HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 2194 N.C.S. 10/04/2004EFFECTIVE DATE OF
1 ORDINANCE
2 ORDINANCE NO. 2194 N.C.S.
3 November 4, 2004
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6 Introduced by Seconded by
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9 Mike O'Brien David Glass
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14 AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PETALUMA
15 AMENDING SECTION 17.20.070 OF THE PETALUMA MUNICIPAL
16 CODE REQUIRING INSTALLATION OF AUTOMATIC FIRE
17 SPRINKLERS IN PRE-EXISTING BUILDINGS IN THE
18 HISTORIC DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT
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21 BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PETALUMA AS FOLLOWS:
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23 SECTION 1. Pursuant to California Health and Safety Code section 17958.7, the City Council
24 makes the factual findings set forth in Exhibit "A" attached hereto and incorporated herein by
25 reference, and finds that the amendments made in this ordinance to the California Building
26 Standards Title 24, Part 9, 2001 California Fire Code, incorporating the 2000 edition of the Uniform
27 Fire Code and Uniform Fire Code Standards, are reasonably necessary because of the local
28 climatic, geological or topographical conditions set forth in said exhibit.
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30 SECTION 2. Petaluma Municipal Code section 17.20.070 entitled "Amendments made in the
31 Uniform Fire Code" is hereby amended by adding section 217 as follows:
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33 217 Definition. "Property Owner" shall mean the persons or entities shown as
34 owner and/or assessee of the property on the latest available equalized
35 municipal assessment roll.
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37 SECTION 3. Petaluma Municipal Code section 17.20.070 entitled "Amendments made in the
38 Uniform Fire Code" is hereby amended by adding section 1003.2.12 as follows:
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40 1003.2.12 Installation of Automatic Fire Sprinklers in Pre-existing Buildings - Historic
41 Downtown Business District.
Ordinance No. 2194 N.C.S. Page 1
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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 Theater) and 132 Keller
Street (formerly Tuttle Drug), as more particularly described in Figure
1003.2.12.
'M O
Al1TCMATIC FIRE N
S PRINKLCRS IN PRE-EXISTING BIJILCINGS IN TtiE j� Jul Divisors
N July B, 2004
HISTORIC OCW NTOWN BLI SINESS DISTRICT
C Limey..
yk.
Figure 7003.2.12
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.
Ordinance No. 2194 N.C.S.
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(2)
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,
2010.
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, 2016.
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.
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,
six (6) years from the date of the water main installation.
Ordinance No. 2194 N.C.S.
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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, twelve (12) 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, 2010 or December 31, 2016, all Plans and
Calculations for service lateral and sprinkler systems shall be
submitted no later than June 30, 2010 or June 30, 2016
respectively, with installation and approval of work to occur prior
to December 31, 2010 or December 31, 2016 respectively.
(2) For Petaluma Boulevard North installations that occur in the last
year of the six (6) or twelve (12) 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.
Ordinance No. 2194 N.C.S.
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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.
INTRODUCED and ordered posted/wed this 20t" day of September 2004.
ADOPTED this 4t" day of October 2004 by the following vote:
AYES: Mayor Glass, Healy, O'Brien, Thompson, Torliatt
NOES: None
ABSENT: Harris
RECUSED: Vice Mayor Moynihan
ATTEST:
Claire Cooper, Deputy Cit Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Ordinance No. 2194 N.C.S.
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EXHIBIT "A"
FINDINGS OF FACT AND NEED FOR CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS TO THE
CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS TITLE 24, PART 9, 2001 CALIFORNIA
FIRE CODE, INCORPORATING THE UNIFORM FIRE CODE AND UNIFORM
FIRE CODE STANDARDS, 2000 EDITION, DUE TO LOCAL CONDITIONS
CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS: Pursuant to Section 17958 of the State of California Health and
Safety Code, the governing body of the City of Petaluma in its ordinance adopting, and
amending the 2000 Edition of the Uniform Fire Code, with California Amendments, changes or
modifies certain provisions of the 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 17958.5 and 17958.7(a) of the State of California Health and
Safety Code, the governing body of the City of Petaluma has determined and 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
loss 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 topographic conditions.
CLIMATIC
Precipitation: Precipitation ranges from 20 inches to approximately 25 inches per year.
Approximately ninety percent (90%) falls during the months of November through April, and 10%
from May through October. In 1994-1995, severe flooding occurred during the months of
January and March 1995 and 1998.
Relative Humidity: Humidity generally ranges from 50% during daytime 86% at night. It drops to
20% during the summer months and occasionally drops lower during the months of September
through November.
Temperatures: Temperatures have been recorded 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 experienced from virtually
every direction at one time or another. Velocities are generally in the 5-15 mph range, gusting
to 7.4-30 mph, particularly during the summer months. Extreme winds, up to 50 mph, have been
known to occur.
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
Ordinance No. 2194 N.C.S. Page 6
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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 the building and create a blowtorch effect, in addition to
preventing "natural" ventilation and cross -ventilation efforts. In the City's Historic Downtown
Business District particularly, these conditions can create an extremely hazardous situation
because of 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 of the size of the City of Petaluma (12 square miles), the
characteristics of the fire environment changes from one location to the next. Therefore the city
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 portions 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 active today. Two active earthquake faults (San Andreas and the
Healdsburg-Rodgers Creek) affect the Petaluma area. Approximately 50% 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 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, 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 areas have slopes ranging from 15 - 30%. Correspondingly, there
is much diversity in slope percentages. 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.
Vegetation: Petaluma's semi -arid Mediterranean -type climate produces vegetation similar to
that of most of Sonoma County.
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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 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 isolation due to bridge and/or freeway
overpass collapse, the extent of 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 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 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.
Ordinance No. 2194 N.C.S. Page 8
