ORD 2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

Exhibit 2 - Findings The City Council of the City of Pleasanton adopts the following findings pursuant to California Health & Safety Code sections 17958, 17958.5 and 17958.7 in support of Municipal Code Chapter 20.08 Building Code, Chapter 20.10 Residential Code, and Chapter 20.24 Fire Code and the respective local amendments that require increased fire protection and structural design and detailing based on the following local climatic, geological or topographic conditions which the City Council finds create building and fire hazards peculiar to Pleasanton: A. Local climatic conditions include a low amount of average yearly rainfall, which tend to be concentrated from October through April. From May through September, a dry period occurs where daily temperatures remain high, and there is little measurable precipitation. In addition, the local climate frequently includes high winds which sweep down through the valley. The local dry conditions, combined with high winds, create the risk of a potential fire storm. The California Division of Forestry & Fire Protection has classified areas within and adjacent to the City as Very High Fire Severity Zones. B. Local geological conditions include a risk of earthquake and landslides. A number of earthquake faults are located either within or in close proximity to the City. Those with the most direct and potentially destructive impact are the San Andreas, Calaveras, Hayward, Greenville, Mt. Diablo Thrust and Concord -Green Valley Faults. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has identified a 62% probability of a magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake occurring in the region before 2032. Earthquake damage studies, including the 1994 Northridge earthquake, have indicated the lack of adequate design and detailing as a contributing factor to damages that reduced the protection of the life- safety of building occupants. C. Local topographical conditions include hills on the western border and flat area on the eastern border. Interstate 680 divides the City into two sections, and circulation between areas of the City rely on both freeway overpasses and underpasses. In addition, local traffic must also pass over railroad tracks, creeks, and bridges (to cross arroyos). Water lines which come from tanks on the hills of the City must cross the interstate to feed the automatic fire sprinkler systems installed in buildings throughout the City. During peak a.m. and p.m. traffic periods, the City experiences heavy traffic congestion at key intersections, and near many freeway on -ramp and off- ramps. In the event of an accident or emergency at one of these key intersections, bridges, or other circulation corridors, sections of the City could become isolated and response times increased beyond ideal levels. With the inability of emergency services to guarantee rapid response to various sections of the City, it is necessary to mitigate this problem by requiring additional built -in See Pleasanton General Plan 2005 -2025, Public Safety Element, pages 5 -2 through 5 -18.