaluma Boulevard North
Automatic fire sprinkler requirements shall not become effective
until the City of Petaluma installs an appropriate sized water main
and laterals' to the curb lines similar to the main installed. Upon
notice by the 'City of such installation; an automatic sprinkler .
system :conforrining to the Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler
Systems (NWk -13) shall be installed according to the following
criteria:
a. In any building wherein a change of use as defined by the
Uniform Building Code occurs.
I
b. In any building or occupancy where the square footage of
the building or occupancy is :increased' in area by greater •
than or equal to 25% of the building "s ,or occupancy "s
existing square footage.
c: All buildings with basement or space below street grade
used for storage, business or public use shall, have
automatic fire sprinklers installed within the basements or
the. be
low' street grade areas,: no. later than December 3=1,
ten (10) years from the date of the water main installation.
A. All buildings not ; meeting the criteria of `a',, or `b' above
shall. have automatic ,fire sprinklers installed throughout the
structure, including all public; private storage and/or
concealed spaces as def ned by. the Standard for the
Installation of Sprinklers (NFPA -13), no later than,
December 31, twenty (20) years, from. the date of the °water-
main installation.
C Property Owner's;Responsibi'lity forSystern Installation:
(l) The Property Owner :shall be .responsible for 'installation of 'the
lateral. service from. the curb. ' line into the building. This also
includes isolation, check other valves or devices, as applicable.,
(2) The.Property Owner shall be responsible for the installation of the
automatic fire sprinkler', system according: to the Standard for the
Installation of Sprinkler Systems (NFPA -1'3).
D. Plans and Specifications;
Plans and Calculations (NFPA -13., Chapter 8) for the 'service lateral and
fire sprinkler system shall he submitted =to and approved by the Fire
Prevention Bureau prior to installation of equipment and material's..
(1) For the Kentucky Street- installations that are required on or before
December 3"4 ,20,14 or December 3t, 2024 all Plans and
Calculations for service lateral and sprinkler systems shall be
_submitted no later than June 30, 2014 or Tune '30, 2024
4
J
res ecf" p
p , ively, with ;installation `and approval of work to occur prior
to December 34; 20`14 or December 31, 2024 respectively.
(2) For Petaluma Boulevard North installations that :occur ill the last
year of the ten (I`0.) or twenty '(20), year deadline (when
established) after the installation: of the water main by the City of
Petaluma„ Plans and Calculations shall be submitted in that last
year no later than.`June 30, with_,:installation and approval of work
to occur prior to December 31 of that last year:
; SECTION 4 . All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.
SECTION 5 . Except as herein amended, all provisions of Petaluma Municipal Code section
17.20:070 shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 6 . If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase or word of this ordinance is
•, for any reason held to be unconstitutional, unlawful or otherwise invalid by a court of competent
jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this
ordinance. The City Council of the City of Petaluma hereby declares that it would have passed
and adopted this ordinance and each,and all provisions thereof irrespective. of the fact that any
one or more of said provisions be declared unconstitutional, unlawful or otherwise invalid.
SECTION 7 . This ordinance shall 'become effective thirty (30) days after the date of its
adoption by the Petaluma City Council.
SECTION 8 . The City Clerk is hereby directed to post this ordinance for the period and in the
manner required by the City Charter.
W,
INTRODUCED and ordered postecl/published this day of
ADOPTED this _ day of 9 200.4 by the following vote:
AYES:
WES:
ABSENT:
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
:City Attorney
ATTEST:
City Clerk
ord -
8/1 , 8/04' (fmk,)
2004.
r
EXHIBIT, 66
FINDING'S OF' FACT AND NEED _FOR' CHANGES OR, MODIFICATIONS TO THE
CALIFORNIA, BUILDING STANDARDS TITLE 24, PART ,9
9 12601 CALIFORNIA
FIRE CODE, ,INCORPORATING THE, UNIFORM 'FiRg CODE AND
UNIFOW
FIRE FE CODE STANDARDS 2600 EDITION, DUE TO , LOCAL; LC CONDITIONS
CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS- " Pli to Section 17958 ` of the State. of California Health
,and Safety Code, the g(worning body of the City of P ' etal - iii na in its ordinance and
amending the 2000 , Edition, of the Uftiform Fire Code, with Calif3rnia Amendments, changes or
modifies certain provisions of,f he;,State Building Standards,. Code 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, 1,79.59.5 and 17958.7(a) of the State of California Health and
Safety Code,. the governing body, - of the City of Petaluma has determined and fmds that all the
attached changes or modifications are needed and are.reasonab .reasonab necessary because of local
climatic, geological and t 9po
— grao ic+ conditions as dis cussed below.
