[HISTORY: Adopted by the Rockland County Legislature as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 2-18-1997 by L.L. No. 2-1997]
[Added 6-3-1997 by L.L. No. 12-1997[1]]
A. 
Rockland County continues to grow and expand, and new home construction is occurring on many undeveloped tracts and parcels and renovation, reconstruction and upgrading is occurring on previously built tracts and parcels.
B. 
Recent changes and innovations in design and construction techniques and building practices as well as in consumer desire and preference have led to larger structures both in terms of floor space and in the height and width of the spans of roofs and ceilings.
C. 
To accomplish those longer spans, wooden I beams, wooden truss construction, metal truss construction and construction using gusset plates is being widely utilized for beams and/or joists now used in the building and construction of such structures.
D. 
The first purpose and goal of the Rockland County Legislature and the government is to protect and advance the safety and interests of all of its citizens, in all aspects of their lives to which county government has some positive relationship or connection.
E. 
These new construction techniques and longer spans and wooden I beams, wooden truss construction, metal truss construction and construction using gusset plates for beams and/or joists, now used in such building and construction of larger and more spacious structures, presents different and significant challenges and potential danger to our firefighters and firemanic personnel in fighting fires in such structures should they catch fire.
F. 
That danger includes the possibility of faster burning and faster and unexpected ceiling and roof collapse at points of connection and joiner of such longer spans and areas of construction and those areas of construction creating large voids or spaces and/or uncompartmented areas.
G. 
That danger can be significantly reduced or eliminated to our firefighters and firemanic personnel in fighting such fires, if they are aware in advance of such construction and the existence at the structures of said longer spans and wooden I beams, wooden truss construction, metal truss construction and/or construction using gusset plates for beams and/or joists.
H. 
This Legislature can provide that increased safety and protection to our firefighters and firemanic personnel through the registration of such construction and the existance of longer spans and/or wooden I beams, wooden truss construction, metal truss construction and/or construction using gusset plates for beams and/or joists, or any type of rain roof or roofs built over existing roofs, the existance of which will then be communicated to our firefighters and firemanic personnel when an alram for a fire at structures having such construction is broadcast and sounded.
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law also provided for the renumbering of former §§ 220-1 and 220-2 as §§ 220-2 and 220-3, respectively., the existence of which will then be communicated to our fire fighters and firemanic personnel when an alarm for a fire at structures having such construction is broadcast and sounded.
A. 
At the time that plans for construction of structures having long roof spans and/or ceilings, and/or wooden I beams, wooden truss construction, metal truss construction and/or construction using gusset plates for beams and/or joists, or any type of rain roof or roofs built over existing roofs, are approved by a local building department, a registration of that structure shall be filed with the Rockland County 44 Control - 911 Emergency System.
B. 
The Rockland County 44 Control - 911 Emergency System shall develop a designation or multiple designations for such structures, residential or commercial.
[Amended 6-3-1997 by L.L. No. 12-1997]
C. 
That registration shall also specify the location at/in such structure of such structural support method or modification.
D. 
Upon adoption of this article, the County Fire Coordinator shall also begin assembling information and shall investigate the future feasibility of amendment of this article to provide for the supplying of duplicate plans to the County of Rockland, at the time of building/construction approval, so that in the future those plans can be electronically transmitted to field units at the time a fire occurs.
Thereafter, when a fire call/alarm is broadcast, the symbol or designation for the type of construction used, i.e., long roof spans and/or ceilings and/or wooden I beams, wooden truss construction, metal truss construction and/or construction using gusset plates for beams and/or joists or any type of rain roof or roofs built over existing roofs or similar condition, shall also be broadcast to alert the fire fighters and firemanic personnel of its existence and potential threat and to allow them to prepare for and adjust their safety and fire-fighting techniques.
[Adopted 11-6-2008 by L.L. No. 14-2008]
This article shall be known as "The Rockland County Governmental Green Building Act."
The Rockland County Legislature finds that:
A. 
It is Rockland County government's policy to be good stewards of the environment and to finance, plan, design, construct, manage, renovate and maintain its facilities and buildings to be sustainable.
B. 
It is also a fact that, given the state of global nonrenewable energy supply, energy costs for all sectors of the economy, including that portion used to supply public buildings, are skyrocketing and will likely continue to increase.
C. 
Energy use by public buildings may contribute to the problems of pollution and global climate change, but, if properly managed, can reduce these costs, both fiscally and environmentally.
D. 
Public buildings can be built and renovated using high-performance methods for construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance and renewable and clean energy technologies that save energy costs, decrease pollutant discharge from buildings to preserve the environment, and make workers and students safer and more productive by improving indoor and outdoor air quality.
E. 
Government at all levels should respond to global energy concerns by doing whatever it can to both reduce its own reliance on costly and environmentally unfriendly energy sources and by setting an example for others to follow. This will improve public awareness of these new technologies to improve the quality of life for all building occupants and the larger environment in Rockland County and beyond.
F. 
By leading the way in publicizing and utilizing green building technologies, Rockland County government will set an example for others in the County, whether governmental, commercial or residential, to emulate on their projects.
As used in this article, the following words shall have the following meanings:
LEED SILVER STANDARD
The United States Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design green building rating standard referred to as "silver standard."
MAJOR FACILITY PROJECT
A project where, in calculating the cost, the appropriate County department determines that, including all reasonably calculable costs, from the design and construction phases, including architectural and engineering costs, the total project cost would amount to at least $1,000,000.
ROCKLAND COUNTY
Every County office, board, commission, committee, bureau, department or public institution of higher education.
All major facility projects of Rockland County shall be designed and constructed, acting in good faith, to at least meet the LEED silver standard. Before, during and after construction of such major facility projects of Rockland County, the County shall submit the appropriate documentation, at the appropriate times, to the U.S. Green Building Council seeking LEED silver standard certification. This provision applies to major facility projects that have not entered the design phase prior to July 31, 2008.
Upon the recommendation of the Rockland County Executive, the Rockland County Legislature may, via resolution, waive the requirements of this article. The Rockland County Executive shall base the waiver recommendation upon a certification that, in his or her opinion, the benefits of waiving this article's requirements outweigh the environmental benefits to the residents of Rockland County, such as where the County, acting in good faith, is in substantial compliance with this article. A detailed report, outlining the relative benefits of waiver and nonwaiver, shall accompany the recommendation.