City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 44
point, the entire room is engulfed in fire, the fire extends rapidly both horizontally and vertically, and human survival near or in the room of fire origin becomes impossible. Additionally, brain death begins to occur within 4:00 to 6:00 minutes of the heart stopping. Thus, the ERF must arrive in time to prevent these emergency events from becoming worse.
The Department’s daily staffing provides an ERF of 22 personnel to a building fire—if they can arrive in time, which the statistical analysis of this report will discuss in depth. Mitigating an emergency event is a team effort once the units have arrived. This refers to the weight of response analogy; if too few personnel arrive too slowly, then the emergency will escalate instead of improving. The outcome times, of course, will be longer and yield less -desirable results if the arriving force is smaller or arrives later.
The quantity of staffing and the arrival time frame can be critical in a serious fire. Fires in older or multiple-story buildings could require the initial firefighters to rescue trapped or immobile occupants. If the ERF is too small, rescue and firefighting operations cannot be conducted simultaneously.
Fires and complex medical incidents require that additional units arrive in time to complete an effective intervention. Time is one factor that comes from proper station placement . Good performance also comes from adequate staffing and training. However, where fire stations are spaced too far apart, and one unit must cover another unit’s area or multiple units are needed, these units can be too far away, and the emergency will escalate or result in a l ess-than-desirable outcome.
Previous critical task studies conducted by Citygate , the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and NFPA Standard 1710 find that all units need to arrive with 15 or more firefighters within 11:30 minutes (from the time of 9 -1-1 call) at a building fire to be able to perform the tasks of rescue, fire suppression, and ventilation simultaneously and effectively.
A question one might ask is, “If fewer firefighters arrive, what from the list of tasks mentioned would not be completed?” Most likely, the search team would be delayed, as would ventilation.
The attack lines would only consist of two firefighters, which does not allow for rapid movement of the hose line above the first floor in a multiple-story building. Rescue is conducted with at least two-person teams; thus, when rescue is essential, other tasks are not completed in a simultaneous, timely manner. Effective deployment is about the speed (travel time) and the weight (number of firefighters) of the response.
An initial response of 22 personnel can handle a moderate-risk confined building fire; however, even this ERF will be seriously slowed if the fire is above the first floor in a low -rise apartment building or commercial/industrial building. This is where the capability to add additional personnel and resources to the standard response becomes critical.
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 45
Given that the Department’s ERF plan delivers 22 City personnel to a building fire, it reflects a goal to confine serious building fires to or near the room of origin and to prevent the spread of fire to adjoining buildings. This is a typical desired outcome in urban/suburban areas and requires more firefighters more quickly than the typical rural outcome of keeping the fire contained to the building, not room, of origin.
The Department’s current physical response to building fires is, in effect, its de-facto deployment measure—if those areas are within a reasonable travel time from a fire station. Thus, this becomes the baseline policy for the deployment of firefighters.
2.6 DISTRIBUTION AND CONCENTRATION STUDIES—HOW THE LOCATION OF FIRST-DUE AND
FIRST ALARM RESOURCES AFFECTS EMERGENCY INCIDENT OUTCOMES The City is served today by seven fire stations deploying the resources and staffing identified in Table 4. It is appropriate to understand, using geographic mapping
tools, what the existing stations do and do not cover within specified travel time goals, if there are any coverage gaps needing one or more stations, and what, if anything, to do about them.
In brief, there are two geographic perspectives to fire station deployment:
◆ Distribution – the spacing of first -due fire units to control routine emergencies before they escalate and require additional resources.
◆ Concentration – the spacing of fire stations sufficiently close to each other so that more complex emergency incidents can quickly receive sufficient resources from multiple fire stations. As indicated, this is known as the Effective Response Force (ERF), or, more commonly, the First Alarm Assignment —the collection of a sufficient number of firefighters on scene, delivered within the concentration time goal to stop the escalation of the problem.
To analyze first-due fire unit travel time coverage, Citygate used a geographic mapping tool that can measure theoretical travel time over a street network. For this calculation, Citygate used the base map and street travel speeds calibrated to actual fire apparatus travel times from previous responses to simulate real -world travel time coverage. A second model of traffic congestion limitations is used to show realistic negative impact s on travel times. Using these tools, Citygate ran several deployment tests and measured their impact on various parts of the City. A 4:00-minute first-due and 8:00 -minute ERF travel time were used consistent with national best practice response performance goals for positive outcomes in urban areas.
SOC ELEMENT 5 OF 8
DISTRIBUTION STUDY
SOC ELEMENT 6 OF 8
CONCENTRATION
STUDY
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 46
2.6.1 Deployment Baselines
All maps referenced can be found in Volume 2—Map Atlas.
Map #1 – General Geography, Station Locations, and Response Resource Types Map #1 shows the City boundary and fire station locations. This is a reference map for other maps that follow. Station symbols denote the type of staffed fire apparatus at each station. All engines and trucks are staffed with a minimum of three personnel each, and there are four ambulance units that are staffed with two firefighter/paramedics each.
Map #2 – Risk Assessment: Population Density
Map #2a shows population densities in the City. EMS incidents are principally driven by population density. In the City’s case , with rental housing for students and others, it is apparent the highest density areas are adjacent to the UC Berkeley campus.
Map #2a – Risk Assessment: High Wildfire Hazard Zones
This map displays the locations of the City’s identified high fire hazard areas as required by state law to adopt or use the CAL FIRE maps generated statewide. Even without knowing the history of the Hills Fires in 1991 and 1923, due to the hilly terrain and natural vegetation types, the areas pose a dangerous threat of wildfire to populations and buildings.
Map #3 – Distribution: 4:00-Minute First-Due Travel Time Coverage Map #3 shows in green the City’s public road miles that should be expected to be reached within 4:00 minutes of travel time from the City’s seven fire station locations without traffic congestion, assuming the responding resource is in-station.
The purpose of response time modeling is to determine response time coverage across a jurisdiction’s geography and station locations. This geo -mapping design is then validated against actual response data to reflect actual travel times. There should be some overlap between station areas so that a second-due unit can have a chance of an acceptable response time when it responds to a call in a different station’s first-due response area.
Map #3a – Distribution: 4:00-Minute First-Due Travel Time Coverage With Automatic Aid This map factors in the coverage provided by partner agencies under automatic aid agreements from Kensington Fire District and the Alameda County Fire Department which serves Emeryville.
There is small added coverage into the hills north of Station 4 and almost no added coverage from Emeryville. While this helps when Berkeley units are busy with other incidents, automatic aid coverage is not large enough to replace that of a Berkeley fire station.
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 47
Map #3b – Distribution: 4:00-Minute First-Due Travel Time Coverage with Traffic Congestion This map shows reduced traffic congestion coverage in red color over that of the green 4:00-minute travel time reach. While densely populated in non-hills areas, coverage loss due to traffic congestion is minimal as it is being mitigated by the City’s well-spaced fire stations.
Map #4 – Insurance Services Office 1.5-Mile Coverage
Map #4 displays the ISO recommendation that urban stations cover a 1.5 -mile distance response area. Depending on a jurisdiction’s road network, the 1.5-mile measure usually equates to a 3:30- to 4:00 -minute travel time. However, a 1.5 -mile measure is a reasonable indicator of station spacing and overlap. As can be seen, the 1.5-mile ISO coverage is good except in small pockets at the eastern central Hills area, and the Marina on the Bay. This coverage shows the value of the seven fire station locations.
Map #5 – Concentration: 8:00-Minute Effective Response Force (ERF) Travel Time Coverage This map shows, in green, the City’s public road miles that should be reachable within 8:00 minutes of travel time for a minimum initial ERF of four engines, two ladder truck s, one ambulance, one Medic Supervisor, and one Battalion Chief without traffic congestion . This quantity of units is a challenging number to deliver to the entire City within a travel time of 8:00 minutes, and there are coverage gaps in three corners of the City, mostly in the hills.
Map #5a – Concentration: 8:00-Minute ERF Travel Time Coverage with Traffic Congestion This map shows the significant reduction in 8:00-minute ERF travel time coverage with traffic congestion, primarily impacting all but the center core of the City.
Map #6 – Concentration: 8:00-Minute ERF Travel Time Coverage – Ladder Trucks Map #6 shows the ERF coverage from the City’s two ladder trucks. As can be seen the two units are properly located to cover the entire City.
Map #7 – 8:00-Minute Battalion Chief Travel Time Coverage This map displays 8:00-minute travel time coverage for a Battalion Chief from Station 1 without traffic congestion. It is apparent that the single Battalion Chief travel time coverage includes nearly all the City except for the extreme southeast corner.
Map #8 – All Incident Locations
This map shows the location of all incident responses from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2021, which occurred on almost every street segment in the City. Incidents plotted outside the city are due to the City’s mutual aid supporting other agencies.
City of Berkeley Fire Department
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Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 48
Map #9 – Emergency Medical Services and Rescue Incident Locations Map #9 illustrates only the emergency medical and rescue incident locations for the three reporting years of data being analyzed . With most of the calls for service being medical emergencies, virtually all areas of the City need pre-hospital emergency medical services.
Map #10 – All Fire Locations
This map displays the location of all fires within the City in the three reporting years being studied, which includes any type of fire call, from vehicle , to dumpster, to building. There are obviously fewer fires than medical or rescue calls. Even given this fact, it is evident that fires occur in all fire station areas and clustered along major arterials and the more densely populated areas on two sides of the UC Berkeley campus.
Map #11 – Building Fire Locations
Map #11 shows the locations of all building fire incidents in the three reporting years being studied.
While the number of building fires is a smaller subset of total fires, in Citygate’s experience this is consistent with other, similar cities in the western United States. As with the prior map showing all types of fires, there are more building fires in the more densely populated and older building stock areas close to the UC Berkeley campus.
Map #12 – Emergency Medical Services and Rescue Incident Location Densities This map displays, by mathematical density, where clusters of EMS and rescue incident activity occurred during the three reporting years of data analyzed by Citygate . In this set, the darker density color plots the highest concentration of EMS and rescue incidents. This type of map makes the location of frequent workload more meaningful than simply mapping the locations of all EMS and rescue incidents, as was shown in Map #9.
This perspective is important because the deployment system needs an overlap of units to ensure the delivery of multiple units when needed for more serious incidents or to handle simultaneous calls for service, as is evident for the higher population density areas of the City. There is a particular incident density west and southwest of the UC Berkeley campus, close to Station 2 and Station 5.
Map #13 – Fire Incident Location Densities
Map #13 shows the hot spots for all types of fire incidents (shown in Map #10).
Map #14 – Building Fire Incident Location Densities
This map shows the hot spots for building fire incidents (shown in Map #1 1). The density of structure fire incidents is most pronounced around the UC Berkeley c ampus and in the western region of the City near the Marina.
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 49
2.6.2 Travel Time Road Mile Coverage Measures
In addition to the visual displays of coverage that maps provide, the following table summarizes non-congested coverage versus the impacts of traffic congestion , both with the current station location and with stations 5 and 8 being relocated.
Table 13—First-Due and ERF Road Mile Coverage of 327 Miles – Congested Versus Non- Congested Traffic
Map Travel Time Measure Road Miles
Covered
Percentage
of Miles
Covered
3 4:00-Minute First-Due 285.27 87%
3b 4:00-Minute First-Due – Congested 273.61 84%
5 8:00-Minute ERF (4 Engines, 1 Truck, 1 Battalion Chief, 1 Medic) 257.35 79% 5a 8:00-Minute ERF (4 Engines, 1 Truck, 1 Battalion Chief, 1 Medic) – Congested 172.42 53% As the table shows, 4:00 -minute first-due unit coverage is reduced by 3.6 percent with traffic congestion. With 4:00 minutes as a desirable first -due travel time goal, and data in Table 23 showing the Department’s 90th percentile first-due travel time performance is 5:40 minutes, traffic congestion is, at least in part, impacting the additional 1:40 minutes of travel time. The 8:00-minute ERF travel time coverage without traffic congestion is adequate at 79 percent of total road miles, but congestion significantly erodes it by 26 percent.
Finding #5: The mapping evaluation of coverage demonstrates that the City has an adequate number of fire stations. However, as incident statistics demonstrate, best practice travel times are not being delivered due to multiple factors.
Finding #6: As shown in this study’s GIS models, t raffic congestion decreases first-unit road mile coverage by only 3.6 percent, which, in Citygate’s experience, is not severe. However, overall traffic congestion does still contribute to the Department’s slower real - world, non-GIS-modeled travel times . There is a more significant impact on multiple-unit ERF responses, eroding road mile coverage by 26 percent.
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 50
2.7 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
The map s described in Section 2.6 and presented in
Volume 2 —Map Atlas show the ideal situation for
response times and response effectiveness given no
competing calls, units out of place, or simultaneous calls for service. Examination of the response time data
provides a picture of actual response performance with
simultaneous calls, rush hour traffic congestion, units out of position, and delayed travel time for events such as periods of severe weather.
The following subsections provide summary statistical information regarding the Department and its services.
2.7.1 Demand for Service
The Department provided both NFIRS 5 incident and records management system apparatus response data from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2021. These two data sets were merged, providing 43,260 incidents and 87,805 apparatus response records across the three reporting years being analyzed. The Department experienced a decrease in incident activity in the last reporting year, most likely due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Figure 7—Total Service Demand by Year
SOC ELEMENT 7 OF 8
RELIABILITY &
HISTORICAL RESPONSE
EFFECTIVENESS
STUDIES
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Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 51
In RY 20/21, the Department responded to 13,003 incidents. During the year, the City had a daily demand of 35.62 incidents, of which 3.15 percent were fire incidents, 60.53 percent were EMS incidents, and 36.32 percent were other incident types. During this same period there were 27,402 total apparatus responses, which means there was an average of 2.11 apparatus responses per incident (typically a fire truck and an ambulance).
The following figure illustrates the number of incidents by incident type by reporting year. The number of EMS incidents appears to have declined by about 1,000 per year over the three reporting years assessed for this study. However, given the disruptions and changes brought about by COVID-19, it likely not a permanent trend.
Figure 8—Annual Service Demand by Incident Type
The following figure breaks down incidents by hour of the day by reporting year. There was a slight decline in incident activity in RY 20/21 throughout the late morning and early afternoon hours, and then again from the early evening hours through the early morning hours.
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 52
Figure 9—Service Demand by Hour of Day and Year
The following figure is a breakdown of the number of incidents by station area by reporting year.
Activity in all but Station 4 and Station 7 seems to have declined, but this may be due to COVID-
19. Figure 10—Service Demand by Station Area by Year
City of Berkeley Fire Department
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Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 53
The following table shows the activity rankings of incidents by incident type by reporting year.
There was a strong ranking for EMS incidents. Cancelled en route incidents also ranked high on the list. Only incident types with more than 30 calls for service over five years are shown. Also, responding units were cancelled prior to arrival on 4.6 percent of all incidents.
Table 14—Service Demand by Incident Type – RY 20/21
Incident Type RY 20/21
321 EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury 5,552 320 Emergency Medical Service, other 1,215
611 Dispatched and canceled en route 604
745 Alarm system sounded, no fire – unintentional 525
300 Rescue, emergency medical call (EMS) call, other 473 700 False alarm or false call, other 414
554 Assist invalid 383
622 No incident found on arrival of incident address 299 400 Hazardous conditions, other 224
743 Smoke detector activation, no fire – unintentional 223 651 Smoke scare, odor of smoke 216
600 Good intent call, other 192
311 Medical assist, assist EMS crew 181
324 Motor vehicle accident no injuries 168
322 Vehicle accident with injuries 146
740 Unintentional transmission of alarm, other 127
500 Service Call, other 115
510 Person in distress, other 112
151 Outside rubbish, trash, or waste fire 109
150 Outside rubbish fire, other 107
744 Detector activation, no fire – unintentional 101
550 Public service assistance, other 99
412 Gas leak (natural gas or LPG) 93
444 Power line down 75
522 Water or steam leak 70
440 Electrical wiring/equipment problem, other 64
710 Malicious, mischievous false call, other 61
323 Motor vehicle/pedestrian accident (MV Ped) 59
City of Berkeley Fire Department
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Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 54
Incident Type RY 20/21
520 Water problem, other 57
746 Carbon monoxide detector activation, no CO 48
531 Smoke or odor removal 47
733 Smoke detector activation due to malfunction 42
424 Carbon monoxide incident 41
730 System malfunction, other 40
736 CO detector activation due to malfunction 39
353 Removal of victim(s) from stalled elevator 38
131 Passenger vehicle fire 34
551 Assist police or another governmental agency 33
553 Public service 33
100 Fire, other 33
711 Municipal alarm system, malicious false alarm 32
900 Special type of incident, other 31
111 Building fire 30
The following table ranks incidents by property use where occurrences were greater than 100. The highest rankings for incidents by property use were residential dwellings.
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 55
Table 15—Service Demand by Property Use – RY 20/21
Property Use RY 20/21
419 One- or two-family dwelling 3,120
429 Multifamily dwellings 2,258
963 Street or road in commercial area 1,059
400 Residential, other 917
900 Outside or special property, other 744
960 Street, other 590
962 Residential street, road, or residential driveway 441 311 24-hour care Nursing homes, four or more persons 321 961 Highway or divided highway 267
331 Hospital - medical or psychiatric 221
340 Clinics, Doctors’ offices, hemodialysis centers 212 965 Vehicle parking area 140
462 Sorority house, fraternity house 128
449 Hotel/motel, commercial 127
460 Dormitory type residence, other 117
241 Adult education center, college classroom 114
500 Mercantile, business, other 105
519 Food and beverage sales, grocery store 101
931 Open land or field 100
2.7.2 Simultaneous Incident Activity
Simultaneous incidents occur when other incidents are underway at the time a new incident begins.
During RY 20/21, 77.31 percent of the City’s incidents occurred while one or more other incidents were underway.
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 56
Table 16—Simultaneous Incident Activity – RY 20/21
Number of Simultaneous Incidents Percentage
1 or more 77.31%
2 or more 47.18%
3 or more 23.49%
4 or more 9.67%
5 or more 3.36%
6 or more .97%
This following figure shows the number of simultaneous incidents by year. As with incident volume, there was a decrease in the number of simultaneous incidents in RY 20/21, which may be due to COVID-19.
Figure 11—Number of Simultaneous Incidents by Year
In a larger city, simultaneous incidents in different station areas have very little operational consequence. However, when simultaneous incidents occur within a single station area, there can be significant delays in response times.
The following figure illustrates the number of single-station simultaneous incidents by station area by reporting year. Station 5 had the greatest number of single-station simultaneous incidents over the three reporting years. Station 7 had the lowest.
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 57
Figure 12—Number of Single-Station Simultaneous Incidents by Station by Year
Finding #7: At least two simultaneous incidents are occurring nearly 47 percent of the time. This primarily impacts station areas 5, 2, and 1.
Finding #8: While the annual number of simultaneous incidents has decreased slightly, the response time coverage provided by the busiest companies to their own and to adjacent station areas remains diminished, shifting workload to other companies.
2.7.3 Apparatus Deployment – Simultaneous Incident Impact The following table shows 90 percent travel time performance in minutes and seconds. This table illustrates that Station 1’s area has a 7:38 minute travel time for Station 1 units. However, when resources respond from Station 1 (column 1, row 6) they take 9:17 minutes (time to 90 percent compliance) to arrive in Station 6’s territory.
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 58
Table 17—Apparatus: 90 Percent Performance Minutes – Assigned Station by Station Area
Station
Area
Assigned Station of the First-Arriving Apparatus
Station 1 Station 2 Station 3 Station 4 Station 5 Station 6 Station 7 Station 1 07:38
(2,001)
10:21
(203)
12:00
(84)
06:08
(5)
09:22
(263)
08:06
(122)
13:30
(3)
Station 2 10:50
(82)
06:00
(2,133)
09:14
(98)
06:09
(25)
07:49
(232)
08:20
(14)
10:18
(5)
Station 3 13:42
(12)
08:59
(36)
06:21
(1,208)
06:39
(2)
07:52
(95)
02:54
(1)
09:27
(1)
Station 4 11:10
(36)
09:19
(523)
13:56
(42)
06:43
(683)
12:39
(115)
08:25
(25)
07:38
(15)
Station 5 08:11
(177)
07:32
(175)
07:26
(344)
09:53
(8)
05:55
(3,259)
07:08
(11)
08:03
(1)
Station 6 09:17
(706)
09:57
(267)
12:28
(32)
10:48
(19)
10:15
(75)
06:22
(937) -
Station 7 16:50
(3)
12:26
(165)
14:19
(20)
12:34
(12)
14:54
(41)
06:32
(1)
07:53
(239)
2.7.4 Unit-Hour Utilization
The unit-hour utilization percentage is calculated using the number of responses and duration of the responses to show the percentage of time that a response resource is committed to an active incident during a given hour of the day. In Citygate’s experience, a unit-hour utilization of 30 percent or higher over multiple consecutive hours becomes the point at which other responsibilities, such as training, do not get completed.
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 59
The following table shows a unit-hour utilization summary for the City’s engine companies. The busiest engines are listed first. Engine 5 has two hours over 50 percent utilization and 11 consecutive hours over 30 percent utilization.
Table 18—Unit-Hour Utilization – Engines (20/21)
Hour Engine 5 Engine 1 Engine 2 Engine 6 Engine 4 Engine 3 Engine 7 00:00 23.23% 15.11% 17.16% 9.62% 10.14% 11.33% 0.58%
01:00 25.88% 10.21% 15.51% 11.19% 6.41% 9.09% 3.37%
02:00 18.81% 12.81% 10.79% 11.12% 9.66% 7.74% 3.56%
03:00 13.47% 6.63% 12.40% 6.71% 7.76% 4.40% 2.06%
04:00 11.55% 13.59% 10.26% 10.62% 7.61% 7.62% 1.69%
05:00 15.01% 6.44% 7.62% 3.69% 9.87% 4.93% 2.59%
06:00 11.08% 19.01% 10.05% 9.78% 13.02% 5.63% 3.00%
07:00 25.01% 21.97% 20.84% 18.37% 13.97% 8.97% 6.10%
08:00 30.47% 31.19% 22.80% 20.58% 20.92% 13.10% 5.44%
09:00 38.00% 31.75% 22.75% 28.75% 21.67% 14.57% 5.65%
10:00 41.58% 42.32% 28.32% 23.47% 25.77% 19.88% 11.49%
11:00 52.86% 31.20% 35.07% 41.62% 28.02% 23.70% 7.28%
12:00 49.05% 28.41% 31.70% 34.37% 20.78% 18.56% 9.29%
13:00 53.48% 43.37% 30.66% 31.32% 31.70% 29.91% 7.95%
14:00 45.24% 43.90% 39.12% 34.42% 36.53% 25.40% 15.68%
15:00 38.09% 38.93% 32.49% 31.93% 20.30% 18.31% 7.38%
16:00 47.27% 34.35% 34.50% 28.96% 22.18% 20.99% 12.14%
17:00 44.46% 33.94% 34.26% 22.25% 22.90% 20.69% 8.62%
18:00 32.84% 31.45% 30.75% 22.85% 23.40% 20.74% 11.46%
19:00 29.80% 30.92% 25.06% 29.59% 21.39% 18.51% 10.09%
20:00 25.59% 32.76% 23.66% 24.96% 20.72% 15.76% 9.20%
21:00 29.23% 20.37% 20.49% 18.23% 12.64% 12.76% 6.77%
22:00 26.99% 21.79% 16.67% 12.63% 9.51% 12.90% 4.69%
23:00 19.81% 24.27% 15.45% 21.47% 16.11% 8.64% 3.85%
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 60
The following table shows unit-hour utilization for the two truck companies for RY 20/21.
Table 19—Unit-Hour Utilization – Trucks (20/21)
Hour Truck 5 Truck 2
00:00 6.87% 5.07%
01:00 4.84% 4.42%
02:00 4.63% 3.45%
03:00 1.68% 1.41%
04:00 3.10% 3.53%
05:00 1.95% 2.76%
06:00 4.25% 6.36%
07:00 3.96% 7.08%
08:00 7.73% 11.87%
09:00 20.38% 14.38%
10:00 24.35% 18.19%
11:00 26.10% 15.98%
12:00 14.58% 13.39%
13:00 23.15% 20.47%
14:00 20.43% 13.91%
15:00 16.57% 12.32%
16:00 22.90% 13.25%
17:00 24.16% 12.88%
18:00 14.36% 13.44%
19:00 11.24% 8.43%
20:00 9.11% 11.14%
21:00 6.00% 6.70%
22:00 6.74% 7.34%
23:00 4.05% 8.37%
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 61
The following table illustrates a unit-hour utilization summary for the City’s EMS apparatus. M5, M2, and M1 each have several hours of 50 percent utilization and Medic 5 and Medic 2 each have one hour over 60 percent utilization and at least 13 consecutive hours at or above 30 percent utilization.
Table 20—Unit-Hour Utilization – EMS Units (20/21)
Hour M5 M2 M1 M3
00:00 22.87% 17.48% 12.56% 9.32%
01:00 22.85% 15.75% 19.46% 9.27%
02:00 17.34% 16.40% 17.53% 7.35%
03:00 13.61% 16.98% 10.92% 4.04%
04:00 8.71% 14.86% 18.86% 6.86%
05:00 13.06% 14.24% 8.26% 3.46%
06:00 8.95% 13.17% 16.14% 2.94%
07:00 25.50% 34.83% 33.70% 12.56%
08:00 48.33% 29.77% 33.16% 15.43%
09:00 44.71% 39.61% 38.97% 27.70%
10:00 48.82% 45.75% 42.94% 33.54%
11:00 51.40% 60.08% 41.92% 34.01%
12:00 49.60% 55.48% 42.34% 27.61%
13:00 51.46% 44.70% 54.43% 42.82%
14:00 65.37% 47.39% 56.38% 36.85%
15:00 45.36% 37.26% 52.01% 28.99%
16:00 52.28% 54.10% 44.79% 36.74%
17:00 41.93% 46.57% 42.89% 27.86%
18:00 48.24% 46.87% 35.45% 25.95%
19:00 31.61% 34.82% 42.09% 19.44%
20:00 30.19% 34.40% 38.01% 15.91%
21:00 22.49% 30.65% 26.78% 17.02%
22:00 26.16% 22.41% 23.65% 11.37%
23:00 21.09% 26.63% 25.70% 6.88%
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Three of the ambulance units exceeded a 30 percent threshold for long periods of time during consecutive daylight hours in RY 20/21.
Finding #9: The City’s ambulance system must provide an increased number of full- and part-time ambulances.
2.7.5 Operational Performance
Measurements for the performance of the first response apparatus to arrive at emergency incidents are the number of minutes and seconds necessary for 90 percent completion of the following response components:
◆ Call processing / dispatch
◆ Crew turnout
◆ Travel
◆ Call to arrival
Call Processing / Dispatch
Call processing measures the time from the first incident timestamp until completion of the dispatch notification. Call processing performance depends on what is being measured. If the first incident timestamp takes place at the time the public-safety answering point ( PSAP) physically answers a 9-1-1 call (at times, calls can be briefly held in queue), then call processing begins at PSAP Time. In Berkeley this is the Police Department, which also dispatches for the Fire Department.
In addition, not all requests for assistance are received via landline 9-1-1. Generally, there are numerous ways that requests for assistance are received, including landline telephone, cellular telephone, SMS text message, fire or police officer-initiated requests, TTY/TDD operator, etc. , that each have a separate timestamp at a different point in the processing operation. This is not as much of a factor if most requests are received via 9-1-1 PSAP.
