Monrovia council adopts updated fire-hazard map, approves housing in-lieu fees and introduces water and parks ordinances

The Monrovia City Council adopted an updated Local Responsibility Area (LRA) fire hazard severity zone map and approved a resolution establishing affordable-housing in-lieu fees, the council announced after a public hearing and several staff presentations. Council members also introduced an ordinance to update the city’s backflow enforcement procedures and an ordinance updating park rules including a clarified anti-camping definition.

The new LRA map, dated March 24, 2025, implements the state’s three-tier hazard classification — moderate, high and very high — that the Office of the State Fire Marshal released earlier this year. Fire Chief Jeremy Sanchez told the council the maps are science-based and reflect factors such as fuel load, slope, past fires and ember spread. “Tonight’s public hearing is to provide an opportunity for public comment regarding the updated local responsibility area fire hazard severity zone map, dated March 2025 before the final adoption of ordinance 2025-08,” Sanchez said.

The adoption of the map was presented as the culmination of the required steps under state law; staff advised the council the city must adopt local maps within 120 days of the state release to meet Government Code timelines. The council closed the public hearing after no speakers addressed the item and then voted to adopt ordinance 2025-08.

Council also adopted Resolution 2025-34, which establishes an affordable-housing in-lieu fee structure for eligible residential development. Housing staff Sherry said the fees are based on a Kaiser Marston feasibility study and will be applied on a per-square-foot basis: $29.40 per square foot for ownership projects and $24.50 per square foot for rental projects. If a project chooses the in-lieu option, the fees are collected prior to building-permit issuance and placed in a dedicated fund for production, preservation or rehabilitation of affordable units.

On administrative items, the council introduced (read by title only) an amendment to Title 13 (Chapter 13.04) to formalize backflow prevention enforcement consistent with the State Water Resources Control Board policy and to add a minimum meter-size requirement for fire‑suppression systems. Deputy Director of Public Works Victoria Rocha briefed the council on state cross-connection policy changes and explained the city’s proposed enforcement steps, including stepped notices and, eventually, city-arranged testing billed to property owners if they do not comply.

The council also introduced an ordinance amending Chapters 12.32 and 12.33 (parks and the Hillside Wilderness Preserve) to add Satoru Sunaishi Park to the municipal code list of parks, to harmonize duplicate park rules, and to add a clearer definition of camping and a limited exclusion order as an enforcement tool. The parks ordinance sets prohibited activities tied to the camping definition and narrows any exclusion orders to specific parks with an appeal process.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 2025-08 (adopt updated LRA fire hazard severity zone map): Adopted. Roll call recorded yes votes from Councilmember Belden, Councilmember Jimenez, Councilmember Pfizer, Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Kelly and Mayor Shevlin. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 2025-34 (affordable housing in-lieu fees): Adopted. Roll call recorded yes votes from Councilmember Spalding, Councilmember Jimenez, Councilmember Pfizer, Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Kelly and Mayor Shevlin. Outcome: approved. - Ordinance 2025-06 (amend Title 13 – backflow enforcement / minimum meter for fire suppression): Introduced (waived further reading, read by title only). Roll call recorded yes votes; item returned for later adoption. - Ordinance 2025-10 (amend parks chapters to add Satoru Sunaishi Park and update camping rules): Introduced (waived further reading, read by title only). Roll call recorded yes votes; item returned for later adoption. - Consent calendar (CC1–CC15): Approved by motion without objection.

Discussion vs. decision - Discussion: Staff described the technical basis for the new fire-hazard classifications and explained implementation steps including outreach, continued defensible-space inspections, coordination with Community Development, and updates to the Safety Element and municipal code. Staff also explained that insurance companies use separate risk models and that these maps identify hazard rather than the insurance risk itself. Public comment on the fire map was none; other public comments during the meeting touched on pedestrian/bicycle safety, peacock management, and restroom access at the train station but did not directly affect the ordinances. - Direction: Staff was directed to continue outreach and to incorporate the new maps into planning and municipal code updates; council also accepted staff’s recommendation to place in-lieu fees in a restricted fund and to adjust fees annually using the ENR construction index. - Formal action: The council approved the adopted items and introduced the two ordinances noted above.

What the actions mean locally - Fire-hazard map adoption triggers new local defensible-space requirements for parcels now mapped as high or very high; staff said a specific AB 38 inspection requirement will apply on sales in those areas and that some inspections are already set up as a fee-for-service activity. - The housing in-lieu fees create a mechanism for smaller projects to comply with the inclusionary requirement by paying a fee intended to fund affordable housing elsewhere in the city.

Ending The council gave unanimous or near-unanimous approval to the measures described above and scheduled both introduced ordinances for future adoption hearings. Staff said the city will pursue public outreach and code updates in coming weeks to implement the map and ordinance changes.