STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
September 23, 2025
BUSINESS
25 SUBJECT: WILDFIRE MITIGATION AND FIRE SAFETY REPORT 2025 UPDATE AND
APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Approve the Wildfire Mitigation and Fire Safety Report 2025 Update;
2. Approve the creation of the Community Preparedness Educator part-time position to support these efforts;
3. Approve an appropriation of $1,574,000 from the Wildfire Mitigation and Fire Safety Fund to implement the 2025 Update; and
4. Find that the recommended actions are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, Section 15060(c)(3); or, in the alternative, that it is not a “project” under CEQA Guidelines, Section 15378(b).
Appropriation: $1,574,000 Fund: Wildfire Mitigation & Fire Safety Submitted By: Niko King Approved: David A Kiff
Niko King, Fire Chief Dave Kiff, City Manager
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
This report recommends that the City Council approve the Wildfire Mitigation and Fire Safety Report 2025 Update and authorize the creation of a part-time Community Preparedness Educator position to expand public outreach and preparedness programs. The estimated cost for implementation is $2,474,000. Of this amount, $900,000 is already included in the Fiscal Year 2025–2026 Adopted Budget for wildfire mitigation and special programs, and an additional $1,574,000 appropriation is requested from the Wildfire Mitigation and Fire Safety Fund.
The proposed actions have been reviewed under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and determined not to be a “project” as defined by CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 and are therefore not subject to environmental review.
DISCUSSION
On January 28, 2025, the City Council approved the re-establishment of the Wildfire Mitigation and Fire Safety Ad Hoc Committee with the appointment of Council members Kempf and Whalen to serve on the committee. The committee was directed to return to City Council with an updated action plan to address wildfire mitigation and fire safety within 90 days. The committee met twice monthly from January – April with key staff and external partners to identify action items. The committee meetings resulted in recommendations included in the report on fuel modification improvements; increasing use of public safety WILDFIRE MITIGATION AND FIRE SAFETY REPORT 2025 UPDATE AND
APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS
September 23, 2025
technology; improving evacuation planning; testing and improving alert and warning capabilities; infrastructure improvements, including the undergrounding of utility lines and improving water systems; and increasing community preparedness and public education.
The 2025 updated report was presented to City Council on May 6, 2025 to approve in concept. City Council approved the report in concept and directed staff to return with cost components refined and funding sources identified. The Wildfire Mitigation and Fire Safety Ad Hoc Committee then met in June and July, which included an additional meeting after the Rancho Fire to include after action items and lessons learned from the response. The report now includes cost estimates, funding sources, and funding terms.
The report also includes an action item to create a part-time Community Preparedness Educator position to educate the public on emergency preparedness, fire safety, neighborhood/FireWise preparedness, and home hardening inspections. The position will work to expand the CERT program by offering more academies and providing continuous training to engage and retain volunteers.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
The Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Adopted Budget includes $900,000 in funding for special programs. Staff is requesting the City Council approve an appropriation of $1,574,000 from the Wildfire Mitigation and Safety Fund (#141) to fund the $2,474,000 in expenditures identified in Attachment 1. If approved, the Wildfire Mitigation and Safety Fund’s fund balance available to fund future projects (including utility undergrounding projects) will be $2,195,600.
Table 1 – Funding Summary
Description Amount
Total cost of Program Update $2,474,000
Existing Budgeted Funds ($900,000)
Additional Appropriation Request $1,574,000
Funding Source Wildfire Mitigation and Fire Safety Fund (#141) Remaining Fund Balance (post approval) $2,195,600
The total includes an estimated $60,000 annually to fund a new part-time Community Preparedness Educator position. This position will be responsible for public education, CERT program expansion, and home hardening outreach. The balance of the proposed expenditures includes vegetation management, infrastructure upgrades, evacuation planning tools, and emergency alert improvements as detailed in Attachment 1.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
WILDFIRE MITIGATION AND FIRE SAFETY REPORT 2025 UPDATE AND
APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS
September 23, 2025
The recommended action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) (“commons sense“) as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that approving the Wildfire Mitigation and Fire Safety Report (2025 Update), creating a part-time educator position and related budgetary appropriations may have a significant effect on the environment. Further none of the exceptions to the CEQA exemption apply. In the alternative, the proposed action is not defined as a “project“ pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, Section 15378(b) as an administrative activity for personnelrelation action and policy and procedure making.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Wildfire Mitigation and Fire Safety Report 2025 Update (Pgs. 4-104) Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Sarah Limones, Emergency Operations
Coordinator