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Agoura Hills adopts Community Wildfire Protection Plan; council prioritizes communications and home‑hardening
Summary
Council unanimously adopted the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), a Jensen Hughes‑prepared strategy that maps fuel‑treatment priority polygons, site‑specific measures and 46 community actions; council members emphasized emergency communications, home hardening and regional partnerships for fuels mitigation.
The Agoura Hills City Council voted 5–0 on May 27 to adopt the Community Wildfire Protection Plan prepared with Jensen Hughes and partner agencies. Assistant City Manager Adva Romero said the plan builds on the city's community wildfire risk assessment, was funded in part by CalFire grants, and lays out both site‑specific fuel‑treatment polygons and 46 communitywide actions across ten categories including fuels mitigation, codes and enforcement, home hardening, evacuation planning and public education.
Jensen Hughes' consultants highlighted how the plan combines fire frequency and hazard mapping to identify priority treatment areas; one northwest polygon of roughly 247 acres was cited as a large multi‑owner treatment opportunity. "When hazard and fire frequency align, we prioritized those areas for early treatment," consultant David Kerr said.
Council members and speakers from the Agoura Hills Fire Safe Council urged rapid implementation. Public commenter Jay Crutcher called the plan "timely" after recent regional fires and urged an immediate start on projects and more inclusive outreach; Peter Feller (Agoura Hills Fire Safe Council) also urged approval and emphasized ongoing partnership.
Council discussion focused on practical early steps: improving emergency communications and notifications; supporting neighborhood and volunteer organizations for defensible‑space work and chipper programs; and coordinating with neighboring landowners and agencies (MRCA, National Park Service, LA County Fire) for multi‑owner fuel treatments. Staff recommended forming an advisory implementation committee (a carryover of the agency working group) to prioritize shovel‑ready projects and pursue grants.
Motion and outcome: Council Member Sylvester moved and Council Member Anderson seconded the staff recommendation to adopt the CWPP and authorize staff to pursue implementation and funding. The roll‑call vote was yes from Anderson, Anstead, Sylvester, Mayor Pro Tim Klein Lopez and Mayor Wolf — approval 5–0.
Implementation note: Staff said adopting the CWPP makes the city more competitive for state and federal wildfire‑resilience funding; the plan lists prioritized, shovel‑ready projects and multi‑agency steps but cautions that coordination with multiple land managers and environmental review will be necessary for many fuel‑treatment projects.
