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City Council Mtg: February 22, 1994
Santa Monica California
TO: Mayor and city Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Recommendation To Adopt An Emergency Ordinance
Establishing Standards for Repair and Reconstruction of
Masonry Chimneys, Walls and Underground utilities, and
Establishing Santa Monica city Hall As An Essential
Service Facility.
INTRODUCTION
As a result of the January 17, 1994 Northridge earthquake, a
substantial number of unreinforced chimneys and walls were
significantly damaged. The proposed ordinance establishes
specific repair criteria for chimneys and walls to reduce the
potential for similar damage resulting from another earthquake or
aftershock. In addition, this ordinance establishes the repair
criteria for underground water lines and designates Santa Monica
City Hall as an essential service facility in order to facilitate
replacement or upgrades through FEMA funds.
BACKGROUND
Although the City of Santa Monica has been administratively
implementing the proposed repair criteria for unreinforced
chimneys, staff determined it would more effective to have the
standards adopted by ordinance to inform the public and provide
an enforcement mechanism. In relation to repair criteria for
walls, through site inspections, it has been determined that
unreinforced masonry walls above 42" in height suffered
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substantial damage. In addition, these walls collapsed on
utility lines (gas and water) and on utility meters thereby
increasing the potential hazards.
The proposed chimney standards will require that repair or
replacement of damaged unreinforced chimneys be consistent with
the present standards contained in the 1991 Edition of the
Uniform Building Code (UBC) as adopted by the City of Santa
Monica. The ordinance also establishes specific criteria on how
the repairs are to take place in relation to the damage. These
standards are expected to reduce the potential for similar damage
in a future earthquake and protect lives from falling debris.
The proposed wall standards are also designed to reduce potential
hazards in the future. Presently, no building permit or
reinforcing is required for masonry walls under six feet in
height. It was thought that unreinforced walls under six feet in
height did not present a hazard. However, these types of walls
did collapse and create hazardous conditions. Therefore, staff
is recommending that no masonry wall over 42" in height be
allowed unless it has a permit and is reinforced. Wooden fences
under ten feet in height would still be permitted without a
building permit.
Finally, the proposed ordinance designates City Hall and the
civic Auditorium as essential facilities and establishes a
specific standard for the repair of underground water utility
lines. This is necessary in order to allow Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) funds to be used for a higher level of
repair and upgrade to these facilities.
BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT
There is not budget or fiscal impact as a result of this
ordinance.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Council adopt the proposed emergency
ordinance.
Prepared By:
Suzanne Frick, Director of land Use and
Transportation Management
Attachment:
Proposed Ordinance
CA:atty\muni\laws\cesar\chimney.5
City Council Meeting 2-22-94
Santa Monica, California
ORDINANCE NO.
1729
(city Council series)
AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA ESTABLISHING
REPAIR AND RECONSTRUCTION CRITERIA
FOR UNREINFORCED CHIMNEYS, WALLS OVER 42 INCHES
IN HEIGHT, AND RETROFITTING STANDARDS FOR
PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND UTILITIES
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES ORDAIN AS
FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1.
Findinqs and Purpose. The City Council finds and
declares:
(a) Numerous unreinforced chimneys and walls in the City
of Santa Monica were substantially damaged as a result of the
January 17, 1994 Northridge earthquake and its continuing
aftershocks (hereinafter, "the Northridge earthquake"), and remain
in danger of collapse during a future earthquake or aftershock,
posing an immediate threat to the public health and safety.
(b) It is necessary to establish standards to repair
and replace unreinforced chimneys and walls, to reduce the
potential for similar damage in the event of another earthquake,
in order to preserve the public peace, health and safety.
