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HomeMy WebLinkAbout17_Sec4.12_PublicServices_web.p 4.12 Public Services 4.12PUBLIC SERVICES This section describes public services within the MEIR Study Area and whether implementation of the project would cause a substantial adverse effect on public services. Information is provided for police and fire protection services. Information provided in this section is based on the City?s General Plan and on communications with local service providers and Genentech. The MEIR for the proposed project evaluates environmental impacts related to public services for the Genentech Campus. This section evaluates the environmental impacts related to police protection, fire protection and emergency services. Full bibliographic entries for all reference materials are provided in Section 4.12.4 (References) of this section. No comment letters related to public services were received in response to the December 9, 2005, Revised Notice of Preparation (NOP) circulated for the project. In addition, no comments were received at the public scoping meeting held January 17, 2006. The NOP and comment letters are included in Appendix A of this MEIR. 4.12.1Existing Conditions Police Police services within the MEIR Study Area are provided by Genentech?s private First Alert Team, as well as the South San Francisco Police Department (SSFPD). The First Alert Team provides first response services for emergencies, including medical, chemical, and fire (as discussed below) emergencies within the Genentech Campus. Emergency call phones are located throughout the Genentech Campus and calls are routed to the Control Room Operator, who notifies the First Alert Team. If needed, the Control Room Operator also notifies outside emergency personnel such as the SSFPD. The SSFPD has an agreement with the San Mateo County Harbor District for radio communication and emergency response coordination. The SSFPD includes the following divisions: Administration, Services, Records, Communications, Investigations, and Patrol. These divisions include special sections and units staffed by both civilians and sworn officers for a total of 35 civilian staff and 79 sworn officers employed by the SSFPD. One chief of police, two captains, five lieutenants, 10 sergeants, 17 corporals, and the remaining 44 sworn personnel are police officers. The City?s officer-to-population ratio is currently an acceptable level of 1.9 officers per 1,500 population. Police, Fire, and Parks and Recreation departments share facilities within the City?s Municipal Services Building. The nearest SSFPD station is located at 33 Arroyo Drive, approximately 4.5 miles from the MEIR Study Area. Average response times throughout the City of South San Francisco (which is roughly eight square miles, geographically) are approximately 5-7 minutes depending on priority of calls for service. The Administration division, under the direction of the Chief of Police, has the ultimate responsibility for management of the SSFPD and ensures policing needs in the community are being met. The Services division oversees administrative duties and personnel within the administrative support area of the 4.12-1 Genentech Corporate Facilities Master EIR Chapter 4 Environmental Analysis SSFPD and also manages the production of the budget and grants. The Records division is responsible for processing, filing and distribution of all police reports to the district attorney, allied agencies, and the public. Records personnel also greet those who arrive at the station, respond to all non-emergency business calls, do fingerprinting, manage evidence, and ensure compliance with state and federal mandates related to police operations and reporting. The Communications division employs dispatchers for police, fire, and medical emergencies. The Investigations division handles all investigation on major cases in South San Francisco and coordinates with allied agencies at the municipal, state, and federal level. The Patrol division operates under the direction of the Police Captain. The patrol division is responsible for the primary law enforcement activities in the City, and is the first to respond to all police-related emergencies. The SSFPD is projected for a maximum of 46 officers in the Patrol Bureau. Those 46 officers are divided into six teams: two day shift teams, two swing shift teams, and two grave shift teams. The patrol team utilizes a team concept for supervision, and teams work together for approximately one- year tours. Each team has a supervisor (sergeant), a team leader (corporal), and several police officers. Officers work in a solo capacity?one officer per patrol vehicle. The City of South San Francisco Police Department uses the Community-Oriented Policing and Problem Solving (COPPS) philosophy for evaluation of service. For specific planning and development projects, the department utilizes the Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) philosophy. Traffic Demand Management (TDM) is also a primary concern with respect to project approval. Fire Protection Similar to police services, fire protection and emergency services within the MEIR Study Area are the responsibility of the Genentech?s First Alert Team as well as the South San Francisco Fire Department (SSFFD). The First Alert Team provides first response services for medical, chemical, and fire emergencies within the Genentech Campus. Emergency call phones are located throughout the Genentech Campus and calls are routed to the Control Room Operator, who notifies the First Alert Team. If