10 Attachment 1 - Town of Los Gatos Annex 9Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 9 – Town of Los Gatos
SWCA Environmental Consultants 1 April 2019
ANNEX 9. TOWN OF LOS GATOS
The Town of Los Gatos is located at the base of the Sierra Azules in the southwestern portion of
the County, where the Santa Clara Valley meets the lower slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Los Gatos encompasses a wide variety of terrain, ranging from flat topography at the edge of the
valley floor to densely wooded hillsides. Both the valley and hillsides are interspersed with creeks,
streams and riparian habitat. The sharp contrast between the valley floor and the hillsides provides
the town's picturesque background. The population is estimated to be 30,391 in a 14-square-mile
area.
ORGANIZATION AND JURISDICTION
The Town of Los Gatos is governed by a publicly elected city council and has authority for General
Plan land use planning, code adoption, and permit processing. The Town of Los Gatos does not
have a city fire department; Los Gatos is within the Central Fire Protection District.
State law designates all lands within the city limits of Los Gatos as a Local Responsibility Area
(LRA) for purposes of wildland fire protection. Most state fire prevention and defensible space
laws do not apply within LRAs. Recent legislation requires state review and input on General Plan
Safety Element updates where wildland fire is a hazard (Government Code Section 65040.20).
Fire protection services for Los Gatos are provided by Santa Clara County Central Fire Protection
District (dba Santa Clara County Fire Department), including emergency’s in State Responsibility
Areas (SRAs) in unincorporated areas of the wildland urban interface (WUI), adjacent to Los
Gatos. To determine LRAs and SRAs of the community, please visit:
http://www.firepreventionfee.org/sraviewer_launch.php
PLANNING TEAM PARTICIPATION
The Los Gatos community is represented on the Core Team by representatives of the Santa Clara
County Fire Department. The community has been engaged in the Community Wildfire Protection
Plan (CWPP) planning process through two rounds of workshops that have been held in Cupertino
and Redwood Estates and focus on the Los Gatos, Cupertino, and surrounding WUI communities.
LAND USE PLANNING, GENERAL PLAN, BUILDING CODES, AND LOCAL HAZARD
MITIGATION PLANS
Authority and jurisdiction for approving the General Plan and elements, and determining land use,
community design, and building code adoption rests with the Los Gatos Town Council. The Local
Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) identifies hazards that exist in Los Gatos that create risk to
citizens and properties in Los Gatos. WUI fires are a real and present danger to the western portions
of Los Gatos. This CWPP identifies several goals related to functions the Town of Los Gatos has
the authority to undertake.
ATTACHMENT 1
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 9 – Town of Los Gatos
SWCA Environmental Consultants 2 April 2019
This CWPP may serve as basis for the WUI fire component for LHMP, General Plan, or General
Plan element updates.
SUMMARY
Los Gatos is listed as a Community at Risk from wildfires on the Federal and/or California Fire
Alliance list of Communities at Risk in Santa Clara County.
Wildfires occur in the vicinity of Los Gatos and present a danger to people and properties within
the town.
Mitigations can reduce the risk of injury and damage. Some mitigations are solely the
responsibility of property owners, other mitigations require neighborhood level action, and some
require town government action.
WUI AREA DESCRIPTION
WUI AREA DEFINED
The Los Gatos WUI planning area includes primarily Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone areas
on the southern side of Los Gatos (Figure 9.1). The WUI area is best described as a wildland-urban
intermix with homes scattered amongst wildland fuels.
FIRE HISTORY
For fire history information, please see Figure 3.5 in the main CWPP document.
HAZARDOUS FUEL CHARACTERISTICS
The Los Gatos planning area comprises a range of vegetation communities that differ depending
upon elevation, precipitation, and slope. Chaparral vegetation is often found on south facing
slopes, where winter precipitation is relatively high, but dry summers are common. The chaparral
will have long flame lengths under either moderate or extreme weather scenarios. The nature of
these fuels is to burn quickly and intensely. Oak woodlands, comprised of a variety of oak species
are also interspersed throughout as well as mixed conifer comprising knob cone pine and grey
pine. A fire in either the mixed conifer or hardwood would likely be a surface fire with patches of
active behavior and fairly low rates of spread. However, active fire behavior is possible in this
vegetation type under extreme weather conditions, especially where there is high surface loading.
