HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC RESO 2021-159RESOLUTION NO. 2021 - 159
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY, CALIFORNIA
ACKNOWLEDGING RECEIPT OF A REPORT MADE BY THE CHIEF OF EMERGENCY
SERVICES OF THE NATIONAL CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT REGARDING THE
INSPECTION OF CERTAIN OCCUPANCIES REQUIRED TO PERFORM ANNUAL
INSPECTIONS IN SUCH OCCUPANCIES PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 13146.2 AND
13146.3 OF THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
WHEREAS, California Health & Safety Code Section 13146.4 was added in 2018, and
became effective on September 27, 2018; and
WHEREAS, California Health & Safety Code Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3 requires
all fire departments, including the National City Fire Department, that provide fire protection
services to perform annual inspections in every building used as a public or private school,
hotel, motel, lodging house, apartment house, and certain residential care facilities for
compliance with building standards, as provided; and
WHEREAS, California Health & Safety Code Section 13146.4 requires all fire
departments, including the National City Fire Department, that provide fire protection services
to report annually to its administering authority on its compliance with Sections 13146.2 and
13146.3; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of National City intends this Resolution to fulfill
the requirements of the California Health & Safety Code regarding acknowledgment of the
National City Fire Department's compliance with California Health and Sections 13146.2 and
13146.3.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY,
CALIFORNIA, DOES RESOLVE, DECLARE, DETERMINE, AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: Acknowledges the measure of compliance of the National City Fire
Department in accordance with California Health and Safety Code Sections 13146.2 and
13146.3 in the area encompassed by the City/County, as reflected in the Staff Report attached
hereto marked as Exhibit "A".
Section 2. That the City Clerk shall certify the passage and adoption of this
Resolution and enter it into the book of original Resolutions.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 2nd day of November, 2021.
Alejandra`Soteloolis, Mayor
ATTEST:
„rt
Luz Molina,
ity Clerk 6
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Charles E. Bell Jr., City rney
Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of National City, California, on
November 2, 2021, by the following vote, to -wit:
Ayes: Sotelo-Solis, Rodriguez, Bush, Morrison, Rios.
Nays: None.
Absent: None.
Abstain: None.
AUTHENTICATED BY: ALEJANDRA SOTELO-SOLIS
BY:
Mayor of the City of National City, California
City Clerk of the
ity of Nati• al City, California
elley Chapel MC, Depu$r City Clerk
EXHIBIT "A"
STAFF REPORT
SUBJECT: ACKNOWLEDGE THE NATIONAL CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT'S REPORT REGARDING PERFORMANCE OF
ANNUAL INSPECTIONS PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 13146.2 AND 13146.3 OF THE CALIFORNIA
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Find that the proposed action is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), the general rule; and
2. Adopt the resolution recognizing the National City Fire Department's level of compliance with California Health
and Safety Code Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3.
BACKGROUND:
California Senate Bill 1205 (SB 1205) was signed into law on September 27, 2018, after the tragic Ghost Ship Fire
(December 2016) brought national attention to California and put a spotlight on fire safety laws as well as the
performance of fire inspections. This law amends preceding law such that an annual report on state mandated
inspections is now required to be submitted to the governing body of each jurisdiction having authority for
inspections. The law also requires the report to be given when the administering authority discusses its annual
budget and receipt -of the report must be acknowledged in a resolution or similar formal document.
State mandated inspections were enacted by the California Health & Safety Code Sections 13146.2 and 13146,3 and
requires'all fire departments that provide fire protection services to perform annual inspections in every building
used as a public or private school, hotel, motel, lodging house, apartment house, and certain residential care facilities
for compliance with building standards. The California Health & Safety Code Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3 did not
require fire departments to report or demonstrate compliance as the new law (SB 1205) does.
Although there are no penalties identified in the law, adoption of the resolution will establish the City of National
City's intent to fulfill the requirements of the California Health & Safety Code regarding acknowledgment of the
National City Fire Department's compliance with California Health and Safety Code Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3,
which identifies the state mandated inspections above and further described below.
