HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Bill 6.B 09/20/2004rY OF PETALU,MA, CALIFORNIA
A ��:
September 20
Agenda Title Fire Sprinkler `Retrofit Ordinance for Existing
Buildings in the Historic Downtown.B;usiness District.
` Meeting Date
September 13, 2004
Meeting Time 7:00 FM
Category (check one) ❑ Consent Calendar X Public Hearing ❑ New Business
Unfinished Business° ❑, Presenta
Department Fire
` Director :;
ContactPerson `
Phone,Nurnber 778 -4365'
Chris.. Albertson
Chr'i's Albertson
Cost of "Proposal 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 -Paeket 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; editor'ia'l endorsement of the proposal; copy of 'Bill Summary" for House of
Representatives.Bill HR S24.
Summary Statement Pefalurr a's Historic w
Downton Bu "siness District is unique. The architecture and
building configurations contribute to the charm and ambiance of the downtown 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 building_ s 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 v Finance Director:
keviewedbi Ci :Attorne :
Approved CitV Manage
Date:
10 2004
Date:
j a
To' a 's Date:
June 21, 2004
Revision # an Date evise'd:
File Code:
#
CITY O F PETAI.UMA, CALIFORNIA
SEPTEMBER 13, 2004
• AGENDA REPORT
FOR
FIRE SPRINKLER RETROFIT ORDINANCE FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS IN THE HISTORIC
DOWNTOWN BusiNESS DISTRICT.
1. EXECUTIVE S UMMARY : Petaluma's Historic Downtown Business District is unique. The
architecture andl building configurations contribute to the;
charm and ambiance of the 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.. The potential exists to have 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 office and preserve the City's
structural heritage for years 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
undetected for a period of'tine, 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 ,proved correct when a major fire
on Kentucky Street destroyed four successfiit businesses. 'In December 2002; members of City Staff
from the Fire Department, Water Resource Department,, Community Development Department, and
the City's Redevelopment Agency, came together to discuss the possibility of requiring the retrofit
installation of fire isprinklers 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's recommendation and with the ,support of Water Resources Department and
the Redevelopment - Agency new water mains were 1ristalled and existing water service enhanced in
the Western Avenue / Kentucky Street areas. Water flow for fire. protection has been significantly
improved over what existed mNovember. 2002. In:addition, the City haspre= plumbed connections
to the new water mains for future installation . of fire sprinklers 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
diva language does not start the timeline for the required fire
spr inkler installation until after the cii
installed in the future: The or nce
_ ' y "bungs the new laterals to the adjacent curb lines.
For 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,
• 2`1, 19, 17, 15, 9, 7,6, 3, 1 Fourth Street)
10 to 190 Kentucky;Street;
5 to 27 Western Avenue;
2 1 Washington Street
Also within the ordinance : 201 Washington Street (Phoenix Theater)
•
132 'Keller Street- (Forinerly Tuttle Drug)
Fire sprinklers would be required 'in all existing buildnigs'in the historic downtown business area
whenever there is a; change in `use, as defined by the Uniform Building Code, and /or the; size ,of the
occupancy is increased by 25 %, or the build_ing';itself is increased by 25 %:
Fire sprinklers would be required ,in.all basements wiihin.:1.0 years of the city installing pre - plumbed
'lateral ponnectidn&16 the adjacent curHines. The entire building'would'have to be sprinklered
witliin:20 years. The 10 & 20 year periods allow prop,,erty owners and tenants the time to plan and to
budget •for "this capta'1 improvement, and minimize inconvenience and disruptions:
3. ALTERNATIVES The alternative to the Fire Department's, proposal requiring the retrofit'installation
of fire sprinklers is to�maintain the status quo. With the &atus. quo, there exists the _risk of a•major
fire tragedy in the4 Historic Downtown Business District that would change the face of old Petaluma
forever.