Coastal coniferous forest communities such as redwoods and Douglas fir are located at lower
elevations where precipitation is high, fog is common, and temperatures are moderate. Fire spread
is generally limited in this fuel type; however, given the right combination of weather conditions,
surface fire can be expected to burn uphill. Areas with increased fuel loading from dead and down
materials may experience crowning under the right conditions. The varied vegetation composition
result in the Los Gatos WUI comprising a range of wildfire hazard.
For fuel model information, please refer to Section 4.6.3 and Figure 4.3 in Chapter 4 of the main
CWPP document.
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 9 – Town of Los Gatos
SWCA Environmental Consultants 3 April 2019
Figure 9.1. Los Gatos planning area.
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 9 – Town of Los Gatos
SWCA Environmental Consultants 4 April 2019
NEIGHBORHOOD AND STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS
The foothills above Los Gatos (Figure 9.2) are characterized by steep, winding, and narrow roads
that pose potential ingress and egress problems for emergency response and evacuations. Some
areas may be subject to slow response times for emergency response due to the distance from the
nearest fire station and road conditions. Some homes have minimal turnaround space, posing a
concern to emergency responders due to potential entrapment. There are a number of dead end
roads and narrow driveways.
Most homes have moderate defensible space (at least 30 feet) but some homes do not meet the
necessary 70- to 100-foot space. Homes are inspected by Santa Clara County Fire Department
(SCCFD) personnel at least every three years. Most homes have non-combustible siding, but the
majority have combustible decks and fencing that comes into contact with wildland fuels. Some
homes have wood shake roofs which put the property and neighborhood at risk. Many
subdivisions are managed by homeowner associations (HOAs), which provide a conduit for fire
prevention and public education and outreach messages regarding structural ignitability and
defensible space. A large number of 7A compliant new build properties (Figure 9.3) are
interspersed with older properties, many are on large lots with good separation and have well
maintained yards. Many homes are landscaped by contracted landscape companies, outreach
regarding defensible space and non-flammable landscape vegetation could be targeted at those
companies. Vulnerable populations, such as retirement homes, are a concern to fire department
personnel, due to evacuation concerns along narrow roads. Defensible space in these areas is a
priority, particularly where vegetation is close to the property (Figure 9.4).
Many homes are located upslope from thick scrub fuels, with continuous canopies. Homes are
located on steep slopes with often minimal set-back from the slope. Topography is a concern due
to the influence steep slopes have on potential fire behavior.
Figure 9.2. Overview of Los Gatos WUI community.
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 9 – Town of Los Gatos
SWCA Environmental Consultants 5 April 2019
Figure 9.3. New build property, built to 7A compliance.
Figure 9.4. Eucalyptus close to units in a retirement community in hills above Los Gatos.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE CAPACITY
Fire suppression for the Los Gatos WUI area is provided by:
• Santa Clara County Central Fire Protection District:
o Los Gatos Fire Station, 306 University Ave, Los Gatos
o Shannon Fire Station, 16565 Shannon Rd, Los Gatos
o Winchester Fire Station, 14850 Winchester Blvd, Los Gatos
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 9 – Town of Los Gatos
SWCA Environmental Consultants 6 April 2019
PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS
Santa Clara County Fire Department, Fire Prevention Division provides a comprehensive fire and
life safety educational program within Los Gatos. More information can be found on its website:
http://www.sccfd.org/community-education/overview
The Santa Clara County Fire Safe Council is actively involved in the Los Gatos and surrounding
communities. (http://www.SCCFireSafe.org). This organization provides information regarding
chipping programs, defensible space mitigation, forest health issues, and much more. They also
offer public meetings and forums to support wildfire awareness.
