REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
DATE: 02/16/2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Fire Department
SUBJECT:
Title
Resolution acknowledging the measure of compliance of the Corona Fire Department with California Health and Safety Code Section 13146.2 and 13146.3.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Fire Department, Fire Prevention Division, annually prepares compliance measures per the California Health and Safety Code (HSC). The compliance numbers show completed educational and residential occupancy inspections conducted in 2021. This report will update the City Council on the City’s progress and attest to the City’s compliance with these inspection requirements for the Calendar Year 2021 reporting period.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommended action
That the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2022-010, acknowledging the City’s compliance measures with California Health and Safety Code Section 13146.2 and 13146.3.
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BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
On September 27, 2018, Senate Bill No. 1205 was approved by the Governor, requiring fire departments to report annually to their Councils on each department’s compliance regarding fire inspections. Included in the inspections are public and private schools used for educational purposes through the 12th grade (“E”/Educational occupancies) and hotels, motels, lodging houses, and apartment houses (“R”/Residential occupancies) except one-and-two family dwellings (“R-3”/Residential occupancies).
Per HSC Section 13146.2 and 13146.3, both “E” and “R” occupancies require annual inspections. Inspections have been a requirement since 1965 for “E” occupancies and since 1984 for “R” occupancies, but reporting compliance to Council has only been required since 2018.
Historically, Corona fire prevention staff completed all “E” occupancy inspections and have complied with HSC requirements. The Corona engine companies were responsible for completing “R” occupancy inspections. In August of 2017, Council adopted Resolution No. 2017-097, which created a fee structure for these inspections to fund staff positions and shifted the inspection responsibility from engine company staff to prevention staff. This created the Corona Fire Department Residential Housing Inspection Program. The program was staffed and fully trained by September of 2018.
ANALYSIS:
Educational Group “E” occupancies are generally 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 Corona, there are 66 Group “E” buildings, structures, and/or facilities. For 2021, due to COVID impacts, only 65 of the 66 “E” occupancies were inspected.
Residential Group “R” occupancies are generally those occupancies containing sleeping units. They include hotels, motels, apartments (three units or more), and other residential occupancies (including a number of residential care facilities). These residential care facilities have a number of different sub-classifications. They may contain residents or clients with various needs, including those related to custodial care, mobility impairments, and cognitive disabilities. The residents may also be non-ambulatory or bedridden. Within the City of Corona, there are 257 Group “R” complexes and/or facilities. For 2021, 250 of the 257 “R” occupancies were inspected.
All Group “E” and “R” occupancy inspections are conducted by both full-time and part-time fire prevention staff. These state-mandated inspections include 66 schools representing approximately 35,000 students and 257 complexes and/or facilities representing just over 12,000 units.
The impacts of COVID in 2021 continued to affect how “R” occupancy inspections are conducted by not physically entering as many units as possible to test all smoke/carbon monoxide detectors. The adjustment was made to inspect only the building’s exterior and fire suppression systems and require a signed declaration from the management that they have ensured minimum code compliance for all smoke/carbon monoxide detectors.
As required by HSC, the Corona Fire Department completed 98% of the educational Group “E” occupancy inspections and 97% of the residential Group “R” occupancy inspections.
This program will continue to be evaluated for its effectiveness and staffing to ensure that Health and Safety Code requirements are being met and may require additional staffing.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Currently, all costs associated with this action are being paid for by the property owner.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which states that a project is exempt from CEQA if the activity is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. This action is to meet reporting requirements of Senate Bill No. 1205. Fire departments are required to report annually to their Council regarding fire inspections on “E” and “R” occupancies. Therefore, no environmental analysis is required.
PREPARED BY: CINDI SCHMITZ, FIRE MARSHAL
REVIEWED BY: BRIAN YOUNG, FIRE CHIEF
Attachments:
1. Exhibit 1 - Resolution No. 2022-010