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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 05092006 - SD.4 r . --r TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS '%�- j• - _=�• Contra Costa FROM: SUPERVISOR JOHN GIOIA : ,�: .�;s County SUPERVISOR FEDERAL GLOVER Sra coiici'�'t DATE: May 2, 2006 -SUBJECT: ORDINANCE REQUIRING GAS SHUT-OFF DEVICES FOR ALL BUILDINGS PRIOR TO CLOSE OF ESCROW SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS DIRECT the Director of the Building Inspection Department and the County Counsel to draft an ordinance to: a)require gas shut-off devices on all buildings prior to close of escrow when an escrow agreement has been executed in connection with a sale;and b)amend the Contra Costa County Gas Shut-off Devices Ordinance 2004-27 to require gas shut-off devices for alterations or additions valued at more-than $10,000 instead of$50,000. FISCAL IMPACT None CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY AD STRATOR RECOM E DATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE � E SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD OW APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED �OTHERk. VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE ABSENT: ABSTAIN: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Contact: Carlos Baltodano 335-1108 � ATTESTED: ,1.- yen!:" cc: Building Inspection John Cullen,C rk of oard of Supervisors County Administrator and CountyiministrVor County Counsel Community Development Public Works BYT_Y/,.., ____._ CB:nr OV \bdord\gas shut-off devices 2006 �. Gas Shut-Off Devices May 2, 2006 Page Two On July 13, 2004 the Board of Supervisors approved Ordinance 2004-27 requiring gas shut-off devices at gas appliances in certain new construction and remodeling of structures in the unincorporated area. This ordinance amended the original gas shut-off devices approved by the Board in 2000 (Ordinance 2000-11), requiring that gas shut-off devices be installed at gas utility meters.. The amended ordinance now requires the installation of excess flow gas shut-off devices (non-motion sensitive) at each connection of a gas appliance to a gas line. A number of cities in Contra Costa County and around the state have adopted similar ordinances. Ordinance 2000-11 allows the homeowner or developer to choose from two different types of devices that are on the market. One is known as "seismic gas shut-off device" or"Earthquake Gas Shut-off Valve (EQGSV)". This device shuts off the gas at the meter when activated by a seismic event 5.1 or greater on the Richter scale. The other type of device, known as low pressure Excess Flow Valve(EXFV)controls and shuts off the flow of gas into all the pipes in the house in the event of a pipe break on any gas pipe in the structure. These valves provide 24-hour protection and automatically reset after a gas line has been repaired. Both of these valves are designed to be installed between the gas meter and the gas piping entering into the structure. The excess flow valves are also required by the County of Contra Costa to be installed at the point of the appliance. Natural gas explosions in apartments or homes are not unusual occurrences. A Housing and Urban Development(HUD)report in October 2001 states that on average 400 homes per year are destroyed due to natural gas explosions and fires. The National Fire Protection Agency, in its "U.S. Home Report— 1993— 1997" determined that natural gas accounts for an annual average of 5,700 home fires, including 385 casualties, and up to $50 million in property damage. At the recent Association of Bay Area Governments 100th Anniversary Earthquake Conference,the issue of fire danger after a major earthquake was discussed. Most of the damage after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake was due to fire rather than the ground shaking itself. Experts predict that a major earthquake would trigger many gas line breaks with resulting fires. It is estimated that natural gas is used by as least 80% of the California population, especially in urban areas. If we add the additional fact that the United States Geological Society(USGS)predicts a 70%chance of at least one earthquake of 6.7 or greater in the Bay Area before 2030,then the issue of potential explosions caused.by disconnected or broken gas lines becomes an even greater problem. Presently the County ordinance requires that these gas shut-off devices be installed in any new building and on additions/alterations where the cost is more than $50,000. Both the City of Los Angeles and City of Martinez have lowered.this construction threshold to $10,000. This provides additional protection for more property owners. In the City of Los Angeles all buildings sold after January 10, 1998 are required to