ORDINANCE 2025-XXXX
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE UPDATED LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY AREA (LRA) FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE (FHSZ) MAPS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL WHEREAS, the California Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is responsible for classifying lands into Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZs) in both State Responsibility Areas (SRAs) and Local Responsibility Areas (LRAs), based on consistent statewide criteria and scientific modeling of wildfire behavior; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Government Code Section 51178 and Public Resources Code Section 4202, the OSFM has released updated maps designating lands as Moderate, High, or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, incorporating the latest fire science, localized climate data, and improved fire modeling techniques; and WHEREAS, the updated FHSZ designations evaluate wildfire hazard, defined as the likelihood and anticipated intensity of a wildfire over a 30- to 50-year planning horizon, without assuming existing mitigation measures; and WHEREAS, on March 24, 2025, the OSFM released updated and recommended LRA FHSZ maps for the City of San Marcos; and WHEREAS, under Government Code Section 51179(b)(3), the City of San Marcos is required to designate, by ordinance, moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones in its jurisdiction within 120 days of receiving the State Fire Marshal’s recommended FHSZ designations for lands within its jurisdiction; and WHEREAS, the City of San Marcos Fire Department (SMFD) is not proposing any changes or increases to the classifications recommended by the State Fire Marshal; and WHEREAS, FHSZ designations are critical tools used to implement defensible space regulations (Public Resources Code Section 4291), enforce Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) building code requirements, inform real estate disclosures, and guide local planning and land use decisions; and WHEREAS, adopting the updated FHSZ maps enhances the City’s alignment with current wildfire science and supports statewide fire prevention and resilience strategies; and WHEREAS, this action does not constitute a “project” under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines and is therefore exempt from environmental review pursuant to Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3); and WHEREAS, the adoption of the updated FHSZ maps is not expected to have direct fiscal impacts on the City, although it may result in indirect effects such as increased demand for public outreach, planning and building review efforts, and opportunities for grant funding related to fire prevention and hazard mitigation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS AS FOLLOWS:
The Local Responsibility Area (LRA) Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps as identified by the California Office of the State Fire Marshal, attached hereto as Attachment A and incorporated by reference, are hereby adopted.
INTRODUCED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Marcos held on the 13th day of May, 2025; and.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Marcos this ___ day of ____________, 2025, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
______________________________
Rebecca D. Jones, Mayor
City of San Marcos
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
________________________ ______________________________ Phillip Scollick, City Clerk Helen Holmes Peak, City Attorney City of San Marcos City of San Marcos