The City Engineer, Building Inspector, Superintendent of the Bureau of Water Distribution and the Arson and Fire Prevention Bureau are hereby authorized to inform all parties applying for building permits for new construction, additions to present buildings or additional new construction of the following: All commercial and industrial establishments, mercantile, educational and institutional occupancy, places of assembly, hotels, motels, multi-family dwellings, dwelling groups (i.e.: apartments, condominium. and cluster developments), mobile trailer home sites and trailer sites shall show on their construction plans placement of hydrants and size of water mains according to the following specifications:
(a) A minimum of two hydrants within 500 feet of any building, mobile home or trailer;
(b) No part of a building shall be more than 300 feet from a hydrant;
(c) Hydrants, including the installation, construction and repair and maintenance thereof shall meet City specifications and standards, and all applicable laws and regulations;
(d) Size of mains, as follows:
(1) Minimum size shall be eight inches;
(2) Main structure shall be grid connected if possible; grid connector minimum shall be six inches;
(3) The location of fire hydrants on both public and private property shall be approved by the Fire Chief before a building permit is issued;
(e) All hydrants and water mains installed, constructed, or maintained on private real property within the City shall have legal rights-of-way (e.g. easements to the City) and procedures as approved by the City necessary for the proper maintenance, repair and control thereof. The City shall have the right to enter upon any real property containing private hydrants and water mains whenever the Safety-Service Director, in his or her sole discretion, determines that it is necessary for the health, safety and welfare of the public to maintain or repair any hydrant or water main on private property. The cost of any such maintenance or repair shall be done at the expense of the owner of the real property.
(f) Driveway arrangement shall be designed so that fire equipment can reach hydrants at all times by the use of such drives.
(g) The centerline of hydrants shall be located not less than two feet, six inches and not more than six feet from the back of the street curb or from the paved surface of the driveway or parking area Such distance may be exceeded only if the Safety-Service Director finds the locations to be impractical.
(h) Unless exempted by the Director, mobile home parks and building complexes under one ownership, which require six or more fire hydrants, shall be on a looped system with two connection points to City water mains.
(i) When an existing fire hydrant is located within 1,000 feet of the farthest point of a proposed new structure, as measured along the usable path for laying a fire hose, a building permit for a nonresidential structure may be issued after Council has authorized a contract for the construction of a water main, or a developer has posted a bond with the City covering the construction of a proposed water main, or if the site plan of the proposed new structure includes a water main extension and fire hydrants at locations meeting the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) hereof. No building shall be utilized or otherwise occupied until the hydrants required by subsections (a) and (b) hereof are in service.
The distances specified in subsections (a) and (b) hereof shall be measured along the routes of travel of fire apparatus, or along the route that the fire hose would be laid as appropriately determined by the Fire Chief or his or her representative.
(Ord. 84-97. Passed 4-16-84; Ord. 2004-50. Passed 4-5-04.)