Report Prepared by: Janet German, Secretary III, Fire Dept.
Title
SUBJECT: Adoption of Resolution Acknowledging Receipt of the Annual State Mandated Inspection Compliance Report for the Reporting Period of October 1, 2018 Through September 30, 2019, Pursuant to California Health and Safety Code §13146.4
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers the adoption of 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) §13146.4.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion adopting Resolution 2019-70, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Merced, California, acknowledging receipt 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 with modifications; or,
3. Deny.
AUTHORITY
HSC §13145, §13146, §13146.2, §13146.3,§13146.4, and §17921(b)
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
This action aligns with the Public Safety focus by effectively mitigating fire hazards by performing regular inspections and enforcing fire safety regulations for the betterment of the community’s safety.
DISCUSSION
Background
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), 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.
Past Council Action
At the June 3, 2019 Council meeting, Council approved the second meeting in November as the date to receive the Fire Department’s Annual State Mandated Fire Inspection Compliance Report for the reporting period of October 1st through September 30th via a resolution.
History
The Merced Fire Department maintains an up-to-date listing of all buildings within its jurisdiction and tracks which buildings must be inspected annually. On duty firefighters perform the majority of inspections, which are simple and routine while the Fire Prevention Bureau staff (One Deputy Fire Marshal and One Fire Inspector) inspect the more complex inspections where a higher level of expertise is needed.
Inspection Compliance
The Merced Fire Department conducted mandated inspections of 27 of the 27 Group E Occupancies (Public or private schools) and 500 of the 500 Group R Occupancies (hotels/motels, apartments, and certain residential care facilities) for the reporting period of October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019.
Conclusion
The department met the requirements of HSC §13146.4 for the reporting period.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
There is no fiscal impact as a result 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
2. Senate Bill 1205