HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Agenda March 21, 2001WORK MEETING
March 21, 2001 6:30 P.M.
Life Safety Recommendations
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
CITY OF REXBURG
March 21, 2001
7:30 p.m.
1. Pledge to the Flag
2. Approval of Minutes
3. Non Controversial Items Added to the Agenda
4. New Business
• Preliminary Plat Review - r South and old U. S. Hwy 191
Hawkins Companies
• Smith Park ball diamonds
Madison High School
• LID 31 - Warrant Ordinance - Richard
• Surplus Garbage Truck - John
5. Old Business:
• Life Safety Recommendations Decision
6. Update on Projects
7. Committee Reports
& Mayor's Business
9. Approval of Bills
10. Adjourn
ITISASSUMED THESESCHEDULED TIMESAREACCURATE, IFNOT
THE COUNCIL WILL ADJUST THE SCHEDULEASACCURATELYAS POSSIBLE.
*** Please contact City Hall three days prior to any city meeting if there is any special assistance
needed for disabled people planning to attend the meeting,
LIFE SAFETY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The following is a list of life safety issues that the committees felt should be
mandatory for all existing apartment buildings applying for a new business license as well
as for all apartments in the Rexburg City Limits. This list is for existing apartments only.
All new apartments and existing buildings being converted to apartments shall be built to
the fall extent of the Codes that are currently in place.
The purpose of this list is to provide a reasonable degree of safety to persons
occupying existing apartment buildings built and/or converted prior to 1985. Apartments
built or converted after 1/1/85 shall comply with the code in place at the time of
construction or conversion.
LIFE SAFETY ISSUES
Every floor above the first story or basement used as apartments serving over 12
persons shall have a minimum of two exits. One of these exits fi)r an upper floor may
be a fire escape built to the standards set forth in Section 3407.4 of the 1997 Uniform
Building Code (UBC), which is attached to the back of this document. An exit ladder
device may be used inlieu of a fire escape when approved by the City of Rexburg Fire
Department. For basements apartments requiring two exits, one exit will be allowed
when all bedrooms have egress windows that meet the requirements of item No. 8 in
this list, but also must have a minimum opening area of 5.7 square feet. All doors or
windows providing access to a fire escape shall be provided with fire escape signs.
Exit signs shall be provided at exits where more than one exit is required and in
corridors used for exiting from multiple units. Exit signs shall be m per the 1997
Uniform Building Code. Primary entrance to an apartment is not allowed through a
garage. A one-hour firewall may be erected to separate the apartment entrance from
the garage. If a door is needed from the apartment entrance firewall to the interior of
the garage, it must be a door as described in item No. 3 below.
2. All stars used as part of an exit shall have a maximum riser height of 8", a minimum
run of 9" and a minimum width of 30" (exclusive of handrails). An 8-1/2" riser will be
allowed if the minimum tread is increased to 10". Every stairway with over 3 risers
shall be provided with a handrail. All stairs require landings with a minimam
dimension of 30" run in direction of travel at each point of access to stairwell.
3. Exit corridors serving occupant loads of 30 or more occupants shall have walls and
ceilings of not less than one-hour fire resistive construction. Wood lath and plaster or
'/2" drywall in good condition are permitted as substitution for one layer of 5/8" type X
drywall in corridor construction. Openings with fixed wired glass set in steel frames
are allowed in corridors. Doors entering in to corridors (with exception of those
opening directly outside) shall be 20 -minute fire rated assemblies, or solid wood doors
not less than 1 '/d' thick. Where the existing frames will not accommodate a I %"
. 13/8" thick solid bonded wood -core door or equivalent
in requirements. Consult
I be permitted. Doors shall be self-closing or automatic
ars. Transoms must be covered with''/2" drywall unless
ilding Official. The City Building Official may nullify the
)w that meets the
ents when an approved sprinkler system is provided.
lows will not be required
moment object (foot
'eluding but not limited to stairways, elevator hoistways,
,v a window to allow sill
shall be enclosed by a minimum of one-hour fire -resistive
, a clear opening 24" in
igs into such shafts shall be protected with one-hour fire
han 44". Door hardware
naintained self-closing or be automatic closing by smoke
in the inside without the
nings shall be fire protected in an approved manner. Existing
'd hallways or any part of
:ic door -closing devices may be permitted if the fusible link
I shall be a minimum of
35 F (57.2C).
f at any walking surface
dS:
cit, exit access or exit
un: is not required for openings serving one adjacent floor.
openings need not be protected if the building is protected by
led automatic sprinkler system
Garbage and trash need to
sh containers must be
✓stem shall be installed in basements or stories exceeding
'table area and not having a minimum 30"x 80" door or a
ow in every 50 lineal feet of exterior wall (or fraction thereof)
e building. A sprinkler system shall be installed in arry portion
nted fire extinguisher.
