HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 12b- Inspection Report of Certain Occupancies
STAFF REPORT
Fire Department
DATE: July 7, 2020
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Michael E. Lang, Fire Chief
By: Mark Krikorian, Fire Marshal
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 7319 ACKNOWLEDGING RECEIPT OF A REPORT
MADE BY THE FIRE CHIEF OF THE ARCADIA FIRE DEPARTMENT
REGARDING INSPECTIONS OF CERTAIN OCCUPANCIES REQUIRED
BY 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, SB 1205 required 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 mandate for the calendar year 2019 reporting period, it is
recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 7319 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. 7319, Inspection of
Certain Occupancies (SB 1205)
July 21, 2020
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, was signed into law 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. 7319 and its adoption will serve as a formal document to
fulfill the annual fire inspection reporting requirements of 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 12th grade. 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 has 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 2019 reporting period, Group E (Educational
Occupancies) had 76 buildings, structures, and/or facilities that were inspected. In Group
R (Residential Occupancies), 670 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. 7319 has no immediate fiscal impact to the City.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determine that this action does not constitute a
project and is therefore, exempt under, the California Environmental Quality Act
(“CEQA”); and adopt Resolution No. 7319 acknowledging receipt of a report made by
the Fire Chief of the Arcadia Fire Department regarding inspections of certain
occupancies required by Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3 of the California Health and
Safety Code.
Resolution No. 7319, Inspection of
Certain Occupancies (SB 1205)
July 21, 2020
Page 3 of 3
Attachment: Resolution No. 7319