Resolution 13330CITY OF ALAMEDA RESOLUTION NO. 13330
OPPOSING NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION (NFPA)
PROPOSED STANDARD 1710
WHEREAS, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is an international
association of individuals and trade and professional organizations; and
WHEREAS, the mission of NFPA is "to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and
other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating scientifically -based consensus
codes and standards, research and education "; and
WHEREAS, NFPA has produced over 275 codes and standards that deal with
every aspect of fire and life safety; and
WHEREAS, NFPA is an internationally recognized authority in producing codes
and standards dealing with fire and life safety; and
WHEREAS, NFPA is currently proposing two new standards: NFPA 1710,
Organization and deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations,
and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments; and
WHEREAS, proposed NFPA standard 1710 defines minimum response times,
minimum fire company staffing levels, initial full alarm response levels, and extra alarm
response levels; and
WHEREAS, levels of service delivery for fire and emergency medical services
(EMS) have always been determined by local jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS, proposed NFPA standard 1710 would impose onerous, unfunded
mandates upon local governments to meet established response times and staffing levels, if
adopted by NFPA with subsequent consideration taken by federal agencies, such as the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and insurance companies; and
WHEREAS, the NFPA has clearly gone outside its authority in proposing these
national minimum manning, response, and staffing standards; and
WHEREAS, because NFPA codes and standards are voluntary and need to be
adopted by local jurisdictions, these standards will be "the norm" because of the stature of
NFPA in the development and promulgation of other codes and standards; and
WHEREAS, proposed standard 1710 will be considered and voted on at the
NFPA annual conference on May 16, 2001 in Anaheim, California; and
WHEREAS, if adopted and issued, these proposed NFPA standards would force
local governments to shift dollars from fire prevention programs to fire suppression activities,
potentially increasing the risk of fire and the danger to local firefighters.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of
Alameda opposes any attempt by the National Fire Protection Association to adopt standards for
staffing or minimum manning levels of fire, specialized, or emergency medical services vehicles
controlled by units of local government.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Alameda opposes
any attempt by the National Fire Protection Association to adopt a standard dictating or affecting
the response time of any fire, specialized, or emergency medical services vehicles; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Clerk of the City of Alameda is
hereby directed to forward a certified copy of this resolution to the National Fire Protection
Association registering the city's opposition to proposed standard 1710 which preempt local
authority and place a one - size - fits -all mandate on our city and on all cities and towns.
I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly
adopted and passed by the Council of the City of Alameda in a regular meeting assembled on the
1st day of May, 2001, by the following vote to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers Daysog, DeWitt, Johnson, Kerr and
Mayor Appezzato - 5.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTENTIONS: None.
IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of said City this
2nd day of May, 2001.
Diane Felsch, City Clerk
City of Alameda