R-9800
City Council Meeting 10-08-02
Santa Monica, California
RESOLUTION NUMBER 9800 (ees)
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
MAKING FINDINGS REGARDING LOCAL CLIMATIC, GEOLOGICAL AND
TOPOGRAPHIC CONDITIONS PURSUANT TO HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
SECTIONS 17958.5, 17958.7 and 18941.5
WHEREAS, the State Building Standards Commission has approved and
published the 2001 edition of the California Building Standards Code in May of 2002;
and such code will be effective 180 days thereafter, which is November 1, 2002; and
WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Sections 17958.7 and 18941.5 provide that
the City may make changes or modifications to the building standards contained in the
California Building Standards Code based upon express findings that such changes or
modifications are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological or
topographical conditions, and
WHEREAS, Public Resource Code Section 25402.1 (h)(2) says that a local
enforcement agency may adopt more restrictive energy standards when they are cost-
effective and approved by the Energy Commission; and
WHEREAS, the City hired a private consultant to conduct a cost study of the
proposed changes and said study demonstrated the cost effectiveness of these
changes; and
WHEREAS, on December 15, 2000, the City Council adopted Ordinance Number
1995 (CCS) which, in part, required building permit applicants of new and renovated
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commercial and multi-family residential construction to significantly reduce non-
renewable energy consumption below 1998 State Title 24 energy efficiency standards;
and
WHEREAS, after the City's adoption of Ordinance 1995 (CCS), in response to
California's current energy crisis, the State Legislature enacted AB 970, which required
the California Energy Commission to strengthen Title 24 standards; and
WHEREAS, the Energy Commission subsequently adopted a set of significantly
strengthened energy performance standards for new commercial and residential
construction; and
WHEREAS, in light of these changes in State law, the City reevaluated the
computer energy models of the prototypical Santa Monica buildings used to establish
the City's building energy performance standards to determine the appropriate required
reductions in allowable energy budgets established by local law: and
WHEREAS, on November 13, 2001, the City Council adopted Ordinance Number
2026 (CCS) which reflected the results of the City's reevaluation of the computer energy
models and
WHEREAS, the State Energy Commission approved the standards reflected in
Ordinance 1995 (CCS) on September 20, 2000 and the standards reflected in
Ordinance 2026 (CCS) on October 17, 2001;
WHEREAS, the City Council has considered the 2001 editions of the California
Building Standards Code, including but not limited to the California Fire Code, California
Building Code, California Electrical Code, California Energy Code, California Mechanical
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Code, California Plumbing Code, and the reference standards, all appendixes and the
matrix adoption tables contained therein; and
WHEREAS, based upon the findings contained in this Resolution, the City
Council will be adopting an ordinance containing certain modifications and additions to
the building standards contained in the California Building Standard Code, which are
reasonably necessary based upon local climatic, topographical and geological
conditions;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS
SECTION 1. The City Council makes the following findings regarding local
climatic, geological and topographic conditions related to the local amendments to the
California Building Standards Code found in Section 2 below:
(a) The Master Environmental Assessment (MEA), adopted in April, 1996,
shows that Santa Monica's climate is primarily influenced by the Pacific Ocean
and is characterized by infrequent rainfall and winds, which come from the west
during the daytime and from the north and northeast during the nighttime, with
intermittent Santa Ana winds occurring from September to March These
conditions create the potential for high velocity winds with high temperatures,
which are conducive to uncontrolled wind driven fires and greatly increase the fire
rise to residences
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(b) The MEA also shows that structures in the City are situated in close
proximity to each other, with only about 1 % of the 8.3 square miles that the City
occupies vacant. In addition, these lots are often very narrow or on hilly terrain,
which limits access to side yards for fire suppression and placement of ladders
for rescue operations. These conditions also contribute to the ability of fires to
spread quickly between buildings because of the proximity to each other and
create difficulty in suppressing fires in the hilly terrains.
(c) The Safety Element also identifies that many of the structures in the
City are older structures that are prone to the quick spread of fire from adjacent
structures due to the materials used in construction and less stringent fire
resistant technology available at the time they were built.
(d) Santa Monica is situated In Southern California, which has extreme
arid conditions and periods of severe drought. As outlined In the MEA, the City
relies upon water from outside the region, which is bought from the Metropolitan
Water District, and local groundwater for the City's water supply. Severe drought
conditions and potential uncertainty about the availability of future water supplies
from outside the region require the proper management of available water
supplies. These conditions also contribute to the ability of fires to spread quickly
due to the reliance of water from outside sources that may not be available
following a major earthquake.
(e) The Safety Element shows a high risk of seismic activity in the City due
to the close proximity to the Santa Monica-Malibu Coast fault, the Newport-
Inglewood fault and the San Andreas fault, and discusses the damaging effect
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local seismic activity would have on potentially hazardous buildings and the
related potential demands on emergency services needs. Structures built without
supplemental seismic provisions are susceptible to extensive damage and are a
source of fire hazard with damaged gas and electrical utilities inside. The close
proximity of these faults increases the likelihood of seismic disturbances of
substantial magnitude.
