CR 88-07 BBQ Balcony Ordinance
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December 30. 1987 Council Rpt; 88-7
BARBECUING ON BPLCONY ORDINANCE CHANGE
prol:os~d Action
Fire Prevention Bureau recommends the adoption of the following
motion: The first re?ding of Ordinance #88- is approved as
presented.
Adoption of this motion will prohibit storage of barbecues on
balconies and prohibit use within 10' at an apartment building.
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Overview
prohibiting barbecuing on balconies has been part of our city's
ordina.nces for at least 10 y~ars. It was changed about 5 years ago
include balconies of non-combustible construction. This proposed
change will alleviate a problem which the Fire Prevention Bureau
currently encounters.
e It. is difficult to catch people in the act of barbecuing. Barbecu-
ing on ground level can be a hazard to neighbors. #
Primari': Issues to Consider
o Does the city have the right to prohibit storage of
a barbecue on a balcony?
o Is there any reason to have a bar.becue on a balcony
if you are not going to use it there?
o Is balcony on ground level a problem?
Supporting Information
o Analysi~
o Ordinance 188-
~~L~d l/l,a/%LfJ~1
George J. M~gdal, Fire Marshal
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Rpt. 88-
Page 2
Analysis
Both these changes are enforced as if they were law by most of
our apartment complex resident managers.
It is difficult to catch someone actually barbecuing on their balcony.
By the time a resident notifies the police department and an offic~r
responds to the area, the barbecuing may be complete. I can think of
no other reason a person would want to keep their barbecue on their
balcony unless it was to us~ it in that area. .
Barbecuing close to a building or ..i.l.'ierneath your neighbors I s bal-
cony is a fire hazard and public nusi~nce. Heat, smoke, and sparks
should not be drifting into other peopl~'s living spaces. Also, as we
learn from the Eagan apartment fire this $~~er, fire can travel ver-
tically up the outside of an apartment build:n'J and do major damage.
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ORDINANCE NO. 88-8
An Ordinance relating to Fire prevention Code amending
section 905.15 of the Hopkins City Code:
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HOPK INS nOES OR.)A.IN:
Section 1. Hopkins City code, Subsection 905.15, is
amended to read:
905.15. Fires or barbecues on balcon~es Erohibited. NO
person shall kindle or permit a fire or open flame on a
balcony cf any apartment, condominium or other 'similar
structure or within 10 feet thereof in a device used for .
heating, lighting or food preparation ~r sha~l any person
leave or otherwise store such a device on or in a balcony o~
any fOI'f:mentioned structure.
Adopted this day of , 19S8
It Approved this day of , 1988
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Donald Milbert, ~
Mayor
Attest:
city Clerk. --
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