The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also known as CalFire, recently declared Avalon a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.
In response, the Avalon City Council adopted Chapter 7A of the California Building Code at the council’s Tuesday, July 17, meeting.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also known as CalFire, recently declared Avalon a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.
In response, the Avalon City Council adopted Chapter 7A of the California Building Code at the council’s Tuesday, July 17, meeting.
According to a staff report to the council, CalFire had identified the entire city of Avalon as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone and recommended that the city adopt Chapter 7A of the state building code to reduce the risk to life and property. “Chapter 7A of the California Building Code requires new buildings and/or construction in the (zone) to use ignition resistant construction methods and materials for certain projects, such as, but not limited to, roofs, vents and exterior coverings,” said the report by Asst. Fire Chief. M. Krug.
Krug’s report said state law requires a city to adopt the hazard zone map within 120 days of receiving it from CalFire. The report also said that failure to adopt Chapter 7A of the state building code would result in having new or remodeled structures that are less resistant to fire and having a city that is less safe from fires.
“Fiscal impacts are expected to be minimal; additional fire prevention and building inspection activities per project are expected,” Krug wrote.
Permit denied
Three council members voted to deny the Hermosa Hotel’s request for an amended transportation permit. Two council members recused themselves from voting—Ralph Morrow because he lives in close proximity to the hotel and Michael Ponce because of a potential appearance of a conflict of interest because of received income.
The owner of the Hermosa Hotel wanted to offer the electrical bikes and Segways to his guests for free. The application also mentioned skateboards, floats and beach chairs.
However, staff was concerned about the lack of a specific route for the bikes and Segways, according to the staff report by Vehicle Clerk Dudley Morand.
City Attorney Scott Campbell said the applicant had failed to meet the conditions required to receive an amended permit.
No Grand Prix 2012
City Clerk Denise Radde told the Islander that council received a report that permits for the Grand Prix would probably be in place in time for the race to be held in 2013.
The permits for 2012 have not been approved. “We’ve been working on it for months, but they haven’t been approved,” Radde said.
Medical Center executive report
The council, acting as the Avalon Hospital Board of Trustees, received and filed a report from the chief executive officer of the Catalina Island Medical Center.
According to the June 21 CEO’s report, the hospital’s clinical laboratory was certified by the California Department of Public Health, which reviews laboratories every three years. “As a hospital and as a community, we’re fortunate to have talented and gifted clinical laboratory technicians and a well-equipped laboratory that is able to perform approximately 80 percent of the tests required by our clinicians to care for our patients,” the report said.
In May, the hospital reported receiving $603,000 from Medicare for the electronic medical records project. That money was meant specifically for electronic medical records projects. “It is expected additional dollars will be forthcoming in the neighborhood of $300,000 subject to negotiations with Medicare,” the report said. “Our total cost for this project was over $1 million with a lot of peripheral costs captured for our submittal to the Federal government.”
The report said plans to remodel the hospital lobby have been submitted to the Office of State Health Planning and Development. When the state agency will actually review the plans is unknown.
In May, net patient revenue was over budget by $171,008 (or 33 percent). Gross revenue was over budget by $173,509 (or 18 percent), according to the report. Charity care was over budget by $4,067 (or 7 percent). The May gross emergency room revenue was over budget by $64,902 (or 14 percent).