The Town of Los Gatos provides comprehensive emergency preparedness information on its
website: http://www.town.los-gatos.ca.us/57/Emergency-Preparedness. In addition the Town has
an active CERT program: http://www.town.los-gatos.ca.us/152/CERT-Emergency-Management
POLICIES, REGULATIONS, ORDINANCES, AND CODES
Buildings within the Town of Los Gatos would be subject to the Municipal Code of Los Gatos.
Chapter 9 Fire Protection and Prevention outlines codes and ordinances pertaining to wildfire.
https://www2.municode.com/library/ca/los_gatos/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CO_CH9F
IPRPR
In particular Section 4907.1 General. Defensible space will be maintained around all buildings
and structures in SRA as required in Public Resources Code (PRC) 4290 and "SRA Fire Safe
Regulations" California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2,
Section 1270.
In addition buildings and structures within the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones of an LRA
shall maintain defensible space as outlined in Government Code 51175 - 51189 and any local
ordinance of the authority having jurisdiction.
Refer to Chapter 49 of the California Fire Code as amended and adopted by the Town of Los Gatos
for all of the requirements for Wildland Urban Interface Fire Areas in the Town.
HAZARD ASSESSMENT
Community hazard assessments include ratings of community conditions compared to best
practices for WUI fire mitigation. Community hazard ratings include consideration of applicable
state codes, local ordinances, and recognized best practices guidelines.
The National Fire Protection Association Standard 1144 (NFPA 1144) defines WUI hazards and
risks at the community and parcel level. This plan utilizes components of NFPA 1144, California
laws and local ordinances to evaluate neighborhood WUI hazard and risk. California PRC 4290
and 4291 sections address best practices WUI community design and defensible space standards.
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 9 – Town of Los Gatos
SWCA Environmental Consultants 7 April 2019
The NFPA 1144 community risk assessment completed for the Los Gatos Hills Community
assigned the WUI community a risk rating of High with a score of 89 (<40= low, >40 = moderate,
>70 = High, >112 = Extreme) see tabulated list below. Factors that contributed to the risk are
illustrated below. Averages are taken across the community for each of these parameters.
Parameter Condition Rating
Access Two roads in and out but access still concern +/-
Narrow road width -
Surfaced road with greater than 5% grade +
Poor fire access, dead end spurs, lack turnaround -
Street signs are present, some are non-reflective +/-
Vegetation Adjacent fuels: Medium +/-
Defensible space: >30 feet < 70 feet around structure +/-
Topography within 300 feet of structure 21%–30% -
Topographic features Moderate to high concern +/-
History of high fire occurrence Low +
Severe fire weather potential Low +
Separation of adjacent structures Good separation +
Roofing assembly Class C -
Building construction Combustible siding and deck -
Building set back <30 feet to slope -
Available fire protection Water: hydrants present with variable pressure +
Response: Station <5 miles from structure +
Internal sprinklers: some newer 7A compliant homes +/-
Utilities One above and one below ground +/-
Risk Rating- High (89)
In addition to the on-the-ground hazard assessment, the CWPP also includes a Composite Fire
Risk/Hazard Assessment, which uses fire behavior modelling to determine potential fire behavior
and is based on fuel characteristics, topography, weather, and fire history. The Composite
Risk/Hazard Assessment for the planning area is shown in Figure 9.5. For more information on
the methodology for this assessment please refer to Section 4.6.1 in Chapter 4 of the CWPP.
PARCEL LEVEL ASSESSMENT
A model for determining parcel level risk and effect of mitigations has been developed through
this CWPP project. The model can use information available through public record for basic
analysis but can be further refined with a site visit with property owner for a thorough analysis of
risk score. The County will be seeking funding to fully implement this parcel level assessment in
the future. The goal is for the property owner to be able to use this analysis to determine the most
effective steps they can take to reduce their risk. For more information refer to Chapter 4 in the
countywide CWPP document.
