City Council

10C. Consider local Municipal Code amendments which modify the 2025 California Building Standards Code related to building safety, fire prevention, energy efficiency and green building, in alignment with the City’s Climate Action Plan goals and targets. Environmental Considerations: The amendments proposed will not have a significant effect on the environment because the strengthened requirements reduce hazards and accommodate features to reduce environmental effects. Adoption of the amendments is exempt from environmental review as per Section 15308 of the CEQA Guidelines, which allows a categorical exemption for "actions taken by regulatory. agencies, as authorized by state or local ordinance, to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment." Furthermore, the amendments related to energy efficiency and green building were previously evaluated in the Final Negative Declaration (ND) for the Climate Action Plan (Case No. 17-224), dated December 5, 2017, and Addendum to the ND (Case No. ENV-004106-2020), dated Oct 20, 2020. The ND and the Addendum evaluated the potential environmental effects of the implementation of the Climate Action Plan, including the adoption and enforcement of energy efficiency and renewable energy ordinances. This project is within the scope of the Final Negative Declaration and the Addendum, and no further California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance is required. Contact Persons: Principal Planner Maynard, Sustainability Manager Najera, and Interim Fire Marshall Villagomez Recommended Action: Direct staff to prepare ordinances for City Council consideration, to adopt local Municipal Code amendments which modify the 2025 California Building Standards Code, and continue the following existing local codes which require enhanced building safety, fire prevention, energy efficiency and green building regulation, with minor changes: 1) Building Code Amendments (EMC 23.12.030.B); 2) Fire Code Amendments (EMC 10.04.020); 3) Electric Readiness (EMC 23.12.080.J); 4) Existing Building Energy Efficiency (EMC 23.12.080.D and E); 5) Electric Vehicle Charging (EMC 23.12.110.E); and 6) Graywater Systems (EMC 23.12.110.D). 2025-08-13 Item 10C Direction on Reach Codes