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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-314 - Resolutions RESOLUTION NO. 02-314 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA, MAKING EXPRESS FINDINGS AND DETERMINATIONS THAT MODIFICATIONS TO THE CITY'S BUILDING REGULATIONS, AS ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE NO. 693 ARE REASONABLY NECESSARY BECAUSE OF LOCAL CLIMATIC, GEOLOGICAL OR TOPOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS A. RECITALS. (i) California Health and Safety Code Sections 17958.5 and 17958.7 allow a city to make such modifications to the requirements of the regulations adopted pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 17922 as it determines to be reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological or topographical conditions; (ii) Prior to making the modifications permitted under Section 17958.5 of the California Health and Safety Code,this Council is required to make an express finding that such modifications or changes are needed in accordance with California Health and Safety Code Section 17958.7. (iii) All legal prerequisites to the adoption of this Resolution have occurred. B. RESOLUTION. NOW,THEREFORE,the City Council of the City of Rancho Cucamonga does hereby find and determine as follows: 1. In all respects as set forth in the Recitals, Part A, of this Resolution. 2. This Council does hereby expressly find and determine that the amendments set forth in Ordinance No. 693, as are more fully described below, are reasonably necessary because of local climatic,geological or topographic conditions. This express finding is supported by and based upon the following specific findings and determinations. (a) Geological: 1. The City of Rancho Cucamonga is primarily located in an alluvial fan formed from erosion of the San Gabriel Mountains, said alluvial fan consisting largely of rocky, granular, and highly erodible soil formations. 2. A unique geological condition exists within the City of Rancho Cucamonga in that two active earthquake faults are present, which create the potential for severe seismic damage and fire hazards. There is potential also for damage to roadways and impairment of access for fire equipment to respond to emergencies in the event of a severe earthquake. Resolution No. 02-314 Page 2 of 4 (b) Topographical: 1. The topography of the City of Rancho Cucamonga is generally that of a gently sloping inclined plane which projects from the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, at an elevation in excess of 2,400 feet above sea level, in a southerly direction where the elevation is approximately 1,400 feet lower. Natural slopes of 8 percent or greater generally occur in the northern third of the City. In many cases, slopes in the foothills exceed 40 percent. There are also locations where steeper topography occurs in the southern portion of the City. All of these topographical conditions have created slower response times of emergency vehicles into the high growth areas,due to the extraordinary uphill slope of the land. 2. Adverse topographical conditions exist within certain parts of the City of Rancho Cucamonga that give rise to excessive flooding. Flood control facilities in these areas are not adequate to handle the water flow that occurs during major rains. Some of the streets are actually designed and used forflood control purposes, thus making fire and emergency access difficult during flood conditions. As a consequence, streets within the City are impaired during such flood conditions and such flooding causes physical damage to the streets and the accumulation of debris, all of which hinder the access of fire equipment to respond to fire emergencies. (c) Climate: 1. Extreme high winds, commonly referred to as Santa Ana winds, are generated from the desert and reach the basin through Devore Pass and first contact highly developed areas within City boundaries at velocities, sometimes in excess of 80 mph. 2. The City of Rancho Cucamonga is located in a piedmont area of the San Gabriel Mountains, said location characterized by a warm and dry climate. 3. The above weather conditions, coupled with flammable vegetation in the City results in wild land fires, which draw existing fire fighting forces from structure protection duties for extended periods of time. This results in extended response times to structure fires when such personnel and equipment are committed to non-structural protection. 4. The California Building Code is adopted on a statewide basis without specific consideration for the above stated geologic, topographic and climatic conditions. Resolution No. 02-314 Page 3 of 4 3. Based upon the forgoing described climatic, geographical and topographical conditions, the City Council further finds as follows: (a) Modifications of Table 15-A, of the California Building Code, 2001 Edition, are necessary due to local climatic and topographic conditions of warm, dry, intense winds tending to propagate and extend fires into surrounding structures and grasslands, and to make access for fire fighting apparatus difficult.These modifications are further justified based on the conditions described in Section 6.2. (b) and (c) above. (b) Additions of Appendix Sections 3307.2 and 3307.3 of the California Building Code, 2001 Edition, are necessary due to geological conditions of rocky,granular soils which subject cut and fill slopes to rapid erosion.These modifications are furtherjustified based on the conditions described in Section B.2. (a) abo\e. 4. The City Clerk shall,and hereby is directed to,forthwith upon the adoption of this Resolution,file a certified copy of this Resolution,togetherwith a certified copy of Ordinance No. 693 with the California Building Standards Commission as required by Section 17958.7 of the California Health and Safety Code. 5. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution. Please see the following page for formal adoption,certification and signatures r Resolution No. 02-314 Page 4 of 4 PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 4th day of December 2002. AYES: Alexander, Gutierrez, Williams NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAINED: None illiam J. Ale nder, Mayor ATTEST: L&O [5ebra J. Adam CMC, City Clerk I, DEBRA J.ADAMS,CITY CLERK of the City of Rancho Cucamonga,California,do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly passed, approved and adopted by the City Council of the City of Rancho Cucamonga,California,at a Special Meeting of said City Council held on the 4th day of December 2002. Executed this 5th day of December 2002, at Rancho Cucamonga, California. e ra J. Adams C, City Clerk