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CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO - REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
From: Fred Wilson, City Administrator
Subject: Discuss and take possible action
concerning the implementation of a multi-
family rental housing fire inspection
program
Dept: City Administrator's Office
Date: March 17,2004
6RtGtNAl
Synopsis of Previous Council Action:
March 16, 2004 - The Legislative Review Committee recommends that the multi-family rental
housing fire inspection program concept be forwarded to the Mayor and Council for discussion
and direction.
Recommended motions:
It is recommended that the Mayor and Council discuss this program concept, and direct staff to
prepare a more detailed plan for the program, including the required ordinance and resolution for
consideration by the Legislative Review Committee.
Contact person: Fred Wilson
Phone: 384-5122
Supporting data attached: Staff report
Ward: All
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS:
Amount: None for this action; proposed program would
have no net cost to the City
Source:
Finance:
Council Notes:
tJ*
Agenda Item No. -1!i..---
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STAFF REPORT
Subiect:
Discuss and take possible action concerning the implementation of a multi-family rental
housing fire inspection program
Backl!round:
In conjunction with discussions with the Fire Union concerning the potential Charter
amendment and staffing additions, a multi-family rental housing fire inspection program
was proposed to be established. Such a program would be completely funded through a
new fee imposed on each rental unit.
Staff from the Fire Department, Code Compliance, and the City Administrator's Office
have worked to develop the attached draft overview of the potential costs and revenue
associated with such a program. In summary, the program would establish a new fire
prevention inspection of every rental unit in complexes of four (4) units and/or more.
The program would necessitate the addition of five (5) Fire Prevention and two (2) Code
Compliance positions, as indicated on the attached program summary. A new Fire
Prevention Technician classification would also be established as part of the program.
The new Fire Prevention staff will be responsible for inspecting every rental unit in
complexes of four (4) units and/or more on an annual basis. Fire Prevention will
coordinate closely with Code Compliance to address serious issues requiring an
inspection warrant or hearing.
The annual inspections will include:
. Smoke detector test
. Fire alarm test
. Fire extinguisher checks
. Common area and overall grounds inspection
. Heating appliance inspections
. Fire Department access and water supply
. Installed Fire Protection System tests
The program would also add a Public Education Officer position in the Fire Department.
The position will be focused primarily on fire prevention education related to multi-
family rentals, since it will be funded through the associated fee. However, the addition
of a Public Education Officer is anticipated to benefit residents throughout the
community.
This concept was discussed at the March 16 meeting of the Legislative Review
Committee. The Committee recommended that this item be forwarded to the full Council
for discussion and consideration.
03/17/049:22 AM
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Financial Impact:
It is staff's intention that this program be completely self-funded and have no net impact
on the General Fund budget. Based on staff's preliminary analysis, a fee of $40 per unit
is the estimated minimum fee needed to make the program self-supporting. That fee
amount is based on an estimated 16,100 units that would be subject to the fee. Staff is
now researching how this fee compares to other cities with similar programs.
Ifthis program is established, the engine company apartment inspection fee established in
August 2003 would need to be repealed. This revenue was budgeted to generate $75,000
this fiscal year, but is anticipated to actually bring in $30,000. This revenue to the
General Fund would not be collected in future years, and the loss of this revenue will
adversely impact the City's General Fund budget to some extent.
As the attached program summary indicates, the total first year cost for the program is
currently estimated at $503,300. Assuming a collection rate of 90%, revenues are
estimated to total $579,600. Since this is a new program and actual costs and revenues
remain unknown, the approximately 15% difference between revenues and expenditures
provides a margin for error in either revenues or expenditures.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Mayor and Council discuss this program concept, and direct
staff to prepare a more detailed plan for the program, including the required ordinance
and resolution for consideration by the Legislative Review Committee. Staff will also
discuss the concept and obtain feedback from interested stakeholders, such as the
Apartment Owners' Association and other interested parties.
03/17/044:37 PM
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III
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TO: MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL
MULTIFAMILY RENTAL HOUSING FIRE INSPECTION PROGRAM
My name is Dimitri Vassilakos. My address is 2386 Denair Ave., HigWand. This is in the
city of San Bernardino. I own an apartment house in the city of San Bernardino.
In my opinion the subject program, with its associated annual fee of $40 per unit is not a
good idea. There is no justification for that program, there is no need for it, and it is
grossly discriminating, unfair and ineffective.
Proponents of this program mention two fires that caused loss ofhurnan life as a
justification of this program; one of these two fires occurred in a motel, the other in a
house. Neither one occurred in an apartment house. Where is the justification for
imposing the proposed program to apartment houses?
Proponents of the proposed program say there is a need for the annual inspection, but we
already have an annual health and safety inspections. The most effective inspections are
the ones that we perform ourselves. We are there taIkingand helping our tenants and we
inspect and test everything with every opportunity, not just once a year. Additionally we
have the annual inspections for which we pay certain licensing and inspection fees. For
us, the City licensing fee is $344.50; and the health and safety inspection fees $579. The
proposed city inspection fee would be an additional fee of$2,880.
As I stated previously the proposed program is discriminatory, unfair and ineffective. It
is discriminatory because it is imposed on the City apartment tenants only. The County
apartments across the street from the city apartments (in many cases) will not have to pay
this fee. 'Peopie that own their houses or rent houses or condo apartments or who are
renting iri ouplexes, triplexes or fourplexes will not have to pay this fee.
The propOsed program does not Solve any of the big real problems that we have in the
City. It is ineffective. Ninety percent of the caIls to the Police come from less than 10
percent of the apartments. This is because the owners of the troublesome properties do
not screen their tenants as proposed by the Crime Free RentaVMultihousing Programs,
from both City and County.
A better program would be for the City to charge property owners for the calls
above a certain threshold corning from their properties (apartments or houses). Precedent
has been set because our City charges for security alarms over a threshold. These charges
should make it unprofitable for property owners to rent to known troublemakers, forcing
the troublemakers to move out of our City. Thank you for reading my letter.
Sincerely,
Entprp~ into Recorda.
(",,,,,c,IICmvOevCms Mtg:
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oV~os
Demetrios Vassilakos
2386 Denair Ave.
HigWand, CA 92346
(909) 864-3805
bv
re A"enda Item
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City Clerk/COC Secy
City of San BernardinD