Planning Director (last name Pangman) presented an ordinance recodifying existing county fire-prevention provisions from Title 8 (Health and Sanitation) into a new Title 31 (Fire Safety and Regulations). The draft ordinance moves existing code text, renumbers provisions, and repeals an outdated 1951 provision that had delegated enforcement authority to state and federal forestry officers.

Pangman emphasized that the action does not change the substance of local rules or seasonal fire restrictions; it reorganizes and republishes the same standards in a single, consolidated chapter. He read the 1951 provision proposed for repeal, which had declared state foresters and authorized federal officers to be peace officers for enforcement of the chapter. The proposed revision removes that 1951 delegation and returns enforcement authority to local code language.

Pangman said the reorganization followed board direction earlier in the year to place fire-hazard severity maps and related regulations in a single Title 31. He also noted that seasonal restriction language remains intact and will continue to trigger automatically when U.S. Forest Service or other authorities declare higher fire danger stages in local national forests.

The Board moved, seconded and voted to introduce the ordinance and waive the first reading; the item will return for a final reading and formal adoption at a subsequent meeting.