FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING OF DECEMBER 20, 2022
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: City Council
FROM: City Manager
Prepared by: Acting Deputy Fire Chief
SUBJECT: ANNUAL FIRE INSPECTION REPORT PER SENATE BILL 1205 RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council adopt a Resolution acknowledging receipt of an annual report for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022, for fire inspections of certain occupancies as required by Senate Bill 1205 pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Sections 13146.2, 13146.3, and 13146.4.
BACKGROUND:
The California State Fire Marshal's Office requires that certain occupancies be inspected annually by the local fire department pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3 to enforce current building and fire safety standards.
These occupancies include hotels/motels, multi -family residences with three or more units, and K-12 public and private schools.
Senate Bill 1205 was enacted after there were several multi -family apartment building fatality fires in 2016 and 2017, including the December 2, 2016, "Ghost Ship Warehouse" fire that killed 36 people. A Bay Area news group collected 8 years of data from 12 Bay Area fire departments and found that many schools and apartments were not being inspected annually as required by law.
DISCUSSION:
In 2018, State Senator Jerry Hill (San Mateo) introduced Senate Bill 1205. A bill that requires every city or county fire department, or district required to perform the State - mandated inspections to report compliance with the inspection requirements to their administering authority annually. The bill also requires the administering authority to acknowledge receipt of the report in a resolution or similar format document. Senate Bill 1205 (Hill) was signed into law on September 27, 2018, adding Section 13146.4 to the Health and Safety Code.
The Santa Maria Fire Department conducts annual comprehensive fire and life safety inspections of all State -mandated occupancies as outlined in Health and Safety Code Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3, including schools, hotels/motels, and all known apartment complexes of three or more units.
1 In addition to the State -mandated inspections, the following are noteworthy accomplishments by Fire Prevention Staff from January 1, 2022, through November 30 2022: 1,071 plan reviews of construction -related projects; 434 construction -related inspections; 273 business license application reviews that resulted in 18 inspections of businesses; 26 fire code related complaints that required multiple inspections and follow up; and 60 fire investigations that resulted in four arrests. Additionally, the Emergency Services Specialist conducted 17 public education programs resulting in contact with approximately 1,000 individuals.
Fiscal Considerations
There are no significant impacts to the general fund anticipated with this action.
Impact to the Community
The community benefits from annual inspections that ensure the minimum fire and life safety requirements are being met in accordance with Health and Safety Code Sections 13146.2-13146.4.
JAMES CLAYTON
Acting Deputy Fire Chief
2 RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA, ACKNOWLEDGING RECEIPT OF THE ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY 1, 2021 — JUNE 30, 2022, FOR FIRE INSPECTIONS OF CERTAIN OCCUPANCIES AS REQUIRED BY SENATE BILL 1205 PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTIONS 13146.2, 13146.3, AND 13146.4.
WHEREAS, the California State Fire Marshal's Office requires that certain occupancies be inspected annually by local fire departments pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3; and
WHEREAS, in 2018, Senate Bill 1205 was signed into law adding California Health and Safety Code Section 13146.4 requiring every city or county fire department, or district required to perform the State -mandated inspections to report compliance with the inspection requirements to their administering authority annually; and WHEREAS, the bill also requires the administering authority (City Council) to acknowledge receipt of the report in a resolution or similar format document.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Santa Maria, California, that the City Council acknowledges the measure of compliance of the Santa Maria Fire Department with California Health and Safety Code Sections 13146.2, 13146.3, and 13146.4, for the reporting period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022, as follows:
1. EDUCATIONAL GROUP E OCCUPANCIES:
Educational Group E occupancies are generally those public and private schools, used by more than six persons at any one time for educational purposes through the 12th grade. Within the City of Santa Maria, there are 23 Group E occupancies, buildings, structures, and/or facilities.
During fiscal year 2021-22, the Santa Maria Fire Department completed the annual inspection of 23 Group E occupancies, buildings, structures, and/or facilities. This is a compliance rate of 100 percent for this reporting period.
2. RESIDENTIAL GROUP R OCCUPANCIES:
Residential Group R occupancies are generally those occupancies containing sleeping units, which includes hotels, motels, and apartments (three units or more), etc. Within the City of Santa Maria, there are 329 known Group R occupancies of which 322 were occupied during the reporting period. There were six properties under construction and one vacant property.
During reporting period, the Santa Maria Fire Department completed the annual inspection of 322 Group R occupancies, buildings, structures,
and/or facilities. This is a compliance rate of 100 percent for this reporting period.
3. The City Council does hereby receive the annual Fire Inspection Report as presented and orders it filed in the records of the City Clerk's Office.
4. The Chief Deputy City Clerk is hereby authorized to make minor changes herein to address clerical errors, so long as substantial conformance of the intent of this document is maintained. In doing so, the Chief Deputy City Clerk shall consult with the City Manager and City Attorney concerning any changes deemed necessary.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Santa Maria, California, held this 20th day of December 2022.
ATTEST:
Chief Deputy City Clerk
Mayor
City Attorney
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