Monrovia advances 2025 building-code updates and approves Mountain Avenue Reservoir solar power purchase agreement
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Council introduced an ordinance adopting the 2025 California Building Standards Code with limited local fire-hardening amendments and set a public hearing for Jan. 20, 2026. Separately the council approved a power purchase agreement with JNG Power for a rooftop solar-plus-storage system at the Mountain Avenue Reservoir, citing a projected 15% discount versus SCE rates and an emergency backup battery.
The Monrovia City Council on Dec. 16 introduced an ordinance to adopt the 2025 edition of the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) with a set of local administrative and fire‑hardening amendments permitted under AB 130, and set a public hearing for Jan. 20, 2026.
Greg, the city’s Building & Safety division manager, summarized the 2025 code package, including the new California Wildland‑Urban Interface code that consolidates wildfire‑resilience requirements. Staff emphasized that AB 130 places a moratorium on many local residential amendments but allows modifications related to wildfire hardening. Fire Chief Jeremy Sanchez explained that the city will not enforce proposed 'zone 0' specifics immediately and will focus on public education while statewide rules continue to evolve.
In a separate agenda item, council approved a power purchase agreement (PPA) with JNG Power Corporation for a solar array and energy storage atop the Mountain Avenue Reservoir. Staff said the PPA would provide a roughly 15% discount off Southern California Edison’s market rate, produce up to about 635 kilowatts (exceeding the facility’s annual demand), and include a backup battery sized to provide approximately 24 hours of emergency power. Under the PPA JNG would own and maintain the system, and the city would lease roof space and purchase the generated electricity under the agreed discount.
Staff highlighted potential savings (roughly $30,000 per year at current usage for the reservoir site), lack of upfront capital cost to the city under the PPA model, and the operational benefit of local backup power for critical water infrastructure. Council approved the PPA and authorized the city manager to execute the necessary documents.
What’s next: staff will finalize design with the vendor, complete plan check and intend installation by April 2026 if schedules hold; the building-code ordinance will return for public hearing and final adoption on Jan. 20, 2026.