HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 242ORDINANCE 242
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA AMENDING SARATOGA
CITY CODE SECTIONS 14-25.110, 15-80.090 AND ARTICLE 16-60
CONCERNING THE EMERGENCY WARNING ALARM SYSTEM AND
ADOPTING BY REFERENCE THE SARATOGA FIRE PROTECTION
DISTRICT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE EARLY WARNING
ALARM SYSTEM
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA DOES ORDAIN AS
FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Findings.
The City Council finds and declares as follows:
A. The City of Saratoga has designated as a hazardous fire area the lands shown
in Exhibit 1 to this ordinance due to extensive grasslands, brush or forest
which is so situated or is of such inaccessible location, that a fire originating
upon such land would present an abnormally difficult job of suppression or
would result in great and unusual damage through fire or resulting erosion.
The response time of emergency equipment to calls for aid in the hazardous
fire area is impaired due to: (1)non-availability of access to some portions of
that area; (2) steep, narrow streets and roadways; (3) lack of connecting streets
and roadways; and (4) the unusual topography of that area. Further, the
presence of heavy vegetation in that hazardous fire azea increases the potential
for the rapid spread of any fire which may start in that area, particularly
during seasonal dry spells.
B. A substantial portion of the new single-family dwellings being constructed in
the City of Saratoga are larger structures, typically in excess of five thousand
square Feet with three-car garages. By reason of their size, a fire in these
structures can be more difficult to extinguish.
C. The risk of fire to persons and property within multi-family dwellings and
structures containing multiple sleeping units is proportionately greater because
of the higher density of occupants. Immediate warning of fire and notification
of the fire district of the existence and location of fire will serve to reduce the
possibility of death, injury and property damage.
D. Because commercial buildings and community facilities are public gathering
places, the public health and safety risks of fire are particularly acute.
Immediate warning of fie and notification to the District of the existence and
location of fire will serve to reduce the possibility of death, injury and
property damage in these structures.
E. Utilization of current technology in the detection and warning of fire will
significantly enhance the level of protection from such hazards while at the
same time maximizing the effectiveness of existing equipment and facilities
for emergency responses.
F. The City Council of the City of Sazatoga held duly noticed public hearings on
July 19, 2006 and August 2, 2006 to consider amendments to the City Code to
replace outdated requirements pertaining to eazly warning alarm systems with
standards recommended by the Saratoga Fire Protection District.
G. After considering all public testimony and materials presented in connection
with the proposed ordinance the Planning Commission recommended
adoption of the ordinance on June 28, 2006 following a duly noticed public
hearing and the City Council has accepted the recommendation of the
Planning Commission.
H. The proposed ordinance will further the objectives of the Safety Element of
the City General Plan.
I. The proposed ordinance is Categorically Exempt from the Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant Sections 15061(3), the general rule exemption
and 15308, "Actions Taken by Regulatory Agencies for the Protection of the
Environment", Class 8, of title 14 of the California Code of Regulations.
Public Resources Code (CEQA).
Section 2. Adoption.
The Saratoga City Code is amended as set forth below. Text to be added is indicated in
underlined font (e.g., underlined) and text to be deleted is indicated in strikeout font (e.g.,
sirikeeaf). Text in standazd font remains unchanged by this ordinance.
A. Section 14-25.100 is amended as shown in Exhibit 2 to this Ordinance;
B. Section 15-80.090 is amended as shown in Exhibit 3 to this Ordinance;
and
C. Article 16-60 is amended as shown in Exhibit 4 to this Ordinance.
Section 3. Severance Clause.
The City Council declares that each section, sub-section, pazagraph, sub-
pazagraph, sentence, clause and phrase of this ordinance is severable and independent of
every other section, sub-section, paragraph, sub-paragraph, sentence, clause and phrase of
this ordinance. If any section, sub-section, paragraph, sub-paragraph, sentence, clause or
phrase of this ordinance is held invalid, the City Council declares that it would have
adopted the remaining provisions of this ordinance irrespective of the portion held
invalid, and further declares its express intent that the remaining portions of this
ordinance should remain in effect after the invalid portion has been eliminated.
Section 4. Publication.
This ordinance or a summary thereof shall be published once in a newspaper of
general circulation of the City of Sazatoga within fifteen days after its adoption.
The foregoing ordinance was introduced and read at the regular meeting of the
City Council of the City of Saratoga held on the 19th day of July, 2006, and was adopted
by the following vote following a second reading on the 2nd day of August, 2006:
AYES: Councilmembers Kathleen King, Nick Streit, Ann Waltonsmith,
Vice Mayor Aileen Kao, Mayor Norman Kline
NOES: None
RICHARD S. TAYLOR
CITY ATTORNEY
APP~ROVED~AS`TO FORM:
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