Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 10b - Fire Department Report regarding Inspections of Certain Occupancies STAFF REPORT Fire Department DATE: August 6, 2019 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Michael E. Lang, Fire Chief By: Maria Lourdes A. Taylor, Sr. Management Analyst SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 7266 ACKNOWLEDGING RECEIPT OF A REPORT MADE BY THE FIRE CHIEF OF THE ARCADIA FIRE DEPARTMENT REGARDING THE INSPECTION OF CERTAIN OCCUPANCIES AS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 13146.2 AND 13146.3 OF THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE Recommendation: Adopt SUMMARY On September 27, 2018, the Governor approved California Senate Bill 1205 (SB 1205), which added Section 13146.4 to California Health and Safety Code affecting every fire department or fire district in the State. In addition to the current State regulation of conducting annual building inspections for fire safety purposes, the new bill requires that each fire department or district’s administering authority (such as a City Council) to formally acknowledge receipt of the compliance report in a resolution or a similar formal document. To comply with this new mandate, it is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 7266 acknowledging receipt of a report made by the Fire Chief of the Arcadia Fire Department regarding the inspection of certain occupancies as required pursuant to Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3 of the California Health and Safety Code. The subject occupancies are public and private schools, hotels, motels, lodging houses, and apartment houses, including residential care facilities. BACKGROUND The California State Fire Marshal, through the California’s Health and Safety Code, mandates that certain occupancies be inspected annually. In December 2016, a deadly fire at an Oakland warehouse (known as the “Ghost Ship”), killed 36 people, the highest death toll for a structural fire in the United States in over 10 years. The outcome of the investigations from this tragic incident determined that even though the State required annual inspections on various occupancies, the inspection reports were not mandated to Resolution No. 7266, Inspection of Certain Occupancies (SB 1205) August 6, 2019 Page 2 of 3 be reported to any governing body, which could have established accountability and enforcement in ensuring that structural facilities are in compliance with building safety standards. Consequently, on September 27, 2018, SB 1205, authored by Senator Jerry Hill, was approved by the Governor legislating the reporting of annual inspections to its administering authority (such as a City Council) in a resolution or a similar formal document. DISCUSSION The attached Resolution No. 7266 and its adoption will serve as a formal document to fulfill the annual fire inspection reporting requirements of the new bill pursuant to Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3 of the California Health and Safety Code. According to this law, annual building inspections and reporting must be conducted on two groups of occupancies: Educational Group E and Residential Group R. Educational Group E occupancies consist of public and private schools used by more than six persons at one time for educational purposes through the 12 th grade. Further, Residential Group R occupancies are those containing sleeping units such as hotels, motels, lodging homes, and apartments (three units or more) including residential care facilities. Over the years, the City of Arcadia have regarded itself as one of the few cities who have consistently and diligently conducted its annual fire inspections to meet and exceed the State’s annual inspections requirement pursuant to the California Health and Safety Code. In compliance for the calendar year 2018 reporting period, Group E (Educational Occupancies) had 80 buildings, structures, and/or facilities that were inspected. In Group R (Residential Occupancies), 674 occupancies were inspected. Both occupancy groups achieved a compliance rate of 100%. Copies of the individual inspection reports can be made available to the public upon request. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), and it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the environment. Thus, this matter is exempt under CEQA. FISCAL IMPACT Adoption of Resolution No. 7266 has no immediate fiscal impact to the City. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 7266 acknowledging receipt of a report made by the Fire Chief of the Arcadia Fire Department regarding the inspection of certain occupancies as required pursuant to Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3 of the California Health and Safety Code. Resolution No. 7266, Inspection of Certain Occupancies (SB 1205) August 6, 2019 Page 3 of 3 Attachment: Resolution No. 7266