From: LOREN RAYMOND
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Secret Newly Proposed Wildland Urban Interface Map Date: Friday, May 1, 2026 12:23:43 PM
Dear Mr. Mark Stapp and Other Council Members:
It has come to my attention via a neighbor that the Santa Rosa Fire Department is proposing to considerably expand the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) map based on a CAL Fire Hazard Severity map. There are problems with holding upcoming meetings and implementation of this decision in the short term by a non-voter elected body.
First, as a homeowner I was never informed of the proposed change, nor was I informed of two upcoming meetings that I now know about that apparently have been scheduled in the next 10 days.
The Ralph M. Brown Act, as you know,
requires advance public notice of meetings conducted for public business. Revising the WUI map is public business.
On this basis alone, I request that the two
upcoming "meetings" be postponed until adequate public notice is provided that allows adequate time for the public to obtain pertinent information relevant to the proposed WUI changes from sources other than Santa Rosa Fire.
Second, as a scientist, I would like to know the scientific basis of the proposed changes. The new WUI zone shown on the map that my neighbor provided seems illogical, unscientific, and capricious.
It appears that the narrow line of trees
along Matanzas Creek was a major factor in delineating this new fire hazard zone.
We know from the 2017 fires that narrow zones such as this were not the controlling factors in the spread of fires.
Until adequate time is provided for the
public and unbiased scientists to evaluate the proposed WUI map, I request that no hearings be held or decisions made.
Sincerely,
Loren
Loren A. Raymond, Ph.D.
• Coast Range Geologic Mapping Institute
Santa Rosa, California USA
95405, &
• Emeritus Professor of Geology & Sustainable Development Appalachian State University,
Boone, NC 28608