(f) The Los Angeles region has a vast and complex network of faults.
Some of these faults, like the previously unknown Northridge Fault, are blind
thrust faults that earth scientists believe are capable of intense ground shaking
similar or greater in size than the Northridge Earthquake. The random possible
location of these blind thrust faults increases the local seismic risk and poses an
increasing threat to public safety.
(g) The Safety Element of the General Plan, adopted in January 1995,
shows high risk of seismic activity in the City due to the close proximity of the City
to the Santa Monica-Malibu Coast fault, the Newport-Inglewood fault and the San
Andreas Fault. The Safety Element discusses the damaging effect local seismic
activity would have on street, roadways and overpasses at the Santa Monica
Freeway, which would hamper and delay emergency vehicle response.
(h) An analysis of damage patterns to structures in the City from the
January 17, 1994 Northridge earthquake and its aftershocks showed that
unreinforced masonry structures, wood frame structures, tilt-up and masonry
structures with flexible diaphragms, non-ductile concrete buildings, and steel
frame structures, were more susceptible to damage than other types of
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structures. Unless supplemental seismic and fire life safety prevention
requirements are adopted, these buildings will perform poorly during intense
ground shaking and will pose an ongoing threat to public safety.
(i) An analysis of damage patterns to nonstructural elements in the City
from. the January 17, 1994 Northridge earthquake and its aftershocks also
showed that concrete and masonry chimneys, veneer, clay and concrete tile
roofing and fire sprinklers were more susceptible to damage than other types of
nonstructural elements. Unless supplemental seismic and fire life safety
provisions are adopted, these nonstructural elements will perform poorly during
intense ground shaking and pose an ongoing threat to public safety.
U) Continued study of buildings damaged during the Northridge
Earthquake has led to improvements in earthquake design regulations that better
identify the types of buildings that are vulnerable to earthquakes and cost
effective economic methods to construct them.
(k) By incorporating the latest earthquake design regulations into the City's
building standards, the latest and most effective standards will be implemented
into design and construction so that the public health and welfare will be better
protected.
(I) The Safety Element also identifies shallow ground water within 50 feet
of the ground surface along the beach, near the Industrial corridor and Marine
Park areas of the City. This ground water condition, coupled with unconsolidated
youthful sedimentary soils, makes these areas susceptible to possible
liquefaction during strong or moderately strong earthquakes. Liquefaction is a
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very destructive secondary effect of strong seismic shaking where a loss of
bearing strength occurs along with ground oscillations in the supporting soils.
Analysis of the emergency response to the January 17 1994
earthquake showed that the need for emergency fire services in the City greatly
exceeded available resources. A major seismic event would create a demand for
fire suppression services that the City Fire Department would have difficulty
meeting, thus making supplemental seismic safety provisions essential to fire
suppression efforts.
SECTION 2. The City Council makes the express finding that the following
modifications and changes to the California Building Standards Code are reasonably
necessary because of the local climatic, geological or topographical conditions and that
each and every one of the local conditions detailed in Section 1 above, are identified as
applying to the following modifications and changes to the California Building Standards
Code:
Require the engineer or architect of record to verify that their
structural designs are followed during construction (see Section 8.08.120).
Adopt necessary appendices to the Building Code that include
provisions for Use or Occupancy, Aviation Control Towers, Sound Control
Transmission, Re-roofing, Structural Forces, Waterproofing and Damproofing
Foundations, Minimum Plumbing Fixtures, Membrane Structures, Excavation and
Grading, Existing Buildings, and Material, Testing and Installation Standards (see
Section 8.12.030).
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Establish Seismic Hazard Zones and Geologic Hazard Filled Area
Zones to require special design requirements (see Section 8.12.050).
Prohibit the use of non-fire retardant wood shingles or non-fire
retardant wood shakes for new or replacement roofing and require a moderate
level of fire retardant roofing as a minimum standard (see Section 8.12.060).
Establish earthquake design provisions that properly account for
dead load effects during earthquakes, limit shear-critical behavior in concrete and
masonry shear walls and properly calculate the allowable story drift under
earthquake loading (see Section 8.16.020).
Require improved connection of roofing to prevent slippage during
earthquakes and the associated falling hazards (see Section 8.16.030).
Require all masonry and concrete chimneys to be structurally
designed by a licensed architect or registered engineer instead of by prescriptive
rules that have allowed failed performance in recent earthquakes, including the
Northridge Earthquake (see Section 8.16.040).
Provide the most current seismic provisions for steel frame and light
gage steel stud buildings that incorporate the lessons learned to date from the
Northridge Earthquake instead of the outdated Pre-Northridge reference
standards (1992) in the California Building Code (see Section 8.16.050).
Require the most current seismic provisions for wood frame
construction to limit the use of materials that have proved ineffective in resisting
earthquake forces and require additional engineering analysis (see section
8.16.060 and Chapter 8.20).
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Require automatic fire extinguishing and detection systems in all
new construction and when there is a change in use to a higher classification
(See Section 8.44.050).