4. and has alread Pm de significant. investment an the it is infrastruct l ey of P n adin the watern proactive
Y g P Y pg g main
system and pre- plumbm* s - rinkler lateral ;lines from the new water mains to' the curb line through much®
of the downtown area.. Water Resources and /or the. Redevelopment Agency would fund further
infrastructure improvements: Actual interior, installation of the fire sprinkler system would be privately
funded. This involves an 'investment by =the private` property owner but'the ordinance allows 10 and 20
years to for those nnprovements. There will be some assistance through savulgs fire : insurance
premiums ,and possible tax incentives via Congressional 1egislation(HR- 182'4); which will allow for
depreciation of the installation costs over. S years.
5: CONCLUSION Looking to the future, fire sprinklers in the historic downtown build_ings:willhelp, protect
the unique architecture.and contribute to the .continued.charm, ambiance, and commercial success;ofthe.
downtown area..
6. RECOMMENDATION City Council approve the; ordinance, requiring, fire sprinkler retrofit for existing
, buildings -in the:historic downtown business district.
gAforrn0001 agenda. bill
N.C.S.
Introduced by
Seconded by
AN ORDINANCE':OF TH.t COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PETALUMA
AMENDING „SECTION 17.20.070 OF THE PETALUMA MUNICIPAL
CODE REQUIR'I'NG INSTALLATION OF AUTOMATIC FIRE
SPRINKLERS IN PRE` - EXISTING` BUILDINGS IN THE
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN” BUSINESS DISTRICT . "
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PETALUMA AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION L 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, 2001 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 `forth in said exhibit.
SECTION 2 . 'Petaluma Municipal Code section 17:20.070 :entitled "Amendments made in the
Uniform Fire Code" is;herebyamended by adding section 217' as follows;
217 Definition. "Property Owner" shalt mean the. persons or entities shown as
owner and/or assessee. of the property on the latest available equalized municipal
assessment roll.
SECTION 3 . Petaluma,Municipal', Code section 17.20.070 entitled "Amendments made in the
Uniform, Fire Code" is hereby amended by adding ,section 1003.2.12 as follows:
P
1003.2.12 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 Street 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 TheaterIand 1'32 Keller
Street;. (formerly Tuttle 'Drug), as more particularly described in Figure
1003:2.12:
OW-0
N�Liql W.
0
AUTOMATIC FIRE N
BPRINKLER6 IN PRE BUILD_IN66 IN THE ' DI
Fil'6 TDRIC DO WNTq'W'N 1 6U61 NE 66 DI�6TRICT' ��Y.BZDDO H
Figure 1003.2:12
$. Installation Requirements:.
An automatic sprinleler. system .conforming to the Stdndard for the.
Installa €ion of Sprinkler Systems (4FPA -1'3) shall be installed in all'
K 6S
. t
•
•
7
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 later
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 conforming to the Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler
Systems (NFPA -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.
3
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
ekisting 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,
ten (10) years from- the date of the water - main installation.
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 Sprinklers (NFPA -13), no later than
December. 31, twenty .(20) years from the date of the water
main installation. •
C,. Property Owner's Responsibility for System. Installation:
(1) The Property 'Owner shall be responsible for installation of , the
lateral service from the curb line. into the building. This also
includes isolation, check or 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 -13).
D. Plans and Specifications:
Plans and Calculations (NFPA -13 Chapter 8) for the service lateral and
fire sprinkler system shall be submitted to and approved by the ,Fire
Prevention Bureau prior-;to, installation of equipment and materials.
(1) For the Kentucky Street installations that are required on or before
December 31, .2014 or December 31, 2024, all Plans and
Calculations for service lateral and sprinkler systems shall be
submitted no later than . June 30, 2014 or June 30, '2024 •
4
Z7
respectively, with installation and approval of work to occur prior
to December 31, 2014 or'December 31, 2024''respectively. -
(2) For Petaluma Boulevard Nofth :installations 'that occur in the last
year of the ten (10) 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 CityCouncil.
SECTION -8 . The City Clerk is hereby directed top
Qst this ordinance for the period and in the
manner required' by the City Charter.
5
J
INTRODUCED. and ordered posted/published this day of 1 2004.
