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Council told to expect building‑code and land‑use changes for wildfire hardening; expanded WUI mapping and curbside assessments to follow
Summary
City planning and fire staff told council they will pursue adoption of the 2024 International WUI building‑code changes this spring and follow with land‑use and landscaping code updates later in the year, while EmberCast modeling will expand the WUI map and prompt wider curbside assessments.
City planning staff and fire officials updated council on two linked priorities: wildfire hardening (building‑ and land‑use code changes) and water‑wise landscaping.
Lisa Hood, principal planner with Planning and Development Services, said the city will open a public engagement window in mid‑March on adoption of the 2024 International Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) building code changes and is scheduled to bring those building‑code amendments to council for adoption on May 15. Hood said land‑use code changes (including a consolidated plant list and landscaping rules intended to reduce fuels near structures) are the next step; staff plan a late‑July check‑in and an anticipated adoption of land‑use and landscaping changes in September–October.
Hood said mapping staff are preparing an expanded WUI boundary using EmberCast fire‑behavior modeling, the state resiliency code board criteria and local fire‑department data. Fire Chief Mike Aldaraza and staff said curbside home‑assessment work is ongoing across the city and that the curbside assessment boundary will be adjusted if the WUI mapping expands. Chief Aldaraza also told council that insurers keep their risk‑models private and do not directly link their underwriting to local code changes in a clear, public way, although he said more community resilience work should help over time.
Why it matters: staff said the May building‑code adoption and later land‑use updates will create enforceable standards for structure hardening, fencing and landscaping intended to reduce the risk of home ignition during wildfires. Curbside assessments provide homeowners with quick, actionable information about vulnerability.
What’s next: mid‑March community meetings on WUI building‑code adoption; May 15 council adoption hearing for building code; late‑July update on land‑use recommendations; September–October land‑use adoption target; expanded curbside assessment coverage tied to new WUI mapping.
