Committee adopts motion requiring sprinklers and standpipes in high-rise residential buildings

The Land Use Planning Management committee voted to adopt a motion requiring that all high-rise residential buildings in the city be equipped with fire-suppression sprinklers and properly secured standpipe systems (dry or wet) to support firefighting operations.

The motion, introduced by Councilmember Soto Martínez, was amended on the floor to specify equipment standards and to ask staff for additional cost and implementation analysis. Union representatives and construction contractors told the committee they have trained personnel and capacity to install the systems. UA Local representative Rollen Figueres said contractors who worked on prior large retrofit projects could undertake the work; he cautioned that retrofit costs can be significant.

The committee adopted the motion by a 5-0 vote. The recorded yes votes in the meeting were Bloomenfield, Hot, Nazarion, Lee and Vromen.

Committee members acknowledged the need for more information on costs and timelines and asked staff to return with a report on implementation steps, funding or financing options, and possible phasing. The motion passed with an instruction to produce follow-up analysis before advancing any ordinance or mandatory retrofit schedule.

The committee’s action will require follow-up staff work to quantify costs and propose a timeline for compliance; no retroactive enforcement schedule was adopted at this meeting.