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RESOLUTION NO. 2022-R_____
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CULVER
CITY MAKING EXPRESS FINDINGS THAT MODIFICATIONS TO THE
2022 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE , AS ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE OF
THE CITY OF CULVER CITY, ARE REASONABLY NECESSARY
BECAUSE OF LOCAL CLIMATIC, GEOLOGICAL OR
TOPOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS.
WHEREAS, the City of Culver City proposes to adopt Title 24, Part 9 of the California Code of Regulations, known as the 2022 California Fire Code, incorporating the International Fire Code, 2021 Edition, published by the International Code Council, with errata, annual supplements and state amendments ; and,
WHEREAS, t he City proposes to make certain changes in the requirements of the 2022 California Fire Code Chapters, Appendices, and Fire Protection Syst ems and Equipment (Sprinkler Ordinance), which will be more restrictive than State Law; and,
WHEREAS, California Health and Safety Code Section 17958.5 requires the City to make express findings before adopting such changes, and Section 17958.7 requires th at such findings be filed with the California Building Standards Commission.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CULVER CITY DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
1. The provisions relating to amendments of Chapter 1, General Code Provisions; Chapter 2, Definitions; Chapter 4, Emergency Planning and Preparedness; Chapter 5, Fire Service Features; Chapter 9, Fire Protection Systems
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and Equipment; Chapter 20, Aviation Facilities; Chapter 4 8, Motion Picture and Television Production Studio Sound Stages, Approved Production Facilities and Production Locations; Appendix Chapter 4, Special Detailed Requirements based on Use and Occupancy ; Appendix C, Fire Hydrant Locations and Distribution; and Appendix D, Fire Apparatus Access Roads , are proposed to be adop ted by the City Council as changes to the 2022 edition of the California Fire Cod e, and are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological or topographical conditions that create fire hazards and inhibit fire safety response access and response time, as set forth in this resolution.
a. Culver City’s climate is primarily influe nced by the P acific Ocean and is characterized by infrequent rainfall and winds which come from the west during the daytime and from the north and northeast during the nightti me, with intermittent Santa Ana winds occurring from September to March.
These c onditions cre ate the potential for high velocity winds with high temperatures that are conducive to uncontrolled, rapidly spreading wind driven fires. Enforcement of the Fire Code including these amendments to the Fire Code are necessary to limit exposure from buildings not having built-in fire protection systems and immediate containment of a fire is the only method by which fire can be controlled during high wind conditions.
Accordingly, built -in fire suppression systems would provide the only adequate measure to mi tigate the potential hazards and damage caused by such fires.
b. Culver City is in the vicinity of several known active and potentially active earthquake faults including the San Andreas, Newport -Inglewood,
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Overland and Charnock faults. The City has and is likely to continue to experience seismic events including ground shaking and liquefaction of sufficient magnitude to cause substantial damage to structures.
Significant damage is likely to be accompanied by a substantial number of fires t hat will exce ed the fire department suppression capabilities.
Seismic activity also has the potential to cause damage to streets, roadways and overpasses to the San Diego Fre eway and La Ballona Creek that would hamper and delay emergency vehicle response.
Accordingly, enforcement of the Culver City Fire Code Amendments is necessary to provide minimal levels of protection for un -protected structures and built -in fire suppressi on systems would provide the only adequate measure to mitigate the potential haza rds and damage caused by such fires.
c. The topography of the City is such that structures are situated in close proximity to each other, with only about 1% of the 5 square miles that the City occupies vacant. In addition, these lots are often very narrow or on hilly ter rain, which limits access to side yards for fire suppression and placement of ladders for rescue operations. These conditions increase the threat to life and property and contribute to the ability of fires to spread quickly between buildings because of th eir proximity to each other. The City also has two large residential hillside areas that are within a State designated “Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.” Th ere is the potential for rapidly spreading fires in these hillside areas due to t he topography of the terrain. Accordingly, built -in fire suppression systems would provide