Report Prepared by: Janet German, Secretary III, Fire Department
Title
SUBJECT: Approval of the Second Meeting in November as the Date to Receive the Fire Department’s Annual State Mandated Fire Inspection Compliance Report as Required by California Health and Safety Code Sections 13146.2 through 13146.4
REPORT IN BRIEF
California Health and Safety Code Section 13146.4 requires the Fire Department to provide City Council with an annual report confirming that it has completed the inspection of certain structures as required by California Health and Safety Code Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion allowing the Fire Chief or designee to present the Council with its Annual Inspection report on its compliance pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Section 13146.2 and 13146.3, during the second Council meeting in November of each year for the reporting period October 1st (previous year) to September 30th (current year).
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve as recommended by Staff; or
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended by staff; or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer to Staff for further evaluation.
AUTHORITY
California Health and Safety Code Section 13146.2, 13146.3, and 13146.4
Merced Municipal Code 17.32.080 - Chapter 9, Fire Protection Systems
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
This action is consistent with the city’s operating principal to promote Public Safety, as provided for in the 2018-19 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION
Background
On September 27, 2018, California Senate Bill 1205, Hill (Mandatory Inspections & Compliance Reporting) was signed by the Governor, and added Section 13146.4 to the California Health and Safety Code, which affects every fire department or fire district in the State. Existing state law requires every fire department or district providing fire protection services to inspect every building used as a public or private school annually. This same annual inspection requirement is applicable to hotels, motels, lodging houses, and apartment houses.
This new section requires every fire department or district to annually report to its administering authority their compliance with the annual inspection requirements of the California Health and Safety Code. The report shall occur when the administering authority discusses its annual budget, or at another time determined by the administering agency and it also requires the administering authority to formally acknowledge receipt of the compliance report in a resolution or a similar formal document.
The intent of SB 1205 formalizes the communication as to the safety of its schools and multi-family dwellings in regards to safety. Additionally, it holds jurisdictional policy makers accountable to make progress on fire prevention resource requests, and ensures fire department funding allocations account for the longstanding needs of resource deficient fire prevention bureaus.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
The establishment of a reporting date and creation of the report will not significantly impact city resources.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Senate Bill No. 1205
2. California Health and Safety Code Section 13146