M EM ORAN DLJ M City of Poway
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS
(Agenda Related Writings/Documents provided to City Council or Staff after distribution of the Agenda Packet for the January 21, 2025 Council Meeting) DATE:
TO:
FROM:
CONTACT:
SUBJECT:
January 21, 2025
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
Carrie Gallagher, City Clerk
(858) 668-4535 or [email protected]
Public Comment
Attached please find correspondence received after the agenda posting deadline.
Reviewed/Approved By:
Assistant City Manager
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Reviewed By:
Alan Fenstermacher
City Attorney
Ap~l
ChrisHazeme
City Manager
January 21, 2025, Public Comment
To: Poway City Council Members
From: Dale Davis
Urgent Proposal to Mitigate Fire Danger on Lot E
Lot E, a designated open space in Poway, poses a rapidly escalating fire hazard to our community. We, the residents directly bordering the western end of this parcel, propose immediate action to mitigate this threat. With the City Council's approval, we will fund and oversee the clearing of chaparral, thinning of trees, and removal of dead wood and dangerous branches from the western portion of Lot E. A qualified tree service company will perform this work, mirroring the preventative measures we have implemented on our own property for many years. All brush, branches, and trees will be chipped in place. We will collaborate with our Poway Councilmember, the Fire Marshal, and other relevant city officials to ensure the work effectively reduces the fire risk for our homes, our neighbors, and the entire area.
Escalating Fire Danger Demands Immediate Action
The fire danger posed by Lot E has intensified significantly since the City initiated efforts to secure FEMA funding for hazard mitigation. This increased risk stems from:
• Uncontrolled Vegetation Growth: Dense, unchecked vegetation provides ample fuel for a potential wildfire.
• Increased Ignition Sources: Visitors to the lot and a growing homeless population seeking refuge there increase the probability of accidental fires. • Climate Change: Hotter, drier conditions exacerbate the risk and create an environment conducive to rapid fire spread.
Clearing the fire hazards on Lot Eis not just a local concern; it is crucial to preventing a wildfire from spreading to all of Green Valley, Valle Verde, Rancho Bernardo, and beyond. The potential for catastrophic damage is real and demands immediate attention.
Background and Previous City Efforts
Several years ago, the City of Poway recognized the fire hazard posed by Lot E and took the following steps:
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• Surveyed and Mapped Lot E: Surveyors staked the corner points of Lot E, and a detailed map was developed.
• Assessed V cgetation: Arborists inventoried the vegetation and made recommendations for fire hazard removal and open space maintenance. • Sought FEMA Funding: The City began working with FEMA to secure a grant to fund this work.
January 21, 2025, Public Comment
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The proposed mitigation work involved removing all chaparral, non-native species (including Mexican Fan Palms), dead trees, trees less than 4 inches in diameter, and thinning and trimming larger trees. Our plan is to adhere to these guidelines, as may be amended by Poway's Fire Marshal.
Obstacles and Delays Hinder Progress
Despite these initial efforts, the FEMA grant appears to be stalled. While we appreciate the City's past efforts, the urgency of the situation necessitates immediate action . In previous discussions , the City indicated the need for clearances from other agencies before work could begin. After several years of pursuing the FEMA grant, we expect these agencies are already aware of the City's intentions and that their interests would not preclude the removal of these fire hazards. If this is not the case, we need to address these obstacles immediately. While we understand these agencies are trying to protect plant and animal habitats, a wildfire would devastate the entire area, leaving no habitat to save.
Impact on Residents: Insurance Cancellations and Declining Property Values The escalating fire risk has directly impacted residents . We and many of our neighbors have had our homeowner 's fire insurance canceled-some , multiple times. Many of us are now forced to rely on the California Fair Plan, which has drastically increased our insurance costs. This situation could force some residents to leave Poway, and it is undoubtedly depreciating the value of our homes-all due to a fire danger over which we have no control.
Recent Communication with City Officials
In early December 2024, I contacted the Poway City Offices to request an update on the Lot E mitigation project. Bryce Greshke of the Public Works Department (858 .668.4711) informed me that he was working on a plan to secure a FEMA grant. He stated that residents should not clear any of the open space to avoid jeopardizing the grant. During our discussion , I highlighted the imminent danger posed by the dense chaparral and inquired about the permissibility of private funding to clear the area near our homes. He indicated that it would not be permissible, as the FEMA grant application would need to be revised . (He also mentioned that the grant would need to be amended anyway due to other changes that have occurred since its initiation). I also noted that the survey stakes from the initial phase of the project were in disrepair, and Mr. Greshke acknowledged that a new survey might be necessary. This suggests that if a revision of the grant is already needed, excluding the portion of the land we propose to clear should be a straightforward update.
Changes Made to Lot E Since FEMA Grant Initiation
Since the City began its efforts to secure the FEMA grant, a portion of Lot E bordering the Bridlewood Development appears to have been cleared of brush 25-100 feet into the lot. This work seems to extend from the backyards of homes on Summer Sage, from the January 21, 2025, Public Comment
old farmhouse to just beyond the remains of the old CLH farm bar and picnic area, about 50-100 yards west of Lake Poway Road. This clearing was not addressed in our discussion with Mr. Greshke.
