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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 6d. Acknowledge compliance with CA Health & Safety Code Sections 13146.2, 13146.3 pursuant to Senate Bill 1205 Item 6d Department: Fire Cost Center: 8503 For Agenda of: 3/19/2024 Placement: Consent Estimated Time: N/A FROM: Todd Tuggle, Fire Chief Prepared By: Nicole Vert, Business Analyst SUBJECT: ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION ACKNOWLEDGING RECEIPT OF A REPORT ON THE SAN LUIS OBISPO FIRE DEPARTMENT’S COMPLIANCE WITH CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTIONS 13146.2 AND 13146.3 PURSUANT TO SENATE BILL 1205 RECOMMENDATION Adopt a Draft Resolution entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo, California, acknowledging receipt of a report on the San Luis Obispo Fire Department’s compliance with California Health and Safety Code Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3 pursuant to Senate Bill 1205.” POLICY CONTEXT On January 1, 2019, California Senate Bill 1205 (SB1205) went into effect, and added a new section to the California Health and Safety Code that affects every fire department or fire district in the State. Existing State law requires every fire department and district providing fire protection services to inspect every building used as a public or private school annually (Health and Safety Code section 13146.3.) This same annual inspection requirement is applicable to hotels, motels, lodging houses, and apartment/condominium buildings. (Health and Safety Code section 13146.2.) With the signing of SB 1205, the California Health and Safety Code was amended by adding Section 13146.4, which mandates that all fire departments required to perform annual inspections pursuant to Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3 shall report annually to its administering authority its compliance with Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3. The report is to be made during budget decisions or at another time as determined by the administering authority (in this case, the City Council). DISCUSSION Annually, the San Luis Obispo City Fire Department is required to conduct inspections of all public and private schools, hotels, motels, lodging houses, and apartment/condominium buildings (three units or more) in accordance with the California Health and Safety Code Section 13146.2 and 13146.3. The purpose of annual fire Page 21 of 91 Item 6d inspections is to mitigate known hazards, reduce risk to the community and ensure reasonable compliance with the California Fire Code. State law allows local jurisdictions to collect a fee from the owner of the inspected structure to recover costs associated with the inspection mandate of Health and Safety Code section 13146.2. In calendar year 2023, the San Luis Obispo City Fire Department inspected 504 of 607 hotels, motels, condominiums, sorority/fraternity and apartment buildings, which for the purpose of the resolution, these occupancies are defined as Group R. In FY 2022-23, the City realized $356,192 in fees collected for these inspections (pursuant to the City’s adopted Comprehensive Fee Schedule in effect for FY 2022-23), with $356,192 projected for FY 2023-24. In support of the City’s affordable housing goals, the City does not charge inspection fees for units that are built, owned, and managed by the housing authority, other government agencies or not-for-profit agencies. The amount of revenue not collected as a result of this directive is $25,233. California Health and Safety Code Section 13146.3 mandates that the local fire department inspect all public and private schools once annually, defined as Group E for purposes of this resolution. In calendar year 2023 the San Luis Obispo City Fire Department inspected 19 of 26 school and commercial daycare facilities. While Heath & Safety Code 13146.3 allows local jurisdictions to collect a fee for conducting these mandated inspections, the City currently does not charge for these. The Fire Department completed 83% of its annual inspections of all known mandated buildings for calendar year 2023. In total, the Fire Department conducted 523 of 633 mandated annual inspections. This does not include the numerous re -inspections. Fire Prevention Bureau staff continue to conduct re-inspections in response to deficiencies observed during initial inspections. Limited staff capacity prevented the completion of 100% of inspections due to the many re-inspections necessary. The mandate states they must be inspected but does not address when the 100% inspection is not met. The expectation for calendar year 2024 will be to complete 100% of inspections. The acceptance of this compliance report and the recommended Resolution fulfill the statutory requirements contained in California Health and Safety Code Section 13146.2, as added by SB1205. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The California Environmental Quality Act does not apply to the recommended action in this report, because the action does not constitute a “Project” under CEQA Guidelines Section 15378. Page 22 of 91 Item 6d FISCAL IMPACT Budgeted: No Budget Year: 2023-24 Funding Identified: Yes Fiscal Analysis: Funding Sources Total Budget Available Current Funding Request Remaining Balance Annual Ongoing Cost General Fund $0 $0 $0 $0 State Federal Fees Other: Total $0 $0 $0 $0 There are no fiscal impacts directly associated with the filing and acceptance of this report. The City generates revenue through charging for these inspections, as noted above. ALTERNATIVES 1. The Council could decide not to accept the report on the San Luis Obispo Fire Department’s compliance with California Health and Safety Code Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3. This is not recommended as the report and acknowledgment of its receipt is required by California Health and Safety Code Section 13146.4 (SB1205.) 2. The Council could designate an alternative time to receive these annual reports from the Fire Department. This is not recommended, as it makes most sense to prepare and submit these reports in concurrence with the annual budget-making process. ATTACHMENTS A - Draft Resolution acknowledging Fire Department compliance with SB1205 and CA Health and Safety Code 13146.4 Page 23 of 91 Page 24 of 91 R ______ RESOLUTION NO. _____ (2024 SERIES) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, ACKNOWLEDGING RECEIPT OF A REPORT ON THE SAN LUIS OBISPO FIRE DEPARTMENT’S COMPLIANCE WITH CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTIONS 13146.2 AND 13146.3 PURSUANT TO SENATE BILL 1205 WHEREAS, Section 13146.4 was added to the California Health and Safety Code in 2018 by Senate Bill 1205, and became effective January 1, 2019; and WHEREAS, California Health & Safety Code Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3 require all fire departments, including the San Luis Obispo City Fire Department, that provide fire protection services to perform annual inspections in every building used as a public or private school, hotel, motel, lodging house, apartments house, and certain residential care facilities for compliance with building standards, as provided ; and WHEREAS, California Health & Safety Code Section 13146.4 requires all fire departments, including the San Luis Obispo City Fire Department, that provide fire protection services to report annually to its administering authority its compliance with California Health and Safety Code Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo as follows: SECTION 1. Recitals. All of the above recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein by this reference. SECTION 2. Acknowledgment. The Fire Department’s annual report of compliance with California Health and Safety Code Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3 is received as follows. EDUCATIONAL (GROUP E) OCCUPANCIES (Health & Safety Code 13146.3): Educational Group E occupancies are generally those public and private schools, used by more than 6 persons at any one time for educational purposes through the 12th grade, inclusive of commercial daycare centers. Within the City, there are 26 known Group E occupancies or facilities. During Calendar year 2023, the Department completed the annual inspection of 21 Group E occupancies. This is a compliance rate of 80.7% for this reporting period. Page 25 of 91 Resolution No. _____ (2024 Series) Page 2 R ______ RESIDENTIAL GROUP R OCCUPANCIES (Health & Safety Code 13146.2): Residential Group R occupancies, for the purpose of this resolution, are generally those occupancies containing sleeping units, including hotels, motels sorority/fraternity houses, Assisted Living facilities, and apartments (three or more units). Within the City, there are 607 known Group R o ccupancies of this nature. During calendar year 2023, the Department completed the annual inspection of 523 Group R occupancies. This is a compliance rate of 83% for the reporting period. In FY 2022-23, the City realized $356,192 in fees collected for these inspections (pursuant to the City’s adopted Comprehensive Fee Schedule in effect for FY 22-23 and as authorized by statute.) Upon motion of Council Member ___________, seconded by Council Member ___________, and on the following roll call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: The foregoing resolution was adopted this _____ day of _______________ 20 24. ___________________________ Mayor Erica A. Stewart ATTEST: ___________________________ Teresa Purrington, City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: ___________________________ J. Christine Dietrick, City Attorney IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of San Luis Obispo, California, on ______________________. ___________________________ Teresa Purrington, City Clerk Page 26 of 91