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<br /> <br />permit to bolt and brace a typical home foundation system. The Prescriptive <br />Standards are similar to those published in the Uniform Code for Building <br />Conservation and are based on standards which were developed by the "Residential <br />Retrofit and Repair Committee" of the California Building Officials. This committee <br />consisted of structural engineers, building officials and architects, and was organized <br />and supported by both the California Seismic Safety Commission and the California <br />Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. The Prescriptive Plan Set - free to any San <br />Leandro resident - is actually a blueprint showing the seismic retrofit details needed <br />for typical wood-frame houses in San Leandro neighborhoods. Once the easy-to-use <br />Plan Set is filled out, the homeowner can take it to the City's "one-stop" permit <br />center, get a few tips from the plan-check engineer (if appropriate), pay a fixed <br />home-retrofit permit fee, and be out the door ready to start work. <br />Homeowner's List of Earthquake Contractors - Because of potential liability, <br />municipal agencies generally will not certify or recommend private contractors for <br />residents. For homeowners concerned about earthquakes, however, this lack of local <br />guidance adds yet another obstacle in the way of home strengthening. In San <br />Leandro, residents interested in finding qualified contractors to bid on their home- <br />retrofit job can obtain the Homeowner's List of Earthquake Contractors. This is a <br />reference file, maintained by the City's Building Regulations Division, that lists <br />general contractors who have "successfully completed" the City's home-retrofit <br />Contractor Workshop. Homeowners who would like to hire a contractor to perform <br />their seismic upgrades now have ready access to detailed references and <br />background information about contractors which simplifies the hiring process. <br />Contractors must maintain top quality standards in order to remain on file with the <br />City. The Association of Bay Area Government (ABAG) also maintains a list of <br />contractors that have attended the ABAG One Day Workshop on Seismic Retrofit of <br />Wood-Frame Buildings. <br />Tool-Lending Library - As an incentive to "do-it-yourselfers" who want to <br />strengthen their own homes - but who lack the necessary tools - the City maintains a <br />Tool Lending Library. This resource, administered by the City's Building Regulations <br />Division, allows residents who use the Prescriptive Home-Strengthening Plan Set to <br />borrow, free of charge, most of the tools they may need to complete the retrofit job. <br />Limited Financial Assistance Available - Strengthening single-family homes is a <br />"private property issue" that cannot easily be paid for through local tax measures or <br />encouraged through penalties. At the present time, the City is exploring options for a <br />community-wide financial incentive program to encourage home earthquake <br />strengthening. In the meantime, low-income residents are already benefiting from a <br />financial assistance program. The City's Housing Division has set aside a portion of <br />its block-grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban <br />Development for grants and low-interest loans to low-income homeowners <br />specifically for home earthquake strengthening. For San Leandro homeowners in the <br />Earthquake Strengthening Workshop, materials used for retrofitting are provided <br />for a number of lucky homeowners chosen through a drawing.