The Santaquin City Council voted Dec. 16 to adopt the 2006 Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) code and approved a local WUI map prepared at the state's request.

Staff and fire officials told council that the state currently enforces the 2006 code and that adopting it locally reduces the city’s legal risk and avoids a code more restrictive than state requirements. Council members expressed frustration with recent state mapping that had included orchards and other areas they argued should not be designated high risk.

A member of staff summarized the council's choice as "the best of all the worst options," reflecting limited choices given the state's timetable and the pending release of updated state maps in early January.

Council approved the ordinance and voted to forward the city's WUI map to state authorities while continuing to seek adjustments to avoid punitive impacts on existing homes and businesses.