ORDINANCE NO. ______________ (N.C.S.)
AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING BY REFERENCE THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA “FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES” MAP.
WHEREAS, Government Code section 51178 requires the State Fire Marshal to identify areas in the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on consistent statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas, including based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, winds, and other relevant factors; and WHEREAS, Government Code section 51181 requires the State Fire Marshal to periodically review the areas in the state identified as very high fire hazard severity zones and, as necessary, make recommendations relative to very high fire hazard severity zones, including every five years if possible; and WHEREAS, the Office of the State Fire Marshal has set forth the most recent update to the Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) map to better identify statewide wildfire safety risks in state and local jurisdictions; and WHEREAS, this map was updated based upon the recommendations of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) pursuant to Government Code Section 51178; and WHEREAS, Government Code section 51179 requires local agencies by ordinance to designate moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones within their jurisdictions following receipt of updated recommendations from the State Fire Marshal; and WHEREAS, the City received from the State Fire Marshal a map entitled “City of Salinas—Monterey County Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones,” a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A; and WHEREAS, consistent with Government Code section 51178.5, within thirty (30) days after receiving this transmittal, the City made the proposed map, and all information contained therein available for public review and comment in a format that was understandable and accessible to the general public, including posting on the City of Salinas Fire Department website.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF SALINAS AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map as designated by the Office of the State Fire Marshal and entitled “City of Salinas—Monterey County Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones,” attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by this reference, is hereby adopted and designated as the map delineating fire hazard safety zones for the City of Salinas.
SECTION 2. Consistent with Government Code section51179(c), the Salinas Fire Marshal shall transmit a copy of this ordinance to the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection within thirty (30) days of adoption.
SECTION 3. All ordinances and parts of ordinances and all resolutions and parts of resolutions in conflict herewith are hereby repealed as of the effective date of this ordinance.
SECTION 4. Severability. 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 competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. The Salinas City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this ordinance and each and every section, subsection, 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. CEQA Compliance. The City Council’s adoption of this ordinance is not a project subject to environmental review under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines section 15060(c)(1) because this action does not involve the exercise of discretionary powers and section 15061(b)(3) because it would not have a significant effect on the environment.
SECTION 6. Publication. The City Clerk shall cause a summary of this ordinance to be published once in a newspaper published and circulated in Salinas within fifteen (15) days after adoption. (Salinas Charter Section 11.9) SECTION 7. Effective Date. This ordinance will take effect thirty (30) days from and after its adoption.
This ordinance was introduced on the 12th day of August 2025, and passed and adopted on the ___ day of ___ 2025, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
APPROVED:
_________________________________
Dennis Donohue, Mayor
ATTEST:
___________________________________
Patricia M. Barajas, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
___________________________________
Christopher A. Callihan, City Attorney
Attachment:
Exhibit A: City of Salinas—Monterey County Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones PAGE
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