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HomeMy WebLinkAbout93-014 - ResolutionsRESOU3I~ONNO. FD 93-014 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF D~ OF THE RANfMO O3CAMDNGA FIRE ~ON DISTRICT IN RANfMO (IX2APKIqC4~, CALIF'I11qIA, MAKING EXPRESS FINDINGS AND D~ONS CALIFORNIA F/RE CODE, 1991 ~DITIONS ARE REAR1q~RI .Y ~ BECAESE OF IOCAL ~r .TMATI C, GBDIOGI CRL OR A. Recitals. (i) Pursuant to California Go%~lTmBnt Code Section 50022.2, the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District ba.~ adopted by c~dinance, the "Uniform Fire Code, 1991 Bklition", (ii) Section 13143.5 of the California Health and Safety Code provides, in pertinent part, as follows: "...a city, county, or city and oounty may, by ordinance, make char~es or modifications that are more stringent than the require published in the California Building ~ Code relating to fire and panic safety and the other regulations adopted pursuant to this part. The adopted ~ shall be reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological or topographical conditions". (iii) Section 17958.5 of the California Health and Safety Code provides, in pertinent part, as follows: "...a city or county may make such changes or modifications in the requirements contained in the provisicrs published in the State Building Standards Code and other regulations adopted pursuant to Section 17922 as it determines, pursuant to the provisions of Section 17958.7, are reasoDahly necessary . because of local climatic, geological or topographical conditions." (iv) Prior to making the modifications permitted under Section 17958.5 of the California Health and Safety Code, this Board is required to make an express fLndir~ that such modifications or changes are n~ed in accordance with California Health and Safety Code Section 17958.7. (v) Edition". This Board desires to amend the "Uniform Fire Code, 1991 (vi) This Board desires to amend the "California Fire Code, 1991". (vii) All legal prerequisites to the adoption of this Resolution B. Resolution. NCW, THEREFORE, the Board of Directors of the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District does hereby find, determine and resolve as follows: Resolution No. FD 93-014 Page 2 In all respects as set forth in the Recitals, Part A, of this Resolution. This Board does hereby expressly find and determine that the amendments set forth in Ordinance No. FD-22, amending the Uniform Fire Code and the California Fire Code, 1991 ~clitions, are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological and topogra~cal conditions. This express finding is supported and based upon the follc~ing more specific findings and determinations: Geological: A unique geological condition exists within the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District in that five earthquake faults are present, which create the potential also for damage to roadways and impairment of access for fire equipment to respond to emergencies in the event of a severe earthquake. Since January 1, 1990, the Rancho Cucamonga area ba.~ been jolted by at least 28 earthquakes and after shocks, ranging frc~ 3.1 to 5.5 on the Richter Scale. Adverse geological conditions exist ~ a substantial part of the City of Rancho Cucamonga that give rise to excessive flooding. Flood control facilities are not adequate to handle the water fl~w that occurs during major rains. Scee of the streets in the City are actually designed and used for flood control purposes, thus making fire and emergency access difficult during flood conditions. According to the City's Engineeming Departmea~, using Base Line Road as the median east-west street, during abnormal rain season, the following streets are designed to carry the runoff as indicated: (a) Carnelian Street: 1,100 cubic feet per seoond, or 8,299 gallons per second, and (b) Hellman Avenue: 1,700 cubic feet per seoond or 12,717 gallc~ls per second, and (c) Hermoea Avenue: 2,700 cubic feet per second or 20,198 gallc~ls per second. As a corsequ~, many of the streets within the Fire District are impaired during such flood conditions and such flooding causes l~hysical damage to the streets and the accumulation of de_b~is, all of which hinder the access of fire equil~ent to respond to fire emergencies. Ce Resolution No. FD 93-014 Page3 Access of fire equilment resp~ling to calls is often hampered by the adverse climatic and geological conditions within the City, because four out of the five