CC SR 20200505 01 - EPC Wildfire Mitigation
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 05/05/2020
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA DESCRIPTION:
Consideration and possible action to receive a Wildfire Mitigation presentation from the
Emergency Preparedness Committee.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Receive a presentation from the Emergency Preparedness Committee on
Wildlife Mitigation; and,
(2) Provide Staff and the Emergency Preparedness Committee further direction.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Jesse Villalpando, Emergency Services Coordinator
REVIEWED BY: same as below
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. EPC’s Wildfire Mitigation PowerPoint Presentation
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
On February 4, 2020, Chair Feinberg presented the Emergency Preparedness
Committee’s (EPC) first biannual report to the City Council. The presentation summarized
the EPC’s accomplishments in 2019 and objectives for 2020, including several slides
detailing the EPC’s proposal to identify measures to mitigate wildfire risk for the City’s
property owners. The EPC decided not to include detailed wildfire mitigation slides in the
biannual report presentation, but to use them as the basis of a subsequent presentation
to the City Council on wildfire mitigation.
On April 16, 2020, the EPC reviewed a draft of the wildfire mitigation presentation to City
Council prepared by Chair Feinberg. The EPC identified revisions to the presentation,
which are reflected in Attachment A.
1
Wildfire events have long been a concern for the residents of Ran cho Palos Verdes, and
recent devastating fires in the state have prompted the EPC to present its proposals to
address those concerns. At tonight’s meeting, the EPC will be presenting its wildfire
mitigation presentation which, as summarized below, encompasses the following:
Financial consequences of wildfire risk to residents
Steps to take to mitigate wildfire risks
Programs for minimizing wildfire risk
Hardening against wildfire impacts
Overhead utilities
The information presented by the EPC regarding wildfire mitigation suggest steps the City
Council, residents and utility companies can take in mitigating the risk of a wildfire.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative action is available for
the City Council’s consideration:
1. Take other action as deemed appropriate.
2
City of Rancho Palos Verdes
Emergency Preparedness Committee
Wildfire Risk and Cost Impact Mitigation
A-1
Financial consequences of wildfire risk to residents: higher costs
for property insurance and insufficient coverage for re-building
§Insurers limiting exposure in “highest risk” areas like RPV
§CalFire named RPV largest CA city in highest fire risk category
§Some denied home policy renewals in RPV, despite no claims
§Significant cost increase even if no physical link to wildfire
areas (new form of “Redlining” based on ZIP code)
§Homeowners denied traditional property insurance have “last-
resort” California FAIR Plan Property Insurance…not great
§After Woolsey Fire, Malibu home re-building running $800/sq. ft.—
many were under-insured
§Assuming 3-years of hypothetical insurance rate increases across
all RPV property owners:
§$15-18 million extra premiums (~15,000 properties, if additional
$900-$1,200 each in three years)
§+ Additional uninsured costs if your home burns A-2
What the City can do: Take steps for mitigating wildfire risk
§RPV needs “year-round” city strategy for fuel reduction, property
risk reduction, and communicating regularly with residents
§City Council should send a jointly-signed letter to all property
owners expressing city’s commitment to risk reduction, but
need residents’ help
§Maintain high-visibility of City’s own fuel-reduction efforts by
doing it most of year, and publicizing it—setting an example
§Continue to pursue State grants and other homeowner
incentives to harden homes, increase defensible space
§Coordination with other Peninsula cities with CalFire rating;
potential to reduce rating in more-developed areas
§Emergency Preparedness Committee would step up its fire-
mitigation outreach with residents: it takes a neighborhood to
harden itself A-3
The City Council can set other programs for minimizing fire risks to
reduce residents’ financial impact
§Have LA County Fire Dept. identify any RPV streets that merit “Red
Flag Day” parking restrictions to facilitate emergency vehicles
§Expand LA County Fire Dept. identification of uncleared RPV brush
§Good news: Most of RPV ridgelines are “built-up,” have fire
hydrants, slopes defensible from above…unlike rural areas
§Encourage neighborhoods to actively persevere year-round
opportunities for fuel reduction and property hardening, and
defensible space via NextDoor, Neighborhood Watch, HOAs
§Require telecommunication companies to have at least 72 hours of
back-up power for all cell phone towers in high-risk fire areas.
§Identify and support legislation, that may affect our residents and
potentially assist them with wildfire mitigation efforts and retaining
appropriate and affordable insurance coverage.
§Bottom line: Communicate a coordinated risk-reduction program to
insurance industry to avoid unwarranted premium hikes and
reduced homeowner insurance availability in RPV A-4
What residents can do: Harden their neighborhood against wildfire
impact, with advice from City
Hardening neighborhoods:
§Many slopes behind homes down to roads have extensive weeds
or dry brush…homeowners need more direction from City or FD
§Property owners should maintain at least 30’ brush clearance from
typical homes, 200’ from homes atop slopes in open spaces
§Replace wood shingle roofs with fire-resistant ones
§Reduce flying ember impact: ensure screens on attic vents and
other openings are 1/8” mesh, not 1/4” or larger
§Discourage highly-flammable trees (pines, eucalyptus, acacia,
palms, cypress), and incentives to replace
§Bottom line: A neighborhood’s fire resistance only as good as its
weakest property A-5
Costs for electricity and water likely to rise:
§Recent largest California fires caused by electric utilities
§Electric utilities taking some steps to prevent their equipment
causing fires…but many costs will be passed to users
§Palos Verdes Peninsula water rates higher than “below” in L.A.
Basin due to pumping water to Peninsula’s crest…higher
electricity rates = increased water rates
§City should continue its push for undergrounding funds
§Recommendation from EPC: Ensure SCE quickly hardens its
RPV system (or undergrounds, if possible) in open areas or
where lines parallel trees. Or, remove flammable brush near
overhead lines and replace with non-flammable materials (rock,
sand) underneath.
Utility lines have caused many of California’s most destructive fires
in recent years…but this also impacts RPV residents
A-6
We want our residents prepared for disasters…but
recommend avoiding wildfire risk via a coordinated program
§First priority is preservation of life and property
§The EPC sees that residents’ financial and emotional health will
be preserved through the results of the City’s mitigation efforts.
§Fire mitigation should be year-round
In closing, the EPC feels a strong case can be made for RPV
mitigating the risk of wildfires
A-7