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 9 – Town of Los Gatos
SWCA Environmental Consultants 8 April 2019
Figure 9.5. Composite Risk and Hazard Assessment for Los Gatos WUI community.
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 9 – Town of Los Gatos
SWCA Environmental Consultants 9 April 2019
IDENTIFY CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITY VALUES AT RISK
Critical utility infrastructure such as, electric power supply lines, substations, and natural gas lines
are essential to supply to residents and businesses for services that in some cases are critical to
health and life safety. In many parts of the project area, electric power is needed to power pumps
for the domestic water supply, and to provide heating and lighting. Wildfire is a significant threat
to the electric utility supply.
The project area has several watersheds that are community values at risk. Watersheds need to be
protected and maintained from catastrophic wildfire damage in order to prevent erosion,
sedimentation and water contamination (Taylor et al. 1993). Long-term issues resulting from
damage to watersheds would be increased run off, poor soil retention, and decreased water quality.
The WUI area surrounding Los Gatos is comprised of open space areas, including El Sereno Open
Space, St. Josephs Hill Open Space, Heintz Open Space, Sierra Azul Open Space and Santa Rosa
Open Space. These open space areas are valued for recreational use and for their natural resources.
Other community values at risk include: life safety, homes and property values, infrastructure,
recreation and lifestyle, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and environmental resources and
commercial business, for example, a number of wineries/vineyards are located in the interface,
including, the Testarossa Winery, McCarthy Family Estate Vineyards, La Rusticana D’Orsa
Vineyard, and Perrucci Family Vineyard.
MITIGATION PROJECTS AND PRIORITIZATIONS
The following project matrices have been developed by the CWPP working group to guide specific
project goals implementations for the Town of Los Gatos (Table 9.1–Table 9.5). The matrices
below are tiered to the strategic goals presented in the body of the CWPP through project IDs in
the first column of each matrix. The matrices are broken down into projects for addressing public
education and outreach, reducing structural ignitability, improving fire response capability, and
reducing hazardous fuels.
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 9 – Town of Los Gatos
SWCA Environmental Consultants 10 April 2019
Table 9.1. Recommendations for Public Outreach and Education in the Los Gatos Planning Area
ID
LG Project Presented by Target Date Priority
(1,2,3) Resources Needed Serves to
Strategic Goal: EO1- Educate citizens on how to achieve contemporary WUI code compliance in retrofits/cost: benefit ratio. Provide workshops and/or demonstration
site.
and
EO5- Emergency preparedness meetings.
Use American Red Cross volunteers and other preparedness experts. Attend community functions and hold special meetings to provide guidance for creating
household emergency plans.
Use Ready, Set, Go! program.
LG-EO1.1 Wildfire Preparedness and WUI
Code workshops
FireSafe Councils,
County Fire, CAL
FIRE
Within 2 years 1 Workshop expenses, personnel
Workshop venues
Demonstration site
Strategize on avenues for
engaging the public.
Increase compliance with County code.
Reduce fire risk level for individual
parcels and community as a whole.
Strategic Goal: EO3- Organize a community group made up of residents and agency personnel to develop materials and communicate relevant defensible space
messages. Could coordinate with fire departments or Fire Safe Council.
LG-EO3.1 Form community working group
for defensible space outreach
FireSafe Council,
fire departments,
local residents,
Eagle Scouts, High
School Community
Volunteer Program
Within 1 year 1 Funding to help cover costs of
materials (green waste removal
or chipper) and participation.
Hire contractor trained in
defensible space practices.
Engage diverse stakeholders in
reaching out to community members
and encourage defensible space
practices.
Empower homeowners to make
affordable and effective changes to
reduce the vulnerability of individual
homes.
Strategic Goal: EO4- Information dissemination
Develop a local newspaper column that provides fire safety information, promotional information for volunteer fire departments, fire announcements, and emergency
planning.
LG-EO4.1 Develop content and disseminate
information that provides fire
safety information, fire
announcements, and emergency
planning.
