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Home My WebLink About20070507 - VII-3/VIII-C-1VII-3 VIII-C-1 HASTINGS FIRE DEPARTMENT MARK J. HOLMES, CHIEF 115 West 5th Street Hastings, Minnesota 55033-1815 Business Office (651) 480-6150 Fax (651)480=6170 TO: Mayor Hicks and City Council Members FROM: Michael T. Schutt, Assistant Fire Chief/Fire Marshal ~~ DATE: May 7, 2007 SUBJECT: Proposed Changes to City Ordinance No. 275, Second Series, Subd. 5, Establishment of Limits in which Bulk Storage of Liquefied Petroleum Gases is to be Restricted. Second Reading for Public Hearing Description Expanding the current City Ordinance No. 275, Second Series, Subd. 5, to allow the storage and dispensing of Liquefied Petroleum gases in Zone C-4 area in the City of Hastings. Background Liquefied Petroleum (LP) gas or in residential use it is more commonly referred to as propane. Currently, city code allows for the storage and sale of liquefied petroleum gases within the industrial park. In the past several years, several businesses in the industrial park have tried to sell propane to the public with limited success. Currently, the only business in which to purchase propane is at a gas station north of the city, just outside of the city limits. This does create some inconvenience to the citizens. Allowing the sale of and transfer of liquefied petroleum gases in the Zone C-4 district within the city would allow the citizens the ability to purchase and refill propane gas grill tanks without having to leave the city. The Zone C-4 district primarily is the business area along 33rd Street between Highway 61 and Highway 316 and the business area along Highway SS west of Pleasant Drive to the city limit. Rectuested Action Staff is recommending the following: Expand the existing ordinance to allow the sale of and transfer of liquefied petroleum gases within Zone C-4 district of the City of Hastings. FIRE SUPPRESSION - FIRE EDUCATION - FIRE PREVENTION - AMBULANCE SERVICE Page 2 Mayor Hicks and City Council Members May 7, 2007 If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Fire Chief Mark Holmes at 651-775-5545 or myself at 651-775-5547 anytime. Both Chief Holmes and I will be in attendance at the May 7, 2007 City Council meeting if you have any questions at that time. Attachment Subd. 5. Establishment of limits in which bulk storage of liquefied petroleum gases is to be restricted. A. Liquefied petroleum gases may be stored in the industrial parks for uses by industry located therein, but any such use shall comply with the following: Said storage facility shall be diked, mounded, buried, or in the alternative protected with at least a one hour fire retardant material with the approval of the Fire Chief or Fire Marshal or his/her authorized representative. Any storage facilities that are mounded or buried shall be coated with an approved coating and shall have devices installed on said facility so that the tank or tanks can be tested periodically for corrosion and durability. B. Liquefied petroleum eases may be stored and dispensed in Zone C-4 according to the Ci Zoning Ordinance, for the purpose of resale, when approved by the Fire Chief or the Fire Marshal. Any such use shall comply with the Minnesota State Fire Code and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Pamphlet 58. Additionally, any such use shall comply with the followine: 1. Liquefied petroleum storage containers havine a water capacity of 2.7 pounds or greater shall be limited to 1 container. The liquefied petroleum storage container shall be no lazger than 1000 US Liquid Gallons. The fill/transfer site shall be visible from a constantly attended location within the facility. There shall be a minimum of 2 certified operators on the property at anytime the transfer of liquefied petroleum is in pro ress. 5. A distance of not less than 75' shall be maintained from the storage and dispensing~eration area to any adjacent structure or any public roadway. 6. A distance of not less than 25' shall be maintained from the storage and dispensing operation area to any property line. 7. An s~ torage of liquefied petroleum products must have written approval by the owner of said property. 8. Containers to be filled shall not be left on site for filling at a later time. 9. Sales of liquefied petroleum containers shall be restricted to new certified containers only. 10. Transfer operators shall exercise precaution to ensure that the liquefiedpetroleum gases transferred are those for which the transfer system and the containers to be filled are designed. 