Richmond Municipal Code Ch. 6.42 Community Alert and Warning System

This chapter shall be known as the "Community Alert and Warning System Code," may be cited as such, and will be referred to herein as "this chapter."

This chapter is a technical code, as defined by Section 6.02.020 of this Code, and shall be administered and enforced pursuant to and in conjunction with the requirements of Chapter 6.02 of this Code.

This chapter recognizes the need for a coordinated and comprehensive system to alert citizens of Richmond about the occurrence of community-wide emergency situations. These emergencies could be in the form of chemical releases, earthquakes or similar situations which affect a large portion of the community. This chapter establishes requirements for installing reception devices in all newly constructed buildings and in connection with rehabilitation or expansion of existing buildings.

The following words and phrases, whenever used in this chapter, shall be construed as defined in this section:

(a) "Building Official" means the person defined as the "Building Official" by Section 6.02.020 of this Code.

(b) "Certificate of occupancy" means as defined by Section 6.02.240 of this Code.

(c) "City" means the City of Richmond, California.

(d) "New construction" means the original construction of any separate building or structure, for which a building permit is required by this Code.

(e) "Owner" means the person identified and listed as having title to the property by the latest property tax assessment rolls maintained by the Contra Costa County Assessor and any authorized agent thereof.

(f) "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation or association.

(g) "Property" means any real property interest or estate which may be granted or devised by deed. The word property includes: tracts, lots, easements or parcels of land and any and all improvements thereon.

(h) "Substantial rehabilitation" means rehabilitation or repair of, or improvement to any building or structure for which a building permit is required by this Code, provided that the rehabilitation, repair or improvement affects or involves more than 50 percent of the gross floor area of the building or structure or increases the gross floor area of the existing building or structure by more than 50 percent.

(i) "This Code" means the municipal code of the City of Richmond.

(j) "Tone alert" means data and audio broadcast over an FM broadcast station and radio frequency intended to advise the general public that an emergency situation has occurred, and that certain predetermined protection strategies are advised.

(k) "Tone alert receiver" means an installed radio receiver: tuned to one of a number of FM broadcast frequencies frequency; powered through a regular 110 volt electrical outlet with battery power backup which automatically becomes active in the event of electrical power failure; and when activated by the tone alert, is capable of broadcasting emergency information.

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the application for and issuance of any building permit for new construction of any building or structure and any building permit for substantial rehabilitation of any building or structure within the City.

In connection with the new construction of any building or structure or with the substantial rehabilitation of any building or structure, the owner of the property on which the new construction or substantial rehabilitation occurs shall install or cause to be installed a tone alert receiver.

(a) The Building Official shall not accept any application for a building permit or issue any building permit for new construction or for substantial rehabilitation of any building or structure unless the application and permit include provisions for the installation of a tone alert receiver.

(b) The Building Official shall not give final approval to work done under any building permit for new construction or for substantial rehabilitation of any building or structure nor shall the Building Official issue any certificate of occupancy for such building or structure unless installation of a tone alert receiver is complete and the tone alert receiver, with a cost not exceeding $115.00, is in operational condition.

The owner of any building or structure in which a tone alert receiver has been installed pursuant to this chapter shall regularly maintain the tone alert receiver and ensure that it remains in good repair and in operational condition at all times.

(Source: Ordinance No. 6-96 N.S.)