Council accepts fourth annual Community Wildfire Protection Plan update; Cal Fire maps prompt next steps

The City Council on Tuesday accepted the fourth annual Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) — a wildfire annex to Santa Rosa’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan — and heard staff describe priorities for the coming year, including implementing a vegetation‑management ordinance, expanding grazing pilots and continuing home‑hardening grants.

Interim Deputy Fire Chief Paul Lowenthal told the council the original five‑year CWPP was funded with about $5.55 million and included 46 action items. Lowenthal said the city will now begin work on a new CWPP. He described progress on nine objectives that include improved coordination of vegetation management projects, enhanced evacuation‑route treatments, increased public education and structural hardening grants to make homes more survivable in a wildfire.

Lowenthal said staff are using a GIS database to track vegetation treatments and that the city has implemented 1) targeted fuel treatments along evacuation routes, 2) a demonstration defensible‑space garden at Fire Station 7 in Oakmont, and 3) a $2.1 million hazard‑mitigation grant for home hardening (WUI modifications). He said the city has also received a roughly $500,000 grant from HCD for public education and related efforts.

A key development presented to the council was the release of new Cal Fire fire‑hazard severity maps the day before the meeting. Lowenthal said the new maps reduced hazard designations in some areas near Coffey Park and other neighborhoods; as a result, staff said it is now less likely Coffey Park will be added to the wildland‑urban interface designation. He described a 120‑day schedule that starts after map receipt for the city to review and act on the state’s recommendations.

Lowenthal discussed the city’s vegetation‑management ordinance (which recently took effect after a one‑year grace period), grazing pilots for fuel reduction, and a homeowner inspection/defensible‑space program staffed by new limited‑term and Measure H employees. He said turnout for some voluntary opt‑in projects was lower than expected and that staff will continue outreach.

After the presentation, Councilmember Benuelos moved and Councilmember Rogers seconded a motion to accept the CWPP annual report. The council approved the motion 5‑0 with Councilmembers McDonald and Okrepkie absent.

Lowenthal said the city will bring the newly released Cal Fire maps and recommended modifications back to the council in coming months and that staff will continue work on evacuation‑route fuel treatments, grazing, inspections tied to the new ordinance, and targeted home‑hardening funded by grants.