Suisun City Municipal Code Ch. 15.60 Seismic Hazards Identification Program

It is found that in the event of a strong or moderate local earthquake, loss of life or serious injury may result from damage to or collapse of buildings in the city. It is generally acknowledged that Suisun City will experience earthquakes in the future due to its proximity to both the San Andreas and Hayward Faults. The purpose of this chapter is to promote public safety by identifying potentially hazardous buildings in Suisun City which are not earthquake resistant by reason of structural deficiencies. The city council finds that the existence and occupancy of potentially hazardous buildings constitute a threat to public safety in the event of earthquake of moderate to high magnitude. The city council finds that the public safety is served by identifying potentially hazardous buildings and for providing for notification of legal owners and their tenants that the building is considered to be one of general type that historically has exhibited little resistance to earthquake motion. Such a seismic hazards identification program is consistent with the State Unreinforced Masonry Law 1986.

(Ord. 583 § 1(part), 1990)

For the purpose of this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the meanings set out in this section:

A. "Bearing wall" means any wall supporting a floor or roof where the total superimposed load exceeds one hundred pounds per linear foot, or any unreinforced masonry wall supporting its own weight when over six feet in height.

B. "Civil engineer or structural engineer" means a licensed civil or structural engineer registered by the state of California pursuant to the rules and regulations of Title 16, Chapter 5 of the California Administrative Code.

C. "Unreinforced masonry (URM) building" means any building containing walls constructed wholly or partially with any of the following materials:

1. Unreinforced brick masonry;

2. Unreinforced concrete masonry;

3. Hollow clay tile;

4. Adobe or unburned clay masonry.

D. "Potentially hazardous building" means any building constructed prior to the adoption of local building codes requiring earthquake resistant design of buildings and constructed of unreinforced masonry wall construction. "Potentially hazardous building" includes all buildings of this type, including, but not limited to, public and private schools, theaters, places of public assembly, apartment building, hotel, motels, fire stations, police stations and buildings housing emergency services, equipment or supplies, such as government buildings, disaster relief centers, communications facilities, hospitals, blood banks, pharmaceutical supply warehouses, plants and retail outlets. "Potentially hazardous building" does not include warehouses or similar structures not used for human habitation, except for warehouses or structures housing emergency services equipment or supplies. "Potentially hazardous building" does not include any building having five living units or less. "Potentially hazardous building" does not include, for purposes of identification, any building which qualifies as "historical property" as determined by an appropriate governmental agency under Section 37602 of the Health and Safety Code.

(Ord. 583 § 1(part), 1990)

The building inspection department shall inspect all potentially hazardous buildings constructed of unreinforced masonry (URM) to create a list of potentially hazardous buildings which by nature or extent of structural deficiencies could result in collapse or partial collapse of the building or by nature or extent of deficiencies in anchoring of external hazards.

(Ord. 583 § 1(part), 1990)

The owners of buildings, except those designated as historic building, shall be notified within six months of enactment of the ordinance codified in this chapter by the building inspection department of the city that their building because of the nature or extent of structural deficiencies or deficiencies in anchoring which could result in collapse or partial collapse of the building in a moderate to severe earthquake.

(Ord. 583 § 1(part), 1990)

A. Notification of Building Tenants. A building owner shall notify all tenants, in writing, within thirty days of receipt the notice from the city, that their building may be potentially hazardous and is considered to be one of a general type that historically has exhibited little resistance to earthquake motion.

B. Notification of the City. A building owner shall provide copies of each letter sent to the tenants of buildings reported as potentially hazardous.

(Ord. 583 § 1(part), 1990)

The building official shall submit a semiannual report to the city council on the status of the seismic hazards identification program. The report shall include information regarding the number of buildings complying.

(Ord. 583 § 1(part), 1990)

The building official shall submit a report to the State Seismic Safety Commission which shall include the following:

A. A listing of the number of buildings identified and the total square footage and use of each building;

B. A summary of the mitigation program implemented by the city with copies of the program and any ordinances attached to the report;

C. A summary of the status of the mitigation program listing the number of building owners notified;

D. Suggestions regarding how the state program could be improved.

(Ord. 583 § 1(part), 1990)

A. It shall be unlawful for the owner of a building who has been notified that their building is potentially hazardous pursuant to Section 15.60.040, to fail to give notice to the tenants of the building that the building may be potentially hazardous as required by Section 15.60.050(A) and (B).

B. A building owner violating this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment in the Solano County Jail for a term not to exceed six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Such building owner is guilty of a separate offense for each and every day during any portion of which such violation of the chapter is committed, continued or permitted by such building owner.

(Ord. 583 § 1(part), 1990)