To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: KEITH KAUFFMAN, POLICE CHIEF
TITLE
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ADOPT BY TITLE ONLY RESOLUTION NO. CC-2107-074, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA ACKNOWLEDGING RECEIPT OF A REPORT MADE BY THE FIRE CHIEF OF THE REDONDO BEACH 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.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On September 27, 2018, the Governor of the State of California signed Senate Bill No. 1205. The bill mandates that every city or county fire department, or fire district shall report annually to its administering authority on its compliance with the Health and Safety Code, Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3. The bill states that the report shall occur when the administering authority discusses its annual budget, or at another time determined by the administering authority.
This item is before the Redondo Beach City Council to request approval of Resolution No. CC-2107-074 (Attachment 1) accepting the state mandated annual fire inspection report, in compliance with SB 1205.
Attachment 2 reviews the laws and codes as they apply to the Fire Inspection program.
BACKGROUND
The California State Fire Marshal mandates that certain types of occupancies shall be inspected annually. These mandated inspections include schools, hotels, motels, lodging houses, and apartment buildings. This requirement is listed in California Health and Safety Code Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3. The purpose of annual fire inspections is to mitigate known hazards, reduce risk to the community, and ensure compliance with the California Fire Code. The Redondo Beach Fire Department performs the mandated inspections, as well as inspections of local businesses as part of the Department’s annual fire inspection program.
The Redondo Beach Fire Department completed 99% of the state mandated annual inspections during the calendar year in 2020. During 2019 the Department completed 99% of the required inspections. Prior to the reorganization of the Fire Inspection program in 2017, less than 50% of the mandated inspections were completed. This lower rate of completion reflects the Fire Inspection program performance prior to the addition of the Fire Prevention Officer and the use of Streamline software to improve efficiency.
California Health and Safety Code Section 13146.2 mandates that the local fire department or district inspect all apartments, hotels, motels and lodging houses annually. The California Building Code also specifies that condominiums should be considered apartments for building code application. An apartment shall consist of three or more attached units, and excludes all duplex and townhome buildings as defined by code. The Redondo Beach Fire Department inspected 1962 of 1969 apartment/condominium complexes, hotels, motels, and lodging houses during the 2020 calendar year. This is a completion rate of 99% for 2020.
California Health and Safety Code Section 13146.3 mandates that the local fire department or district inspect all public and private schools once annually. The Redondo Beach Fire Department inspected 24 of 26 school facilities during the 2020 calendar year. This is a completion rate of 92% for 2020. The two missing facilities included a preschool and the Redondo Beach Beauty College that were both closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fire Inspections are currently completed by a Deputy Fire Marshal, Fire Inspector (30%), and sworn line personnel (70%). Approximately 4,500 inspections are completed by 60 personnel on a digital platform (Streamline) that integrates third party billing (Fire Recovery USA) into an efficient, industry leading process. Fire Recovery collects on 97% of all Fire Inspection invoices. Of the 11,860 invoices created from the inception of the Fire Inspection Fee in 2018, 160 have gone to collections, or a 1.3% rate of sending invoices to collections.
The acceptance of this compliance report and the recommended Resolution fulfill the statutory requirements contained in California Health and Safety Code Sections 13146.2, 13146.3, and 13146.4, as amended by SB 1205.
A further in-depth discussion of the Inspection program will be agendized at a later date.
COORDINATION
The City Attorney’s Office approved the Resolution as to form.
FISCAL IMPACT
Preparation of the annual fire inspection report is part of the Fire Department’s annual work program/budget.
APPROVED BY:
Joe Hoefgen, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution SB1205 Compliance
2. Redondo Beach Fire Department Inspection Laws and Codes