districts' fire staticms are in the northerly portion of the City. The northern area of the District is often the most damaged and impaired by the adverse climatic and geological cc~c~s, thereby limiting access of emergency vehicles ~ to calls within their own "first-in" district. The topogra[hy of the Rand3o O~amc~ga Fire Protectio~ District is generally that of a gently sloping inclined plane which projects from the base of the San Bernardi~o Mountains, at an elevation1 in excess of 2,400 feet above sea level, in a seat_herly d~ectic~ where the elevaticm 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 exEeed 40 percent. Toare are two locations where steeper to~y occurs in the southern portion of the Fire District. These two locations are the P~dhill area and the area directly east of Redhill Park. The elevation changes caused by the mountains and hills creates the geological fou~aaticm el which the Fire District is built and will continue to baild. With nuch of the flatlands either alr~ built up or dedicated for approved projects, it can be anticipated that future growth will occur upon steeper slopes and greater contrasts in terrain. All of these topcgral~h/cal ccFrlitions have created slower response times of ~ vehicles into the high grc~th areas, due to the extraordinary uphill slope of the land. climate: Extrene high winds, ccm~mDnly referred to as Santa Ana winds, are generated from the desert and reach the basin through Devore Pass and first contact highly-developed areas with Fire District boundaries at velocities, sometimes in excess of 80 mph. Extensive _d~__mage often occurs during such winds, including downed electric wires, downed poles, fallen trees, blc~ing and dust. In recent years, beginning in late 1987, the Fire District has incurred Santa Ana winds ranging in velocity free 80 to 83 mph. On December 12, 1987, approximately 30 ~ktison power poles along Base T,~rle ~(:)C] were snapped in half and blown down by the high winds. Those downed poles totally prevented the use of Base l.ine Road for emergency vehicles. Alternate energer~ routes had to be utilized for the next three days. The use of those alternate routes caused delays in what would have been normal and routine emer~ responses. Resolution No. FD 93-014 Page 4 On JaDetory 22, 1988, winds again caused severe response problems. High voltage electrical wires were blown down at numerous locations throu~ the Fire District. Emergency apparatus were tied up at those locations pending the arrival of ~dison electrical crews, which in On Fe___hruary 16, 1988, winds again hit the Fire District extremely hard. Tnis particular time the high winds generated suc~ a severe blowing sand and dust proble~ that the emergency units responding to a structure fire east of Haven Avenue were stopped in their tracks, due to no visibility. That incident not only stopped the emergency response, but also resulted in significant fire vehicle damage. ~nese adverse conditions result in: (a) (b) (c) (d) Extreme fire conditions Impairment of fire equipment access Delays in respor~s of fire equipment; and Fire personnel and equipment cuL,,~Htted to non-fire 0 Weather conditions, coupled with flammable vegetation in the Fire District results in numerous wildland fires, which draw existing fire fighting forces frcm their structure protection duties for extended periods of time. This results in extended response times to structure fires when such personnel and equipment are cuL~dtted to non-structural protection. 3. The Fire District Secretary shall, and hereby is directed to, forthwith upon the adoption of this P~solution, file a certified copy of this Resolution, together with certified copies of OIdinance No. FD-22, with the California De~ of Housing and Cu~,,,emity Development as required by Section 17958.7 of the California Health and Safety Code. 4. The Fire District Secretary shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution. PASSED, ~, and ADOPI~D this 4thday of August, 1993. AYES: Ai~, Buquet, Gutierrez, Stout, Willia~s Resolution No. FD 93-014 Page5 I, D~BRA J. ADAMS, SB3QEPARY of the Rancho O~?annnga Fire Protection District do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly passed, approved, and a~_ed__ by the Board of Direct__n~s of the Rancho C~_amonga Fire Protection District, at a regular meetir~ of said Board held on the 4th day of August, 1993. Executed this 5 th day of August, 1993 at Rancho Cucamonga, California.