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ORDINANCE 585 <br />AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS AMENDING <br />CHAPTERS 1 THROUGH 1.11 OF TITLE VIII OF THE LOS ALTOS <br />HILLS MUNICIPAL CODE WHICH ADOPTS AND AMENDS BY <br />REFERENCE PROVISIONS OF THE 2019 CALIFORNIA BUILDING <br />STANDARDS CODE AND LOCAL CODE AMENDMENTS <br />WHEREAS, the 2019 Edition of the California Building Standards Code has been amended and <br />adopted by the California Building Standards Commission; and <br />WHEREAS, the Town of Los Altos Hills ("Town") wishes to adopt building code regulations in <br />accordance with law and to use the most updated regulations in the processing of development in <br />the Town; and <br />WHEREAS, Government Code § 50022.2 authorizes cities to enact ordinances adopting any code <br />by reference; and <br />WHEREAS, because of the Town's unique climatic, topographic and geologic conditions, the <br />Town desires to make amendments and additions to the 2019 Edition of the California Building <br />Standards Code, as set forth herein; and <br />WHEREAS, pursuant to California Health and Safety Code sections 18941.5 and 17958, the City <br />Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills hereby finds that the amendments adopted herein are <br />reasonably necessary because of the following local climatic, topographic and geologic conditions: <br />1. The Town. of Los Altos Hills experiences low humidity, high winds and warm <br />temperatures during the summer months creating conditions which are particularly <br />conducive to the ignition and spread of grass, brush and structure fires. <br />2. The remoteness and steepness of hillside areas in the Town significantly impacts the <br />ability of emergency responders to extinguish or control wildland or structure fires. <br />These factors cumulatively mandate special provisions for Fire Department access, fire <br />protection water supplies, automatic fire sprinklers and fire retardant roof coverings. <br />3. The Town of Los Altos Hills is geographically situated adjacent to active earthquake <br />faults capable of producing substantial seismic events. Since the Town is divided by a <br />freeway and other major traffic corridors, the occurrence of a major earthquake would <br />significantly impact the ability of fire crews to respond to emergencies should one or <br />more bridges collapse or be substantially damaged. <br />4. Fire suppression capabilities will be severely limited should the water system be <br />extensively damaged during the seismic event. <br />5. Roofs that are not fire -retardant contribute to the spread of fires, and therefore pose a <br />risk to the safety of the Town's citizens and their property. <br />Ordinance 585. Page 1 <br />