Title
a. Receive a report on Regulations Governing Fire Fuel Reduction for Defensible Space
b. Provide direction to staff
(Board Referral No: 2019.01)
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors
a. Receive a report on Regulations Governing Fire Fuel Reduction for Defensible Space
b. Provide direction to staff
SUMMARY:
Referral 2019.01: Request is for a presentation to the Board on the applicable State and County regulations that govern fire fuel reduction for defensible space on private property and consideration of whether any changes may be warranted in the County's regulations in this current era of fire hazards. Request is to complete update to the information and resources available on the RMA web page on Removal of Trees & Vegetation & Fire Management, for example by adding links to other agencies and resources. In response to this referral, staff prepared this report to advise the Board about regulations that govern fire fuel reduction for defensible space on private property, and to seek direction if staff is to allocate resources for further action. The report considers if any changes should be considered on how the County's regulations are communicated to the public, and reports on the accomplishments to date of the contract between the County and the Resource Conservation District of Monterey County (RCD). If further action is desired, staff requests direction on the level of priority for allocating resources.
Defensible space is the area around a home where vegetation is required by law to be managed to protect the home from a wildfire. Both County staff and the public are often challenged by the many federal, state, and local regulations governing fire fuel management on private property. Some of these regulations are not consistent and in certain cases conflict. For example, State fire regulations have been amended to increase setback requirements within which property owners are required to manage trees...
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