The following table shows call processing / dispatch performance from time of call receipt at the Police Department. This performance does not meet a 1:30-minute Citygate best practice goal, nor a more aggressive NFPA Standard 1710 recommendation of 65 seconds. Also noteworthy is the consistency of performance across all three reporting years. Stated this way, COVID -19 only slightly lengthened dispatch processing time by approximately five seconds.
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Table 21—90th Percentile Call Processing / Dispatch Performance Station Overall RY 18/19 RY 19/20 RY 20/21
Department-Wide 2:27 2:24 2:29 2:29
The following is an hourly compliance figure revealing call processing compliance between 60 percent and 70 percent nearly every hour of the day.
Figure 13— Hourly Compliance Percentage for Call Processing (CAD) – 2020
The following figure illustrates that most requests are being processed within 90 seconds, with a peak at 60 seconds.
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Figure 14—Fractile for Incidents Call Processing (CAD)
Finding #10: The City’s call processing / dispatch performance is not meeting Citygate’s recommended best-practice goal of 1:30 minutes at 90 percent or better reliability.
Crew Turnout
Crew turnout performance measures the time interval from completion of the dispatch notification until the start of apparatus travel to the incident. While the most recent NFPA recommendation for crew turnout performance is 1:00 minute at 90 percent reliability for EMS incidents and 1:20 minutes at 90 percent reliability for fire incidents, Citygate has found over hundreds of fire department studies that few, if any, departments are able to achieve this level of performance when measured across a 24-hour shift.15 Thus, for many years, Citygate has recommended a 2:00-minute best practice goal for crew turnout at 90 percent or better reliability.
The following table summarizes the City’s crew turnout performance for the three reporting years, which very nearly meets Citygate’s recommendation of 2:00 minutes . Continued focus on this important measure will be needed to maintain this positive effort.
15 NFPA 1710 – Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments (2020 Edition).
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Table 22—90th Percentile Crew Turnout Performance
Station Overall RY 18/19 RY 19/20 RY 20/21
Department-Wide 2:03 2:03 2:02 2:05
The following figure illustrates turnout performance by number of seconds. Most turnout occurs in 120 seconds or less, but there are turnouts for emergency incidents that take longer.
Figure 15—Fractile Crew Turnout Performance (2020)
Finding #11: At 2:05 minutes averaged over 24 hours, the Department is just over meeting Citygate’s recommended 2:00 -minute crew turnout performance goal. As sleeping hours increase turnout time, consider adopting a turnout measure of 1:30 minutes during daytime hours to provide greater clarity and reflect Department performance more accurately.
Fire Station Distribution: First-Unit Travel
Travel performance measures the interval from start of first-due apparatus movement to arrival at the emergency incident. For most urban/suburban jurisdictions, a 4:00-minute first-due unit travel time 90 percent of the time would be considered highly desirable.
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As the following table illustrates, the Department’s 90th percentile first -due unit travel time performance over the past three reporting years is 5:40 minutes, which is 30 percent slower than a best practice-based 4:00-minute goal for highly urban areas. In addition, stations 4 and 7 have overall travel times both less than and greater than 7:00 minutes.
Table 23—90th Percentile First-Unit Travel Time Performance Station Overall RY 18/19 RY 19/20 RY 20/21
Department-Wide 05:40 05:25 05:42 05:53
Station 1 06:00 05:31 05:57 06:19
Station 2 04:57 04:40 04:57 05:13
Station 3 05:16 05:12 05:15 05:23
Station 4 06:58 06:49 07:20 06:51
Station 5 04:56 04:49 04:52 05:09
Station 6 06:04 05:46 06:10 06:18
Station 7 08:14 08:12 08:30 08:05
The following figure illustrates fractile travel time performance. The peak segment for travel performance is 210 seconds, or 3:30 minutes, with a slow drop-off in volume after the 240-second mark, indicating that 68 percent of incidents are reached within the first 4:00 minutes , though a significant number of incidents require much longer travel time.
Figure 16—Fractile for First-Due Travel Performance (CAD)
4:00 Minutes
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Finding #12: At 5:53 minutes, 90th percentile first-unit travel time is significantly higher than the 4:00-minute best practice goal for urban areas.
Fire Station Distribution: Call to First-Unit Arrival
Call to first-unit arrival performance measures the time interval from receipt of the 9-1-1 call in the Berkeley Police dispatch center until first-unit arrival at the emergency incident. This measure is a fire agency’s primary customer service metric. For urban population areas, Citygate typically recommends a 7:30- to 8:30-minute first-unit call-to-arrival goal at 90 percent compliance. 16 As the following table shows, the Department’s overall 90th percentile call-to-arrival performance across three reporting years is 9:23 minutes, or 1:53 minutes slower than an optimum 7:30-minute goal.
Across all reporting years, and in each station area, the weak performance is consistent:
Table 24—90th Percentile First-Unit Call-to-Arrival Performance Station Overall RY 18/19 RY 19/20 RY 20/21
Department-Wide 09:23 (25,366) 09:00 (9,161) 09:32 (8,552) 09:32 (7,653) Station 1 09:51 (4,269) 09:35 (1,482) 09:52 (1,425) 09:59 (1,362) Station 2 08:38 (5,154) 08:26 (1,914) 08:35 (1,846) 08:56 (1,394) Station 3 09:05 (2,450) 08:56 (918) 09:07 (817) 09:07 (715) Station 4 09:55 (2,290) 09:50 (745) 10:27 (771) 09:36 (774) Station 5 08:16 (6,977) 08:03 (2,601) 08:17 (2,290) 08:26 (2,086) Station 6 10:10 (3,471) 09:21 (1,289) 10:39 (1,141) 10:37 (1,041) Station 7 12:11 (755) 11:49 (212) 12:30 (262) 12:11 (281) The following figure shows peak call to first-unit arrival occurring at 6:00 minutes (360 seconds), and the right-shifted graph indicates the number of incidents with longer call to arrival time.
16 The 7:30-minute call to first -unit arrival goal in urban areas includes 1:30 minutes for call processing / dispatch time, 2:00 minutes for crew turnout time, and 4:00 minutes for travel time.
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Figure 17—Fractile Call to First-Unit Arrival Performance – RY 20/21
Finding #13: At 9:32 minutes in RY 20/21, 90th percentile first-unit call-to-arrival performance is 1:53 minutes slower than an optimum best practice goal of 7:30 minutes for urban areas.
Fire Station Concentration: ERF (First Alarm) Call to Arrival The Department’s ERF for building fires includes four engines, two ladder trucks, one ambulance, one Medic Supervisor, and one Battalion Chief for a total of 22 personnel. Over the period of three reporting years that were studied, there were 24 incidents for which the entire ERF arrived, with a 90th percentile call-to-arrival performance of 18:50 minutes, which is 7:20 minutes slower than Citygate’s recommended 11:30-minute goal for urban areas. Most of this slower response is due to the longer travel times, when several units must cross most of the City to reach the incident. 7:30 Minutes
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Table 25—90th Percentile ERF Call-to-Arrival Performance Station Overall RY 18/19 RY 19/20 RY 20/21
Department-Wide 18:50 (25) 11:50 (6) 16:29 (9) 18:50 (10) Station 1 18:50 (2) - - 18:50 (2)
Station 2 13:18 (8) 11:50 (3) 13:18 (2) 25:28 (3)
Station 3 15:20 (4) - 11:17 (2) 15:20 (2)
Station 4 20:59 (2) - 20:59 (2) -
Station 5 10:16 (6) 09:45 (2) 16:29 (2) 08:29 (2)
Station 6 17:28 (3) 17:28 (1) 07:40 (1) 08:47 (1)
Station 7 - - - -
Finding #14: At 18:50 minutes across the three years of data, 90th percentile ERF (First Alarm) call -to-arrival performance is 7:20 minutes slower than the 11:30-minute Citygate-recommended best practice goal for urban areas.
Response Performance Summary
The following table summarizes the Department’s operational response performance over the three-reporting-year period of data studied relative to recognized best practices. As the table illustrates, response performance for RYs 18/19, 19/20, and 20/21 was slower than Citygate’s best practice recommendation to ensure positive outcomes for serious emergencies.
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Table 26—Response Performance Summary
Response
Component
Best Practice 90th
Percentile
Performance
Performance
Versus Best
Practice and
Current Goal Time Reference
Call Processing / Dispatch 1:30 NFPA 2:29 + 0:59
Crew Turnout 2:00 Citygate 2:05 + 0:05
First-Unit Travel 4:00 NFPA 5:53 + 1:53
First-Unit Call to Arrival 7:30 Citygate 9:32 + 2:02
ERF Call to Arrival 11:30 Citygate 18:50 + 7:20
2.8 TRAFFIC CONGESTION, STREET SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE This study has noted how emergency incident travel times are 1: 53 minutes slower than recommended best practice t ravel times t o serious events. This measure is consistent across the City and by fire station district. Even in 2020, with many shutdowns related to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, travel time remained sluggish.
The GIS data measured only a small, 3.6 percent reduction in first-due road mile coverage resulting from traffic congestion. In Citygate’s experience with many other Bay Area cities, this is the most minimal impact between peak and off-peak hours we have witnessed. Some area cities see peak - hour impacts which decrease the road miles covered by approximately 15–25 percent.
Residing in Alameda County , and having visited Berkeley multiple times, Citygate ’s lead consultant on this project took note of the City’s street designs, the hills, street parking, buildings at corners and trees affecting sight lines—plus the large volume of traffic during most hours of the day, with the exception of very late evening to pre-morning rush hour. All these factors combine to negatively impact travel times for emergency vehicles in general. Traffic congestion specifically plays only a minor pa rt in delaying first-due units ; however, traffic congestion does severely impact multiple-unit ERF travel times—even with traffic signal preemption control, as there is nowhere cars and trucks can move to make space for emergency vehicles.
To protect pedestrians and automobile passengers, the City has long used various traffic-calming measures, including barriers on some residential streets , to stop “cut-through” traffic. The street closure barriers were built to allow the passage of fire trucks —but only slowly. Emergency
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response units cannot drive over these barriers at the speed limit. Many of these devices completely restrict ambulance passage as ambulances sit lower to the ground than fire trucks.
Throughout the country over the last 20 plus years, traffic engineers have deployed approximately 20 street design elements to slow thr ough traffic. A few examples of such elements are speed humps, lumps, split lumps, intersection bulb -outs, traffic circles , and raised intersections. Most communities have a formal process to consider these tools during development or upon neighborhood reques t. The more common devices that slow traffic—such as lumps or traffic circles—slow a fire unit by 9–10 seconds per device encountered. Thus, if a unit had to encounter and navigate three devices en route to an incident, 27–30 seconds would be lost across the total response time.
Berkeley has done commendable work to incentivize shifts toward non -automotive means of mobility. More people opting to walk, bike, and utilize public transit means fewer cars on the road, reduced congestion, less pollution, and improved response times. It also encourages active transportation—which improves public health, reducing emergency medical needs in the long term. Further, improving roadway safety reduces deaths, injuries, and related calls for service. As Berkeley adds additional housing through mixed -use, accessory dwelling units and middle housing, it will be important for the City to further improve and incentivize alternatives to driving to counteract the effects of potential additional vehicles on pedestrian/cyclist safety and response times.
Priority Response Routes
The City has adopted a Complete Streets policy as a set of strategies to significantly improve pedestrian and bicycle safety. Fire departments are typically involved in the approval process for traffic-calming elements to understand the impacts to response time. One strategy to lessen impacts on fire and ambulance response times is to have the Department identify “priority response routes” that are the prime arterials and/or main boulevards leaving a fire station, and which allow units to quickly travel across half of a fire station district to the actual residential streets in need of service.
Priority response routes should be identified based on specific criteria and could employ fewer, or perhaps differently designed, traffic-calming methods. Relatedly, the City should explore roadway configurations, such as dedicated transit/emergency lanes , that could serve multiple City goals related to mobility, emergency response, and evacuation.
Housing Impacts on Response Time Performance
Increased populations in taller buildings mean emergency response times may be longer. After a unit reaches an address, personnel must then ascend several stories to where the patient or fire is.
Thus, the arrival of responders to the actual incident or pa tient location can be minutes after the official arrival time is logged in the CAD system. Dense, high -rise and in -fill housing plays an
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important role in meeting the City’s housing goals. Such housing and development is also changing the risk profile the Department is trained and staffed to mitigate.
As the City grows and changes, the Department must monitor and publicly report travel times and other relevant performance data. The Department must also be more involved in traffic design, approvals, setting forth priority response routes, and working with Public Works to request funding for traffic signal/control (“smart corridor”) technology to sync several traffic signals at once along an emergency response route.
It may be necessary to add infill fire/ambulance stations between existing sites to lower travel distances. This is essentially the way downtown urban cores such as Manhattan, Chicago, and Los Angeles must provide coverage. In these agencies, fire/EMS stations are almost in sight of each other due to traffic congestion and high-rise building populations.
Existing Non-Conforming Street Width Impacts to Response Times The majority of roadways in the eastern portion of the City —and others scattered throughout the balance of the City—are existing and non-conforming with regard to their width. When vehicles are parked on one or both sides of these narrow roadways, the remaining width often leaves inches of clearance on either side of an emergency vehicle that is navigating these areas, which significantly slows travel times in these districts. Furthermore, these roads are commonly left impassable for emergency vehicles due to carless parking configurations, vegetation growth adjacent to the road that pushes parked vehicles toward the centerline, delivery or other commercial vehicles left temporarily unattended, construction activity, and a variety of other circumstances. These delays can often add minutes to a response as responders have to stop, locate the driver of the vehicle blocking the roadway, or slowly back the emergency vehicle to the closest intersection and re-route to the emergency scene.
There is little that can be done with regard to widening these roadways, so the City is left to focus on other strategies to maintain the maximum width possible (if not compliant with the Fire Code).
Some strategies could be, but are not limited to, roadsi de adjacent vegetation enforcement and management, an in-depth study that analyzes large -scale evacuations of the Berkeley Hills area, which may drive proposals for strategic parking restrictions and enforcement, advocacy for better public transit serving these portions of the City coupled with incentives to reduce the size of vehicles, and incentives to reduce the number of vehicles parked on the public right-of-way.
Finding #15: The Public Works and Fire departments have not yet established an effective set of integrated policies and traffic -calming methods to improve public safety by minimizing roadway injuries, deaths, and response/evacuation times.
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2.9 PLANNED AMBULANCE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS
This study has identified how over committed the Department’s four paramedic ambulance units are for most of the daytime to mid -evening hours. This is due to the City not adding a sufficient number of new ambulances over the years, a dispatch center that is not capable of triaging and diverting non-urgent calls for service, increases in population, and—given the state of health care and housing in America —the increase in non -medically insured populations, both housed and houseless.
In parallel with beginning this study, the Department understood the issues associated with the workload per ambulance per hour and gained City support for a plan to grow and change the deployment of Department ambulances. Over the next three years, the Department will make the transition from ambulances staffed with only firefighter/paramedics to ambulance s staffed with non-firefighter/paramedics and EMTs. During this transition to staffing ambulances with full-time medical personnel only , some existing firefighter/paramedics will be reduced through attrition, and some will be reassigned to ladder units to increase first responder staffing to emergencies that firefighters are trained for.
Initially, the program will alter staffing for the existing four ambulances, which will not reduce unit workload. As a second step, the Department will add BLS ambulances to handle low-acuity patients who do not require ALS paramedic care, but this change will also require upgrades to dispatcher training and technology to sort 9-1-1 callers into clinical categories.
Over time, ambulance staffing changes will reduce the cost associated with each ambulance staff member by approximately 20 percent for non -firefighter paramedics and 50 percent for non - firefighter EMTs. These cost savings will allow the Department to strategically increase some fire apparatus staffing from three to four crew members and deploy additional ambulances at a lower cost.
This conversation will also allow the Department to build a recruitment pathway from local vocational schools to provide entry-level EMT positions that pay well and provide good benefits.
An employee is then inside the Department and can be further mentored and developed to take on a variety of career paths valuable to the City—all of which are high skill, high pay, and in need of qualified applicants.
In early 2023, t he Department will begin transitioning staffing for ALS ambulances to non - firefighter paramedics. This will require at least four paramedic recruitments over three years. The anticipated sequence of ambulance conversion will be Medic 2, Medic 1, Medic 3, and Medic 5.
The Department will also work to deploy BLS ambulances staffed with EMTs. Th ese positions will be entry-level, with limited-term contracts, that will provide the primary recruitment tool for
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the organization. Employment contracts will last for three years but may be extended to five if the employee enrolls in a fire academy or paramedic program.
The Department would like to hire as many as 28 EMTs (with current funding for 10). The soonest that EMT ambulance positions can be added would be 2024. Thus, it is all but impossible for the Department to add a fifth or sixth ambulance of any type before early 2024.
Finding #16: The City’s planned expansion of ambulance service is consistent with best practices and will provide needed improvement, but upgrades in dispatcher skills for clinical evaluation to recognize and separate low-acuity incidents will not be fully realized for at least three more years , and likely longer . Given the ongoing strain on ambulances staffed with only firefighter/paramedics, the process of conversion and expansion of ambulances is too slow to meet current (and growing) EMS service demands.
2.10 MENTAL HEALTH PATIENT TRANSPORT
Another type of EMS patient care is when a patient is experiencing a mental health crisis so severe that a police officer can require the person be placed on 72 -hour hold for in-patient mental health evaluation. To date in Alameda County, these patients are transported by the County’s ambulance provider to several facilities. In addition to police, Department first responders and ambulances also respond at times given uncertainty as to the medical situation when 9-1-1 is first called. The short form name for these incidents comes from the California Government Code for the mental health holds—Section 5150. These 5150 incidents are separately counted in the Berkeley Police and Fire incident records and as such are not included in the EMS incident counts elsewhere in this study.
Citygate was provided 5150 incident data for three reporting years between 7/1/2019 and 6/30/2022. During this period , there were 5,002 mental health incidents and 15,534 apparatus response records —demonstrating that, for many incidents, the initial response is three units :
police, fire first responder, and fire ambulance. In the last reporting year, there were 1,578 total incidents and 3.1 apparatus responses per incident. The number of incidents per day was 4.32.
The following figure illustrates the number of incidents by month by year. There is more activity during summer months, with activity decreasing during winter months.
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Figure 18—Number of 5150 Incidents by Month by Year
The following figure shows that p eak activity occurs on Thursday, with minimal activity on Sunday and Monday.
Figure 19—Number of 5150 Incidents by Day of Week by Year
The following figure illustrates the breakdown of incidents by hour of day by year.
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Figure 20—Number of 5150 Incidents by Hour of Day by Year
The following table illustrates the total number of hours spent for 5150 incidents by department.
Table 27—5150 Incidents – Total Duration Hours by Year by Department Department RY 19/20 RY 20/21 RY 21/22 Total
Berkeley Fire Department 15.4 14.3 18.8 48.5
Berkeley Police Department 696.2 696.1 738.4 2130.7
County Ambulance System Transport 1835.9 1755.6 1821.0 5412.5 Total 2547.6 2466.0 2578.2 7591.8
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The following table illustrates 5150 incidents by destination hospital by year.
Table 28—5150 Incident Count – Year by Destination Hospital Hospital RY 19/20 RY 20/21 RY 21/22 Total
-Blank- 786 525 462 1,773
Alameda County Fairmont Hospital 1 1
Alameda County Medical Center, Highland 8 15 10 33
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Alta Bates Campus 472 654 536 1,662 Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Herrick Campus 5 4 10 19 Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Summit Campus 25 33 46 104 Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland 9 10 4 23 Eden Medical Center 4 3 2 9
John George Psychiatric Pavilion 372 374 434 1,180
Kaiser Permanente, Oakland Medical Center 43 36 56 135
Kaiser Permanente, San Leandro Medical Center 1 2 3
San Leandro Hospital 11 4 12 27
Willow Rock Center 22 6 3 31
Total 1,759 1,665 1,578 5,002
The following table illustrates hours and minutes to 90 percent duration performance for 5150 incidents by destination hospital by year. Given the number of mental health crisis patients in the north county, take note of the time it takes the ambulance to transfer care of the patient at the County’s John George facility and Alta Bates Summit Center:
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Table 29—90 Percent Performance Minutes for 5150 Incidents – Year per Hospital Hospital RY 19/20 RY 20/21 RY 21/22
-Blank- 02:35 (786) 02:32 (525) 02:23 (462)
Alameda County Fairmont Hospital 03:22 (1)
Alameda County Medical Center, Highland 02:07 (8) 03:25 (15) 04:02 (10) Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Alta Bates Campus 02:29 (472) 02:37 (654) 02:38 (536) Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Herrick Campus 01:48 (5) 01:11 (4) 02:44 (10) Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Summit Campus 01:56 (25) 04:22 (33) 03:07 (46) Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland 01:33 (9) 02:32 (10) 05:08 (4) Eden Medical Center 02:44 (4) 04:16 (3) 03:32 (2)
John George Psychiatric Pavilion 02:53 (372) 02:52 (374) 03:32 (434) Kaiser Permanente, Oakland Medical Center 02:09 (43) 02:27 (36) 02:43 (56) Kaiser Permanente, San Leandro Medical Center 01:41 (1) 03:31 (2) San Leandro Hospital 02:54 (11) 02:41 (4) 04:34 (12)
Willow Rock Center 02:50 (22) 03:08 (6) 03:23 (3)
It is not uncommon for more than one of these incidents to occur at the same time in the City.
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The following table shows simultaneous 5150 incidents by hour of day and day of week.
Table 30—Simultaneous 5150 Incidents (Two or More at the Same Time) Hour 1 Mon 2 Tue 3 Wed 4 Thu 5 Fri 6 Sat 7 Sun Total
00:00 11 17 7 11 15 12 9 82
01:00 10 7 4 12 11 5 10 59
02:00 5 10 10 13 6 9 4 57
03:00 8 9 7 8 8 5 5 50
04:00 5 2 9 7 2 5 4 34
05:00 2 7 2 4 4 7 8 34
06:00 9 4 7 6 3 4 3 36
07:00 5 6 9 15 14 12 11 72
08:00 7 7 16 16 14 7 4 71
09:00 17 19 11 22 17 13 9 108
10:00 11 15 17 21 16 14 6 100
11:00 20 21 8 13 18 16 18 114
12:00 18 16 10 16 8 9 18 95
13:00 24 23 16 18 16 12 14 123
14:00 17 17 12 14 15 10 14 99
15:00 14 18 13 22 5 18 10 100
16:00 17 13 16 22 14 15 2 99
17:00 12 5 17 23 13 23 7 100
18:00 10 10 19 16 12 17 16 100
19:00 16 11 13 25 23 16 27 131
20:00 10 19 9 24 17 17 17 113
21:00 14 19 23 20 27 11 12 126
22:00 10 13 21 14 18 15 19 110
23:00 13 15 15 10 19 15 14 101
Total 285 303 291 372 315 287 261 2,114
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The following figure illustrates the breakdown of transport incidents by hour of the day by year.
Figure 21—Number of 5150 Transport Incidents by Hour of Day by Year
The number and frequency of mental health evaluation holds and resultant transports to an appropriate care facility are a significant daily event in the City.
Finding #17: Based on the most recent year’s quantity of mental health patients being transported, if the Department is tasked with management of these patients, it would require the addition of one 24 -hour ambulance and one 12-hour peak ambulance—both operating seven days a week. At present, the Department does not have the units or personnel to administer this workload.
2.11 OVERALL DEPLOYMENT EVALUATION
The Department serves a diverse urban population with a mixed residential and non -residential land -use pattern typical of an East San Francisco Bay area city. Due to the City’s bayfront location, the University of California
campus and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the Department protects large tourism and non-resident population densities. The City also is evolving to improve its housing shortages by approving mid- and high-rise residential buildings. UC Berkeley is completing its new master plan to add students, faculty, on-campus buildings and housing off-campus.
SOC ELEMENT 8 OF 8
OVERALL EVALUATION
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The intensification of land uses and populations will make several sections of Berkeley very “urban” to a degree typical of the largest metropolitan cities for population densities and traffic.
This will require the City’s fire and ambulance programs to evolve beyond those of a “suburban” agency to those suitable for a major urban fire department in staffing, unit types , and facility locations. Citygate acknowledges this will not only be costly but also difficult to find new locations for responders in an already built-up City.
For comparison, the following table displays population density per square mile . Of the top 50 largest cities in California, Berkeley is already the second most densely populated city per square mile—even without students, citywide employment, tourism, and cars on the freeways. The City needs an urban level of fire, EMS, and specialty rescue services.
Table 31—California Cities: Population Density per Square Mile Rank by
Population
Rank by
Density City Population Size
(Square Miles)
Population per
Square Mile
4 1 San Francisco 873,965 46.91 18,630.68
51 2 Berkeley 124,321 10.43 11,919.56
13 3 Santa Ana 310,227 27.34 11,347.00
31 4 Garden Grove 171,949 17.96 9,574.00
7 5 Long Beach 466,742 50.71 9,204.14
1 6 Los Angeles 3,898,747 469.49 8,304.22
8 7 Oakland 440,646 55.93 7,878.53
22 8 Oxnard 202,063 26.53 7,616.40
23 9 Huntington Beach 198,711 27 7,359.67
46 10 Santa Clara 127,151 18.28 6,955.74
33 11 Salinas 163,542 23.52 6,953.32
36 12 Sunnyvale 155,805 22.08 7,056.39
40 13 Torrance 147,067 20.52 7,167.01
10 14 Anaheim 346,824 50.27 6,899.22
37 15 Pomona 151,713 22.99 6,599.09
41 16 Fullerton 143,617 22.42 6,405.75
24 17 Glendale 196,543 30.48 6,448.26
44 18 Pasadena 138,699 22.96 6,040.90
19 19 Modesto 218,464 43.05 5,074.66
3 20 San Jose 1,013,240 178.26 5,684.06
43 21 Orange 139,911 25.67 5,450.37
15 22 Chula Vista 275,487 49.64 5,549.70
6 23 Sacramento 524,943 98.61 5,323.43
City of Berkeley Fire Department
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Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 82
Rank by
Population
Rank by
Density City Population Size
(Square Miles)
Population per
Square Mile
11 24 Stockton 320,804 62.21 5,156.79
21 25 Fontana 208,393 43.07 4,838.47
5 26 Fresno 542,107 115.18 4,706.61
14 27 Irvine 307,670 65.61 4,689.38
25 28 Santa Rosa 178,127 42.53 4,188.27
28 29 Rancho Cucamonga 174,453 40.11 4,349.36
17 30 Santa Clarita 228,673 70.75 3,232.13
2 31 San Diego 1,386,932 325.88 4,255.96
29 32 Oceanside 174,068 41.27 4,217.79
26 33 Elk Grove 176,124 41.99 4,194.43
38 34 Escondido 151,038 37.35 4,043.86
20 35 Moreno Valley 208,634 51.33 4,064.56
50 36 Concord 125,410 30.55 4,105.07
35 37 Corona 157,136 39.94 3,934.30
39 38 Roseville 147,773 44.08 3,352.38
49 39 Vallejo 126,090 30.42 4,144.97
42 40 Visalia 141,384 37.94 3,726.52
12 41 Riverside 314,998 81.23 3,877.85
18 42 San Bernardino 222,101 62.13 3,574.78
34 43 Hayward 162,954 45.82 3,556.39
27 44 Ontario 175,265 49.97 3,507.40
48 45 Simi Valley 126,356 41.55 3,041.06
16 46 Fremont 230,504 78.31 2,943.48
9 47 Bakersfield 403,455 149.78 2,693.65
47 48 Thousand Oaks 126,966 55.26 2,297.61
30 49 Lancaster 173,516 94.27 1,840.63
45 50 Victorville 134,810 73.71 1,828.92
32 51 Palmdale 169,450 106.06 1,597.68
While state fire code requires fire sprinklers in residential dwellings, it will be many more decades before enough residential units are replaced or remodeled with automatic fire sprinklers. If desired outcomes include limiting building fire damage to onl y part of the inside of an affected building and minimizing permanent impairment resulting from a medical emergency, then the City will need coverage in all neighborhoods that is consistent with Citygate ’s response performance recommendation for Berkeley. Based on Citygate’s study, this response performance
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 83
recommendation entails no more than 8:30 minutes for the arrival of a single first responder, and 11:30 minutes for a multiple -unit arrival to more serious incidents, from the time of 9 -1-1 notification at the Berkeley Police Communications Center—all at 90 percent or better reliability.
