HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 616 w Exhibit AEI -M s ffl IV,
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS ALTOS
HILLS DESIGNATING FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES PURSUANT TO
GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 51179
WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 51178 requires the State Fire Marshal (a
part of the California Department of Forestry and. Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)) to identify
areas of the state as Moderate,, High, or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ),
based on consistent statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected
to prevail in those areas.; and
WHEREAS, Government Code Section 51 1 79(a) requires local agencies to adopt by
ordinance, designations of Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones
within 120 days of receiving recommendations from the State Fire Marshal; and
WHEREAS, Government Code Section 5 1179(b) authorizes local agencies to increase, but
not decrease, the level of hazard severity recommended by the State Fire Marshal provided
that any local amendments to increase a hazard severity designation to Very High must be
based on findings supported by substantial evidence in the record that defensible space
requirements in Government Code section 51182 are necessary for effective fire protection
in the area; and
WHEREAS, Government Code section 51178.5 requires local agencies to, within 30 days
after receiving a transmittal from the State Fire Marshal that identifies FHSZs pursuant to
Section 51178, make the infonnation accessible, understandable, and available for public
review and comment; and
WHEREAS, Los Altos Hills contains uniquely sloped geography, narrow road withs,
unpaved pathways and travel routes, and dense, highly flammable vegetation, including
chaparral and heavy brush, which supports frequent and intense wildfire behavior and
presents a substantial threat of catastrophic fires; and
WHEREAS, a portion of Los Altos Hills is also adjacent to the Rancho San Antonio Open
Space, which also consists of highly flammable vegetation and terrain difficult to navigate,
further increasing fire risk exposures. As a part of its commitment to fire prevention and
hazard mitigation efforts, the Town is a participating jurisdiction in the 2024 Santa Clara
County Multi -Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP), which identifies wildfire as a
significant threat to the community and recommends enhanced mitigation measures,
including stricter fire hazard severity zone designations, to protect life and property; and
WHEREAS, the Town is a member of the Los Altos Hills County Fire District, which is
subject to the Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), a regionally
coordinating document for wildfire mitigation projects, programs and education. The 2023
Community Wildfire Protection Plan (C)ATP) Annex 4 applies to the Los Altos Hills County
Fire District, and highlights critical evacuation challenges within the Town of Los Altos
Hills, such as narrow, winding roads with limited turnarounds and single -access routes
serving large residential areas, which impede emergency response and evacuation efforts
during wildfires; and
WHEREAS, designation of FHSZs, as presented in the record before the Town of Los Altos
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ORDINANCE 616 1 P a g e
Hills ("Town"), accounts for different geographical, weather, fire history, evacuation access,
and other attributes to facilitate risk evaluation and, where appropriate or required, defensible
space and other fire hazard mitigation measures to reduce fire risk; and I
WHEREAS, the Town received the recommended Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps from
CAL FIRE on February 24, 2025, and published them on the Town's website on March 26, 2025,
along with several options for potential local amendments to the CAL FIRE FHSZ maps, for public
review and comment in compliance with Government Code Section 51178.5; and
WHEREAS, on April 17, 2025, -the City Council conducted a public meeting to discuss and
consider the CAL FIRE FHSZ maps and potential local amendments thereto, received staff report
and presentation from Town staff and third party experts regarding the Town's geographical,
topographical, and other community characteristics exposing it to fire hazards, as well as fire
prevention considerations, took numerous comments from the public, and provided. direction to
Town staff; and
WHEREAS, the City Council conducted a duly noticed public hearing on May 15, 2025, and a
subsequent duly noticed public meeting on June 18, 2025, to discuss, receive public comments,
and consider introduction of an ordinance adopting a map and designating FHSZs for Los Altos
Hills; and
WHEREAS, the Town has reviewed the CAL FIRE FHSZ maps and the potential options
for local amendments, considered all public colmnents received on these maps to date and as a
part of the foregoing public meetings, and intends to designate the Fire Hazard Severity
Zones as recommended by CAL FIRE as shown on Exhibit A to this Ordinance.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills does hereby
ORDAIN as follows:
Section 1. General and CEOA Findings..
1. The foregoing Recitals and true and correct and made a part of this Ordinance. The Exhibits
and attachments hereto are incorporated herein by this reference.
2. Based on the entirety of the record before it, the City Council of the Town of Los Altos
Hills hereby finds that this ordinance is exempt from the provisions of the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
Under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3)., CEQA applies only to projects that have
the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment, and where it can be seen
with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a
significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. In this case, the
proposed ordinance designating fire hazard severity zones does not have a potential for
creating a significant environmental effect as it does not create any zoning or introduce any
land uses, approve any development projects, or issue any entitlements, but are regulatory
actions taken by the Town to implement state law requirements only. Additionally, the
City Council also finds that this ordinance is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA
Guidelines Section 15308 as the Town is required by and authorized under Government
Code Section 51175 et seq. to take this action to designate fire hazard severity zones,
which would either require or encourage/facilitate fire prevention and mitigation
measures to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the
environment 'by reducing wildfire and structural fire risks. As such, this ordinance is a
regulatory action involving procedures for environmental protections.
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ORDINANCE 616 2 1 P a g e
Section 2. Fire Hazard Severity Zone DesiLynation.
1. The Town of Los Altos Hills hereby designates the Fire Hazard Severity Zones as
recommended by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection/State Fire
Marshal pursuant to Government Code Section 51178.
2. The map adopted by the Town of Los Altos Hills, as shown in Exhibit A. is hereby
incorporated and entitled "Town of Los Altos Hills Fire Hazard Severity Zones".
3. Said adopted map is also located electronically on the following website:
httys://www..Iosaltoshills.ca.gov 640/Fire-Hazard-Severity-Zone-Mai)s.
Section 4. Severability.
If any provision of this ordinance or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of this ordinance, including the application of such part
or provision to the other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby and shall continue
in full force and effect. To this end, the provisions of this ordinance are severable. The City Council
of the Town of Los Altos Hills hereby declares that it would have passed each section, subsection,
subdivision, paragraph, sentence clause, or phrase hereof irrespective of the fact that any one or
more sections, subsections, subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences, clauses, or phrases be held
unconstitutional, invalid, or unenforceable.
Section 5. Effective Date,• Publication: Transmittal to the State.
This ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after adoption. Within fifteen (15) days after the
passage of this ordinance the City Clerk shall cause this ordinance or a summary thereof to be
published once, with the names of those City Councilmembers voting for or against it in a
newspaper of general circulation in the Town of Los Altos Hills, as required by law. Within thirty
(30) days of adoption of this ordinance, the City Clerk shall transmit a copy of the ordinance to
the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection.
INTRODUCED: JUNE 20, 2025
PASSED: JUNE 24, 2025
AYES: BHATEJA, MOK, TYSON
NOES: NONE
ABSTENTIONS: TANKHA
ABSENT: SWAN
Signatures on next page.
ORDINANCE 616 31 P a g z
ATTEST:
ka Birdsong -Miller, Cit Jerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_! ���
Steve Matta"4, City Attorney
BY:
Kavita Tankha, Mayor
ORDINANCE 616 41 P a g e