Require automatic fire sprinkler systems for existing public
assembly spaces above 5,000 square feet that protect assembly areas and exit
ways (See Section 8.44.050).
Require compliance with the high-rise provisions of the California
Building Code in new high-rise buildings with human occupancy above 55 feet of
the lowest level of fire vehicle access point in accordance with authority granted
to the City in the California Health and Safety Code Section 13216 (See Section
8.44.090).
Require adequate seismic bracing of fire sprinkler installations (see
Section 8.44.120).
Ensure that any wiring not having metal protection over the
conductors shall be entirely concealed within the building structure to prevent and
inhibit tampering and restrict the use of aluminum wiring found to be hazardous
(see Section 8.24.030).
Prohibit the sale and use of any electrical material, device, or
equipment unless it complies with provisions of this section, including rating and
conformance with national standards (see Section 8.24.040).
Provide regulations for temporary service poles used on
construction sites (see Section 8.24.060)
Provide regulations for underground concrete vaults and
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hand holes (see Section 8.24.070).
Provide proper disconnecting means for multiple arrays on solar
photovoltaic systems (see Section 8.24.080).
Provide sufficient gage support of grease ducts during earthquakes
(see Section 8.28.030).
Require the use of Type fire protective hoods for all cooking
ovens that cook food with grease (see Section 8.28.040).
(21) Provide for the use of refrigeration machinery rooms for all
refrigerants in rooms with over 100 HP motors above maximum threshold
amounts instead of just the least toxic and flammable (see Section 8.28.050).
(22) Provide for the use of the proper table values from American
Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers to determine the
allowable quantities of the refrigerants R-123 and R-55 in Table 11-1 of the
California Mechanical Code (see Section 8.08.060).
Provide for enclosures of water heaters to prevent associated fire
hazards from uncontrolled adjacent combustible storage (see Section 8.32.030).
Prohibit water softener systems from using drywells to discharge
effluents in order to protect local ground water and the Santa Monica Bay (see
Section 8.32.040).
Prohibit the use of combined storm drain and sewers to prevent the
possible future contamination of the Santa Monica Bay (see Section 8.32.050).
Require automatic fire extinguishing and detection systems in all
new construction and when there is a change in use to a higher classification
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(See Section 8.44.050).
(27) Require automatic fire sprinkler systems for existing public
assembly spaces above 5,000 square feet that protect assembly areas and exit
ways (See Section 8.44.050).
Require compliance with the high-rise provisions of the California
Building Code in new high-rise buildings with human occupancy above 55 feet of
the lowest level of fire vehicle access point in accordance with authority granted
to the City in the California Health and Safety Code Section 13216 (See Section
8.44.090).
Require the connection with control valves on each floor level with
full automatic sprinkler systems in any new building with floors more than 55 feet
in height (See Section 8.44.090).
Require adequate seismic bracing of fire sprinkler installations (see
Section 8.44.120).
SECTION 3. The City Council makes the following findings regarding local
climatic, geological and topographic conditions related to the local amendments to the
California Building Standards Code found in Section 4 below:
(a) As detailed in the MEA, although the City can experience periods of
high winds and arid temperatures, it often enjoys an extremely mild climate.
Average daytime temperatures range from highs of 75 degrees (F) in July,
August, and September to 64 degrees (F) in January and February. Overnight
lows vary from an average of 61 degrees (F) in January and February to 64
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degrees (F) in August. A below freezing temperature has never been recorded in
the City. The City's annual precipitation averages 12.5 inches. The City has
excellent air quality and the City, unlike most of the South Coast Air Basin,
seldom exceeds national and state air quality standards. This temperate climate
makes the City uniquely suited for the proper operation of buildings designed for
sustainable development and increased use of openable windows.
SECTION 4. The City Council makes the express finding that the following
modifications and changes to the California Building Standards Code are reasonably
necessary because of the local climatic, geological or topographical conditions and that
each and every one of the local conditions shown in Section 3 above, are identified as
applying to the following modifications and changes to the California Building Standards
Code:
(1) Require guardrails at openable windows and provide clarifying language
(see Section 8.12.060).
(2) Require cost effective energy efficiency in multi-family residences, hotels,
motels, commercial and institutional offices, light industrial and retail uses
pursuant to the Green Building Standards (see Sections 8.108.040),
(3) Require additional mandatory energy efficiency measures for Solar
Water Heating, Pipe Insulation and Heat Traps in all buildings (see
Section 8.108.060).
SECTION 5. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution and
thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.
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APPROVED AS TO FORM
~
OUTRIE
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Adopted.... "'-0\_ this ..8" day of~, 2802.
I, Maria M. Stewart, City Clerk of the City of Santa Monica, do hereby
certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 9800 (CCS) was duly adopted at a
meeting of the Santa Monica City Council held on the 8th of October, 2002, by
the following vote:
Ayes: Council members:
Holbrook, O'Connor, Genser, Katz, Mayor
Pro Tem McKeown, Mayor Feinstein
Noes: Council members:
None
Abstain: Council members:
None
Absent: Council members:
Bloom