Dispatch, turnout, and travel times all need to be reduced. Dispatch time must decrease by 0: 59 seconds to meet a 1:30-minutes call-processing goal, turnout time by :05 seconds to meet a 2:00- minute goal, and travel time by 0:53 seconds to meet a proposed goal of no more than 5:00 minutes for first-due units in congested urban areas. Collectively, Citygate’s recommended first-unit total response time goal is 8:30 minutes (1:30 + 2:00 + 5:00).
Berkeley must act (1) to restore emergency responder availability for serious, life-threatening fires and emergency medical service events and (2) to field enough firefighters to serious building or wildland fires quickly.
Recovering response time and unit capacity goals will require multiple changes over the next three years to first improve and then maintain response times as growth occurs:
1. Increasing the number of ambulances from four to six.
2. Shifting responsibility for non -acute EMS calls from the 9 -1-1 Fire/Ambulance program to a Mobile Integrated Health program like the City’s pilot Mobile Integrated Paramedic (MIP) program.
3. Improving dispatch staffing and systems to allow for EMS clinical call triage.
4. Working collaboratively with Public Works staff and traffic safety advocates to engineer methods to lessen disproportionate impacts on emergency response times as the City redesigns streets using its Complete Streets policy.
5. Increasing staffing to four personnel each on key engines and ladder trucks.
6. Adding a second field operations Battalion Chief 24/7 for improved crew supervision and to add an immediate scene safety officer to support the Battalion Chief / Incident Commander for serious emergency incidents.
If the se six strategies do not improve acute emergency response times and lower unit-hour utilization (UHU) workload to no more than 30 percent, the City should construct infill fire or ambulance-only stations between the current busiest station pairs of 2 and 5 and 1 and 6 . These areas are also where much of the infill development, high-rise building, and UC Berkeley campus growth will occur.
One solution employed by some fire departments that struggle with UHU and response time is to deploy a smaller , two-firefighter staffed squad unit to handle low -risk / low-acuity calls. In the City, ambulances—at both ALS and BLS levels of care—are non-firefighting, two-person units.
Proposed alternative response units like the Mobile Integrated Paramedic (MIP) or similar model could also employ two-person staffing. Given the large building, wildland fire, technical rescue,
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 84
and hazardous materials risks, City firefighter units require a fully staffed crew to arrive quickly and concurrently with all the needed tools to provide rapid mitigation of the problem . Adding personnel to existing units will result in the appropriate number of firefighters arriving in a shorter amount of time. Given these dynamics, Citygate is not recommending the use of firefighting squads in the City.
Given our analysis, Citygate finds the Department’s response apparatus types to be appropriate to protect against the hazards likely to impact the City. However, fire crew staffing of three per unit is insufficient to provide the necessary “weight” of response to serious fires—especially so in mid- and high -rise buildings and for severe wildland fire s that start in the hills. Currently , the Department’s service capacity for fire and non -fire risk consists of 37 personnel on duty daily , including one Battalion Chief, one mobile Paramedic Supervisor, and 27 firefighters staffing seven engines and two aerial ladder trucks . An additional eight firefighters currently staff four ambulances and operate from the Department’s seven fire stations. However, engines are very busy providing EMS response, and the firefighters staffing ambulances are not consistently available for firefighting at present. Over the next several years, three firefighters per day will be moved to an engine and both ladders, thus raising three of the nine firefighting units to four-firefighter staffing consistent with NFPA Standard 1710 and Citygate best practices for high- density urban core areas. These firefighters will be replaced by non-firefighter EMS personnel on the ambulances, thus aligning the classification with the work and creating a more efficient system.
However, only three units with four-firefighter staffing will not be enough. At a minimum, four- firefighter staffing should be provided:
◆ On four engines: 1, 2, 5, and 6
◆ On trucks 2 and 5
◆ Occasionally (on high-fire danger wildland fire days) on engines 3, 4, and 7.
When increasing firefighting units to four crew members each, one additional firefighter per day will have to be newly funded, which amounts to a total of three added firefighting personnel per crew (plus the overtime to cover their leave absences) on a three-platoon fire crew rotation system.
The wildfire threat days which increase staffing to four each can be handled via overtime during daylight hours or when winds are most severe. When the engine and ladder units identified are staffed with four personnel each, the daily staffing for units other than ambulances increases from 27 to 33 per day—much more consistent with the risks to be protected in a thriving, growing urban area with internationally known assets and a tragic history of wildland fires.
There is also a need to add a second field operations Battalion Chief 24 hours per day for improved crew supervision and to add an immediate scene safety officer to support the Battalion Chief / Incident Commander for serious emergency incidents.
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 85
The Department’s on -duty operations staff has grown to 10 direct reports to a single on -duty Battalion Chief. This is beyond an effective span of control of 5–7 subordinates per supervisor. A 10:1 span of control provides no time for mentoring and training subordinates, which contributes to long-term challenges relating to succession planning. Further, this 10:1 ratio does not factor in any future expansion of the organization to meet the changing needs of the community.
Performing competent emergency incident command is very challenging, especially in the initial minutes of an incident when rapid decisions have to be made that influence the preservation of life, property, and the environment. Industry best practice is to have two chief officers on the scene of significant emergencies. As defined by National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH),17 four of the top five contributing factors to firefighter fatalities on an emergency scene are the responsibility of the Incident Commander:
1. Improper or Inadequate Risk Assessment
2. Lack of Incident Command
3. Lack of Accountability
4. Inadequate or Poor Communications
5. Lack of SOPs or failure to follow established SOPs.
A novel forensic study of over 12,000 firefighter incident emergencies called Project Mayday 18 provides useful data to help fire department incident commanders predict and prevent firefighter injuries and deaths. Surprisingly , there have been at least 10 firefighter maydays called by City Firefighters since 2001 —incidents where firefighters were in life -threatening situations and required immediate assistance from crews and complex coordination from the sole Incident Commander on scene.
1. Two crew members caught and burned in a rapid fire progression during a warehouse fire.
2. One crew member becomes disoriented, lost, and jumps out a window during the search of a residential structure on fire.
3. Two crew members trapped under a roof collapse during a structure fire on Milvia St.
4. Two crew members caught in a rapid fire event while fighting a residential structure fire on Fulton St.
17 https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/default.html
18 http://projectmayday.net/
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 86
5. One crew member separated from other team members and caught in rapid fire progression, rescued from a window during a church fire.
6. Two crew members lost and become trapped during a search of a residential structure fire on Milvia St.
7. One crew member becomes disoriented and lost during the search of a commercial structure on fire on Ninth St.
8. One crew member falls into a swimming pool that was covered with foam and not visible.
9. Multiple crews escape electrocution when high -tension PG &E lines are burned through and drop during a warehouse fire on Fourth St.
10. Two crew members fall through a floor collapse at a fire on College Ave.
The Department has implemented a temporary second Duty Chief program where 40 -hour staff chief officers rotate on -duty as second chief officer s. Project Mayday tells us that 85 percent of firefighter emergencies occur during non-business hours, when a department’s second Duty Chief system has personnel traveling from home often with a response time of 45 :00 minutes or more.
Project Mayday data reveals that 40 percent of firefighter emergencies occur within the first 25 minutes of operations. Thus, a response time of 45:00 minutes or more for additional chief-level support must be improved.
According to Dr . Richard Gasaway ,19 “[Task] Saturation results when the brain takes in the maximum amount of stimulation it can handle—it’s working at full capacity—yet more and more information is coming in. When the brain gets completely saturated with task demands, it simply cannot process any more information. ” With only one chief officer on the scene of critical incidents, even seasoned incident commanders become task saturated as they are attempting to simultaneously:
◆ Manage communications on multiple radio channels
◆ Absorb face-to-face communication from civilians and firefighters ◆ Maintain incident accountability and resource tracking (on paper) ◆ Perform ongoing risk analysis
◆ Monitor strategy and tactics to ensure they are in alignment with the problem and standard operating guidelines
19 https://www.samatters.com/task-saturation-impacts-situational-awareness/
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 87
◆ Order and coordinate mutual aid resources to provide coverage to Berkeley fire stations for other 9-1-1 calls that will continue to occur ◆ Initiate emergency call back of off -duty staff if needed such as the PIO and Fire Investigator
◆ Identify and initiate an evacuation plan using Zonehaven (if necessary) ◆ Develop and deploy emergency messaging to the community ◆ Perform the role of Safety Officer for the scene
◆ Make phone calls to dispatch and other members of command staff to coordinate and provide critical updates.
Partially due to task saturation and the resulting auditory exclusion, Project Mayday informs us that when a firefighter initiates an emergency and makes a critical “mayday” radio transmission to the incident commander, informing them of the situation and the urgent need for help —which is sometimes the first and last transmission a seriously injured firefighter is able to make —the incident commander misses these transmissions 36 percent of the time.
2.11.1 Overall Deployment Recommendations
Based on the technical analysis and findings contained in this SOC study, Citygate offers the following overall deployment recommendations:
Recommendation #1: Proceed with the planned conversion to staffing the four current ambulances with non -firefighter paramedics and EMTs.
Recommendation #2: The Department needs to add two additional ambulances, requiring 16 additional non-firefighter Paramedics and/or EMT FTE personnel.
Recommendation #3: The City needs to upgrade its dispatch staffing, training, and software to allow for clinical call triage to send Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances or alternative care units to low -acuity EMS requests, as outlined in the City’s
separate Dispatch Needs Analysis.
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 88
Recommendation #4: The Berkeley Public Works and Fire departments should develop and implement holistic policies and traffic
calming/controls that promote broad-based public safety through tandem reductions in both traffic -related
injury/death and response/evacuation times.
Recommendation #5: Increase the staffing on six of the nine firefighting units (four engines, two aerial trucks) from three to four
personnel per day.
Recommendation #6: Provide the overtime staffing increase from three to four firefighters for engines 3, 4, and 7, which are closest to the eastern hills during high-hazard wildfire threat
periods.
Recommendation #7: If ambulance and dispatch improvements do not improve acute emergency response times and lower unit -hour
utilization (UHU) workload to no more than 30 percent
for long, contiguous hours of the day , the City should construct infill fire or ambulance -only stations between the current busiest station pairs of 2 and 5 and 1 and 6.
Recommendation #8: Adopt updated deployment policies: City Council should consider adopting complete performance measures that
begin with a 9-1-1 call being answered and end with the Fire Department and/or an ambulance arriving at the
emergency incident. The measures of time should be
designed to save patients and keep small but serious fires from becoming more complex or damaging. With this is
mind, Citygate recommends the following outcome -
based measures for the major emergency types:
8.1: Geographic Distribution of Fire Stations: To treat medical patients and control small fires, the first-due unit should arrive within 8:30 minutes, 90 percent of the time, from receipt of the 9 -1-1 call in the fire dispatch center.
This equates to a 90 -second dispatch time, a maximum
2:00-minute nighttime company turnout time, and a 5:00- minute travel time , which is realistic for Berkeley as a more urban area.
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 89
8.2: Multiple-Unit Effective Response Force for Serious Emergencies: To confine fires near the room of origin
and treat up to five medical patients at once, a
multiple-unit response of a minimum of four engines, two ladder trucks, one ambulance, one Medic Supervisor, and one Battalion Chief —totaling a minimum of 22
personnel—should arrive within 11:30 minutes from the
time of 9 -1-1 call receipt in fire dispatch, 90 percent of the time. This equates to a 90 -second dispatch time, a 2:00-minute company turnout time, and an 8:00 -minute
travel time.
8.3: Hazardous Materials Response: The Department needs to maintain its hazardous materials response as designed to protect the community from hazards associated with
uncontrolled release of hazardous and toxic materials.
The first-due unit should arrive to investigate a hazmat release at the operations level within 8:30 minutes, 90 percent of the time. This equates to a 90-second dispatch time, a 2:00 -minute company turnout time, and a 5:00 - minute travel time in urban population areas. After
assessment and scene evaluation is completed, a
determination can be made whether to request additional resources.
8.4: Technical Rescue: To respond to technical rescue
emergencies as efficiently and effectively as possible
with enough trained personnel to facilitate a successful rescue, the first-due company to arrive for assessment of the rescue should achieve a 5:00 -minute travel time in urban to suburban areas, 90 percent of the time.
Additional resources capable of initiating a rescue should be assembled within a total response time of 11:30
minutes, 90 percent of the time, with the result being a safe and complete rescue/extrication to ensure delivery of patients to a definitive care facility.
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Section 2—Standards of Cover Analysis page 90
Recommendation #9: Adopt a split turnout time measure consisting of 2:00 minutes or less, 90 percent of the time, averaged over a 24-hour period, and within that, a daytime measure of
1:30 minutes or less, 90 percent of the time, from 0700 – 2200 hours.
Recommendation #10: The City should add a second field operations Battalion Chief 24/7 as soon as fiscally possible.
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Appendix A—Risk Assessment page 91
APPENDIX A—RISK ASSESSMENT
A.1 COMMUNITY RISK ASSESSMENT
The third element of the Standards of Coverage (SOC)
process is a community risk assessment. Within the context of an SOC study, the objectives of a community risk
assessment are to:
◆ Identify the values at risk to be protected
within the community or service area.
◆ Identify the hazards with potential to adversely impact the community or service area.
◆ Quantify the overall risk associated with each hazard. ◆ Establish a foundation for current and future deployment decisions and risk - reduction / hazard-mitigation planning and evaluation.
A hazard is broadly defined as a situation or condition that can cause or contribute to harm.
Examples include fire, medical emergency, vehicle collision, earthquake, flood, etc. Risk is broadly defined as the probability of hazard occurrence in combination with the likely severity of resultant impacts to people, property, and the broader community.
A.1.1 Risk Assessment Methodology
The methodology employed by Citygate to assess community risks as an integral element of an SOC study incorporates the following elements:
◆ Identification of geographic planning sub -zones (risk zones) appropriate to the community or jurisdiction.
◆ Identification and quantification , to the extent data is available , of the specific values at risk to various hazards within the community or service area. ◆ Identification of the fire and non-fire hazards to be evaluated. ◆ Determination of the probability of occurrence for each hazard. ◆ Evaluation of probable impact severity for each hazard by planning zone using agency/jurisdiction-specific data and information.
◆ Determination of overall risk by hazard using the following template.
SOC ELEMENT 3 OF 8
COMMUNITY RISK
ASSESSMENT
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Appendix A—Risk Assessment page 92
Table 32—Overall Risk Template
Probability of
Occurrence
Probable Impact Severity
Insignificant Minor Moderate Major Catastrophic
Rare Low Low Low Moderate High
Unlikely Low Low Low Moderate High
Possible Low Low Moderate High Extreme
Probable Low Low Moderate High Extreme
Frequent Low Moderate High Extreme Extreme
Citygate used the following data sources for this study to understand the hazards and values to be protected in the City:
◆ Esri and U.S. Census Bureau population and demographic data ◆ City and County geographical information systems data ◆ City General Plan and Zoning information
◆ City of Berkeley Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
◆ Fire Department data and information
A.1.2 Risk Assessment Summary
Citygate’s evaluation of the values at risk and hazards likely to impact the City of Berkeley yields the following:
◆ The Department serves a diverse urban population with densities ranging from less than 5 ,000 to more than 40,000 people per square mile over a varied land use pattern.
◆ The City’s population is projected to increase by nearly 18 percent by 2040 for an average annualized increase of slightly less than one percent. ◆ The City has a large inventory of residential and non-residential buildings to protect as identified in this assessment.
◆ The City also has significant economic and other resource values to be protected as identified in this assessment.
◆ The City and Alameda County have a mass emergency notification system to effectively communicate emergency notifications and information to the public in a timely manner.
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Appendix A—Risk Assessment page 93
◆ Berkeley’s overall risk for six hazards related to emergency services provided by the Fire Department range from Low to Extreme as summarized in the following table.
Table 33—Overall Risk by Hazard
Hazard
Risk Planning Zone
Station 1 Station 2 Station 3 Station 4 Station 5 Station 6 Station 7 1 Building Fire Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate 2 Vegetation/Wildland Fire Low Extreme Extreme Extreme Moderate Low Extreme 3 Medical Emergency High High High High High High High
4 Hazardous Materials Moderate Moderate High Moderate Moderate Moderate High 5 Technical Rescue Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Low 6 Marine Incident Moderate Low Low Low Low Moderate Low A.1.3 Risk Planning Zones
The Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) recommends jurisdictions establish geographic planning zones to better understand risk at a sub -jurisdictional level. For example, portions of a jurisdiction may contain predominantly moderate risk building occupancies, such as detached single -family residences, while other areas may contain high - or maximum -risk occupancies, such as commercial and industrial buildings with a high hazard fire load. If risk were to be evaluated on a jurisdiction -wide basis, the predominant moderate risk could outweigh the high or maximum risk and may not be a significant factor in an overall assessment of risk. If, however, high - or maximum -risk occupancies are a larger percentage of the risk in a smaller planning zone, they become a more significant risk factor. Another consideration in establishing planning zones is that the jurisdiction’s record management system must also track the specific zone for each incident to appropriately evaluate service demand and response performance relative to each zone. As shown in the following map, Citygate utilized seven planning zones corresponding with the Department’s current first-due response areas for this assessment.
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Appendix A—Risk Assessment page 94
Figure 22—Risk Planning Zones
A.1.4 Values at Risk to Be Protected
Values at risk, broadly defined, are tangibles of significant importance or value to the community or jurisdiction potentially at risk of harm or damage from a hazard occurrence. Values at risk typically include people, critical facilities/infrastructure, buildings, and key economic, cultural, historic, and natural resources.
People
Residents, employees, visitors, and travelers in a community or jurisdiction are vulnerable to harm from a hazard occurrence. Particularly vulnerable are specific at-risk populations, including those unable to care for themselves or self -evacuate in the event of an emergency. At -risk populations typically include children under the age of 10, the elderly, and people housed in institutional settings. The following tables summarizes key demographic data for the City.
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Appendix A—Risk Assessment page 95
Table 34—Key Demographic Data – Berkeley
Demographic 2021
Population 119,619
Under 10 years 6.30%
10–14 years 3.40%
15–64 years 74.40%
65–74 years 9.30%
75 years and older 6.60%
Median age 32.8
Daytime population 144,863
Housing Units 51,470
Owner-Occupied 37.60%
Renter-Occupied 57.00%
Vacant 5.30%
Average Household Size 2.19
Median Home Value $1,203,262
Race/Ethnicity
White 53.90%
Asian 28.70%
Black / African American 7.60%
Other / Two or More Races 9.80%
Hispanic/Latino 11.20%
Diversity Index 72.3
Education (population over 24 years of age) 75,144
High School Graduate 96.80%
Undergraduate Degree 75.20%
Graduate/Professional Degree 40.50%
Employment (population over 15 years of age) 65,514
In Labor Force 92.60%
Unemployed 7.40%
Median Household Income $92,345
Population Below Poverty Level 18.70%
Population without Health Insurance Coverage 2.60%
Source: Esri Community Analyst (2021) and U.S. Census Bureau Of note from the table:
◆ Slightly more than 22 percent of the population is under 10 years or 65 years of age and older.
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Appendix A—Risk Assessment page 96
◆ The City’s daytime population is 21 percent more than its resident population. ◆ The City’s population is predominantly White (54 percent), followed by Asian (29 percent), Black / African American (8 percent), and Other (10 percent), with those of Hispanic/Latino ethnicity representing 11 percent of the population. ◆ Of the population over 24 years of age, nearly 97 percent have a high school or equivalent level of education.
◆ More than 75 percent of the population over 24 years of age has an undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree.
◆ Of the population older than 15 years of age, nearly 93 percent are in the workforce. ◆ The median household income is slightly more than $92,000. ◆ The population below the federal poverty level is 18.7 percent. ◆ The population without health insurance coverage is 2.6 percent.
The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) projects that Berkeley’s population will grow by 17.8 percent to 140,935 by 2040.20
Buildings
Berkeley has more than 51,000 housing unit s and nearly 7,000 businesses, including offices, professional services, retail sales, restaurants/bars, motels, churches, schools, government facilities, healthcare facilities, and other business types.21 Building Occupancy Risk Categories
The CFAI identifies the following four risk categories that relate to building occupancy:
Low Risk – includes detached garages, storage sheds, outbuildings, and similar building occupancies that pose a relatively low risk of harm to humans or the community if damaged or destroyed by fire.
Moderate Risk – includes detached single -family or two -family dwellings; mobile homes; commercial and industrial buildings fewer than 10,000 square feet without a high hazard fire load; aircraft; railroad facilities; and similar building occupancies where loss of life or property damage is limited to the single building.
High Risk – includes apartment/condominium buildings; commercial and industrial buildings more than 10,000 square feet without a high hazard fire load; low -occupant load buildings with
20 Source: Plan Bay Area 2040, Plan Bay Area Projections 2040 21 Source: Esri Community Analyst Business Summary (2021).
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Appendix A—Risk Assessment page 97
high fuel loading or hazardous materials; and similar occupancies with potential for substantial loss of life or unusual property damage or financial impact.
Maximum Risk – includes buildings or facilities with unusually high risk requiring an Effective Response Force (ERF) involving a significant augmentation of resources and personnel and where a fire would pose the potential for a catastrophic event involving large loss of life or significant economic impact to the community.
Evaluation of the City’s building inventory identified 3,971 high/maximum-risk building uses as they relate to the CFAI building fire risk categories, as summarized in the following table.
Table 35—High-Risk Building Occupancies
Occupancy Classification Number1 Risk
Category2
A-1 Assembly 15 Maximum
H Hazardous 17 Maximum
I Institutional 25 High
R-1 Hotel/Motel 22 High
R-2 Multi-Family Residential 3,892 High
Total 3,971
1 Source: City of Berkeley
2 CFAI Standards of Cover (Fifth Edition)
Critical Facilities
The U.S. Departmen t of Homeland Security defines critical infrastructure and key resources as those physical assets essential to the public health and safety, economic vitality, and resilience of a community, such as lifeline utilities infrastructure, telecommunications infrastructure, essential government services facilities, public safety facilities, schools, hospitals, airports, etc. The City has identified 81 critical facilities as summarized in the following table. A hazard occurrence with significant impact severity affecting one or more of these facilities would likely adversely impact critical public or community services.
City of Berkeley Fire Department
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Appendix A—Risk Assessment page 98
Table 36—Critical Facilities
Critical Facility Category Number
Communications 1
Community Services 7
Education 18
Government Services 11
Healthcare 7
Public Safety 21
Transportation 3
Utility 13
Total 81
Source: City of Berkeley
Economic Resources
Of the nearly 7,000 businesses employing more than 98,000 people in the City, top industries include services and retail sales, followed by manufacturing and construction.22 Top employers with more than 500 employees include:23
◆ University of California Berkeley
◆ Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
◆ Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation
◆ City of Berkeley
◆ Bayer Corporation
◆ Berkeley Unified School District
◆ Kaiser Permanente Medical Group
◆ Siemens Corporation/Healthcare Diagnostics, Inc.
◆ Berkeley Bowl Produce
22 Source: Esri Community Business Summary (2021).
23 Source: City of Berkeley Fiscal Year 2020/2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.
City of Berkeley Fire Department
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Appendix A—Risk Assessment page 99
Natural Resources
Key natural resources to be protected within the City include:
◆ San Francisco Bay
◆ Aquatic Park
◆ Shorebird Park Nature Center
◆ McLaughlin Eastshore State Seashore
Cultural/Historic Resources
Key cultural/historic resources within Berkeley include:
◆ Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive
◆ Berkeley History Center
◆ Berkeley Public Library
◆ Berkeley Repertory Theater
◆ Hearst Greek Theater
◆ Judah Magnes Museum
Special/Unique Resources
Following are special/unique resources to be protected within the City of Berkeley:
◆ University of California Berkeley
◆ Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
A.1.5 Hazard Identification
Citygate utilized prior risk studies where available, fire and non -fire hazards as identified by the CFAI, and agency/jurisdiction-specific data and information to identify the hazards to be evaluated for this study. The 2019 City of Berkeley Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) identifies the following seven hazards with potential to impact the City.
1. Earthquake
2. Wildland Urban Interface Fire
3. Rainfall-Triggered Landslide
4. Floods
5. Tsunami
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Appendix A—Risk Assessment page 100
6. Climate Change
7. Extreme Heat
Although the Department has no legal authority or responsibility to mitigate any of these hazards other than wildland-urban interface fires, it does provide services related to all hazards, including fire suppression, emergency medical services, technical rescue, and hazardous materials response.
The CFAI groups hazards into fire and non -fire categories, as shown in the following table.
Identification, qualification, and quantification of the various fire and non -fire hazards are important factors in evaluating how resources are or can be deployed to mitigate those risks.
Figure 23—Commission on Fire Accreditation International Hazard Categories
Source: CFAI Standards of Cover (Fifth Edition)
Following review and evaluation of the hazards identified in the City of Berkeley LHMP and the fire and non -fire hazards as identified by the CFAI as they relate to services provided by the Department, Citygate evaluated the following six hazards for this risk assessment:
1. Building fire
2. Vegetation/wildland fire
3. Medical emergency
City of Berkeley Fire Department
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Appendix A—Risk Assessment page 101
4. Hazardous material release/spill
5. Technical rescue
6. Marine Incident
A.1.6 Service Capacity
Service capacity refers to the Department’s available response force; the size, types, and condition of its response fleet and any specialized equipment; core and specialized performance capabilities and competencies; resource distribution and concentration; availability of automatic or mutual aid; and any other agency-specific factors influencing its ability to meet current and prospective future service demand relative to the risks to be protected.
The Department’s service capacity for fire and non -fire risk consists of 37 personnel on duty daily—including one mobile Paramedic Supervisor and one Battalion Chief—staffing seven engines, two aerial ladder trucks, and four ambulances, and operating from the Department’s seven fire stations. The Department also has one Type-3 wildland engine, two Type-6 wildland engines, one hazardous materials apparatus, one fireboat, one rescue watercraft, and two ATVs that can be cross-staffed by on-duty personnel as needed.
All response personnel are trained to either the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) level, capable of providing Basic Life Support (BLS) pre -hospital emergency medical care, or EMT - Paramedic (Paramedic) level, capable of providing Advanced Life Support (AL S) pre -hospital emergency medical care. All engines are staffed with a minimum of one EMT -Paramedic, and ambulances are staffed with two paramedics. The Department also provides ground ambulance services; air ambulance services, when needed, are provided b y CALSTAR/REACH from Concord, Stanford Life Flight from Palo Alto, East Bay Regional Parks Police Department, or the California Highway Patrol. Emergency room services are available at Alameda Hospital (Alameda), Alan Bates Summit Medical Centers and Highland Hospital (Oakland), Kaiser Oakland (Oakland), and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital (Oakland). Highland Hospital and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital are also Level 1 Trauma Centers, and Eden Medical Center is a Level 2 Trauma Center.
