Camarillo extends local emergency for mountain fire, asks staff to consider permit fee waivers

The Camarillo City Council on Jan. 8 unanimously extended the city's local emergency declaration stemming from the mountain fire and asked staff to return with options for reducing or waiving city permit and review fees to help affected property owners.

City staff told the council the city manager originally proclaimed a local emergency on Nov. 7, 2024 and that the City Council ratified the proclamation on Nov. 13, 2024 under a resolution. Staff said the state Government Code requires the council to review the need to continue a local emergency at least every 60 days.

The extension matters because the proclamation allows the city to expedite response and recovery efforts, access state and federal resources and use other appropriate disaster relief programs for property owners and the city. Staff described ongoing recovery work including on-site contacts with property owners, a consolidated debris removal program administered by Ventura County and a city debris removal rebate program approved Nov. 20, 2024.

City staff reported the following inspection status among properties they reviewed after the fire: four properties were red-tagged (unsafe to occupy), five were yellow-tagged (restricted or limited entry) and 21 were green-tagged (inspected and lawful occupancy permitted). Staff said some property owners subsequently reported exterior damage, primarily to fencing and vegetation, that affects eligibility for recovery resources.

Staff briefed the council on the county's Dec. 17 action to waive certain planning, building and safety, environmental health, land development, roads and transportation and fire protection district fees for residents in unincorporated areas. The council was asked whether it wanted staff to analyze options for similar fee waivers or reductions within city jurisdiction. Staff described preliminary estimates of likely permit needs: approximately four full rebuilds (each requiring building, grading and zone clearance permits), two fire-repair/rehab permits, one solar repair (solar and electrical permits) and two accessory-structure repairs or reconstructions (rehab/reconstruction permits and zone clearances). Staff said they had not completed a full fee-impact analysis and would return with more information if directed.

Resident and building contractor Al Lowe, who said he lives at 192 Ramona Place and that his property was within the burn area, urged the council to "follow suit with the county" and provide relief in the form of permit-fee waivers and expedited plan reviews. Lowe also asked the council not to "discriminate" between residents based on small jurisdictional boundaries across streets.

Vice Mayor Tennyson moved to adopt the staff recommendation to extend the local emergency and directed staff to return with an item that mirrors the county's efforts; Council Member Trembley seconded. The motion passed on a 5-0 roll-call vote (Vice Mayor Tennyson: yes; Council Member Martinez Bravo: yes; Council Member Santangelo: yes; Council Member Trembley: yes; Mayor Kildee: yes).

The council also opened but continued and left open a separate public hearing on proposed building and safety fees (agenda item N) because a power outage prevented presentation of the item; the hearing was continued to the Jan. 22, 2025 meeting and the public record was left open. Multiple other items on the Jan. 8 agenda were continued to the Jan. 22 meeting, per a staff recommendation announced at the start of the session.

"The city manager exercised his authority on Nov. 7, 2024 due to the mountain fire," staff said during the report, noting the proclamation's purpose to expedite access to resources. Al Lowe told the council, "I would urge the council not to discriminate," when asking for fee relief to be extended to nearby residents whose properties lie in different jurisdictions.

Staff returns with a recommended resolution to affirm the continued local emergency and, separately, a potential report back on fee-waiver options. The council scheduled further consideration of the building and safety fees and other continued agenda items for the Jan. 22, 2025 meeting.