FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING OF DECEMBER 17, 2024
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: City Council
FROM: City Manager David W. Rowlands
BY: Fire Chief Bradley J. Dandridge
SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution Acknowledging Receipt of the Annual Fire Inspection Report per Senate Bill 1205
Description:
The City Council will consider adopting a Resolution acknowledging receipt of the annual fire inspection report for the period of July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024.
Environmental Notice:
The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a Resolution acknowledging receipt of the annual report for the period of July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, 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 sta ndards.
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.
In 2018, State Senator Jerry Hill (San Mateo) introduced S enate 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 2 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 in to law on September 27, 2018, adding Section 13146.4 to the Health and Safety Code.
DISCUSSION:
The Santa Maria Fire Department conducts annual comprehensive fire and life safety inspections of all State -mandated occupancies as outlined in Health and Sa fety Code Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3, including schools, hotels/motels, and all known apartment complexes of three or more units.
In addition to the State -mandated inspections, the following are noteworthy accomplishments by Fire Prevention Bureau from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024:
1,008 plan reviews of construction-related projects; 485 construction-related inspections; 302 business license application reviews that resulted in 74 inspections of businesses; 46 fire code related complaints tha t required multiple inspections and follow -up; 146 assembly occupancy inspections; 177 hazardous material occupancy inspections; 284 commercial occupancy inspections; resulting in 552 follow -up inspections. They also completed 80 fire investigations that resulted in 9 arrests and issued 63 citations for illegal fireworks. The Emergency Services Specialist with support from the Fire Prevention Bureau and engine companies conducted 62 public education outreach programs resulting in contact with approximately 7,000 citizens.
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 through 13146.4.