Coachella Municipal Code Ch. 15.53 Protection of Preformed Concrete Block

This chapter is adopted for the general welfare and safety of the property owners of the city in order to prevent the depreciation of property values and the elimination of economic loss to property owners of the city and to address the deteriorating block walls which have become a nuisance within the city. The high sulfate and selenium content of soil materials within the incorporated limits of the city requires that regulations and restrictions, in accordance with this chapter, be created and adopted pertaining to the placement and protection of all concrete block placed within the city which will or may come into contact with alkaline soils containing sulfates and selenium.

(Ord. No. 1147, § 5, 1-22-20)

The regulations and restrictions of this ordinance are placed upon all concrete block walls installed within the city in which the block units come into contact with alkaline soils containing sulfates and selenium.

(Ord. No. 1147, § 5, 1-22-20)

High sulfate and selenium content contained within soil within the Coachella city limits has eroded the low plasticity cement contained within concrete block units (CMU) and decomposed this block down to its aggregate content (ruble). This process has left the concrete block unable to maintain compressive strength and has reduced it to a pile of sand. These elements were deposited into the Coachella Valley soil during the cretaceous era by biological sedimentation and naturally break down the soil and clays here into sand and small sized gravel.

(Ord. No. 1147, § 5, 1-22-20)

The below requirement places a minimal financial burden on homeowners and contractors proposing the construction of block walls within the city jurisdiction and represents approximately one dollar ($1.00) to two dollars ($2.00) of added cost per linear foot of CMU construction. This financial consideration must be taken into account in the approval of this ordinance.

(Ord. No. 1147, § 5, 1-22-20)

All concrete block used within the city of Coachella, to construct retaining, freestanding separation, block fence and structural walls within the city jurisdiction shall be protected from sulfate and selenium erosion by use of rubberized, polymer or asphalt membrane which render the block contents impervious to water and deleterious soil elements. All walls will have added membrane protection from the top of the footing up to a level of eight inches above finished soil grade without interruption, including motor and head joints. Membrane shall consist of the liquid applied, surface bonding type, no preformed membrane papers will be allowed.

(Ord. No. 1147, § 5, 1-22-20)

Membrane material installed on walls within the city jurisdiction shall comply with California building code requirements contained in CBC 1805.3 and shall be of a type suitable for use with the type of preformed blocks applied to.

(Ord. No. 1147, § 5, 1-22-20)