Response personnel are also trained to the U.S. Department of Transportation Hazardous Material First Responder Operational level to provide initial hazardous material incident assessment, hazard isolation, and support for a hazardous material response team. When needed, technical hazardous materials response is provided by Station 2 personnel trained to the Hazardous Materials Specialist level cross -staffing a hazardous material apparatus. For significant spills and releases, the Department responds via the Alameda County Fire Department Hazardous Materials Team.
All response personnel are further trained to the Confined Space Awareness level, with technical rescue capability available as needed from the City of Oakland. The Department is in the process of obtaining a Cal OES Type-2 Urban Search and Rescue trailer.
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Marine response capacity includes up to 24 personnel certified to the State Fire Training Open Water Rescuer and/or Open Water Rescue Boat Operator level. In addition, the Department cross- staffs a 27-foot Type IV fireboat and a trailered rescue watercraft—moored at the Berkeley Marina and staffed with on-duty Station 1 and Station 6 personnel as needed.
A.1.7 Probability of Occurrence
Probability of occurrence refers to the probability of a future hazard occurrence during a specific period. Because the CFAI agency accreditation process requires annual review of an agency’s risk assessment and baseline performance measures, Citygate recommends using the 12 month s following completion of an SOC study as an appropriate period for the probability of occurrence evaluation. The following table describes the five probability of occurrence categories and related characteristics used for this analysis.
Table 37—Probability of Occurrence Categories
Probability General Characteristics
Expected
Frequency of
Occurrence
Rare • Hazard may occur rarely under unusual conditions. > 10 years Unlikely
• Hazard could occur infrequently.
• No recorded or anecdotal evidence of occurrence.
• Little opportunity, reason, or means for hazard to occur. 2–10 years
Possible
• Hazard should occur occasionally.
• Infrequent, random recorded or anecdotal evidence of occurrence. • Some opportunity, reason, or means for hazard to occur. 1–23 months
Probable
• Hazard will probably occur regularly.
• Regular recorded or strong anecdotal evidence of occurrence. • Considerable opportunity, reason, or means for hazard to occur. 1–4 weeks
Frequent
• Hazard is expected to occur frequently.
• High level of recorded or anecdotal evidence of regular occurrence. • Strong opportunity, reason, or means for hazard to occur. • Frequent hazard recurrence.
Daily to
weekly
Citygate’s SOC assessments use recent multiple -year incident response data to project the probability of hazard occurrence for the ensuing 12-month period.
A.1.8 Impact Severity
Impact severity refers to the probable extent a hazard occurrence impacts people, buildings, lifeline services, the environment, and the broader community. The following table summarizes the five impact severity categories and related general criteria used for this assessment.
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Table 38—Impact Severity Categories
Impact Severity
Category Characteristics
Insignificant
• No injuries or fatalities
• None to few persons displaced for short duration
• Little or no personal support required
• None to inconsequential damage
• None to minimal community disruption
• No measurable environmental impacts
• None to minimal financial loss
• No wildland Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZs)
Minor
• Few injuries; no fatalities; minor medical treatment only • Some displacement of persons for less than 24 hours
• Some personal support required
• Some minor damage
• Minor community disruption of short duration
• Small environmental impacts with no lasting effects
• Minor financial loss
• No wildland FHSZs
Moderate
• Medical treatment required; some hospitalizations; few fatalities • Localized displacement of persons for fewer than 24 hours • Personal support satisfied with local resources
• Localized damage
• Normal community functioning with some inconvenience
• No measurable environmental impacts with no long-term effects, or small impacts with long-term effect
• Moderate financial loss
• Less than 25% of area in Moderate or High wildland FHSZs Major
• Extensive injuries; significant hospitalizations; many fatalities • Large number of persons displaced for more than 24 hours • External resources required for personal support
• Significant damage
• Significant community disruption; some services not available • Some impact to environment with long-term effects
• Major financial loss with some financial assistance required • More than 25% of area in Moderate or High wildland FHSZs; less than 25% in Very High wildland FHSZs
Catastrophic
• Large number of severe injuries requiring hospitalization; significant fatalities • General displacement for extended duration
• Extensive personal support required
• Extensive damage
• Community unable to function without significant external support • Significant impact to environment and/or permanent damage • Catastrophic financial loss; unable to function without significant support • More than 50% of area in High wildland FHSZs; more than 25% of area in Very High wildland FHSZs
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A.1.9 Building Fire Risk
One of the primary hazards in any community is building fire. Building fire risk factors include building size, age, construction type, density, occupancy, number of stories above ground level, required fire flow, proximity to other buildings, built -in fire protection/alarm systems, available fire suppression water supply, building fire service capacity, fire suppression resource deployment (distribution/concentration), staffing, and response time. Citygate used available data from the Department and the U.S. Census Bureau to assist in determining the City’s building fire risk.
The following figure illustrates the building fire progression timeline and shows that flashover, which is the point at which the entire room erupts into fire after all the combustible objects in that room reach their ignition temperature, can occur as early as three to five minutes from the initial ignition. Human survival in a room after flashover is extremely improbable.
Figure 24—Building Fire Progression Timeline
Source: http://www.firesprinklerassoc.org
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Population Density
The population density in the City ranges from less than 5 ,000 to more than 40,000 people per square mile as shown in Map #2 (Volume 2—Map Atlas). Although risk analysis across a wide spectrum of other Citygate clients shows no direct correlation between population density and building fire occurrence, it is reasonable to conclude that building fire risk relative to potential impact on human life is greater as population density increases, particularly in areas with high - density, multiple-story buildings.
Water Supply
A reliable public water system providing adequate volume, pressure, and flow duration near all buildings is a critical factor in mitigating the potential impact severity of a community’s building fire risk. Potable water for the City is provided by the East Bay Municipal Utility District .
According to City staff, fire flow, pressure, and hydrant spacing are adequate throughout the City except for in areas west of I-80 and some of the higher elevation areas in the eastern/northeastern Berkeley Hills.
Building Fire Service Demand
For the three-year study period from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2021 , the Department responded to 193 building fire incidents comprising 0.45 percent of total annual service demand over the same period, as summarized in the following table.
Table 39—Building Fire Service Demand
Hazard Year
Risk Planning Zone
Total
Percent
Total
Annual
Demand Sta. 1 Sta. 2 Sta. 3 Sta. 4 Sta. 5 Sta. 6 Sta. 7 Other Building
Fire
RY 18/19 8 13 7 0 13 10 1 1 53 0.35%
RY 19/20 8 19 10 8 23 11 2 3 84 0.56%
RY 20/21 16 8 2 7 15 6 0 2 56 0.43%
Total 32 40 19 15 51 27 3 6 193 0.45%
Percent Total Station Demand 0.47% 0.50% 0.40% 0.37% 0.50% 0.50% 0.20% 0.26% As the table shows, building fire service demand was consistent over the three-year study period, with the greatest demand in Station 5’s response area, and the least demand in Station 7’s response area. Overall, building fire service demand is like that of other California jurisdictions of similar size and demographics.
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Building Fire Risk Assessment
The following table summarizes Citygate’s assessment of the City’s building fire risk by planning zone.
Table 40—Building Fire Risk Assessment
Building Fire Risk
Planning Zone
Sta. 1 Sta. 2 Sta. 3 Sta. 4 Sta. 5 Sta. 6 Sta. 7
Probability of Occurrence Possible Probable Possible Possible Probable Possible Possible Probable Impact Severity Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Overall Risk Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate A.1.10 Vegetation/Wildland Fire Risk
Many areas within and adjacent to the City are susceptible to a vegetation/wildland fire, particularly a wind-driven fire along the City’s eastern Berkeley Hills border. The fire risk facing people and properties in the eastern hills is compounded by the area’s mountainous topography, limited water supply, and limited access/egress routes. The City’s flatlands are also exposed to a fire that spreads west from the hills. The flatlands are densely covered with old wooden buildings housing low -income and vulnerable populations, including isolated seni ors, people with disabilities, and students.
Vegetation/wildland fire risk factors include vegetative fuel types and configuration, weather, topography, prior fires, water supply, mitigation measures, and vegetation fire service capacity.
Wildland Fire Hazard Severity Zones
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection ( CAL FIRE) designates wildland Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) throughout the state based on analysis of multiple wildland fire hazard factors and modeling of potential wildland fire behavior. For State Responsibility Areas (SRAs) where CAL FIRE has fiscal responsibility for wildland fire protection, CAL FIRE designates Moderate, High, and Very High FHSZs by county, as shown in yellow, orange, and red, respectively, in the following map for Alameda County. Although not shown on this map, the entire western edge of Contra Costa County east of the City is a Very High FHSZ.
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Figure 25—SRA Wildland Fire Hazard Severity Zones – Alameda County
CAL FIRE also identifies recommended Very High FHSZs for Local Responsibility Areas (LRAs) where the local jurisdiction is responsible for wildland fire protection, including incorporated cities, as shown in red in the following map for the City.
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Figure 26—Berkeley Recommended Very High Wildland Fire Hazard Severity Zones in LRA
On December 6, 2023, via Ordinance #7845 adopting its Fire Code, the City of Berkeley adopted a more locally tailored VHFHSZ expanding CAL FIRE’s recommended area shown in the previous figure. Instead, and as shown in the following figure, the City adopted all of the orange- and red-shaded areas as Berkeley’s VHFHSZ.
In addition, the City has divided Berkeley into three separate Hazardous Fire zones, as also shown in the following figure. Fire Zone 3 is the Panoramic area , shaded in red. Fire Zone 2 is the
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remainder of the Berkeley Hills (and VHFHSZ) area, shaded in orange. The Berkeley flats are not shaded, and represent Fire Zone 1.24
Figure 27—Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone and Hazardous Fire Zones – Berkeley
24 Source: City of Berkeley 2019 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, Map 16.
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Vegetative Fuels
Vegetative fuel factors influencing fire intensity and spread include fuel type (vegetation species), height, arrangement, density, and moisture. In addition to decorative landscape species, vegetative fuels within the City consist of a mix of annual grasses and weeds, manzanita/knob cone, chaparral, deciduous, eucalyptus, and mixed conifer tree species. Once ignited, vegetation fires can burn intensely and contribute to rapid fire spread under the right fuel, weather, and topographic conditions.
Weather
Weather elements , including temperature, relative humidity, wind, and lightning , also affect vegetation/wildland fire potential and behavior. High temperatures and low relative humidity dry out vegetative fuels, creating a situation where fuels will more readily ignite and burn more intensely. Wind is the most significant weather factor influencing vegetation/wildland fire behavior, with higher wind speeds increas ing fire spread and intensity. The City has a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Summers are cooler than a typical Mediterranean climate due to foggy nights and mornings. Average summer high temperatures are in the mid-70s, with an average of less than three days per year over 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Strong offshore winds develop in late spring and early fall producing higher temperatures and lower humidity. Average annual rainfall is 25 inches. Fuel and weather conditions conducive to vegetation/wildland fires primarily occur during the summer and fall months.
Topography
Vegetation/wildland fires tend to burn more intensely and spread faster when burning uphill and up-canyon, except for a wind -driven downhill or down -canyon fire. The City’s topography transitions from being flat / sea level along San Francisco Bay in the west to steeper, sloped terrain approaching 1,000 feet in elevation in the Berkeley Hills along the City’s eastern edge. The eastern Berkeley Hills area of the City can influence vegetation/wildland fire behavior and spread.
Water Supply
Another significant vegetation fire impact severity factor is the water supply immediately available for fire suppression. According to Fire Department staff, available fire flow, pressure, and hydrant spacing is adequate except west of I-80 and some areas in the Berkeley Hills sections of the City with wharf type hydrants with low flow and pressure.
Wildland Fire History
The risk of a wildland-urban interface (WUI) fire in the City was clearly demonstrated in the 1991 Tunnel Fire, which resulted in 25 deaths and 62 homes destroyed in Berkeley and more than 3,000 in Oakland. Accounts of major wildfires in the City date back to at least 1905 when a fire burned
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through Strawberry Canyon and threatened the University campus and the small Panoramic Hill subdivision. Other major fires occurred in the 1970s and 1980s.
Vegetation/Wildland Fire Hazard Mitigation
Hazard mitigation refers to specific actions or measures taken to prevent a hazard from occurring or to minimize the severity of impacts resulting from a hazard occurrence. While none of the hazards subject to this study can be entirely prevented, measures can be taken to minimize the impacts when those hazards do occur.
The City employs a comprehensive strategy to reduce both the occurrence and severity of its vegetation/wildland fires, including strict building and fire code provisions with more restrictive local amendments, annual inspection, and enforcement of vegetation fire hazard clearances in high-risk areas, improvement of access/egress routes, and infrastructure maintenance. Fire Department staff inspect more than 1,400 properties in Fire Hazard Zones 2 and 3 each year, and other properties throughout the City on a complaint basis. The City also has several other ongoing fuel management/reduction programs to reduce vegetative fuel loading in higher fire hazard areas.
Vegetation/Wildland Fire Service Demand
The Department responded to 59 vegetation fires over the three-year study period, comprising 0.14 percent of total service demand over the same period, as summarized in the following table.
Table 41—Vegetation/Wildland Fire Service Demand
Hazard Year
Risk Planning Zone
Total
Percent
Total
Annual
Demand Sta. 1 Sta. 2 Sta. 3 Sta. 4 Sta. 5 Sta. 6 Sta. 7 Other Vegetation /
Wildland Fire
RY 18/19 5 1 1 2 1 4 1 1 16 0.10%
RY 19/20 3 0 2 1 2 3 2 2 15 0.10%
RY 20/21 5 7 0 1 0 8 2 5 28 0.22%
Total 13 8 3 4 3 15 5 8 59 0.14%
Percent Total Station Demand 0.19% 0.10% 0.06% 0.10% 0.03% 0.28% 0.33% 0.34% Vegetation/Wildland Fire Risk Assessment
The following table summarizes Citygate’s assessment of the City’s vegetation/wildland fire risk by planning zone.
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Table 42—Vegetation/Wildland Fire Risk Assessment
Vegetation/Wildland
Fire Risk
Risk Planning Zone
Sta. 1 Sta. 2 Sta. 3 Sta. 4 Sta. 5 Sta. 6 Sta. 7
Probability of Occurrence Possible Possible Possible Possible Possible Possible Possible Probable Impact Severity Minor Catastrophic Catastrophic Catastrophic Moderate Minor Catastrophic Overall Risk Low Extreme Extreme Extreme Moderate Low Extreme A.1.11 Medical Emergency Risk
Medical emergency risk in most communities is predominantly a function of population density, demographics, violence, health insurance coverage, and vehicle traffic.
Medical emergency risk can also be categorized as either a medical emergency resulting from a traumatic injury or from a health-related condition or event. Cardiac arrest is one serious medical emergency among many where there is an interruption or blockage of oxygen to the brain.
The following figure illustrates the reduced survivability of a cardiac arrest victim as time to defibrillation increases. While early defibrillation is one factor in cardiac arrest survivability, other factors can influence survivability as well, such as early CPR and pre -hospital advanced life support interventions.
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Figure 28—Survival Rate Versus Time to Defibrillation
Population Density
Population density in the City ranges from less than 5,000 to more than 40,000 people per square mile, as shown in Map #2 (Volume 2—Map Atlas). Risk analysis across a wide spectrum of other Citygate clients shows a direct correlation between population density and the occurrence of medical emergencies, particularly in high urban population density zones.
Demographics
Medical emergency risk tends to be higher among older, poorer, less educated, and uninsured populations. As shown in Table 3 2, nearly 16 percent of the population is 65 and older , only slightly more than 3 percent of the population over 24 years of age has less than a high school education or equivalent, nearly 19 percent of the population is at or below poverty level , and 2.6 percent of the population does not have health insurance coverage.25
25 Source: Esri Community Analyst Community Profile (2021) and U. S. Census Bureau.
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Vehicle Traffic
Medical emergency risk tends to be higher in areas of a community with high daily vehicle traffic volume, particularly areas with high traffic volume travel ing at high speeds. The City ’s transportation network includes State Routes 13 and 123, and Interstate 80 carrying an aggregate annual average daily traffic volume of more than 278,000 vehicles, with a peak-hour load of more than 20,000 vehicles.26
Medical Emergency Service Demand
Medical emergency service demand over the three-year study period includes more than 23,000 calls for servic e comprising 53.2 percent of total service demand over the same period , as summarized in the following table.
Table 43—Medical Emergency Service Demand
Hazard Year
Risk Planning Zone
Total
Percent
Total
Annual
Demand Sta. 1 Sta. 2 Sta. 3 Sta. 4 Sta. 5 Sta. 6 Sta. 7 Other Medical
Emergency
RY 18/19 1,358 1,871 863 681 2,055 1,223 213 542 8,806 57.33% RY 19/20 1,341 1,711 666 572 1,614 1,042 252 438 7,636 51.26% RY 20/21 1,261 1,330 460 639 1,551 889 271 183 6,584 50.63% Total 3,960 4,912 1,989 1,892 5,220 3,154 736 1,163 23,026 53.23% Percent Total Station Demand 57.78% 61.25% 41.39% 47.03% 50.81% 58.10% 48.87% 49.49% As the previous table shows, medical emergency service demand varies significantly by planning zone and decreased more than 25 percent over the three-year study period . Overall , medical emergency service demand is typical of other jurisdictions with similar demographics.
Medical Emergency Risk Assessment
The following table summarizes Citygate’s assessment of medical emergency risk by planning zone.
26 Source: California Department of Transportation (2020).
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Table 44—Medical Emergency Risk Assessment
Medical Emergency Risk
Risk Planning Zone
Sta. 1 Sta. 2 Sta. 3 Sta. 4 Sta. 5 Sta. 6 Sta. 7
Probability of Occurrence Frequent Frequent Frequent Frequent Frequent Frequent Frequent Probable Impact Severity Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Overall Risk High High High High High High High
A.1.12 Hazardous Material Risk
Hazardous material risk factors include fixed facilities that store, use, or produce hazardous chemicals or waste; underground pipelines conveying hazardous materials; aviation, railroad, maritime, and vehicle transportation of hazardous commodities into or through a jurisdiction; vulnerable populations; emergency evacuation planning and related training; and specialized hazardous material service capacity.
Fixed Hazardous Materials Facilities
City staff identified six facilities within Berkeley that require a state or local Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) operating permit, and an additional 294 facilities that generate hazardous waste. There are also PG&E natural gas transmission pipelines running generally north/south along Seventh Street, and east/west along Allston Way and Russell Streets.
There are 15 different locations on the UC Berkeley Campus where regulated quantities of hazardous materials are used. Many materials are in small quantities for research and teaching purposes. All use locations are inspected by City Fire and or City Toxics Management staff amounting to approximately six inspections per year as part of a three -year cycle. The Campus safety staffs also provide oversight to these locations. The regulations, reporting and oversight inspections are the same as any other commerc ial site in the City. Further, the Fire Department’s Hazardous Material incident response capability is prepared for these types of materials and will respond appropriately should an accidental release occur.
The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) is a 202 -acre facility in the Berkeley Hills above the UC Berkeley campus supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science and managed by the University of California. Employing approximately 5,200 scientists, engineers, and support staff to conduct unclassified research across a wide range of scientific disciplines. The lab hosts an average of 19,000 visitors annually, including U.S. citizens and foreign nationals. Additional on -site contractors, visiting researchers, students, and other guests frequent the LBNL campus in part to use or support the five National User Facilities: the Advanced Light Source, Energy Sciences Network, Joint Genome Institute, Molecular Foundry, and National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center in addition to the other on -site and off -site user
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facilities. The main campus consists of approximately 226 facilities and structures, of which approximately 82 are occupied by LBNL staff, researchers, or visitors.
The laboratory, in some very controlled settings, does use extremely toxic hazardous materials for research and development. Quantities are typically low, and the lab employs fire and hazardous materials safety personnel to ensure best practice mechanical controls are used to prevent a sustained, dangerous release. However, a catastrophic accident could occur that could spread downwind beyond a parking lot buffer and into other lab buildings, the UC campus , or the City itself. The lab and its fire department contractor , along with the Berkeley Fire Department, are trained and have plans for such a rare occurrence.
In addition to having on-site emergency assessment and response teams, LBNL contracts with the Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) for on -site fire and EMS services, including a full ACFD hazardous materials response team that coordinates closely with fa cility staff and the Department’s Hazardous Materials Response Team. All hazardous materials and processes are regularly screened for quantity, toxicity, and dispersibility, and comprehensive emergency plans developed to largely mitigate risks to the inter ior of an affected building in conformance with federal Emergency Management Program requirements, however a worst -case scenario could potentially affect eastern Berkeley including the UC campus.
Transportation-Related Hazardous Materials
The City also has transportation-related hazardous material risk because of its road transportation network, including State Routes 13 and 123 , and Interstate 80, with heavy daily truck traffic volume, many carrying hazardous commodities, as summarized in the following table.
Table 45—Average Annual Daily Truck Traffic
Highway Crossing AADT1
Truck AADT by Axles Percentage of Truck AADT by Axles
2 3 4 5+ 2 3 4 5+
SR 13 SR 123 758 522 123 26 86 68.87% 16.23% 3.43% 11.35% I-80 SR 13 10,438 3,655 1,041 416 5,327 35.02% 9.97% 3.99% 51.03% SR 123 SR 13 431 338 53 8 32 78.42% 12.30% 1.86% 7.42%
Total 11,627 4,515 1,217 450 5,445 38.83% 10.47% 3.87% 46.83% 1 Average Annual Daily Trips
Source: California Department of Transportation (2020)
There is also a Union Pacific railroad line running generally north/south between Interstate 80 and State Route 123, and it is reasonable to assume that some railcars are transporting hazardous commodities.
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Population Density
Because hazardous material emergencies have the potential to adversely impact human health, it is logical that the higher the population density, the greater the potential population exposed to a hazardous material release or spill. As shown in Map #2 Population Density by Block Group (Volume 2—Map Atlas), the population density within the City ranges from less than 5 ,000 to more than 40,000 people per square mile.
Vulnerable Populations
Persons vulnerable to a hazardous material release/spill include individuals or groups unable to self-evacuate, generally including children under the age of 10, the elderly, and persons confined to an institution or other setting where they are unable to leave voluntarily. As shown in Table 34, slightly more than 22 percent of the population is under age 10 or is 65 years of age and older.
Emergency Evacuation Planning, Training, Implementation, and Effectiveness Another significant hazardous material impact severity factor is a jurisdiction’s shelter -in-place / emergency evacuation planning and training. In the event of a hazardous material release or spill, time can be a critical factor in notifying potentially a ffected persons, particularly at -risk populations, to either shelter-in-place or evacuate to a safe location. Essential to this process is an effective emergency plan that incorporates one or more mass emergency notification capabilities, as well as pre -established evacuation procedures. It is also essential to conduct regular, periodic exercises involving these two emergency plan elements to evaluate readiness and to identify and remediate any planning or training gaps to ensure ongoing emergency incident readiness and effectiveness.
Through Berkeley Ready, the Department ’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) coordinates a suite of programs to build and maintain community disaster resilience. For example, OES maintains real-time online evacuation maps that are accessible to the public and provide incident location(s), evacuation route(s), and temporary evacuation shelter locations.27 In addition, the City participates in AC Alert, a free subscription and reverse 9 -1-1-based mass emergency notification system that can provide emergency alerts, notifications, and other emergency information to email accounts, cell phones, smartphones, tablets, and landline telephones. The City also utilizes social media, Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), local AM and FM radio stations, and local television outlets to provide timely emergency information and alerts.
OES has established 78 pre-designated geographic evacuation zones within the City, and AC Alert emergency notification messages can be issued by numerous designated OES, City Ma nager’s Office, and Fire and Police Department personnel down to the supervisor level. OES also conducts
27 https://community.zonehaven.com
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ongoing Emergency Operations Center training as needed and strives to conduct a full EOC exercise at least annually.
Hazardous Material Service Demand
The Department responded to 565 hazardous material incidents over the study period of three reporting years , comprising 1.31 percent of total service demand over the same period , as summarized in the following table.
Table 46—Hazardous Material Service Demand
Hazard Year
Risk Planning Zone
Total
Percent
Total
Annual
Demand Sta. 1 Sta. 2 Sta. 3 Sta. 4 Sta. 5 Sta. 6 Sta. 7 Other Hazardous
Material
RY 18/19 33 33 20 26 41 19 7 9 188 1.22%
RY 19/20 32 35 19 18 43 42 10 5 204 1.37%
RY 20/21 20 33 20 17 38 29 9 7 173 1.33%
Total 85 101 59 61 122 90 26 21 565 1.31%
Percent Total Station Demand 1.24% 1.26% 1.23% 1.52% 1.19% 1.66% 1.73% 0.89% As the table shows, hazardous material service demand varies significantly by planning zone and was generally consistent over the three reporting years analyzed within this study.
Hazardous Materials Risk Assessment
The following table summarizes Citygate’s assessment of the City’s hazardous materials risk by planning zone.
Table 47—Hazardous Materials Risk Assessment
Hazardous Materials Risk
Risk Planning Zone
Sta. 1 Sta. 2 Sta. 3 Sta. 4 Sta. 5 Sta. 6 Sta. 7
Probability of Occurrence Probable Probable Probable Probable Probable Probable Possible Probable Impact Severity Moderate Moderate Major Moderate Moderate Moderate Major Overall Risk Moderate Moderate High Moderate Moderate Moderate High A.1.13 Technical Rescue Risk
Technical rescue risk factors include active construction projects; structural collapse potential; confined spaces, such as tanks and underground vaults; bodies of water , including rivers and streams; industrial machinery use; transportation volume; and earthquake, flood, and landslide potential.
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Construction Activity
There is ongoing residential, commercial, industrial, and infrastructure construction activity occurring within the City.
Confined Spaces
There are multiple confined spaces within the City, including tanks, vaults, and open trenches.
Bodies of Water
Bodies of water within the City include San Francisco Bay and smaller ponds, creeks, and seasonal waterways.
Transportation Volume
Another technical rescue risk factor is transportation-related incidents requiring technical rescue.
This risk factor is primarily a function of vehicle, railway, maritime, and aviation traffic. Vehicle traffic volume is the greatest of these factors within the service area, with State Routes 13 and 123 and Interstate 80 carrying an aggregate annual average daily traffic volume of more than 278,000 vehicles, with a peak-hour load of more than 20,000 vehicles.
Earthquake Risk28
A significant earthquake event is one of the hazards of greatest concern to the City, with a high probability of occurrence and the potential for widespread damage. There are several known and potentially undiscovered faults in Alameda County, including the Hayward Fault with three fault segments, the San Andreas Fault with ten fault segments, and the Northern Calaveras and Greenville Faults.
Numerous destructive earthquakes have occurred historically in the greater San Francisco Bay Area region, and the U.S. Geological Service (USGS) predicts a 72 percent probability of one or more Magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquakes over the next 21 years.
Flood Risk29
Some areas of the City are subject to minor flooding hazard, primarily from local creek flooding and storm drain overflow along the western edge of the City adjacent to San Francisco Bay , the low-lying areas between Harrison Street and Dartmouth Street, and some areas of the UC Berkeley campus.
28 Source: 2019 City of Berkeley Hazard Mitigation Plan, Section B.5. 29 Source: 2019 City of Berkeley Hazard Mitigation Plan, Section B.8.
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Appendix A—Risk Assessment page 120
Tsunami Risk30
Tsunamis affecting the Bay Area can result from offshore earthquakes within the Bay Area, or from more distant events. While it is most common for tsunamis impacting the Bay Area to be generated by faults in Washington and Alaska, local tsunamis can be generated from local underwater faults. While tsunamis entering San Francisco Bay are rare, a March 2011 tsunami event resulted in a half-meter-tall surge and $158,000 damage to boats and docks in the Berkeley Marina. The following map shows the areas of the City potentially subject to inundation from a tsunami event.
