Ordinance No. 25-04
ORDINANCE No. 25-04
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss
CITY OF SAN JACINTO )
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAN JACINTO
ADOPTING THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION’S DESIGNATION OF
FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES WITHIN THE CITY OF
SAN JACINTO
WHEREAS, the City of San Jacinto (“City”) is a “local agency,” as defined in Government Code Section 51177(e); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to California Government Code section 51178, the State Fire Marshall is required to identify areas in the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on consistent statewide criteria and on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas; and
WHEREAS, the designation of areas as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones are based on certain factors such as fuel loading, slope, fire weather, and other relevant factors, including areas where winds have been identified by the Office of the State Fire Marshal as major cause of wildfire spread; and WHEREAS, as set forth in California Government Code section 51178.5, local agencies are required to make the State Fire Marshal’s recommended designations, which include, but shall not be limited to, fire hazard severity maps, available for public review and comment within thirty (30) days of their release. This ensures that community members have an opportunity to engage with and provide feedback on the State Fire Marshal’s fire hazard severity designations; and
WHEREAS, the City made the State Fire Marshal’s recommended designations and related fire hazard severity maps available on the City’s website on April 21, 2025 for review and public comment; and
WHEREAS, the map, entitled “City of San Jacinto Fire Hazard Severity Zones” and dated March 24, 2025, is attached hereto as Exhibit “A” and hereby incorporated by reference, and is also located electronically at: https://www.sanjacintoca.gov; and WHEREAS, in accordance with California Government Code section 51179, local agencies must adopt the recommended designation and fire hazard severity maps by local ordinance within 120 days. This process formalizes the adoption of the maps and allows local agencies to address fire safety measures appropriately.
Ordinance No. 25-04
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN JACINTO AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Incorporation of Recitals. The Recitals set forth above are incorporated herein and made an operative part of this Ordinance.
SECTION 2. Adoption of Fire Hazard Severity Zones. The City hereby designates the fire hazard severity zones as recommended by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, pursuant to California Government Code Section 51178.
SECTION 3. Severability. If any one or more of the terms, provisions or sections of this Ordinance shall to any extent be judged invalid, unenforceable and/or voidable for any reason whatsoever by a court of competent jurisdiction, then each and all of the remaining terms, provisions and sections of this Ordinance shall not be affected thereby and shall be valid and enforceable.
SECTION 4. CEQA. The City Council finds that this Ordinance is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Public Resources Code sections 21065 and 21080(b)(1) and CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(2), 15268(a), and 15378(b)(2), as a ministerial action, required by Government Code section 51179(a).
SECTION 5. Publication. The Mayor shall sign this Ordinance and the City Clerk shall cause the same to be published within fifteen (15) days after its passage at least once, in a newspaper of general circulation, published and circulated in the City of San Jacinto, California.
SECTION 6. Effective Date. This Ordinance takes effect thirty (30) days from and after the date of its passage.
Ordinance No. 25-04
PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED this 17th day of June 2025 by the following vote:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
CITY OF SAN JACINTO:
_____________________________
Valerie Vandever, Mayor
ATTEST:
Julia Espinoza, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
BEST BEST & KRIEGER LLP
Craig Hayes, City Attorney
CERTIFICATION
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE )
CITY OF SAN JACINTO )
I, Julia Espinoza, City Clerk of the City of San Jacinto, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Ordinance No. 25-04 was passed, approved, and adopted at the Regular Meeting of the San Jacinto City Council held on the 17th day of June 2025.
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
WITNESS MY HAND AND OFFICIAL SEAL on the 17th day of June 2025. ______________________________
Julia Espinoza, City Clerk
City of San Jacinto
EXHIBIT “A”
City of San Jacinto Fire Hazard Severity Zones