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(c) The City water supply infrastructure suffered
substantial damage as a result of the Northridge earthquake, and
continues to suffer additional damage as a result of its
continuing aftershocks. Large sections of the City water supply
infrastructure which are publicly owned, or located on public
land, public rights of way, or dedicated utility easements
(hereinafter, "the public water supply infrastructure") are
constructed of unlined rigid cast iron piping, which have proved
to be of insufficient flexibility and strength to withstand the
stresses caused by earthquake. Numerous breakages have occurred
and are continuing to occur in the City's public water supply
infrastructure, all in unlined rigid cast iron piping. These
breakages have caused and are continuing to cause interruptions
of water service to portions of the city, requiring emergency
temporary repairs to restore water service.
(d) Approximately one third of the City's public water
supply infrastructure, 368,729 feet, is constructed of unlined
rigid cast iron piping, and is threatened w1th further breakage
from stress caused by movement of the earth. The potential for
further interruptions in public water service constitutes a
threat to the pUblic peace, health and safety.
(e) In order to repair and replace the damaged and
threatened public water supply infrastructure with a flexible
piping material which is resistant to breakage caused by movement
of the earth, thereby reducing the potential for further
interruptions of public water service, it is necessary to
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establish a m~nimum qualitative standard for the material to be
used to repair and replace said infrastructure.
(f) In the aftermath of the Northridge earthquake,
Santa Monica city Hall (hereinafter, "City Hall") functioned as
the center of operations to assess earthquake damage, to restore
vital municipal services and to preserve the public peace, health
and safety. City Hall is found to be an essential facility
necessary for emergency operations subsequent to a natural
disaster as defined in the section 2331 of the Uniform Building
Code, 1991 Edition, (hereinafter "UBC section 2331").
(g) In the aftermath of the Northridge earthquake,
numerous residential buildings were damaged to the extent that a
great number of persons were displaced from their homes and left
without adequate shelter. Consequently, it became necessary to
establish emergency shelters at Santa Monica College and at the
Santa Monica civic Auditorium. Of the two facilities, only the
Santa Monica civic Auditorium ~s under the control and
jurisdiction of the City. It is essential that the city
maintain a facility of sufficient size and occupancy capacity to
provide emergency shelter in the event of earthquake or natural
disaster. The Santa Monica civic Auditorium is found to be an
essential facility necessary for emergency operations subsequent
to a natural disaster as defined in UBC section 2331.
SECTION 2. Repair criteria for Masonry Chimneys.
(a) All masonry chimneys shall be altered or repaired
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according to the fallowing standards:
1. Chimneys shall be repaired or reconstructed in
compliance with UBC Chapter 37 as adopted by the City of Santa
Monica.
2. No damaged unreinforced masonry chimney may be
repaired with masonry.
3. Existing unreinforced masonry chimneys,
fireplaces, fire boxes, and foundations shall not be used for the
support of replacement masonry chimneys.
4. Where the damaged portion of a chimney is
located between the roof line and top of the chimney, the damaged
portion shall be removed to the roof line, provided the roof and
ceiling anchorage are in sound condition. Any reconstructed
portion of a chimney shall be braced to the roof structure in
compliance with UBC Chapter 37 as adopted by the City of Santa
Monica.
5. For a single story structure in which the damaged
portion of a chimney is below the roof line, or the damaged portion
extends from above the roof line to below the roof line, the
chimney shall be removed to the top of the firebox.
6. For a multi story structure, in which the damaged
portion of a chimney is below the roof line, or the damaged portion
extends from above the roof line to below the roof line, the
damaged portion of the chimney shall be removed from the top of the
chimney to a floor line below which no significant damage to the
chimney is visible. The remaining portion of the chimney shall be
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anchored soundly to the structure in compliance with UBC Chapter 37
as adopted by the City of Santa Monica.
7. In any chimney where the firebox has been
damaged, the entire chimney and firebox shall be removed to the
foundation of the structure.
8. Where the portion of the chimney extending above
the roof line exceeds two times the least dimension of the chimney,
that portion above the roof line shall be braced to the roof
structure.
SECTION 3.
above 42 inches.