needed, the Control Room Operator also notifies outside emergency personnel such as the SSFFD. The SSFFD is staffed by 76 employees organized into five divisions: Administration, Fire Prevention, Disaster Preparedness, Emergency Medical Services, and Operations. There are currently five fire stations located throughout South San Francisco. In addition to the paramedics, the rest of the fire personnel are certified Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) EMT-D (defibrillation certified to help those who have cardiac related emergencies that need to be defibrillated as soon as possible). The SSFFD also has Advanced Life Support (ALS) engines that arrive on scene with a paramedic aboard. The SSFFD has 3 fire engines, 2 quints, 2 ambulances, a breathing support unit mutual aid vehicle used by Northern San Mateo County, and a battalion truck. A quint, or quintuple combination pumper, functions as a hybrid of a fire engine and a fire truck, as the quint carries its own water and elevating ladders, and has more equipment than a fire truck. 4.12-2 Genentech Corporate Facilities Master EIR 4.12 Public Services The Administration Division is responsible for providing the vision, direction, and control of all divisions of the SSFFD through the use of strategic planning, resource identification and allocation, financial management, introduction of new technologies and cost recovery. The Fire Prevention Division is headed by the fire marshal and is responsible for the prevention of fires, hazardous materials incidents, or other situations that threaten health, the environment, or property. This division also enforces the South San Francisco Municipal Code (SSFMC) through public safety announcements regarding smoke detectors, fire safety demonstrations, adoption of local amendments to the Uniform Fire Code, construction plan checking, site inspection, and investigation of SSFMC violations. The Disaster Preparedness Division is responsible for coordinating citizen, business, and City efforts to prepare and respond to manmade and natural disasters through the creation and support of community emergency response teams, provision of advanced training in disaster response and management, participation in county-wide disaster simulations, and writing disaster mitigation plans. The Emergency Medical Services Division is led by the Deputy Fire Chief and its daily operations are supervised by the Emergency Medical Services Coordinator. This division is responsible for the SSFFD?s injury and illness prevention programs, throughout its offering of community classes in first-aid, CPR, child-car safety seat inspections, and senior fall prevention. This division also cares for the sick and injured in the event of a medical emergency. The Operations Division is responsible for response to emergency incidents including fires of all types, medical emergencies, natural disasters, and hazardous material incidents. Each fire station has at least one fire engine staffed by three firefighting personnel. Two of the fire engines also have a permanently fixed aerial ladder that can reach up to 75 feet. Two of the fire stations house fire rescue ambulances that are staffed by two firefighting paramedics. Station #62 is the closest station to the MEIR Study Area and is located within a mile, at 249 Harbor Way. Station #62 provides all first response services to the area East of US 101, and would also provide first response to any emergency at the MEIR Study Area upon project completion. Station #62 has one quint with a 75-foot ladder and a 500-gallon carrying capacity, as well as a technical rescue trailer and utility. A second fire station, Station #61, is located at 480 North Canal Street, approximately one mile from the MEIR Study Area. Estimated emergency response times from Stations #62 and #61 to the MEIR Study Area are approximately 4 minutes and 6 minutes respectively. The delivery of water for fire protection to Genentech buildings uses the same network of pipes as the domestic water system, Figure 4.12-1, Water System. Cal Water recently installed a new 10-inch ductile- iron high-pressure line in Grandview Drive to alleviate the deficiency in the pressure to the buildings and fire systems for upper and lower campuses (Dyett and Bhatia 2005). There are several buildings within Genentech that have water storage tanks and/or fire pumps installed for local pressure control. The pipe sizes and flow for the present conditions are generally adequate; however, there are a few locations, such as the lower campus, where the existing pipes are undersized for required fire flow pressure. To resolve this problem, tanks or pumps are being added. The addition of a new fire main connection will alleviate some of the demand in the Lower Campus (Dyett and Bhatia 2005). 