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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 13b - Annual Fire Inspections State Reporting STAFF REPORT Fire Department DATE: June 21, 2022 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Barry Spriggs, Fire Chief By: Mark Krikorian, Fire Marshal SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 7436 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 State regulations require annual building inspections for fire safety purposes of certain sensitive building occupancies. The subject occupancies are public and private schools, hotels, motels, lodging houses, and apartment houses, including residential care facilities. In addition, the City Council must formally acknowledge receipt of a compliance report from the Fire Chief each year. To comply with this mandate for the calendar year 2021 reporting period, it is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 7436 acknowledging receipt of the attached 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. In all 751 out of 751 required buildings were inspected during the calendar year in these reporting categories, a 100% inspection rate. 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 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 Resolution No. 7436 Fire Inspections Annual State Reporting of Certain Occupancies June 21, 2022 Page 2 of 3 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. 7436 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 child daycare facilities and 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 to have consistently conducted its annual fire inspections to meet and exceed the State’s annual inspections requirement pursuant to the California Health and Safety Code. For the calendar year 2021 reporting period, 73 Group E (Educational Occupancies) buildings, structures, and/or facilities were inspected. This produced a 100% inspection rate. In Group R (Residential Occupancies), 678 occupancies were inspected for a 100% inspection rate. Copies of the individual inspection reports are available to the public upon request. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS 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. 7436 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. 7436 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. 7436 Fire Inspections Annual State Reporting of Certain Occupancies June 21, 2022 Page 3 of 3 Attachment: Resolution No. 7436