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ORDINANCE NO. 619-25
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
MURRIETA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING A NEW MAP WITH UPDATED
FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES AS RECOMMENDED BY THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE
PROTECTION
Summary: This ordinance updates the City’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone map by adopting the map prepared by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
WHEREAS, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has, pursuant to Government Code § 51175 through 51189 and Public Resources Code § 4201 through § 4204, conducted a review and update of the Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for jurisdictions throughout the State of California; and
WHEREAS, these updated maps are intended to reflect current scientific data, fire behavior modeling, vegetation conditions, and topography; and
WHEREAS, Government Code § 51179 requires each city to post the map on its website, answer questions on the map, and to adopt, by ordinance, the updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone map for their jurisdiction within 120 days of receiving the proposed map; and
WHEREAS, the updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone map was made available to the public for review and comment as required Government Code § 51178.5 . The map was posted on the City and Murrieta Fire Department’s websites and the Fire Department give a public information briefing at the City Council meeting on April 15, 2025; and
WHEREAS, adoption of the updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone map attached hereto as Exhibit “A” will support the enhanced fire planning, building code application, public awareness, and emergency preparedness within areas of elevated fire risk.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MURRIETA, CALIFORNIA DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The recitals above are true and correct and incorporated herein.
SECTION 2. That the City Council hereby adopts the Fire Hazard Severity Zones as recommended by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Government Code section 51178 as shown on Exhibit “A”.
SECTION 3. This ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) under Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, which provides that CEQA only applies to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
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Where, as here, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question would have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA.
SECTION 4. 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 any competent jurisdiction, such decision shall 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 and phrase thereof not declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion of the ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 5. This Ordinance shall become effective on the thirty -first (31st) day after its passage and adoption, and within fifteen (15) days after its final passage and the City Clerk shall cause it to be posted and published in a newspaper of general circulation, printed, published and circulated in the City in the manner required by law and shall cause a copy of this Ordinance and its certification, to be entered in the Book of Ordinances of the City.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this ___ day of ________, 2025.
Cindy Warren, Mayor
ATTEST:
Cristal McDonald, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Tiffany J. Israel, City Attorney
01375.0025 2000699.1 - 3 -
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE )§
CITY OF MURRIETA )
I, Cristal McDonald, City Clerk of the City of Murrieta, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance No. 619-25 was duly passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Murrieta at the regular meeting thereof, held on the ___th day of _______, 2025, and was signed by the Mayor of the said City, and that the same was passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Cristal McDonald, City Clerk
I, Cristal McDonald, City Clerk of the City of Murrieta, California further certify that Ordinance No. 619-25 was duly published according to law and the order of the City Council of said City and the same was so published in Press Enterprise, a newspaper of general circulation on the following date(s):
Adopted Ordinance: , 2025.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this __ day of ______________, 2025.
Cristal McDonald, City Clerk
ADAMS AVE
WHITEWOOD RD
JEFFERSON AVE
LOS ALAMOS RD
IVY ST
WASHINGTON AVE
ANTELOPE RD
KALMIA ST
MADISON AVE
CLINTON KEITH RD
NUTMEG ST
HAYES AVE
HANCOCK AVE
JACKSON AVE
M U R R I E T A H O T S P R I N G S R D
M O N R O
E
A
V
E
FIG ST
ELM ST
C
A
L
IF
O
R
N
IA
O
A
K
S
R
D
WINCHESTER RD
JUNIPER ST
KELLER RD
MAGNOLIA ST
HUNTER RD
GUAVA ST
LINNEL LN
C
A
L
L E
D
E L
O
S
O O R O
LINCOLN AVE
VINEYARD PKY
LEMON ST
LAS BRISAS RD
A L T A M U R R I E T A
D R
MARGARITA RD
M
C
E
L
W
A
I
N
R
D
VIA PRINCESA
STEPP RD
CLINTON KEITH RD
ELM ST
MONROE AVE
HAYES AVE
JACKSON AVE
ELM ST
GUAVA ST
2 0 21 Miles
Legend
Municipal Boundary
VHFHSZ 2009
City Parcels
Fire Hazard Severity Zone-LRA
Moderate
High
Very High
.
State of California
Office of the State Fire Marshal
Date Released:
March 24, 2025