4.12-3 Genentech Corporate Facilities Master EIR Chapter 4 Environmental Analysis 4.12.2Regulatory Framework Federal There are no federal regulations related to public services applicable to the proposed project. State The 2001 California Fire Code contains regulations relating to construction and maintenance of buildings and the use of premises. Topics addressed in the code include fire department access, fire hydrants, automatic sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, fire and explosion hazards safety, hazardous materials storage and use, provisions intended to protect and assist fire responders, industrial processes, and many other general and specialized fire-safety requirements for new and existing buildings and premises. The Code contains specialized technical regulations related to fire and life safety. Local The City?s General Plan contains implementing policies regarding public services and utilities of which the applicable policies are discussed below. Police General Plan Policy 8.5-I-1 calls for the Police Department to provide rapid and timely response to all emergencies and maintain the capability to have minimum average response times. While there are no response time goals, the current average response time throughout South San Francisco (which is roughly eight square miles, geographically) are approximately 5-7 minutes depending on priority of calls for service. Fire and Emergency Services City of South San Francisco General Plan Policy 8.4-G-1 calls for minimization of the risk to life and property from fire hazards in the City, and Policy 8.4-G-2 calls for fire protection that is responsive to citizens? needs. The fire response goal is 3.5 to 4 minutes for engines and quints, and 4.5 minutes for medical or rescue vehicles. Health and Safety Element: Fire Hazards Policy 8.4-1-1 Institute a comprehensive fire hazard management program to reduce fire hazards on public lands in those management units identified in Figure 4.12-2, in the South San Francisco General Plan, shown on page 265. Policy 8.4-1-2 Explore incentives or programs as part of the comprehensive fire hazard management program to encourage private landowners to reduce fire hazards on their property. 4.12-4 Genentech Corporate Facilities Master EIR Chapter 4 Environmental Analysis Policy 8.4-I-3 Require site design features, fire retardant building materials, and adequate access as conditions for approval of development or improvements to reduce the risk of fire within the City. South San Francisco Municipal Code The City of South San Francisco Fire Department adopted an amended version of the 2001 California Fire Code, as Chapter 15.24 (Fire Code) of the SSFMC. 4.12.3Project Impacts and Mitigation Analytical Method The assessment of whether the project would result in a significant adverse impact related to public services or utilities was determined by first evaluating whether for a given public service, additional resources would be required to serve the project at acceptable service standards, or if serving the project under current resources would reduce services to the existing public below accepted or current standards, and second, by evaluating whether construction of new facilities would result in potentially adverse effects. Additionally, because the First Alert Team is specific to the Genentech Campus in providing emergency response services, this analysis focuses on the potential impacts to the SSFPD and the SSFFD. Thresholds of Significance The following thresholds of significance are based on Appendix G of the 2006 CEQA Guidelines. For purposes of this MEIR, implementation of the proposed project could result in potentially significant impacts on public services, including police and fire protection if the proposed project would result in any of the following: Result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for any of the public services, including the following: ?Police protection ?Fire protection 4.12-8 Genentech Corporate Facilities Master EIR 4.12 Public Services Impacts and Mitigation Measures Threshold Result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for police protection Impact 4.12-1 The proposed project would not result in the alteration of existing police protection facilities or require the construction of new police protection facilities resulting from the SSFPD?s inability to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times, or other performance objectives. This is less-than-significant considered a impact. As described earlier, the existing uses are currently served by the SSFPD. The SSFPD?s jurisdictional area includes the entire City. Two unincorporated pockets, including the California Golf and Country Club, are under the jurisdiction of the San Mateo County Sheriff ?s office. The entire City is patrolled except for the undeveloped Sierra Point area. Implementation of the proposed project would increase development within the MEIR Study Area. At buildout, Genentech expects to almost double its 2005 size (an increase from three million sf to roughly 6 million sf) in sf of office, research and development, manufacturing space, amenities building, and parking structures. As mentioned earlier, the City?s officer-to-population ratio is currently an acceptable level of 1.9 officers per 1,500 population. The current population of the City of South San Francisco is 60,552 and the daytime population is 101,651. As of the December 2005 baseline, Genentech employed approximately 6,658 people. An addition of 6,661 employees within the Genentech Campus would constitute a minor increase (6.5 percent) in the City?s daytime population and would not lead to a change in response times and/or requirement for construction of new facilities. The Department is generally able to respond to high priority calls within five to seven minutes. These times are within the department?s response time goals. With implementation of the proposed project, police surveillance at the Genentech Campus would continue adequately with routine patrols and responses to calls for assistance, hence the impact is less than significant. The Guiding policies in the South San Francisco General Plan (1999) establishes policies 8.5-G1 to 8.5-G2 to provide police services that are responsive to citizen?s needs to ensure a safe and secure environment for people and property in the community; and to assist in crime prevention through physical planning and community design. As implementation of the proposed project would constitute a negligible increase in the City?s population, and would not result in SSFPD?s inability to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times, or other performance objectives. As the current response times and service ratio?s are adequate, and no new facilities that would result in potential significant impacts less-than-significant would be required, the project will result in a impact. Thus, no mitigation is required. 