Attachment A
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA,
DESIGNATING FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY
ZONES IN THE CITY OF SANTA MARIA
WHEREAS, the Office of State Fire Marshal on February 7, 2025, began a phased rollout of new fire hazard severity designations for local governments; and
WHEREAS, on March 10, 2025, the Office of State Fire Marshal p ublished the “City of Santa Maria - Santa Barbara County Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones” Map (“Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map”); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to California Government Code §51175 et seq., impacted jurisdictions must complete several statutorily required actions; and
WHEREAS, on March 21 , 2025, pursuant to California Government Code §51178.5, the City of Santa Maria (“City”) posted information about the new fire hazard severity designations and a copy of the Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map on its website; and
WHEREAS, California Government Code §51179 requires the City to designate by Ordinance, moderate, high, and very high severity zones within its jurisdiction within 120 days of receiving recommendations from the State Fire Marshal; and
WHEREAS, the City wishes to adopt the Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map as recommended by the Office of State Fire Marshal.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Santa Maria, State of California, as follows:
SECTION 1. The City Council finds that the above recitals are true and correct and incorporated herein by reference; and
SECTION 2. The City Council hereby designates the Fire Hazard Severity Zones as recommended by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Government Code § 51178, without modification. The “City of Santa Maria - Santa Barbara County Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones” Map, dated March 10, 2025, attached as E xhibit A to this Ordinance, is adopted by the City Council, and hereby incorporated by reference . The official Map is also located electronically on the City’s website at: ___________________; and
2 SECTION 3. Pursuant to California Government Code § 51179(c) a copy of this Ordinance shall be transmitted to the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection within thirty days of adoption. The City Clerk shall post a notice at the office of the county recorder, county assessor, and county planning agency identifying the location of the Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map in accordance with Government Code §51179(g); and
SECTION 4. This Ordinance is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State guidelines Section 15060(c)(3), no environmental review is required; and
SECTION 5. The Chief Deputy City Clerk is hereby authorized to make m inor changes herein to address clerical errors, so long as substantial conformance of the intent of this document is maintained. In doing so, the Chief Deputy City Clerk shall consult with the City Manager and City Attorney concerning any changes deemed necessary; and
SECTION 6. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect thirty (30) days after its passage. Within fifteen days following its p assage, the City Clerk shall cause this Ordinance to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in accordance with State Law; or when deemed necessary due to the length or complexity of the Ordinance, cause a summary of the Ordinance to be prepared and published at least five days prior to the City Council meeting at which the proposed Ordinance is to be adopted. If a summary is published at least five days prior to the City Council meeting at which the proposed Ordinance is to be adopted, then within 15 days after adoption of the Ordinance the City Clerk shall publish a summary of the Ordinance with the names of those City Council Members voting for and against the Ordinance and shall post a certified copy of the full text of such adopted Ordinance along with the names of those City Council Members voting for and against the Ordinance.
///
///
///
3 INTRODUCED at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the ______ day of ________ 2025, and PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting held on the _____ day of ______ 2025, by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAINED:
ATTEST:
Chief Deputy City Clerk
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_______________________________
City Attorney
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
_______________________________
Department Director
_______________________________
City Manager
Attachment: Exhibit A: City of Santa Maria - Santa Barbara County Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map, dated March 10, 2025