News
Fire
Sprinklers in Home Save Lives, Property
Code
Enforcement Tool Helps Stimulate Healthy Neighborhoods
Join the
Review Process |
Valves
Help Prevent Sewer Backups in Your Home
Parks,
Recreation Plan Up for Public Review
Fire Sprinklers in Home
Save Lives, Property
What’s up with fire sprinklers? Well, what’s really important is
what’s down with them. Fire sprinklers are credited with reducing the loss
of life and property while also decreasing insurance costs.
And,
according to Monterey Fire Chief John Montenero, automatic fire sprinklers
are the future in fire prevention.
“We need to rely more on built-in
fire protection to predict and control fire loss,” says Chief Montenero.
“Fire sprinkler systems play a key role in reducing life and property loss
in our community.”
Learn more about these life-saving devices:
What is a fire sprinkler system?
Automatic fire sprinkler systems
supply water to a network of individual sprinklers, each protecting an
area below them. These sprinklers open automatically in response to heat
from unwanted fire and spray water on the fire to put it out or keep it
from spreading.
How do sprinkler systems help save lives and property?
Sprinklers
go on automatically at the first sign of fire danger and work immediately
to reduce the effects. Sprinklers prevent fast developing fires of intense
heat, which are capable of trapping and killing dozens of building
occupants.
Does the City have a Fire Sprinkler Ordinance?
Yes. Automatic fire
sprinkler systems are required in all new constructions that are more than
4,999 square feet in area. In addition, when the cost to remodel or repair
an existing building of more than 4,999 square feet is more than 25
percent of the building’s estimated value, then sprinklers must be
installed.
How much does a system cost?
The cost of putting fire sprinklers in
houses is, in most cases, less than the cost of new carpet. The technology
exists, so if you’re constructing a new building or remodeling your house,
consider installing a fire sprinkler system.
For more information on
automatic fire sprinkler systems or other fire safety issues, please call
the Monterey Fire Department’s Prevention Bureau at 646.3908.
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to top Code Enforcement Tool
Helps Stimulate Healthy Neighborhoods
Healthy neighborhoods are our community’s most valuable assets.
Maintaining those neighborhoods and our community’s quality of life is
part of our job.
One of the ways the City does this is through code
enforcement. Local laws and City Codes help govern how citizens use, build
on and maintain residential, commercial and other property.
We try to
educate individuals about these laws and inform them when they don’t meet
the requirements. As part of the process, the City continues to work with
individuals until they are in compliance with the law.
A new
enforcement tool – the Administrative Remedies Ordinance – was designed to
help resolve code violations efficiently and effectively. Instead of
writing criminal citations or taking other legal action, the City now has
the option to give a City-administered citation or hold an internal
administrative hearing. This gives us the opportunity to work with
community members to resolve issues more quickly.
Education plays a
vital role in code enforcement and is almost always used as a first step
prior to the initiation of any enforcement action. But when enforcement
action is required, the City wants to have the necessary resources to
resolve such challenges in a timely and productive manner.
For more
information on code enforcement, or if you have a specific complaint or
problem you would like to discuss, please call the City’s Code Enforcement
Officer at 646.3915.
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to top Join the Review Process
Follow projects as they go through City channels Community members
are encouraged to participate in the review of development projects that
come before the City.
How can I participate?
Most development projects go before the
Planning Commission. Citizens are invited to attend public hearings,
submit comments in writing and/or review development applications and
documents.
The plans for developments are available for public review
in the Plans & Public Works Department located in the lower level of
Colton Hall. Staff reports may be reviewed there as well or in the
Monterey Public Library, prior to a public hearing.
How do I know when a project is up for review?
Planning Commission
agendas outline what projects are being considered. Agendas are published
in the Monterey County Herald the Saturday before a meeting and are also
posted at City Hall.
The Planning Commission meets on the second and
fourth Tuesday of each month in the Council Chamber at the corner of
Pacific and Madison streets. Meetings start at 4 and 7 p.m. Meeting
schedules are posted on the City’s Web site. Check
agendas for specific review times.
For more information on the
development review process and how to participate, call the Community
Development Department at 646.3885.
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to top Valves Help Prevent Sewer
Backups in Your Home
Raw sewage. Have you ever had it come out of your toilets, shower
stalls or sinks? Though rare, some residents have experienced such
unfortunate events.
While the City has an aggressive maintenance
program that includes cleaning and inspecting sewer mains, it is still
possible that a City sewer main can plug up and lead to sewage flooding.
However, by installing sewer release valves on at-risk properties, owners
can minimize their exposure to such an incident.
What types of property are at risk?
Your house or building may be
subject to flooding with sewage if the lowest utility fixture in your
property is situated less than two feet above the nearest upstream
manhole.
What should property owners do?
Property owners are required to
install both a backflow preventer valve and a sewer relief valve to
minimize the chance of flooding at properties that meet the aforementioned
specifications.
How does it work?
These two valves are installed in the sewer
lateral outside of the building. The “lateral” is the underground pipe
that carries sewage from private property to the City’s sewer main. The
backflow valve is installed downstream and prevents sewage from backing up
into the lateral beyond this valve. The sewer relief valve is used to
allow sewage generated within the house or building to flow onto the
ground in case of an emergency.
It is important to remember to
maintain your property. Both the backflow preventer and sewer relief
valves should be inspected annually. For the backflow valve, remove the
access cap and clean out any debris.
There are two basic types of
sewer relief valves. One has a “trap” door that should be unlocked and
opened. Check to make sure that all moving parts operate freely. Lubricate
as needed. The other common type consists of a mushroom-shaped cap and a
ball. The ball sits atop a riser pipe and prevents gases from escaping the
sewer and prevents animals from entering the sewer. Make sure that both
the ball and cap are in place and that the ball is free to rise off the
pipe.
For information about location of upstream manholes and other
questions, call the Public Works Department at 646.3927 or the Building
and Safety Division at 646.3891.
Sewer can’t
flow from the City sewer line into your home when a backflow valve is
installed. The flapper inside the valve only opens in one direction.
Return
to top Parks, Recreation Plan Up
for Public Review
Citizens asked to make suggestions on programs,
activities
The Recreation Trail, City parks, community centers
and the Monterey Sports Center. They are all popular recreation areas
where many public activities are held.
The design, location and/or
expansion of such parks and recreation facilities are governed by the
Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The Master Plan was created to guide the
City’s work program regarding parks and recreation activities and
potential growth for a 5 to 10-year period.
The Plan, originally
approved in 1986, was last updated in 1995. Today, much of the 1995 work
program has been completed so the City is again ready to plan for future
opportunities.
We need your suggestions and observations. We will be
working closely with neighborhood associations to gather input on proposed
neighborhood and citywide projects.
In addition, you are invited to
attend Parks and Recreation Commission meetings on the third Thursday of
each month to present your ideas and suggestions. Meetings begin at 7 p.m.
in the Council Chamber. Or send your comments by fax, e-mail or voicemail;
see contact information on the back page.
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