City Council Meeting 1-08-08                                      Santa Monica, California

 

      RESOLUTION NUMBER ______(CCS)

   (City Council Series)

 

 

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA MAKING FINDINGS REGARDING LOCAL CLIMATIC, GEOLOGICAL AND TOPOGRAPHIC CONDITIONS PURSUANT TO HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTIONS 17958.5 and 17958.7 and 18941.5

 

WHEREAS, the State Building Standards Commission approved and published the 2007 California Building Standards Code on July 1, 2007; and such code will be effective 180 days thereafter, which is January 1, 2008; and

WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Sections 17958.7 and 18941.5 provide that the City may make changes or modifications to the California Building Standards Code based upon express findings that such changes or modifications are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological or topographical conditions; and

            WHEREAS, Public Resource Code Section 25402.1(h)(2) says that a local enforcement agency may adopt more restrictive energy standards when they are cost-effective and approved by the Energy Commission; and

            WHEREAS, the City hired a private consultant to conduct a cost study of the proposed energy standards and said study demonstrated the cost effectiveness of these changes; and

            WHEREAS, the State Energy Commission has reviewed the proposed  energy standards on September 21, 2005, and approved the recommended changes;

WHEREAS,  on October 17, 2007, the Building and Safety Commission  passed a motion supporting the proposed energy efficiency measures for multi-family and commercial buildings but not supporting the inclusion of one- and two- family dwellings into the applicability of the proposed ordinance;

WHEREAS, on December 17, 2007, the Task Force on the Environment passed a motion supporting the proposed ordinance;

WHEREAS, the City Council has adopted the 2007 California Building Standards Code, with local amendments, and based upon the findings contained in this Resolution, the City Council intends to adopt an ordinance containing certain additional modifications and additions to the 2007 California Building Standards Code, which are reasonably necessary based upon local climatic, topographical and geological conditions;

 

     NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:

 

SECTION 1.  The City Council makes the following findings regarding local climatic, geological and topographic conditions related to the local amendments to the California Building Standards Code found in Section 2 below:

 

Local Climatic Conditions

a)                 As detailed in the City’s 1996 Master Environmental Assessment (MEA), Santa Monica's climate is primarily influenced by the Pacific Ocean and is characterized by infrequent rainfall and winds which come from the west during the daytime and from the north and northeast during the nighttime, with intermittent Santa Ana winds occurring from September to March.  As a result of the above, the City enjoys an extremely mild climate.  This climate makes the City uniquely suited for the proper operation of buildings designed for sustainable development. 

b)                 Average daytime temperatures range from highs of 81 degrees (F) in August to 67 degrees (F) in January.  Overnight lows vary from an average of 62 degrees (F) in January to 48 degrees (F) in August.  A below freezing temperature has never been recorded in the City. 

c)                  The City’s annual precipitation averages 12.5 inches, but the region is prone to extended periods of drought.  Water resources in the region are scarce and the local impact of climate change due to anthropocentric causes is a further reduction in the availability of potable water. 

d)                 Due to local geographic and meteorological conditions, the City unlike most of the South Coast Air Basin, seldom exceeds national and state air quality standards.  The decreased use of non-renewable energy sources will help protect local air and water quality for the benefit of local fauna and flora and human health concerns.

 

Local Topographical Conditions

e)                 The City has significant natural resources including its three-mile beachfront.  This beachfront is several hundred feet wide – one of the widest stretches of beach in this part of southern California.  This beachfront is at the terminus of surface water drainage for a large part of the Los Angeles Basin.  As a result, the beachfront and the Santa Monica Bay experiences a constant influx of contaminants due to urban runoff from rain events, irrigation systems, car washing, and other process discharges.  The intrusion of these contaminants is amplified by severe weather events, which are becoming more frequent and more severe as a result of climate change  due to anthropocentric causes. 

 

SECTION 2.  The City Council makes the express finding that the following additional building standards are reasonably necessary because of the local climatic, geological or topographical conditions and that each and every one of the local conditions detailed in Section 1 above apply to the following additional building standards.

 

(1)               Reduction of annual energy budgets by 10% and provision of  prescriptive alternatives for compliance based on occupancy type to preserve natural resources and reduce pollution associated with energy generation. (Climatic)

(2)               Requirements for using green construction materials that improve indoor air quality, reduce emissions associated with climate change, improve building durability, and reduce resource use of energy, water, and raw materials.  (Climatic, Topographical)

(3)               Establishment of water-efficient landscaping and irrigation standards to preserve precious water resources and to ensure efficient use of those resources. (Climatic, Topographical)

(4)               Establishment of construction and demolition waste management requirements to reduce waste generation, protect the local environment from pollutants, and to reduce the emission of gases that  contribute to climate change.  (Climatic, Topographical)

(5)               Continue to require additional mandatory energy efficiency measures for Solar Water Heating, Pipe Insulation and Heat Traps in all buildings to reduce both the heat loss due to hot water storage and distribution and the waste of potable water while waiting for hot water to reach the tap which results from this heat loss.  (Climatic).

 

SECTION 3.  The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution and thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.

 

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

 

______________________________

MARSHA JONES MOUTRIE

City Attorney