The city of Marina may ask California voters to decide whether to require fire sprinklers in small residential care homes.
The Nov. 5 deaths of five developmentally disabled residents in a late-night fire that swept through a Marina residential care home prompted a proposal the Marina City Council will consider today.
The council will vote whether to ask Assemblyman Bill Monning, D-Carmel, and state Sen. Sam Blakeslee, R-San Luis Obispo, to push an initiative measure that would require all 24-hour residential care facilities to have fire sprinklers, alarms and smoke detectors.
Despite three legislative efforts dating back to 2005, care homes with six or fewer residents are exempt from fire sprinkler requirements. Potential costs and the possible reduction in the number of homes available for people who need them were cited as reasons for blocking the previous attempts.
Now the Monterey County Fire Chiefs Association and the Monterey County Fire Prevention Officers Association are backing the city proposal to ask the local legislators to review the previous legislative attempts and to submit an initiative.
"The modest cost of a fire sprinkler is a small price to pay if it means a life is spared," Marina Fire Chief Harald Kelley said in a council report.
Richard Hutchinson Jr., president of the county fire chiefs group, said, "The fire that occurred on Nov. 5, 2011, was a stark example for the need to require fire-protection systems in these type of
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facilities."Earlier bills to require fire sprinklers in all care homes had wide backing from firefighting groups.
All the disabled residents of the home died, while two care-givers managed to escape after trying unsuccessfully to help the young adults trapped in the burning home.
Fire officials are still awaiting word from investigators on what caused the fire. A private investigator working for an attorney hired by the family of one the residents who died has pointed the blame at a possible electrical problem.
Also today, the council will:
· meet in closed session to discuss ongoing contract negotiations with City Manager Tony Altfeld, including the possibility of terminating his contract and going into arbitration;
· consider approving a contract with Alliance Communities for management of construction projects at the Abrams housing area. The council also will receive the property management company's quarterly maintenance report for the Abrams units;
· consider approving a grant application to provide money to hire three full-time firefighters; and
· receive a mid-year fiscal report from the city's finance director.
If you go
· The Marina City Council meets at 6:30 tonight in the council chambers, 211 Hillcrest Ave., Marina.