Title
First Reading of an Ordinance of the City of San Leandro City Council Amending San Leandro Municipal Code Title 7 (Maps, Buildings, and Subdivisions) by Adding Article 16 (Earthquake Hazard Reduction in Existing Soft-Story Residential Buildings) to Chapter 7-5 (Building Code)
Staffreport
COUNCIL PRIORITY
* Housing and Homelessness
* Sustainability and Resiliency
SUMMARY
The City of San Leandro is located within the active Hayward Fault seismic zone and contains 368 identified soft-story buildings which are primarily residential. Soft-story buildings contain weak or open front ground floor stories that are recognized by engineers, and other seismic safety experts, as having potential for sustaining serious damage including collapse, in the event of a strong earthquake. The creation of a Soft Story Ordinance is a City Council priority. A new section of the Municipal Code is presented for first reading by adding a new Article 16 (Earthquake Hazard Reduction in Existing Soft-Story Residential Buildings) to Chapter 7-5 (Building Code) in the Municipal Code Title 7 (Maps, Buildings, and Subdivisions). The intent of the new ordinance is to implement a mandatory seismic hazard identification and mitigation program to investigate and correct the potential seismic hazards of certain residential and commercial buildings in a timely manner.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council introduce an Ordinance amending the Municipal Code, as shown in Attachment A, Exhibit A.
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The California Health and Safety Code expressly authorizes local jurisdictions to adopt retrofit standards for soft-story residential buildings. Buildings with soft, weak or open front ground floor stories are recognized by engineers, and other seismic safety experts, as having potential for sustaining serious damage including collapse, in the event of strong earthquakes. Potential consequences of soft story building collapses include injuries and fatalities, loss...
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