Figure 29—Tsunami Inundation Zones
Source: California Department of Conservation Tsunami Maps (Updated 2022)
30 Source: 2019 City of Berkeley Hazard Mitigation Plan, Section B.9.
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Appendix A—Risk Assessment page 121
Technical Rescue Service Demand
Over the three-year study period, there were 224 technical rescue incidents in the City comprising
0.52 percent of total service demand, as summarized in the following table.
Table 48—Technical Rescue Service Demand
Hazard Year
Risk Planning Zone
Total
Percent
Total
Annual
Demand Sta. 1 Sta. 2 Sta. 3 Sta. 4 Sta. 5 Sta. 6 Sta. 7 Other Technical
Rescue
RY 18/19 10 14 14 6 18 11 2 9 84 0.55%
RY 19/20 8 19 13 3 19 8 0 3 73 0.49%
RY 20/21 16 12 4 4 15 14 0 2 67 0.52%
Total 34 45 31 13 52 33 2 14 224 0.52%
Percent Total Station Demand 0.50% 0.56% 0.65% 0.32% 0.51% 0.61% 0.13% 0.60% Technical Rescue Risk Assessment
The following table summarizes Citygate’s assessment of technical rescue risk by planning zone.
Table 49—Technical Rescue Risk Assessment
Technical Rescue Risk
Risk Planning Zone
Sta. 1 Sta. 2 Sta. 3 Sta. 4 Sta. 5 Sta. 6 Sta. 7
Probability of Occurrence Possible Probable Possible Possible Probable Possible Unlikely Probable Impact Severity Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Overall Risk Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Low A.1.14 Marine Incident Risk
Marine incident risk factors include water and near -shore recreational activity, and watercraft storage and use in or on City waterways. Marine incidents include watercraft fires, searches for person(s) in water, and water and watercraft rescues.
Waterways
The primary bodies of water in the City are San Francisco Bay and Aquatic Park.
Berkeley Marina
The Berkeley Marina, located on the western side of the City adjacent to San Francisco Bay, has approximately 925 slips accommodating boats up to 80+ feet in length.
City of Berkeley Fire Department
Standards of Cover Study and Community Risk Assessment
Appendix A—Risk Assessment page 122
Recreational Activity
The Berkeley waterfront / San Francisco Bay is a popular destination for near -shore and open water recreational activities, including boating, swimming, snorkeling, diving, fishing, etc.
Marine Incident Service Capacity
The Department’s marine incident service capacity includes up to 24 personnel certified by State Fire Training as Open Water Rescue swimmers, a 27 -foot aluminum fire boat, and one rescue watercraft.
Marine Incident Service Demand
Over the three -year study period, the Department responded to 40 marine incidents comprising
0.09 percent of total service demand over the same period as shown in the following table.
Table 50—Marine Incident Service Demand
Hazard Year
Risk Planning Zone
Total
Percent
Total
Annual
Demand Sta. 1 Sta. 2 Sta. 3 Sta. 4 Sta. 5 Sta. 6 Sta. 7 Other Marine
Incident
RY 18/19 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 2 12 0.08%
RY 19/20 4 0 0 1 0 8 0 0 13 0.09%
RY 20/21 3 0 0 0 0 10 0 2 15 0.12%
Total 7 0 0 1 0 28 0 4 40 0.09%
Percent Total Station Demand 0.10% 0.00% 0.00% 0.02% 0.00% 0.52% 0.00% 0.17% Marine Incident Risk Assessment
The following table summarizes Citygate’s assessment of the City ’s marine incident risk by planning zone.
Table 51—Marine Incident Risk Assessment
Marine Incident Risk
Risk Planning Zone
Sta. 1 Sta. 2 Sta. 3 Sta. 4 Sta. 5 Sta. 6 Sta. 7
Probability of Occurrence Possible Rare Rare Unlikely Rare Possible Possible Probable Impact Severity Moderate Minor Minor Minor Minor Moderate Minor Overall Risk Moderate Low Low Low Low Moderate Low
C I T Y O F B E R K E L E Y , C A
S T A N D A R D S O F C O V E R
S T U D Y A N D C O M M U N I T Y
R I S K A S S E S S M E N T
V O L U M E 2 O F 2 – M A P A T L A S
D E C E M B E R 1 3 , 2 0 2 3
6 0 0 C O O L I D G E D R I V E , S U I T E 1 5 0
F O L S O M , C A 9 5 6 3 0
P H O N E : ( 9 1 6 ) 4 5 8 - 5 1 0 0
F A X : ( 9 1 6 ) 9 8 3 - 2 0 9 0
W W W . C I T Y G A T E A S S O C I A T E S . C O M
P U B LI C S A FETY S ER V I C ES
Adena Ishii, Mayor
Igor Tregub, Councilmember District 4
Terry Taplin, Councilmember District 2
Cecilia Lunaparra, Councilmember District 7
CONSENT CALENDAR
JUNE 17, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Councilmembers Igor Tregub (Author)
Subject: Relinquishment of Council Office Budget Funds from General Funds and Grant of Such Funds to the Downtown Berkeley Association’s 6th Annual Pride on the Plaza Variety Show, in partnership with Om Nom Nom Productions.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a Resolution authorizing the expenditure of up to $500 per Councilmember from each of their D13 Discretionary Accounts including $500 from Mayor Ishii, and Councilmembers Tregub and Taplin, and $200 from Councilmember Lunaparra, and inviting other members of the City Council to contribute to the 2025 Downtown Berkeley Association’s Pride Variety Show, in partnership with Om Nom Nom Productions with funds relinquished to the City’s general fund.
The relinquished funds from the respective discretionary Council Office Budgets of such members of the Berkeley City Council who wish to contribute will support the Downtown Berkeley Association to host a successful event.
BACKGROUND
The Downtown Berkeley Association, in partnership with Om Nom Nom Productions, is hosting “Pride on the Plaza” at the Downtown Berkeley BART Plaza on Saturday, June 21, 2025 from 1-7pm. The event is free and open to the public and is intended to celebrate and uplift Berkeley’s diverse LGBTQIA+ community.
In its sixth year, this event brings our diverse community together for the day of fun, entertainment and inclusion!
CURRENT SITUATION AND ITS EFFECTS
The current national political climate has been regressive and antagonistic towards the LGBTQIA+ community. The ACLU has identified 588 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills across the country proposed in just this first few months of 2025.1 Most recently, the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act passed 215-214 through the House of Representatives, which includes Section 44125 titled “PROHIBITING FEDERAL MEDICAID AND CHIP FUNDING FOR GENDER TRANSITION PROCEDURES FOR MINORS.” While going through the House of Representatives on May 22nd, 2025, this section was amended to remove the words “for minors,” extending the potential ban to all Medicaid and CHIP recipients.2
Additionally, an executive order was signed on Inauguration Day establishing a policy that recognizes only two sexes, male and female, which is antithetical to the lived experience of many, including, but not limited to, transgender and intersex members of the LGBTQIA+ community.3
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
No General Fund impact. Up to $500 is available from contributing Councilmembers’ Council Office Budget discretionary accounts.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
There are no identifiable environmental effects or opportunities associated with the subject of this report.
CONTACT
Councilmember Tregub, 510-981-7140, [email protected] 1 https://www.aclu.org/legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rights-2025 2 https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1 3 https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/defending-women-from-gender-ideology- extremism-and-restoring-biological-truth-to-the-federal-government/
Amy Johnson, Legislative Aide, Council District 4, [email protected]
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution
RESOLUTION NO. ##,###-N.S.
AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF SURPLUS FUNDS FROM THE OFFICE
EXPENSE ACCOUNTS OF COUNCILMEMBERS FOR A GRANT TO SUPPORT THE DOWTOWN BERKELEY ASSOCIATION’S 6TH ANNUAL PRIDE ON THE PLAZA
VARIETY SHOW IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OM NOM NOM PRODUCTIONS WHEREAS, the City of Berkeley emphasizes partnerships with local community groups to maintain our long-standing tradition of creating a more inclusive society that embraces, treasures, and bolsters the LGBTQIA+ community; and WHEREAS, Pride celebrations are a time for community-building, visibility, and joy, they are also an opportunity to highlight key policy and resource issues faced by the LGBTQIA+ community; and
WHEREAS, Councilmembers Tregub, Taplin and Lunaparra, and Mayor Ishii have surplus funds in his D13 discretionary office expenditure accounts and will contribute up to $500 each, and invites other Councilmembers to join in contributing; and WHEREAS, the California non-profit, tax-exempt corporation Downtown Berkeley Association seeks funds to provide the following public service: 2025 Pride on the Plaza Variety Show; and
WHEREAS, the provision of such services would fulfill the following municipal public purpose: hosting a free event to celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the City of Berkeley that funds relinquished by Councilmembers from their discretionary office budgets, up to $500 per office, including $500 from Mayor Ishii, and Councilmembers Tregub and Taplin, and $200 from Councilmember Lunaparra, shall be authorized for expenditure from their D13 Discretionary Accounts to the Downtown Berkeley Association’s 6th Annual Pride on the Plaza Variety Show, in partnership with Om Nom Nom Productions
Igor Tregub, Councilmember District 4
CONSENT CALENDAR
JUNE 17, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Councilmembers Igor Tregub (Author)
Subject: Relinquishment of Council Office Budget Funds from General Funds and Grant of Such Funds to the Historical Plaque Project of the Berkeley Historical Society & Museum.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a Resolution authorizing the expenditure of up to $500 per Councilmember from the D13 Discretionary Accounts of members of the Berkeley City Council, including $500 from Councilmember Tregub, and inviting other members of the City Council to contribute to the Historical Plaque Project of the Berkeley Historical Society & Museum, with funds relinquished to the City’s general fund.
The relinquished funds from the respective discretionary Council Office Budgets of such members of the Berkeley City Council who wish to contribute will support this impactful organization, to preserve cultural knowledge, and celebrate Berkeley’s rich and diverse history.
BACKGROUND
The Berkeley Historical Society & Museum (BHSM) was founded in 1978, during the City of Berkeley’s Centennial Celebration and is a registered 501(c)(3).1 The mission of the organization is to foster appreciation and understanding of our city’s unique history by residents and visitors alike through research, collection, preservation, exhibition and publication of historical records, photographs, artifacts, and other media. 1 https://berkhistory.org/short-history/
BSHM is hosted at the Veterans Memorial Building at 1931 Center Street. The Museum circulates exhibits of Berkeley’s history, ranging from their first exhibit in 1993 “History on the Park” focusing on civic institutions around Civic Center Park, to the most recent “Roots, Removal and Resistance: Japanese Americans in Berkeley, and the past.”2 BHSM also features the Berkeley Historical Plaque Project, which was originally independently established in 1997 with sponsorship from the City of Berkeley and its Landmarks Preservation Commission. Across the City, there are 125 physical plaques honoring various historical landmarks.3 In 2023, The Berkeley Historical Plaque Project nearly had to shut down due to a lack of funding and volunteers, until the BHSM acquired the project in 2023.4
In addition to the physical plaques, the project also catalogues e-plaques on their website.5 These e-plaques are written by all Berkeleyans. Over time, this project has grown into a collaborative, serendipitous self-portrait of our City.
By investing in the Plaque Project of the Berkley Historical Society & Museum, the City of Berkeley demonstrates its continued commitment to cultural preservation.
CURRENT SITUATION AND ITS EFFECTS
In the 28 years that the Berkeley Historical Plaque Project has been in operation, some plaques have sustained wear, damage, weathering, and other deterioration.
As the Berkeley Historical Society & Museum is volunteer led, support from City of Berkeley entities is critical to operating their programs that preserve and spread the history of our city.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
No General Fund impact. Up to $500 is available from contributing Councilmembers’ Council Office Budget discretionary accounts.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
There are no identifiable environmental effects or opportunities associated with the subject of this report.
2 https://berkhistory.org/exhibits/
3 https://berkeleyplaques.org/maps/
4 https://www.berkeleyside.org/2023/07/28/berkeley-historical-plaque-project 5 https://berkeleyplaques.org/e-plaques/
CONTACT
Councilmember Tregub, 510-981-7140, [email protected] Amy Johnson, Legislative Aide, Council District 4, [email protected]
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution
RESOLUTION NO. ##,###-N.S.
AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF SURPLUS FUNDS FROM THE OFFICE
EXPENSE ACCOUNTS OF COUNCILMEMBERS FOR A GRANT TO SUPPORT THE
HISTORICAL PLAQUE PROJECT OF THE BERKELEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY & MUSEUM
WHEREAS, Councilmember Tregub has surplus funds in their D13 discretionary office expenditure accounts and will contribute up to $500 each, and invites other Councilmembers to join in contributing; and
WHEREAS, the Berkeley Historical Society & Museum is a valuable resource for documenting Berkeley’s deep history of social movements, natural history, immigrant experiences, legislative progress, African American resilience, architectural wonders, business development, and rich media; and
WHEREAS, the Berkeley Historical Plaque Project commemorates Berkeley’s architecture, “Berkeleyana Spirit,” artists & writers, counterculture, music, people, and scientists; and
WHEREAS, the plaque project, now in its 28th year has faced some deterioration and wear of the physical plaques; and
WHEREAS, the Berkeley Historical Society & Museum is volunteer-run and relies on community donations year-round to operate their programs that preserve and spread the history of our city; and
WHEREAS, additional funding will ensure longevity of the museum and plaque project for future generations; and
WHEREAS, the provision of such funding aligns with the City of Berkeley's commitment to cultural equity, inclusion, and the celebration of diversity as core civic values, as the Berkeley Historical Society & Museum and their associated programs aim to provide a public record of Berkeley’s history and values;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the City of Berkeley that funds relinquished by Councilmembers from their discretionary office budgets, up to $500 per office, including $500 from Councilmember Tregub, shall be authorized for expenditure from their D13 Discretionary Accounts to the Berkeley Historical Society & Museum to support its Historical Plaque Project.
Adena Ishii, Mayor
Igor Tregub, Councilmember District 4
Terry Taplin, Councilmember District 2
CONSENT CALENDAR
JUNE 17, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Councilmembers Igor Tregub (Author), Terry Taplin (Co-Sponsor), and Mayor Adena Ishii (Co-Sponsor)
Subject: Relinquishment of Council Office Budget Funds from General Funds and Grant of Such Funds to Berkeley’s First Pride Fair hosted by Pacific Center for Human Growth.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopting a Resolution authorizing the expenditure of up to $500 per Councilmember from each of their D13 Discretionary Accounts including $500 from Mayor Ishii, and $500 from Councilmembers Taplin, Tregub, and inviting other members of the City Council to contribute to Berkeley’s first Pride Fair hosted by Pacific Center for Human Growth with funds relinquished to the City’s general fund.
The relinquished funds from the respective discretionary Council Office Budgets of such members of the Berkeley City Council who wish to contribute will support Pacific Center in its endeavor to host a successful event that will set the precedent for Berkeley to continue hosting large-scale Pride celebrations for years to come.
BACKGROUND
Pacific Center for Human Growth was founded in 1973, making them the third oldest LGBTQIA+ center in the Nation, and the oldest in the Bay Area. The mission of the organization is to enhance mental health and overall well-being of the LGBTQIA+ and
QTBIMPOC communities by providing culturally responsive therapy, peer-to-peer support groups, community outreach services, and facilitated workshops.
In 2024, Mayor Arreguín designated the third Saturday of August as Berkeley Pride Day. 1 This year, on Berkeley Pride Day (August 16th), Pacific Center for Human Growth is planning to host the largest ever Pride celebration in Berkeley’s history. By investing in Berkeley’s first ever Pride celebration, the City demonstrates its continued commitment to uplifting the LGBTQIA+ community.
CURRENT SITUATION AND ITS EFFECTS
Over the last half century, Pacific Center has provided critical care services that uplift the LGBTQIA+ community by providing mental health support and advocating for LGBTQIA+ self-expression and inclusivity which are essential to quality of life.
The current national political climate has been regressive and antagonistic towards the LGBTQIA+ community. The ACLU has identified 588 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills across the country proposed in just this first few months of 2025.2 Most recently, the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act passed 215-214 through the House of Representatives, which includes Section 44125 titled “PROHIBITING FEDERAL MEDICAID AND CHIP FUNDING FOR GENDER TRANSITION PROCEDURES FOR MINORS.” While going through the House of Representatives on May 22nd, 2025, this section was amended to remove the words “for minors,” extending the potential ban to all Medicaid and CHIP recipients.3
Additionally, an executive order was signed on Inauguration Day establishing a policy that recognizes only two sexes, male and female, which is antithetical to the lived experience of many, including, but not limited to, transgender and intersex members of the LGBTQIA+ community.4
As policy pertaining to the LGBTQIA+ community backslides nationally, the work of LGBTQIA+ advocates is that much more necessary. Pacific Center Berkeley Pride Fair upholds Berkeley’s values and supports these growing needs by creating the opportunity to celebrate the theme of Queer Joy, promote visibility, support local artists, 1 https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Berkeley%20Pride%20Day%20_0.pdf 2 https://www.aclu.org/legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rights-2025 3 https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1 4 https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/defending-women-from-gender-ideology- extremism-and-restoring-biological-truth-to-the-federal-government/
and educate the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies to be resilient and supportive through tumultuous circumstances.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
No General Fund impact. Up to $500 is available from contributing Councilmembers’ Council Office Budget discretionary accounts.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
There are no identifiable environmental effects or opportunities associated with the subject of this report.
CONTACT
Councilmember Tregub, 510-981-7140, [email protected] Amy Johnson, Legislative Aide, Council District 4, [email protected]
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution
RESOLUTION NO. ##,###-N.S.
AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF SURPLUS FUNDS FROM THE OFFICE
EXPENSE ACCOUNTS OF COUNCILMEMBERS FOR A GRANT TO SUPPORT BERKELEY’S FIRST PRIDE FAIR HOSTED BY PACIFIC CENTER FOR HUMAN GROWTH
WHEREAS, the City of Berkeley emphasizes partnerships with local community groups to maintain our long-standing tradition of creating a more inclusive society that embraces, treasures, and bolsters the LGBTQIA+ community; and WHEREAS, the City of Berkeley reveres the contributions of our LGBTQIA+ community to this tradition of inclusivity; and
WHEREAS, our nation observes June as Pride Month, and the City of Berkeley recognizes the third Saturday of August as Berkeley Pride Day; and WHEREAS, Pride celebrations are a time for community-building, visibility, and joy, they are also an opportunity to highlight key policy and resource issues faced by the LGBTQIA+ community; and
WHEREAS, Pacific Center for Human Growth is the third oldest LGBTQIA+ center in the nation, and the oldest in the Bay Area, and in the last 50+ years, Pacific Center has played a critical role in sustaining and improving the well-being of Berkeley’s LGBTQIA+ community through their culturally responsive therapy, peer-to-peer support groups, community outreach, and educational workshops that emphasize the mental health, self-expression, and inclusivity that are essential to quality of life; and WHEREAS, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors recognizes the Berkeley community for upholding the traditions of inclusivity and equality through groundbreaking steps, such as: the University of California, Berkeley offering the first undergraduate LGBTQIA+ studies course in the United States in 1970; Berkeley becoming one of the first cities in the nation to establish a domestic partnership registry in 1984; Berkeley being the first American city to mail AIDS information packets to every resident in 1987; and Berkeley emerging as the first city in the United States to proclaim Bisexual Pride and Bi-Visibility Day in 2012; and
WHEREAS, regressive policies that undermine the lives and rights of LGBTQIA+ Americans are increasing, including direct attacks to gender-affirming healthcare; and WHEREAS, the City of Berkeley recognizes the longstanding historical struggles of the LGBTQIA+ community, and highlights the ongoing life-saving work serving LGBTQIA+
individuals and uplifting the community as a whole, even as federal actions roll back this hard-fought progress; and
WHEREAS, Pacific Center for Human Growth’s largest ever Pride fair is a testament to LGBTQIA+ history, offering a forum for the theme of Queer Joy, education, and solidarity; and
WHEREAS, Councilmembers Tregub, Taplin and Mayor Ishii have surplus funds in their D13 discretionary office expenditure accounts and will contribute up to $500 each, and invite other Councilmembers to join in contributing; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the City of Berkeley that funds relinquished by Councilmembers from their discretionary office budgets, up to $500 per office, including $500 from Councilmembers Tregub, Taplin, and $500 from Mayor Ishii, shall be authorized for expenditure from their D13 Discretionary Accounts to Berkeley’s First Pride Fair hosted by Pacific Center for Human Growth.
Office of the City Manager
2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 ● Tel: (510) 981-7000 ● TDD: (510) 981-6903 ● Fax: (510) 981-7099 E-Mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.CityofBerkeley.info/Manager
PUBLIC HEARING
June 17, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
Submitted by: David Sprague, Fire Chief
Subject: Ambulance Transport and First Responder Fee Increase
RECOMMENDATION
Conduct a public hearing and upon conclusion, adopt a Resolution adjusting the Ambulance User Fee to match Alameda County’s approved ambulance user fee schedule made effective July 1, 2025, for the Cities of Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, and Piedmont and to adjust the First Responder Fee. The increase would be included as an updated addendum to the Ambulance Provider Agreement, and rescinding Resolution 71,512–N.S. effective July 1, 2025.
FISCAL IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION
The Alameda County Health Care Services Agency notified the City on April 10, 2025 that they approved an increase in the Bundled Base Rate User Fee that may be charged by the County’s 911 Ambulance Transport Service Provider. Under the terms of Berkeley’s Emergency Medical Services Ambulance Transport Services Agreement, the City may increase its Bundled Base Rate, Mileage, Oxygen, and Treatment/Non- Transport to the following beginning July 1, 2025:
Existing Proposed
Base Rate $4,051.06 $4,529.89
Mileage $91.41 $102.21
Oxygen $302.64 $338.42
Treatment / Non-Transport * $812.46 $908.49
First Responder Fee** $500.00 $559.00
*This rate shall be limited to patients who receive a medical intervention, such as intravenous medication administration, and subsequently refuse transport. Patient assessment, including ECG monitoring, does not constitute treatment. **This fee would be limited to instances when a patient is transported.
Ambulance Transport Fee Increase PUBLIC HEARING
June 17, 2025
As outlined in the table above, the City will also increase its First Responder fee by the same percentage, as well. The first responder fee is consolidated (bundled) with the Ambulance User fee into a Bundled Base Rate of $5,088.89.
The City will increase its rate effective July 1, 2025 and will not apply the increase retroactively. These adjustments account for the increased cost of ambulance transport, paramedic services, and medical equipment/supplies and are anticipated to generate $8.9M in revenue in FY 26 in the General Fund.
CURRENT SITUATION AND ITS EFFECTS
Under the terms of the Alameda County Ambulance Provider Agreement, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors is responsible for setting and approving any fees that are applicable to all providers. For the City of Berkeley, the last rate increase was approved by the City Council on September 10, 2024 (Resolution 71,512–N.S.); the rate increase was made effective September 11, 2024.
BACKGROUND
Alameda County EMS is responsible for the procurement of emergency ambulance services for the local EMS system. S i n c e 1 9 7 7 the Berkeley Fire Department has had an agreement with Alameda County to be the emergency transport provider for Berkeley. Albany, Piedmont, Alameda City, and Falck serve as the ambulance transport providers for other parts of Alameda County. Under the current agreement, all transport providers, including Berkeley, are in the Alameda County Emergency Medical Services District. Since 1986, the Berkeley Fire Department (Department) has provided ambulance transport service at the Advanced Life Support (ALS) or paramedic level.
Under the terms of the Alameda County Ambulance Provider Agreement, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors is responsible for setting and approving any fees that are applicable to all agencies. As the exclusive provider for transport services within the City of Berkeley, the Fire Department may propose adjustments to the fees charged for these services. As background, in 1980, the California Legislature enacted the EMS Act “to achieve coordination and integration” for the prehospital EMS system.1 The EMS Act establishes a two-tiered system of regulation of the California Emergency Medical Services Authority on the state level and local EMS agencies, such as the Alameda County local EMS agency (“Alameda LEMSA”), at the local level:2 If a county elects to establish an emergency medical
services program, the duties of its designated local EMS agency include the following: (1) planning, implementing, and evaluating an emergency medical services system
“consisting of an organized pattern of readiness and
response services based on public and private agreements and operational procedures” (§ 1797.204); (2) developing a 1 County of San Bernardino v. City of San Bernardino (1997) 15 Cal. 4th 909, 915. 2 Ibid.
Ambulance Transport Fee Increase PUBLIC HEARING
June 17, 2025
formal plan for the system in accordance with the Authority's guidelines and submitting the plan to the Authority on an annual basis (§§ 1797.250, 1797.254); (3) “consistent with such plan, coordinat[ing] and otherwise facilitat[ing]
arrangements necessary to develop the emergency medical services system” (§ 1797.252). Once a local EMS agency
implements its system, all providers of prehospital
emergency medical services within its jurisdiction must operate within that system. (See § 1797.178 [“No person or organization shall provide advanced life support or limited advanced life support unless that person or organization is an authorized part of the emergency medical services
system of the local EMS agency....”].)
An important aspect of the EMS Act is the Legislature’s acknowledgment of the continued role of cities and fire districts, such as the Berkeley Fire Department, through the enactment of Health and Safety Code section 1797.201, which states, in relevant part:
[Unless a city or fire district consents through agreement or waiver3], prehospital emergency medical services shall be continued at not less than the existing level, and the
administration of prehospital EMS by cities and fire districts presently providing such services shall be retained by those cities and fire districts….
Section 1797.201 is “a grandfathering of existing emergency medical service operations [by cities or fire districts] until such time as these services are integrated into the larger EMS system. The apparent purpose of this grandfathering provision was to ‘allow such entities to protect the investments they had already made in various assets— emergency medical equipment, infrastructure, personnel, etc.’, as well as to ensure against the disruption of adequate emergency medical services.”4 The Department operates a grandfathered EMS system within the City of Berkeley, and has consistently done so since the enactment of the EMS Act.
The EMS Act defines “emergency medical services,” as “services utilized in responding” to “a condition or situation in which an individual has a need for immediate medical attention, or where the potential for such need is perceived by emergency medical personnel or a public safety agency.” (Health and Safety Code §§ 1797.72, 1797.90.) This is reinforced by the ordinances in Alameda County that defines a 9-1-1 level of service, which includes “a 9-1-1 request for an ambulance to transport or assist persons 3 Id. at 924; Health & Saf. Code § 1797.201.
4 Valley Med. Transp., Inc. v. Apple Valley Fire Prot. Dist. (1998) 17 Cal. 4th 747, 758.
Ambulance Transport Fee Increase PUBLIC HEARING
June 17, 2025
in apparent sudden need of medical attention; or an ambulance transport that is initially classified as a non-emergency call that becomes a 9-1-1 emergency call due to a change in the patient's medical condition.”5 Within the City of Berkeley, the Fire Department is the sole entity authorized under state law to provide EMS transports.
Within the City of Berkeley, any other ambulance that arrives and discovers that a patient appears to have a medical emergency is required to call 9-1-1, so that the Fire Department or a subcontractor to the Fire Department, can transport the patient.6
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE IMPACTS
There are no identifiable environmental effects, climate impacts, or sustainability opportunities associated with the action requested in this report.
RATIONALE FOR RECOMMENDATION
The Berkeley Fire Department is seeking Council approval to increase the base rate for ambulance user fees to match those approved by Alameda County and to bring them in line with other regional transport providers. Additionally, the department is seeking to increase the City’s first responder fee by a commensurate percentage. Periodic rate increases help to recoup increasing costs incurred for providing ambulance services.
