06-08-10 Public Safety CommitteeMinutes
Public Safety Committee Meeting
June 8, 2010
Elected Officials Present: Council Member D. J. Wilson, Committee
Chair
Council Member Adrienne Fraley-Monillas
Staff Present: Municipal Court Judge Douglas J. Fair
Fire Marshal John Westfall
The meeting was called to order by Chair Wilson at 6:45 p.m. The Committee
and Fire Marshal Westfall allowed Judge Fair to proceed first, as his item was
also being heard by the Finance Committee.
B. Proposed Interlocal Agreement with the City of Lynnwood for Video
Court Hearings
Judge Fair presented the proposed interlocal agreement with the City of
Lynnwood. Under the agreement Lynnwood would use Edmonds court facilities
and video equipment for in custody hearings for Lynnwood prisoners at
Snohomish County Jail. Judge Fair cited costs and security issues when
prisoners need to be transported between jail and court. Councilmember Wilson
suggested that liability be addressed for any damages to equipment as part of
the agreement. Judge Fair agreed to add a clause to the agreement. The
videotaping will not commence until August. The Public Safety Committee
agreed by a vote of 2-0 to move this item to City Council consent agenda.
Action: Forward to City Council Consent Agenda with a recommendation to
approve.
A. Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems (RFSS) options discussion.
All modifications to requirements for construction for residential dwellings is
directed by the International Residential Code (IRC) through the State Building
Code Council. IRC Appendix S permits every Washington State city and county
to set threshold for installation of fire sprinklers in new home construction. Fire
code currently allows requirement of residential sprinklers when public water
availability, size of structure and setback from public access do not meet
minimum standards.
Thresholds were presented in code formatted language by FM Westfall as
directed by Public Safety Committee for; 1) all new dwelling construction, 2)
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June 8, 2010
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3,000 square feet (s.f.) dwellings and greater, and 3) 5,000 s.f. and greater
construction.
Councilmember Wilson asked regarding addition/remodel requirements to be
included with ordinance. FM Westfall had discussed with Planning Manager Rob
Chave and Building Official Leonard Yarberry in that regard. A variety of
"triggers" may be used for remodel thresholds for dwellings including; additions of
any size of fire area, additions whenever greater than a threshold limit, additions
greater than a percentage of square footage, and remodel/addition projects as a
percentage of the structure's assessed valuation sometimes calculated over a
period of months or years. All of these means are employed by other Washington
cities with their sprinkler ordinances. FM Westfall suggested that if a
addition/remodel requirement is utilized, that it be simple to use and available
through projects in design phase. Easy calculations both for applicant and
development services personnel speed the administration of the permit. A
reliable, objective threshold provides little or no variability for argument. Staff
recommends a solid threshold matching the addition for all residential projects
greater than the threshold limit decided for new construction.
Councilmember Fraley-Monillas believes this will be unfavorable when such a
great rate of upgrade is disproportionate to a small amount of work performed.
Councilmember Wilson concurred. FM Westfall will prepare the ordinances
without addition/remodel thresholds.
With the approval of a RFSS ordinance by IRC Appendix S, FM Westfall
identified a gapped sprinkler protection for Townhouses less than five units,
currently the multi -unit threshold for IRC townhouses from Title 19.25.040 ECDC.
This gapped range of townhouse construction provides the "affordability" area of
development. Small multiple builders of the community directly expressed
concerns about zero threshold sprinkler requirements in all residential projects in
the current state of economy.
At least one state is delaying implementation of state-wide RFSS requirements
until 1/1/2012, until the economy improves.
Previous committee discussions suggested incentives through creative
management of traffic impact fees to provide developers with later deadline in
which to pay impact fees and more interest -bearing time for developer. FM
Westfall recommends that RFSS incentives apply to single-family builders and
relate directly or indirectly to fire protection concerns for the structure. Efforts
continue to identify local incentives including design standard changes and
reduction of water service costs. State and federal income tax efforts are also
being pursued by fire prevention advocates.
In July the Council will be involved with mayoral selections. Councilmember
Wilson directed FM Westfall to bring RFSS item back for August Public Safety
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Committee meeting. He asked for a list of names and addresses of the
stakeholder groups, including representatives from State and county Fire Chiefs,
Fire Marshals, Master Builders, local builder/developers, firefighter's labor union,
and industry professionals. Letters will be sent for invitation to the forum during
this August 10 meeting. Three options will be provided for new residential fire
sprinkler system at the three threshold levels without remodel requirements. Here
we intend to find agreement to serve the best interests of the Edmonds
community.
Action: Staff was directed to bring this item back to the August Public Safety
Committee meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
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June 8, 2010
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