HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 11b - Reporting City Annual Fire Inspections
STAFF REPORT
Fire Department
DATE: October 1, 2024
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Chen Suen, Fire Chief
By: Mark Krikorian, Fire Marshal
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 7593 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
CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: Adopt
SUMMARY
Since 2019, the City has been required to provide an annual report of inspections of
sensitive uses to the City Council. The subject occupancies are public and private
schools, hotels, motels, lodging houses, and apartment houses, including residential care
facilities. As in previous years, the attached report shows full compliance with the State
inspection mandates. It is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 7593
acknowledging receipt of a report made by the Fire Chief regarding the inspection of
certain occupancies as required by Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3 of the California Health
and Safety Code for Calendar Year 2023.
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. Investigations from this
tragic event 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
structural facilities are in compliance with building safety standards. Consequently, on
September 27, 2018, Senate Bill 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.
Resolution No. 7593 - Fire Inspections Annual Report to the State
October 1, 2024
Page 2 of 3
DISCUSSION
By adopting Resolution No. 7593, Arcadia will be able 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 (with three units or more),
including residential care facilities.
Over the years, Arcadia has remained 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 Calendar Year 2023, 72
occupancies under Group E (Educational Occupancies) buildings, structures, and/or
facilities were inspected, resulting in a 100% compliance inspection rate. In Group R
(Residential Occupancies), 649 occupancies were inspected, producing an equivalent
100% compliance 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”), as it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the
environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no immediate fiscal impact to the City from the adoption of Resolution No. 7593;
however, through regular inspections of sensitive uses and ensuring compliance with
associated health and safety codes, the City can reduce costs for lifesaving activities and
property losses in the future.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determine that this action does not constitute a
project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); and adopt Resolution
No. 7593 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. 7593 - Fire Inspections Annual Report to the State
October 1, 2024
Page 3 of 3
Attachment: Resolution No. 7593