R-10282City Council Meeting 1-08-08 Santa Monica, California
RESOLUTION NUMBER 10282 (CCS)
(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 and 17958.7 and 18941.5
WHEREAS, the State Building Standards Commission approved and
published the 2007 California Building Standards Code on July 1, 2007; and such
code will be effective 180 days thereafter, which is January 1, 2008; and
WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Sections 17958.7 and 18941.5
provide that the City may make changes or modifications to 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 energy standards and said study demonstrated the cost
effectiveness of these changes; and
WHEREAS, the State Energy Commission has reviewed the proposed
energy standards on September 21, 2005, and approved the recommended
changes;
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WHEREAS, on October 17, 2007, the Building and Safety Commission
passed a motion supporting the proposed energy efficiency measures for multi-
family and commercial buildings but not supporting the inclusion of one- and two-
family dwellings into the applicability of the proposed ordinance;
WHEREAS, on December 17, 2007, the Task Force on the Environment
passed a motion supporting the proposed ordinance;
WHEREAS, the City Council has adopted the 2007 California Building
Standards Code, with local amendments, and based upon the findings contained
in this Resolution, the City Council intends to adopt an ordinance containing
certain additional modifications and additions to the 2007 California Building
Standards 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:
Local Climatic Conditions
a) As detailed in the City's 1996 Master Environmental Assessment
(MEA), Santa Monica's climate is primarily influenced by the Pacific
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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. As a result of the above, the
City enjoys an extremely mild climate. This climate makes the City
uniquely suited for the proper operation of buildings designed for
sustainable development.
b) Average daytime temperatures range from highs of 81 degrees (F)
in August to 67 degrees (F) in January. Overnight lows vary from
an average of 62 degrees (F) in January to 48 degrees (F) in
August. A below freezing temperature has never been recorded in
the City.
c) The City's annual precipitation averages 12.5 inches, but the region
is prone to extended periods of drought. Water resources in the
region are scarce and the local impact of climate change due to
anthropocentric causes is a further reduction in the availability of
potable water.
d) Due to local geographic and meteorological conditions, the City
unlike most of the South Coast Air Basin, seldom exceeds national
and state air quality standards. The decreased use of non-
renewable energy sources will help protect local air and water
quality for the benefit of local fauna and flora and human health
concerns.
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Local Topographical Conditions
e) The City has significant natural resources including its three-mile
beachfront. This beachfront is several hundred feet wide -one of
the widest stretches of beach in this part of southern California.
This beachfront is at the terminus of surface water drainage for a
large part of the Los Angeles Basin. As a result, the beachfront
and the Santa Monica Bay experiences a constant influx of
contaminants due to urban runoff from rain events, irrigation
systems, car washing, and other process discharges. The intrusion
of these contaminants is amplified by severe weather events, which
are becoming more frequent and more severe as a result of climate
change due to anthropocentric causes.
SECTION 2. The City Council makes the express finding that the
following additional building standards 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 apply to the following
additional building standards.
(1) Reduction of annual energy budgets by 10% and provision of
prescriptive alternatives for compliance based on occupancy type
to preserve natural resources and reduce pollution associated with
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energy generation. (Climatic)
(2) Requirements for using green construction materials that improve
indoor air quality, reduce emissions associated with climate
change, improve building durability, and reduce resource use of
energy, water, and raw materials. (Climatic, Topographical)
(3) Establishment of water-efficient landscaping and irrigation
standards to preserve precious water resources and to ensure
efficient use of those resources. (Climatic, Topographical)
(4) Establishment of construction and demolition waste management
requirements to reduce waste generation, protect the local
environment from pollutants, and to reduce the emission of gases
that contribute to climate change. (Climatic, Topographical)
(5) Continue to require additional mandatory energy efficiency
measures for Solar Water Heating, Pipe Insulation and Heat Traps
in all buildings to reduce both the heat loss due to hot water storage
and distribution and the waste of potable water while waiting for hot
water to reach the tap which results from this heat loss. (Climatic).
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SECTION 3. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution
and thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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Adopted and approved this 8th day of At
I, Maria Stewart, City Clerk of the City of Santa Monica, do hereby certify that the
foregoing Resolution No. 10282 (CCS) was duly adopted at a meeting of the Santa
Monica City Council held on the 8th day of April, 2008, by the following vote:
Ayes: Council members: Genser, Holbrook, McKeown, O'Connor, Shriver
Mayor Pro Tem Bloom, Mayor Katz
Noes: Council members: None
Abstain: Council members: None
Absent: Council members: None
ATTEST:
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Maria Stewart, City CI rk