CC - Item 3D - Amending The Rosemead Municipal Codestaf epor
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF
ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL
FROM: FRANK G. TRIPEPI, CITY MANAGER
DATE: JUNE 13, 2000
URGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 808 - AMENDING THE ROSEMEAD
MUNICIPAL CODE BY DELETING THE REQUIREMENT OF CURB,
GUTTER, AND SIDEWALK INSTALLATION FOR CONSTRUCTION
PROJECTS
Staff is suggesting repeal of the municipal code section, which mandates-the construction of -
curbs, gutters, and sidewalks during substantial new constructions ($10,000 or more valuation).
As the Council is aware, substantially all of the city now has curbs and gutters. As to sidewalks,
the Staff is suggesting that the city act as facilitator when neighborhoods wish to construct
sidewalks. Staff would organize meetings, provide engineering assistance,etc.-This approach -
would replace the current practice of requiring the installation of sidewalk in each case where
there is, substantial. new construction. The current policy requiring such installation has not
provided completion of sidewalks in the neighborhoods that do not have them.
The proposed amendment retains the requirement of street tree planting for new construction as
well-as-the-enclosure ofunused-driveway approaches.- - - - -
Staff recommends the adoption of Ordinance No. 808 as an urgency measure as several appeals
,ending to the sidewalk installation requirement and at least one occupancy permit may be
delayed if this ordinance is not immediately effective.
I have attached a copy of the existing ordinance.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council waive reading in full and adopt Ordinance No. 808
rN 13 2000 '
i
ORDINANCE NO. 808
AN URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OFTHE CITY OF-
ROSEMEAD AMENDING THE ROSEMEAD MUNICIPAL CODE BY
DELETING THE REQUIREMENT OF CURB, GUTTER, AND SIDWALK
INSTALLATION FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Sections 15.04.040 and 15.04.050 of the Rosemead Municipal Code are
hereby amended to read as follows:
15.040.040 Planting of street_trees; closure of driveway approaches not in use.
A. The City Council finds that there are areas in all zones within the city where street trees are
,lacking.(or in such condition as to need repair or replacement):, The lack of street trees is detrimental
to the public health, safety and welfare. The public.health,.safety_and.welfare will-be,best.protected-
and served by requiring the installation of street trees in instances of substantial-new construction.
B. Any owner; lessee, occupant or agent constructing or causing the construction, in any zone,
of any building, dwelling, building addition or repair (whether interior or exterior), garage, carj9ok or
other accessory building or structure (excluding swimming pools) estimated by the Building
Department on building plans to have a value of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) or more (except
building permits for reconstruction as a result of fire damage or acts of God such as earthquakes and
(l
storms), shall close all driveway approaches not in use or which are considered unsafe for ingress or
egress and shall install street trees in accordance with city standard, unless street trees already exist,
on the street frontage of the parcel of land on which the building or structure is to be constructed.
When public right-of-way is needed to establish street trees to city standards, the applicant shall,
prior to issuance of a building permit, submit an irrevocable offer to dedicate the necessary street
frontage.
C. The Director of Planning and the Building Official shall not issue a certificate of occupancy
- -nor accept any structure for public utility connection,-nor approve any structure or improvement for - -
use unless and until the provisions of this section have been complied with or a bond or cash in
sufficient sums to insure the installation iequired -in-- ubsection B of this section is filed with"arid
- accepted by the Planning Department of the city, or modification therefrom has been obtained
-
pursuant to the provisions of Section 15.04.050 (Ord. 764 § 2 (part), 1995: prior code § 8104)
15.04.050 Limited modification procedure -.Planting of street trees.
A. Any person desiring to obtain a modification from the provision of Section 15.04.040 may
file with the Planning Commission a written application. The Planning Commission shall give the
applicant for such modification an opportunity to be heard if he or she so desires, and thereafter may
grant or deny the application for the modification, or may grant the same upon such conditions as the
Planning Commission deems necessary for the preservation of the safety, health or property of the
-general public.
B. The Planning Commission upon such application, or on its own motion, may grant a
modification from the provision of Section 15.040.040 for one or more of the following reasons:
1. The installation of street trees, in the area involved is included in a budgeted city
project or within an approved assessment district.
2
Because of the location of the property the terrain or condition thereof, or other
similar reasons, the installation of street trees would be impractical or unnecessary or
would impose undue hardship on the owner of the property.
C. Within fifteen (15) days after receipt of written notice of the decision of the Planning
- ` -'Commission concerning-such modification- applicatiorf, any person affected thereby mayappeal-to
the City Council, by filing a notice of appeal with the City Clerk. Except in case of an appeal filed
by a governmental body or school district, such notice of appeal shall be accompanied by a fifty
dollar ($50.00) filing fee.
D. Unless the City Council, within thirty (30) days after notice of appeal has been filed,
determined to grant a hearing or to refer the matter back to the Planning Commission for rehearing
the appeal shall be deemed dismissed and the decision of the Planning Commission shall thereupon
become final.
E. If the City Council determines to hear the appeal, ten days written notice such hearing shall
be mailed by certified mail to the appellant and to all persons who requested such notice at the time
l
of the hearing upon the application for modification before the Planning Commission.
F. The City Council may consider the appeal on the record, if any, made before the Planning
Commission, or de novo; and thereafter the City Council may refer the matter back to the Planning
Commission for further consideration or may reverse, affirm or modify the decision of the Planning
Commission subject to the same standards and limitations imposed upon the Planning Commission
by this section. Except as herein expressly otherwise provided the decision of the City Council Shall
be final. (Ord. 764 § 2 (part), 1995: prior code § 8105)
Section 2. The City Council determines that a number of appeals to the requirements of
construction of sidewalks (current Rosemead Municipal Code §-15.04.040) are pending. In at least - -
one case, an occupancy permit would be not able to be issued pending a determination of the appeal
or repeal of the requirement. The Council further determines that absent an immediate effective date
for this ordinance, there will be a detrimental effect on the public health, safety, and welfare. For
these reasons, the public health, safety, and welfEe require thit this ordinance take effect
immediately. This is an urgency ordinance.
Section 3. If any provision of this ordinance is held to be unconstitutional, it is the intent of
the City Council that such portion of this ordinance is be severable from the remainder and that the
remainder be given full force and effect.
Section 4. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Ordinance.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 13' day of June, 2000.
Margaret Clark, Mayor
ATTEST:
15.04.020
"Health Code" or "Los Angeles County
Health Code" shall mean the Health Code as
adopted by Section 8.04.010 as amended.
"Health Officer" shall mean the Health
Officer of the city of Rosemead.
"Mechanical Code" shall mean the Meehan-
ical Code as adopted by Chapter 15.16 as
amended.
"Occupancy" shall mean the purpose for
which a building is used or intended to be
used. The term shall also include the buildin--
or room housing such use. "Change of occu-
pancy" includes a change of tenant or user in
any commercial or industrial use.
'Plumbing Code' shall mean the Plumbing
Code as adopted by Chapter 15.12 as amend--
ed.
"Special Inspector" shall mean a person
holding a valid certificate of registration. (Ord.
764 § 2 _(part),.1995: prior code §.8101).
creation of pedestrian and vehicular traffic
hazards, poor drainage and difficulty in street
cleaning and maintenance; that the construc-
tion of additional buildings, dwellings, addi-
tions, garages or accessory buildings, will, in
most instances, substantially aggravate or add
to such traffic, drainage, street cleaning and
maintenance problems; unless sidewalks,
curbs, gutters and street trees are provided in
conformity with present standards of the city,
will be best protected and served by requiring
the construction of sidewalks, curbs and gut-
ters, and the installation of street trees in all
instances of new construction.
B. Any owner, lessee, occupant or agent -
constructing or causing the construction, in
any zone, of any building, dwelling, building
addition or repair (whether interior or exteri-
or),-garage; carport or other accessory building or structure (excluding swimming pools) esti-
- 15.04.030 Building code fees.
mated-by the.Building Department on-building -
- Notwithstanding the provisions of Section
plans to have a-value of ten thousand dollars.
15.04.0101fees' for plan check, inspection and
(S 10,000.00) or more (except building permits
-
othermiscellaneous services shall bebased on
-
for reconstruction as a result of fire damage or
-
the most current fee set forth by Los Angeles
acts of God such as earthquakes and storms),
County, Title 26_,-Fees and shall be increased-
shall,close all dri veway-approaches . not in use. -
by fifty (50) percent. (Ord. 764 § 2 (part),
or which are considered unsafe for ingress or
- - -
1995: ,I or code § 8102) _
egress; shall construe[ sidewalks, curbs,.ouners
a- _ o
and shall install street trees in accordance with
-
15:04.040'-"Construction of sidewalks
=ci[ standard, unless sidewalks,-I bs, gutters
y
,
curbs and gutters and
and street trees already exist, on the street
planting of street trees.
frontage of the parcel of land on which the
building or structure is to be constructed; and
A. The City Council finds that there are
such improvements substantially conform to
areas in all zones within the city where side-
city standards and are in good condition and
walks, curbs, gutters and street trees are lack-
repair; except that on lots exceeding one-half
ing (or in such condition as to need repair or
acre in size, said sidewalks, curbs, gutters and
replacement). The lack of adequate sidewalks,
street trees need be installed only along that
curbs, gutters and street trees is detrimental to
portion of the subject lot. Removal of existing
the public health, safety and welfare by the
street trees located +vhere establishment of
272
15.04.040
sidewalk, curb or gutter is required shall be
a modification from the provision of Section
provided by the city.
15.04.040 for one or more of the following
C. When public right-of-way is needed to
reasons:
establish sidewalks, curbs, gutters and street
1. The construction of sidewalks, curbs or
trees to city standards, the applicant shall,
gutters or installation of street trees, in the
prior to the issuance of a building permit,
area involved is included in a budgeted city
submit an irrevocable offer to dedicate the
project or within an approved assessment dis-
necessary street frontage.
trict.
D. The Director of Planning and the Build-
2. Because of the peculiar circumstances
ing Inspector shall not issue a certificate of
of the property, the development of the sur-
poccupancy nor accept any structure for public
rounding-property,_or_because-of-other-similar- - - -
utility connection, nor approve any structure
reasons such sidewalks, curbs, gutters or street
or improvement for use unless and until the
trees can be best constructed or installed
provisions of this section have been complied
through use of an assessment proceeding.
with or a bond or cash in sufficient sums to
3. Because of the location of the property
insure the installations required in subsection.
the terrain or condition thereof, or other simi-
B of this section is filed with and accepted by
Jar reasons, the construction of sidewalks,
the Planning Department of the city, or modi-
curbs or gutters or installation of street trees,
fication therefrom has been obtained, pursuant
would be impractical or unnecessary or would
to the_proy_isions of Section 15.04.050. (Ord.---
_ impose-undue-hardship-on the-owner-of the- -
764 § 2 (part), 1995: prior code § 8104)
property _
- - -
C. Within fifteen (15) days after receipt of
- 15.04.050 Limited modification
written notice of the decision of the Planning
` ► procedure-Construction of
Commission concerning such modification
- - - sidewalks, curbs, gutters and-
' --application; any person affected thereby may
planting of street trees.
appeal to the City Council,,by filing a notice
A.. -Any person desiring_to obtain a modifi--
of appeal with the City Clerk. Except in case_
cation from the provisions of Section
of an appeal filed by a governmental body or
15.04.040 may file with the Planning Commis-
school district, such notice of appeal„shall_be-----:_ -
sion a written application. The Planning Com-
accompanied by a fifty dollar ($50.00) filing
- =missiori shall kive the applicant for such modi
__:fee - - - -
-
fication an opportunity to be heard if he or she
D. Unless the City Council, within thirty
so desires, and thereafter may grant or deny
(30) days after notice of appeal has been-filed,
he application for the modification, or may
determines to grant a hearing or to refer the
grant the same upon such conditions as the
matter back to the Planning Commission for
Planning Commission deems necessary for the
rehearing the appeal shall be deemed dis-
preservation of the safety, health or property
missed and the decision of the Planning Com-
of the general public.
mission shall thereupon become final.
B. The Planning Commission upon such
E. If the City Council determines to hear
application, or on its own motion, may grant
the appeal, ten days written notice of such
hearing shall be mailed by certified mail to the
271
15.04.050
appellant and to all persons who requested
such notice at the time of the hearing upon the
application for modification before the Plan-
ning Commission.
F. The City Council may consider the ap-
peal on the record, if any, made before the
Planning Commission, or de novo; and there-
after the city council may refer the matter
back to the Planning Commission for further
consideration or may reverse, affirm or modify
the decision of the_-Planning-Commission--- - -
subject to the same standards and limitations
imposed upon the Planning Commission by
this section. Except as herein expressly other-
wise provided, the decision of the City Coun-
cil shall-be final. (Ord. 764 § 2 (Part),-1995:-.
Jprior code § 8105)
15.04.060 Violations-Penalties.
'Every person vidlatifig'any provision of the. 77 _1998 California Building Code as amended-by- - - - - - -
- - - -
Title 26 Los Angeles _Building Code-and ap-
pendices, adopted by--reference by Section
15.04.010, or of any permit or license granted
thereunder, or any rules or regulations promul-
gated pursuant thereto; is'guilty of a misde=
_me_anor.=-Upon_ conviction. thereof=fie-or- she
shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed
one_thousand. dollars.($1,000:00)~orimprison
---.one-thousand
s-
ment not to exceed _six months, or by both
such fine and imprisonment. The imposition
of such penalty for any violation shall not
excuse the violation or permit it to continue. - - -
Each day that a violation occurs shall consti-
tute a separate offense. (Ord. 793 § 3, 1999)
274