Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves $100,000 to begin wildland fire assessment district planning for coastal-high fire zone
Summary
The council authorized an initial $100,000 to initiate administrative work and an engineering study to create a wildland fire suppression assessment district covering coastal high-fire hazard areas; council members and Fire Chief Veil said new Cal Fire maps and an existing Community Wildfire Protection Plan make the timing appropriate.
The Santa Barbara City Council authorized $100,000 on June 10 to start administrative and engineering work necessary to form a new wildland fire assessment district covering coastal high-fire-hazard areas, including portions of the Mesa, Las Positas and adjacent neighborhoods.
Council Member Jordan asked for a placeholder appropriation to begin the district formation, saying neighborhood interest is high and early administrative work is needed to prepare the engineer's report and benefit assessments. Fire Chief Veil described the existing Wildland Fire Suppression Assessment District (operating in the foothills for about 16 years), reviewed the city's Community Wildfire Protection Plan, and said recently released Cal Fire maps now identify additional coastal areas as higher fire risk.
Chief Veil told the council that the district model is self-funded by parcels within the district, could provide services such as roadside brush clearance and chipping programs, and that a consultant team is available to create the engineer's report and cost assessments required to put the measure to parcel owners for approval.
Council Members Sneddon and Santa Maria moved and seconded a motion authorizing the city administrator to begin the administrative procedure and allocate $100,000 for the district formation, with staff to seek reimbursement from the district if it is adopted. The motion passed unanimously on a roll-call vote.
Ending
Council members said they favored moving quickly because Cal Fire's updated hazard maps validated earlier local wildfire planning. Staff will proceed with an engineer's report and plans for voter/parcel-owner approval; city staff noted the initial expense will be reimbursed if the assessment district is ultimately adopted by property owners.