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
nece _ changes or modifications in the, Uniform Fire Code, and the State Building Standards
Code in order to provide: a reasonable . e degree of'progetty, security; and .fire and life safety in the
City of Petaluma.
Below are listed adverse local - cli.matii,c, geological and topographic conditions.
CLIMATIC
Precipitation: Precipitation 'ranges:' from �0 inches to approximately 25 inches per year.
Approximately ninety percent: (90 durm i the months of November through April, and
. 9
10%, eom May through October, In 094-1995, severe flooding occurred. during the months of
January,aqd March'I 90$ and 1908.1
Relative; Humidit Humidity generally ranges from 50% during daytime 86% a
'2 t night. It drops
to 0% during the summer occa:siohally lowerdurmR the months of Se ptember
through November.
Temperatures: , Temperatures have been recorded ed as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Average
summer highs are in the 78-85 degree range,'
Winds Prevailing winds are from the northwest. However, winds are lexperienced from
virtually every direction atone firne or another. Velocities are generally in the 5 = mph range,
gusting to -7.4-30 mph, p articularly during the summer months. Extreme winds, up to 50 mph,
have been knownio occur.
Exhibit A
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 wood shake and shingle'• roof fires
and conflagrations: .The winds experienced in this area can, have a, tremendous .impact upon
,structure fires` ' buildings in close proximity' to one another. , Wi' ds can carry sparks and
burning 'branches to. other structures, thus spreading the fire and causing conflagrations: In
building fires winds••can literally force fires back into -the building and create a. blowtorch effect,
in:addifion to .prevenf'ting "natural" ventilation and cross - ventilation efforts. In the City's Historic
Downtown Business. District particularly,, these conditions can create an extremely hazardous
situation because, f the densely situated buildings in that district', many of which are large, old,
wooden.buildings built without modern fire protection.
GEOLOGICAL AND TOPOGRAPHIC
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
determine the area's fire protection needs:
The. basic, geographical boundaries ;of the. city'include'hills to the south and west, and valley floor
in the central area and" to the north. and east. ' The :Petaluma River bisects the city through the
central area. Because ofthe size ofthe City of Petaluma.(12 square miles), the characteristics of,
the fire environment, changes :from one location to the next. Therefore thecity has not'one, but a
number of, fire environments; each of`which:,has its individual fire °protection needs.
The service area of the City, of Petaluma has a varied topography and - vegetative cover'. A
conglomeration of bay plains, hills and ridges make :up the: terrain. Development has occurred
on the flat lands in the central and' eastern port ioftsi of'the city.. 'However, over the last ten years;
development. has spread into the hills and the smaller valleys.and canyons.
Seismic Location The relatively young geological. "processes that have created the San Francisco
Bay° Area are still activ.e today. Two active earthquake faults: (San ,Andreas and the Healdsburg-.
Rodgers Creek) affect the''Petaluma area. Approximately 5`0 % of the city's land. surface is in the
high -to- moderate seismic hazard zones.
Size and Population The City of Petaluma covers, 12 square• miles including an. urban
population estimated at 56;000. Within the city are hree (3) :fire stations and, a total of 54 fire.
personnel. The Fire Department , handles. diverse responsibilities including wild" land, and urban
fires, freeway, air, rail medical emergencies.
Topo ' graph Y The city's service area is a conglomeration of`bay plains, hills,•valleys and ridges.
The flatter lands are •found in the , central and eastern portions of the .city: Most of :the existing
urban and suburbanized areas are on relatively ;flat lands (0' -,,5 %) slope.
Future, residential development is also proposed, for the,,hill areas south and west of the city. The
majority of the hillsides 'in these
are 'have slopes' ranging from "15 - 30% o. Correspondingly,
there is much diversity in slope percentages. Slope is an important factor in :fire "spread. As a
Exhibit A
basic rule of thumb the :rate of spread will double as the slope percentage doubles, all other_„
factors remaining the same.
Ve etg ation Petaluma''s semi -arid Mediterranean -type climate produces vegetation similar to that
of most of Sonoma. County.
Approximately half of all the structures in the city have combustible. wood- shingle or shake
roofs. This very flammable material "is susceptible to ignition by :embers from a wild land fire
furthering the spread of fire to adjacent buildings.