Notwithstanding UBC Section 301 (b) (2), fences which
exceed 42 inches in height as measured from natural grade and are
constructed with masonry or concrete material shall require a
building permit. Such fences shall be constructed in compliance
with the construct~on standards of the UBC as adopted by the City
of Santa Monica.
Repair cr~teria for masonry or concrete fences
SECTION 4. Repair cr~teria for underqround utilities.
All portions of the public water supply infrastructure
constructed of unlined rigid cast iron piping shall be replaced
with ductile iron piping conforming to American Water Works
Association (AWWA) Standard C151 and American National Standards
Insti tute (ANSI) Standard A21. 11-91. The ductile iron piping shall
be rated for a minimum of 350 pounds per square inch (psi) of
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working pressure.
SECTION 5. Essential Facilities.
Santa Monica City Hall and the Santa Monica civic
Auditorium are designated as essential facilities which are
necessary for emergency operations subsequent to a natural disaster
as defined in UBC section 2331.
SECTION 6. The City Council finds pursuant to City Charter
Section 615 that a state of local emergency exists within the City
of Santa Monica as a result of the Northridge earthquake.
SECTION 7. This Ordinance is declared to be an urgency measure
adopted pursuant to Santa Monica city Charter section 615. It is
necessary for preserving the public peace, health and safety, and
the urgency for its adoption is set forth in the findings above.
SECTION 11. Any provision of the Santa Monica Municipal Code
or appendices thereto including emergency ordinance Number 1720,
inconsistent with the provisions of this ordinance, to the extent
of such inconsistencies and no further, are hereby repealed or
modified to that extent necessary to effect the provisions of this
ordinance.
SECTION 8. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or
phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or
6
unconstitutional by a decision of any court of any competent
jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the
remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby
declares that it would have passed this ordinance, and each and
every section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase not declared
invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion
of the Ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or
unconstitutional.
SECTION 9. The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall
attest to the passage of this Ordinance. The City Clerk shall cause
the same to be published once in the official newspaper within 15
days after its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
~PH WR CE
~lng City Attorney
7
Adopted and approved thiS 22nd day of February, 1994
q /.J~
M;/}6r -
I hereby certify that the foregOIng OrdInance No 1729 (CCS) was duly and regularly
Introduced at a meetmg of the City CounCil on the 22nd day of February, 1994, that the
said Ordinance was thereafter duly adopted at a meetmg of the City Council on the 22nd day
of February, 1994 by the follOWIng Council vote:
Ayes
Councilmembers
Abdo, Genser. Greenberg, Holbrook, Olsen, RosensteIn,
Vazquez
Noes
Councilmembers
None
AbstaIn' Councilmembers' None
Absent Councilmembers None
ATTEST.
.,:/ . . /.
J/~4'U':':Z;: A~Aa~
City Clerk
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LUTM:P&Z:DKW:f:\plan\share\memos\restor3 Santa Monica, California
Clty Councll Mtg: February 22, 1994
TO: Mayor and Clty Council
FROM: C2ty Staff
SUBJECT: Extension of Ordinance 1724 (CCS) Amending Emergency
Procedures for the Restoratlon or Demolltlon of
Earthquake-Damaged Structures on an Interlm Basis And
Declarlng the Presence of an Emergency
INTRODUCTION
On January 25, 1994 the City Councll adopted Ordinance 1724 (CCS) ,
which establlshed procedures for the restoration or demolltlon of
earthquake-damaged buildings on an interlm basls. This ordlnance
lS proposed for renewal for a one-year perlod.
BACKGROUND
Ordlnance 1724 (CCS) was adopted to create procedures and standards
for the restorat20n or demolLtion of earthquake-damaged buildLngs.
Thls ordinance was valLd for a period of 45 days; an extenslon to
January 17, 1995 lS proposed.
