Atascadero council adopts state fire hazard severity map; council to weigh local wildland-urban interface policy later

Atascadero Council introduced for first reading an ordinance to adopt the California Office of the State Fire Marshal’s 2025 Local Responsibility Area fire hazard severity zone map, a staff presentation said is required by Government Code 51179. "City Council must adopt the map by 07/08/2025 per government code 51179," Chief Bryson told the council.

The vote on the ordinance introduction passed 3-0. The council then paused the remainder of the agenda item to allow two members who had declared conflicts of interest, based on property locations in the map areas, to step off the dais while the council completed the vote. The city attorney explained the FPPC conflict rules and the “rule of necessity” used to permit a quorum when multiple members have potential financial interests. "We would have to engage in what’s called the rule of necessity where we draw a straw to bring one of you back to consider the…