Summary The above local geological and topographic conditions enhance the magnitude,
exposure, accessibility problems and fire hazards presented to ihe4 City of .Petaluma. Fire
following an earthquake has the ;potential of causing greater loss of life and damage than the
earthquake itself.
The majority of the City's industrial complexes are located in the highest seismic risk zones. The
hi hest seismic risk isk zone also contains the largest. concentration of hazardous * materials.
Hazardous materials, particularly toxic gases, could pose' 'the: greatest threat to the largest.
,number, should a7 significant` 'seismic event occur. .The City's resources would have to be
`prioritized to mitigate the. ,greatest threat, and may likely be unavailable for fires in smaller
:single- dwellings and structures..
Other variables may tend to intensify the situation:
The extent of damage to the water ;system, the extent of isolation due to bridge and /or freeway
overpass collapse, the extent-of roadway damage and/or amount of debris blocking the .
climatic conditions (hot, dry weather with high winds); time of day will ; , influence the amount of
traffic on roadways and could. intensify ;the risk of life during normal business hours.
The availability of timely mutual aid or .assistance from neighboring .departments, which could
also have emergencies at "the same time. The large portion of dwellings with wood shingle ,roof
coverings could result in conflagrations.
The dense configuration of older. wooden "buildings in;the Historic, Downtown Business District
would also be susceptible to .conflagration which possibly can be mitigated by requiring the
additional fire protection measures provided in this ordinance. .
CONCLUSION
Local climatic, geological and topographic conditions impact fire protection efforts and the
frequency, spread, acceleration, intensity and of fire involving buildings, in this community.
Further, they ,impact potential, damage to all structures from earthquake and subsequent fire.
Therefore it is found to be reasonably necessary that the Uniform Fire Code be changed or
modified to mitigate the effects ofthe above conditions.
ord
7/7/04 (f nk).
Exhibit A
PETALUMA AREA
CHAMBER OF C'OMMER.('E
May l4, 2003
M Bierman
City Managzr
City of 'Petaluma
HEnglish Street
Petaluma, CA 94952
Dear Mr. B'errnan,
MAY 1 9 2003
At-the May.O"rheeting of the Petaluma Area Chamber ofConunerce. the
,Board of Directors vot I ect'ta'enaorse the Downtown Sprink I Ordinance
proposal presented' by Fire Chief Chris Albertson.
The directors agredd that the) long - fermi impact from regularly occurring
ring
d
- vastatihg fires downtown is undeniable.. The project deserves port to
ensure the, preservation_ of Pet'a'lwlia's historic conune.rdial. distria:and the
, safety of businesses, merchants and the general public.
InIhe discussion of the proposal, several suggestions were of&redto mitigate
the burden to downtown businesses cuiTmently struggling with difficult
economic 'issues. Please c rigidet the use of C Ecdnotftib'Redevel'o'p dfif
0 y ni
funds snatching funds,, or zero -'or low-interest loans to building, owners for
the ihs"tallatioft of a sprinkler system: Use a specific time frame, preferably 10
years, to comply: Use the 'URM seismic retrofit program, as amode'l for this
improvementproj,ect.
The PACC Board of Directors,is always available to discuss these suggestions
or other elements of the p
xQpQsal'if that would behdlpful. The Charnber
poh.cies:concern I Ing qual I ity of fif'e; histor . ic preservation and, support of the
business cornmunity diouate that every'effirt be made to enspreAhe; character
of aur'to�vn and the economic vitality of our businesses into the future.
Yours truly,
Z» 0.
Rick Mos s i
.President
c&: Chris-Alberts6n, Fire Chief
?
Onita Pelleari
Chief Executive Officer
a .Lune 2063 Petaluma Business —.4 pybl iition of the I ?WalumuArea r,f Cnmmtrcr
*Chamber Board'Suppor s
Nie
Dow r u own v S 0 n - ' . ®O d a ii ®1' F' -
The Chamber Board of.Directors has
acted to support a new Downtown
Sprinkler Ordinance 'proposed by the
City's Fire Chief. The recent Kentucky
Street fire `has been an urgent,reminder
that the old buildings at the -core of the,
city are vulnerable. The text of the letter
of support follows.
Dear Mr. Bierman,
At the May 5th meeting of the
Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce
the Board, of Directors voted to endorse
the. Downtown Sprinkler Ordinance
proposal presented by Fire Chief Chris
Albertson.
The, directors agreed that the long -
term impact from regularly occurring
devastating fires downtown ris undeni
tile. The project deserves support to
Weensure
the preservation of Petaluma's
historic commercial district a_ nd , ,t - he.
safety of ,businesses, merchants and te
general public.
