Agenda Item No: 2.b
PLACENTIA CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Meeting Date: June 3, 2025
Submitted by: Amanda Horner
From: Fire and Life Safety Department
Subject:
Public Hearing and Consideration of the Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Placentia, California Designating Fire Hazard Severity Zones within the City of Placentia Financial Impact:
Fiscal Impact:
The current fee schedule is intended to recover the costs of providing enforcement of the regulatory functions and enforcement.
Summary:
The Placentia Fire and Life Safety Department (“Department”) is recommending the adoption of the Local Responsibility Area (LRA) Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) map as directed by the Office of the State Fire Marshal and California Government Code. The map identifies areas within the City of Placentia as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard zones whereas previously, there were no identified areas within the City of Placentia. Staff is not making any amendments to the map provided at this time.
Recommendation:
Recommended Action: It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
1. Open the Public Hearing to consider proposed Ordinance; and
2. Receive the Staff report, consider all public testimony, ask questions of Staff; and
3. Close the Public Hearing; and
4. Waive full reading, by title only, and introduce for first reading of Ordinance No. O-2025- 04, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Placentia, California designating fire hazard severity zones.
Strategic Plan Statement:
This item is consistent with the City Council approved 5-Year Strategic Goal No. 2. to ensure that Public Safety Continues to be a High Priority.
Discussion:
On March 24, 2025, the California Office of the State Fire Marshal released Local Responsibility Area (LRA) maps to all agencies identified within the Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ). The City of Placentia was added to the map for the first time and the affected area is on the north side of the City, bordering neighboring agencies.
1 On April 2, 2025, the Placentia Fire and Life Safety Department opened a public comment period in compliance with California Government Code by creating a webpage with a summary of the changes, a copy of the map, a link to an interactive version of the map, and instructions on how to submit public comments on our website.
Local agencies are not authorized to reduce or modify the size of the LRA within their jurisdiction. However, a local agency can increase the coverage area of the LRA. Placentia Fire and Life Safety does not recommend adding to the area of coverage identified on the map.
Finally, homeowners in the FHSZ LRA will be notified via mailed letter that their parcel falls within the zone(s). Upon adoption of this map, the Placentia Fire and Life Safety Department Community Risk Reduction Division will create and implement a defensible space program for the LRA as directed by the state.
Fiscal Impact Summary:
The current fee schedule is intended to recover the costs of providing enforcement of the regulatory functions and enforcement.
Attachments
Executive Order N-18-25.pdf
Ordinance_O-2025-04_Fire_Severity_Zone_1.docx
FHSZ Adoption Presentation for 6.3.25.pdf
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Ordinance O-2025-04
ORDINANCE NO. O-2025-04
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PLACENTIA, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING FIRE HAZARD
SEVERITY ZONES.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Placentia does hereby find, determine and ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. The City hereby designates the Fire Hazard Severity Zones as recommended by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Government Code Section 51178.
SECTION 2. The map, approved by the City is hereby incorporated by reference, and entitled “City of Placentia Fire Hazard Severity Zones.” Dated (3/24/2025).
The official map is also located electronically on the following website:
https://www.placentia.org/1148/New-Local-Responsibility-Area-LRA-Fire-H .
SECTION 3. The City Clerk shall transmit a copy of this ordinance to the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection within 30 days of adoption.
SECTION 4. The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Ordinance and shall cause the same, or the summary thereof, to be published and posted pursuant to the provisions of law.
INTRODUCED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Placentia held on June 3, 2025.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 17th day of June, 2025.
Kevin Kirwin, Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________________
Robert S. McKinnell, City Clerk
I, Robert S. McKinnell, City Clerk of the City of Placentia, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Placentia, held on the 3rd day of June 2025 and adopted at a regular meeting of the 6 Ordinance O-2025-04
City Council of the City of Placentia, held on the 17th day of June, 2025 by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers:
NOES: Councilmembers:
ABSENT: Councilmembers:
ABSTAIN: Councilmembers:
_________________________________
Robert S. McKinnell, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
________________________________
Christian L. Bettenhausen, City Attorney
7 Local Responsibility Area Designation
of Fire Hazard Severity Zones
June 3, 2025
City of Placentia
8 City of Placentia Inclusion
•March 24th – California Office of the State Fire Marshal released the Local Responsibility (LRA) maps to all agencies that are identified within the Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ). •The City of Placentia was added to the map for the first time. •Area affected is on the north side of the city, bordering neighboring agencies.
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Regulations
•Local agencies are not allowed to contest or reduce the LRA within their jurisdiction, but they may add additional areas to the map.
•We do not recommend adding to the area of the FHSZ map at this time.
•Upon mandated adoption of the map, Placentia Fire and Life Safety will create and implement a defensible space program for the LRA.
11 Recommendation
•It is recommended that the City Council adopt the FHSZ map to remain in compliance with State regulations.
12 Questions & Comments
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