Title
a. Accept the final report: Seismic Evaluation-Monterey County Courthouse, Annex & Parking Garage at 1200 Aguajito Road (dated June 30, 2018), Project No. 8584; and
b. Provide direction to staff.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Accept the final report: Seismic Evaluation-Monterey County Courthouse, Annex & Parking Garage at 1200 Aguajito Road (dated June 30, 2018), Project No. 8584.; and
b. Provide direction to staff.
SUMMARY:
In March 2017, the State released a report rating seismic risk of Superior Court Buildings in California (Attachment A). Although 1200 Aguajito Road was reported as being very high risk, an initial assessment of the available building data by RMA staff determined that there was no eminent risk to occupants (Memo dated August 23, 2017, Attachment B). To be certain, Monterey County engaged RIM Architects and ZFA Structural Engineers to do a more in depth assessment, including physical site inspections that were not done as part of the State's report. This report was completed on June 30, 2018 (Attachment C). The report concludes that there are no structural issues at 1200 Aguajito Road. What is driving the State's high hazard assessment is that the building codes have changed and the buildings have not. As such, the buildings do not meet current seismic regulations. However, the buildings have withstood significant seismic events like Loma Prieta earthquake. Based on the information available, the County's Building Official found "no indication of an immediate threat" to the structural integrity of the building. (Memo dated August 28, 2018, Attachment D).
DISCUSSION:
A comprehensive study of court facilities commissioned by the Judicial Council of California (JCC), entitled Seismic Risk Rating of California Superior Court Buildings, dated March 1, 2017, rated all of its sites. A finding in that study categorizes the four-story Monterey Courthouse structure as Very High Risk (VHR). ...
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