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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2508-5048CITY OF PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL Monday, September 08, 2025 Council Chambers & Hybrid 5:30 PM     Agenda Item     8.Adoption of an Emergency Ordinance Amending Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapters 16.04 (California Building Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 2, Volumes 1 & 2), 16.05 (California Mechanical Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 4), and 16.14 (California Green Building Standards Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 11) to Make Non-Substantive Changes Addressing Comments from the California Building Standards Commission. CEQA Status: Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15308. City Council Staff Report From: City Manager Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR Lead Department: Planning and Development Services Meeting Date: September 8, 2025 Report #:2508-5048 TITLE Adoption of an Emergency Ordinance Amending Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapters 16.04 (California Building Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 2, Volumes 1 & 2), 16.05 (California Mechanical Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 4), and 16.14 (California Green Building Standards Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 11) to Make Non-Substantive Changes Addressing Comments from the California Building Standards Commission. CEQA Status: Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15308. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council: 1. Adopt, by a four-fifths majority, the attached emergency ordinance amending Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC) Chapters 16.04, 16.05, and 16.14, which implement the 2022 California Building Code, California Mechanical Code and California Green Building Standards Code and local amendments, and updating associated findings. BACKGROUND Every three years, a new version of the California Building Standards Code (CBSC, or Title 24) is published. Local jurisdictions may enforce the model code as published or, subject to certain requirements, adopt local amendments. State law requires that ordinances amending the statewide codes be filed with and approved by the California Building Standards Commission (BSC), which reviews the amendments for compliance with state law. During the 2022 building code adoption cycle, the City Council adopted Ordinances 5564, 5565, and 5626, adopting the California Building Code, California Mechanical Code, and California Green Building Standards Code, respectively, including local amendments. After staff filed ordinances 5564, 5565, and 5626 with the BSC, the BSC identified several minor deficiencies in those ordinances. Namely, the BSC requested that the City adopt additional findings to support several of the amendments and move some amendments to the Green Building Standards Code from the “definitions” section to the main text of the code. The attached ordinance would cure those deficiencies without making substantive changes to the City’s adopted requirements. Recent state law, Assembly Bill (AB) 130, limits cities’ authority to adopt local amendments to the CBSC beginning October 1, 2025, and ending June 1, 2031. Adopting this as an emergency ordinance, effective before the AB 130 moratorium begins, will allow the City to continue enforcing its local amendments to the Building Code, Mechanical Code, and Green Building Standards Code during the moratorium. ANALYSIS State law imposes certain requirements when local jurisdictions adopt amendments to Building Code Standards, including that the jurisdiction make express findings that each amendment is reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, topographic or environmental conditions. The City of Palo Alto previously adopted local amendments to the California Building Code (CBC), California Mechanical Code (CMC), and California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen) as part of the 2022 code cycle. These amendments addressed specific local needs, including seismic safety improvements, enhanced energy efficiency, and additional environmental protections. Under California Health & Safety Code §§ 17958.5, 17958.7, and 18941.5, all amendments to building standards must be supported by express findings demonstrating that each change is reasonably necessary due to local climatic, geological, topographic, or environmental conditions. Administrative provisions, which are not classified as “building standards” under Health & Safety Code § 18909, do not require such findings. During its routine review, BSC identified deficiencies in the City’s findings for certain adopted amendments. The following items require correction as proposed below: 1. California Building Code – Section 105.2, Work Exempt from Permit (Building, Item #2: Fences and Materials) This provision exempts work affecting certain fences and walls from permit requirements based on height and materials. The City adopted an amendment that exempted a smaller subset of these walls from permit requirements than the base codes did. The City characterized this as an administrative amendment, but the BSC requested the City adopt a local climatic, geological, or topographical finding to justify the amendment. Due to local seismic risk and soil conditions, improperly designed masonry or concrete walls can cause significant hazards in earthquakes, including injury to pedestrians and property damage. Proposal: Leave the City’s local amendment in place and make the necessary finding that it is justified by local topographical and geological conditions. 