REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Public Hearing: Action to Waive Second Reading and Adopt Ordinance No. 2063 Amending Chapter 15.60 of the Santa Clara City Code ("Santa Clara Municipal Fire and Environmental Code") to adopt the 2022 Supplemental California Fire Code appendices, as amended.
Report
BACKGROUND
At the August 22, 2023 Council meeting, a supplemental resolution was adopted to include additional findings of fact supporting amendment of several 2022 California Fire Code Appendices. Proposed Ordinance No. 2063 reflecting these amended Appendices was passed for the purpose of publication, and September 12, 2023, was set as the date for the public hearing for adoption of the state code by reference. A Notice of Public Hearing containing a summary of proposed Ordinance No. 2063 was published to the Santa Clara Weekly on August 30, 2023 and September 6, 2023, and copies were posted in three public places, in accordance with Government Code Sections 50022, et seq., and 6066.
DISCUSSION
The International Fire Code (IFC) is a model fire code that regulates minimum fire and life safety requirements for new and existing buildings, facilities, storage, and processes. The California Building Standards Commission adopts the International Fire Code with state-wide amendments on a triannual code adoption cycle. The City's initial adoption process for the 2022 code adoption cycle was completed on November 1, 2022 and went into effect on January 1, 2023.
On April 4, 2023, the City of Santa Clara Fire Department received correspondence from the California Building Standards Commission noting that Part 9 of the 2022 California Fire Code Adoption of appendices E and N and the amendments to appendices B, C, and D required additional topographical, climatic, or geological findings. The proposed action is taken to address these issues raised by the state.
There were no substantive changes to the ordinance or resolution previously approved by the Council on November 1, 20...
Click here for full text