HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC RES 07-81RESOLUTION NO. 07-81
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, SETTING FORTH FINDINGS WITH
RESPECT TO LOCAL CONDITIONS WITHIN THE CITY OF
TUSTIN WHICH MAKE CERTAIN MODIFICATIONS AND
CHANGES TO THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE,
CALIFORNIA REFERENCE STANDARDS CODE, THE
CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE, THE CALIFORNIA
MECHANICAL CODE, THE CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL
CODE AND THE CALIFORNIA EXISTING BUILDING CODE
AS AMENDED BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Section 1
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN AS
FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Section 17958 provides that the City of
Tustin shall adopt Ordinances and regulations imposing the same or modified or
changed requirements as are contained in the regulations adopted by the State
pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 17922; and
WHEREAS, the State of California is mandated by Health and Safety Code
Section 17922 to impose the same requirements as are contained in the most recent
edition of the California Building Code, California Existing Building Code, the California
Plumbing Code, the California Mechanical Code, and the California Electrical Code
(hereinafter referred to collectively as "Codes"); and
WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Section 17958.5(a) permits the City to
make modifications or changes to the Codes, which are reasonably necessary because
of local climatic, geographic or topographic conditions; and
WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Section 17958.7 requires that the City
Council, before making any modifications or changes to the Codes, shall make an
express finding that such changes or modifications are reasonably necessary because
of local climatic, geographic or topographic conditions; and
WHEREAS, the Community Development Department has recommended that
changes and modifications be made to the Codes and has advised that certain said
changes and modifications to the California Building Code, 2007 Edition and the
California Plumbing Code, 2007 Edition and the California Mechanical Code, 2007
Edition, the California Electrical Code, 2007 Edition, and the California Existing Building
Resolution No. 07-81
Page 1 of 5
Code, 2007 Edition are reasonably necessary due to local conditions in the City of
Tustin. Amendments related to fire and life-safety contained in Sections {202, 904.1.2,
504.2, 506.3, 506.4, 1505, Table 1505.1 and 3109.4.4} of the 2007 Edition of the
California Building Code as recommended by the Community Development Department
are hereby found to be reasonably necessary due to the following local conditions.
A. Climatic Conditions
1. Hot, dry Santa Ana winds are common to all areas within the City of Tustin and
Orange County in general. These winds, which can cause small fires which
spread quickly, are a contributing factor to the high fire danger in the area, and
create the need for an increased level of fire protection. This added protection
will supplement normal fire department response available and provide
immediate protection for life and safety of multiple occupancy occupants during
fire occurrences.
2. Orange County and the City of Tustin are located in a semi-arid Mediterranean
type climate which predisposes all fuels, including wood shingles, to rapid ignition
and spread of fire. Therefore, there exists a need for additional fire protection
measures.
3. The warm, dry climate is conducive to swimming pools which creates a higher
probability of children drowning where pools are unprotected.
B. Geographic Conditions
1. Orange County and the City of Tustin are located in Seismic Design Category D
or higher. There are earthquake faults that run along both the northeastern and
southwestern boundaries of Orange County. The Newport-Inglewood Fault Zone
(NIFZ) which runs through Orange County was the source of the destructive
1933 Long Beach earthquake (6.3 magnitude, hypocenter off Newport Beach
coast), which took 120 lives, with areas damaged from Laguna Beach to Marina
del Rey and inland to Whittier, and poses one of the greatest hazards to lives
and property in the nation. Regional planning for reoccurrence is recommended
by the State of California, Department of Conservation and Governor's Office of
Emergency Services. There was also an earthquake in December 1989, with the
epicenter located near the City of Irvine. The fault on which this quake occurred
was unknown prior to this activity. The October 17, 1989, Santa Cruz
earthquake resulted in only one major San Francisco fire in the Marina district,
but when combined with the 34 other fires and over 500 responses, the
department was taxed to its full capabilities. The Marina fire was difficult to
contain because mains supplying water to the district burst during the
earthquake. If more fires had been ignited by the earthquake, it would have been
difficult for the fire department to contain them. Experts predict a major
earthquake in our area within the next 50 years. This situation creates the need
for both additional fire protection measures and automatic on-site fire protection
Resolution No. 07-81
Page 2 of 5
for building occupants since a multitude of fires may result from breakage of gas
and electric lines as a result of an earthquake. As noted by "Planning Scenario
on a Major Earthquake on the Newport-Inglewood Fault Zone, 1988, State
Department of Conservation," page 59, "unfortunately, barely meeting the
minimum earthquake standards of building codes places a building on the verge
of being legally unsafe";
2. Traffic and circulation congestion presently existing in the City of Tustin often
places fire department response time to fire occurrences at risk. This condition
will be exacerbated by any major disaster, including any earthquake wherein
damage to the highway system will occur. This condition makes the need for
additional on-site protection for property occupants necessary.
