HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1996 0221 CC REG ITEM 07LCity of Moorpark
Agenda Report
To: The Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jim MacDonald, Building Inspec
Subject: Ventura County Fire Protection District Ordinance #22
Date: January 22, 1996
ITEMI•
The purpose of this resolution is to ratify the implementation of Appendix VII of Ventura County
Fire Protection District Ordinance No. 22 within jurisdictional boundaries of the City of Moorpark
This resolution ratifies Appendix VII of Ventura County Fire Protection District Ordinance No. 22.
Appendix VII adopts building standards, relating to fire and life safety, which are more restrictive
than those building standards adopted by the State Fire Marshal and contained in the California
Building Standards Code.
The California Health and Safety Code authorizes the Fire District to adopt such standards.
Recent changes to the Health and Safety code requires ratification by the legislative body where
the standards will apply.
The building standards contained in Appendix VII have been in effect since June 3, 1982 and
have been an integral part of the Fire District's fire protection plan. These standards include
requirements for fire sprinklers in structures exceeding 5000 square feet or exceeding three
stories in height or over five miles from a fire station and emergency communications equipment
in structures that exceed three stories in height.
California Health and Safety Code Section §13869.7 requires the Fire District to file findings that
support the need for more restrictive standards based upon local climatic, geological, or
topographical conditions. Those findings are as follows.
A. Climatic. Ventura County experiences periods of high temperatures, accompanied by low
humidity and high winds each year. These conditions create an environment in which the
Fire District commits large numbers of firefighting resources to the control and
extinguishment of wildland fires. During such periods, the limited available firefighting
resources may have great difficulty in controlling fires in structures not having built -in fire
protection.
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B. Geological. Ventura County is in a potential high activity seismic zone. After a large
seismic event, the potential for multiple fires occurring simultaneously will tax available
firefighting resources. Built -in fire protection will assist in extinguishing or controlling fires,
which will increase the availability of firefighting resources to respond to other seismic
related emergencies.
C. Topographical. Ventura County has rural areas that are in high fire hazard areas. Due to
topography, access to structures in rural areas increases response time and delays fire
suppression efforts. An extended response time will allow fires to grow beyond the control
of initial attack fire suppression resources. Large structure fires in the hillside areas will
have a greater likelihood of starting a wildland fire which may expose additional structures
to fire. Therefore, built -in fire protection is required in all structures more than five miles
from a fire station.
Adopt the attached resolution which allows the Ventura County Fire Protection District to
enforce certain building standards within the City of Moorpark.
2. Direct staff to file a copy of the findings of the Fire District together with the adopted
Appendix, with the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
Fiscal impact: None
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