2. California Mechanical Code – Appendix G (Sizing of Venting Systems and Outdoor Combustion and Ventilation Opening Design) Appendix G provides example calculations for outdoor air ventilation rates in various applications. The City adopted this appendix as an administrative amendment, but the BSC requested the City adopt a local climatic, geological, or topographical finding to justify the amendment. Upon review, staff determined that adoption is unnecessary because the main body of the CMC already provides adequate requirements and calculation methods. Proposal: Exclude Appendix G from adoption in the ordinance. 3. California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen) BSC requested that certain amended definitions be removed from the definitions section and codified within the substantive provisions of the code, justified by local climatic, geological, or topographical findings. Proposal: Staff made the following revisions: Removed definitions for “CALGreen Mandatory,” “Tier 1,” “Tier 2,” “Tier 1 & 2 Prerequisite Measures,” and “CALGreen Tier 1 & 2 Elective Measures” and replace them in a later section of the code, justified by climatic and environmental findings. Removed substantive code provisions from the definition of “Substantial Remodel” and replaced them later in the code, justified by climatic and environmental findings. Together, these proposals will address the identified deficiencies in the prior findings and enable the City to continue to enforce these local amendments. POLICY IMPLICATIONS CALGreen local amendments specifically allow the City to advance its Sustainability and Climate Action Plan goals related to green building and energy efficiency. The California Building Code amendment specifically advances Safety Element goals related to natural hazard mitigation and the protection of human life and shared community assets and infrastructure. Finally, the amendment to the California Mechanical Code aligns with City efforts to simplify code language and improve overall policy accessibility and understanding among the public. If these corrected findings are not adopted, BSC could reject the local amendments, requiring the City to revert to baseline state codes that do not reflect Palo Alto’s specific seismic, safety, and environmental needs. Adoption of this emergency ordinance before September 30, 2025, enables compliance with AB 130 and preserves the City’s ability to maintain these local amendments through the next code cycle. FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT There are not significant fiscal or resource impacts associated with the staff recommendation. STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT These amendments clarify previously approved amendments; no additional public outreach was conducted. Notice of this item was posted at least 10 days in advance of the City Council meeting. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW This ordinance is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that adopting this ordinance will have a significant effect on the environment, and Section 15308 because adopting these amendments is an action taken by the City to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment. ATTACHMENTS Attachment A: Ordinance making non-substantive changes to the California Building Code, California Mechanical Code and CALGreen APPROVED BY: Jonathan Lait, Planning and Development Services Director NOT YET ADOPTED 1 0290177_20250825_ms29 Ordinance No. ____ Emergency Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Chapter 16.04 (California Building Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 2, Volumes 1 & 2), 16.05 (California Mechanical Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 4), and 16.14 (California Green Building Standards Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 11) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Make Non-Substantive Changes Addressing Comments from the California Building Standards Commission The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as follows: SECTION 1. Findings and Declarations. A. Every three years, a new version of the California Building Standards Code (CBSC, or Title 24) is published. Local jurisdictions may enforce the model code as published or, subject to certain requirements, adopt local amendments. State law requires that ordinances amending the statewide codes be filed with and approved by the California Building Standards Commission (BSC). B. During the 2022 building code adoption cycle, the City Council adopted Ordinances 5564, 5565, and 5626, adopting the California Building Code, California Mechanical Code, and California Green Building Standards Code, respectively, including local amendments. C. After staff filed ordinances 5564, 5565, and 5626 with the BSC, the BSC identified minor deficiencies in those ordinances. Namely, the BSC requested that the City adopt additional findings to support several of the amendments and move some amendments to the Green Building Standards Code from the “definitions” section to the body text of the code. D. The purpose of this ordinance is to cure the deficiencies identified by the BSC without changing what the City’s adopted codes require. E. The City’s local amendments are more restrictive building standards than those provided in the California Building Standards Code. F. The changes shown in this ordinance are relative to the existing provisions of the Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC) as adopted by Ordinances 5564, 5565, and 5626. G. Recent legislation, Assembly Bill (AB) 130 (2025), limits local jurisdictions’ authority to amend the California Building Standards Code beginning October 1, 2025, and ending June 1, 2031. The Council desires to make these amendments effective before the AB 130 moratorium begins. H. The Council declares that this emergency ordinance, which is effective immediately, is necessary as an emergency measure to preserve the public peace, health, or safety by ensuring that the City may enforce all of its local amendments NOT YET ADOPTED 2 0290177_20250825_ms29 to the California Building Code, the California Mechanical Code, and the California Green Building Standards Code during the AB 130 moratorium. I. California Health and Safety Code sections 17958.5 and 17958.7 requires that the City, in order to make changes or modifications in the requirements contained in the California Building Standards Code on the basis of local conditions, make express finding that such modifications or changes are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions. J. The required findings are attached to this ordinance as Exhibit A. SECTION 2. The City Council finds that the local amendments to California Building Code Section 105.2 codified at PAMC 16.04.110 by Ordinance No. 5564, to the extent they are not administrative amendments, are justified by local geological and topographical conditions. The full findings related to local geological and topographical conditions are attached to this ordinance as Exhibit A. SECTION 3. Section 16.05.050 Appendices of Chapter 16.05 (California Mechanical Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 4) of Title 16 (Building Standards) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows (deletion in strikethrough): 16.05.050 Section 102.8 Appendices. The following Appendix Chapters of the California Mechanical Code, 2022 Edition, are adopted and hereby incorporated in this Chapter by reference and made a part hereof the same as if fully set forth herein: A. Appendix B – Procedures to be followed to place gas equipment in operation B. Appendix C – Installation and testing of oil (liquid) fuel-fired equipment C. Appendix G – Sizing of venting systems and outdoor combustion and ventilation opening design SECTION 4. Section 16.14.070 (Section 202 Definitions) of Chapter 16.14 (California Green Building Standards Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 11) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows (deletions struck-through): 16.14.070 Section 202 Definitions. SECTION 202 of Chapter 2 of the California Green Building Standards Code is amended to include the following definitions: ALL‐ELECTRIC BUILDING / SITE. A building or parcel of land whose sole source of energy is electricity and contains no combustion equipment or plumbing for combustion equipment. CPAU. City of Palo Alto Utilities Department. CALGREEN MANDATORY. Mandatory measures are triggered for projects outlined in NOT YET ADOPTED 3 0290177_20250825_ms29 Section 301.1 Scope of this code, as amended. Projects that only trigger Mandatory measures are not required to fulfill Tier 1 or Tier 2 measures in Appendix A4 and A5. CALGREEN TIER 1. To achieve Tier 1 status, a project must comply with measures identified in Appendix A4, Section A4.601.4 for residential projects and Appendix A5, Section A5.601.2 for nonresidential projects. Projects subject to Tier 1 must fulfill all mandatory measures, all Tier 1 prerequisite measures and a defined number of Tier 1 elective measures. CALGREEN TIER 2. To achieve Tier 2 status, a project must comply with requirements identified in Appendix A4, Section A4.601.5 for residential projects and Appendix A5, Section A5.601.3 for nonresidential projects. Projects subject to Tier 2 must fulfill all mandatory measures, all Tier 2 prerequisite measures and a defined number of Tier 2 elective measures. CALGREEN TIER 1 AND TIER 2 PREREQUISITE MEASURES. Projects subject to Tier 1 or Tier 2 must fulfill all prerequisites as described within Appendix A4, Division A4.6 for residential projects and Appendix A5, Division A5.6 for nonresidential projects. CALGREEN TIER 1 AND TIER 2 ELECTIVE MEASURES. Projects subject to Tier 1 or Tier 2 must fulfill a defined number of electives as described within Appendix A4, Division A4.6 for residential projects and Appendix A5, Division A5.6 for nonresidential projects. CALGREEN INSPECTOR is a person certified as a CALGreen Inspector/Plans Examiner through the International Code Council (ICC), demonstrating knowledge and application of Green Building concepts during plan review and inspection. For projects that require a CALGreen Inspector/Plans Examiner verification, the Inspector must be contracted directly with the owner and may not be a contractor or employee of the design or construction firm. CERTIFIED ENERGY ANALYST is a person registered as a Certified Energy Analyst with the California Association of Building Energy Consultants as of the date of submission of a Certificate of Compliance as required under section 10-103 of Building Energy Efficiency Standards for residential and nonresidential buildings. MODEL WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPE ORDINANCE. The California Department of Water Resources Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance. SALVAGE. Salvage means the controlled removal of items and material from a building, construction, or demolition site for the purpose of on- or off-site reuse, or storage for later reuse. Examples include air conditioning and heating systems, columns, balustrades, fountains, gazebos, molding, mantels, pavers, planters, quoins, stair treads, trim, wall caps, bath tubs, bricks, cabinetry, carpet, doors, ceiling fans, lighting fixtures, electrical panel boxes, fencing, fireplaces, flooring materials of wood, marble, stone or tile, furnaces, plate glass, wall mirrors, door knobs, door brackets, door hinges, marble, iron work, metal balconies, structural steel, plumbing fixtures, refrigerators, rock, roofing materials, siding materials, sinks, stairs, stone, stoves, toilets, windows, wood fencing, NOT YET ADOPTED 4 0290177_20250825_ms29 lumber and plywood. SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL (or “50‐50‐50” RULE). Any project that affects the removal or replacement of 50% or more linear length of the existing exterior walls of the building, 50% or more linear length of the existing exterior wall where the plate height is raised, or 50% or more of the existing roof framing area is removed or replaced, over a 3-year period is considered a substantial remodel. (Refer to Section 301.1.2) Any permit(s) applied for will trigger a review of a 3-year history of the project. This review will result in determining if a substantial remodel has occurred. The Chief Building Official or designee shall make the final determination regarding the application if a conflict occurs. SQUARE FOOTAGE. For application of green building requirements, “square footage” refers to all new or altered square footage, including basement areas (7 feet or greater in height), as calculated based on outer boundary of proposed construction area, including exterior walls. SECTION 5. Section 16.14.080 (SECTION 301 - Voluntary Tiers Added) of Chapter 16.14 (California Green Building Standards, California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 11) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows (additions underlined): 16.14.080 SECTION 301 ‐ Voluntary Tiers Added. SECTION 301 of Chapter 3 of the California Green Building Standards Code is amended to read: SECTION 301 GENERAL 301.1 Scope. Buildings shall be designed to include the green building measures specified as mandatory in the application checklists contained in this code and any applicable local amendments. In addition, the City requires the use of Voluntary Tiers, as provided in Appendices A4 and A5, for certain residential and nonresidential new construction, additions, and alterations. Projects that only trigger Mandatory measures are not required to fulfill Tier 1 or Tier 2 measures in Appendix A4 and A5. To achieve Tier 1 status, a project must comply with measures identified in Appendix A4, Division A4.6, Section A4.601.4 for residential projects and Appendix A5, Division A5.6, Section A5.601.2 for nonresidential projects. Projects subject to Tier 1 must fulfill all mandatory measures, all Tier 1 prerequisite measures and a defined number of Tier 1 elective measures. To achieve Tier 2 status, a project must comply with requirements identified in NOT YET ADOPTED 5 0290177_20250825_ms29 Appendix A4, Division A4.6, Section A4.601.5 for residential projects and Appendix A5, Division A5.6, Section A5.601.3 for nonresidential projects. Projects subject to Tier 2 must fulfill all mandatory measures, all Tier 2 prerequisite measures and a defined number of Tier 2 elective measures. 301.1.1 Residential additions and alterations. [HCD] The Mandatory provisions of Chapter 4 shall be applied to additions and/or alterations of existing residential buildings where the addition and/or alteration increases the building's conditioned area, volume, or size. The requirements shall apply only to and/or within the specific area of the addition or alteration. Tier 1 adopted (Residential). All residential building additions and/or alterations exceeding 1000 square feet must meet CALGreen Mandatory plus the Tier 1 measures, as amended by this Chapter and as applicable to the scope of work. For Tier 1 projects, the area of alterations will include any construction or renovation to an existing structure other than repair or addition. Alterations include raising the plate height, historic restoration, changes or rearrangements of the structural parts or elements, and changes or rearrangement of bearing walls and full height partitions. Normal maintenance, reroofing, painting or wall papering, floor finishes, replacement- in-kind of mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems, or replacing or adding new kitchen counter and similar furniture, plumbing fixture to the building are excluded for the purposes of establishing scope of Tier 1 projects. The area of alteration should be limited to the footprint of element(s) being altered. This does not exclude mandatory CALGreen measures. The sum of the footprint of the elements being altered with respect to Tier 1, shall be calculated using the following methodology: 1. Raising the plate height: The calculation with respect to raising of the plate height will be based on the area of the footprint in which the plate height is being increased. Plate height means the vertical distance measured from the top of the finished floor to the top of the plates. 2. Historic restoration: The calculation with respect to historic restoration will be based on the area of work covered in the California Historical Building Code (Title 24, Part 8). 3. Structural parts or elements: The calculation with respect to changes or rearrangements of the structural parts or elements will be based on the sum of the individual footprints of each structural change or rearrangement. The footprint shall be calculated based on the proposed design and inclusive of any demolished structural parts or elements. 