3. Placement of multiple occupancy buildings, location of arterial roads, and fire
department staffing constraints due to recent revenue-limiting state legislation
have made it difficult for the fire department to locate additional fire stations and
provide manpower sufficient to concentrate fire companies and personnel to
control fires in high density apartment or condominium buildings. Fire
Department equipment does not allow-easy access to areas of buildings greater
than 55 feet above the level of Fire Department vehicle access. These
conditions create the need for built-in on-site fire protection systems to protect
occupants and property until fire fighting apparatus and personnel arrive on the
scene.
4. The City of Tustin is located in an area subject to a climatic condition of high
winds and low humidity. This combination of events creates an environment,
which is conducive to rapidly spreading fires. Control of such fires requires rapid
response. Obstacles generated by a strong wind, such as fallen trees, street
lights and utility poles, and the requirement to climb 75 feet vertically up flights of
stairs will greatly impact the response time to reach an incident scene.
Additionally ASCE-7, Section 6, Figure 6-2 Height Adjustment Table identifies a
significant increase in the amount of wind force at 60 feet above the ground. Use
of aerial type fire fighting apparatus above this height would place rescue
personnel at increased risk of injury.
5. The City of Tustin is located in the middle of the seismically active area identified
as Seismic Design Category D or higher. The viability of the public water system
would be questionable at best after a major seismic event. This would leave tall
buildings vulnerable to uncontrolled fires due to a lack of available water and an
inability to pump sufficient quantities of any available water to floors above the 55-
foot level. A severe seismic event has the potential to negatively impact any
rescue or fire suppression activities because it is likely to create obstacles similar
to those indicated under the high wind section above. With the probability of
strong aftershocks there exists a need to provide increased protection for anyone
on upper floors.
Resolution No. 07-81
Page 3 of 5
6. Untreated wood roofs cause or contribute to serious fire hazard and to the rapid
spread of fires when such fires are accompanied by high winds. Pieces of
burning wooden roofs become flying brands and are carried by the wind to other
locations and thereby spread fire quickly.
Section 2
Amendments to the 2007 Editions of the California Codes are found reasonably
necessary based on the climatic and/or geographic conditions cited in Section 1 of this
Resolution and are listed as follows:
Code Section
202 CBC
403.10.2 and 403.11.1 CBC
412.5.1 CBC
506.4 CBC
Chapter 9 CBC
1505 CBC
1613.8 and 1613.9 CBC
1704.1 CBC
1908.17, 1908.17.1 and 1908.17.2
CBC
3109.4.4 CBC
Appendix Chapter 1, CBC
300.6(b), 310.2(8) CEC
Findings in Section 1
A-1, B-2, B-3
A-1, B-2, B-3
B-1, B-2, B-3
A-1, B-1, B-2, B-3
A-1, A-2, B-2
A-1, A-2, B-2, B-4
B-1, Administrative
B-1, Administrative
B-1, Administrative
A-3
Administrative
Administrative A-1, B-1
The aforementioned amendments have been incorporated in detail in Ordinance No.
1344.
Section 3
The Community Development Department shall file copies of Resolution 07-81 and
Ordinance 1344 with the California Building Standards Commission as required by
Health and Safety Code Section 17958.7.
PASSED and ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of
Tustin, held on the 6th day of November 2007.
LOU BONE,
Mayor
Resolution No. 07-81
Page 4 of 5
ATTEST:
for PAMELA STOKER,
City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) SS
CITY OF TUSTIN )
I, Pamela Stoker, City Clerk and ex-officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Tustin,
California, do hereby certify that the whole number of the members of the City Council of
the City of Tustin is five; that the above and foregoing Resolution No. 07-81 was duly
passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Tustin City Council, held on the 6th day of
November, 2007, by the following vote:
COUNCILMEMBER AYES: Bone, Amante, Davert, Kawashima, Palmer (5)
COUNCILMEMBER NOES: None (0)
COUNCILMEMBER ABSTAINED: None (0)
COUNCILMEMBER ABSENT: None (0)
PAMELA STOKER,
City Clerk
Resolution No. 07-81
Page 5 of 5