Town Los Gatos Within 1 year 1 Content to be provided by fire
departments, local residents,
Santa Clara County FireSafe
Council and the Town.
Protect communities and infrastructure
through increasing public awareness
and providing medium for information
regarding emergency fire response.
Strategic Goal: EO10- Insurance Services informational meetings
LG-
EO10.1
Outreach to the community to
schedule an Insurance Services
informational meeting.
Invite Insurance Services
representatives to speak to
groups regarding ways to
improve insurance ratings in the
community.
Insurance Serv ices
in conjunction with
SCCFSC
Within 2 years 2 Resources provided by Insurance
Services. Venue provided by
SCCFD fire department.
Communities can learn how to improve
their insurance ratings, which will
reduce insurance costs in their
community by implementing wildfire
prevention measures.
Strategic Goal: EO11- Increase signage/replace or augment existing signage.
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 9 – Town of Los Gatos
SWCA Environmental Consultants 11 April 2019
ID
LG Project Presented by Target Date Priority
(1,2,3) Resources Needed Serves to
LG-
EO11.1
Increase signage/replace or
augment existing signage.
Use existing signage to spread
fire prevention message along
highways and in public open
space areas (trailheads, info
kiosks) to reduce human
ignitions.
Promote the use of existing
electronic signs at firehouses and
other locales to display fire
prevention information, safety
messages, and fire danger rating
linked to safety actions.
County Fire Within 2 years 2 Mostly existing signs and posting
sites, people to post and update
signs.
Replace, or augment the existing
Smokey Bear signs with
electronic Fire Danger Warning
Signs that are solar powered,
LED displays (visible day &
night), and accessible and
programmable through an
internet website.
Protect communities and infrastructure
by raising awareness of local citizens
and those traveling in the area about
actions that can prevent fire.
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 9 – Town of Los Gatos
SWCA Environmental Consultants 12 April 2019
Table 9.2. Recommendations for Reducing Structural Ignitability in the Los Gatos Planning Area
ID Project Presented by Programs Available Description Priority
(1,2,3) Timeline
Strategic Goal: SI1: Retrofit/Eliminate flammable roofs
LG-SI1.1 Identify all wood shake-roofed
properties within planning area
and target homeowners with
outreach on retrofitting roofs.
City and County Planning in
conjunction with County Fire
and municipalities. Town of
Los Gatos
FEMA and other grants Explore elimination of flammable
roofs through attrition or potential
Town Code modification
1 5 years
Strategic Goal: SI5- Adopt landscape standards for recommended plant landscape materials
LG-SI5.1 Adopt landscape standards for
recommended plant landscape
materials
FireSafe Councils to lead Research Firewise plants
suitable for the region.
Develop plant list, poster
materials and research
demonstration site.
Firewise Communities
USA: www.firewise.org
Educate property owners,
landscape firms and landscape
architects in appropriate
ornamental plantings, mulches,
and landscape design/
maintenance in WUI areas.
3 Next 2 years
Strategic Goal: SI6- Develop landscape contractor maintenance program for “Right Plant-- Right Place” and maintenance
LG-SI6.1 Develop landscape contractor non-
flammable plant list.
FireSafe Councils to lead in
cooperation with local Home
Owner Association
Firewise Communities
USA: www.firewise.org
Educate property owners,
landscape firms and landscape
architects in appropriate
ornamental plantings, mulches,
and landscape design/
maintenance in WUI areas. Work
with HOA.
2 Next 2 years
Strategic Goal: SI8- Interactive tool for citizens to use on line, ID their property and what hazard/risks exist and mitigations they can apply to improve their survivability
LG-SI8.1 Work with County Fire to develop
parcel level application of CWPP
risk assessment using Interra
software.
Santa Clara County Fire
Department with revised
Interra contract
Interra County Fire to pursue funding to
increase contract provisions with
Interra to provide public facing
tool.
Simplify tool and provide easy to
follow instructions.