4.12-9 Genentech Corporate Facilities Master EIR Chapter 4 Environmental Analysis Threshold Result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for fire protection or emergency services Impact 4.12-2 The proposed project would not result in the alteration of existing fire protection facilities or require the construction of new fire protection facilities resulting from the SSFFD?s inability to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives. This is less-than-significant considered a impact. As described under ?Environmental Setting,? the land uses within the MEIR Study Area include office, research and development, manufacturing space and amenities. Beyond the topographic, climatic, and land use conditions that create fire hazard, two factors contribute to fire risk in individual locations: Vegetation As shown in Figure 4.12-2 Fire Hazard Management Units, the MEIR Study Area does not have a significant fire risk. In the past there have only been a few fires and the worst was controlled with two sprinklers, which is probably less than 1000 gallons total (Stocker 2005). Infrastructure Public infrastructure, particularly site access and water supply, affect the City?s ability to respond to fire. While most of the areas near open spaces have good access and water supply, access is poor near Sign Hill and along Dundee Drive (South San Francisco General Plan 1999). Several fire hydrants in the Genentech area have been tested by the Fire Department for flow and pressure requirements. Based on that fire flow test and water analysis completed by Wilsey Ham (engineering, planning and surveying company), all hydrants meet the fire flow requirements; however fire flow test can change as new buildings come on line or even at different hours of the day depending on how much domestic water is being used by the system. The pipe sizes and flow characteristics for these pipes are in most cases acceptable. There are a few locations where the existing piping is undersized for the local building or hydrant requirements. These undersized pipes are identified for replacement when, either the new structures are designed and built in the area, or that certain pipes will have to be replaced for that location (Selby 2005). As mentioned under ?Environmental Setting,? the new 10-inch-high pressure line was installed to alleviate the deficiencies supplying the Grandview campus and all code requirements are currently met. Adherence to the fire code that contains regulations pertaining to fire hydrants, automatic sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, fire and explosion hazards safety, and other fire safety requirements for new and existing building and premises will reduce any significant building specific impacts. The proposed development of approximately 3.17 million sf of new uses in the MEIR Study Area will increase usage by commuters, and present new fire and life safety risks to the people. In the future, fire requirements will need to be analyzed for each individual building based on the size, type of construction and fire sprinkler system associated with the building. The fire flow requirements will need to be analyzed 4.12-10 Genentech Corporate Facilities Master EIR 4.12 Public Services specific to each building in order to determine if the local system can adequately handle the fire flow needs. If the local system is found undersized or deteriorating, then the pipelines will need to be modified by upsizing, new connections, and or the installation of pumps and tanks to supply the new requirements. As implementation of the proposed project would constitute a negligible increase in the City?s population, and would not result in SSFFD?s inability to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times, or other performance objectives. As the current response times and service ratio?s are adequate, and no new facilities that would result in potential significant impacts would be required, the less-than-significant project will result in a impact. Thus, no mitigation is required. 4.12.4References California Water Service Company. 2005. Locate Cal Water Service Areas. Website: http://www.calwater.com/Locate.html. Accessed 26 September 2005. Dyett and Bhatia. 1999. South San Francisco General Plan. ???. 2003. City of South San Francisco General Plan, Prepared for City of South San Francisco, October 1999, as amended December 2003. ???. 2005. Genentech Corporate Facilities Master Plan. Dennin, Dick. 2005. Email communication with Deputy Fire Chief, City of South San Francisco Fire Department, 23 August. Normandy, Allan. 2006. Email communication with Sergeant, City of South San Francisco Police Department, 31 January. South San Francisco, City of. 2006. Website http:// http://www.ci.ssf.ca.us/about/demographics.asp, accessed January 31. Stocker, Eric. 2005. Personal communication with Associate Director?Risk Management, Genentech, Inc. 4.12-11 Genentech Corporate Facilities Master EIR