SR-13-D (2)
Aw70 13 -7)
MEMORANDUM ctll 4 \-
DATE
October 14, 1986
Mayor and City Council
TO:
FROM:
Robert M. Myers, city Attorney
James H. O'Donnell, Deputy City Attorney
Fire Department Requirement of the Installation
of an Approved Sprinkler System at Ocean Towers
SUBJECT:
After twice notifying the management of the Ocean Towers of
their requirement to install an improved fire protection system,
the Santa Monica Fire Department requested an office conference.
On August 5, 1986, representatives from the Ocean Towers Board of
Directors, as well as their legal counsel, and a member of the
city of Santa Monica's Fire Department and City Attorney's office
met to discuss the required fire safety system. At that time it
was agreed that the Board of Directors would have up to and
incl uding September 22, 1986, in order to decide whether it
intended to comply with the fire safety system requirement.
On or about september 22, 1986, Steve Locati of the Santa
Monica Fire Department received a telephone call from a
representative of the Ocean Towers Housing Corporation's Board of
Directors. A meeting was scheduled between Inspector Locati and
the Board of Directors on October 1 1986. At the meeting, the
Board of Directors informed Mr. Locati that, while they initially
intended to comply with the requirement of installing an approved
fire safety system, an independent test had been conducted and
the results indicated that the asbestos content of the material
covering the hallways and ceilings in the Ocean Towers was as
high as 14 % . This fact, according to the Board of Directors,
would substantially increase the cost of installing a fire safety
system, and, according to steve Locati, the Board of Directors
indicated reluctance to go forward with the required plan.
On October 14, 1986, the City Attorney's office received
telephone calls from Bob Halama, counsel for the Board of
Directors of the Ocean Towers Housing corporation, and Bob
winnet, Chief Financial Officer for the Ocean Towers Housing
Corporation, as well as a member of the Board of Directors. Both
persons informed the City Attorney's office that there existed a
small minori ty of stockholders who are opposed to the
installation of a fire safety system for a variety of reasons.
It is the minority stockholders who have requested to speak to
the City Council. According to Mr. Halama and Mr. Winnet, the
minori ty stockholders are not authorized to speak on behalf of
the Board of Directors.
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The City Attorney and Fire Department will continue to work
cooperatively with the Ocean Towers to ensure compliance with the
City's fire safety requirements.
JOM216/hpc
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