May 5, 2026
Fire Chief Aaron
Osorio
Wildfire Preparedness Ad-Hoc
Recommendations
DRAF
T
1. Purpose of the Wildfire Preparedness Ad Hoc and Background
2. Wildfire Preparedness Ad Hoc Membership/Participants
3. Meeting Structure and Topics
4. Recommendations
5. Questions
Presentation Overview
2 DRA
FT
• Wildfire Preparedness Ad-Hoc at January 21, 2025, City Council meeting
• To establish an ad-hoc committee of councilmembers and staff to discuss current wildfire preparedness and mitigation measures, identify gaps that need to be addressed to improve wildfire preparedness, and report back to city council on recommendations to address those gaps
Purpose of the Ad Hoc Committee
3 • Richmond Council Members
Councilmembers Soheila Bana, Jamelia Brown, Cesar Zepeda • City Staff
Fire: Fire Chief Aaron Osorio and Fire Inspector Noah Brownlow Public Works: Director Daniel Chavarria, Assistant Deputy Director Darin Fitzpatrick, and Parks Superintendent Jason Lacey
City Attorney’s Office: City Attorney Shannon Moore
Committee Participants
4 • Convened first meeting on February 12, 2025
• 6 meetings from February 2025 through January 2026
• Topics:
– Defensible Space Inspection Program and compliance
– Application of RMC to non-compliant parcels
• Appeal timeline
• Administrative warrant process
• Abatement process
• Fine or Lien
– Vegetation Management and Grazing
– Development of home hardening assistance program (Zone 0) Committee Meetings
5 • Direct the City Attorney’s Office to assess the current appeal process for enforcement of defensible space code violations outlined in the Richmond Municipal Code to determine if the timeline can be shortened for parcels located within wildfire hazard zones as determined by the state and the city. • Current appeal process could take 6-9 months before abatement occurs • Non-compliance with defensible space ordinance poses a fire and life safety risk which must be addressed in a timely manner
Recommendation
#1
6 • Direct staff to establish an on-call contract for vegetation management services which can be utilized on parcels in the wildfire hazard zones that refuse to abate vegetation hazards and/or refuse to comply with defensible space ordinance
• Will determine if this contract best fits under Public Works or Fire • Administrative warrant required
• Fine or lien to recover cost
Recommendation #2
7 • Direct staff to establish a Resident Assistance Program to assist with home hardening and defensible space treatments located between 0 and 30 feet of structures, with priority given to hazards within 5 feet (Zone 0) • Recommend initial $100K allocation and evaluate use for future allocations • Homes only located in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone • Provide up to $2,500 per parcel for
qualifying applicants
• $100K ÷ $2,500 = 40 parcels/year
Recommendation
#3
FHSZ PRIVATE
MODERATE 603
HIGH 557
VERY HIGH 1599
TOTAL 2779
8 • Assistance eligibility based on meeting one of the following criteria:
– Age 65 or older
– Physical disability
– Financial limitations: Household income limits are based on the current California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) State Income Limits and are used to determine eligibility for financial assistance
Recommendation #3
Continued
9 • Assist in complying with Zone 0 requirements
• Examples of qualifying projects:
– Removal of dead vegetation, including plants, grass, and debris – Pruning and thinning of tree branches
– Hazardous tree removal
– Hardscaping, i.e., replacing combustible bark/mulch with pavers, gravel, or rock
– Replacing combustible fencing or gates within 5 feet of structure – Install fire-resistant vents and gutter covers
– Modifications so eaves are enclosed
– Other work that will substantially increase the safety of a building in the event of wildfire, as determined by the Fire Code Official on a case-by-case basis Recommendation #3
Continued
10 • Project approval and project completion would be verified by the Fire Prevention Division
• One year pilot program, with potential to extend additional two years to algin with Zone 0 implementation timeline
Recommendation #3
Continued
11 • Allocate funds and direct staff to maintain an annual grazing contract for the purpose of vegetation management in the wildfire hazard zones • Public Works and Fire have identified approximately 211 acres within the city that could be grazed
• Public Works estimate of $250K per fiscal year to maintain program – Currently budgeted $200K for FY 26/27
Recommendation
#4
12 Request Mayor Martinez to recognize that the presentation of recommendations to the council officially concludes the original purpose of the committee and acknowledge the disbanding of the Wildfire Preparedness Ad Hoc Committee.
Recommendation to Disband
Committee
13 Wildfire Preparedness Ad-Hoc
Recommendations
Questions?
14