To: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
From: Executive Office and County Counsel
Meeting Date: May 6, 2025
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Department Contact: |
Jeff Adair |
Phone: |
707-234-6321 |
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Department Contact: |
Charlotte Scott |
Phone: |
707-234-6885 |
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Item Type: Regular Agenda |
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Time Allocated for Item: 15 Minutes |
Agenda Title:
title
Discussion and Possible Action Including Introduction and Waive First Reading of an Ordinance Designating Fire Hazard Severity Zones
(Sponsors: Executive Office and County Counsel)
End
Recommended Action/Motion:
recommendation
Introduce and waive first reading of an Ordinance designating Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
End
Previous Board/Board Committee Actions:
None.
Summary of Request:
By way of background, California Government Code section 51178 required CAL FIRE - Office of the State Fire Marshal to develop updated recommended Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps designating hazard scores of Moderate, High, and Very High, for local areas, which it began releasing in phases in this spring. The maps evaluate hazard (not risk), which is 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 wildfire, or fuel reduction efforts. Pursuant to California Government Code section 51179, local agencies, such as the County of Mendocino and fire districts responsible for fire protection within the County have 120 days to adopt the FHSZ’s by ordinance. Section 51179 does not permit local agencies to decrease the level of fire hazard identified by the State Fire Marschal for any area in its jurisdiction but may (only) increase the level of fire hazard severity zone as identified by the State Fire Marshal (or add areas not listed to the Moderate designation). Local agencies must transmit a copy of the ordinance with required documents (PDF map and GIS geodatabase) to the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (BOF) within 30 days of adoption.
The maps are currently posted on the Mendocino County website for public view and comment, with an embedded link for “CAL FIRE - Fire Hazard Severity Zone Public Comment Click Here” specifically located at: <https://mendoready.org/>
The attached proposed Ordinance designates and adopts the FHSZ’s as recommended by the Office of State Fire Marshal pursuant to Government Code section 51178 and approves the map for the County of Mendocino “Mendocino County - Unincorporated LRA” entitled “Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones,” attached as Exhibit A and incorporated into the ordinance. Local agencies within Phase 2, including Mendocino County have until June 24, 2025 to adopt the ordinance, and must transmit a copy of the ordinance with required documents within 30 days of adoption.
Alternative Action/Motion:
Do not adopt the ordinance and provide direction to staff.
Strategic Plan Priority Designation: A Safe and Healthy County
Supervisorial District: All
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supplemental Information Available Online At: Mendocino County - Fire Hazard Severity Zone Survey <https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/eba136d40eb4436dbacdc363ac9243a7>
Fiscal Details:
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source of funding: N/A |
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current f/y cost: N/A |
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budget clarification: N/A |
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annual recurring cost: N/A |
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budgeted in current f/y (if no, please describe): N/A |
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revenue agreement: N/A |
AGREEMENT/RESOLUTION/ORDINANCE APPROVED BY COUNTY COUNSEL: Yes
CEO Liaison: Executive Office
CEO Review: Yes
CEO Comments:
FOR COB USE ONLY
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Executed By: Deputy Clerk |
Final Status: Item Status |
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Date: Date Executed |
Executed Item Type: item |
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Number: |
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