ADOPTED this day of , 2004 by the following vote:
AYES';
NOES,'
ABSENT;
ATTEST:'
City Clerk
ord
8/18/04 (fmk)
Mayor
APPROVED ASTO`FORM
City Attorney
•
•
6
a
EX IIIB'IT "A"
FINDINGS OF FACT AND NEED FOR CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS TO THE
CALIFORNIA BTILDING° STANDARDS; TITLE 24, PART; 2001 CALIFORNIA
FIRE CODE, INCORPORATING THE UNIFO'R1VI VIRE CODE AND UNIFORM
FIRE CODE °STANDARDS, 20,00 EDITION,'DUE TO LOCAL CONDITIONS
- CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS ,Pursuant to Section ;1.7958 of the State ofCalifornia Health
and Safety Code the goveming body of the City. of Petaluma in its 'ordinance adopting, and
amending the 2000 Edition ofthe Uniform Fire 'Code, with California Amendments, changes or
modifies certain provisions of theState 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 17958 and 1795$'7(a) of the State of California Health and
Safety Code, the governing 'body of the City of Petaluma has determined' and finds that all the
attached changes or modifications are needed and are reasonably necessary because of local
climatic, geological and topographic, conditions as discussed below.
LOCAL CONDITIONS Local, conditions have an adverse effect on the ,prevention of (1) major
doss fires, (2) major earthquake damage,, and (3) the potential for life and property loss, making
necessary changes or modifications in the Uniform Fire Code and "the .State Building Standards
Code in order to provide a. reasonable degree; of property security; and fire and life safety in the
City of Petaluma.
Below are listed adverse local climatic,, geological .and atopographic conditions.
CLIMATIC
Precipitation Precipitation ranges from, 20 inches 'to approximately 25 ',inches per year.
Approximately ninety ;percent '(90 %0) fall's during the months of November through April, and
I0 %o from May through October. In 1994 -1995, severe flooding occurred during the months of
January „and March,1995 and 1`998.
Relative Humidity Humidity generally ranges: from 50% during daytime 86% at m' It drops
to 20% during the `sumrner months grid occasionally drops lower during'the months of September
through November:
Temperatures Temperature&'have. bem recorded as 'high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Average
summer highs are in the 78 -85 degree range.
Winds Prevailing winds are from the no However winds are experienced from
virtually every direction atone time or another. Velocities - are generally in the 5 -15 mph range,
gusting to 7A-30 mph, _particularly during the summer ;months.. Extreme winds, up to 50 mph,
• have -be' e'en khown to occur.
Exhibit -A
Summary These local climatic conditions affect the aceel"eration: 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 'in buildings in close proximity to one another. Winds 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 lthe building and create a blowtorch effect,
in,addition'to preventing "natural" ventilation and cross - ventilation ef(orts..In.'1he Historic
Downtown Business District particularly; these. conditions can create an extremely hazardous
situation because of the densely situated buildings in Ghat districts many, of which are large, old
Wooden buildings built without modern fire protection.
GEOLOGICAL. _AND'TOPOGRAPHIC
The lfire: environment. of. a community is primarily a combination of two factors: thel 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 -ihe area's fire protection needs.
The: bas c,geograph cal boundaries of the city include lulls to the south and west and floor
in the central area and to the north and east.. The Petaluma River bisects the city through the
central area. Because ofthe size of the'City of Petaluma (12 square riles),, the characteristics of
the fire environment changes from one location" to the', next. 'Therefore the city has. not ;one, but
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 poitions-of the city. However,, over the last: ten.`years,
development.has spread, into the hills and the smaller valleys land ' canyons.
Seismic Location The relatively young. geological processes' that have created the San. Francisco
Bay, Area are still active today,. 'Two active earthquake faults `(San Andreas .and ;the Healdsburg
Rodgers - Creek) affect the Petaluma area. Approximately 50% of the city's: wand surface is in the:
high =to= roderate'seisrie;hazard' zones:
Size and ;Population The City of Petaluma covers 12 square miles including- an, urban.
population estimated at 56 Within, the city are three (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 and medical emergencies.
