1 STAFF REPORT
DATE: June 3, 2025
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Danny Alvarez, Fire Chief
VIA: James Moye, Battalion Chief/Fire Marshal
BY: Paul Konzen, Fire Captain
Channing Reyes, Administrative Analyst I
SUBJECT: Adoption of an Ordinance to Amend and Restate Title 9, Chapter 1, Article 9, Section 304.1.2.1, of the Burbank Municipal Code to Establish Very High, High, and Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the Local Responsibility Area of the City of Burbank
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BURBANK AMENDING AND RESTATING TITLE 9, CHAPTER 1, ARTICLE 9, SECTION 304.1.2.1 OF THE
BURBANK MUNICIPAL CODE TO ESTABLISH VERY HIGH, HIGH, AND MODERATE
FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES IN THE LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY AREA OF THE CITY OF BURBANK (Attachment 1).
SUMMARY
The above-entitled Ordinance was introduced at a Joint Meeting of the City Council and the Successor Agency, Housing Authority, and Parking Authority on May 20, 2025. Mayor Perez, Vice Mayor Takahashi, and Council Members Anthony and Rizzotti were present, with Council Member Rizzotti recusing himself from voting on this item. The Ordinance will establish Very High, High, and M oderate Fire Hazard Severity Z ones in the local responsibility area (LRA) of the City of Burbank, in line with recently updated maps released by the Office of the State Fire Marshal on March 24, 2025. The Burbank Fire Department (Department) conducts defensible space inspections and enforces applicable state and local brush clearance requirements within these zones. Existing state law requires that local jurisdictions formally adopt by ordinance any adjustments to their LRA within 120 days of receiving the latest updates from the State Fire Marshal. In FIRE
DEPARTMENT
2 addition, the ordinance must be transmitted to the California State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection within 30 days of adoption.
Vote at Introduction:
AYES: Anthony, Takahashi, and Perez.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Mullins.
ABSTAIN: Rizzotti.
This Ordinance is now presented for adoption.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This Ordinance is not a “project” subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 14 Cal. Code Regs § 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impact will directly correlate to the increased number of mandated brush inspections conducted by the Fire Department within the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, and additional brush inspections required by Assembly Bill 38 (AB 38) within the High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Program costs include personnel time and materials and supplies costs related to noticing requirements and inspection billing. The Department pursues cost recovery by charging a fee for brush inspections as reflected in the Citywide fee schedule.
ATTACHMENT
Attachment 1 – Ordinance