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Belmont Council ratifies local adoption of San Mateo fire hazard maps; ordinances set for second reading July 8
Summary
Belmont City Council voted 5-0 on June 24 to ratify San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department map amendments and introduce two ordinances adopting local LRA fire hazard classifications; the ordinances return for a second reading July 8.
Belmont City Council voted 5-0 on June 24 to ratify amendments from the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department that add moderate fire hazard severity classifications to local responsibility area (LRA) maps and to introduce two local ordinances adopting those maps. Council members moved the measures forward and scheduled a second reading and final adoption for the July 8 council meeting.
The ordinances implement changes required by recent state legislation to classify fire hazard severity in LRAs as moderate, high, or very high. City staff and San Mateo Consolidated Fire representatives told the council the new LRA maps expand local authority to apply safety standards — such as vegetation management and building construction measures — in areas the state now identifies as moderate.
San Mateo Consolidated Fire representatives said adopting the moderate classifications does not relax statewide minimums; rather, it authorizes Belmont to apply heightened local standards more broadly than state minimums alone. "We're not making our local regulations more lax than what the state minimums would require. We're making our local regulations just a little bit more safe and a little more strict than the state minimum," a San Mateo Consolidated Fire representative told the council.
Staff said the Western Hills area, previously identified as very high fire hazard severity, will continue to be covered by heightened standards; the new maps also bring the San Juan Canyon into state-identified moderate designations, letting the city apply similar local safety rules there.
Council member Lana Merlo moved the city action and Council member Jordan seconded; the roll call vote was recorded as Jordan, McKeown, Merlo, Vice Mayor Peng Maganaras and Mayor Mates — all voting yes. The council also took the same introductory action in its role as the Belmont Fire Protection District board; that motion also passed 5-0.
City staff and the fire district noted the San Mateo Fire Board adopted the fire code and LRA map amendments on May 21. Staff said the ordinances will be presented for second reading and formal adoption at the July 8 city council meeting.
The council recorded no public comment on the ordinance action during the meeting.