Topography The city's service area is a conglomeration of bay plains,.; hills; "valleys, Arid "ridges:
The flatter lands are 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_ofthe city.. T_ he
majority , of the hillsides in these; areas have slopes ranging om ..15 -3,0 %. • 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.
G.
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. cornbustible� 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 buildings.
Summary The above .local geological and topographic conditions enhance the magnitude,
exposure, accessibility problems, and fire hazards presented to the 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
highest seismic risk :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 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 Jsolation ,due to bridge and/or freeway
overpass collapse, the exteaof roadway damage and/or amount of debris blocking the:roadways;„
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 d_ wellings 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 bei mitigated by requii ing 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 size 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 of the above conditions.
ord
7/7/04 (fmk)
Exhibit A
PETALUMA AREA
"Own—
CHAMBER or COMMER"CE
May 14,20Q3
o �C��II�I� C
MAY 19 200
Mt. Michael Bierman
City �4'anager
. , — C �
C i t y of,Petalurna
I English Street
Petaluma, CA 949.512,
Dear Mr: BI ierman,
At May 5"` of the Petaluma Area Chamber'of Commerce., the
Board of'Directorsyoted to ' endorse �8p e
- proposal Tpresented by Fire Chief Chns Alhertsom
The directors agreed that the long-term, impact from regular occurring
d&Ofatffig fires downtown is,'undeniable. The project ,de i es
deser _suppdrt to
ensure 'the preservation of Peta historic cornmercial, district . and the
safety of businesses; merchants and the general public.
In the discussion of the proposal, severqj, su were offered to,
the burden . to downtown businesses currently struggling with difficult:
'issues Pl'ea�ewh8�ide7tihe-it�eof economic y Ecoriornic Redevelopment
hin'd's,, ma.tcluwig funds, or zero- or. loqiis:to"building owners for
the, itistallationof a,s�prinkler:system. Use :a sp ecific time,'ETArne, preferably 110
yea . rs' to comply. Use the URM seismic c - tetroflt program as a, model hr this
.new - improVement
The,PACC Board of Directors is always available to discuss these suggestions,
or er ot elements o
h f the : p ifthat-woifld be helpful. pful. The'Qhamber
,
po licies - - concerning ,quality''of, L ife, historic. preservation aci support of the
business - cornmLfnity diccale that every effortbe made to dnsUre 'the
of our town and. the :economic vitality of our businesses into the future.
Yours, truly,
Rick Mossi
President
cc. Chris Albertson, Fire Chief -
Onita Pellegrini
Chief Executive Officer
8'
June 2003 Petaluma'Bustness.— A Publication: of the Pelaluma_Area: Chamber o/' Commerce
9chamber. B oard
' Sp i k r O rd i,�,_� ri
Y�
The Chamber Board of Directors ba
acted to support a new DowntotC
Sprinkler Ordinance. proposed bj,. th
City's Fire Chief. The recent Kentuck.
Street fire has been an urgent reminder
that the old buildings at the core of th
city are vulnerable. The text of the of support follows.
Dear Mr. Bierman,
s ,mitigate'. the , to downtown
n businesses currently struggling with dif-
e; ficult economic issues. Please consider
y the use of City Economic Rede-
r Velopment; funds matching funds, or
e zero- or Low- interest loans to building
r owners for the - of:a sprinkler
system. Use a specific time frame
preferably 10 years, to 'comply. Uses,the.
URM seismic retrofit program as a model
At the May 5th meeting, of -,the 6r this new project.,
Petaluma Area Chamber of Conunerce,
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 is "undeni-
0 ble. The project deserves support
; to
ensure the preservation of Petaluma's,
historic commercial district and the
safety of businesses, merchants and the_
.general public.
The PACC Board of Diectors'is :always
available to discuss these'suggestions:or
other elements of the proposal if that .
would be helpful. The ,.Chamber policies
concerning quality of life, historic
preservation and support of the busi-
ness community dictate ^that ; every effort
be : made,'fo •ensure the •.character of our
town and the economic vitality of our
businesses into .the future.
