ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Thursday, May 29, 2025
Call to Order/Roll Call 10:04 AM
EDC MEMBERS PRESENT
Mayor Joe Baca
Mayor Pro Tem Ed Scott
CITY/AGENCY STAFF PRESENT
Tanya Williams, City Manager
Christy Lopez, Deputy City Attorney
Christina Taylor, Interim Community Development Director Chris Jensen, Fire Marshal
Brian Park, Fire Chief
Paul Gonzales, Community Development Manager
Paul Guerrero, Economic Development Manager
Jay Garcia, Chief Building Official
Matt Bennett, City Engineer
Daniel Casey, Principal Planner
Ron Pharris, Developer
Kim Dame, Administrative Analyst
Heidy Gonzalez, Administrative Assistant
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None.
REVIEW/APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes from the April 24, 2025, EDC meeting – Approved
REPORTS/DISCUSSION ITEMS
EDC-25-0343
Update and Preparation for Local Adoption of State-Mandated Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps Presented by Chief Brian Park and Fire Marshall Chief Chris Jensen Committee Comments/Questions/Recommendations:
Chief Brian Park informed staff that the changes made to the maps were the first since 2007. These maps are required under government and public resources code and mandate that all local agencies adopt the maps within 120 days of release. The adoption deadline for these new maps would be July 22, 2025. Chief Park advised that the milestones and timelines that have been met so far are the following:
- The State released the maps on March 21st
- The draft review and analysis began in March and April - Public outreach began in April 2025
- A public hearing for adoption will be set after the EDC meeting Fire Marshall Chief Chris Jensen discussed the topics above in further detail and provided some background on the fire hazard severity zone maps. Chief Jensen informed staff that the maps were created from a hazard perspective and not a risk perspective. This means that the State considers the highest hazard potential without controls in place. Chief Jensen advised that there is new data in the model used for the new mapping system – the local climate is taken into consideration and how it has been affected from 2003 through 2018; ember casting is also taken into account.
Mayor Baca asked if the Fire Department would be willing to hosting a townhall meeting to get input from the public. Chief Jensen replied that there have been talks of having an “open house” discussion to provide an additional opportunity for residents to voice their questions and concerns. Based on public meetings held in Northern California, residents are particularly interested in the insurance aspect although the Fire Department does not have the necessary information to answer those specific questions.
Mayor Pro Tem Scott brought up the Lennar project and questioned if it would make sense to add high pressure pumps like the ones that are located in the Renaissance development. Chief Jensen explained that pressure and fire flow are looked at closely and it was concluded that a demand of water pressure as high as 1,000 gallons per minute at 20 PSI would not perform adequately.
Mayor Baca asked what percentage of the maps need to be adopted to be approved. Chief Jensen advised that Council action is required to be adopted by ordinance. This adoption process will be similar to the California Fire Code and Title 24 adoption processes in that the City cannot be less restrictive than what the State is requiring but the City can be more restrictive.
Chief Jensen reported that this is the first year that the City is adopting the California Wildland-Urban interface code; this is important because locally we can add onto the moderate and high zones of the fire hazard maps.
Chief Park noted that all the “very high” zones in the map have now been reclassified as “high” or “moderate”. Chief Jensen pointed out that these zones are in the North end of Rialto.
Chief Jensen also advised that Chapter 7 in the Building Code and Chapter 49 in the Fire Code will now become part 7 overall. Assembly Bill 38 requires inspections and hazard disclosures at the time of a real estate sale in the “very high” and “high” zones and requires the Fire Department to perform an inspection. Suggestions can be made for home hardening; however, these cannot be required if the homes were built before this bill went into effect. Mayor Pro Tem asked if renovations made would have to follow these new requirements; Mr. Jensen advised that they would not be required, only if they do any sort of addition.
Mayor Pro Tem Scott asked Ron Pharris to see if he had any questions or concerns. Mr. Pharris stated he was pleased to see the change in fire zoning reclassification.
Upcoming Meetings/Other Discussion Items:
The next EDC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 26, 2025.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 10:40 a.m.