4. Bearing walls and full height partition: The calculation with respect to changes or rearrangement of walls and full height partitions will be based on the footprint of any demolished wall or full height partition and any new NOT YET ADOPTED 6 0290177_20250825_ms29 wall or new full height partition. Exception: Attached and detached Accessory Dwelling Units, ADU conversions of existing structures shall meet the California Green Building Standards Code Mandatory measures only. 301.1.2 Substantial Remodel (50‐50‐50 rule). Any project that affects the removal or replacement of 50% or more linear length of the existing exterior walls of the building, 50% or more linear length of the existing exterior wall where the plate height is raised, or 50% or more of the existing roof framing area is removed or replaced, over a 3-year period is considered a substantial remodel. Any permit(s) applied for will trigger a review of a 3-year history of the project. This review will result in determining if a substantial remodel has occurred. The Chief Building Official or designee shall make the final determination regarding the application if a conflict occurs. […] SECTION 6. The Council adopts the findings for local amendments to the 2022 editions of the California Building Code, the California Mechanical Code, and the California Green Building Standards Code, attached hereto as Exhibit “A” and incorporated herein by reference. SECTION 7. If any section, subsection, clause or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion or sections of the Ordinance. The Council hereby declares that it should have adopted the Ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid. SECTION 8. The Council finds that this project is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the amendments herein adopted will have a significant effect on the environment and Section 15308, because the amendments herein adopted is an action taken by the City to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment. // // // // NOT YET ADOPTED 7 0290177_20250825_ms29 SECTION 9. Pursuant to Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 2.04.270, this ordinance shall be effective immediately upon adoption if passed by a vote of four-fifths of the council members present. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST: City Clerk Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED: City Attorney or Designee City Manager Director of Planning and Development Services Director of Administrative Services NOT YET ADOPTED 8 0290177_20250825_ms29 Exhibit A FINDINGS FOR LOCAL AMENDMENTS TO CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE, TITLE 24, PART 2, VOLUMES 1 AND 2; CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE, TITLE 24, PART 4; AND CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE, TITLE 24, PART 11 Section 17958 of the California Health and Safety Code provides that the City may make changes to the provisions of the California Building Standards Code. Sections 17958.5 and 17958.7 of the Health and Safety Code require that for each proposed local change to those provisions of the California Building Standards Code which regulate buildings used for human habitation, the City Council must make findings supporting its determination that each such local change is reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions. Local building regulations having the effect of amending the uniform codes, which were adopted by the City prior to November 23, 1970, were unaffected by the regulations of Sections 17958, 17958.5 and 17958.7 of the Health and Safety Code. Therefore, amendments to the uniform codes which were adopted by the City Council prior to November 23, 1970 and have been carried through from year to year without significant change, need no required findings. Also, amendments to provisions not regulating buildings used for human habitation do not require findings. Code: California Building Code, Title 24, Part 2, Volumes 1 and 2 Chapter(s), Section(s), Table(s), Appendices Title Added Amended Deleted Justification (See key below) Ch 1, Div. II, Part 2, Section 105.2 Work Exempt from Permit   A, G, T Ch 1, Div. II, Part 2, Section 105.2,Building Item 2 Wood fences not over 7 feet (2134 mm) high or concrete or masonry wall not over 4 feet (1219 mm) …   A, G, T Ch 1, Div. II, Part 2, Section 105.2, Building Item 3 Retaining walls that are not over 4 feet (1219 mm) …   A, G, T NOT YET ADOPTED 9 0290177_20250825_ms29 Code: California Mechanical Code, Title 24, Part 4 Chapter(s), Sections(s), Appendices Title Added Amended Replaced Justification (See key below) Ch. 1, Div. II, Section 102.8 Appendices  A Appx. B Procedures to be followed to place gas equipment in operation  A Appx. C Installation and testing of oil (liquid) fuel- fired equipment  A Code: California Green Building Standard Code, Title 24, Part 11 Chapter(s), Sections(s), Appendices Title Add Deleted Amended Justification (See key below) 202 Definitions   A 301.1 Scope C, E 301.1.1 Residential additions and alterations C, E 301.1.2 Substantial Remodel  C, E Key to Justification for Amendments to Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations A This is an administrative amendment to clarify and establish civil and administrative procedures, regulations, or rules to enforce and administer the activities by the Palo Alto Building Inspection Department. These administrative amendments do not need to meet HSC 18941.5/17958/13869 per HSC 18909(c). C This amendment is justified on the basis of a local climatic condition. The