HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02092010 - SD.3RECOMMENDATION(S):
1) OPEN the public hearing on Ordinance No. 2010-01, RECEIVE testimony, and CLOSE
the hearing.
2) ADOPT Ordinance No. 2010-01, which eliminates the requirement that an excess flow
gas shut-off device must be installed at each connection of a gas appliance within a
building.
3) FIND that adoption of the ordinance is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA
Guidelines section 15061(b)(3).
4) DIRECT staff to file a Notice of Exemption with the County Clerk.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 02/09/2010 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I
Supervisor
Gayle B. Uilkema, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Susan A. Bonilla, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: Jason Crapo
335-1108
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board
of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: February 9, 2010
David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: June McHuen, Deputy
cc:
SD. 3
To:Board of Supervisors
From:Catherine Kutsuris, Cons & Dev Director
Date:February 9, 2010
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:County Building Code Amendment Concerning Gas Shut-Off Devices
BACKGROUND:
The proposed amendment to existing County Code is intended to reduce the burden of
compliance on home owners and improve the rate of compliance with County Code
requirements while producing no discernable reduction in the public safety benefits of
County requirements.
Current County Code requires the installation of an approved seismic or excess gas flow
shut-off valve at the meter and excess gas flow shut-off valves at all gas appliances for
new buildings, major remodels of existing buildings, and at the time a sale of existing
buildings.
The Department of Conservation and Development (DCD) has received complaints that
the rate of compliance with existing County Code is low and that existing Code
requirements place an undue burden on home owners trying to sell their homes, which
has a negative effect on the timely completion of real estate transactions.
DCD has reviewed existing County Code requirements and various studies that have
been done by respected technical experts, such as the California Seismic Safety
Commission, the American Gas Association and the State Department of Housing and
Community Development. DCD has concluded that removing the requirement for
installation of excess gas flow shut-off valves at gas appliances will not reduce public
safety because installation of such devices is redundant with the required installation of a
seismic or excess gas flow shut-off valve at the main gas meter of the building.
Furthermore, elimination of the required installation of excess flow devices at all
appliances will reduce the cost and burden on home owners seeking to comply with
County Code upon selling their home. The intent of the proposed amendment is to
increase compliance with Code requirements, thereby improving the safety of buildings
that are in compliance, without reducing the public safety benefits of Code compliance.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
CLERK'S ADDENDUM
CLOSED the hearing; ADOPTED Ordinance No. 2010-01; FOUND that adoption of
the ordinance is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section
15061(b)(3); and DIRECTED staff to file a Notice of Exemption with the County Clerk.
ATTACHMENTS
Ordinance 2010-01