story that is over 75 feet from opening as described above.
wisher already exists. The
L-10BC, therefore, all
ation shall be provided between all apartment units. Wood
ears from the adoption
frywall is acceptable as one hour separation when in good
rated in a conspicuous
both sides of walls and on ceilings. A 2 hour area separation
able in common areas such
its on any upper floor combine for more than 3000 square feet
tc. Extinguishers shall
16 units in the building. The two hour area separation wall
t owners or managers shall
the foundation to the bottom of the roof sheeting. It shall
ections.
or rafter bottoms back towards units on both sides of the
v required above common walls of apartment units. They
i one additional detector
)od, %2" drywall, '/:" OSB waferboard or materials approved
i wall near ceiling but not
tial.
y operated or may receive
he 2 hour firewall and/or the draftstops, a smoke detector
ing is served from a
vested. The system would be installed in the attic space. This
disconnecting switches
of one hardwired detector installed in the ceiling closest to
1partment owner or
)ne detector in the attic installed 6" below highest attic point,
battery function.
p floor unit. All of the smoke detectors in the entire attic as
'cumcm a program for
specifically for attic alarm in the living areas would be
i that if one alarms, they all alarm. The above described attic
r suggestion at this point. More detailed investigation must
ncased in a wall, floor,
,quipment and set-up feasibility. It was suggested that if the
len wiring is not allowed.
roved it would be reviewed for adequate performance at a
;miner. Electrical panel
'the date of adoption of this Life Safety Code.
t the service panels must
be plugged. All outlets and switches will have covers. All electrical connections will
be provided with a junction box and cover. No frayed wires will be allowed. All
outlets in bathrooms, kitchens, garages and outdoors to be replaced with ground fault
devices. Improperly sized fuses or breakers must be replaced with properly sized
units. All wire entrances into metal boxes will be made with NEC approved
connectors. Over loaded panels most be replaced with adequate service. Electrical
conduits to be fastened securely to structure. Overhead wires from out buildings to be
at least 10' above any ground surface (including decks or raised walking surfaces). All
stairs between floors to be provided with lighting. Exterior stairs to be provided with
lighting. Heating system shall not require the use of portable electric heaters to
adequately heat building. All light fixtures are required to have canopies and to be
securely attached to structure. Extension cords are not allowed to replace proper
wiring. Electrical in general to be in safe working manner. State Electrical Inspector
to inspect when any question arises.
12. Require all gas meters, pipes or appurtenances to be protected from vehicles. Require
combustion air togasappliances located in small, unventilated rooms. Require gas
water heaters greater than 4' tall with flexible connections to be strapped to structure.
Require 2" minimum space for flue vents from any combustible wnstruction. Require
24" clear space in front of water heaters and furnaces. This requirement may be met
by the opening of a door or an access paneL Gas water heaters orfurnaces located in
a bedroom or a bedroom closet must be totally isolated from the bedroom with a tight
fitting door and must receive combustion air from an other source besides the
bedroom. Require proper clearance for heating equipment (water heaters and
Ransom). Require that all high efficiency gas furnace flue discharge points be located
in areas that are not below doors or windows that can be opened or within 4' from
such windows or doors. Storage or trash shall not be allowed within 24" of gas water
beater or furnace. Gas water beater and furnace flues must be connected with at least
3 screws at all joints and must be tightly installed. Require that all gravity venting
between 45° and 60° be considered as horizontal venting and require that the total run
of horizontal vent be less than 75% of the vertical height of the vent. Portable gas
heaters are not allowed. Corroded pressure relief valves must be replaced.
13. Require back flow prevention for lawn sprinkler systems.
14. All wooden structural components (headers, beams, columns, rafters, trusses, joists,
bearing walls etc.) to be free of stress cracks, fastened securely and free of rot. Steel
and concrete structural components (beams, columns, slabs, girders, purlins, girders,
footings, etc.) to be free from defects, stress cracks, strain or fatigue that could cause
loss of structural integrity. Roof to be without leaks.
15. Address must be posted on building so that it is clearly visible from the street in a
manner that is compliant with Emergency Services. Contact Emergency Services for
more information.
The above list does not address every safety issue that may present itself. The
inspector at his/her discretion may identify additional safety items that need to be
remedied. Situations may arise that can't be feasibly remedied to satisfy this list. If at any
time an owner or manager thinks that the inspection requests are excessive or unnecessary
he/she may submit the matter to the Rexburg U.B.C. Board of Appeals for a decision.
The inspector will notify the State of Idaho Electrical Inspector if any electrical
problems exist that are out of the inspector's area of expertise. It is our intent to have
only one inspector represent the City of Rexburg at the time of inspection. The Fire
Department, the Building Department, the Water Department and Wastewater
Department will combine and supply training for one inspector from the Building
Department and one from the Fire Department. The intent is to have two trained
inspectors with one acting as regular and the other as a back-up.
