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Committee hears updates on hazard mitigation plan, weed‑abatement kickoff, park‑ranger reorganization and proposed committee restructuring
Summary
City staff reported that the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan was approved, a Community Wildfire Protection Plan grant application was submitted, the weed abatement program will start with notices on April 1, and staff proposed reorganizing commissions and moving park-ranger oversight toward a public‑safety alignment.
City staff provided a series of procedural and program updates to the Public Safety Committee covering hazard mitigation, vegetation abatement and committee structure.
Staff reported that the city’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) was adopted by the city council and approved by Cal OES; FEMA subsequently approved it. Staff said they have already submitted a grant application for a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), which would produce a community‑wide wildfire risk assessment to streamline future fuel‑reduction projects (for example targeted grazing or vegetation projects) and support Firewise community formation for neighborhoods and HOAs.
The city also confirmed a resolution to begin the 2025 weed‑abatement program. Notices are scheduled to be mailed on April 1; staff said the program focuses on vacant and undeveloped parcels and city‑owned lots (reservoir sites and similar parcels) and that the city will return to council to authorize enforcement actions against persistently noncompliant property owners.
Committee members discussed park‑ranger responsibilities and an internal reorganization. Staff said park rangers and community outreach functions were moved to report through a different supervisor after the departure of the previous code compliance manager. Staff described a multi‑step plan to align park rangers with a future public‑safety department rather than the community‑development/code‑compliance function; this would include clarifying performance measures, training and tracking systems for ranger activity. Park rangers reported roughly 7,000 park and beach patrols and visits over a recent three‑month period, about 3,000 non‑parking enforcement contacts and 38 parking‑related actions in the same timeframe.
Staff also summarized a proposal to reorganize several advisory bodies. Under the draft ordinance to be considered by council, duties of the Coastal Advisory Committee would move to the Beaches, Parks and Recreation Committee; Human Affairs Committee responsibilities would be split between Beaches, Parks and Recreation and the Public Safety Committee, which staff proposed renaming the Community Safety and Welfare Committee. The draft would also increase the committee membership from five to seven and encourage membership with public‑safety experience. Staff said the first reading of the ordinance was scheduled for the April 1 council meeting.
Committee members asked for clarity on representation at committee meetings, the bi‑monthly meeting cadence proposed for the restructured committee, and assurances that departmental representatives (OCFA, OCSD, marine safety) would still have liaisons available if agenda items pertained to their areas. Staff confirmed those expectations would be addressed as the ordinance moves through council.
The committee concluded with a motion to adjourn; the committee approved the adjournment by a voice vote.