seasonal climatic conditions during the late summer and fall create severe fire hazards to the public health and welfare in the City. The hot, dry weather frequently results in wild land fires on the brush covered slopes west of Interstate 280. The aforementioned conditions combined with the geological characteristics of the hills within the City create hazardous conditions for which departure from California Building Standards Code is required. Natural gas combustion and gas appliances emit a wide range of air pollutants, such as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx, including nitrogen dioxide (NO2)), particulate matter (PM), and formaldehyde, which according to a UCLA Study, have been linked to various acute and chronic health effects, and additionally exceed levels set by national and California-based ambient air quality standards. The burning of fossil fuels used in the generation of electric power and heating of buildings contributes to climate change, which could result in rises in sea level, including in San Francisco Bay, that could put at risk Palo Alto homes and businesses, public facilities, and Highway 101 (Bayshore NOT YET ADOPTED 10 0290177_20250825_ms29 Freeway), particularly the mapped Flood Hazard areas of the City. Energy efficiency is a key component in reducing GHG emissions, and construction of more energy efficient buildings can help Palo Alto reduce its share of the GHG emissions that contribute to climate change. All-electric new buildings benefit the health, safety, and welfare, of Palo Alto and its residents. Requiring all-electric construction, without gas infrastructure will reduce the amount of greenhouse gas produced in Palo Alto and will contribute to reducing the impact of climate change and the associated risks. Due to decrease in annual rain fall, Palo Alto experiences the effect of drought and water saving more than some other communities in California. Embodied carbon of concrete is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, and this amendment includes a requirement to use low-carbon concrete. Providing additional capacity for electric vehicle use reduces use of gasoline which is a major contributor to climate change. E Green building enhances the public health and welfare by promoting the environmental and economic health of the City through the design, construction, maintenance, operation and deconstruction of buildings and sites by incorporating green practices into all development. The green provisions in this Chapter are designed to achieve the following goals: (a) Increase energy efficiency in buildings; (b) Reduce the use of natural gas in buildings which improves indoor environmental quality and health; (c) Reduce the use of natural gas which will reduce the natural gas infrastructure and fire risk over time; (d) Reduce the embodied carbon of concrete which reduces greenhouse gas emissions; (e) Increase water and resource conservation; (f) Reduce waste generated by construction and demolition projects; (g) Provide durable buildings that are efficient and economical to own and operate; (h) Promote the health and productivity of residents, workers, and visitors to the city; (i) Recognize and conserve the energy embodied in existing buildings; (j) Increase capacity for use of electric vehicles which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and improves air quality; (k) Encourage alternative transportation; and (l) Reduce disturbance of natural ecosystems. G This amendment is justified on the basis of a local geological condition. The City of Palo Alto is subject to earthquake hazard caused by its proximity to San Andreas fault. This fault runs from Hollister, through the Santa Cruz Mountains, epicenter of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, then on up the San Francisco Peninsula, then offshore at Daly City near NOT YET ADOPTED 11 0290177_20250825_ms29 Mussel Rock. This is the approximate location of the epicenter of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The other fault is Hayward Fault. This fault is about 74 mi long, situated mainly along the western base of the hills on the east side of San Francisco Bay. Both of these faults are considered major Northern California earthquake faults which may experience rupture at any time. Thus, because the City is within a seismic area which includes these earthquake faults, the modifications and changes cited herein are designed to better limit property damage as a result of seismic activity and to establish criteria for repair of damaged properties following a local emergency. Reduction or eliminating of natural gas infrastructure over time will reduce maintenance costs and fire risk in difficult geological conditions. T The City of Palo Alto topography includes hillsides with narrow and winding access, which makes timely response by fire suppression vehicles difficult. Palo Alto is contiguous with the San Francisco Bay, resulting in a natural receptor for storm and waste water run-off. Also, the City of Palo Alto is located in an area that is potentially susceptible to liquefaction during a major earthquake. The surface condition consists mostly of stiff to dense sandy clay, which is highly plastic and expansive in nature. The aforementioned conditions within the City create hazardous conditions for which departure from California Building Standards Code is warranted. In addition, the reduction or elimination of natural gas infrastructure reduces the likelihood of fire or environmental damage should they become disrupted due to challenging topographic conditions during construction or repair.