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1. The Town of Los Altos Hills experiences low humidity, high winds and warm temperatures during the summer months creating conditions which are particularly conducive to the ignition and spread of grass,brush and structure fires. 2. The remoteness and steepness of hillside areas in the Town significantly impacts the ability of emergency responders to extinguish or control wildland or structure fires. These factors cumulatively mandate special provisions for Fire Department access, fire protection water supplies, automatic fire sprinklers and fire retardant roof coverings. 3. The Town of Los Altos Hills is geographically situated adjacent to active earthquake faults capable of producing substantial seismic events. Since the Town is divided by a freeway and other major traffic corridors,the occurrence of a major earthquake would significantly impact the ability of fire crews to respond to emergencies should one or more bridges collapse or be substantially damaged. 4. Fire suppression capabilities will be severely limited should the water system be extensively damaged during the seismic event. 5. Roofs that are not fire-retardant contribute to the spread of fires, and therefore pose a risk to the safety of the Town's citizens and their property. WHEREAS,prior to the effective date of this ordinance, the City Clerk shall file a copy of the ordinance,with the California Building Standards Commission; and WHEREAS, in accordance with Health and Safety Code section 17958.7, the City Council hereby finds that each of the above findings is applicable to each of the modifications to the 2013 Edition of the California Building Standards Code described in this ordinance; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the -Town of Los Altos Hills finds that this project is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"), pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the ordinance will have a significant effect on the environment. NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills does hereby ORDAIN as follows: 1. AMENDMENT OF CODE. Section 4-2.116(a) of Chapter 2 (Fire Prevention) of Title 4 (Public Safety) of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows: 4-2.116(a) Brush and vegetative growth-Clearance from structures and roadways. a) Required. Any person owning, leasing, controlling, operating, or maintaining any buildings or structures in, upon, or adjoining any hazardous fire area, and any person Ordinance 558 Page 2