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January 1, 2017 whether adopted by Redwood City or not. Therefore it is important that <br />the proposed ordinances containing the city’s local amendments be adopted. These <br />Redwood City amendments are necessary to account for local climatic, geological, or <br />topographical conditions. <br /> <br />Examples of these amendments are the code sections addressing Younger Bay Mud, <br />which is found in Redwood Shores. Additionally, the Board of Building Review has <br />requested, and staff supports, the continued adoption of local amendments generally <br />improving the quality of construction for residential projects. The Board requested that <br />amendments be included to address the maintenance of balconies to prevent <br />collapse, and seismic upgrades of unreinforced masonry, tilt-up and soft story <br />buildings to prevent collapse during an earthquake. These are supported with findings <br />related to the City’s location within a seismically active zone and an area of high fire <br />susceptibility. <br /> <br />There are changes between the City’s current codes and the codes proposed to be <br />adopted including the local amendments. The 2016 local amendments may only be <br />more restrictive, not less, than the state codes. Local amendments dealing with <br />foundations and wall construction are stricter than the state code, so they will remain in <br />the City’s code. There are other amendments that deal with administrative and other <br />issues, such as times allowed for construction, a re-inspection fee (for inspections that <br />are unnecessarily called for when not ready), maintenance of balconies (because of the <br />tragic balcony collapse in Berkeley), upgrades of dangerous unreinforced masonry, soft <br />story and tilt-up buildings, standards for certain code sections and to enhanced <br />clarification through definitions. Additionally, an ordinance amending Sections 9.7 and <br />9.15 of Chapter 9 of the Redwood City Municipal Code makes minor revisions updating <br />provisions governing notice to abate nuisances and effects on the building code. <br /> <br />With this code adoption cycle staff is not recommending the City pursue green <br />building standards beyond those required by CAL Green, which is state law. State Law <br />now has a higher level of green building standards than the City’s previously adopted <br />green building code. Furthermore, the State Law helps standardize codes across all <br />cities. <br /> <br />ALTERNATIVES <br />1. Do not adopt the local amendments to the state codes which will result in <br />Redwood City being regulated by the state codes as adopted by the State <br />of California. <br />2. Direct staff to further review the proposed ordinance based upon <br />public comments. <br /> <br />FISCAL IMPACT <br />6.4.B. - Page 3