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Committee questions a minutes line on defensible space distances; opts to reference codes in ordinance
Summary
Members debated a sentence in the draft minutes stating "30 feet is moderate, 50 foot high, and 100 feet extreme," found it unclear, and agreed to strike it from the minutes and instead have the ordinance refer to applicable current codes and site-specific assessments.
Speaker 2 raised concern about a line recorded on page 2 of the minutes that described defensible-space distances as "30 feet is moderate, 50 foot high, and 100 feet extreme," saying they could not recall what the notation applied to and suggesting it be removed if the recording review is too time-consuming. Speaker 2 said, "I feel like you documented something great, but I don't remember what it was."
Other participants clarified that fire-risk ratings (moderate, high, extreme) and required setbacks can depend on slope and on a site-specific wildland fire hazard assessment. Speaker 4 summarized that "the steeper the slope, the further out you have to be," and Speaker 6 added that setbacks increase as assessed wildland-fire risk becomes more extreme. Several speakers (Speakers 2 and 3) referenced a local code (referred to in the transcript as the "Louis code") as the source of numeric examples.
The group agreed on a practical approach: remove the unclear descriptive sentence from the minutes and ensure the ordinance text directs readers to current, applicable codes and assessments for determining proper defensible space. Staff will incorporate the edits and bring the revised draft back for review at the next meeting.
No formal vote on ordinance language was taken; participants treated the exchange as direction to staff and editorial clarification to the minutes.
