Council advances ordinance to adopt state—issued fire-hazard severity maps after recusals

Pacifica—s city council voted to introduce an ordinance that would adopt state-produced fire-hazard severity zone maps for areas inside the city that fall under local responsibility. Councilmembers temporarily recused themselves because they own property in the mapped zones, and the council invoked the state—s "rule of necessity" to permit a quorum to act.

The maps were developed by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Office of the State Fire Marshal using vegetation, topography and fire-history data, North County Fire Authority Chief Ron Myers told the council. "They utilize factors such as the type of vegetation, density, fire history, embers, local weather, topography," Myers said, describing the state—s methodology.

The state law requires local governments to adopt the maps for local responsibility areas within 120 days of map release, Mayor Pro Tem Bowles noted during the meeting. Council agreed to introduce an ordinance adding fire-hazard severity zones to the municipal…