Yours truly,
Three ' Businesses Han
Good EnvAironmental
Three Petaluma businesses were recog
sized for exemplary good environmental
practices at the May Wake Up Petaluma
breakfast. The awards were presented bN�
attorney Scott Kirk, co-chair of the coun-
tywide Business Environmental Alliance.
Petaluma - Poultry, 'Mrs. Grossman's
,Paper Products, and the Petaluma,
Veteran's Memgrial Building were recog-
hized for a .wide range of good practices
including recycling, water conservation,
usiness B ank 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.
In the discussion o
of the proposal, R
Rick Mossi O
Onita Pellegrini P
P F' T A
.AR,GU,S-"---4 A.
Argus7Couri
Apr,il 23, 2003 ,
Fire sprinklers. — fire. safety
good bu sffiess
By ALBERTSON
will last the lifetime of the
explore ways where I it can ,help
FIRE CHIEF, CITY OF PETALUMA
buildin
offset some sprinkler installa-
The cost of installing fire
-tion costs, 'either' through
uriing the '20th century
-sprinklers l isp
ow interest o
grants or I l
petdlum6's historic
- busihess,dis-
sr coon is approximately
funded by the Icity's, Redev-
downtown
double the cost of installation
'elopine
,nt Agency. Again.,
trict suffet&d, 26 major fifes;
A
in �hew construction-. Even so,
insurance savings over time
that ruined businesses, 'and
this, investment makes good
*MheIg offset cost. Also,
threatened: tl*
business sense. Besides pre-
.this
in the wake of the recent
safety: Fifteen have ,occurred
- venting catastrophic los& in
tragedy of �a , Rhode 'Island
since 1960 including; the Elks
the event of a fire, :the build=
nightclub that claimed nearly
•Club on Kentucky S�treet,
ing's fire � insurance rates can
100 0 lives, this p ast March
(1964); the Golden Eagle
be reduced as much as 8 0
' o r '
. - ur.t 1 i -
i C
0 Congress in in Wel We , (R�
M illing, Com,-pang on
_percent. Amortized over sev-
'eral
P6nnj' Arid , Congressman
,Washington Street (19616); the
' `
`years the investment
James L-angeVin (D-RJ- I ),'have
Kent Continental Hotel at
A
: y
Aividends.
sponsored' federal legislation
and Western ( 1968); Beasley-'s
'Because City government
that - would create tax incen
Restaurant (Wickersham
Yealizesboth the value of fire
tines for fire sprinkler retro-
Building), in-cluding� ortedatal-
sprinklers and the , costs of
fi ts. We encourage 'Congkess-
t.PetAluffi a Mill
, 77); Grea ' -
'Great
in , t0 , lation, we are tannin to
P
woman L ynn Woolsey,, as well
- (1979);i PetaJun f a Mill
he
hel mitigate the costs in �sev-
As Senators, 'Boxer and
(1994); Apple Box on Kentucky
'eral ' Ways;
Feinstein to support this
Streef (1987-).,
■ In support of sprinklbr&
important legislation.
Most.rece fitly, there was the
being' install bu Idings
tail in i
Envisioning 10years into the:
fire on 'Kentucky Street last
throughout the historic down-
future the historic downtown
November that destroyed four
business area could have new
businesses.
urne and pressure need to be
water t mains and . nhanced fire
In the year 2000, the city of
provided in the streets_. The
Protection systems, if existing
Petaluma passed an ordinance
city -is, planning its capital
businesses choose to act now.
requiring fire sprinklers fo
or
- .programs, for
fire those suffered
'Tragic fire like ,
all new :cornni&dial ;construc-
th&nekt"five years. On a; prior-
P
:in the past and r as
tion. In 2001, the ordinance
iiize&b , asis. water - mains the
x -
`last 'fq.6vembdf,, Would'be pre-
Was 6" includi'61 A11
404 16
downtown area •Will be
v ented . , d. - "The commu rii S
new residential construction.
v and upgraded.:
, . New
unique architecture Would b
e
Unfortun, the Xire� Ofotec
ately
r - 1
fire h ydrants nts will be installe
preserved. Businesses would
b ons provided, by this ordi7
at additional' locitions -in the
not sufferihe econorlAc
nance dojloi apply to is
el''
_kz
',downtown.
