RESOLUTION NO. 26-132
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE CITY’S RESPONSE TO FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE ORANGE COUNTY GRAND JURY REPORT, “WILDFIRES HIT HOME” WHEREAS, on May 13, 2026, the City of San Clemente received a copy of the 2025-2026 Orange County Grand Jury report, “Wildfires Hit Home”; and WHEREAS, the report focuses on wildfire risk reduction through home hardening, defensible space, community preparedness, and related insurance impacts; and WHEREAS, California Penal Code Section 933 requires the City to provide a response to each of the findings and recommendations in the report; and WHEREAS, California Penal Code Section 933.05 specifies the manner in which the responses and comments on the findings and recommendations are to be made; and WHEREAS, the City values the opportunity to respond to the report, share its perspective, and provide firsthand knowledge to each of the issues requested by the Grand Jury; and WHEREAS, the responses must be submitted to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court by August 18, 2026; and WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the report.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of San Clemente does hereby find, determine and resolve as follows:
SECTION 1. That the above recitations are true and correct and incorporated fully herein.
SECTION 2. That the Mayor is authorized and directed to respond to the findings and recommendations noted in the report by submitting a letter to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court by August 18, 2026 in substantially the same form as attached to this Resolution as Exhibit A, which is incorporated fully herein by this reference.
SECTION 3. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this _____ day of ____________________, _______.
ATTEST:
___________________________ __________________________
City Clerk of the City of Rick Loeffler, Mayor of the City of San Clemente, California San Clemente, California
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) §
CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE )
I, LAURA CAMPAGNOLO, City Clerk of the City of San Clemente, California, do hereby certify that Resolution No. 26-132 was adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Clemente held on the _______ day of _______________________, _________, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of San Clemente, California, this _____ day of _________________, ________. __________________________
CITY CLERK of the City of
San Clemente, California
Approved as to form:
____________________________
Elizabeth A. Mitchell, City Attorney
Office of the Mayor and City Council
Rick Loeffler
Mayor
Steve Knoblock
Mayor Pro Tem
Victor Cabral
Mark Enmeier
Zhen Wu
City Manager
Andy Hall
910 Calle Negocio San Clemente, CA 92673 Phone: (949) 361-8200 “The Spanish Village
by the Sea”
Celebrating 90 Years of Incorporation
August 11, 2026
The Honorable Sheila F. Hanson, Presiding Judge of the Superior Court Orange County Grand Jury 700 Civic Center Drive West Santa Ana, CA 92701
Subject: Report of the Orange County Grand Jury - “Wildfires Hit Home” Dear Presiding Judge Hanson, The City of San Clemente (City) appreciates the time and effort the Grand Jury spent on the development of their report, “Wildfires Hit Home”.
The City Council has reviewed the report and authorized the attached response to the findings and recommendations noted in the report. The City values the opportunity to respond to the report, share our perspective, and provide firsthand knowledge to each of the issues requested by the Grand Jury.
If the City of San Clemente can provide additional information or clarification of our response, please do not hesitate to contact City Manager Andy Hall at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Rick Loeffler, Mayor City of San Clemente
Enclosure: City of San Clemente’s Response to Findings and Recommendations cc: Orange County Grand Jury
City of San Clemente Council Members
Andy Hall, City Manager
Findings and Responses
F1 More frequent and severe wildfires driven by increasingly hotter, drier, and windier conditions in the Orange County wildland-urban interface are escalating impacts on financial and non-financial resources. Among the financial costs are dramatic increases in homeowners’ insurance premiums, nonrenewals, and inabilities to obtain insurance.
City’s Response: Agree in part. The City agrees that more frequent and severe wildfires are occurring in the Orange County wildland-urban interface. However, the City lacks the insurance-market expertise to independently confirm that this finding establishes the cause of increased insurance premiums, nonrenewals, and inability to obtain coverage, as the City is not an expert in insurance markets.
F2 Actions that address conditions in the home ignition zone to significantly reduce ignition potential can prevent a community wildland-urban interface fire disaster or suburban conflagration.
City’s Response: Agree
F3 Expanded engagement with the community to raise awareness and provide support regarding home hardening and defensible space will increase effectiveness of wildfire risk mitigation and insurance risk reduction efforts.
City’s Response: Agree
F4 Achievement of community-level and property-level wildfire risk mitigation designations (such as Firewise USA Site, Fire Risk Reduction Community or Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety certification) lessens wildfire risk and helps reduce insurance premium costs.
City’s Response: Agree in part. The City agrees that achievement of community-level and property-level wildfire risk mitigation designations (such as Firewise USA Site, Fire Risk Reduction Community or Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety certification) lessens wildfire risk, however, the City lacks the insurance-market expertise to independently confirm that achievement of community-level and property-level wildfire risk mitigation designations helps reduce insurance premium costs.
F5 All county residents should be made aware that Safer from Wildfire regulation requires insurers to provide discounts to homeowners and communities that Page 6Page 6implement home hardening and defensible space measures regardless of whether a property is located within a Fire Hazard Severity Zone.
City’s Response: Agree
F6 AB888, California Safe Homes Grant Program, provides financial assistance to eligible homeowners, cities, counties, and special districts for home hardening and defensible space measures. Applying for and using these grant funds will reduce wildfire losses and improve insurability and resilience of vulnerable communities.
City’s Response: Agree in part. The City agrees that AB 888 provides financial assistance to eligible homeowners, cities, counties, and special districts for home hardening and defensible space measures and that applying for and using these grant funds will reduce wildfire losses and improve resilience of vulnerable communities. However, the City lacks the insurance-market expertise to independently confirm that applying for and using these grant funds will improve insurability of vulnerable communities.
Recommendations and Response
R2 By December 31, 2026, cities and fire service agencies, including Orange County Fire Authority should commit to participation in a county-wide annual wildfire prevention fair planned by the Orange County Board of Supervisors to showcase wildfire prevention outreach programs. [F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6] City’s Response: The Recommendation has been implemented. The City commits to participating in a county-wide annual wildfire prevention fair if such an event is established by the Orange County Board of Supervisors.
R3 By December 31, 2026, cities, unincorporated areas, special districts, and fire service agencies in High and Very-High Fire Hazard Severity Zones should initiate planning activities to achieve community-level wildfire risk mitigation designations and/or establish a local Fire Safe Council within one year. [F4, F5, F6] City’s Response: The Recommendation has been implemented. The City's adopted Emergency Management Strategic Plan includes planning activities for community-level wildfire risk reduction, including participation in the Fire Risk Reduction Community program and other wildfire preparedness initiatives.
R4 By December 31, 2026, to ensure city residents are engaged and aware of wildfire risk reduction resources, OCFA member and non-member cities should provide information, develop their own outreach program, and establish a direct contact person(s) for their residents. This is in addition to whatever referrals or references made to OCFA outreach programs. [F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6]
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Attachment 3
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Resolution No. 26-132