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32 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-R ___
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CULVER CITY MAKING EXPRESS FINDINGS THAT
MODIFICATIONS TO THE 2025 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 202 5 California Fire Code, incorporating the International Fire Code, 202 4 Edition, published by the International Code Council, with errata, annual supplements and state amendments; and
WHEREAS, the City proposes to make certain changes in the requirements of the 2025 California Fire Code Chapters, Appendices, and Fire Protection Systems 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 that 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 and Equipment; Chapter 10, Means of Egress; Chapter 20, Aviation Facilities; Chapter 48, Motion Picture and Television Production Studio Sound Stages, Approved Production Facilities and Production Locations; Appendix C, Fire Hydrant Locations and Distribution; and Appendix
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32 D, Fire Apparatus Access Roads, are proposed to be adopted by the City Council as changes to the 2025 edition of the California Fire Code, 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 influenced by the Pacific 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 nighttime, with intermittent Santa Ana winds occurring from September to March. These conditions create 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 mitigate 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, 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 that will exceed the fire department suppression capabilities. Seismic activity also has the potential to cause damage to streets, roadways and overpasses to the San Diego Freeway and La Ballona Creek that would hamper and delay emergency vehicle response. Accordingly,
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32 enforcement of the Culver City Fire Code Amendments is necessary to provide minimal levels of protection for un -protected structures and built -in fire suppression systems would provide the only adequate measure to mitigate the potential hazards 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 terrain, 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 their 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.” There is the potential for rapidly spreading fires in these hillside areas due to the topography of the terrain. Accordingly, built -in fire suppressio n systems would provide the only adequate measure to mitigate the potential hazards and damage caused by such fires.
2. Based on Climatic, Geological or Topographical reasons, the City has incorporated amendments to the 2025 California Fire Code in detail in Ordinance No. 2025-___.
3. That the Clerk of the City of Culver City shall file a copy of the change or modifications in the adopted Ordinance No. 2025-___, together with a copy of this Resolution with the California Building Standards Commission, and shall obtain an endorsed copy from said Department to be filed with the City of Culver City.
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32 APPROVED and ADOPTED this _____ day of ___________ 202 5.
_______________________________
DAN O’BRIEN, Mayor
City of Culver City, California
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_______________________________ _______________________________
JEREMY BOCCHINO HEATHER BAKER
City Clerk City Attorney
Christina Burrows