2024/02/28 Council Agenda Packet

City Council Agenda Item Cover Sheet Project title: ORDINANCE Adopting the State Fire Code, Amending EMC 16.005.030 and Repealing and Replacing Chapter 16.03 EMC Council Bill # interoffice use CB 2310-50 Project: Adoption of the State Fire Code with local amendments Partner/Supplier: NA Location: NA Preceding action: 2021 Adoption of the State Fire Code with local amendments Fund: None Agenda dates: 1st and 2nd Readings: 10/18/23, 10/25/23 3rd Reading: 2/28/24 Briefing Proposed action Consent Action Ordinance X Public hearing x Yes No Budget amendment: Yes x No PowerPoint presentation: Yes x No Attachments: Department(s) involved: Fire & Legal Contact person: Kurtis Brown Phone number: 425-257-8121 Email: KBrown@everettwa.gov Initialed by: DD Department head Administration Council President Fiscal summary statement: None Project summary statement: This ordinance had first and second readings in October 2023. Third reading would have been November 1, 2023, but Washington State delayed the effective date of the International Fire Code, so the third reading was postponed. The State’s new effective date now is March 15, 2024. Accordingly, this fire code update ordinance is being brought to Council for third reading and adoption on February 28, 2024, which will make the city and state code effective dates coincide. The Washington State Legislature has amended and adopted the 2021 International Fire Code. The International Fire Code with state amendments are established as minimum requirements for fire and life safety, and it is the responsibility of each jurisdiction to amend the code, provided that the amendments do not reduce the minimum performance standards of the codes. The Everett Fire Department is requesting that City Council formally adopt the State Fire Code with the proposed local amendments. The Everett Fire Department’s proposed local amendments, which are contained in Chapter 16.03, address the following: • Formalize standard practices designed to facilitate fire ground operations. • Provide a single location for developers, contractors, and citizens to find local fire department requirements. • Address local public safety issues to protect public health, safety and welfare. • To adjust/modify existing amendments to correlate with modifications to the updated codes. The differences between the current Chapter 16.03 EMC and this new Chapter 16.03 EMC are technical and not widespread in the chapter. A redline showing the specific changes is available upon request. It is staff recommendation to repeal and replace the entire chapter when the new state fire code is adopted -- this assures that Chapter 16.03 EMC has the correct cross-references to the new code. Recommendation (exact action requested of Council): Adopt Ordinance Adopting the State Fire Code, Amending EMC 16.005.030 and Repealing and Replacing Chapter 16.03 EMC.