Various lnterested persons have
expressed interest In worklng wlth the City to make refinements to
thls ordlnance to address a varlety of Lssues. Staff antlcipates
returnLng to the Councll wlthln the next 30 to 60 days with
potential amendments. In the lnterlm, the eXlstLng ordlnance needs
to be extended so that emergency repairs may continue to be
approved through an expedited process
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BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT
The recommendatlons of thls report would have no budget/financial
lmpact
RECOMMENDATION
It lS respectfully recommended that the Clty Councll adopt the
attached ordlnance, extending the provisions of Ordinance 1724 to
January 17, 1995.
Prepared by: Suzanne Frick, Dlrector LUTM
D. Kenyon Webster, Planning Manager
Attachment. Ordlnance for Adoptlon
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CA:f:\muni\laws\cesar\recon5.ord
city council Meeting 2-22-94
Santa Monica, California
ORDINANCE NtlKBER 1730 (CCS)
(City Council series)
AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
AMENDING EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR THE RESTORATION
OR DEMOLITION OF EARTHQUAKE DAMAGED
STRUCTURES ON AN INTERIM BASIS AND DECLARING
THE PRESENCE OF AN EMERGENCY
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES ORDAIN AS
FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Findinos. The City Council finds and declares:
(a) Numerous buildings and other structures in the City
of Santa Monica experienced substantial damage due to the January
17, 1994 Northridge earthquake.
(b) In order to facilitate the prompt repair of
earthquake damaged buildings and structures, it is necessary to
establish standards that will permit the prompt repair of such
buildings and structures without requiring compliance with all
current zoning standards.
(cl In order to allow the demolition of structures that
have been damaged to such an extent that the City Building Officer
has determined that demolition is required due to the immediate
threat the existence of such buildings pose to the pUblic health,
safety and welfare, it is necessary to establish procedures for the
demolition of such structures.
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(d) Protection of the public health, safety and welfare
of the citizens requires the immediate modification of existing
city ordinances to ensure the timely completion of emergency
repairs or demolition.
SECTION 2. Repairs.
(a) Any building or other structure in the City that has
been SUbstantially damaged due to the earthquake occurring on
January 17, 1994 or its aftershocks, may be repaired without
conforming to current zoning code requirements if the replacement
square footage is less than 50% of the square footage which existed
at the time of the damage or 25,000 square feet, whichever is less,
and if the building is repaired to the square footage, height,
setbacks, site orientation and use which existed at the time of the
damage, and if a residential building, the same number of units as
existed at the time of the damage are restored. Such buildings
shall be subject to the review of the Architectural Review Board
("ARB"), if the building would otherwise be subject to ARB review.
The ARB, in its review, shall make such projects a priority and
shall limit its review to the consideration of neighborhood
integrity and compatibility and whether the project is expressive
of good design contributing to the image of the City of Santa
Monica.
(b) Any building or other structure in the City that has
been substantially damaged due to the earthquake occurring on
January 17, 1994 or its aftershocks, may be repaired without
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conforming to all current zoning requirements if the replacement
square footage exceeds the limits of subsection (a) above, upon a
review by the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission shall
allow such repair if it determines that such repair is consistent
with the General Plan and compatible with the City's land use
goals, and only if the building is repaired to the square footage,
height, setbacks, site orientation, and use which existed at the
time of the damage, and if a residential building, the same number
of units as existed at the time of damage are restored. Such
buildings shall be subject to the review of the Architectural
Review Board ("ARB"), if the building would otherwise be subject to
ARB review. The ARB, in its review, shall make such projects a
priority and shall limit its review to the consideration of
neighborhood integrity and compatibility and whether the project is
expressive of good design contributing to the image of the City of
Santa Monica.
SECTION 3. Demolition. Any building in the City that has
been inspected by City building inspectors and posted with a no
entry or limited entry notice shall be subject to the following
demolition permit procedures:
(a) The building owner must submit to the city for
review a structural analysis of the building prepared by a licensed
engineer or architect.
