Fire Safe Council urges expanded home assessments as council weighs $100,000 home‑hardening proposal

Agoura Hills — A newly formed local nonprofit, the Agoura Hills Fire Safe Council, told the City Council it has enrolled a large share of the city’s homes in Firewise communities and urged additional budget support so volunteers can expand home assessments and mitigation programs.

“My name is Peter Feller, and I'm president of the nonprofit Agoura Hills Fire Safe Council,” Feller said during the public‑comment period. He said the council — formed about 18 months ago — has helped establish 10 recognized Firewise communities, with another in process, and “4,854 residences that are currently part of a Firewise community. That's 64% of all Agoura Hills residences and another 6% on the way.” Feller said the volunteer group distributes a monthly newsletter to more than 2,200 residents and has 26 Firewise community leaders.

Feller asked the council for budget help for three near‑term campaigns: increasing the number of home assessments (staff from the Resource Conservation District cannot keep up with demand), expanding an ember‑resistant vent campaign (materials and volunteer installation training), and holding more public education events. He also asked that budget allocations allow for administrative expenses, noting “It is normal for admin expenses of these kind of projects to be around 20%.”

Council discussion placed the Fire Safe Council’s request within larger emergency‑preparedness proposals from subcommittees. The law enforcement, fire and emergency‑response subcommittee recommended up to $100,000 for a wildfire‑prevention/home‑hardening program (staff said that number can be adjusted). Council members also considered related items the subcommittee proposed: a memorandum of understanding with Southern California Edison for designated community support centers during Public Safety Power Shutoffs (an initial staff estimate placed year‑one costs at about $9,100 and year‑two at $2,100, for equipment and staffing), $10,000 for enhanced evacuation‑education marketing, and staff analysis of backup internet options for hard‑to‑reach areas.

City staff noted existing grants that could offset program costs. In the environmental discussion, council members and staff said the city has a pending $100,000 grant from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy intended for fire‑resilience work; staff will clarify eligible uses in the grant agreement and report back. During the environmental subcommittee review, staff offered a lower‑cost option for a tree‑management plan: a $25,000 inventory/plan alternative to an originally listed $100,000 cost for a fuller inventory and replacement plan.

Council members asked staff to factor administrative costs into any grant or city funding for community partners. Council member Klein Lopez specifically said that if the Fire Safe Council or similar groups receive city funding, “a percentage of it…should be allowed to go towards their admin costs.”

No final appropriation was approved at the workshop; staff will return with refined cost estimates, details about grant terms and a proposed funding package for council consideration.