COUNCIL WANTS GAS SHUT-OFF VALVES BASED ON SALE OF 1 CONDO.Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer Calling it a question of public safety, the Los Angeles City Council  The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles, California, United States. on Tuesday approved a program requiring gas shut-off valves in
entire condominium condominiumIn modern property law, individual ownership of one dwelling unit within a multidwelling building. Unit owners have undivided ownership interest in the land and those portions of the building shared in common. projects when a single unit is sold. The council initially considered limiting the requirement to individual condo owners but decided it is worth the cost to require entire complexes to get the valves if one of their neighbors sells a unit. ``We are hoping that there will be one location where one shut-off valve could be installed for all the units,'' Councilwoman Laura Chick said, ``but we felt this was a matter of public safety that outweighed the issue of costs.'' A similar program is in effect for single-family homes as part of an earthquake safety program. The valves, which cost $180 to install and $43 for the city to inspect, automatically shut off the gas in the event of a quake or other disruption. Councilman Nate Holden Nathaniel "Nate" R. Holden (1929-) served on the Los Angeles City Council from 1987 to 2002. He previously served a term on the California State Senate and was Assistant Chief Deputy to then Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn. , who along with Councilman Mike Hernandez opposed the measure, predicted there will be a firestorm fire·storm n. 1. A fire of great size and intensity that generates and is fed by strong inrushing winds from all sides: the firestorm that leveled Hiroshima after the atomic blast. 2. of protest once condo owners learn about the measure. ``When we tried to get condo owners to retrofit their units with fire sprinklers, they all came down here and said they couldn't afford it,'' Holden said. ``They still haven't complied with that. ``I predicted when we did this for homes that you would try to force this on everyone else, and that's what you're doing. This is a big one. You're mandating something on people that isn't needed.'' The ordinance must return to the council Tuesday for final approval before being sent to Mayor Richard Riordan Richard J. Riordan (born May 1, 1930) is a Republican politician from California, U.S. who served as the California Secretary of Education from 2003–2005 and as Mayor of Los Angeles from 1993–2001. Riordan ran for Governor of California unsuccessfully in 2002. for his signature. Richard Holguin of the city's Building and Safety Department estimated the program would affect about 3,000 condo units a year. Councilman Hal Bernson Hal Bernson served as Los Angeles City Councilman for the 12th district. He was chair of the Transportation Committee. Prior to being on the City Council, he served in the Navy. Preceded by Robert M. , who has been the council's leader on earthquake issues, said the valves are important. ``After the Northridge Earthquake The Northridge earthquake occurred on January 17, 1994 at 4:31 AM Pacific Standard Time in the city of Los Angeles, California. The earthquake had a "strong" moment magnitude of 6. , after the gas was turned back on, we found 17,000 leaks in the lines,'' Bernson said. ``That could have been 17,000 fires or explosions in our city. This is a very important ordinance. |
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