TO: RULES AND OPEN FROM: Robert Sapien, Jr.
GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
SUBJECT: See Below DATE: March 26, 2025
Approved Date
3/28/25
SUBJECT: 2025 San José Wildfire Planning and Preparedness Study Session
RECOMMENDATION
Set a City Council Study Session Meeting entitled 2025 San José Wildfire Planning and Preparedness for Tuesday, May 20, 2025, immediately following the regularly scheduled City Council meeting in the City Council Chambers and approve the Study Session agenda.
PURPOSE
The goal of the Study Session is to provide information on City efforts already undertaken to minimize the threat of wildfire and opportunities to improve community resiliency in wildland-urban interface areas, including the Almaden Valley and Eastern foothill areas.
OUTCOME
The City Council will be informed of the Administration’s multi-agency coordination model and risk reduction priorities related to wildfires.
BACKGROUND
The Palisades Fire in Los Angeles and the Eaton Fire in Altadena is a reminder of the devastating threat that wildland-urban interface fires pose to communities across California, including San José. While it will never be possible to prevent extreme fire weather conditions, the City must maintain ongoing efforts to prevent fires from occurring and take mitigating actions to minimize their damaging effects when they do occur.
RULES COMMITTEE: 4/2/25
ITEM: B.2
RULES AND OPEN GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
March 26, 2025
Subject: 2025 San José Wildfire Planning and Preparedness Study Session
The City expresses deep sympathy for the Los Angeles and Altadena communities affected by devastating fires in January 2025, which resulted in significant loss of life, property, and displacement. In response, the Fire Department (Department) deployed 31 personnel as part of mutual aid efforts, contributing resources to firefighting, search and rescue, and incident command roles. Strike teams and task forces supported operations under the coordination of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, with relief rotations and daily monitoring ensuring continuity of service. The City remains committed to response and recovery efforts in Los Angeles while ensuring safety at home.
Locally, fuel and weather conditions can align to threaten the community. The Department provides fire protection services across 208 square miles, including 181 square miles within San José limits and approximately 27 square miles of unincorporated areas identified as Zone 1 of Santa Clara County by contract. Within a multi-agency coordination model, the City relies on various strategies and risk reduction priorities to prepare for wildfires, including fuel reduction, water availability, evacuation plans, preparedness communications, and illegal fireworks mitigation.
ANALYSIS
On February 3, 2025, the Administration published an information memorandum on topics related to wildfire preparedness in the City of San José1. The Study Session will cover the topics contained in that information memorandum through the following agenda. Various City departments and inter-agency partners will be available for the discussion.
• Call to Order and Roll Call
1. Introduction and Opening Comments
2. 2025 Los Angeles Fires Assistance
3. San José’s Current Wildfire Preparedness Level
4. Multi-Agency Coordination Model and Risk Reduction Priorities
5. Next Steps and Closing
• Public Comment
ROBERT SAPIEN, JR.
Fire Chief, Fire Department
For questions, please contact James A. Williams, Assistant Fire Chief, at (408) 794- 7001 or [email protected].
Attachment: Study Session Agenda
1 https://www.sanjoseca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/117648/638741997651770000 City Council Meeting
Agenda
Study Session
2025 San José Wildfire Planning and Preparedness
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
1:30 P.M.
To be heard immediately following the regular City Council Meeting LOCATION:
Council Chambers-200 E Santa Clara Street
MATT MAHAN, MAYOR
ROSEMARY KAMEI, DISTRICT 1
PAMELA CAMPOS, DISTRICT 2
CARL SALAS, DISTRICT 3
DAVID COHEN, DISTRICT 4
PETER ORTIZ, DISTRICT 5
MICHAEL MULCAHY, DISTRICT 6
BIEN DOAN, DISTRICT 7
DOMINGO CANDELAS, DISTRICT 8
PAM FOLEY, VICE MAYOR, DISTRICT 9
GEORGE CASEY, DISTRICT 10
City Council Draft Study Session Agenda May 20, 2025
City of San Jose Page 2
• Call to Order and Roll Call
1:30 p.m. – Study Session – 2025 San José Wildfire Planning and Preparedness, Council Chambers, City Hall *to be heard immediately following the regular City Council meeting.
STUDY SESSION:
Purpose: The goal of the Study Session is to provide information on City efforts already undertaken to minimize the threat of wildfire and opportunities to improve community resiliency in wildland-urban interface areas, including the Almaden Valley and Eastern foothill areas.
Outcome: The City Council will be informed of the Administration’s multi-agency coordination model and risk reduction priorities related to wildfires.
1. Introduction and Opening Comments
2. 2025 Los Angeles Fires Assistance
3. San José’s Current Wildfire Preparedness Level
4. Multi-Agency Coordination Model and Risk Reduction Priorities
5. Next Steps and Closing
Attachments
• Public Comment
Members of the public may comment on agendized items only at this Special Meeting. There will be no Open Forum. Cal. Govt. Code §54954.3(a).
• Adjournment