In the discussion of the': proposal,
several suggestions were offered fto
mitigate the burden ,to • downtown
businesses currently struggling with dif '
ficult economic issues. - Please ,consider
the; use of City :Economic- kede-
velopment funds matching funds;, .or
zero= or low-interest loans to building
ownersJor the installation of a sprinkler
system.. Use a rspecific , time frame,
preferably 10 years, to cotnply 'Use , the
URM seismic retrofit program as a model
for this' new improvement project.
The PACC Board of Directors is, always
available to: discuss these suggestions or
other elements of the proposal if that.
would -be helpful. The Chamber , es
Polici
concerning quality of life, historic
preservation and support of ,the busi
,ne-ss comtnunity dictate that every effort
be made "to ensure the character of our
town and, the economic vitality of our
businesses into the future."
Yours truly,
Rick Moss Onita Pellegrini'.
President Chief Executive Officer
Three B usinesses .Hour
Good U al
Three' Petaluma businesses were recoil-
! nixed for exemplary good environmental
practices at the May Wake Up Petaluma
breakfast. The awards were presented by
attorney Scott Kirk, co-chair of the coun-
tywide Business Environmental Alliance,
Petaluma Poultry, Mrs. Grossman's
Paper Products, and the Petaluma
Veteran's Memorial Building were recog-
nized for a wide range of good practices
including recycling, water conservation,
ussness Bank Sets U1
Soldier's Freedom .fur.
Business Bank of California, formerly
Metro Commerce Bank, announced the
establishment of the Soldiers Freedom
Fund, a charitable fund to .provide finan-
cial assistance to the families of United
States .military personnel who had been
stationed in California and who died or
were severely wounded in the line of
duty during the course of Operation Iraqi
Freedom.
Petaluma branch manager Brian Bredell
said that`bur soldiers are our modern day
heroes -'they have bravely fought to pro-
Your Insurance . raker
.P F' T
A R G us
Shoup Give
You One Thi ng:
4
I Y1 Hf r� FF I *�•� I -r ?. X 7 4 i
Contldence kn aating that }our nods are looked after by .t loc -A
prufcssionit sameor><r lot-atrd0ta Ittilcs an �}.
l nil
Cur>tfidence — th:u Four raU.� iti he peomptt} anitticreJ.
cbrWd+ence' — that we won't be bciit0lt ou w you will al%%:m. kr1uNv
account Hill he hanttivd 1w somi -one a'ho knows you and our nccth
Fire s - rinklers —fi re P re sakty=
good, business
BY CHRIS ALBERTSON
Will last the lifetime` , of the Wl . bfe Ways where Wcan•help
FIRE CHIEF, CITY OF PETALUMA
building.
offset - some sprinkler installa-
-20
The cost ;of installing fire
tion costs', - either through
uring"i - fie
' th century
sprinklers in pre exi
. , g con �
grants or low st loans,
� int
Petaluma's historic; structi6n is approximately funded by the ,city's Redev-
Ddowntdwn -
double co t of'ihstaffAtion,
. business dis- - s - -
efopmeni A Again,
trict, s ' tiffere 26 major. flies
,in new construction . kven'!so,
-.,gency.
. insurance over time
that ruined businesses and
- i_ - -
this 'investment :makes good,
will:help offset. t,fiis cost. Also,
threatened thet '
tYs
b tisine.ss f s Besides pre-
•
in the Wake of the recent
:safety._ Fifteen have occlif'red
- venting, catastrophic. loss in
•ra�ged,y at a Rhode Island
since 1960, , including: the Elks
the event of a fire, th e build-
'
thdr nearly
Club on Kentucky Street
' "Golden
ing's insurance- rates: can
160 J s ives, past March
(1964); 'the Eagle
beredii'ded"As much as 30 -or 35
Co Pgr - 6ssman Curt Weldon (R-
Milling Corn-parry o
on
percent. Amortized?,&6r sev-
Penn.) and Congressman
Washingtory ,Street (1,966); the
eyal YeAr.0, It-he :investment
Jameslangeft (D-R.I.), have
Continental Hotel•at Kentucky
would.pay,divid
sponsored federal legislation
and Western (1968); Beasley's
Restaurant J (Wickerghd in,
Because city: - government
reaiizes''both the value-,of fire
that would` create tax: incen-
tives; for f ire -sprinkler rebro-
Building), i.n7CIudinglone �,�fatal -
sprinklers and the costs of
.
fitg. W9 e encourage I e Con gre�ss-
ity-(1977.); Great'PetalumaMill
ins planning to
woman, I- Lynn Woolsey; as well,
Great, Petaluma Mill
help mitigate thee costs .in sev=
as &ndtbrs Boxer, and.
