(A) Authority to design; maintenance responsibility. The Fire Marshal, or his or her designee, is authorized to designate fire lanes on the property of shopping centers and other private or public property, as defined in this section, where such areas must be kept free of parked vehicles and other obstructions to provide ready access in such areas in case of fire or other emergency. The designation by the Fire Marshal of such fire lanes shall never be held to make the city responsible for the maintenance of such fire lanes on private property, but the owner of such property shall continue to be responsible for the maintenance of such area. The official records of the designation and location of any such fire lanes shall be kept in the office of the Fire Marshal.
(B) Construction on private property; shopping center construction. Before site plans of proposed shopping center construction or construction on private property, as defined in this chapter, are submitted to the Building Inspection Department for issuance of building permits, such plans shall be submitted to the Fire Marshal for his or her review and approval of the adequacy of the fire lanes provided therefor. The specific requirements of this section as applicable to a specific structure may be modified by the Fire Marshal in recognition of varying occupancies, size and a hazard of buildings and the provision of other means of access or fixed fire protection.
(C) Submission of site plan to Fire Marshal. The Fire Marshal, or his or her designee, may require the owners of existing shopping centers and existing facilities on private property, as defined in this chapter, to submit site plans for his or her use in determining whether to designate fire lanes on the property. The Fire Marshal may require that the fire lane for existing buildings be established to provide access for fire suppression operations by improving existing conditions. Fire lanes established for new and existing structures shall conform to fire lane requirements applicable at the time of construction. If no fire lane requirements were applicable at the time of construction, the Fire Marshal, or designee, may require establishment of fire lanes to conform with the requirements of this section, insofar as is practicable without requiring any construction, structural modification or substantial financial hardship.
(D) Parking signs - posting required; parking in posted area prohibited; exemption. Upon the designation of a fire lane pursuant to this section, the Fire Marshal, or his or her designee, shall give notice of such designation to the owner of such shopping center and other areas, as defined in this section, directing the owner to cause signs to be posted, at the expense of the owner, at designated locations, littered, “No Parking At Any Time - Fire Lane (Tow Away Zone)”. Such signs shall be of a standard size and color, of standard lettering and mounting, conforming to specifications established by the Traffic Engineer and Fire Marshal, and their designees. It is unlawful to park any vehicle other than authorized emergency vehicles in a designated fire lane when such signs are in place.
(E) Unlawful to park; exemption. It is unlawful to park any vehicle other than an authorized emergency vehicle in any fire lane established pursuant to this section except as may be specifically permitted by the Fire Marshal, or his or her designee (i.e., an armored vehicle may park in the fire lane for brief periods of time during the performance of his or her duty after obtaining a permit from the Fire Marshal’s office).
(F) Towing authorized. Unauthorized vehicles parked in designated fire lanes that block Fire Department or other emergency vehicle’s access may be towed at owner’s expense to a designated storage facility by the authority of the Fire Marshal, or his or her designee City Police Department.
(G) No parking signs - removal declared unlawful. It is unlawful for any person, without lawful authority, to attempt to remove any signs designating a fire lane established pursuant to this section.
(H) Display of unauthorized signs unlawful; declaration of nuisance. It is unlawful for any person to place, maintain or display any unauthorized sign that purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles an official sign designating a fire lane. Every such prohibited sign is declared to be a public nuisance, and the Fire Marshal is empowered to remove the same or cause it to be removed. Undesignated fire lanes in compliance with the fire lane requirements shall meet the stipulations of other sections and of this section. Failure to comply with proper fire lane establishment procedures shall, in addition to this section, be prosecuted according to the limitations of this chapter.
(I) Fire lane standards. Fire lanes designated by the City Police Department, in accordance to all city standards, shall be posted in the following manner.
(1) Curb markings include the following.
(a) The curb adjacent to an officially designated fire lane shall be painted red.
(b) The legend “FIRE LANE” shall be stenciled in white with four-inch uppercase letters on the top and face of the curb adjacent to a fire lane. This legend shall be repeated at intervals of 50 feet.
(c) No parking areas not officially designated as fire lanes shall not be painted red or marked in such a fashion as to be confused with an official fire lane.
(2) Signs include the following.
(a) The standard color of an official fire lane sign shall be as follows.
1. The background shall be reflective white.
2. The lettering and border shall be red.
3. The standard legend and lettering of an official fire lane shall be as shown on the attached drawing (see Appendix F, attached to the ordinance incorporated herein).
(b) The standard fire lane sign shall be posted as follows.
1. One sign shall be posted at each end of an official fire lane. Each sign shall have a single head arrow showing the appropriate direction of the fire lane.
2. A fire lane longer than 150 feet shall have intermediate signs posted at even intervals. Intermediate signs shall have a double head arrow indicating the fire lane is continuous. The intermediate signs may be posted as necessary, but in no case shall the intervals between fire lane signs be greater than 100 feet.
3. The fire lane sign shall be securely fastened to a suitable pole or support, with a minimum vertical clearance above the sidewalk of seven feet.
4. When poles are used to mount fire lane signs, they shall be placed two feet and six inches behind the face of the curb. In accordance with the Uniform Fire Code, no pole or obstruction may be placed within three feet of a fire hydrant.
5. Fire lane signs shall be posted parallel to the lane or curb to which they apply.
6. When the distance between the curb and a building, light standard or other structure is eight feet or less, the fire lane signs may be posted on the face of the building, light standard or other structure. The bottom of the sign shall be located seven feet above the adjacent sidewalk.
(Ord. 2010-018, passed - -) Penalty, see § 150.999