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Huntsville council splits on Wildland‑Urban Interface ordinance; measure fails to pass
Summary
After debate about mapping sources and potential liability, the council voted down efforts to table and then failed to approve Ordinance 2025‑12‑04 adopting a Wildland‑Urban Interface code and map. Lt. Jeffries warned of possible liability if the town does not adopt the ordinance.
The Huntsville Town Council debated Ordinance 2025‑12‑04, which would adopt a Wildland‑Urban Interface (WUI) building code and an official WUI map, and failed to adopt it at the Dec. 4 meeting.
Council members questioned whether Huntsville fell within the WUI boundary. An alternative U.S. Forest Service map was introduced showing some areas of the town within a WUI area. Lt. Jeffries told council members on the record that "there might be liability to Huntsville Town if it didn't adopt the ordinance," and said he had attended meetings where the ordinance's implications were presented by the town attorney. Councilmembers discussed clerical edits and a rewording suggested by TCM Powell: "Whereas the Town, in accordance with this unfunded State mandate, the Town accepts the WUI map provided by the Weber Fire District..." but were divided on next steps.
A motion to table the ordinance failed (vote recorded 1–3). A subsequent motion to approve the edited ordinance also failed in a 2–2 tie, leaving the ordinance unadopted. Councilmembers asked for additional information, clarified that the state is still updating maps, and agreed to involve the town attorney and Weber Fire District in follow‑up work. The council did not take a final vote to adopt the WUI code at this meeting.
