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<br />8A <br />Page 1 <br /> <br />REPORT <br /> <br />, ' <br /> <br />To the Honorable Mayor and City, ~:()JJ."qil <br />From the Ci,;:::Ma'ha"er, <br /> <br />March 23, 2009 <br /> <br />SUBJECT <br />Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map Ordinance <br /> <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />1. Conduct a public hearing and second reading of the Very High Fire Hazard <br />Severity Zone Map Ordinance. <br />2. Adopt the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map Ordinance with any <br />necessary amendments, to be effective in 30 days. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br />The Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map Ordinance was introduced at the March <br />9, 2009 City Council meeting. The proposed ordinance was published twice in the <br />official newspaper, as required by California law and the City Charter for building code <br />ordinances. The following is a duplication of the March 9, 2009 Report to Council. <br /> <br />Due to the wildland fires in California and subsequent state legislation, the Califomia <br />Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) is required to review and update <br />fire hazard severity zones. Cal Fire initially completed mapping of Fire Hazard Severity <br />Zones for State Responsibility Areas (SRA- areas outside of city limits where the state <br />has responsibility for wildland fire protection). Cal Fire recently completed mapping of <br />Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones for Local Responsibility Areas (LRA- areas where <br />local government has responsibility for wildland fire protection). <br /> <br />Redwood City Fire and Building & Inspection have reviewed the draft map for Redwood <br />City and concur with the proposed boundaries of the Very High Fire Hazard Severity <br />Zone Map. The Redwood City Board of Building Review discussed the map and related <br />code requirements at their January 6, 2009 meeting. The Board recommends that the <br />City Council adopt the map as presented by Cal Fire. <br /> <br />California Government Code Section 51179(a) requires the local agency to adopt this <br />map by ordinance. There are approximately 1,200 properties in Redwood City in the <br />Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map area. New buildings within this area are <br />required to comply with California Building Code Chapter 7 A and maintain defensible <br />space as required by Califomia Government Code Section 51182. Chapter 7 A contains <br />requirements for fire retardant or ignition resistant construction materials at roofs, <br />eaves, vents, exterior walls, exterior windows and doors, decks, and areas below decks~ <br />There are prescriptive or perfonnance criteria that are achievable with conventional <br />construction materials. The defensible space must be maintained up to 100 feet (or the <br />property line, whichever is less) from the building. The Redwood City Code currently <br />requires fire retardant roofing and fire sprinklers. <br /> <br />Building & Inspection will enforce the Chapter 7A requirements and Fire will enforce the <br />defensible space requirements. The Building Official is required to provide certification <br />at building pennit issuance and at completion that the structure complies with all <br />