Government Code Section 6062(a) dictates the manner of publication for fee increase public hearings.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS CONSIDERED
Continue with the existing User Fee Schedule which was approved by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and made effective July 1, 2024 and adopted by the City on September 10, 2024 (Resolution 71,512–N.S.) and made effective September 11, 2024. This alternative would have a substantial determinantal impact to revenue and the city’s fiscal condition given that expenses for employees, apparatus and equipment continue to rise each year.
CONTACT PERSON
David Sprague, Fire Chief, (510) 981-3473
Attachments:
1: Resolution
2: City of Berkeley User Fee Adjustment Letter - FY25-26 3: Public Hearing Notice
5 Alameda County Code of Ordinances § 6.114.050
6 Alameda County Ordinance §§ 6.114.060(A), 6.114.270(B).
RESOLUTION NO. ##,###-N.S.
AMBULANCE USER FEE ADJUSTMENT
WHEREAS, the County of Alameda and the City of Berkeley are in an Ambulance provider Agreement dated June 1, 1984; and
WHEREAS, the County of Alameda Board of Supervisors sets the rates applicable to all providers within the district for emergency ambulance transport; and WHEREAS, the County of Alameda Board of Supervisors established and approved a new Contractor’s User Fee schedule for ambulance transport providers. The rates will be made effective July 1, 2025; and
WHEREAS, under the California Emergency Medical Services Act (the “EMS Act”), Health and Safety Code sections 1797, et seq. The Fire Department operates a grandfathered EMS system within the City of Berkeley, and has consistently done so since the enactment of the EMS Act; and
WHEREAS, as the exclusive provider within the City of Berkeley, the Fire Department may propose adjustments to fees that bring them in line with those of other regional transport providers and cover expenses related to providing said service; and WHEREAS, the revenue collected will be deposited into General Fund revenue account 010-6405-341-7900; and
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Berkeley that the new ambulance user fee schedule is adopted in accordance with the rates established by the County of Alameda, effective July 1, 2025, as follows:
User Fee Schedule
Base Rate $4,529.89
Mileage $102.21
Oxygen $338.42
Treatment / Non-Transport $908.49
First Responder Fee $559.00
Base Bundled Rate (Base Rate and First Responder Fee) $5,088.89
June 17, 2025
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the new ambulance user fee schedule shall be effective and that Resolution No. 71,512–N.S. is rescinded, effective July 1, 2025.
June 17, 2025
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BERKELEY CITY COUNCIL
AMBULANCE USER FEE ADJUSTMENT
The public may participate in this hearing by remote video or in-person.
Notice is hereby given by the City Council of the City of Berkeley that a public hearing will be conducted by said city council of the City of Berkeley at which time and place all persons may attend and be heard upon the following:
The Fire Department is proposing to increase the Ambulance User Fee rates to match the ambulance transport provider fees set forth and approved by the County of Alameda and charged by other regional transport providers. Collected ambulance fees are deposited into a General Fund revenue account.
The County of Alameda has established and approved a new base rate Contractor’s User Fee schedule for ambulance transport providers effective July 1, 2025. The City of Berkeley fee increase would be effective July 1, 2025. For the City of Berkeley, the last rate increase was approved by the City Council on September 10, 2024 (Resolution 71,512–N.S.); and the rate increase was made effective September 11, 2024.
User Fee Schedule
Base Rate $4,529.89
Mileage $102.21
Oxygen $338.42
Treatment / Non-Transport* $908.49
First Responder Fee $559.00
Base Bundled Rate $5,088.89
*This rate shall be limited to patients who receive a medical intervention, such as intravenous medication administration, and subsequently refuse transport. Patient assessment, including ECG monitoring, does not constitute treatment.
The hearing will be held on June 17, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the School District Board Room, 1231 Addison Street, Berkeley CA 94702.
For further information, please contact David McPartland, EMS Assistant Chief, at (510) 981-3473.
A copy of the staff report for this hearing will be available on the City’s website at www.berkeleyca.gov as of June 5, 2025. Once posted, the agenda for this meeting will include a link for public participation using Zoom video technology, as well as any health and safety requirements for in-person attendance.
June 17, 2025
Written comments should be mailed or delivered directly to the City Clerk, 2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704, or e-mailed to [email protected] in order to ensure delivery to all Councilmembers and inclusion in the agenda packet.
Communications to the Berkeley City Council are public record and will become part of the City’s electronic records, which are accessible through the City’s website. Please note: e-mail addresses, names, addresses, and other contact information are not required, but if included in any communication to the City Council, will become part of the public record. If you do not want your e-mail address or any other contact information to be made public, you may deliver communications via U.S. Postal Service or in person to the City Clerk. If you do not want your contact information included in the public record, please do not include that information in your communication. Please contact the City Clerk at 981-6900 or [email protected] for further informat ion.
If you challenge the above in court, you may be limited to raising only those issu es you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Berkeley at, or prior to, the public hearing. Background information concerning this proposal will be available at the City Clerk Department and posted on the City of Berkeley webpage at least 10 days prior to the public hearing.
Published: May 30 and June 6, 2025 – The Berkeley Voice Per Government Code 6062A
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I hereby certify that the Notice for this Public Hearing of the Berkeley City Council was posted at the disp
lay case located near the walkway in front of the Maudelle Shirek Building, 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, as well as on the City’s website, June 5, 2025.
Mark Numainville, City Clerk
Office of the City Manager
PUBLIC HEARING
June 17, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
Submitted by: David Sprague, Fire Chief
Subject: Fire Permit and Inspection Fee Schedule
RECOMMENDATION
Conduct a public hearing and upon conclusion, adopt a Resolution:
1. Approving a revised Fire Department fee schedule which incorporates an increase in fire permitting and fire inspection fees from $392.00 to $500.00 per hour; and
2. Adding fees to construction and operational permit fees that were new permits from the California Fire Code (CFC) in years 2016, 2019, and 2022, which were adopted with no fee assigned; and
3. Adding a fee amount to the operational permit for Class IIIB Combustible Liquids; and
4. Rescinding Resolution 70,612–N.S.
FISCAL IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION
The Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Division invoices for services rendered. Billable services include inspections, plan review, and code consultation. Operating costs include personnel, vehicles, equipment, tools, workspace, and subscription services for references and software. The revenues collected and the program costs are expensed into and from the General Fund. In addition, UC Berkeley Long Range Development Plan (LRDP) settlement funds provide funding for some fire prevention full-time equivalent (FTE) staffing.
In April 2022, the Fire Prevention Division expanded from one Sworn Fire Prevention Inspector (Inspector) and two Civilian Fire Prevention Inspectors to five Sworn Fire Prevention Inspectors. During the coronavirus pandemic, department priorities shifted, and the volume of annual inspections and construction inspections reduced. Thus, comparing revenues and expenditures from FY23, FY24, and projections from FY25 would be most appropriate.
Personnel cost make up approximately 90% of the Fire Prevention Division budget.
From July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2024, salary increases for Inspectors ranged between 2% to 6% each year, totaling approximately 20% increase in personnel cost (not
Fire Permit and Inspection Fee Schedule PUBLIC HEARING
June 17, 2025
adjusted for time value of money). The increase in wages were necessary to ensure Inspector salaries were competitive among San Francisco Bay Area Fire Departments.
Non-personnel costs have also increased similarly to the consumer price index.
Between 2017 and 2024, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), for the San Francisco Bay Area increased by 27.53% during the past seven years, which equates to 3.93% per year.
Fire fees were last increased per Resolution 67,990-N.S., which was effective July 1, 2017. The proposed fee increase from $392.00 per hour to $500.00 per hour would be a
27.55% increase in the fee amount. The new and increased fees are billed on a quarter hour (1/4 hour, 15 minutes) and are based on the estimated time staff are likely to spend on each service.
FY23, FY24, and projected FY25 revenues and expenditures are below. Expenditures in FY25 are projected to be $1,284,421 more than revenues.
FY 2023 FY 2024 FY2025 (projected)
Revenues 827,802 1,056,570 1,143,483
Expenditures 1,756,110 2,224,062 2,427,904
Over/(Under) Funded (928,308) (1,167,492) (1,284,421)
Projected FY26 is estimated to be $1,289,810 underfunded. If approved, the proposed fee increase would result in under funding by $1,007,723.
FY 2026 (projected) FY 2026 (with fee increase)
Revenues 1,023,870 1,305,957
Expenditures 2,313,680 2,313,680
Over/(Under) Funded (1,289,810) (1,007,723)
A detailed listing and comparison of the proposed fee changes in the various fire permit and inspections fees is provided in Attachment 2.
CURRENT SITUATION AND ITS EFFECTS
The Fire Department’s fire prevention permitting and annual fire inspection programs, which are required by the fire code, rely on fees for services to defray operating costs.
The fee assessed is currently billed at a rate of $392.00 per hour. Operating costs include personnel, vehicles, equipment, tools, and workspace. The basic hourly billing rate and the corresponding value of the billing unit (one quarter hour of time) for fire
Fire Permit and Inspection Fee Schedule PUBLIC HEARING
June 17, 2025
prevention permitting and inspection services were last increased by Council on May 16, 2017, in Resolution No. 67,990–N.S. Fees were increased from FY15 to FY17 by
4.81%. Resolution No. 70,612-N.S., effective January 1, 2023, was the last fee resolution which included new fees with no established fee amount and no fee increase of existing fees.
BACKGROUND
Other Alameda County Fire Departments have adopted FY2024/2025 fee schedules.
Fee schedules are either based hourly, per type of occupancy or process, percentage of valuation, or other formula-based approach. Those departments who base their rates on a fee schedule similar to the Berkeley Fire Department are as follows:
Oakland Inspection Fee $500.00/hour, min.
Oakland Operational Permit Fee $249.00/year or instance, min.
Oakland Plan Check Fee $717.00/hour, min.
Alameda City Inspection Fee $102.00/ ½ hr w/1 hr to 2.5 hr min.
Alameda City Operational Permit Fee $612/permit, min.
Alameda City Plan Check Fee $742.00/hour w/2 hour min.
Compared to Oakland and Alameda City, Berkeley’s fees are similar or less than the fees in those jurisdictions.
The Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Division also provides services that include the annual fire prevention inspection of commercial occupancies, multi-family residential occupancies, hospitals, schools, and large assembly spaces as required by the California Fire and Berkeley Municipal Codes, as well as more specialized, detailed or limited scope fire code inspections that are initiated through a variety of mechanisms such as citizen inquiries or complaints, indoor entertainment inspections, operational fire permits, and internal or external agency referrals.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE IMPACTS
There are no identifiable environmental effects, climate impacts, or sustainability opportunities associated with the subject of this report.
RATIONALE FOR RECOMMENDATION
Fire inspection and permitting fees have not increased since July 1, 2017, almost eight years. Over the same period of time, personnel costs have increased 20% and non- personnel costs have increased 27.53%.
In comparison to other fire departments with similar fee schedules, the proposed fee increases would bring the Berkeley Fire Department fees closer to what those agencies charge for services.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS CONSIDERED
Maintain the fire permit and fire inspection billing rates at their current levels.
Expenditures would outpace revenues.
Fire Permit and Inspection Fee Schedule PUBLIC HEARING
June 17, 2025
CONTACT PERSON
Drew Whyte - Fire Marshal, Fire Department, 510-981-3473 Attachments:
1. Public Hearing Notice
2. Detailed Listing and Comparison of Proposed Fire Department Fee Schedule Changes
3. Resolution – Annual Permit Fees, Inspection and Billing Rates for Inspection of Property Sites by the Berkeley Fire Department
ATTACHMENT 1
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
BERKELEY CITY COUNCIL
ADOPTION OF AMENDED FIRE PERMIT AND INSPECTION FEE
SCHEDULE
The public may participate in this hearing by remote video or in-person.
Notice is hereby given by the City Council of the City of Berkeley that a public hearing will be conducted by said city council of the City of Berkeley at which time and place all persons may attend and be heard upon the following:
The Fire Prevention Division of the Fire Department is proposing to increase permit fees, inspection fees, and billing rates to cover the increase in costs. Base fees for the fire permit and inspection fees were last increased per Resolution 67,990-N.S, which was effective July 1, 2017. The fee increase is an average of 27.55% and are as follows:
Current Fees Proposed Fees
$98.00 $125.00
$196.00 $250.00
$294.00 $375.00
$392.00 $500.00
$588.00 $750.00
$784.00 $1,000.00
$980.00 $1,250.00
$1,176.00 $1,500.00
Additionally, some operational permit fees and construction permit fees have been adopted, but no fee amounts were associated with them.
Operational Permits Current Fee Proposed Fee
Additive manufacturing $0 $250.00 min.
Flammable and combustible
liquids, #4
$0 $250.00 min.
Outdoor assembly event $0 $500.00 min.
Plant extraction systems $0 $500.00 min.
Lithium batteries $0 $500.00 min.
Construction Permits Current Fee Proposed Fee
Fuel cell power systems $0 $500.00 min.
Gas detection systems $0 $500.00 min.
High-piled combustible storage $0 Standard Building
Permit Fees
Motor vehicle repair rooms and
booths
$0 Standard Building
Permit Fees
Plant extraction systems $0 Standard Building
Permit Fees
Special event structure $0 Standard Building
Permit Fees
ATTACHMENT 1
The hearing will be held on, JUNE 17, 20205 at 6:00 p.m. in the School District Board Room, located at 1231 Addison Street, Berkeley CA 94702.
For further information, please contact Fire Marshal Drew Whyte at 510-981-5584 or [email protected].
A copy of the agenda material for this hearing will be available on the City’s website at https://berkeleyca.gov/ as of June 5, 2025. Once posted, the agenda for this meeting will include a link for public participation using Zoom video technology, as well as any health and safety requirements for in-person attendance.
Written comments should be mailed or delivered directly to the City Clerk, 2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704, or e-mailed to
[email protected] in order to ensure
delivery to all Councilmembers and inclusion in the agenda packet.
Communications to the Berkeley City Council are public record and will become part of the City’s electronic records, which are accessible through the City’s website. Please note: e-mail addresses, names, addresses, and other contact information are not required, but if included in any communication to the City Council, will become part of the public record. If you do not want your e-mail address or any other contact information to be made public, you may deliver communications via U.S. Postal Service or in person to the City Clerk. If you do not want your contact information included in the public record, please do not include that information in your communication. Please contact the City Clerk at (510) 981-6900 or [email protected] for further information.
If you challenge the above in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Berkeley at, or prior to, the public hearing.
Background information concerning this proposal will be available at the City Clerk Department and posted on the City of Berkeley webpage at least 12 days prior to the public hearing.
Published: May 30 and June 6, 2025 – The Berkely Voice Published pursuant to Government Code Section 6062a
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I hereby certify that the Notice for this Public Hearing of the Berkeley City Council was posted at the display case located near the walkway in front of the Maudelle Shirek Building, 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, as well as on the City’s website, on June 5, 2025.
Mark Numainville, City Clerk
ATTACHMENT 2
Summary of Proposed Fee Amendments
The following list provides a detailed discussion of the individual proposed errata, changes to and modifications of the fire department fire permitting, fire inspection, and service fee schedule:
A. Amend Section 1, “Annual Permit Fees,” Section 2, “Annual Fire Clearance,” Section 3, “Miscellaneous Fees,” and Section 4, “Inspection and Billing Rate” to increase permit fees, inspection fees, and billing rates to cover the increase in costs. The last fee amount increase was per Resolution 67,990-N.S., which was effective July 1, 2017. The fee increase is an average of 27.55% and are as follows:
a. $98.00 to $125.00
b. $196.00 to $250.00
c. $294.00 to $375.00
d. $392.00 to $500.00
e. $588.00 to $750.00
f. $784.00 to $1,000.00
g. $980.00 to $1,250.00
h. $1,176.00 to $1,500.00
Indoor Entertainment Inspection Fees are under Section 3, Miscellaneous Fees.
The inspection fee increased from $93.50 per inspection in Resolution 67,990- N.S., effective 7/1/2017, or $98.00 per quarter hour in Resolution 69,179-N.S., effective 1/1/2020. The proposed fee increase shall be consistent with other inspection fee increases which means it would increase from $98.00 per quarter hour to $125.00 per quarter hour.
B. Amend Section 1, “Annual Permit Fees,” in Code “Section 105.5.1, Additive manufacturing” by adding an operational fire permit fee amount of a minimum of $250.00. This fire permit was adopted per Resolution 70,612-N.S. with no fee amount. This change is required to enable cost recovery for regulatory services provided.
C. Amend Section 1, “Annual Permit Fees,” in Code “Section 105.5.18, Flammable and combustible liquids, #4” by adding an operational fire permit fee amount of a minimum of $250.00. This fire permit was adopted per Resolution 70,612-N.S. with no fee amount. This change is required to enable cost recovery for regulatory services provided.
D. Amend Section 1, “Annual Permit Fees,” in Code “Section 105.5.38, Outdoor assembly event” by adding an operational fire permit fee amount of a minimum of $500.00. This fire permit was adopted per Resolution 70,612-N.S. with no fee amount. This change is required to enable cost recovery for regulatory services provided.
ATTACHMENT 2
E. Amend Section 1, “Annual Permit Fees,” in Code “Section 105.5.40, Plant extraction systems” by adding an operational fire permit fee amount of a minimum of $500.00. This fire permit was adopted per Resolution 70,612-N.S. with no fee amount. This change is required to enable cost recovery for regulatory services provided.
F. Amend Section 1, “Annual Permit Fees,” in Code “Section 105.5.53, Lithium batteries” by adding an operational fire permit fee amount of a minimum of $500.00. This fire permit was adopted per Resolution 70,612-N.S. with no fee amount. This change is required to enable cost recovery for regulatory services provided.
G. Amend Section 1, “Annual Permit Fees,” in Code “Section 105.6.9, Fuel cell power systems” by adding a construction fire permit fee amount of a minimum of $500.00. This fire permit was adopted per Resolution 70,612-N.S. with no fee amount. This change is required to enable cost recovery for regulatory services provided.
H. Amend Section 1, “Annual Permit Fees,” in Code “Section 105.6.10, Gas detection systems” by adding a construction fire permit fee amount of a minimum of $500.00. This fire permit was adopted per Resolution 70,612-N.S. with no fee amount. This change is required to enable cost recovery for regulatory services provided.
I. Amend Section 1, “Annual Permit Fees,” in Code “Section 105.6.13, High-piled combustible storage” by adding a construction fire permit fee that references the standard Building & Safety Division construction permit fees. The fire department regulatory services are part of the workflow within the building permitting process. This fire permit was adopted per Resolution 70,612-N.S. with no fee amount. This change is required to enable cost recovery for regulatory services provided.
J. Amend Section 1, “Annual Permit Fees,” in Code “Section 105.6.16, Motor vehicle repair rooms and booths” by adding a construction fire permit fee that references the standard Building & Safety Division construction permit fees. The fire department regulatory services are part of the workflow within the building permitting process. This fire permit was adopted per Resolution 70,612-N.S. with no fee amount. This change is required to enable cost recovery for regulatory services provided.
K. Amend Section 1, “Annual Permit Fees,” in Code “Section 105.6.17, Plant extraction systems” by adding a construction fire permit fee that references the standard Building & Safety Division construction permit fees. The fire department regulatory services are part of the workflow within the building permitting process. This fire permit was adopted per Resolution 70,612-N.S. with no fee amount. This change is required to enable cost recovery for regulatory services provided.
L. Amend Section 1, “Annual Permit Fees,” in Code “Section 105.6.21, Special event structure” by adding a construction fire permit fee that references the
ATTACHMENT 2
standard Building & Safety Division construction permit fees. The fire department regulatory services are part of the workflow within the building permitting process. This fire permit was adopted per Resolution 70,612-N.S. with no fee amount. This change is required to enable cost recovery for regulatory services provided.
M. Section 3, “Miscellaneous Fees,” add Fire Permit Application Extension and Fire Permit Extension Requests to reference the standard Building & Safety Division extension fees that are currently being collected to enable cost recovery for regulatory services.
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
Proposed
Fee
OPERATIONAL PERMITS
Section
105.5.1
Additive manufacturing. An operational permit is required to conduct additive manufacturing operations regulated by Section 320.3.
No Fee $250.00
Section
105.5.2
Aerosol products, aerosol cooking spray products
and plastic aerosol 3 products. An operational permit is required to manufacture, store or handle an aggregate
quantity of Level 2 or Level 3 aerosol products, aerosol cooking spray products or plastic aerosol 3 products in excess of 500 pounds (227 kg) net weight.
$392.00 $500.00
Section
105.5.3
Amusement buildings. An operational permit is required to operate a special amusement building.
$392.00 $500.00
Section
105.5.4
Aviation facilities. An operational permit is required to use a Group H or Group S occupancy for aircraft servicing or repair and aircraft fuel-servicing vehicles. Additional permits required by other sections of this code include, but are not limited to hot work, hazardous materials and flammable or combustible finishes.
$392.00 $500.00
Section
105.5.5
Carnivals and fairs. An operational permit is required to conduct a carnival or fair.
$392.00 $500.00
Section
105.5.6
Cellulose nitrate film. An operational permit is required to store, handle or use cellulose nitrate film in a Group A occupancy.
$392.00 $500.00
Section
105.5.55
Christmas tree sales lot. An operational permit is required to operate a Christmas tree sales lot.
$392.00 $500.00
Section
105.5.7
Combustible dust-producing operations. An operational
permit is required to operate a grain elevator, flour starch mill, feed mill, or a plant pulverizing aluminum, coal, cocoa, magnesium, spices or sugar, or other operations producing combustible dusts as defined in Chapter 2.
$392.00 $500.00
ATTACHMENT 2
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
Proposed
Fee
Section
105.5.8
Combustible fibers. An operational permit is required for the storage and handling of combustible fibers in quantities greater than 100 cubic feet (2.8m3).
Exception: A permit is not required for agricultural storage. $392.00 $500.00
Section
105.5.9
Compressed gases. An operational permit is required for the storage, use or handling at normal temperature and
pressure (NTP) of compressed gases in excess of the
amounts listed in Table 105.5.9.
Exception: Vehicles equipped for and using compressed
gas as a fuel for propelling the vehicle.
$392.00
minimum
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.5.10
Covered and open mall buildings. An operational permit
is required for:
1. The placement of retail fixtures and displays, concession equipment, displays of highly combustible goods and
similar items in the mall.
2. The display of liquid- or gas-fired equipment in the mall.
3. The use of open-flame or flame-producing equipment in the mall.
$392.00
minimum
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.5.11
Cryogenic fluids. An operational permit is required to produce, store, transport on site, use, handle or dispense cryogenic fluids in excess of the amounts listed in Table 105.5.11
Exception: Permits are not required for vehicles equipped for and using cryogenic fluids as a fuel for propelling the vehicle or for refrigerating the lading.
$392.00
minimum
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.5.12
Cutting and welding. An operational permit is required to conduct cutting or welding operations within the jurisdiction. $196.00 $250.00
Section
105.5.13
Dry cleaning. An operational permit is required to engage in the business of dry cleaning or to change to a more
hazardous cleaning solvent used in existing dry cleaning equipment.
$392.00 $500.00
Section
105.5.14
Energy storage systems. An operational permit is required for stationary and mobile energy storage systems regulated by Section 1207.
$392.00
minimum
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.5.56
Escort convoy service. Police and/or Fire Department
convoy service for vehicle transportation of extremely
hazardous materials.
$392.00
minimum
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.5.15
Exhibits and trade shows. An operational permit is
required to operate exhibits and trade shows.
$392.00 $500.00
ATTACHMENT 2
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
Proposed
Fee
Section
105.5.16
Explosives. An operational permit is required for the
manufacture, storage, handling, sale or use of any quantity of explosives, explosive materials, fireworks or pyrotechnic special effects within the scope of Chapter 56. See Health and Safety Code Division 11, Part 1, Sections 12000, et seq. for additional requirements.
Exception: Storage in Group R-3 occupancies of
smokeless propellant, black powder and small arms
primers for personal use, not for resale and in
accordance with Section 5606.
$588.00 $618.00
To conduct a public fireworks display..................................... $1176.00 minimum
$1500.00
minimum
To continue the use of a public fireworks display permit ........ $196.00 $250.00 Section
105.5.57
Fire fighter air replenishment system (FARS). An annual operational permit is required to maintain a FARS system in accordance with Appendix L.
$196.00 $250.00
Section
105.5.17
Fire hydrants and valves. An operational permit is
required to use or operate fire hydrants or valves intended for fire suppression purposes that are installed on water systems and provided with ready access from a fire
apparatus access road that is open to or generally used by the public.
Exception: A permit is not required for authorized
employees of the water company that supplies the system or the fire department to use or operate fire hydrants or valves.
$196.00 $250.00
Section
105.5.18
Flammable and combustible liquids. An operational
permit is required:
1. To use or operate a pipeline for the transportation within facilities of flammable or combustible liquids. This
requirement shall not apply to the off-site transportation in pipelines regulated by the Department of
Transportation (DOTn) nor does it apply to piping
systems. ........................................................................... $392.00
minimum
$500.00
minimum
2. To store, handle or use Class I liquids in excess of 5 gallons (19 L) in a building or in excess of 10 gallons (37.9 L) outside of a building, except that a permit is not required for the following:.................................................
2.1 The storage or use of Class I liquids in the fuel
tank of a motor vehicle, aircraft, motorboat,
$392.00 $500.00
ATTACHMENT 2
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
Proposed
Fee
mobile power plant or mobile heating plant,
unless such storage, in the opinion of the fire
code official, would cause an unsafe condition.
2.2 The storage or use of paints, oils, varnishes or
similar flammable mixtures where such liquids
are stored for maintenance, painting or similar
purposes for a period of not more than 30 days.
3. To store, handle or use Class II or Class IIIA liquids in excess of 25 gallons (95 L) in a building or in excess of 60 gallons (227 L) outside a building, except for fuel oil used in connection with oil-burning equipment.................. $392.00 $500.00
4. To store, handle or use Class IIIB liquids in excess of 110 gallons in containers, or in tanks or portable tanks for fueling motor vehicles at motor fuel-dispensing facilities or where connected to fuel-burning equipment.
Exception: Fuel oil and used motor oil used for space
heating or water heating.
No Fee $250.00
5. To remove Class I or Class II liquids from an
underground storage tank used for fueling motor
vehicles by any means other than the approved,
stationary on-site pumps normally used for dispensing
purposes........................................................................... $196.00 $250.00
6. To operate tank vehicles, equipment, tanks, plants, terminals, wells, fuel-dispensing stations, refineries, distilleries and similar facilities where flammable and combustible liquids are produced, processed,
transported, stored, dispensed or used............................ $196.00 $250.00
7. To place temporarily out of service (for more than 90 days) an underground, protected above-ground or
above-ground flammable or combustible liquid tank.. $196.00 $250.00
8. To change the type of contents stored in a flammable or combustible liquid tank to a material that poses a greater hazard than that for which the tank was designed and
constructed........................................................................ $196.00 $250.00
9. To manufacture, process, blend or refine flammable or combustible liquids............................................................ $392.00 $500.00
10. To engage in the dispensing of liquid fuels into the fuel tanks of motor vehicles at commercial, industrial,
governmental or manufacturing establishments in $392.00 $500.00
ATTACHMENT 2
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
Proposed
Fee
accordance with Section 5706.5.4 or to engage in on-
demand mobile fueling operations in accordance with
Section 5707.. ..................................................................
11. To utilize a site for the dispensing of liquid fuels from tank vehicles into the fuel tanks of motor vehicles,
marine craft and other special equipment at commercial, industrial, governmental or manufacturing
establishments in accordance with Section 5706.5.4 or,
where required by the fire code official, to utilize a site for on-demand mobile fueling operations in accordance
with Section 5707............................................................. $392.00 $500.00
Section
105.5.19
Floor finishing. An operational permit is required for floor finishing or surfacing operations exceeding 350 square feet (33 m2) using Class I or Class II liquids.
