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Home My WebLink About2025-06-24 - AGENDA REPORTS - ORD FIRE ZONE MAP CODE 51179O Agenda Item: 1 CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT NEW BUSINESS CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: Li DATE: June 24, 2025 SUBJECT: FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE MAP OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AND ISSUED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 51179 DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office PRESENTER: Masis Hagobian RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council introduce an ordinance entitled: "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE MAP OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AND ISSUED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 51179," waive reading of text and consent to read by title only, as listed on the agenda, and pass to a second reading. BACKGROUND On March 24, 2025, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) published its Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps for the Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) of Los Angeles County (County). Properties included in an LRA are under the jurisdictional responsibility of local fire departments. In the case of LRA properties in the City of Santa Clarita (City), the Los Angeles County Fire Department is responsible for fire protection of these areas. California Government Code Section 51179 prohibits cities, counties, and the public from appealing areas identified in the fire zones or reducing the level of the fire zones published by Cal Fire. Additionally, the California Government Code requires local agencies adopt an ordinance within 120 days from when the FHSZ maps are published, designating the fire zones within its jurisdiction. The last update to the FHSZ map was published in 2011, which only identified LRA properties that were in the Very -High Fire Zone. The 2025 FHSZ map update for LRA properties, Page 1 Packet Pg. 10 O including the City, distinguishes zones into three areas: Moderate; High; and Very -High. In developing the 2025 FHSZ maps, Cal Fire used a geographic information system model that assesses hazards by analyzing factors that influence fire likelihood and behavior, including fire history, existing and potential vegetation, predicted flame length, ember production and movement, terrain, and typical fire weather conditions for the area, including wind conditions, as mandated in California Government Code Section 51178. As part of this process, Cal Fire evaluates hazards, not risks, in determining what areas are included in the FHSZ and what zone they are classified as Cal Fire defines a hazard, "as based on the physical conditions that create a likelihood and expected fire behavior over a 30 to 50- year period, without considering mitigation measures such as home hardening, recent wildfires, or fuel reduction efforts." The consistent application of hazard variables is mandated by California Public Resources Code Section 4202 and California Government Code Section 51178, ensuring standardized methods in developing FHSZ maps for the LRA statewide. The Very -High Fire Zone within the City was previously 28,979 acres, which accounts for annexations, since 2011, that converted FHSZ areas from a State Responsibility Area or areas in the unincorporated areas of the County to an LRA in the City's jurisdictional boundaries. As part of the 2025 FHSZ map update, Cal Fire increased the Very -High Fire Zone in the City by 4,299 acres for a new total of 33,278 acres, representing an approximately 15 percent increase. Cal Fire also added 1,991 acres in the Moderate Fire Zone and 2,929 acres in the High -Fire Zone within the City. Total acreage of the FHSZ in the City as a result of the 2025 update, accounting for all three zones, is 38,198 acres. ALTERNATIVE ACTION Other action as determined by the City Council. FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact as a result of this item. ATTACHMENTS FHSZ Map Ordinance 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map Page 2 Packet Pg. 11 1.a ORDINANCE NO. 25- AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE MAP OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AND ISSUED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 51179 WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 51178 mandates that the State Fire Marshal identify Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones based on consistent statewide criteria and the expected severity of fire hazards; and WHEREAS, on March 24, 2025, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection published its Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for the Local Responsibility Areas of Los Angeles County; and WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 51179 requires local agencies to adopt an ordinance within 120 days from when the Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps are published, designating the fire zones within its jurisdiction; and WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 51179 prohibits cities, counties, and the public from appealing areas identified in the fire zones or reducing the level of the fire zones published by Cal Fire. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The Santa Clarita City Council designate the Fire Hazard Severity Zones as established by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Government Code Section 51178; SECTION 2. The map, as distributed by the State and approved by the City Council, is hereby incorporated by reference and entitled, "City of Santa Clarita Fire Hazard Severity Zones"; and SECTION 3. The City of Santa Clarita Fire Hazard Severity Zones map is available electronically on the City's website. SECTION 4. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect thirty (30) days from its passage and adoption. Page 1 of 2 Packet Pg. 12 1.a SECTION 5. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this ordinance and shall cause the same to be published as required by law. PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this day of , 2025. MAYOR ATTEST: CITY CLERK DATE: STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss. CITY OF SANTA CLARITA ) I, Mary Cusick, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance No. 25- was regularly introduced and placed upon its first reading at a regular meeting of the City Council on the day of 2025. That thereafter, said ordinance was duly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council on the day of 2025, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: AND I FURTHER CERTIFY that the foregoing is the original of Ordinance No. 25- and was published in The Signal newspaper in accordance with State Law (G.C. 40806). CITY CLERK Page 2 of 2 Packet Pg. 13 1.b NNI La ---- ----------------- - - - - -- - -- r - - -� Los ANg I�� GELESy� y��i� Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) in Local Responsibility Area (LRA), as Identified by the State Fire Marshal = Very High High Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zones in State Responsibility Area (SRA), Effective April 1, 2024 Very High High Moderate 6 Mi 0 1 2 3 4 Km 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Projection'. 1A1383 California Teal. Albers Scala1.95 000 at 11" x 17" ;Incorporated City E3 Waterbody Unzoned LRA Federal Responsibility Area (FRA) Government Code section 51178 requires the State Fire statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is and other relevant factors including areas where winds Marshal to identity areas in the state as moderate, high, expected to prevail in those areas. Moderate, high, and very high fire have been identified by the office of the State Fire Marshal and very high fire hazard severity zones based on consistent hazard severity zones shall be based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, as a major cause of wildfire spread. Packet Pg. 14