Report Prepared by: Janet German, Management Analyst, Fire Dept.
Title
SUBJECT: Adoption of Resolution Acknowledging Receipt of the Merced Fire Department’s Annual State Mandated Inspection Compliance Report Regarding the Inspection of Certain Occupancies for the Reporting Period of October 1, 2025, Through September 30, 2026, Pursuant to California Health and Safety Code §13146.2 and §13146.3
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers adopting a Resolution acknowledging receipt of the Merced Fire Department’s Annual Compliance Report regarding performance of annual inspections pursuant to California Health and Safety Code (HSC) §13146.2 and §13146.3.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion adopting Resolution 2026-69, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Merced, California, acknowledging receipt of a report made by the Fire Chief of the Merced 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.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended by staff; or,
3. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items; or,
4. Continue to a future meeting; or,
3. Deny
AUTHORITY
HSC §13145, §13146, §13146.2, §13146.3,§13146.4, and §17921(b).
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the FY 2026-2027 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION
California Health and Safety Code (HSC) §13145 and §13146 requires every city or county fire department or district providing fire protection services to enforce the fire code as adopted. More specifically, HSC §13146.2 and §13146.3 requires the fire department to annually inspect every building used as a public or private school, apartments/condos (three or more attached units and excludes all duplexes and townhomes), hotels, motels, and lodging houses for compliance.
§HSC 13146.4 mandates every city or county fire department or district required to provide fire protection services per the above inspections to report its compliance to its administering authority and for them to acknowledge receipt of the reporting in a resolution or a similar formal document.
The Merced Fire Department conducted 100% of its mandated initial inspections of 33 of the 33 Group E Occupancies (Public or Private Schools) and 535 of the 538 Group R Occupancies (hotels/motels, apartments, and certain residential care facilities) for the reporting period of October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. During a review of SB 1205 reporting requirements, staff identified that three apartments were inadvertently missed during the inspection process. The oversight was unintentional, and staff have completed the three inspections, and the reporting records are updated accordingly.
The department met the requirements of HSC §13146.4 for the reporting period.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
There is no fiscal impact because of acknowledging the fire department’s compliance with certain State mandated fire inspections. The report seeks to communicate with the governing authority about the department’s level of compliance with state-mandated safety inspections.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution 2026-69
2. Senate Bill No. 1205
3. Listing of SB 1205 Inspections from 10/01/25 - 09/30/26