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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-083 - Seting Forth Findings with Respect to Local Conditions LCP 11/05/07 RESOLUTION NO. 2007-083 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA CALIFORNIA, SETTING FORTH FINDINGS WITH RESPECT TO LOCAL CONDITIONS WITHIN THE CITY OF SANTA ANA WHICH MAKE CERTAIN MODIFICATIONS AND CHANGES TO THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE, CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE, CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE, CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE, CALIFORNIA EXISTING BUILDING CODE, UNIFORM SWIMMING POOL, SPA AND HOT TUB CODE, UNIFORM SOLAR ENERGY CODE, INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE, AND CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE AS AMENDED BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The City Council hereby finds, determines, and declares as follows: A. Health and Safety Code Section 17958 provides that the City of Santa Ana shall adopt Ordinances and regulations imposing the same or modified or changed requirements as are contained in the regulations adopted by the State pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 17922. B. The State of California is mandated by Health and Safety Code Section 17922 to impose the same requirements as are contained in the most recent edition of the California Building Code, Califomia Existing Building Code, the Califomia Plumbing Code, the California Mechanical Code, and the California Electrical Code (hereinafter referred to collectively as "Codes"). C. Health and Safety Code Section 17958.5(a) permits the City to make modifications or changes to the Codes, which are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geographic or topographic conditions. D. Health and Safety Code Section 17958.7 requires that the City Council, before making any modifications or changes to the Codes, shall make an express finding that such changes or modifications are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geographic or topographic conditions. Section 2: The Planning and Building Agency and the Fire Department have recommended that changes and modifications be made to the Codes and have advised that certain said changes and modifications to the California Building Code, 2007 Edition and the California Plumbing Code, 2007 Edition and the California Mechanical Code, 2007 Edition, the California Electrical Code, 2007 Edition, and the California Existing Building Resolution No. 2007-083 Page 1015 Code, 2007 Edition are reasonably necessary due to local conditions in the City of Santa Ana. Section 3. Amendments to Sections 314.3, 314.7, 609.3.1, 610.8, 718.1, and Tables 3-2 and 6-6 of the 2007 Edition of the California Plumbing Code as recommended by the Planning and Building Agency are hereby found to be reasonably necessary due to the following local conditions: A. The topography of the City of Santa Ana is near sea level. This is problematic for long distance drainage as proper drainage requires a minimum of a one percent (1%) downhill grade. Amendments to the California Plumbing Code are necessary to provide soil compaction guidelines so that installation of the drain line is well supported and prevents the failure or sagging of the drain lines due to the short range of elevation between the topographical surface of the City and the topographic surface level and location of the sewage treatment plant that the drains must reach. As a result, a certification by a registered soils engineer is necessary because there must be specific guidelines for compaction or there is a potential risk of the system's failure to drain properly. B. The City of Santa Ana is in close proximity to major active fault systems in Southern California. This area has been designated as the highest seismic risk zone in the hierarchy that rates the potential risk for seismic activity by geographical areas. As a result, amendments to the Plumbing Code are necessary because of the significant potential for damage due to seismic activity. Cast iron is deemed unsafe in light of the seismic zone because of its weight and flexibility. In addition, plastic and other nonmetallic types of piping are susceptible to fracture, joint weakening and potential failure during seismic activity. Therefore, amendments to the Plumbing Code have been made so that all suspended piping is to be braced to prevent movement or pipe failure. C. The City of Santa Ana soil is of a caustic chemical composition such that pipes subject to contact with the soil are susceptible to corrosion potentially causing damage or failure. In addition, nonmetallic piping, and particularly plastic or other materials may leach caustic chemicals into the water supply. In addition, throughout the City of Santa Ana varied soil conditions exist, resulting in acidic soil conditions. Therefore, amendments to the Plumbing Code are necessary to provide additional safeguards against corrosion of the piping materials that are necessary to maintain a properly functioning plumbing system. D. The City of Santa Ana is located in an area of low rainfall, seasonal hot, dry winds, and hot, dry summer climatic conditions. These conditions cause multiple water sources to be accessed concurrently by the same user. Amendments to the Plumbing Code are necessary to assure and adequate water supply for common domestic water demands, including landscape irrigation needs. E. The City of Santa Ana has an excessively flat-graded drain system. The City's sewer system in many areas is relatively shallow. This has precluded the design and installation of drainage systems within the code recommended grades. Resolution No. 2007-083 Page 2 of 5 Additionally, many areas of Santa Ana have a high water table which results in an unstable soil condition. Pipe settlement due to uncompacted soil may result in a drainage system which