This document is to be put in place following Rexburg City Council approval. All
apartments seeking a new business License from the City of Rexburg shall be inspected
and given 3 months to establish a plan of compliance. The owner shall have another 3
months to perform work, at which time an inspection by the City of Rexburg shall be
called for. License will not be granted until work is completed satisfactorily according to
the plan of compliance, at which time if owner is not compliant, such premise shall be
vacated. All apartment owners in the City of Rexburg not seeking a new business license
will be sent notices to supply the City of Rexburg Clerk with a proposal for compliance
within 18 months of notice. Initial inspections will be scheduled at this time. Owners will
have 3 years from original notice to complete work and have it inspected by the City for
compliance or such premise shall be vacated until made to conform.
March 21, 2001
In Reference to: Apartment Life Safety Issues
Rexburg City Council
12 N amen,
Rexburg, ID 83440
Dear Rexburg City Council,
In your deliberations regarding the Life Safety issues for apartments, please consider the following
Home owners who rent a portion of their home (usually to one family unit) may find some of the
safety requirements very prohibitive and/or un -necessary because of the design of the structure of their
home. For example, a homeowner who rents the basement or lower -half' of their home may already have
more than one exit available, at least one side of the rented area with large windows that can serve as
emergency a its, and sufficient safety precautions already in place to meet the recommended safety code if
that being used fo mrabers of theirf ...+t . However, the recommended safety code would be
considered 1 wd if occupied by the sarne numberf Persons though not Enembersof the crvnerls
famuy.
Would that be fair to the homeowner? Should we encourage safety codes that would be an un-
necessary burden to many of the home dwellings where normal occupancy of the home is not exceeded (and
at times not even filled)?
I encourage good safety measures. I have lived in basements, and homes where safety was not duly
considered. Some of those places would have been a `death-trap' if even a small fire had broken our. No one
should have to live in un -safe dwellings. However, many of the `one home, two family' dwellings are no more
occupied than if only me (larger) family lived there and thus no more un -safe than they should be
Please do not unduly penalize the homes where sufficient safety for a regular family exists simply
because they wish to rent otherwise un -used portions of their homes. They provide a much needed service to
this community and I do not believe they pose a serious safety risk so long as they maintain proper safety
practices and do not `over -populate' the available space.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Paul M. LaFollette
106 BIRCH AVE.
REXBURG, XD 63440
OBJECTIVE: TWO, "DERT INFIELD" SOFTBALL DIAMONDS AT COMMUNITY FIELD
FOR HIGH SCHOOL GIRL'S SOFTBALL TEAMS.
PROPS: Allow us more home games.
Allow us practice on dirt fields, an which we play ALL away games.
Allow us use of the school's batting cages.
Allow us access to electricity for pitching machines.
Allow us access to restrooms.
Eliminate travel to and from practice (safety of girls)
Allow us a gate to charge admission.
Allow us the possibility of home tournaments.
Allow us to bid on District & State tournaments.
Close proximity to city grounds equipment.
Water hoses already installed.
Allow us storage for our equipment
Allow us the use of the concession stand for hand raising.
Allow us the prestige of being part of the athletic complex (football field, baseball field)
Move's us closer to compliance with "title nine".
Allow us a field far summer games and tournaments.
Allow us a field for summer skills camps and seminars.
ALLOW US MORE HOME GAMES (greatly reducing the cost of our program)
CONS:
Little League will have to share dirt infields.
Blowing Dust during high winds. (Minimal)
PROPOSED RECIPE FOR FIELDS: (as per Cityof Idaho Falls)
1/3 good topsoil. (No charge)
1/3 pumice from Amcor in Idaho Falls. ($11.00 per yard)
1/3 red cinder ground fine from Mountain West Bark in Rexburg. ($11.00 per yard)
Remove grass with sod cutter (from golf course). Till soil thoroughly, adding topsoil if needed. Add 12
pumice and turn under with harrows. Add 1/2 red cinder and tum under with barrows. Drag with flat drag.
Add remaining topsoil, add remaining pumice and tum under with harrows, add remaining red cinder, and
tum under with harrows. Drag well with flat drag.
(City ofldaho Falls Park & Recreation Department use's this recipe on all fields in Idaho Falls. They have
very little problem with blowing & maintenance. They have also cur down dramatically the number of
games being'rained out.")
MAINTENANCE:
On game day wet field thoroughly with fire hose, open up with harrows, allow to dry for 20 minutes and
then close with flat drag. Chalk for game.
On rainy days open up with harrows, allow to dry, close with flat drag, and chalk for game
MADISON BOBCAT SOFTBALL 2001