A. Government Code sections 50022.1 et seq., provide that ordinances and codes of the federal, state or any agency of either of them may be adopted by reference, provided that prior to such adoption by reference a noticed public hearing has been held.
B. Pursuant to section 17958.5 of the Health and Safety Code of the State of California, The Town Council of the Town of Yucca Valley hereby finds that the amendments of the building standards contained in the California Building Code, volumes 1, 2, 2019 Edition are necessary due to:
1. Local Climatic Conditions:
a. The Town is subject to extremely strong winds, commonly known as "Santa Ana Winds" which can reach speeds in excess of ninety (90) miles per hour. Extensive damage frequently accompanies these winds, such as blowing sand and debris, downed power lines, fallen trees, overturned vehicles and structural damage to buildings. These conditions result in increased demand for fire services, blocked or delayed emergency vehicle access and impaired water supplies and building emergency systems.
b. During the summer months, the Santa Ana Winds may produce periods of extremely low humidity, thereby reducing the fuels moisture and increasing the possibility and severity of fire from dry vegetation and other common combustibles.
c. During the summer months, much of the Town experiences prolonged periods of temperatures in excess of one hundred degrees Fahrenheit (100°F). When coupled with sustained severe Santa Ana Winds, an increase in the threat from rapidly moving wildfires exists.
d. During the winter months, heavy rains routinely cause damage to roadways rendering them completely impassible, or with limited access, sometimes for extended periods.
e. During winter months, heavy snow and ice conditions exist in the mountain areas resulting in increased demand for fire services and limiting or delaying emergency vehicle access. In some cases, emergency vehicle access roads are completely impassible, or have limited access, sometimes for extended periods.
2. Local Geological Conditions:
a. The Town is subject to moderately strong to severe shaking and surface ruptures resulting from known earthquake faults located within or near the Town. These local earthquake faults have the potential to cause severe personal and property damage, utility interruptions, fire hazards and hazardous materials releases. Additionally, significant roadway, bridge structure, water supply and communications systems are subject to failure, thereby causing a detriment to emergency services response.
b. Unstable slopes in several areas throughout the Town have experienced soil movement as a result of heavy or soaking rains, resulting in damage to roadways, structures and utilities.
c. Some desert areas of the Town have limited aquifers, exceptionally deep aquifers or aquifers providing only brackish or contaminated water supplies. These limits, or in some cases eliminates, water supplies available for firefighting purposes.
3. Local Topographical Conditions:
a. The Town encompasses an area with limited access routes connecting valley, mountain and desert areas. This distance, combined with these limited access routes, results in delays in the reallocation of resources to emergency scenes.
b. The topography of the Town is exceptionally diverse, ranging from relatively flat desert and valley areas, to foothill areas, and canyon areas. This results in some areas that are inaccessible to radio communications, which hampers emergency response capabilities.
c. The diverse topography of the Town results in many areas having limited, unreliable or unavailable water supplies available for firefighting purposes.
C. Copies of these codes and standards were filed with the office of the Town Clerk fifteen (15) days prior to the noticed hearing.
D. A noticed public hearing has been held by the Town Council, at which time all interested persons had the opportunity to appear and be heard on the matter of adopting by reference the current editions of certain model codes, as follows:
1. California Building Code, 2022 Edition, volumes 1, 2 with Appendix F, G, H, I, J, N.
2. California Residential Building Code, 2022 Edition with Appendices.
3. California Mechanical Code, 2019 Edition with Appendix and Standards.
4. California Plumbing Code 2019 Edition with Appendix H.
5. California Electrical Code, 2022 Edition.
6. California Green Building Code, 2022 Edition.
7. California Energy Code, 2022 Edition.
8. California Historic Building Code, 2022 Edition.
9. California Fire Code, 2022 Edition.
10. California Administrative Code, 2022 Edition.
11. The 2021 International Property Maintenance Code.
E. Pursuant to section 17958.5 of the Health and Safety Code of the State of California, The Town Council of the Town of Yucca Valley hereby finds that the amendments of the building standards contained in the California Building Code, volumes 1, 2, 2022 Edition are necessary due to past earthquakes (Landers 1992) and the inherent run off problems incurred with severe thunderstorm activity and flooding due to the Town's desert location. (Ord. 262, 1-17-2017; amd. Ord. 287, 11-19-2019; Ord. 303, 11-15-2022)