Public and private schools are generally classified as Educational Group E occupancies. They are schools used by
more than six persons at any one time, for educational purposes through the 12th grade. Within the City of National
City, there are 22 Group E occupancies, buildings, structures and facilities,
An inspection of schools in our district presented an obvious challengeasstaff and children were not present during
these inspections due to COVID. However, the prevention bureau was creative in coordinating with school officials
and custodial staff to assist with these inspections.
During fiscal year 2020-21, the National City Fire Department completed the annual inspection of 20 Group E
occupancies, buildings, structures, and facilities. This represents a compliance rate of 91%. There were two
dedicated fire inspectors assigned to these occupancy types and the performance for fiscal year 2021-2022 will trend
upwards with an anticipated completion of 100% of the required inspections. This department will also continue to
improve coordination and cooperation with school administration and maintenance staff, which will result in a
reduction in violations that would require re -inspection. Although all schools were closed due to COVID, fire safety
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inspections were still completed with custodial staff on twenty (20) of the twenty two (22) schools found here in our
district.
Currently, the National City Fire Department continues to promote its Fire Safe School of the Year Award, presented
to the safest elementary school in the National School District. The award established in 2002, continues to promote
friendly competition between schools while making our schools a safer place.
Hotels, motels, apartments (three units or more), and other residential occupancies that contain sleeping units
(including some residential care facilities) are generally classified as Residential Group R occupancies. The residential
care facilities have various sub -classifications and may contain residents or clients that have a range of needs, such
as, custodial care, mobility impairments, cognitive disabilities, and more. The residents may also be non -ambulatory.
In an effort to increase overall performance and compliance with the State mandate, the Department was successful
in actively working through the City Manager's Office, Human Resources, and the Finance Department, to hire one
(1) Fire Inspector to assist with the overall two thousand nine hundred (2,900) business and residential fire
inspections. With the addition of the new inspector, overall annual inspections have increased from five hundred
and ninety nine (599) to one thousand thirty five (1035). The combined effort is trending to increase the
Department's compliance rate of the mandated inspections for fiscal year 2021-2022.
Within the City of National City, there were 665 Group R (and their associated sub -categories) occupancies. During
fiscal year 2020-2021, the National City Fire Department completed the annual inspection of 429 Group R
occupancies, buildings, structures, and facilities. This is a compliance rate of 76 %. Residential occupancy inspections
have been achieved by the Fire Prevention Bureau with one (1) new Fire Inspector.
As COVID-19 descended upon this nation, state, and National City, the fire prevention bureau worked tirelessly
meeting with distraught and confused business owners and the general public, providing face to face current
information as our City's COVED Hot Team. As the COVID Temporary Outdoor Permit Program (CTOP) begin to
flourish resulting in two hundred and ninety six (296) businesses visited with approximately 54 CTOP permits issued,
new State, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and Center for Disease Control (CDC) information
continued to flow into this office daily. Ever changing information received, resulted in well over one thousand
(1000) re -visits to all of these businesses, in order to provide current information on parklets, dinning tents, weather
canopies, and the Activate the Right of Way Program (AROW).
As businesses in our city continued to close and inspections began to decrease, the bureau actively participated in
almost every vaccine clinic which included the National City Library, Sweetwater High School, National School
District/Las Palmas UCSD vaccine clinic, Saint Anthony's Church vaccine clinic, and homeless camp vaccine outreach.
Our efforts were an aggressive attempt to get more of our city residents vaccinated. Administration staff consisting
of a part time senior office assistant and an acting administrative secretary, worked diligently in support of the
inspection staff, answered COVID vaccine site questions, assisted with COVID schedules, processed inspection
requests, and prepared C-Top permits in an effort to assist the citizens and business in unprecedented times.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
Find that the proposed action is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant
to State CEOA Guidelines Section 15061(b) (3), the general rule.
COUNCIL POLICY CONSIDERATION:
This action supports the City Council's strategic goal to ensure public safety.
FISCAL IMPACT:
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There is no fiscal impact as a result of acknowledging the National City Fire Department's compliance with certain
State mandated fire inspections. The report seeks to communicate with the governing authority about the level of
compliance with state mandated safety inspections. This report should assist the National City Fire Department and
governing authority in planning and prioritizing available resources to appropriately staff and carry out state
mandated inspections.
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