Area, efthand fire
iship i of i4evastating'fire. The
totic -bLWdm To
n g�potential
fighting, Water� ow. Wh en
property'And . business owners
prevent the loss to businesses
- U
these new wate mains are
- r
i 1: 'he: year 201-3 w
, n w ould look
and the community, itis impor-
-
installed, the cfty intends to
-
back and say, ".Yes, installing
tdnt for the 'historic Aowptqwn
pre= i's t All h - - - I e, pro p c6iinec-
sprinklers was mildly disrup-
businesses to retrofit their
tion tot t he water; - main' for
five, and was some
buildings with fire sprinklers.
'the4
future fire sprinkler, installs
- the - re
6k' Onse, but today the - work is
When discussing m6lu-
tion,. ,T these,.,con-
icompleted .and ,.our buginesses
sidn, tot fire sprinklers in con-
nections to, the new maih.'jwW
have been protected from
struction, either-;,new. or pre-
save the property owners a
damagel-and loss of income."
existing,� - I have advocated. . that
- .
sig-hifican - V,expense.
9
Becausepeople were willing to,
the asso costs are� not an
M The installation, of these
in. 2b0 a'decade, later
expense •b an, invest-
Ut =ing!s
:new Water rhAffis, I Would most
- act ,the
entire community, will .. share
m.ent m th- con-
likely be down, middle of
t he benefits and security of
,struction costs; in the business
`
several downtown b usin ess
fite
that occupi'e��` building; an
corridors. Admittedly, there
in the Uninterru pted'incomefof
would' be 'Some initial disrup -t
the employees of the business.
lion during the three to four
Almost any Sunday, you can
months of construction. The,
find, , a newspaper su p pleniient.
city mould, work with property
advertising new car pad
and business owners to 01 an
and. installation for $ pet
th`6•most calendar
scli iare, yard or $2 per
period for this �construction.
ff
square foot' The cost for fife
We would want, to advertise
sprinklers; - installed in new
.
`this tempo . rary inconvenience
construction aver
on ra - $,A. , So , td
'm
at-Ahefrontend explain the
1 1
0
sq'uare, foot., Yes
Aesired"resultsand benefits at
r
sprinkle 'system requires
t . he . pppct- j on. . W . e
s comple
mind
minor but
Also plant to install signage At
I
the carpef also needs t
. . - - 1 tie �e
9
b ot h ' ff
s of � , eets under , -con-
pt - e
I
cleaned regularly, somefiffies
_
struciion I advertising that
,repaired, and with only afew
businesses ialong. the street
years of wear will have,.Jobe
were open and would - welcome
.replaced'. Pr6pekly , " main-
the customer's fo traffic -
tained flfet.,Sprinkler_ s I y,stem,
P The city continues to
Argus7Couri
Apr,il 23, 2003 ,
ARGUS- COURIER
WEDNESDAY,
FEBRUARY 4, 2004
J. ".
need fire s r ers • . `-
etaluma's historic
storefronts;" he said. The cost''
downtown core area —
P
of retrofitting a building with
`;
the heart and soul and
fire sprinklers would depend
defining architectural center
on the size of the building and
'owners
of this, city— is at risk. Since
other ' factors, but. '
1960, there have been 16
could expect to pay tens of
major fires in the downtown
thousands of dollars.
is suggesimg
area. The one —, on Nov
Albertson :•
.last
18,'2002 - destroyed a, uild-
that the ordinance requu e
ing on Kentucky Street that
sprinklers to be installed ;.
may
sed five businesses.
over a.period of time,
— That. fire'' difficult to
up, to 20 years, to allow the
- battle and "it came very close
cost to be amortized. It's pox-
to` spreading to other strua-
sible'that some of those costs
tures'. '-But if it had been
could be offset by grants, °"
equipped with fire
loans froni the city or by the";
the fire could have been
city- sharing . in the cost
- could
quickly extinguished without
Building . owners _-'
`..
causing sigi ificant =damage,' - :
expect'Jo` save money on
While "owners -of Some
their lowered fire insurance;;:
downtown buildings have
installed :fire sprinklers in
premiums.
