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Home My WebLink AboutFD Report on 2024 Fire Prevention Inspections of Certain Occupancies____________________________________________________________________________________ FOR CITY CLERK ONLY Council Meeting: 06/02/2025 Disposition: Resolution 15411 Agenda Item No: 4.g Meeting Date: June 2, 2025 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Department: Fire Prepared by: Abraham Roman, Fire Chief/Fire Marshal City Manager Approval: ______________ TOPIC: REPORT ON 2024 FIRE PREVENTION INSPECTIONS OF CERTAIN OCCUPANCIES SUBJECT: RESOLUTION ACKNOWLEDGING RECEIPT OF A REPORT MADE BY THE FIRE CHIEF/FIRE MARSHAL REGARDING THE FIRE PREVENTION INSPECTIONS OF CERTAIN OCCUPANCIES PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 13146.2 AND 13146.3 OF THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2024 RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the resolution acknowledging receipt of a report made by the Fire Chief/Fire Marshal regarding the fire prevention inspections of certain occupancies pursuant to sections 13146.2 and 13146.3 of the California Health and Safety Code for calendar year (CY) 2024. BACKGROUND: On December 2, 2016, a fire broke out in a warehouse known as the Ghost Ship in Oakland, California. What became the deadliest fire in the history of the city took 36 lives that night. The deadliest fire since the Station nightclub fire in 2003 quickly caught the attention of media throughout California and the United States. Several articles, editorials, and social media postings were published, specifically around the Bay Area. Media attention put a spotlight on fire and safety laws and inspections in California. In response, lawmakers passed SB 1205, which was authored to assist in preventing tragedies of this nature and magnitude. On September 27, 2018, SB 1205 became effective and added a new section to the California Health and Safety Code (CHSC), which affects every fire department or fire district in the State. This new bill requires every fire department or district to annually report to its administering authority their compliance with the annual inspection requirements of the California Health and Safety Code. The bill also requires the administering authority to formally acknowledge receipt of the compliance report in a resolution or a similar formal document. ANALYSIS: In addition to reporting requirements, SB 1205 requires every fire department or district providing fire protection services to inspect every building used as a public or private school annually. This same annual inspection requirement is applicable to hotels, motels, lodging houses, residential care facilities and apartment houses containing three or more living units. SB 1205 and the required reporting provides an SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2 avenue for policy makers to understand the annual inspection requirements as well as compliance so they can understand full compliance or shortcomings. During calendar year 2024, the Fire Department was able to complete all inspections in accordance with the mandate. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no direct fiscal impact associated with this report. The inspection program is funded through baseline appropriations within the Fire Department’s approved budget. OPTIONS: The City Council has the following options to consider on this matter: 1. Adopt the resolution. 2. Adopt the resolution with modifications. 3. Direct staff to return with more information. 4. Take no action. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the resolution acknowledging receipt of a report made by the Fire Chief/Fire Marshal regarding the fire prevention inspections of certain occupancies pursuant to sections 13146.2 and 13146.3 of the California Health and Safety Code for calendar year 2024. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Resolution RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL ACKNOWLEDGING RECEIPT OF A REPORT MADE BY THE FIRE CHIEF/FIRE MARSHAL REGARDING THE FIRE PREVENTION INSPECTIONS OF CERTAIN OCCUPANCIES PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 13146.2 AND 13146.3 OF THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2024 WHEREAS, California Health & Safety Code Section 13146.4 was added in 2018, and became effective on September 27, 2018; and WHEREAS, California Health & Safety Code Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3 requires all fire departments, including the San Rafael Fire Department, that provide fire protection services to perform annual inspections in every building used as a public or private school, hotel, motel, lodging house, and apartment house compliance with building standards, as provided; and WHEREAS, California Health & Safety Code Section 13146.2 requires all fire departments, including the San Rafael Fire Department, that provide fire protection services to report annually to its administering authority on its compliance with Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of San Rafael intends this Resolution to fulfill the requirements of the California Health & Safety Code regarding acknowledgment of the San Rafael Fire Department’s compliance with California Health and Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL RESOLVES that it has received the annual inspection report required pursuant to Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3 of the California Health and Safety Code during calendar year 2024, as follows: A. EDUCATIONAL GROUP E OCCUPANCIES: Educational Group E occupancies are generally those public and private schools, used by more than six persons at any one time for educational purposes through the 12th grade. During calendar year 2024, the San Rafael Fire Department completed the annual inspections of Group E occupancies, buildings, structures and/or facilities. B. RESIDENTIAL GROUP R OCCUPANCIES: Residential Group R occupancies, for the purposes of this resolution, are generally those occupancies containing sleeping units, and include hotels, motels, apartments (three units or more), etc. as well as other residential occupancies (including several residential care facilities). These residential care facilities have a few different sub-classifications, and they may contain residents or clients that have a range of needs, including those related to custodial care, mobility impairments, cognitive disabilities, etc. The residents may also be non-ambulatory or bedridden. During calendar year 2024, the San Rafael Fire Department completed the annual inspections of the Group R occupancies, buildings, structures and/or facilities. I, Lindsay Lara, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of said City held on the 2nd day of June 2025 by the following vote, to wit: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: ____________________ LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk