Laserfiche WebLink
Relative humidity remains moderate most of the time and temperatures average 80 <br />degrees the mid -50s in winter. These climatic conditions along with the greenhouse <br />emissions generated from residential structures requires exceeding the energy <br />standards for building construction established in the 2019 California Building <br />Standards Code. The Town's City Council also adopted a Climate Action Plan that has <br />a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by the year 2030. In <br />order to achieve and maintain this goal, the Town needs to adopt policies and <br />regulations that reduce the use of fossil fuels that contribute to climate change, such as <br />natural gas in buildings. <br />2. Geologic: The Town of Los Altos Hills is subject to earthquake hazard caused by its <br />proximity to San Andreas fault. This fault runs from Hollister, through the Santa Cruz <br />Mountains, epicenter of the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, up the San Francisco <br />Peninsula eventually moving offshore at Daly City near Mussel Rock. This fault system <br />is considered a major Northern California earthquake faults which may experience <br />rupture at any time. Thus, because the City is within a seismic area which includes <br />these earthquake faults, the modifications and changes cited herein are designed to <br />better limit property damage as a result of seismic activity. <br />3. Topographic: The Town of Los Altos Hills consists of ridgelines, rolling foothills and <br />deep wooded canyons that affect climate conditions resulting in increased use of <br />heating and cooling systems and the trapping of potential greenhouse gases in the valley <br />floors. <br />WHEREAS, in accordance with Health and Safety Code section 17958.7, the City Council hereby <br />finds that each of the above findings is applicable to each of the modifications to the 2019 Edition <br />of the California Energy Code described in this ordinance; and <br />WHEREAS, the City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills finds that this project is exempt <br />from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"), pursuant to Section <br />15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, because it can be seen with certainty that there is no <br />possibility that the ordinance will have a significant effect on the environment. <br />NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills does hereby further <br />ORDAIN as follows: <br />1. Title 8, Chapter 1.6, "Energy Code," of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code is hereby <br />amended to add Section 8-1.6.02, with additions in underline and deletions in strikethrough <br />to reflect local amendments. Sections not affected by this amendment are not included <br />below and shall remain in full force and effect. <br />8-1.6.02 Amended sections of adopted. code. <br />Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8-1.6.01, the Energy Code is amended as follows: <br />Ordinance 589 Page 2 <br />