(1984); Apple Box on Kephicky
eral ways:
to support this
Street (1987),
■ in support of :sprinklers
-Feinstein,
-
im portant-Jegisl4tiom
Most recently, there .was the
fire � on Kentucky -Street last
' being installed in buildings
throughout the historic_ down-
Envisioning 10 years into the
'future, t Iii
he Otoric downtown
November , that destroyed four
town area, adequate waterV017
-
business area :could have
businesses.
t
In the year x 2000 , he, city
y of
ume pressure nee to be
provided in the
• n
water mains and; .enbanced:fire
I
Petaluma p4ssed,an ordinance
streets. The
city is planning its capital .
protection systems, if existing
bus y
inesses� now.
requiring, : fire sprinklers for
all new commercial con strue
iffi-pf6vement pro ;for
Tragi . f . ireslike thosessiiffered
-:
tion. In 2001, the ordinance
t itive
itiz6d basis water mains in the
.
'in the recently as
last November, would be pre-
was expanded, to include all
Aowntown, area Will be
I
vented. 'The community's
,new residential construction.
replaced I and upgraded. New
unique archii
qu,e ecture would, be
Unfortunately, the fire ! protec;-
tibns 'by
fire 'hydrants will be installed
-
pres erved. Businesses;. Would
- -
provided thi& or&
ai, additional locations in the
- 'Pot..sit' he �economic. hard
nance do not apply to the hfs-
area enhancing potential fire-
-
ship, of a devastating fire. The
toric buildings downtown. To,
fighting, Water flow When
property and business , owners
preverit the loss to businesses
and the colmniunityitis impor-
these new water mains are
installed, the city °intends to
in the year 2013 would . look
back And say, "Yes, installing,
taint for the historic downtown,
pre-,;,install the proper conribc-
sprinklers was mildly disrup-
busines - ses to retrofit their
buildings with fire �_sprinkl
lion to the Water 'main, for
-future, fire sprinkler ifistafla-
'tive . and there was some
When discussing" the iriclu=
teon. - Pre -plii these unibing th
expense; but today the Work is
completed and' our businesses
sion of fire, Sprinklers do conT
the new main will
-liaVe� been pro tected frodi.
str_uction, either new "Or, Pte=
save the property owners a
' damage and loss o I f I income" I
existing, I have,advocated that
signffJcaht,e'X
ense.
Becau§d:people Were willing to
the a:ssociated costs are an
not
®' he installation of these
act m :decade later the
expense ,but rather an
new water.maing Would most
en commum will. share
merit in, the building's con-
likely be down the `middle of
the ben
its and security of
struction. costs;inifie business
several' 'downtown busifiess
fire sprinklers.
that occupies the building; and
corridors. Admittedly,, ther
ift1helininterrupied inco
_metof'
would bes.some l i
inita , disrup
the; employees of the business.
I
tion durin the three to four
Almostany Sunday, you -can
r�onths of construction, The
find a newspaper supplemeni
city w ould - Work with property,
advertising new `carpet, pad,
'installafi6n
and business owners to lan
P
and for per the most appropfiate calendar
square yard — or $2 Per
period„ 'for ihis construction-.
square foot., 'The cost for fire, We would 'Want to advertise
sprinklers installed :in new
h I i . s 'temporary inconvenience
constructio to at the fi rit
o e
end and, explain; the the
,
:$2, a
. I qpare,.toqt� Yes�' the desired results and benOfits�at.
.sprinkler- syste ' requires the- 3 pro j ect�s J _. completion. We
minor drihiial,maintenance but ,al so plan '. to, install signage , at
the carpet al-g needs be both ends of streets under ton-
cleaned- regularly, - somefirne s struction, advertising. that
" I I - -
repaired, and a few , usinesses
w . brily b usiness e s - ' along the street
years O f ixear,= Will have! ;t0 be were open and would welcome
replaced. pliq0rly main- the
customer's foot traffic.
tamed, the. kler
�sprin system I
M
■
-: The city co to
ntinues
A•&us
April 23, 2003
•
•
ARCUS- COURIER
WEDNESDA
FEBRUARY 4
r
oil '10
vownt ownbunainor s
ne'ed fitespr
etaI - a''s historic: ;storefronts;' he said. The cost
downtown core area of retrofitting a building with
the :heart and soul and fire sprinklers would depend
defining architectural center 'on:the size:of,the building and
of it s city —'is at risk. Since other factors, but owners
"1960, there; have been 16` could expect . to pay tens of
major fires in the downtown thousands, of dollars.