$392.00 $500.00
Section
105.5.20
Fruit and crop ripening. An operational permit is required to operate a fruit- or crop-ripening facility or conduct a fruit- ripening process using ethylene gas.
$392.00 $500.00
Section
105.5.21
Fumigation and insecticidal fogging. An operational
permit is required to operate a business of fumigation or insecticidal fogging, and to maintain a room, vault or
chamber in which a toxic or flammable fumigant is used.
No permit
required
No permit
required
Section
105.5.58
General use permit. For any activity or operation not
specifically described in this code, which the fire code official reasonably determines, may produce conditions
hazardous to life or property.
$392.00
minimum
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.5.22
Hazardous materials. An operational permit is required to store, transport on site, dispense, use or handle hazardous materials in excess of the amounts listed in Table 105.5.22. $392.00
minimum
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.5.23
HPM Facilities. An operational permit is required to store, handle or use hazardous production materials.
$392.00 $500.00
Section
105.5.24
High-piled storage. An operational permit is required to use a building or portion thereof with more than 500 square feet (46 m2), including aisles, of high-piled storage.
$392.00
minimum
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.5.25
Hot work operations. An operational permit is required for hot work including, but not limited to: ..................................... $392.00
(unless
otherwise
noted)
$500.00
(unless
otherwise
noted)
1. Public exhibitions and demonstrations where hot work is conducted.
2. Use of portable hot work equipment inside a structure.
ATTACHMENT 2
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
Proposed
Fee
Exception: Work that is conducted under a construction
permit.
3. Fixed-site hot work equipment such as welding booths.
4. Hot work conducted within a wildfire risk area.
5. Application of roof coverings with the use of an open- flame device. $98.00 $125.00
6. When approved, the fire code official shall issue a permit to carry out a hot work program. This program allows
approved personnel to regulate their facility’s hot work operations. The approved personnel shall be trained in
the fire safety aspects denoted in this chapter and shall be responsible for issuing permits requiring compliance with the requirements found in Chapter 35. These
permits shall be issued only to their employees or hot
work operations under their supervision.
Section
105.5.26
Industrial ovens. An operational permit is required for operation of industrial ovens regulated by Chapter 30.
$392.00 $500.00
Section
105.5.27
Lumber yards and woodworking plants. An operational
permit is required for the storage or processing of lumber exceeding 100,000 board feet (8,333 ft3) (236 m3).
$392.00 $500.00
Section
105.5.28
Liquid- or gas-fueled vehicles or equipment in
assembly buildings. An operational permit is required to display, operate or demonstrate liquid- or gas-fueled
vehicles or equipment in assembly buildings.
$392.00 $500.00
Section
105.5.29
LP-gas. An operational permit is required for:
1. Storage and use of LP-gas.
Exception: A permit is not required for individual
containers with a 500-gallon (1893 L) water capacity
or less or multiple container systems having an
aggregate quantity not exceeding 500 gallons (1893
L), serving occupancies in Group R-3.
2. Operation of cargo tankers that transport LP-gas.
$392.00
minimum
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.5.30
Magnesium. An operational permit is required to melt,
cast, heat treat or grind more than 10 pounds (4.54 kg) of magnesium.
$392.00 $500.00
Section
105.5.31
Miscellaneous combustible storage. An operational
permit is required to store in any building or on any
premises in excess of 2,500 cubic feet (71 m3) gross volume of combustible empty packing cases, boxes, barrels or
$392.00 $500.00
ATTACHMENT 2
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
Proposed
Fee
similar containers, combustible pallets, rubber tires, rubber, cork, or similar combustible material.
Section
105.5.32
Mobile fueling of hydrogen-fueled vehicles.
An operational permit is required:
1. To engage in the mobile dispensing of gaseous
hydrogen as a fuel into the fuel tanks of motor
vehicles.
2. Where required by the fire code official, to utilize a site for the dispensing of gaseous hydrogen as a fuel
from tank vehicles into the fuel tanks of motor
vehicles.
Exception: In cases of an emergency, a site permit is
not required.
$392.00
minimum
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.5.33
Motor fuel-dispensing facilities. An operational permit is required for the operation of automotive, marine, and fleet motor fuel-dispensing facilities, or for mobile fueling operations using flammable liquids and which are
conducted at facilities or locations which are not permanent, permitted motor fuel dispensing facilities.
Exception: Transfer of not more than 5 gallons flammable or combustible liquids using a listed or approved portable fuel container of 5 gallons or less capacity.
$392.00
minimum
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.5.34
Open burning. An operational permit is required for the kindling or maintaining of an open fire or a fire on any public street, alley, road, or other public or private ground.
Instructions and stipulations of the permit shall be complied with.
Exception: Recreational fires.
$196.00 $250.00
Section
105.5.35
Open flames and torches. An operational permit is
required to remove paint with a torch; or to use a torch or open-flame device in a wildfire risk area.
$196.00 $250.00
Section
105.5.36
Open flames and candles. An operational permit is
required to use open flames or candles in connection with assembly areas, dining areas of restaurants or drinking establishments.
$196.00 $250.00
Section
105.5.37
Organic coatings. An operational permit is required for any organic-coating manufacturing operation producing
more than 1 gallon (4 L) of an organic coating in one day. $392.00 $500.00
ATTACHMENT 2
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
Proposed
Fee
Section
105.5.38
Outdoor assembly event. An operational permit is required to conduct an outdoor assembly event where planned
attendance exceeds 1,000 persons.
No Fee $500.00
minimum
Section
105.5.59
Parking facility, special events. An operational permit is required to use buildings or structures for vehicle parking, including parking for special events (i.e. football games, etc.)
A. Less than 15 parking spaces ...................................... $196.00 $250.00 B. 15 or more parking spaces ........................................ $392.00 $500.00 Section
105.5.39
Places of assembly. An operational permit is required to operate a place of assembly.
A. Occupant load less than 300........................................ $392.00 $500.00 B. Occupant load 300 or more.......................................... $588.00 $750.00 Section
105.5.40
Plant extraction systems. An operational permit is
required to use plant extraction systems.
No Fee $500.00
Section
105.5.41
Private fire hydrants. An operational permit is required for the removal from service, use or operation of private fire hydrants.
Exception: A permit is not required for private industry with trained maintenance personnel, private fire brigade or fire departments to maintain, test and use private
hydrants.
$196.00 $250.00
Section
105.5.42
Pyrotechnic special effects material. An operational
permit is required for use and handling of pyrotechnic
special effects material. See Health and Safety Code
Division 11, Part 2, Sections 12500, et seq. for additional requirements.
$392.00 $500.00
Section
105.5.43
Pyroxylin plastics. An operational permit is required for storage or handling of more than 25 pounds (11 kg) of
cellulose nitrate (pyroxylin) plastics, and for the assembly or manufacture of articles involving pyroxylin plastics.
$392.00 $500.00
Section
105.5.44
Refrigeration equipment. An operational permit is
required to operate a mechanical refrigeration unit or
system regulated by Chapter 6.
$392.00
minimum
$500.00
minimum
ATTACHMENT 2
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
Proposed
Fee
Section
105.5.45
Repair garages and motor fuel-dispensing facilities. An operational permit is required for operation of repair
garages.
$392.00
minimum
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.5.46
Rooftop heliports. An operational permit is required for the operation of a rooftop heliport.
$392.00 $500.00
Section
105.5.47
Spraying or dipping. An operational permit is required to conduct a spraying or dipping operation utilizing flammable or combustible liquids, or the application of combustible powders regulated by Chapter 24.
$392.00 $500.00
Section
105.5.48
Storage of scrap tires and tire byproducts. An
operational permit is required to establish, conduct or maintain storage of scrap tires and tire byproducts that exceeds 2,500 cubic feet (71 m3) of total volume of scrap tires, and for indoor storage of tires and tire byproducts. $392.00 $500.00
Section
105.5.60
Tank vehicles. An operational permit is required to operate a tank vehicle (other than flammable and combustible
liquids tank vehicles as listed and regulated in 105.5.18, item 6) including those hazardous materials transportation vehicles defined in Section 5001.7 of the Berkeley Fire Code for the transportation of hazardous liquids or
materials.
$392.00
annually
$500.00
annually
Section
105.5.49
Temporary membrane structures and tents. An
operational permit is required to operate an air-supported temporary membrane structure, a temporary special event structure or a tent having an area in excess of 400 square feet (37 m2)
Exceptions:
1. Tents used exclusively for recreational camping
purposes.
2. Tents open on all sides, which comply with all of the following:
2.1 Individual tents having a maximum size of 700
square feet (65 m2).
2.2 The aggregate area of multiple tents placed side by side without a fire break clearance of not less than
12 feet (3658 mm) shall not exceed 700 square feet
(65 m2) total.
$392.00 $500.00
ATTACHMENT 2
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
Proposed
Fee
2.3 A minimum clearance of 12 feet (3658 mm) to
structures and other tents shall be provided.
Section
105.5.50
Tire-rebuilding plants. An operational permit is required for the operation and maintenance of a tire-rebuilding plant. $392.00 $500.00
Section
105.5.51
Waste handling. An operational permit is required for the operation of wrecking yards, junk yards and waste material- handling facilities.
$392.00 $500.00
Section
105.5.52
Wood products. An operational permit is required to store chips, hogged material, lumber or plywood in excess of 200 cubic feet (6 m3).
$392.00 $500.00
Section
105.5.53
Lithium batteries. An operational permit is required for an accumulation of more than 15 cubic feet (0.42 m) of lithium- ion and lithium metal batteries, where required by Section 322.1.
No Fee $500.00
Section
105.5.54
Additional permits. In addition to the permits required by Section 105.6, the following permits shall be obtained from the Bureau of Fire Prevention prior to engaging in the
following activities, operations, practices or functions:
1. Production facilities. To change use or occupancy, or allow the attendance of a live audience, or for wrap
parties.
2. Pyrotechnics and special effects. To use pyrotechnic special effects, open flame, use of flammable or
combustible liquids and gases, welding, and the parking of motor vehicles in any building or location used for the purpose of motion picture, television and commercial
production.
3. Live audiences. To install seating arrangements for live audiences in approved production facilities, production studios and sound stages. See Chapter 48.
$392.00 $500.00
CONSTRUCTION PERMITS
Section
105.6.1
Automatic fire-extinguishing systems. A
construction permit is required for installation of or
modification to an automatic fire-extinguishing system.
Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered to be a modification and does not require a
permit.
A. Range Hood System .................................................... $392.00* $500.00*
ATTACHMENT 2
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
Proposed
Fee
B. Chemical Suppression System .................................... $392.00* $500.00* C. Automatic Sprinkler ..................................................... $392.00* $500.00* D. Automatic Sprinkler (small alteration or repairs
to an existing system with 20 heads or less)....... $196.00* $250.00* E. Underground……………………..…………………........ $392.00* $500.00* All others......................……..............……................... $392.00* $500.00* Field Inspection ..................................................……… ........ $98.00 / qtr hour*
*minimum
$125.00 /
qtr hour*
*minimum
Section
105.6.2
Compressed gases. Where the compressed gases in use
or storage exceed the amounts listed in Table 105.5.9, a construction permit is required to install, repair damage to, abandon, remove, place temporarily out of service, or close or substantially modify a compressed gas system.
Exceptions:
1. Routine maintenance.
2. For emergency repair work performed on an emergency
basis, application for permit shall be made within two
working days of commencement of work.
$392.00 $500.00
Section
105.6.3
Cryogenic fluids. A construction permit is required for installation of or alteration to outdoor stationary cryogenic fluid storage systems where the system capacity exceeds the amounts listed in Table 105.5.11. Maintenance
performed in accordance with this code is not considered to be an alteration and does not require a construction permit. $392.00
minimum
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.6.4
Emergency responder communication coverage
system. A construction permit is required for installation of or modification to in-building, two-way emergency responder communication coverage systems and related equipment.
Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered to be a modification and does not require a
construction permit.
$392.00
minimum
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.6.5
Energy storage systems. A construction permit is required to install energy storage systems regulated by Section
1207.
$392.00
minimum
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.6.6
Fire alarm and detection systems and related
equipment. A construction permit is required for installation of or modification to fire alarm and detection systems and related equipment. Maintenance performed in accordance
$392.00* $500.00*
ATTACHMENT 2
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
Proposed
Fee
with this code is not considered to be a modification and does not require a construction permit.
A. Under 12 devices...............................................….........
B. 12-30 devices ...............................…………………........ $588.00* $750.00* C. 31-49 devices………………………………………........... $980.00* $1250.00* D. 50 or more devices………………………………….......... $1176.00* $1500.00* E. Water flow alarms …………………………………........... $196.00 $250.00 F. Field Inspection ……………………………………… ....... $98.00
/qtr hr.*
*minimum
$125.00
/qtr hr.*
*minimum
105.6.25 Fire fighter air replenishment system (FARS). A construction permit is required for installation of or
modification to a FARS system in accordance with Appendix L.
$392.00
minimum
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.6.7
Fire pumps and related equipment. A construction permit is required for installation of or modification to fire pumps and related fuel tanks, jockey pumps, controllers and
generators. Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered to be a modification and does not require a construction permit.
$392.00 $500.00
Section
105.6.8
Flammable and combustible liquids. A construction
permit is required:
1. To install, repair or modify a pipeline for the
transportation of flammable or combustible liquids.
$392.00
minimum
$500.00
minimum
2. To install, construct or alter tank vehicles, equipment, tanks, plants, terminals, wells, fuel-dispensing stations, refineries, distilleries and similar facilities where
flammable and combustible liquids are produced,
processed, transported, stored, dispensed or used.
$196.00 $250.00
3. To install, alter, remove, abandon or otherwise dispose of a flammable or combustible liquid tank. $196.00
minimum
$250.00
minimum
Section
105.6.9
Fuel cell power systems. A construction permit is required to install stationary fuel cell power systems.
No Fee $500.00
minimum
Section
105.6.10
Gas detection systems. A construction permit is required for the installation of or modification to gas detection systems. Maintenance performed in accordance with this
No Fee $500.00
minimum
ATTACHMENT 2
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
Proposed
Fee
code is not considered a modification and shall not require a permit.
Section
105.6.11
Gates and barricades across fire apparatus access
roads. A construction permit is required for the installation of or modification to a gate or barricade across a fire apparatus access road.
$392.00 $500.00
Section
105.6.12
Hazardous materials. A construction permit is required to install, repair damage to, abandon, remove, place
temporarily out of service, or close or substantially modify a storage facility or other area regulated by Chapter 50 where the hazardous materials in use or storage exceed the
amounts listed in Table 105.5.22.
Exceptions:
1. Routine maintenance.
2. For repair work performed on an emergency basis,
application for permit shall be made within two working days of commencement of work.
$392.00
minimum
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.6.13
High-piled combustible storage. A construction permit is required for the installation of or modification to a structure with more than 500 square feet (46 m2), including aisles, for high-piled combustible storage. Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered to be a
modification and does not require a construction permit.
No Fee Fire Dept.
Review is
under a
building
permit.
Std. Bldg.
fees apply
Section
105.6.14
Industrial ovens. A construction permit is required for installation of industrial ovens covered by Chapter 30.
Exceptions:
1. Routine maintenance.
2. For repair work performed on an emergency basis,
application for permit shall be made within two working days of commencement of work.
$392.00 $500.00
Section
105.6.15
LP-gas. A construction permit is required for installation of or modification to an LP-gas system. Maintenance
performed in accordance with this code is not considered to be a modification and does not require a permit.
$392.00 $500.00
Section
105.6.16
Motor vehicle repair rooms and booths. A construction
permit is required to install or modify a motor vehicle repair room or booth. Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered to be a modification and does not require a permit.
No Fee Fire Dept.
Review is
under a
building
permit.
ATTACHMENT 2
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
Proposed
Fee
Std. Bldg.
fees apply
Section
105.6.17
Plant extraction systems. A construction permit is required for installation of or modification to plant extraction systems.
Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered to be a modification and does not require a
permit.
No Fee Fire Dept.
Review is
under a
building
permit.
Std. Bldg.
fees apply
Section
105.6.18
Private fire hydrants. A construction permit is required for the installation of or modification of private fire hydrants.
Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered to be a modification and does not require a
permit.
Hydrant(s) or hydrant groups…………………………… ..........
$392.00 $500.00
Field Inspection ...................................................………........ $98.00 /qtr hour*
*minimum
$125.00
/qtr hour*
*minimum
Section
105.6.19
Smoke control or smoke exhaust systems. Construction
permits are required for installation of or alteration to smoke control or smoke exhaust systems. Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered to be an alteration and does not require a permit.
$392.00
minimum
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.6.20
Solar photovoltaic power systems. A construction permit is required to install or modify solar photovoltaic power systems. Maintenance performed in accordance with this
code is not considered to be a modification and does not require a permit.
Fire Dept.
Review is
under a
building
permit.
Std. Bldg.
fees apply
Fire Dept.
Review is
under a
building
permit.
Std. Bldg.
fees apply
Section
105.6.21
Special event structure. A single construction permit is required to erect and take down a temporary special event structure.
No Fee Fire Dept.
Review is
under a
building
permit.
Std. Bldg.
fees apply
Section
105.6.22
Spraying or dipping. A construction permit is required to install or modify a spray room, dip tank or booth.
Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not $392.00 $500.00
ATTACHMENT 2
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
Proposed
Fee
considered to be a modification and does not require a
permit.
Section
105.6.23
Standpipe Systems. A construction permit is required for the installation, modification or removal from service of a standpipe system. Maintenance performed in accordance
with this code is not considered to be a modification and does not require a permit.
A. Standpipe, Class I, II and III Combined.......................... $392.00 $500.00
B. Underground........................................................... $392.00 $500.00 Field Inspection ...................................................................... $98.00 /qtr hour,
minimum
$125.00
/qtr hour,
minimum
Section
105.6.24
Temporary membrane structures and tents. A
construction permit is required to erect an air-supported temporary membrane structure, a temporary stage canopy
or a tent having an area in excess of 400 square feet (37 m2)
Exceptions:
1. Tents used exclusively for recreational camping
purposes.
2. Funeral tents and curtains, or extensions attached
thereto, when used for funeral services.
3. Tents and awnings open on all sides, which comply
with all of the following:
3.1 Individual tents shall have a maximum size of 700
square feet (65 m2).
3.2 The aggregate area of multiple tents placed side by side without a fire break clearance of not less than
12 feet (3658 mm) shall not exceed 700 square feet
(65 m2) total.
3.3 A minimum clearance of 12 feet (3658 mm) to
structures and other tents shall be maintained.
$392.00 $500.00
Section
105.6.26
Window bars. An construction permit is required to install window bars on exterior doors or windows of any sleeping rooms below the fourth floor in apartment houses, hotels, and motels.
$196.00 $250.00
ATTACHMENT 2
Section 2. ANNUAL FIRE CLEARANCE
For every annual fire clearance certificate issued by the Berkeley Fire Department, a fee shall be paid in advance of issuance of such certificate (Berkeley Fire Code Section 107.2), to the Fire Department as follows:
Group Homes, institutions for children, certified family care homes, board and care facilities, and maternity homes (each accommodating more than six persons, not including employees or relatives), and NOT classified as a Community Care Facility as defined in the California Health & Safety Code (H&SC) section 1502, or as a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (H&SC 1569.2), or as a Child Day Care Facility (H&SC 1596.750).
$392.00 $500.00
Convalescent Hospitals, nursing homes, and homes for the aged (each accommodating not more than six persons, not including employees or relatives) and NOT classified as a Community Care Facility as defined in the Calif. Health & Safety Code (H&SC) section 1502, or as a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (H&SC 1569.2), or as a Child Day Care Facility (H&SC 1596.750).
$392.00 $500.00
Convalescent Hospitals, nursing homes, and homes for the aged (each accommodating not more than six persons and less than 100, not including employees or relatives) and NOT classified as a Community Care Facility as defined in the Calif. Health & Safety Code (H&SC) section 1502, or as a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (H&SC 1569.2), or as a Child Day Care Facility (H&SC 1596.750). $ 588.00 $750.00
Convalescent Hospitals, nursing homes, and homes for the aged (each accommodating 100 or more persons, not including employees or relatives.
$ 784.00 $1000.00
Hospitals $392.00
per hour
$500.00
per hour
Community Care Facilities as defined in the Calif. Health & Safety Code (H&SC) section 1502, Residential Care Facility for the Elderly as defined in H&SC 1569.2, and Child Day Care Facilities (H&SC 1596.750).
Pre-inspection Fee (25 or fewer client capacity)
$ 50.00
qtr. hour
minimum
$125.00
Pre-inspection Fee (26 or more client capacity)
[Ref. Calif. Health & Safety Code, section 13235(a)] states that the inspecting agency may charge “a fee equal to, but not exceeding the actual cost of the preinspection services.”
$ 100.00 $125.00
ATTACHMENT 2
Section 3. MISCELLANEOUS FEES
A. For copies of fire reports prepared by the Fire Department, a fee shall be paid in advance as follows:
1. Staff cost for file review and preparation of subpoena documents $ 6.00 qtr. hr.
2. Copy of each report $ 0.10 per pg.
B. State Requested Fire & Life Safety Review, Consultation, Inspection & Permit Clearances
$98.00
$125.00
/qtr hr
C. General inspection and investigation fees
1. Fees for services rendered by the Fire Department for inspections of fire protection systems, re-inspections of citizen complaints with violations, nuisance inspections research, report preparation and file review services (except for subpoena documents, city records, publications and meeting tapes)........................................................................................................... $98.00
$125.00 /
qtr hr
2. Fire code consultation services for building development, construction and modifications and pre-permit application..................................................... $392.00
$500.00
per hour
3. Overtime fire & life safety inspection............................................................ $392.00 $500.00
per hour
(2 hr min.)
4. After-hours call-back for fire & life safety inspection ................................... $392.00 $500.00
per hour(4
hr min.)
5. Accelerated plan review services (as-available, billed at 1.5x the standard hourly rate $392.00 $500.00)...................................................................... $588.00
$750.00
per hour
D. Fire and Life Safety Investigations or Stand-by Services.................................. $392.00 $500.00
minimum
E. Indoor Entertainment Inspection........................................................................
Subsequent inspections shall be billed at $125.00 per quarter hour $98.00
$125.00
per ¼ hr
per initial
inspection
ATTACHMENT 2
F. Fire Permit Application & Fire Permit Extension Fees........................................ Standard Building
Dept. Fees
Apply
NOTE: All permits and inspection fees under this Resolution are based on average estimated staff and clerical time for applicable plan checking, research, field inspections, etc. Where a fee is indicated as a minimum, and where staff time exceeds one hour, an additional charge will be made at the rate of $98.00 $125.00 per quarter hour.
Section 4. INSPECTION AND BILLING RATE
That a rate of $98.00 $125.00 per quarter hour (15 minutes) is hereby established as both the billing rate and the billing unit for a given Fire Prevention inspection of a property. A minimum charge of $98.00 $125.00 will be made for each property inspected (e.g. each property and/or business address) with an additional charge for each additional quarter hour unit, or portion thereof.
Exception: Properties that have abated all fire code violations prior to the first re-inspection shall not be charged a fee for the re-inspection.
Section 5. DELINQUENCY CHARGE
That a delinquency charge of 20% may be imposed on each account that remains unpaid, sixty (60) days following the initial mailing of the bill.
Section 6. BILLING AND COLLECTION PROCEDURES
That the billing and collection procedures are to be done by the Finance Department and will allow the City to recover unpaid fees through all available remedies, including the lien process. That in the event of billing disputes, the Fire Chief or his designated representative may review and make recommendations for adjustments to the Finance Department.
Attachment 3
RESOLUTION NO. ##,###–N.S.
ESTABLISHING ANNUAL PERMIT FEES, INSPECTION AND BILLING RATES FOR
INSPECTION OF PROPERTY SITES BY THE BERKELEY FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 70,612–N.S. AND ALL RESOLUTIONS
AMENDATORY THEREOF
BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Berkeley as follows:
Section 1. ANNUAL PERMIT FEES.
For every permit issued under the provisions of the Berkeley Fire Code (Berkeley Municipal Code Chapter 19.48, Sections 105.5, 105.6, 5001.7), a fee therefore shall be paid in advance to the Fire Department or upon completion of services rendered as specified by the Fire Department as follows:
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
OPERATIONAL PERMITS
Section
105.5.1
Additive manufacturing. An operational permit is required to conduct additive manufacturing operations regulated by
Section 320.3.
$250.00
Section
105.5.2
Aerosol products, aerosol cooking spray products and
plastic aerosol 3 products. An operational permit is
required to manufacture, store or handle an aggregate
quantity of Level 2 or Level 3 aerosol products, aerosol cooking spray products or plastic aerosol 3 products in excess of 500 pounds (227 kg) net weight.
$500.00
Section
105.5.3
Amusement buildings. An operational permit is required to operate a special amusement building.
$500.00
Section
105.5.4
Aviation facilities. An operational permit is required to use a Group H or Group S occupancy for aircraft servicing or repair and aircraft fuel-servicing vehicles. Additional permits required by other sections of this code include, but are not limited to hot work, hazardous materials and flammable or combustible finishes.
$500.00
Section
105.5.5
Carnivals and fairs. An operational permit is required to conduct a carnival or fair.
$500.00
Section
105.5.6
Cellulose nitrate film. An operational permit is required to store, handle or use cellulose nitrate film in a Group A $500.00
Attachment 3
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
occupancy.
Section
105.5.55
Christmas tree sales lot. An operational permit is required to operate a Christmas tree sales lot.
$500.00
Section
105.5.7
Combustible dust-producing operations. An operational
permit is required to operate a grain elevator, flour starch mill, feed mill, or a plant pulverizing aluminum, coal, cocoa, magnesium, spices or sugar, or other operations producing combustible dusts as defined in Chapter 2.
$500.00
Section
105.5.8
Combustible fibers. An operational permit is required for the storage and handling of combustible fibers in quantities greater than 100 cubic feet (2.8m3).
Exception: A permit is not required for agricultural storage. $500.00
Section
105.5.9
Compressed gases. An operational permit is required for the storage, use or handling at normal temperature and
pressure (NTP) of compressed gases in excess of the
amounts listed in Table 105.5.9.
Exception: Vehicles equipped for and using compressed gas as a fuel for propelling the vehicle.
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.5.10
Covered and open mall buildings. An operational permit is required for:
1. The placement of retail fixtures and displays, concession equipment, displays of highly combustible goods and
similar items in the mall.
2. The display of liquid- or gas-fired equipment in the mall.
3. The use of open-flame or flame-producing equipment in the mall.
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.5.11
Cryogenic fluids. An operational permit is required to produce, store, transport on site, use, handle or dispense cryogenic fluids in excess of the amounts listed in Table 105.5.11
Exception: Permits are not required for vehicles equipped for and using cryogenic fluids as a fuel for propelling the vehicle or for refrigerating the lading.
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.5.12
Cutting and welding. An operational permit is required to conduct cutting or welding operations within the jurisdiction. $250.00
Section Dry cleaning. An operational permit is required to engage in $500.00
Attachment 3
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
105.5.13 the business of dry cleaning or to change to a more hazardous cleaning solvent used in existing dry cleaning equipment.
Section
105.5.14
Energy storage systems. An operational permit is required for stationary and mobile energy storage systems regulated by Section 1207.
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.5.56
Escort convoy service. Police and/or Fire Department
convoy service for vehicle transportation of extremely
hazardous materials.
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.5.15
Exhibits and trade shows. An operational permit is required to operate exhibits and trade shows.