Work is already underway;;,
recent years, most have not.
to install pre- plumbed lateral
Many of the old buildings '
pipes to corinect.a building's:;'
have false ceilings, sealed-
fire, sprinkler system to the;''„
off attic spaces and -large.
water mains: Three. ne' fire`
common`basements. Some of
hydrants and new water;;;,
the buildings are wood struc -.
mains are being installed in `'
downtown area (the 100 "
tures. All. of these factors
could spell disaster if a fire
the',
block of Kentucky Stieet'did; ;
were to break out again. A
not have any fire. hydrants or `.
'
downtown fire could spread
aanother.
water,mains) would be
the - of the''
from one building to
: responsibility
Fire Chief Chris Albertson,
building owners to connect
who is reconvening a fire
fire sprinklers to the lateral
sprinkler• retrofit committee
; water pipes at the curb. , ..
soon, wants to be proactive
We commend Chief �'
Albertson for his foresight
and take preventive steps to
makethe'downiown.buildings.
and. proactivn and we urea;
as fire -safe as possible..; 1b
members of the busmes41
that end, he is proposing an
community to step forwar
ordinance that would require
and express .their conce
fire sprinklers to be installed
about this important issue.''
in the downtown buildings. He
While sprinkler installation=`
plans to present an ordinance
would be expensive • and
to the City Council--sometime
inconvenient, the alternative•'
this year — with support
— the potential for a de.v Y
.S
of property owners .
tating fire = would be" wo ^,
This makes good sense; but,
This is an investment n_t., a
it will not be cheap:'., And
only 'in ,the protectio>j q r�
therein lies - the, problem.
downtown buildings, but;,
of the bus
Albertson wants the ordi-
the inventory
the jobs and salai�R' '
:nance to be fairr and' afford-
'able. "We don't -want to create
• nesses,
of the employees "who wor -
,such an expense that proper -
there and the very esseiic }
,;ty owners raise the rents of
and ambiance of our historic,.
, tenants and we have vacant
downtown.
Bill Summary & Status'
Bill Summar & Status for the 108th Congress
NEW SEARCH j HOME HELP
H.R.1824
Title: To amend t Revenue Code of 1996 to classify automatic. fire sprinkler systems as 5-year-property
for purposes of depreciation.
Sponsor-.- Rev'Weldon, Curt [PA-7] (introduced 4/11/2003) Cosponsors (133)
Laftst"MAjor Actiow 4/1,11/2003,Refetted-to House committed. Status Referred to the House. Committed on, Ways
.and Means.
Jump , to: ifles, Status, Committees,, Related Bill Details Amendments, Cosponsors, "Summary
TITLE(S): (italics in'dicate a title for a portion ,ofa bill)
i
• 'SHORT TITLE($) AS INTRODUCED:
Fir , e Sprinkler Incentiv
I Incentiv Ac t; of 2003
OFFICI TITLE AS INTRODUCED:
To amend. flie Iritem en'ue Code of 1986 to,cla&ify =iorriatic fire sprinkler systems as 5=year propert
for purposes of depreciation-.
STATtJS-: (color,indkates Senate actions)
411 1/2003:
Referred to the House Committee on'Ways.andMeans..
COMMITTEE(S):
lCornmittee/Stibcom-m4tee:- Activity:
House Ways and Means Referral, In Committee
RELATED,911LI, DETAILS:
t.*
AMENDMENT(S);
***NONE**
COSPONSORS(1'33), ALP I HA . BE - T I IC . AL
' is �