CC SR 20250701 C - Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map Update
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 07/01/2025
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration to adopt the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection ’s
(CalFire) Updated 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Adopt Ordinance No. 691 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CALIFORNIA, TO ADOPT UPDATED FIRE
HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF FORESTER, AND FIRE PROTECTION PURSUANT TO
GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 51178, AND REPEAL AND REPLACE
SECTION 8.08.060 (VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE MAP) OF
TITLE 8 OF THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES MUNICIPAL CODE
FISCAL IMPACT: The adoption of the Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map does not have a
direct fiscal impact. However, fuel modification, wildfire mitigation and
preparedness efforts, and open space maintenance work conducted
partly in response to this map will incur costs that have been included
in the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Draft Operating Budget.
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Lubna Mohammad, Emergency Management Coordinator LM
REVIEWED BY: Catherine Jun, Deputy City Manager CJ
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Ordinance No. 691 (Page A-1)
B. June 17, 2025 City Council Staff Report
BACKGROUND:
On June 17, 2025, Ordinance No. 691 (Attachment A) was introduced by the City Council.
This Ordinance proposes to adopt the California Department of Forestry and Fire
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Protection’s (CalFire) updated 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map 2025 and to repeal
and replace Section 8.08.060 (Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map) of Title 8 of the
Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code to reflect the updated requirements.
This evening, Ordinance No. 691 is presented for its second reading and consideration
of adoption. If adopted, this Ordinance will go into effect on January 1, 2026. Until then,
current requirements, including fuel modification, shall remain in full force and effect.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative actions are available
for the City Council’s consideration:
1. Identify text modifications to the proposed ordinance language and direct
Staff to return at the next available meeting to incorporate comments made to
develop and refine the proposed code amendment or to consider adding
areas of the City to the Very High Fire Severity Zone.
2. Do not adopt Ordinance No. 691
3. Take other action, as deemed appropriate
4. Take no action.
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ORDINANCE NO. 691
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CALIFORNIA,
TO ADOPT UPDATED FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY
ZONES AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF FORESTER, AND FIRE
PROTECTION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT
CODE SECTION 51178, AND REPEAL AND
REPLACE SECTION 8.08.060 (VERY HIGH FIRE
HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE MAP) OF TITLE 8 OF
THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES MUNICIPAL CODE
WHEREAS, Government Code Section 51177 defines “Fire Hazard Severity
Zones” to mean areas designated by the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire)
based on consistent statewide criteria on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to
prevail in those areas; and
WHEREAS, this designation requires the City of Rancho Palos to consider the
potential fire risk implications of planning decisions in those areas; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes wishes to repeal
and replace Section 8.08.060 (Very high fire hazard severity zone map) of Title 8, in
accordance with changes made to the recommended Fire Hazard Severity Zones for the
City of Rancho Palos Verdes.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES, CALIFORNIA, DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Findings. The City Council finds as follows:
A. Pursuant to California Government Code section 51178, the Office of the State Fire
Marshal (OSFM), which is part of the California Department of Forestry and Fire
Protection (CalFire), is directed to identify areas in the City of Rancho Palos Verdes
(City) as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on
consistent statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is
expected to prevail in those areas.
B. The City received an updated map of the proposed fire hazard severity zones for
the City (Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map) from OSFM on March 24, 2025, and
promptly made the updated Fire Hazard Severity Map available for public review
and comment by posting it on the City’s website, social media, and weekly reports,
and holding an Information Session open to the public on April 30, 2025.
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C. The City Council has reviewed the updated fire hazard severity zones for the City
recommended by OSFM, agrees with the recommendations, and desires to adopt
the updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map in accordance with California
Government Code section 51179.
Section 2. Environmental Findings. The City Council exercises its independent
judgment and finds that this ordinance is not subject to California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or
reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment), Section 15060(c)(3)
(the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378), and Section 15308 (actions by
regulatory agencies for the protection of the environment) of the CEQA Guide lines,
California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because the subject ordinance has
no potential for resulting in any significant physical change to the environment, either
directly or indirectly.
Section 3. Adoption of Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map. The Fire Hazard Severity Zone
Map entitled “City of Rancho Palos Verdes Fire Hazard Severity Zones” dated July 1,
2025, as set forth in Exhibit A, is hereby approved. The map will be posted and maintained
electronically on the City’s website and retained in the City Clerk’s Office.
Section 4. Modification of Title 8. Chapter 8.08.060 of Title 8 of the Rancho Palos
Verdes Municipal Code is hereby repealed and replaced to read as follows:
"Section 8.08.060. Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps. The City Council of the
City of Rancho Palos Verdes hereby designates Very High , High, and
Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zones, as recommended by the Office of
the State Fire Marshal (OSFM), Director of the California Department of
Forestry and Fire Protection and the County of Los Angeles Fire
Department, as designated on the maps entitled Fire Hazard Severity Zone,
which are on file in the City Clerk’s Office."
Section 5. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this
ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court
of competent jurisdiction, such decision will not affect the validity of the remaining portions
of this ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this
ordinance and each and every section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase not
declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any p ortion of the ordinance
would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
Section 6. Publication. The City Clerk is directed to cause this ordinance to be published
in the manner required by law.
Section 7: This Ordinance shall go into effect and be in full force and effect at 12:01 a.m.
on January 1, 2026.
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PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 1st day of July, 2025.
____________________________
David L. Bradley, Mayor
Attest:
____________________________
Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES )ss
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES )
I, TERESA TAKAOKA, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, do hereby certify
that the whole number of members of the City Council of said City is five; that the
foregoing Ordinance No. 691 passed first reading on June 17, 2025, was duly adopted
by the City Council of said City at a regular meeting thereof held on July 1, 2025, and that
the same was passed and adopted by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
___________________________
Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk
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RECOMMENDED FHSZ MAP 2025
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ADOPTED FHSZ MAP 2008
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