REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Travis Hopkins, City Manager
VIA: Eric McCoy, Fire Chief
PREPARED BY: Kevin Justen, Senior Management Analyst
Subject:
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Approve for Adoption Uncodified Ordinance No. 4336 Adopting the Fire Hazard Severity Zones - Approved for Introduction June 3, 2025, by a Vote of 7-0
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Statement of Issue:
Government Code Section 51178 (Attachment 1) directs the State Fire Marshal to identify areas in the state as moderate, high and very high fire hazard severity zones and Section 51179 (Attachment 2) requires that local agencies designate by Ordinance which zones in their jurisdictions are in each category. On March 23, 2025, the State Fire Marshal made available to the City of Huntington Beach the updated Local Responsibility Area hazard maps and Section 51179 requires the City to submit an Ordinance within 120 days from publication of these maps designating Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Ordinance No. 4336 (Attachment 3) designates these zones by reference.
Financial Impact:
There is no financial impact to adopt this Ordinance.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Approve for adoption Uncodified Ordinance No. 4336, "An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach Adopting Fire Hazard Severity Zones."
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve Ordinance No. 4336 and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
Government Code Section 51178 requires the Cal Fire Office of the State Fire Marshal to identify areas in the state as moderate, high and very high fire severity. These zones are selected based on modeling which includes factors such as fuel loading, slope, fire weather, and other relevant factors, including areas where winds have been identified as a major cause of wildfire spread.
Once maps identifying these areas are issued, Government Code Section 51179 requires that each local agency designate by Ordinance Hazard Severity Zones w...
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