TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Bernard Molloy, Fire Chief
PREPARED BY: Sue Ann Herring, Assistant Management Analyst - Fire
SUBJECT:
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Agreement with the California Conservation Corps for As-Needed Defensible Space Clearing on City Properties
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RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Approve an agreement with the California Conservation Corps for as-needed defensible space clearing on City properties; and
Authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
None.
CITY COUNCIL GOAL
Coordinate and deliver responsive, effective community services.
BACKGROUND
The City of Murrieta owns 949 parcels within the City limits, covering 2,014 acres. Much of this land lies within the very high fire severity zone and requires defensible space clearing to comply with California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection regulations adopted pursuant to California Government Code Section 11349.3. These regulations implement minimum fire safety standards related to defensible space applicable to the perimeters and access to all residential, commercial, and industrial building construction and to land in a State Responsibility Area (SRA), Local Responsibility Area (LRA), and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ), particularly with respect to fuel breaks, greenbelts near communities, and preservation of undeveloped ridgelines.
Most City-owned open space properties are immediately adjacent to residential homes, schools, parks, power lines, roadways, and other municipal facilities. Clearing City-owned parcels in the City's VHFSZ will have a direct positive impact on the 8,954 structures in these VHFSZ areas of the City.
The City currently has contracts to manage City properties through landscaping agreements. The proposed new agreement with the California Conservation Corps (CCC) would allow the City to have an as-needed contract to complete required defensible space clearing for more complex City-owned...
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