$500.00
Section
105.5.16
Explosives. An operational permit is required for the
manufacture, storage, handling, sale or use of any quantity of explosives, explosive materials, fireworks or pyrotechnic special effects within the scope of Chapter 56. See Health and Safety Code Division 11, Part 1, Sections 12000, et seq. for additional requirements.
Exception: Storage in Group R-3 occupancies of
smokeless propellant, black powder and small arms
primers for personal use, not for resale and in accordance with Section 5606.
$618.00
To conduct a public fireworks display ...................................... $1500.00 minimum
To continue the use of a public fireworks display permit.......... $250.00 Section
105.5.57
Fire fighter air replenishment system (FARS). An annual operational permit is required to maintain a FARS system in accordance with Appendix L.
$250.00
Section
105.5.17
Fire hydrants and valves. An operational permit is required to use or operate fire hydrants or valves intended for fire suppression purposes that are installed on water systems and provided with ready access from a fire apparatus access road that is open to or generally used by the public.
Exception: A permit is not required for authorized
employees of the water company that supplies the system or the fire department to use or operate fire hydrants or valves.
$250.00
Section Flammable and combustible liquids. An operational permit
Attachment 3
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
105.5.18 is required:
1. To use or operate a pipeline for the transportation within facilities of flammable or combustible liquids. This
requirement shall not apply to the off-site transportation in pipelines regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOTn) nor does it apply to piping systems. ...................... $500.00
minimum
2. To store, handle or use Class I liquids in excess of 5 gallons (19 L) in a building or in excess of 10 gallons (37.9 L) outside of a building, except that a permit is not
required for the following:...................................................
2.1 The storage or use of Class I liquids in the fuel tank of a motor vehicle, aircraft, motorboat, mobile power plant
or mobile heating plant, unless such storage, in the
opinion of the fire code official, would cause an unsafe condition.
2.2 The storage or use of paints, oils, varnishes or similar flammable mixtures where such liquids are stored for
maintenance, painting or similar purposes for a period
of not more than 30 days.
$500.00
3. To store, handle or use Class II or Class IIIA liquids in excess of 25 gallons (95 L) in a building or in excess of 60 gallons (227 L) outside a building, except for fuel oil used in connection with oil-burning equipment. ........................... $500.00
4. To store, handle or use Class IIIB liquids in excess of 110 gallons in containers, or in tanks or portable tanks for fueling motor vehicles at motor fuel-dispensing facilities or where connected to fuel-burning equipment.
Exception: Fuel oil and used motor oil used for space
heating or water heating.
$250.00
5. To remove Class I or Class II liquids from an underground storage tank used for fueling motor vehicles by any means other than the approved, stationary on-site pumps
normally used for dispensing purposes.............................. $250.00
6. To operate tank vehicles, equipment, tanks, plants, terminals, wells, fuel-dispensing stations, refineries, $250.00
Attachment 3
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
distilleries and similar facilities where flammable and combustible liquids are produced, processed, transported, stored, dispensed or used..................................................
7. To place temporarily out of service (for more than 90 days) an underground, protected above-ground or above-ground
flammable or combustible liquid tank. ................................. $250.00
8. To change the type of contents stored in a flammable or combustible liquid tank to a material that poses a greater hazard than that for which the tank was designed and
constructed.......................................................................... $250.00
9. To manufacture, process, blend or refine flammable or combustible liquids.............................................................. $500.00
10. To engage in the dispensing of liquid fuels into the fuel tanks of motor vehicles at commercial, industrial,
governmental or manufacturing establishments in
accordance with Section 5706.5.4 or to engage in on-
demand mobile fueling operations in accordance with
Section 5707.. .................................................................... $500.00
11. To utilize a site for the dispensing of liquid fuels from tank vehicles into the fuel tanks of motor vehicles, marine craft and other special equipment at commercial, industrial,
governmental or manufacturing establishments in
accordance with Section 5706.5.4 or, where required by
the fire code official, to utilize a site for on-demand mobile fueling operations in accordance with Section 5707. ..
$500.00
Section
105.5.19
Floor finishing. An operational permit is required for floor finishing or surfacing operations exceeding 350 square feet (33 m2) using Class I or Class II liquids.
$500.00
Section
105.5.20
Fruit and crop ripening. An operational permit is required to operate a fruit- or crop-ripening facility or conduct a fruit- ripening process using ethylene gas.
$500.00
Section
105.5.21
Fumigation and insecticidal fogging. An operational permit is required to operate a business of fumigation or insecticidal fogging, and to maintain a room, vault or chamber in which a toxic or flammable fumigant is used.
No permit
required
Attachment 3
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
Section
105.5.58
General use permit. For any activity or operation not
specifically described in this code, which the fire code official reasonably determines, may produce conditions hazardous to life or property.
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.5.22
Hazardous materials. An operational permit is required to store, transport on site, dispense, use or handle hazardous materials in excess of the amounts listed in Table 105.5.22. $500.00
minimum
Section
105.5.23
HPM Facilities. An operational permit is required to store, handle or use hazardous production materials.
$500.00
Section
105.5.24
High-piled storage. An operational permit is required to use a building or portion thereof with more than 500 square feet (46 m2), including aisles, of high-piled storage.
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.5.25
Hot work operations. An operational permit is required for hot work including, but not limited to:....................................... $500.00
(unless
otherwise
noted)
1. Public exhibitions and demonstrations where hot work is conducted.
2. Use of portable hot work equipment inside a structure.
Exception: Work that is conducted under a construction
permit.
3. Fixed-site hot work equipment such as welding booths.
4. Hot work conducted within a wildfire risk area.
5. Application of roof coverings with the use of an open-flame device. $125.00
6. When approved, the fire code official shall issue a permit to carry out a hot work program. This program allows
approved personnel to regulate their facility’s hot work operations. The approved personnel shall be trained in the fire safety aspects denoted in this chapter and shall be responsible for issuing permits requiring compliance with the requirements found in Chapter 35. These permits shall be issued only to their employees or hot work operations under their supervision.
Section
105.5.26
Industrial ovens. An operational permit is required for operation of industrial ovens regulated by Chapter 30.
$500.00
Attachment 3
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
Section
105.5.27
Lumber yards and woodworking plants. An operational
permit is required for the storage or processing of lumber exceeding 100,000 board feet (8,333 ft3) (236 m3).
$500.00
Section
105.5.28
Liquid- or gas-fueled vehicles or equipment in assembly buildings. An operational permit is required to display, operate or demonstrate liquid- or gas-fueled vehicles or equipment in assembly buildings.
$500.00
Section
105.5.29
LP-gas. An operational permit is required for:
1. Storage and use of LP-gas.
Exception: A permit is not required for individual
containers with a 500-gallon (1893 L) water capacity or less or multiple container systems having an aggregate
quantity not exceeding 500 gallons (1893 L), serving
occupancies in Group R-3.
2. Operation of cargo tankers that transport LP-gas.
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.5.30
Magnesium. An operational permit is required to melt, cast, heat treat or grind more than 10 pounds (4.54 kg) of
magnesium.
$500.00
Section
105.5.31
Miscellaneous combustible storage. An operational permit is required to store in any building or on any premises in excess of 2,500 cubic feet (71 m3) gross volume of
combustible empty packing cases, boxes, barrels or similar containers, combustible pallets, rubber tires, rubber, cork, or similar combustible material.
$500.00
Section
105.5.32
Mobile fueling of hydrogen-fueled vehicles.
An operational permit is required:
1. To engage in the mobile dispensing of gaseous
hydrogen as a fuel into the fuel tanks of motor vehicles.
2. Where required by the fire code official, to utilize a site for the dispensing of gaseous hydrogen as a fuel from
tank vehicles into the fuel tanks of motor vehicles.
Exception: In cases of an emergency, a site permit is not required.
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.5.33
Motor fuel-dispensing facilities. An operational permit is required for the operation of automotive, marine, and fleet motor fuel-dispensing facilities, or for mobile fueling operations using flammable liquids and which are conducted $500.00
minimum
Attachment 3
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
at facilities or locations which are not permanent, permitted motor fuel dispensing facilities.
Exception: Transfer of not more than 5 gallons flammable or combustible liquids using a listed or approved portable fuel container of 5 gallons or less capacity.
Section
105.5.34
Open burning. An operational permit is required for the kindling or maintaining of an open fire or a fire on any public street, alley, road, or other public or private ground.
Instructions and stipulations of the permit shall be complied with.
Exception: Recreational fires.
$250.00
Section
105.5.35
Open flames and torches. An operational permit is required to remove paint with a torch; or to use a torch or open-flame device in a wildfire risk area.
$250.00
Section
105.5.36
Open flames and candles. An operational permit is required to use open flames or candles in connection with assembly areas, dining areas of restaurants or drinking establishments. $250.00
Section
105.5.37
Organic coatings. An operational permit is required for any organic-coating manufacturing operation producing more than 1 gallon (4 L) of an organic coating in one day.
$500.00
Section
105.5.38
Outdoor assembly event. An operational permit is required to conduct an outdoor assembly event where planned
attendance exceeds 1,000 persons.
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.5.59
Parking facility, special events. An operational permit is required to use buildings or structures for vehicle parking, including parking for special events (i.e. football games, etc.) A. Less than 15 parking spaces........................................ $250.00
B. 15 or more parking spaces .......................................... $500.00 Section
105.5.39
Places of assembly. An operational permit is required to operate a place of assembly.
A. Occupant load less than 300 .................................. $500.00 B. Occupant load 300 or more .................................... $750.00 Section
105.5.40
Plant extraction systems. An operational permit is required to use plant extraction systems.
$500.00
Section
105.5.41
Private fire hydrants. An operational permit is required for the removal from service, use or operation of private fire hydrants.
$250.00
Attachment 3
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
Exception: A permit is not required for private industry with trained maintenance personnel, private fire brigade or fire departments to maintain, test and use private hydrants.
Section
105.5.42
Pyrotechnic special effects material. An operational permit is required for use and handling of pyrotechnic special effects material. See Health and Safety Code Division 11, Part 2, Sections 12500, et seq. for additional requirements.
$500.00
Section
105.5.43
Pyroxylin plastics. An operational permit is required for storage or handling of more than 25 pounds (11 kg) of
cellulose nitrate (pyroxylin) plastics, and for the assembly or manufacture of articles involving pyroxylin plastics.
$500.00
Section
105.5.44
Refrigeration equipment. An operational permit is required to operate a mechanical refrigeration unit or system regulated by Chapter 6.
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.5.45
Repair garages and motor fuel-dispensing facilities. An operational permit is required for operation of repair garages. $500.00
minimum
Section
105.5.46
Rooftop heliports. An operational permit is required for the operation of a rooftop heliport.
$500.00
Section
105.5.47
Spraying or dipping. An operational permit is required to conduct a spraying or dipping operation utilizing flammable or combustible liquids, or the application of combustible powders regulated by Chapter 24.
$500.00
Section
105.5.48
Storage of scrap tires and tire byproducts. An operational permit is required to establish, conduct or maintain storage of scrap tires and tire byproducts that exceeds 2,500 cubic feet (71 m3) of total volume of scrap tires, and for indoor storage of tires and tire byproducts.
$500.00
Section
105.5.60
Tank vehicles. An operational permit is required to operate a tank vehicle (other than flammable and combustible liquids tank vehicles as listed and regulated in 105.5.18, item 6) including those hazardous materials transportation vehicles defined in Section 5001.7 of the Berkeley Fire Code for the transportation of hazardous liquids or materials.
$500.00
annually
Section
105.5.49
Temporary membrane structures and tents. An
operational permit is required to operate an air-supported temporary membrane structure, a temporary special event structure or a tent having an area in excess of 400 square feet (37 m2)
$500.00
Attachment 3
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
Exceptions:
1. Tents used exclusively for recreational camping purposes.
2. Tents open on all sides, which comply with all of the following:
2.1 Individual tents having a maximum size of 700 square feet (65 m2).
2.2 The aggregate area of multiple tents placed side by side without a fire break clearance of not less than 12 feet (3658 mm) shall not exceed 700 square feet (65
m2) total.
2.3 A minimum clearance of 12 feet (3658 mm) to
structures and other tents shall be provided.
Section
105.5.50
Tire-rebuilding plants. An operational permit is required for the operation and maintenance of a tire-rebuilding plant. $500.00
Section
105.5.51
Waste handling. An operational permit is required for the operation of wrecking yards, junk yards and waste material- handling facilities.
$500.00
Section
105.5.52
Wood products. An operational permit is required to store chips, hogged material, lumber or plywood in excess of 200 cubic feet (6 m3).
$500.00
Section
105.5.53
Lithium batteries. An operational permit is required for an accumulation of more than 15 cubic feet (0.42 m) of lithium- ion and lithium metal batteries, where required by Section 322.1.
$500.00
Section
105.5.54
Additional permits. In addition to the permits required by Section 105.6, the following permits shall be obtained from the Bureau of Fire Prevention prior to engaging in the
following activities, operations, practices or functions:
1. Production facilities. To change use or occupancy, or allow the attendance of a live audience, or for wrap
parties.
2. Pyrotechnics and special effects. To use pyrotechnic special effects, open flame, use of flammable or
combustible liquids and gases, welding, and the parking of motor vehicles in any building or location used for the purpose of motion picture, television and commercial
production.
$500.00
Attachment 3
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
3. Live audiences. To install seating arrangements for live audiences in approved production facilities, production studios and sound stages. See Chapter 48.
CONSTRUCTION PERMITS
Section
105.6.1
Automatic fire-extinguishing systems. A
construction permit is required for installation of or
modification to an automatic fire-extinguishing system.
Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered to be a modification and does not require a permit.
A. Range Hood System...................................................... $500.00*
B. Chemical Suppression System...................................... $500.00* C. Automatic Sprinkler ...................................................... $500.00* D. Automatic Sprinkler (small alteration or repairs to an existing system with 20 heads or less) ......................... $250.00* E. Underground……………………..………………….......... $500.00*
All others......................……..............……..................... $500.00* Field Inspection ..................................................……….......... $125.00 / qtr hour*
*minimum
Section
105.6.2
Compressed gases. Where the compressed gases in use or
storage exceed the amounts listed in Table 105.5.9, a
construction permit is required to install, repair damage to, abandon, remove, place temporarily out of service, or close or substantially modify a compressed gas system.
Exceptions:
1. Routine maintenance.
2. For emergency repair work performed on an emergency
basis, application for permit shall be made within two
working days of commencement of work.
$500.00
Section
105.6.3
Cryogenic fluids. A construction permit is required for installation of or alteration to outdoor stationary cryogenic fluid storage systems where the system capacity exceeds the
amounts listed in Table 105.5.11. Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered to be an
alteration and does not require a construction permit.
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.6.4
Emergency responder communication coverage system.
A construction permit is required for installation of or modification to in-building, two-way emergency responder $500.00
minimum
Attachment 3
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
communication coverage systems and related equipment.
Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered to be a modification and does not require a
construction permit.
Section
105.6.5
Energy storage systems. A construction permit is required to install energy storage systems regulated by Section 1207. $500.00
minimum
Section
105.6.6
Fire alarm and detection systems and related equipment.
A construction permit is required for installation of or modification to fire alarm and detection systems and related equipment. Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered to be a modification and does not require a construction permit.
A. Under 12 devices...............................................…........... $500.00*
B. 12-30 devices ...............................………………….......... $750.00* C. 31-49 devices………………………………………............. $1250.00*
D. 50 or more devices…………………………………............ $1500.00* E. Water flow alarms …………………………………............. $250.00 F. Field Inspection ……………………………………… ......... $125.00
/qtr hr.*
*minimum
Section
105.6.25
Fire fighter air replenishment system (FARS). A
construction permit is required for installation of or
modification to a FARS system in accordance with Appendix L.
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.6.7
Fire pumps and related equipment. A construction permit is required for installation of or modification to fire pumps and related fuel tanks, jockey pumps, controllers and generators.
Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered to be a modification and does not require a
construction permit.
$500.00
Section
105.6.8
Flammable and combustible liquids. A construction permit is required:
1. To install, repair or modify a pipeline for the transportation of flammable or combustible liquids.
$500.00
minimum
2. To install, construct or alter tank vehicles, equipment, tanks, plants, terminals, wells, fuel-dispensing stations, refineries, distilleries and similar facilities where
flammable and combustible liquids are produced,
processed, transported, stored, dispensed or used.
$250.00
Attachment 3
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
3. To install, alter, remove, abandon or otherwise dispose of a flammable or combustible liquid tank. $250.00
minimum
Section
105.6.9
Fuel cell power systems. A construction permit is required to install stationary fuel cell power systems.
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.6.10
Gas detection systems. A construction permit is required for the installation of or modification to gas detection systems.
Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered a modification and shall not require a permit. $500.00
minimum
Section
105.6.11
Gates and barricades across fire apparatus access roads.
A construction permit is required for the installation of or modification to a gate or barricade across a fire apparatus access road.
$500.00
Section
105.6.12
Hazardous materials. A construction permit is required to install, repair damage to, abandon, remove, place temporarily out of service, or close or substantially modify a storage facility or other area regulated by Chapter 50 where the hazardous materials in use or storage exceed the amounts listed in Table 105.5.22.
Exceptions:
1. Routine maintenance.
2. For repair work performed on an emergency basis,
application for permit shall be made within two working days of commencement of work.
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.6.13
High-piled combustible storage. A construction permit is required for the installation of or modification to a structure with more than 500 square feet (46 m2), including aisles, for high-piled combustible storage. Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered to be a
modification and does not require a construction permit.
Fire Dept.
Review is
under a
building
permit.
Std. Bldg.
fees apply
Section
105.6.14
Industrial ovens. A construction permit is required for installation of industrial ovens covered by Chapter 30.
Exceptions:
1. Routine maintenance.
2. For repair work performed on an emergency basis,
application for permit shall be made within two working days of commencement of work.
$500.00
Attachment 3
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
Section
105.6.15
LP-gas. A construction permit is required for installation of or modification to an LP-gas system. Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered to be a
modification and does not require a permit.
$500.00
Section
105.6.16
Motor vehicle repair rooms and booths. A construction
permit is required to install or modify a motor vehicle repair room or booth. Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered to be a modification and does not require a permit.
Fire Dept.
Review is
under a
building
permit.
Std. Bldg.
fees apply
Section
105.6.17
Plant extraction systems. A construction permit is required for installation of or modification to plant extraction systems.
Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered to be a modification and does not require a permit.
Fire Dept.
Review is
under a
building
permit.
Std. Bldg.
fees apply
Section
105.6.18
Private fire hydrants. A construction permit is required for the installation of or modification of private fire hydrants.
Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered to be a modification and does not require a permit.
Hydrant(s) or hydrant groups……………………………............
$500.00
Field Inspection ...................................................……… ......... $125.00 /qtr hour*
*minimum
Section
105.6.19
Smoke control or smoke exhaust systems. Construction
permits are required for installation of or alteration to smoke control or smoke exhaust systems. Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered to be an
alteration and does not require a permit.
$500.00
minimum
Section
105.6.20
Solar photovoltaic power systems. A construction permit is required to install or modify solar photovoltaic power systems.
Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered to be a modification and does not require a permit.
Fire Dept.
Review is
under a
building
permit.
Std. Bldg.
fees apply
Section Special event structure. A single construction permit is Fire Dept.
Attachment 3
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
105.6.21 required to erect and take down a temporary special event structure.
Review is
under a
building
permit.
Std. Bldg.
fees apply
Section
105.6.22
Spraying or dipping. A construction permit is required to install or modify a spray room, dip tank or booth. Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered to be a modification and does not require a permit.
$500.00
Section
105.6.23
Standpipe Systems. A construction permit is required for the installation, modification or removal from service of a standpipe system. Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered to be a modification and does not require a permit.
A. Standpipe, Class I, II and III Combined............................ $500.00
B. Underground .................................................................... $500.00 Field Inspection........................................................................ $125.00 /qtr hour,
minimum
Section
105.6.24
Temporary membrane structures and tents. A construction permit is required to erect an air-supported temporary
membrane structure, a temporary stage canopy or a tent
having an area in excess of 400 square feet (37 m2)
Exceptions:
1. Tents used exclusively for recreational camping
purposes.
2. Funeral tents and curtains, or extensions attached
thereto, when used for funeral services.
3. Tents and awnings open on all sides, which comply with all of the following:
3.1 Individual tents shall have a maximum size of 700
square feet (65 m2).
3.2 The aggregate area of multiple tents placed side by side without a fire break clearance of not less than 12 feet (3658 mm) shall not exceed 700 square feet (65
m2) total.
3.3 A minimum clearance of 12 feet (3658 mm) to
$500.00
Attachment 3
Code
Section Fee Description
Current
Fee
structures and other tents shall be maintained.
Section
105.6.26
Window bars, operational constraints and opening
control devices. A construction permit is required to install window bars or other equipment which imposes operational constraints and opening controls on exterior doors or windows of any sleeping rooms below the fourth floor in apartment houses, hotels, and motels.
$250.00
Section 2. ANNUAL FIRE CLEARANCE
For every annual fire clearance certificate issued by the Berkeley Fire Department, a fee shall be paid in advance of issuance of such certificate (Berkeley Fire Code Section 107.2), to the Fire Department as follows:
Group Homes, institutions for children, certified family care homes, board and care facilities, and maternity homes (each accommodating more than six persons, not including employees or relatives), and NOT classified as a Community Care Facility as defined in the California Health & Safety Code (H&SC) section 1502, or as a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (H&SC 1569.2), or as a Child Day Care Facility (H&SC 1596.750).
$500.00
Convalescent Hospitals, nursing homes, and homes for the aged (each accommodating not more than six persons, not including employees or relatives) and NOT classified as a Community Care Facility as defined in the Calif. Health & Safety Code (H&SC) section 1502, or as a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (H&SC 1569.2), or as a Child Day Care Facility (H&SC 1596.750).
$500.00
Convalescent Hospitals, nursing homes, and homes for the aged (each accommodating not more than six persons and less than 100, not including employees or relatives) and NOT classified as a Community Care Facility as defined in the Calif. Health & Safety Code (H&SC) section 1502, or as a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (H&SC 1569.2), or as a Child Day Care Facility (H&SC 1596.750). $750.00
Convalescent Hospitals, nursing homes, and homes for the aged (each accommodating 100 or more persons, not including employees or relatives.
$1000.00
Hospitals $500.00
per hour
Community Care Facilities as defined in the Calif. Health & Safety
Attachment 3
Code (H&SC) section 1502, Residential Care Facility for the Elderly as defined in H&SC 1569.2, and Child Day Care Facilities (H&SC 1596.750).
Pre-inspection Fee (25 or fewer client capacity)
qtr. hour
minimum
$125.00
Pre-inspection Fee (26 or more client capacity)
[Ref. Calif. Health & Safety Code, section 13235(a)] states that the inspecting agency may charge “a fee equal to, but not exceeding the actual cost of the preinspection services.”
$125.00
Section 3. MISCELLANEOUS FEES
A. For copies of fire reports prepared by the Fire Department, a fee shall be paid in advance as follows:
1. Staff cost for file review and preparation of subpoena documents $ 6.00 qtr. hr.
2. Copy of each report $ 0.10 per pg.
B. State Requested Fire & Life Safety Review, Consultation, Inspection & Permit Clearances
$125.00
/qtr hr
C. General inspection and investigation fees
1. Fees for services rendered by the Fire Department for inspections of fire protection systems, re-inspections of citizen complaints with violations, nuisance inspections research, report preparation and file review services (except for subpoena documents, city records, publications and meeting tapes) ........................................................ $125.00 /
qtr hr
2. Fire code consultation services for building development, construction and modifications and pre-permit application................ $500.00
per hour
3. Overtime fire & life safety inspection ................................................. $500.00 per hour
(2 hr min.)
4. After-hours call-back for fire & life safety inspection ......................... $500.00 per hour
(4 hr min.)
5. Accelerated plan review services (as-available, billed at 1.5x the standard hourly rate $500.00)........................................................... $750.00 per hour
D. Fire and Life Safety Investigations or Stand-by Services ....................... $500.00
Attachment 3
minimum
E. Indoor Entertainment Inspection.............................................................
Subsequent inspections shall be billed at $125.00 per quarter hour $125.00
per initial
inspection
F. Fire Permit Application & Fire Permit Extension Fees ............................. Standard Building
Dept.
Fees
Apply
NOTE: All permits and inspection fees under this Resolution are based on average estimated staff and clerical time for applicable plan checking, research, field inspections, etc. Where a fee is indicated as a minimum, and where staff time exceeds one hour, an additional charge will be made at the rate of $125.00 per quarter hour.
Section 4. INSPECTION AND BILLING RATE
That a rate of $125.00 per quarter hour (15 minutes) is hereby established as both the billing rate and the billing unit for a given Fire Prevention inspection of a property. A minimum charge of $125.00 will be made for each property inspected (e.g. each property and/or business address) with an additional charge for each additional quarter hour unit, or portion thereof.
Exception: Properties that have abated all fire code violations prior to the first re- inspection shall not be charged a fee for the re-inspection.
Section 5. DELINQUENCY CHARGE
That a delinquency charge of 20% may be imposed on each account that remains unpaid, sixty (60) days following the initial mailing of the bill.
Section 6. BILLING AND COLLECTION PROCEDURES
That the billing and collection procedures are to be done by the Finance Department and will allow the City to recover unpaid fees through all available remedies, including the lien process. That in the event of billing disputes, the Fire Chief or his designated representative may review and make recommendations for adjustments to the Finance Department.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution shall be in full force and in effect on and after July 1, 2025.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Resolution No. 70,612-N.S. and all resolutions amendatory thereof are hereby rescinded effective July 1, 2025.
Office of the City Manager
2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 ● Tel: (510) 981-7000 ● TDD: (510) 981-6903 ● Fax: (510) 981-7099 E-Mail: [email protected] Website: https://berkeleyca.gov/
PUBLIC HEARING
June 17, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
Submitted by: Scott Gilman, Director, Health, Housing, and Community Services Subject: Fees: Public Health: Berkeley High School Health Center Services
RECOMMENDATION
Conduct a public hearing, and upon conclusion, adopt a Resolution establishing a new fee schedule and any annual fee adjustments through June 2028 based on changes in market rates (so long as such fee adjustments do not exceed the City’s cost to provide the services) for Public Health Clinic services effective July 1, 2025, and rescinding Resolution No. 68,449-N.S. At the end of Fiscal Year 2028, the fee schedule will remain in effect until another cost analysis is conducted.
FISCAL IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION
The fiscal impact of these fee changes will result in the City of Berkeley maximizing revenue for services, medications, and internal laboratory tests provided by the City’s Public Health Clinics. Services are priced at prevailing Medi-Cal rates and do not exceed the City’s cost to provide the service. Medication fees are priced consistently with a Medi-Cal-determined dispensing fee and likewise do not exceed the City’s cost to provide the medications. Proposed increases or decreases in medication reflect changes in the market for medication costs and do not exceed the City’s cost to provide them. The proposed changes in fees are estimated to increase revenue each fiscal year by $22,000.
CURRENT SITUATION AND ITS EFFECTS
The Berkeley High School Health Center provides services to prevent unplanned pregnancies, promote healthy relationships, and prevent sexually transmitted infections.
These outcomes result in fewer unintended teenage pregnancies, lower rates of sexually transmitted infections, and a healthier population. Current medication fees were reviewed and compared to current costs. The Health, Housing, and Community Services Department’s (HHCS) Public Health Division charges clients and insurers the actual costs incurred for medications provided. Service fees were compared to, and brought into alignment with current Medi-Cal rates, while staying at or below the City’s costs to provide the services.
BACKGROUND