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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/06/2004, COMM 2 - JANUARY 6, 2004 COMMUNICATION ITEM: EARTHQUAKE SAFETY AND DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS � t �Illd!III��������IIIIIIIIIIIII� council memoRAnbum T FRY of§an lues 6ms"o. a6ministaation 001paMpnent DATE: January 2, 2004 RED FILE TO: City Council ME ING AGENDA FROM: David Romero, Mayor�� DATES (o ITEM :. Z0 rrm 2— SUBJECT: SUBJECT: January 6, 2004 Communication Item: Earthquake Safety and Downtown Buildings In recent days, both locally and internationally, we have been reminded of the devastating impact an earthquake can have on life, property, and community. For this reason, the State of California adopted laws many years ago requiring cities to develop strategies for retrofitting unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings. Initially, the City intended to require owners of URM buildings to retrofit by the year 2000. However, property owners strongly objected to the mandatory nature and cost of a program with such an "aggressive" deadline. Therefore, working with the Chamber of Commerce and their Seismic Task Force, the City Council eventually agreed to a two-phased mandatory program with an outside deadline of 2017. It has been nearly 10 years since that program was adopted and while some progress has been made, about 100 buildings in our downtown have not been fully strengthened. This figure is larger than the combined total of all other buildings within the county which require strengthening. It is my understanding that our CAO contacted the Chamber of Commerce shortly after the San Simeon earthquake regarding reconvening the Seismic Task Force to discuss strategies for encouraging much swifter progress in the strengthening of downtown buildings in San Luis Obispo. The Chamber expressed a strong interest in such a renewed effort, and in the coming weeks, meetings and discussions will take place. One idea for the shorter terms is to hold a Forum on the topic, which will include representatives from Paso Robles to share their experiences. Longer term ideas are obviously needed, too. At this point, I am asking the Council to formally direct staff to work with the Chamber and to return to Council in approximately three months with a report on the ideas resulting from the discussions. In addition, I am suggesting that a letter be sent in the near future signed by the Mayor to property owners reminding them of their obligations and noticing them of the renewed dialogue and interest in this topic. Vice Mayor Schwartz has provided the CAO with a suggested sample letter(attached), which can be referred to staff as a starting point. As bad as the San Simeon earthquake was, I am hoping that we can use it as a productive wake- up call for all of us regarding the dangers of URM buildings. 0 IL CDD DIR RECEIVED �L��CCAAO FIN DIR l3ATTORNEY FIRE CHIEF JAN 9 2 LOO4 PW DIR �LEnv lORIa POLICE CHF d" REC DIR SLO C1TY CLER]Rm UTIL DIR con, I HR DIR Ken Hampian As we briefly discussed during our Monday meeting,I think we could use the Paso disaster to possible advantage and advance our retrofitting program. Below is a sugge ed letter that might go out over Dave's signature. Perhaps under `co unica 0 ' at our upcoming Council meeting we could give Council OK? I a couple of property owners more self couscous.`��er: Seismic Retrofit Date Addressee: Dear Dear M/M The seismic event that struck Paso Robles on December 22 causing the loss of life of innocent people and the destruction of a number of buildings in the historic center of our sister city gives cause for us to once again reassess our seismic retrofit program. Our records show that you are the owner of the building located in the City of San Luis Obispo at(Street Address ) and further identified by (Assessors LD. - ). Your building has been identified as a building that requires structural retrofitting. You have received prior official notification of your building's seismic condition and of your obligation to begin structural improvements that will bring your building into conformance with current seismic codes no later than (date ). The disaster that struck Paso Robles will have serious impacts on the economic vitality of their downtown business district as well as disastrous financial effects on individual property and business owners. Given that our downtown continues to have a number of un-reinforced masonry buildings, San Luis Obispo might have suffered a similar catastrophe had the earthquake epicenter been closer to as. A similar event could befall us and we are anxious to avoid those risks. `t'"c'tK You might be interested in knowing that of the buildings that were identified in downtown San Luis Obispo as being structurally deficient and requiring seismic retrofitting, have now been retrofitted and are in the process of com letin ca/fr 7 that needed work. All public buildings have now been retrofitted (Is this accurate????) ms's to G e,". Ho cP We are respectfully requesting that you reassess the timing of your retrofitting program to determine if you can advance your work. The City stands ready to assist you in the permitting process.