2013-054 - Modify California Building and Fire CodesRESOLUTION 2013 -054
RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL
OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
MAKING FINDINGS FOR MODIFYING CALIFORNIA BUILDING AND FIRE CODES
WHEREAS:
A. Section 17958 of the Health and Safety Code requires that cities choose between
adopting ordinances and regulations imposing uniform codes setting rules and regulations for
building, fire, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and housing, or submitting to the regulations
adopted by the State Building Standards Commission, and
B. The Town of Los Gatos, in Chapters 6 and 9 of the Town Code, had previously
adopted the uniform codes, and
C. On January 10, 2013, the State of California Building Standards Commission adopted
eleven new Parts to the California Code of Regulations, CCR Title 24, which the Town will be
required to enforce as written or adopt with local amendments, and
D. Sections 17958.5 and 17958.7 of the Health and Safety Code permits cities to modify
the California code requirements if it makes express findings that such modifications are
reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, geographical, or topographical
conditions, and
E. The Town of Los Gatos experiences low humidity, high wind, and warm temperatures
during the summer months creating conditions which are particularly conducive to the ignition
and spread of grass, brush, and structure fires, and
F. The Town of Los Gatos is situated adjacent to active earthquake faults capable of
producing substantial seismic events, and
G. The Town of Los Gatos is partially located in rugged, steep, and heavily vegetated
hillsides accessible over limited roadways that are in areas steep, narrow, and circuitous, and
H. Because the Town is divided by a creek, freeways and other traffic corridors, and is
partially located in hillside areas with limited access, the occurrence of a major earthquake
would significantly impact the ability of fire crews to respond to emergencies should one or
more bridges collapse or be substantially damaged. Additionally, fire suppression capabilities
will be severely limited should the water system be extensively damaged during the seismic
event, and
I. Due to these climatic, geological, geographical, and topographical conditions,
mitigation measures are necessary such as automatic fire suppression systems, communications
systems, access to buildings, seismic protection, safety controls for hazardous materials and
other safe guards in order to minimize the risks to citizens, firefighters, and property resulting
from the severity of a fire threat and potential delays in responding to such threats.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Modifications to the California
Codes contained in an Ordinance introduced by the Town Council on December 16, 2013, are
reasonably necessary to address the climatic, geological, geographical, and topographical
conditions described herein above.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Town Council of the Town of
Los Gatos, California held on the 16th day of December 2013, by the following vote:
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
AYES: Marcia Jensen, Diane McNutt, Joe Pirzynski, Barbara Spector and Mayor Steven Leonardis
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
SIGNED:
MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
ATTEST:
CLERK ADMINISTRATOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA