Encinitas panel adopts wildfire outreach schedule, directs staff to draft public survey

The Encinitas Public Health and Safety Commission voted unanimously to adopt a schedule of public meetings and to direct staff to draft a public survey to collect residents' concerns about large wildfires, evacuation routes and preparedness.

The action, taken after more than two hours of discussion and one public comment, responds to a city council request that the commission "investigate potential wildfire risk and concerns" and provide findings in time to inform the city’s May–June budget process. Chair Morton framed the commission’s task as: "Hold public meetings to gather what issues of concern to the public regarding a conflagration."

Commissioners and staff said the survey and outreach will focus on a small number of themes and be kept short so people will complete it. Fire Chief Gordon told the panel that a practical survey structure would include "3 to 5 themes with 3 to 5 questions each," and staff said they would aim to keep the instrument to roughly 15 questions or fewer.

Among the topics commissioners and staff…