Proposed Plan of Action
We propose to clear the western end of Lot E, defined as follows:
• Starting at the north-south boundary of our property (lot 218, Green Valley Estates) at stake 382,
• Proceeding clockwise to stake 372 on Lot E,
• Then cutting across Lot E to the opposite border at stake 391 near the present bank of Green Valley Creek (Stake 391 is near the eastern border of Valerie and Jim Lewis's property),
• And finally returning clockwise to stake 382.
This area encompasses the old pond and the highly flammable vegetation that has accumulated around it.
This action would relieve FEMA of the obligation to clear this portion of Lot E, and the FEMA grant could be amended accordingly. The City would then maintain the cleared property, per the recommendations of Poway's Fire Marshal.
Call to Action: Partner with Us to Protect Our Community We urge the City Council to approve our proposal. Every year that passes without action increases the risk of a devastating wildfire. We have been fortunate so far, but we cannot rely on luck indefinitely. We need action now, before a fire occurs.
We seek the support of:
• Our City Councilmember (Tony Blain)
• The Green Valley Civic Association
• Our neighbors impacted by this project
• The Poway City Council
**************************************************************** By working together, we can proactively protect our homes, our community, and our precious natural resources. We invite you to join us in making this critical fire mitigation effort a reality.
We ask that you respond to our request with your approval, support and concerns within 2 weeks of receiving this request so we can begin this work immediately, before the summer weather intensifies the hazard.
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Dale and Lynn Davis
5 of8 January 21, 2025, Public Comment
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Ryan Ward
~
Pickleball Courts 1/21 Council Meeting
Thursday, January 16, 2025 7:49:04 AM
I You don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important •XTER t AL EMA IL 1
Dear Poway City Council Members,
mr,w'
I am writing to urge you to consider the addition of permanent pickle ball courts in our community. Pickleball is a rapidly growing sport that is accessible to people of all ages and abilities. It offers numerous health benefits and promotes social .interaction.
The addition of pickleball courts would enhance our community's recreational offerings and provide residents with a fun and engaging activity. I believe that there is strong community interest in pickleball, and the addition of courts would be a valuable asset to Poway.
Having recently visited Poinsettia Park in the city of Carlsbad it was truly spectacular to see the amount of people there enjoying themselves throughout the entire day. The eight courts were full the entire four hours I was there. No fees. No reservations. Just show up and start playing. A truly great use of public money.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope that you will give this request serious thought.
Sincerely,
Ryan Ward
6 of8 January 21, 2025, Public Comment
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Attachments:
Assi Friedman
Carrie Gallagher
Submission of Public Comment for the upcoming City Council meeting Tuesday, January 14, 2025 2:30:30 PM
City Council dog
EXT ERN J-\L EMJ\l l, ..
Ms Gallagher:
Please accept the attached input to the Public Comment section of the upcoming City Council meeting. I would like it included in the written docket per the standard process.
I'd appreciate if you could confirm receipt of this input and inclusion into the docket.
Thanks,
Assi
7 of8 January 21, 2025, Public Comment
13 January 2025
Attention Mayor Vaus and the Poway City Council:
I just watched the City Council meeting video archive and was appalled at the conduct of the mayor. Some salient points:
1) Mayor Vaus said that Poway always "fights for local control". Mayor Vaus championed an effort to appoint a 3 month renter with no local pedigree to the city council. Someone that had zero knowledge on the business, culture, and people of the City of Poway. That carpetbagger council member went on to provide D4 with the worst representation in the history of the City of Poway.
2) The Mayor touted the things the city did during covid. He conveniently left out that the generosity he championed was aligned with his personal run for a County Supervisor seat. After the loss of his personal campaign, the generosity went away. This is no coincidence.
3) The Mayor was at the wheel of the biggest failure in Poway history - failure of our water system. This was negligence at the highest level. His failed leadership cost the Poway taxpayers $79 million dollars. The mayor continues to tout that as an "improvement program". The truth is that the City of Poway is under citation of the CA State Waterboard to build a new facility to achieve minimum compliance with water delivery standards for safe potable water.
4) The Mayor called out a sitting councilmember for engaging city staff. It appears lost on the mayor that every resident has the right to petition local government at any level. Mayor Vaus also alleges Brown Act violations. MayorVaus should put his money where his mouth is and call the San Diego County District Attorney to file a formal complaint. The DA's phone number is: 619-531-4040.
5) Mayor Vaus took no action when a sitting councilmember (Dave Grosch) violated city process and used private email accounts to circumvent proper governance. The Mayor also took no action when Dave Grouch terminated his residency in Poway while continuing to sit on the council and collect a salary and benefits funded by Poway tax payers. 6) Mayor Vaus supported changing Poway's election system after receiving nothing more than a letter from some random activist attorney that doesn't even reside in Poway. Instead of fighting for the interests of Poway residents, the Mayor scrapped an electoral system that held the full council accountable to all residents.
As a D3 resident, I call on the City Council to take a motion of no confidence in Mayor Vaus' leadership. I also call on council members to demonstrate their duty as district representatives to act in the interests of their residents and take on positive community engagement.
Thank you,
Assi Friedman D3
8 of8 January 21, 2025, Public Comment