Could develop YouTube
informational video
1 Next 3 years
Strategic Goal: SI11- Implement spring community yard clean-up days.
In combination with FireSafe Council chipper program.
LG-SI11.1 Implement community work day to
encourage yard clean-up and
defensible space maintenance
County Fire, CAL FIRE,
FireSafe Council and the
Town
FireSafe Council chipping
program
Ready, Set, Go
CAL FIRE
A community-led day of yard
clean-up with fire mitigation in
mind would encourage large
numbers within the community to
carry-out mitigation measures and
implementation of defensible
space.
2 Next 2 years
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 9 – Town of Los Gatos
SWCA Environmental Consultants 13 April 2019
ID Project Presented by Programs Available Description Priority
(1,2,3) Timeline
Strategic Goal: SI12- Assess and improve accessibility to property
Weekend program to inform homeowners about emergency response access
LG-SI12.1 Institute a weekend program to
inform homeowners about
emergency response access.
Fire departments, Fire
Marshal
Firewise Inform homeowners about the
importance of keeping driveways
accessible to fire trucks and
emergency responders.
1 Within 1 year
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 9 – Town of Los Gatos
SWCA Environmental Consultants 14 April 2019
Table 9.3. Recommendations for Improving Firefighting Capabilities in the Los Gatos Planning Area
ID Project Description Fire
Department/Agency
Benefits of the Project to the
community Timeline Priority
(1,2,3)
Resources/funding
sources available
Strategic Goal: FC2- Define Safe Refuge Areas and establish maintenance program in WUI areas where fire behavior and evacuation timing is problematic.
LG-FC2.1 Define and delineate spatially Safe
Refuge Areas and establish
maintenance program in WUI
areas where fire behavior and
evacuation timing is problematic.
County Fire/CAL
FIRE/FireSafe
Councils
Provides safety measure for residents of
rural areas in event that evacuation is
limited.
Provides for firefighter safety by creating
escape route.
2 year 1 Grants: FEMA, CA FSC,
DHS
Strategic Goal: FC5- Develop WUI preplans and accompanying evacuation plans for all WUI areas in Santa Clara County using standardized format
LG-FC5.1 Develop WUI preplans and
accompanying evacuation
assessment plan for Los Gatos
WUI
County Fire/CAL
FIRE/FireSafe
Council and the Town
Helps fire response agencies understand
geographic area evacuations.
Helps identify areas where mitigation
measures are needed to facilitate safe
evacuation.
Helps establish consistent model across
all agencies.
1 year 1 Grants: FEMA, CA FSC,
DHS
Strategic Goal: FC8: Where road systems are antiquated and do not provide for proper evacuation or two way flow, require removal of obstructions or upgrade to
minimum 2 lanes road system over time
LG-FC8.1 Address poor road access issues -
develop long-term plan for road
improvements and prioritized
routes for evacuation.
County Planning,
Town Planning and
Public Works
Addresses evacuation concerns of
residents living in areas with poor
ingress/egress.
Provides for improved response
capabilities and reduces risk that
responding emergency vehicles will
conflict with evacuation of residents.
2 years 1 Homeowner Associations,
Road Associations, County
Service Areas
Strategic Goal: FC11- Investigate and potentially install Fire Detection Robots to alert departments of a fire start in remote areas.
LG-FC11.1 Investigate installation of fire
detection robots on open space
lands adjacent to Los Gatos.
County Fire Uses technology for single-tree wildfire
detection solution that help forestry
agencies and fire protection
professionals manage the risks of fire
damage cost-effectively.
Within 2
years
1 Private companies provide
robotic technology
Strategic Goal: FC14- Where possible encourage sharing of water sources in areas where residential water supplies may be low or non-existent during periods of
drought or when wells/springs have run dry
LG-FC14.1 Address water shortage concerns-
particularly at high elevations by
following the model currently under
way by Loma Prieta Fire
Department.
fire agencies, local
community
organizations, local
water purveyors
Encouragement and assistance from
FireSafe Council can provide a catalyst
for action.