is flat or reverse graded, causing stoppages or complete blockage of the drainage system. Amendments to the Plumbing Code are necessary to prevent stoppages or complete blockage of the drainage system. Section 4. Amendments to Section 602.1 of the 2007 Edition of the California Mechanical Code as recommended by the Planning and Building Agency are hereby found to be reasonably necessary because of corrosion related to the high seasonal humidity in this coastal area and the City of Santa Ana which prevents moisture collecting in flexible ducting of evaporative cooling systems from draining and evaporating. Said conditions contribute to the deterioration of the ductwork thereby endangering a person's health and the environment. Amendments to the California Mechanical code are necessary to prevent said deterioration. Section 5. Amendments to Sections 110-5 and 336-5 of the 2007 Edition of the California Electrical Code as recommended by the Planning and Building Agency are hereby found to be reasonably necessary because the City of Santa Ana is in close proximity to major active fault systems in Southern California. This area has been designated as the highest seismic risk zone in the hierarchy that rates the potential risk for seismic activity by geographical areas. As such, there is a likelihood that certain conductors will have a propensity to work loose from their connection potentially precipitating a fire during seismic activity. Moreover, certain cables do not provide the degree of protections that is needed in the event of an earthquake. Amendments to the California Electrical Code are necessary to address the risk of fire due to such causes and to assure that adequate protection is provided in the workplace and in other places of public gathering. Section 6. Amendments to Sections 202,508,903,907,907.2.12, and 907.9.3 the 2007 Edition of the California Fire Code as recommended by the Fire Department are hereby found to be reasonably necessary due to the following local conditions: A. The City of Santa Ana exhibits the climatic and geographic conditions of high winds and low humidity. This combination of conditions creates an environment that is conducive to rapidly spreading fire. Control of such fire requires rapid response. Obstacles generated by a strong wind, such as fallen trees, street lights and utility poles, and the requirement to climb 75 feet vertically up flights of stairs will greatly impact the response time to reach an incident scene. B. The City of Santa Ana is located in an area that has been designated as the highest seismic risk zone in the hierarchy that rates the potential risk for seismic activity by geographical areas. The viability of the public water system would be questionable after a large earthquake leaving tall buildings vulnerable to uncontrolled fires and the inability to pump sufficient quantities of water to upper floors. Amendments to the California Fire Code are necessary to address these obstacles. C. The City of Santa Ana is a city with a high-density population. A high- density population coupled with high winds and low humidity may be conducive to the Resolution No. 2007-083 Page 3 of 5 rapid spread of even small fires originating in high density housing therefore creating a need for increased tire protection. Amendments to the California Fire Code are necessary to provide for increased fire protection. D. The City of Santa Ana is 27 square miles with a population in excess of 350,000 and extensive traffic congestion. Depending on time of day and climatic conditions, response times may be impacted. Therefore, amendments to the California Fire Code are necessary to provide increased fire protection to occupants and property. Section 7. Amendments to the 2007 Edition of the California Codes are found reasonably necessary based on the climatic, topographical, and/or geographic conditions cited in the above sections of this Resolution and are listed as follows: Code Section CPC 314.3 CPC 314.7 CPC Table 3-2 CPC 609.3.1 CPC 610.8 CPC Table 6-B CPC 718.1 CMC 602.1 CEC 110-5 CEC336-5 CFC 202 CFC 508 CFC 903 CFC 907 CFC 907.2.12 CFC 907.9.3 Findinas in Section 3A 3B 3B 3B,3C 3D 3D 3E 4 5 5 6A,6B 6A, 6C 6D 6A,6B 6A,6B 6A,6B Section 8. The aforementioned amendments have been incorporated in detail in Ordinance NS-2759. Section 9. Additional amendments have been made to the relevant California Building Code, Electrical Code, Plumbing Code, Mechanical Code, Existing Building Code and Fire Code and the relevant Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code and Uniform Solar Code and International Property Maintenance Code. On the recommendation of the Planning and Building Agency and the Fire Department, such amendments are hereby found to be either administrative or procedural in nature or concern themselves with subjects not covered in the aforementioned Codes. The changes made include provisions making each of said Codes compatible with other Codes enforced by the City. Section 10. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby approves and authorizes the Planning and Building Agency and the Fire Department to tile copies of Resolution 2007- 083 and Ordinance NS-2759 with the California Building Standards Commission as required by Health and Safety Code Section 17958.7. Resolution No. 2007-083 Page 4 of 5 Section 11. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption. ADOPTED this 5th day of November, 2007. APPROVED AS TO FORM: Joseph W. Fletcher City Attorney ~ By: crena C. Penal Assistant City Attorney CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTATION AND ORIGINALITY I, PATRICIA E. HEALY, Clerk of the Council, do hereby attest to and certify the attached Resolution No. 2007-083 to be the original resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of Santa Ana on November 5,2007. Date: /~;- OS-D) C;:2.~~- 4~6 Patricia E. Healy Clerk of the Council City of Santa Ana Resolution No. 2007-083 Page 5 of 5