PSPP041018PUBLIC SAFETY, PERSONNEL AND PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
March 13, 2018
Elected Officials Present
Councilmember Tom Mesaros (Chair)
Councilmember Adrienne Fraley-Monillas
Others Guests Present
Noal Leonetti, Student Representative
Kevin Zweber, Assistant Chief - Fire
Prevention, Fire Marshal
Staff Present
Jim Lawless, Assistant Police Chief
Shane Hope, Development Services Director
Leif Bjorback, Building Official
The meeting was called to order at 7:08 p.m. in the Police Training Room.
1. Proposed Mid -Cycle Building and Fire Code Amendment
Assistant Chief Zweber reviewed the objectives. Mr. Bjorback highlighted the relationship between the
International Building Code (IBC) and International Fire Codes (IFC). Assistant Chief Zweber provided
an overview of the amendment:
• Requirement in IBC and IFC for automatic fire sprinklers and fire alarms
• State and local jurisdictions have authority to create amendments of the international codes for
local control
• This proposal would:
o Lower commercial fire sprinkler threshold in some cases from 12,000 square feet to 5,000
square feet
o Set fire alarm threshold at 3,000 square feet
o Adopt two additional appendices in the IFC, one related to fire sprinkler maintenance and
the other to fire protection features in high rise building
o Modify private and public hydrant spacing language
o Reduce distance between a fire department connection and its dedicated fire hydrant
• Proposed fire sprinkler would only affect a small number of new buildings, those between
5,000 and 12,000 square feet and affect a smaller number of existing buildings (at the time of
addition or renovation). Some occupancies require fire sprinkler and fire alarms based on
occupant load not square footage
• Fire sprinklers relatively inexpensive compared to total cost of building, approximately $2.50 -
$6.50/square foot depending on size and type of system
• The City's general facilities charge (CGF) does not apply to commercial fire sprinkler
connections
• Proposed fire alarm requirement only affects structures or occupancies 3,000 to 5,000 square
feet (if fire sprinkler portion is adopted)
• Proposal does not affect: large mixed-use bldgs., apartments or condos, school, high -hazard,
institutional and large medical/mercantile or business occupancies
• Proposal does not affect 1-2 family dwellings except where the structure is over 500 feet from
a fire hydrant. This is an alternative to requiring additional fire hydrant(s) which are very
expensive to install
Assistant Chief Zweber described automatic fire sprinklers (a network of valves connected by pipes);
the benefits of fire sprinklers; Fire Department Connections (a dry piping system that supplements a
fire sprinkler and/or standpipe system); what automatic fire alarms and detection systems are, how
they work and their benefits; and public and private fire hydrants. He displayed a surveillance video of
a fire in Spokane, identifying signs of fire (00:17), enough smoke to activate alarm system (01:16),
04/10/18 PSPP Committee Minutes, Page 2
sprinklers activation (12:30), fire noticed by a civilian (16:54), and fire department arrives (21:02). He
summarized the benefit of a combination of sprinklers and fire alarms for early notification of
occupants and the fire department.
Assistant Chief Zweber reviewed other jurisdictions' fire sprinkler, fire alarm, and townhome
thresholds, and whether area separation was allowed. Mr. Bjorback commented on the proposed
change to the building code regarding area separation within a building to avoid partial systems.
Assistant Chief Zweber commented on the dangers of partial systems. He concluded the importance
of automatic fire sprinklers and fire alarms cannot be stressed enough. The benefits far outweigh the
cost.
Discussion followed regarding ability for fire sprinklers to contain a fire, private hydrants in commercial
buildings, type of building in the video, timing of updates of the Building and Fire Code, impacts on
existing buildings, number of projects that will be impacted, interest in reducing the existing 3,000
square foot requirement for sprinklers in residential, effect of the proposed changes on commercial
buildings only, and requirements in other cities.
Action: Schedule for full Council, educational opportunity
2. Amendments to ECC 8.48 to Address Parking Regulation Issues
Assistant Chief Lawless explained as a result of Council mandated changes to the on -street parking
configuration on Sunset Avenue, modifications/amendments to ECC 8.48 need to be made for those
changes to be legally enforceable. Once the changes are adopted, signage and roadway markings
will be installed. He highlighted amendments that would be applicable in areas other than Sunset
(marking on walkways and disabled parking). A brief discussion followed regarding developing
regulations regarding noise/behavior while parking.
Action: Schedule on Consent Agenda
3. Agreement with Snohomish County for Flex Funds for Social Worker Program
Assistant Chief Lawless recalled $50,000 was allocated in the 2017 budget for a social worker
position. The position was filled in the fourth quarter of 2017; the social worker is employed by and
shared with Lynnwood. No funding was allocated to assist the social worker when needs are identified
such as temporary housing, getting people into treatment, etc. Funds are available through the
Snohomish County Department of Human Services' First Responders Flex Fund. The amount of this
year's grant is $7,114 and will be retroactive to January 1, 2018 for reimbursable expenses. There
may be additional funds available through this source. He acknowledged this was a short-term
solution; other options included establishing a donation fund.
Discussion followed regarding additional funds that may be provided via the Opioid Response Fund.
Action: Schedule on Consent Agenda
4. Ordinance Amending 5.34 (Domestic Violence)
Assistant Chief Lawless explained the attached ordinance amends Edmonds City Code 5.34 by
adding several new subsections and defining the new crimes of "Strangulation" and "Exposing
Children to Domestic Violence", both of which would be classified as Gross Misdemeanors.
Action: Schedule on Consent Agenda
The meeting was adjourned at 7:57 p.m