area.`The last one Nov Albertson is suggesting"
18; 2002 destroyed a build- that the ordinance require,;
ing,on Reatucky Street that sprinklers„ `to be...installed _i
hoU sed -five businesses: over a period of time, maybe
That fire was difficult to up to 20 years, to allow the
r:
r4
I .
battle and`it came very close
cost, amortized. lt's pose
to spreading to other strucL
siblethat;some of those costs ;
tunes: •But' if it had been
could 'be offset by grants,, ='
equipped with fire. sprinklers,
loans from_6e city or by the
the fire could have been
city sharing in the cost
quickly extinguished without
Buildin g . owners could :'
causing significant damage:
n .;
expect to 'save money o.
While owner's of some
their: lowered ; fire insurance
downtown buildings have
premiums.
installed I fi sprinklers ,,in
Work is already underway`
recent years, most have;, not.
to install pre- piunibed lateral ,:
Many of the ,old buildings
pipes to connect.a building's ; `
'the
.;have false ceilings, sealed-
fire sprinkler system to
off attic spaces and large.
water mains. Three „new fire
common basements. Some =of''
hydrants and new water;
the buildings are wood struc-
mains are 'being installed' in
, Lures.; All` of these factors
;the .downtown ,area (the 100 :';
could spell disaster if a' fire
block,of Kentucky Street
were to break out; again., .A
not have any fire hydrants or '
downtown `fire could' 'spread
water mains) • But=it would be .
from one-building'to
the responsibility of the''
l JM Chief Chris Albertson,
building, owners to connect•
Who is reconvening a `fire
tire, sprinklers to the' lateral
sprinkler 'retrofit 'committee
water •pipes' at the curb
soon, wants: to be proactive
and. take preventive steps
We commend Chief
Albertson for his fore—sight "'.
make' the downtown buildings,
and ' proaction. and we ur #`e ;
as fire- saf& as, possible.: b
'proposing
members of the busmeii"'.
community to step forward
that end, he is an
ordinance that would require
and express ,their conce
fire sprinklers to be installed
about this important issue G
in the downtown.buildings He
'Cotta
While sprinkler installahon� :.
esent an ordinance
lens to pr ,
-
would be expensive ,
the �;
to the City sometime
'support
.inconvenient, :alternati
— the for a deva,'+
this year — with the
potential
of, property owners.
tating fire = would be wo
This makes, good „sense; but
This is an investment nbta
it will not be cheap..
only in the protection q
therein lies 'the problem.
downtown buildings, but?; ,
Albertson wants the ordi- °
the inventory of the bust a
;nance to be fair and afford
nesses, the,.jobs and salat'I
'able. "We.dodt:'want to create
of the employees who wore”,
;such an expense that proper:
there and the very essence
;ty owners- raise the rents of
and,ambiance of our historic .
, tenants and we have vacant
downtown.
e
Bill Summary & Status for the 1 -08th Congress,
NEW SEARCH H ®AM [ RE
H.IL 1824
Title: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 toclassify automatic fire sprinkler systems as 5 -year property
for purposes,of depreciation.
Sponsor. Re Weldon Curt [PA-7]'( ntroduced 4/1;1/2003 Co 133
Rep ) p ( )
Latest Major Acton 4/1'
1/2003' Referred;to House committee. Status: Referred to the House C. ommittee on Ways
and' Means.
Jump to: Titles „ Status , Committees Related Bill Details Amendments Cosponsors Summary
TITLE(S): , (italics indicate a title for a por. tion of a bill)
® SHORT TITLE(S),AS INTRODUCED:,
Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of'2003
e OFFICIAL TITLE AS INTRODUCED:`
To amend the Internal, Revenue Code of 1_996 to classify automatic fire-sprir kler;systems as 5,year property
for purposes of depreciation.
STATUS: (color indieates,Senaje, actions)
4/11/2003: .'
Referred to the House. Comm ttee 'on Ways and Means'..'
COMMITTEE(S):
Committee /Subcommittee: Activity:
House Ways and Means Referral, "In Committee
`RELATED BILL DETAILS':
* *.-*.NONE* * *
AMENDMENT(S):
***NONE***
COSPONSOR :$(,'133:) ,,ALP- HABETICAL
n
U