§ 16.32.010. Purpose.

It is found that in the event of a strong or moderate local earthquake, loss of life or serious injury may result from damage to or collapse of buildings in the city. It is generally acknowledged that the city will experience earthquakes in the future due to its proximity to both the San Andreas and Hayward faults. The purpose of this chapter is to promote public safety by identifying those buildings in the city which exhibit structural deficiencies, and by accurately determining the severity and extent of those deficiencies in relation to their potential for causing loss of life or injury. The council finds it desirable to identify the hazards that these deficiencies may pose to occupants of buildings and pedestrians in the event of an earthquake. The building official has conducted a field survey to identify seismically hazardous buildings, including unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings and will conduct such a survey for multifamily residential soft story buildings as a second phase of a seismic hazards identification program that is consistent with the state Earthquake Protection Law, Health and Safety Code section 19000 et seq.

It is also the purpose of the chapter to protect the public health, safety and welfare by reducing the risk of death and injury resulting from the effects of earthquakes on URM buildings and multifamily residential soft story buildings constructed prior to the adoption and enforcement of building codes that required earthquake-resistant design.

The provisions of this chapter are intended as minimum standards for structural seismic resistance established primarily to reduce the risk of building damage, injury and loss of life. Compliance with these standards will not necessarily entirely prevent injury or loss of life or prevent earthquake damage to rehabilitated buildings. This chapter does not require alteration of existing electrical, plumbing, mechanical or fire safety systems unless they constitute a hazard to life or property.

(Ord. No. 2009-05, § 1, 10-19-2009)