r-10634City Council Meeting 11 -22 -2011 Santa Monica, California
RESOLUTION NUMBER 10634 (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, 17958.7 and 18941.5
WHEREAS, the State Building Standards Commission has approved and
published the 2010 edition of the California Building Standards Code on July 1, 2010;
and such code became effective on January 1, 2011; 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 Section 101.7.1 of the California Green Building Standards Code
further provides that for the purposes of changes or modifications to the California
Green Building Standards Code, local climatic, geological or topographical conditions
include local environmental conditions as established by the City; and
WHEREAS, at its October 26, 2010 meeting, the City Council considered the
2010 edition of the California Building Standards Codes, which incorporates by
reference the various editions of the Technical Codes, and all of the referenced
standards, tables, matrices and appendices of each of these Codes therein; and
WHEREAS, on November 9, 2010, the City Council adopted Ordinance Number
2328 (CCS), which adopted by reference the 2010 edition of the California Building
Standards Codes and the Santa Monica local amendments to these Technical Codes;
and
WHEREAS, on October 13, 2011, the Building and Safety Commission met to
consider recommendations to the City Council regarding additional proposed local
amendments to the 2010 California Green Building Standards Code, and local climatic,
geological, and topographical conditions; and
WHEREAS, at the October 13, 2011 meeting, the Building and Safety
Commission unanimously recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution
making necessary local findings and adopting local amendments to the 2010 California
Green Building Standards Code;
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 in support of the local amendments to
the California Building Standards Code found in Section 2 below:
`A
General Findings
(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. The winds originate from the west
during the day and from the north and northeast during the night. Further,
intermittent Santa Ana winds conditions occur from September to March allowing
conditions that create the potential for high velocity winds with high temperatures.
In addition, the region is within a climate system capable of producing major
winds, fire and rain related disasters, including but not limited to those caused by
the Santa Ana winds and El Nino (or La Nina) subtropical -like weather (Climatic).
(b) Santa Monica is situated in Southern California which has extreme and
conditions and periods of severe drought. As outlined in the MEA, the City relies
upon water from outside the region which is purchased from the Metropolitan
Water District, and local groundwater for the City's water supply (Climatic).
(c) 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 Santa Monica -
Malibu Coast fault, the Newport- Inglewood fault and the San Andreas Fault. The
close proximity of these faults increases the likelihood of seismic disturbances of
substantial magnitude. The Safety Element further discusses the damaging
effect local seismic activity would have on potentially hazardous buildings and
the related potential demands on emergency services needs (Geological).
3
(d) 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 January 17, 1994 Northridge Earthquake. The random
possible location of these blind thrust faults increases the local seismic risk and
poses an increasing threat to public safety (Geological).
(e) 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
very destructive secondary effect of strong seismic shaking where a loss of
bearing strength occurs along with ground oscillations in the supporting soils
(Geological).
(f) Existing lots in the City of Santa Monica may be located on hilly terrain with
slopes that create grading, drainage, foundation, infrastructure, utility and
emergency access challenges (Topographical).
Specific Findings
(g) Intermittent, immoderate climatic conditions due to wind, fog, rain, heat wave
and humidity cause a higher demand for energy resources and a greater need
for energy conservation through the construction of building systems and
equipment usage (Climatic).
4
(h) Intermittent, immoderate climatic conditions due to wind, fog, rain, heat wave
and humidity cause a higher demand for energy resources and a greater need to
supplement a building's electrical system with a renewable energy source
(Climatic).
(i) Santa Monica is in a semi -arid climate where potable water resources are
limited. Climate change is expected to result in more frequent, severe, and
extended droughts in the Santa Monica. The proposed modifications for greater
water conservation efficiency protect public health and safety by reducing potable
water usage within the City (Climatic).
Q) The greater Los Angeles region is a densely populated area having
residential buildings constructed within a region where environmental resources
are scarce due to varying and occasional immoderate temperatures and weather
conditions. The proposed modifications requiring greater energy efficiencies and
greater beneficial use / reuse of materials will be achieved with the proposed
expansion of the Green Building Code's Mandatory and Voluntary measures
(Climatic).
5
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 as
specifically detailed below:
No.
Municipal Code
Amendment Summary
Justification from
Local
Section
Section 1 of this
Condition
Resolution
Clarify application of the mandatory
and voluntary provisions in the
CALGreen Code to include all new
1
8.106.030
residential buildings
Sections (a) -(f), Q)
Climatic
(Amendment from the collaborative LA
County group)
2
8.106.055
Additional Energy Efficiency, Pipe
Sections (a) -(f),
Climatic
Insulation, Solar Pool Heating
(g)
3
8.106.055
Solar -Ready requirements
(h) Sections (a) -(f),
Climatic
4
8.106.057
Plumbing Fixture Requirements
Sections (a) -(f), (i)
Climatic
5
8.106.180
Additional Energy Efficiency, Pipe
Sections (a) -(t),
Climatic
Insulation, Solar Pool Heating
(g)
6
8.106.180
Solar -Ready requirements
Sectio(nls)(a) -(f),
Climatic
7
8.106.190
Plumbing Fixture Requirements
Sections (a) -(f), (i)
Climatic
Ij
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:
RSH NES M UTRIE
C ty Att rn y
Adopted and approved this 22nd day of November, 2011.
Richard Bloom, Mayor
I, Maria M. Stewart, City Clerk of the City of Santa Monica, do hereby certify that
the foregoing Resolution No. 10634 (CCS) was duly adopted at a meeting of the Santa
Monica City Council held on the 22nd day of November, 2011, by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmembers: Holbrook, McKeown, O'Connor, O'Day,
Mayor Pro Tern Davis, Mayor Bloom
Noes: Councilmembers: None
Absent: Councilmembers: Shriver
ATTEST:
Maria M. Stewart, City Clerk