____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
Council Meeting: _______________________
Disposition: ___________________________
Agenda Item No: 5.a
Meeting Date: May 5, 2025
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: FIRE DEPARTMENT
Prepared by: Quinn Gardner, Deputy Director of
Emergency Management
City Manager Approval: ______________
TOPIC: LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY AREA FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE MAPS SUBJECT: INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL TO
DESIGNATE FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES IN LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY AREAS RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council introduce an Ordinance to designate fire hazard severity zones in local responsibility areas, waive further reading of the Ordinance, and refer to it by title only.
BACKGROUND:
The California Office of the State Fire Marshal, under the direction of CAL FIRE, has issued updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps for Local Responsibility Areas (LRAs) throughout the state, including the City of San Rafael. These maps identify areas within local jurisdictional boundaries where wildfire hazards are present, using a consistent, science-based methodology.
Local Responsibility Areas are areas where wildfire prevention and suppression are the responsibility of the local government. In contrast, State Responsibility Areas (SRAs)—such as China Camp State Park, portions of Lucas Valley, north San Rafael around St. Vincent, and certain Marin County Parks—fall under the primary responsibility of CAL FIRE or its contracted agencies.
FHSZ mapping has been required for SRAs since 1985. However, recent legislation—specifically Senate Bill 63 (Stern, 2021)—now mandates the adoption of all three fire hazard severity classes (Moderate, High, and Very High) within LRAs. Previously, only Very High FHSZ designations were required for local jurisdictions.
The updated FHSZ maps are based on advanced fire behavior modeling and incorporate new scientific data, including localized climate patterns, vegetation types, fire history, and terrain. The maps assess hazard—defined as the probability and intensity of wildfire behavior in a given area—not risk, which would consider existing or planned mitigation measures such as defensible space or hardened structures.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
There are three FHSZ classifications:
• Moderate
• High
• Very High
These designations do not reflect risk or specific threats to individual properties but provide a foundational hazard baseline to inform policy, planning, and emergency response.
The City did not participate in creating the maps but has the authority to request higher classification designation for mapped areas or add additional areas to the map. These maps do not replace or alter the existing Wildland Urban Interface Maps.
ANALYSIS:
The designation of Fire Hazard Severity Zones within LRAs is critical in supporting land use decisions, building code enforcement, public safety policies, and long-term wildfire resilience planning. A uniform, science-driven approach across SRA and LRA jurisdictions enhances regional consistency in wildfire mitigation and response coordination.
The City of San Rafael has reviewed the updated FHSZ map and finds no basis to challenge or request changes to the hazard designations proposed for our jurisdiction. The designations appear reasonably appropriate given the City’s geography, topography, fire history, and existing WUI boundary.
Under Government Code Section 51178, the City is required to:
• Make the proposed FHSZ map available for public review; • Conduct a public comment period; and
• Adopt a local ordinance designating the zones within 120 days of receiving the maps from the State Fire Marshal.
The City of San Rafael received the updated LRA FHSZ maps on February 24, 2025. Adopting this Ordinance by June 2025 will ensure compliance with state law and reinforce the City’s ongoing commitment to wildfire safety and resilience.
Adopting the proposed map will require approximately 2,000 properties within the City to receive re-sale inspections under Assembly Bill (AB) 38. AB 38 went into effect on January 1, 2021, and requires a defensible space inspection when residential properties in High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones are sold. The purpose of the inspection is to ensure compliance with local defensible space regulations and proper property maintenance before the transfer of ownership. The City’s existing inspection program will complete these evaluations.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
Fire Department staff made the FHSZ maps publicly available on the City’s website on March 18, 2025, with three options: email, mail, and an online form for the public to submit feedback and comments. Staff has spoken about the maps at five community meetings, directly reaching over 300 residents. Outreach has also included social media content and Public Notice via the Marin IJ. Comments focused on concerns regarding insurance coverage and questions about the designations of specific properties.
Upon adoption of the FHSZ Ordinance, staff will coordinate additional communications to ensure residents are informed of zone designations and related responsibilities.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with the adoption of this Ordinance. Implementation and enforcement will be carried out using existing Fire Department resources. Adoption may enhance the City's eligibility for future state or federal wildfire mitigation funding.
OPTIONS:
The City Council has the following options to consider on this matter:
1. Conduct the public hearing and first reading the Ordinance by title only.
2. Direct staff to return with more information.
3. Take no action.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff recommends that the City Council introduce an Ordinance to designate fire hazard severity zones in local responsibility areas, waive further reading of the Ordinance, and refer to it by title only.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Ordinance Designating Fire Hazard Severity Zones in LRAs
2. CAL FIRE LRA Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map – San Rafael
3. Public Comment
1 ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL TO DESIGNATE FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES IN LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY AREAS.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Government Code 51178, the State Fire Marshal shall 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.
WHEREAS, moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones shall be based on 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 a major cause of wildfire spread.
WHEREAS, Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) are in incorporated cities, urban regions, agricultural lands, and portions of the desert where the local government is responsible for wildfire protection. This is typically provided by city departments, fire protection districts, counties, and by CALFIRE under contract.
WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael recognizes the increasing threat of wildfires to life, property, and natural resources, particularly in areas where urban development intersects with wildland vegetation; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of San Rafael previously adopted the 38-point Wildfire Prevention and Protection Action Plan, a comprehensive framework for wildfire mitigation that includes actions such as community education, defensible space enforcement, fuel reduction, and infrastructure hardening; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael has adopted Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) building standards that strengthen new construction and retrofits within identified fire hazard areas to improve structural resilience and reduce ignition risks; and WHEREAS, the City continues to implement progressive Vegetation Management Standards through its fire prevention codes, including regulations on defensible space, hazardous vegetation removal, and maintenance of landscape materials to reduce fire fuel loads; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Government Code Section 51179, the City is required to designate by ordinance, moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones in its 2 jurisdiction within 120 days of receiving recommendations from the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Government Code Section 51178; and
WHEREAS, the designation of Fire Hazard Severity Zones supports San Rafael's longterm strategic efforts to protect public safety, guide appropriate land use planning, and align local actions with state wildfire resilience initiatives.
NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES
1. The City hereby designates the Fire Hazard Severity Zones as recommended by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Government Code Section 51178.
2. The map approved by the City, is hereby incorporated by reference, and entitled “City of San Rafael LRA Fire Hazard Severity Zones.”
3. The official map is located electronically with the City of San Rafael at www.SRFD.org
SECTION 2. SEVERABILITY
Every section, paragraph, clause, and phrase of this Ordinance is hereby declared to be severable. If for any reason, any section, paragraph, clause, or phrase is held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining sections, paragraphs, clauses or phrases, and the remaining portions or this Ordinance shall continue in full force and effect unless amended or modified by the City.
SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE AND PUBLICATION
This Ordinance shall be published once, in full or in summary form, before its final passage, in a newspaper of general circulation, published and circulated in the City of San Rafael and shall be in full force and effect 30 days after its adoption. If published in summary form, the summary shall also be published within fifteen (15) days after the adoption, together with the names of those Councilmembers voting for or against same, in a newspaper of general circulation published and circulated in the City of San Rafael, County of Marin, State of California. Within fifteen (15) days after adoption, the City Clerk shall also post in the office of the City Clerk, a certified copy of the full text of this Ordinance along with the names of those Councilmembers voting for and against the Ordinance.
3 THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE was first read and introduced at a regular meeting of the San Rafael City Council on the 5th day of May 2025, and was passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the San Rafael City Council on the 19th of May 2025, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
_____________________
Kate Colin, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________
Lindsay Lara, City Clerk
City and County boundaries as of 10/22/24 (CA Board of Equalization) CAL FIRE State Responsibility Areas (SRA25_1)
CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZSRA23_3, FHSZLRA_25_1) Data Sources:
Daniel Berlant, State Fire Marshal, CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Joe Tyler, Director/Fire Chief, CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Wade Crowfoot, Secretary for Natural Resources, CA Natural Resources Agency The State of California and the Department of Forestry and Fire Gavin Newsom, Governor, State of California Protection make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy of data or maps. Neither the State nor the Department shall be liable under any circumstances for any direct, special, incidental, or consequential damages with respect to any claim by any user or third party on account of, or arising from, the use of data or maps. and other relevant factors including areas where winds
have been identified by the Office of the State Fire Marshal as a major cause of wildfire spread.
statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas. Moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones shall be based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, 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 Waterbody
Federal Responsibility
Area (FRA)
Unzoned LRA
Incorporated City
Projection: NAD 83 California Teale Albers
Scale: 1:52,000 at 11" x 17"
Km 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
Mi 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
Very High High Moderate
Fire Hazard Severity Zones in State Responsibility
Area (SRA), Effective April 1, 2024
Very High High Moderate
Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) in Local Responsibility Area (LRA), as Identified by the State Fire Marshal
San Rafael
580
101
UNINCORPORATED
MARIN CO.
UNINCORPORATED
MARIN CO.
CORTE MADERA
FAIRFAX
LARKSPUR
SAN
ANSELMO
TIBURON
M A R I N C O .
February 24, 2025
As Identified by the
State Fire Marshal
Local Responsibility Area
Fire Hazard Severity Zones
CITY OF SAN RAFAEL – MARIN COUNTY
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From: SRFD Defensible Space
To: Kate Anderson
Subject: FW: Picnic Ave
Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025 11:31:00 AM
Attachments: image001.png
Thank you,
-Nicole
Nicole Marcucci (She/Her/Hers)
Defensible Space Inspector
Wildfire Mitigation Team
City of San Rafael
1375 Fifth Ave
San Rafael, CA 94901
Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5pm: (415) 485-3054
From: Emily Courtney <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, April 4, 2025 11:09 PM
To: SRFD Defensible Space <[email protected]> Subject: Picnic Ave
Hi,
I don't believe that the East side of Picnic Ave, closest to Davidson and Woodland Ave, should be included in the yellow zone of the fire map.
Thanks,
Emily
SAN RAFAEL FIRE DEPARTMENT
From: SRFD Defensible Space
To: Kate Anderson
Subject: FW: Voice Mail (34 seconds)
Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025 11:34:00 AM
Attachments: audio.mp3
image001.png
Thank you,
-Nicole
Nicole Marcucci (She/Her/Hers)
Defensible Space Inspector
Wildfire Mitigation Team
City of San Rafael
1375 Fifth Ave
San Rafael, CA 94901
Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5pm: (415) 485-3054
From: +1 415-271-1159 <+14152711159>
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2025 10:28 AM
To: SRFD Defensible Space Vegetation Mgmt <[email protected]> Subject: Voice Mail (34 seconds)
Hi, My name is Jennifer Matkin. My number is 415-271-1159. I actually have a question about the new fired Fire Hazard Severity zones map, just mostly because our house is kind of an anomaly in our neighborhood and we've been doing quite a bit of fire mitigation work. So I wanted to ask somebody about that. I called the number on the map that's showing as an. It's actually not going through to anybody. If this isn't the right number. You have any advice about where I can call? I'd appreciate it.
Thank you. Bye. Bye.
You received a voice mail from +1 415-271-1159.
Thank you for using Transcription! If you don't see a transcript above, it's because the audio quality was not clear enough to transcribe.
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