(b) Based upon all available information, including a
structural analysis, the City's Building and Safety Division,
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Planning and Zoning Division and Director of Land Use and
Transportation Management shall make a determination on whether the
building may be demolished, and to the extent allowed by state and
federal law, shall issue a demolition permit. This determination
shall consider, but is not limited to, the extent of damage to the
structure, whether the structure presents an imminent threat to the
public health, safety and welfare, that may not otherwise be
otherwise abated through fencing or other means, the historical
significance and the cost of repairing or rehabilitating the
structure.
SECTION 4. ARB Review. For structures requiring ARB review
under the terms of this Ordinance, such review shall be conducted
in the same manner as set forth in Santa Monica Municipal Code
Chapter 9.32 except as provided below:
(a) The appeal of any ruling of the ARB must be made
within 5 days of the date that such ruling is made.
(b) For review of designated landmarks, structures of
merit, structures within historic districts, or structures on the
City Historic Resources Inventory, Volumes 1, 2 and 3 as of January
17, 1994, two members of the Landmarks Commission, appointed by
that body, shall serve as additional voting members of the ARB.
SECTION 5. Rent Control. Nothing in this Ordinance shall
eliminate the applicability of Article 18 of the Santa Monica City
Charter to any property with controlled rental units on the
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property which are subsequently demolished pursuant to this
Ordinance.
SECTION 6. Sinale Family Homes. Any single family home that
is demolished pursuant to section 3 of this Ordinance may be
rebuilt without conforming to all current zoning requirements, if
it is rebuilt to the square footage, height, setbacks, and site
orientation which existed prior to the damage.
SECTION 7. Seismic Safety Codes. Nothing in this Ordinance
shall be construed to eliminate any requirement that earthquake
damaged structures comply with building codes, including seismic
safety codes or standards.
SECTION 8. This Ordinance shall be of no further force and
effect after January 17, 1995, unless extended in the manner
required by law.
SECTION 9. The City Council finds pursuant to city Charter
Section 615 that a state of local emergency exists within the city
of Santa Monica as a result of the earthquake which occurred on
January 17, 1994. In order to facilitate the prompt repair of
earthquake damaged buildings or structures, it is necessary to
exempt such buildings and structures from compliance with certain
current building or zoning codes.
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SECTION 10. This Ordinance is declared to be an urgency
measure adopted pursuant to the provisions of section 615 of the
Santa Monica city Charter. It is necessary for preserving the
public peace, health and safety, and the urgency for its adoption
is set forth in the findings above.
SECTION 11. Any provision of the Santa Monica Municipal Code
or appendices thereto inClUding emergency Ordinance Nu~ber 1720,
inconsistent with the provisions of this ordinance, to the extent
of such inconsistencies and no further, are hereby repealed or
modified to that extent necessary to effect the provisions of this
Ordinance.
SECTION 12. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or
phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or
unconsti tutional by a decision of any court of any competent
jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the
remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby
declares that it would have passed this Ordinance, and each and
every section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase not declared
invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion
of the Ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or
unconstitutional.
SECTION 13. The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall
attest to the passage of this Ordinance. The City Clerk shall
6
cause the same to be published once in the official newspaper
within 15 days after its adoption. This Ordinance shall become
effective upon adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
'-'\'m~ ~~~
, /OSEPi! LAWRENCE
(~cting city Attorney
7
Adopted and approved tins 22nd day of February, 1994
cJ J-J A;
May~
I hereby certIfy that the foregomg Ordmance No 1730 (CCS) was duly and regularly
mtroduced at a meetmg of the City CouncIl on the 22nd day of February. 1994. that the
saId Ordmance was thereafter duly adopted at a meetIng of the CIty CouncIl on the 22nd day
of February, 1994 by the followmg CouncIl vote
Ayes
CouncIlmembers
Abdo. Genser. Greenberg, Holbrook. Olsen. Rosenstem.
Vazquez
Noes
Councllmembers
None
Abstam Councllmembers None
Absent: Councllmembers. None
ATTEST
/'r";:' .
/Ch//A"-
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:;; M/t:~~
CIty Clerk