95-198 RESOLUTION NO. 95R - 3.98
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF ANAHEIM SETTING FORTH LOCAL CONDITIONS
JUSTIFYING AMENDMENTS TO THE UNIFORM FIRE
CODE, 1994 EDITION, REGARDING FIRE AND PANIC
SAFETY.
WHEREAS, Section 17958.5 authorizes a city to make changes or
modifications to the Uniform Fire Code, 1994 Edition, as are reasonably necessary
because of local climatic, geographical or topographical conditions; and
WHEREAS, Section 13143.5 of the Health and Safety Code permits a city, by
ordinance, to make changes or modifications that are more stringent than the
requirements published in the California Building Standards Code relating to fire and
panic safety; and
WHEREAS, Section 13143.5 of the Health and Safety Code requires the city,
prior to adopting the ordinance, to make express findings that the adopted standards are
reasonably necessary because of local conditions.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of
Anaheim, as follows:
1. That the Fire Department has recommended that the Uniform Fire
Code, 1994 Edition, be adopted by reference, by the City of Anaheim, with certain
amendments thereto.
2. That, to the extent of the City's adoption of the Uniform Fire Code,
1994 Edition, as amended makes changes or modifications that are more stringent than
the requirements published in the California Building Standards Code relating to fire
and panic safety, such changes and modifications are reasonably necessary due to the
following conditions:
a. The entire City of Anaheim is located in an area which is
subject to periodic wind conditions of extremely high velocity; the City is also subject to
seasonal high temperatures and dry atmospheric conditions which often occur during
times of those high-velocity winds.
b. These dry-climatic conditions and winds contribute to rapid
spread of fires originating in high-density housing. These conditions create a need for
increased levels of fire protection.
c. Traffic and circulation congestion is common throughout the
City of Anaheim. This congestion often places at risk the fire-department response
time to fire occurrences, and makes it necessary to provide additional fire-protection
systems to limit the exposure to death, injury and property loss caused by fire, prior to
the arrival of the fire department.
d. The City of Anaheim is located in an area of substantial
seismic activity. The Whittier/Elsinore fault traverses the northeast section of the City;
and the San Andreas fault is also expected to have a major impact on the City of
Anaheim and poses a threat to life and property. It is believed these faults are capable of
generating up to an 8.3 magnitude earthquake. Major earthquakes are accompanied by
congested traffic flow and fires. During a major earthquake, fire-department resources
would be extremely taxed, and the ability to respond to fires would be complicated and
in some cases impossible.
e. The climatic conditions described above are further
accentuated by the topographical features of the hill and canyon area on the easterly
portion of the city, south of the Riverside (SR-91) Freeway and east of the Costa Mesa
(SR-55) Freeway which has been designated as a "special-protection area." This "special-
protection area" is especially susceptible to fires which may spread quickly from one
structure to another due to lack of fire-protection devices, shrub/brush clearance
requirements, and other fire-protection requirements needed to provide reasonable
levels of fire safety. In this Special Protection Area, these conditions are further
accentuated by steep canyons and draws, very steep road grades and dense vegetation
which impede responding personnel and equipment. In order to provide reasonable
levels of fire safety in this Special Protection Area, more restrictive fire suppression and
control safeguards are necessary.
f. In order to correct existing conditions and prevent future
conditions that are detrimental to the public health and safety and may result in serious
injury, it is reasonably necessary for the City of Anaheim to require the provisions of
the 1994 Uniform Fire Code as amended and adopted.
g. Of all means reasonably known to the City which could
feasibly correct or avoid the injurious or detrimental condition, applying the
requirements of the Uniform Fire Code, 1994 Edition, with local amendments, to all
areas of the City of Anaheim, including, with specific exceptions set forth hereinbelow,
those areas governed by development agreements, is the most reasonable means to
protect the health, safety and welfare of the public. Failure to apply these provisions to
all areas of the City of Anaheim, including those governed by development
agreements, would result in conditions injurious or detrimental to the public health
and safety. The application of these provisions is reasonably necessary to correct or
avoid injuries or detrimental conditions. Consequently, the provisions of the Uniform
Fire Code, 1994 Edition, with amendments shall apply to all property located within the
City of Anaheim, with specific exceptions set forth hereinbelow, notwithstanding that
such property may be the subject of development agreements which became effective
prior to the date of adoption of the Uniform Fire Code, 1994 Edition, with local
amendments, and which contain any provision to the contrary.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution, together with
the Ordinance adopting the amendments to the Uniform Fire Code, 1994 Edition, be
filed with the State Department of Housing and Community Development.
THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION is approved and adopted by the City
Council of the City of Anaheim this 12 th day of
December ,1995.
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF J~aNAHEIM
ATTEST.'
CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss.
CITY OF ANAHEIM )
I, LEONORA N. SOHL, City Clerk of the City of Anaheim, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution
No. 95R-198 was introduced and adopted at a regular meeting provided by law, of the Anaheim City Council
held on the 12th day of December, 1995, by the following vote of the members thereof:
AYES: MAYOR/COUNCIL: Tait, Zemel, Feldhaus, Lopez, Daly
NOES: MAYOR/COUNCIL: None
ABSENT: MAYOR/COUNCIL: None
AND I FURTHER CERTIFY that the Mayor of the City of Anaheim signed said Resolution No. 95R-198 on
the 12th day of December, 1995.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Anaheim
this 12th day of December, 1995.
CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM
(SEAL)
I, LEONORA N. SOHL, City Clerk of the City of Anaheim, do hereby certify that the foregoing is the original
of Resolution No. 95R-198 was duly passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Anaheim on
December 12th, 1995.
CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM