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HomeMy WebLinkAbout90-352 - Resolutions RESOLUTION NO' 90-352 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 CODE, AS ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE NO. 426 ARE REASONABLY NECESSARY BECAUSE OF LOCAL CLIMATIC, GEOLOGICAL OR TOPOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS A. Recital s. (i) California Health and Safety Code Section 17922 requires all cities to adopt, as the City Building Standards Code, the State Building Standards Code adopted pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 4 of Part 2.5 of Division 13 of the California Health and Safety Code. (ii) Pursuant to California Government Code Section 50022.2, the City of Rancho Cucamonga has adopted by reference, the "Uniform Building Code, 1988 Edition". (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 modifica- tions in the requirements contained in the provisions published in the State Building Standards Code and the other regulations adopted pursuant to Section 17922 as it determines, pursuant to the provisions of Section 17958.7, are reasonably 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 Council is required to make an express finding that such modifications or changes are needed in accordance with California Heal th and Safety Code Section 17958.7. (v) This Council desires to amend the provisions of Section 3802 of the "Uniform Building Code, 1988 Edition". (vi) 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, determine and resolve as follows: 1. In all respects as set forth in the Recitals, Part A, of this Resolution. Resolution No. 90-352 Page 2 2. This council does hereby expressly find and determine that the amendments set forth in Ordinance No. 426, amending Section 3802 of the "Uniform Building Code, 1988 Edition" are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological and topographical conditions. This express finding is supported and based upon the following more specific findings and determi nati OhS: A. Geol ogi cal: 1. A unique geological condition exists within the City of Rancho Cucamonga in that five earthquake faults are present, which create the potential for severe damage and fire hazards. There is potential also for damage to road- ways 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 has been jolted by at least 28 earthquakes and after shocks, ranging from 3.1 to 5.5 on the Richter Scale. (See Exhibit "A" and "A-I" } 2. Adverse geological conditions exist throughout a substan- tial part of the City of Rancho Cucamonga that give rise to excessive flooding. Flood control facilities are not adequate to handle the water flow that occurs during major rains. Some of the streets in the City are actually designed and used for flood control purposes, thus making fire and emergency access difficult during flood condi- tions. According to the City's Engineering Department, using Base Line Road as the median east-west street, during a normal rain season, the following streets are designed to carry the runoff as indicated: {a) Carnelian Street: 1,100 cubic fee per second, or 8,299 gallons per second, and {b} Hellman Avenue: 1,700 cubic feet per second or 12,717 gallons per second, and {c} Hermosa Avenue: 2,700 cubic feet per second or 20,198 gallons per second. As a consequence, many of the 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. (See Exhibit "B") Resolution No. 90-352 Page 3 3. Access of fire equipment responding to calls is often hampered by the adverse climatic and 9eological conditions within the City, because all of the City's fire stations 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 conditions, thereby limiting access of emergency vehicles responding to calls within their own "first-in" district. (See Exhibit "C") B. Topographi cal: The topography of the City of Rancho Cucamonga is generally that of a gently slopin9 inclined plane which projects from the base of the San Bernardtno Mountains, at an elevation in excess of 2,400 feet above sea level, in a southerly direction where the elevation i's 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 two locations where steeper topo§raphy occurs in the souther portion of the City. These two locations are the Redhill area and the area directly east of Redhill Park. The elevation changes caused by the mountains and hills creates the geological foundation on which the City is built and will continue to build. With much of the flatlands either already built upon or dedicated for approved projects, it can be anticipated that upon future growth will occur on steeper slopes and greater contrasts in terrain. 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. 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. Extensive damage often occurs during such winds, including downed electric wires, downed poles, fallen trees, blowing sand and dust. 2. In recent years, beginning in late 1987, the City has incurred Santa Ana winds ranging in velocity from 80 to 83 mph. On December 12, 1987, approximately 30 Edison power poles along Base Line Road were snapped in half and blown down by the high winds. Those downed poles totally pre- vented the use of Base Line Road for emergency vehicles. Alternate emergency 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 emergency responses. Resolution No. 90-352 Page 4 3. On January 22, 1988, winds again caused severe response problems. High voltage electrical wires were blown down at numerous locations throughout the City. Emergency apparatus were tied up at those locations pending the arrival of Edison electrical crews, which in some cases exceeded one hour. 4. On February 16, 1988, winds again hit the City extremely hard. This particular time the high winds generated such a severe blowing sand and dust problem 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. These adverse conditions result in: (a) Fires (See Exhibit "D") (b) Impairment of fire equipment access (See Exhibit "E") (c) Delays in responses of fire equipment; and (d) Fire personnel and equipment committed to non-fire emergenci es. 5. Weather conditions, coupled with flammable vegetation in the City results in numerous wildland fires, which draw exi sting fi re fi ghti ng forces from their 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. (See Exhibit "F") 3. The City Clerk shall, and hereby is directed to, forthwith upon the adoption of this Resolution, file a certified copy of this Resolution, together with certified copies of Ordinance No. 426, with the California Department of Housing and Community Development as required by Section 17958.7 of the California Health and Safety Code. 4. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution. PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED this 17th day of October, 1990. AYES: Alexander, Brown, Buquet, Stout, Wright NOES: None ABSENT: None Resolution No. 90-352 Page 5 ATTEST: Debra J. Ad,rs, City Cl~hk 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 regular meeting of said City Council held on the 17th day of October, 1990. Executed this 18th day of October, 1990 at Rancho Cucamonga, California.~ -! Debra J. ~lFams, City Cle~'k