11. Injection of compressed air, oxygen, or any oxidizing gas into containers to transfer liquefied petroleum shall be prohibited. 12. Containers shall be filled only after determination that they comply with the desien. fabrication inspection and marking for use with liquefied petroleum gas 13. Containers authorized as "sin Ig a trio " "nonrefillable " or "disposable" containers shall not be refilled with liauefied petroleum gas. Operation of Transfer Systems 1. Sources of ignition shall be turned off during transfer operations, while connections or disconnections are made or while liauefied petroleum gas is being vented to the atmosphere. 2. Internal combustion engines within 15 feet of a point of transfer shall be shut down while such transfer operations are in progress. Exception: Engines of liauefied petroleum eas car og tank vehtcles constructed and operated for the puroose of drivins transfer pumps or compressors on these vehicles to load and unload liauefied petroleum gases 3. Smokine open flame metal cutting or welding portable electrical tools and or a liances and extension cords and or lighting capable of i~nitine liquefied petroleum eas shall not be permitted within 25 feet of a point of transfer while transfer operations are in progress Materials that have been heated above the ienition temperature of liauefied petroleum gas shall be cooled before that transfer is started 4. Sources of ienition shall be turned off during the fillin og f any liauefied petroleum container on the vehicle 5. Transfer of li uefied etroleum as shall onl occur outdoors. Ventine Liauefied Petroleum Gas to the Atmosphere 1. Liauefied petroleum gas either liquid or vapor form shall not be vented to the atmos here Exception: Ventine of liquefied petroleum gas between shutoff valves before disconnectin the liquid transfer line from the container. Where necessary bleeder valves shall be used. 2. Ventins of liauefied petroleum gas indoors shall be prohibited Exception: Structures desiened and constructed for liquefied petroleum gas transfer Vehicle Im act Protection. 1. Guard osts shall com I with all of the followin requirements: a. Constructed of steel not less than 4 inches in diameter and concrete filled b. Spaced not more than 4 feet between posts on center c. Set not less than 3 feet deep in a concrete footin of not less than a 15-inch diameter _ d. Set with the top of the posts not less than 3 feet above rg ound• e. Located not less than 3 feet from the protected obiect. 2. Physical barriers shall be a minimum of 36 inches in hei t and shall resist a force of 12,000 pounds applied 36 inches above the adjacentground surface. Fire Protection. The liquefied petroleum transfer station shall be provided with at least one approved portable fire extinguisher having a minimum rating of 4A 60BC. The required fire extinguisher shall be located no more than 50 feet from the storage area. This required fire extinguisher shall be accessible at all times. C. Liquefied petroleum gases may not be stored in any area other than industrial parks and Zone C-4 (as provided by the preceding subparagraph) except that in nondense residential area where natural gas is not available, with the approval of the Fire Chief or his/her designate, liquefied petroleum gas storage may be used as is necessary to service a residence or commercial operation. Under no circumstances may liquefied petroleum gases be stored in densely populated residential areas. Whenever allowed in sparsely populated residential areas because of the unavailability of natural gas, said storage facility shall be diked, mounded, buried or protected with at least one hour fire retardant material with the approval of the Fire Chief or his/her authorized representative. Any storage facilities that are mounded or buried shall be coated with an approved coating and shall have devices installed on them so the tank or tanks can be treated periodically for corrosion and durability. D. Temporary use of liquefied petroleum as an energy source during construction shall be allowed only when approved by the Fire Chief or Fire Marshal and then in accordance with such restrictions as may be imposed by the Fire Chief or Fire Marshal or his/her-representative to assure safe operation. ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF HASTINGS, MINNESOTA, THIS 7th DAY FO MAY 2007. Ayes: Nays: Absent: Paul J. Hicks, Mayor ATTEST: Melanie Mesko Lee, City Clerk (Seal)