install a seismic gas shut-off valve prior to entering into an agreement of sale, or prior to closing of escrow when an escrow agreement has been executed in connection with the sale. Staff is directed to research lowering the value of the construction threshold to $10,000 and the implications of requiring gas shut-off devices both at the meter and throughout the structure at the point of all appliances. SDA ADDENDUM May 9,2006 The Board considered directing the Building Inspection Director, in consultation with the County Counsel, to draft an ordinance to require gas shut-off devices on all buildings prior to close of escrow when an escrow agreement has been executed in connection with a sale and to amend the Contra Costa County Gas Shut-off Devices Ordinance 2004-27 to require gas shut-off devices for alterations or additions valued at more than $10,000 instead of$50,000. The Chair invited public comment on the matter. The following people spoke: Ron Walker, on behalf of the firefighters of Contra Costa County; Ralph Hoffman, resident of Contra Costa County. By an unanimous vote with noe absent,the Board of Supervisors too the following action: ADOPTED the recommendations and FURTHER DIRECTED the Building Inspection Department to return to the Board with an outreach plan to investigate methods of facilitating installation of the devices for homeowners not doing additions or selling their homes, and information on the expected device installation at the time of home turnovers. The Chair noted that this issue would be appropriate for discussion at the City/County Relations Committeee. REQUEST TO SPEAK FORM / S (THREE (3) MINUTE LIMIT) v Complete this form and place it in the box near the speakers' rostrum before addressing the Board. 1 � Name: &/VJ) Phone: Address: b lic r-ty- `�� City: -Paor71 i44tj (Address and phone number arb optional;please note that this card will become a public record kept on file with the Clerk of the Board in association with this meeting) I am speaking for myself or organization: 59Y L i-te CH CK ONE: I wish to speak on Agenda Item # Date: ' , 2 My comments will be: ❑ General ❑ For Against ❑ 1 wish to speak on the subject of: ❑ I do not wish to speak but would like to leave these comments for the Board to consider: Please see reverse for instructions and important information INFORMATION FOR SPEAKERS: } 1. Deposit this form in the box next to the spoaker's rostrum before.Your-agenda item is to be considered. of 2. You will be called on to mlake your presentation. Please speak into the microphone at the podium. �I I,h 3. Begin by stating your name and address, and whether you are speaking for yourself or as the representative of`an organization. V 4. .If available, ive the Clerk) copy a co of our �'resentation or support documentation before 9 Y speaking. 5. Limit your presentation to three minutes. Avoid repeating comments made by previous speakers. (The Chair may limit length of presentations so all persons may be heard.) 6. Please note that this form will become.a matter of public record and will be kept on file at the office of the Clerk of the Board,=along with the other meeting materials. ii u IE . i 11 KtUutti t 1 u bt'tHN ruKlvl / G� (THREE (3) MINUTE LIMIT) V/ Complete this form and place it in the box near the speakers' rostrum before addressing the Board. Name: Phone: q ZS --710 6 —' t 2 yq Address: 1 ( 2 9WC— ktboE I�2tVE- city: (Address and phone number are optional; please note that this card wi'l become a public record kept on file with the Clerk of the Board in association with this meeting) I am speaking for myself or organization: fJ RSI COS f CO(J " f �9T6"2--5 CHECK ONE: L-6 C,-�- L— I �� O I wish to speak on Agenda Item # Date: q q ZaZ My comments will be: ❑ General ZFor ❑ Against ❑ I wish to speak on the subject of: ❑ I do not wish to speak but would like to leave these comments for the Board to consider: Please see reverse for instructions and impoifant information INFORMATION FOR SPEAKERS: 1. Deposit this form in the boxl;next to the speaker's rostrum before your agenda item is to be considered. 2. You will be called on to make your presentation..Please speak into the microphone at the podium. 3. Begin by stating your name and address, and. whether you are speaking for yourself or as the representative of an organisation. 4. If available, give the Clerk aj copy of your presentation or support documentation before speaking. 5. Limit your presentation to three minutes. Avoid repeating comments made by previous speakers. (The Chair may limit length of presentations so all persons may be heard.) i , 6. Please note that this form will become a matter of public record and will be kept on file at the office of the Clerk of the Board along with the other meeting materials.