1–5 years 1 County Fire
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 9 – Town of Los Gatos
SWCA Environmental Consultants 15 April 2019
ID Project Description Fire
Department/Agency
Benefits of the Project to the
community Timeline Priority
(1,2,3)
Resources/funding
sources available
Strategic Goal: FC15- Where Open Space and Park Agencies establish trail head parking areas, operating facilities such as horse stables and camping areas that will
increase public access add large capacity water tanks and hydrants for wildfire protection.
LG-FC15.1 Installation of water tanks on Open
Space property for fire
suppression purposes.
MROSD Alleviates public and agency concern for
limited water supply in remote areas.
Within 5
years
3 This could eventually be
amended into the building
code for Santa Clara
County.
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 9 – Town of Los Gatos
SWCA Environmental Consultants 16 April 2019
Table 9.4. Fuel Reduction Treatment Recommendations in the Los Gatos Planning Area
ID Project Description Location and
Responsible Party Method Serves to: Timeline
for Action
Priority
(1,2,3) Monitoring Resources/funding
sources available
Strategic Goal: FR1- Incorporate single track trails into fire defense system where practical
LG-FR1.1 Fire Safe Council to
continue community
outreach to prioritize
treatments along
existing trails that
could help to provide
a more substantial
fuel break and break
up the continuity of
fuels.
Open space lands:
Trails that run adjacent
to community
Detailed analysis
would be needed in
development of
treatment location to
ensure protection of
natural resources.
Provide access
when fires occur to
reduce spread
Enhance Community
fire defense by
breaking up fuel
continuity.
Ongoing-
LONG
RANGE
1 Regular
monitoring to
determine
project
success in
reducing fuel
loading and
enhanced
access.
Grants: CA FSC;
California Forest
Improvement
Program (CFIP);
Natural Resource
Conservation
Service (NRCS),
FEMA, Green House
Gas Reduction Fund
(GHGRF)
Strategic Goal: FR7- Develop roadside fuel treatment program, including suite of methods available and sustainability mechanism
LG-FR7.1 Implement roadside
brushing/mowing
throughout community
to increase buffer
from wildfire ignitions
and provide for safe
evacuation.
Community members
to approach SCCFSC
to identify roadside
fuel treatment
priorities and seek
funding to implement.
County and city road
agencies; private road
associations, PG&E,
Cable and Phone
companies.
Led by SCCFSC.
Determine suite of
treatment methods
allowed and
restriction for
roadside hazard
reduction including
mowing, mastication,
chemical, plantings,
mulching, etc.
Develop treatment
plan and rotation
schedule for roadside
treatments, focusing
of primary evacuation
or access/egress
corridors.
Reduce fuel loading
around roads and
highways to ensure
safe passage of
vehicles in event of
evacuation and
reduce unplanned
ignitions from
vehicles and
highway users.
Within 2
years
1 Regular
maintenance
schedule
should be
implemented
to ensure
clearance
levels are
maintained.
Develop
standards for
road crews.
Grants: Federal
Emergency
Management
Agency (FEMA),
California Fire Safe
Council (CA FSC),
Department of
Homeland Security
(DHS)
Strategic Goal: FR9- Establish assistance program for hazardous fuel reduction for physically or fiscally challenged parcels
LG-FR9.1 Establish assistance
program for
hazardous fuel
reduction and
defensible space for
elderly or physically
challenged individuals
within Los Gatos
Los Gatos
neighborhood groups,
HOAs.
Identify barriers to
achieving parcel level
defensible space and
establish assistance
program of resources:
education, consulting,
guidance, people,
funding.
Ensure that
individual properties
with poor property
hygiene do not put
adjoining properties
at risk in event of
wildfire.
For residents who
are not capable of
implementing good
property hygiene.
Within 2
years
2 Establish
levels of
participation
by
assistance
type
Grants: CA FSC;
CFIP; NRCS, FEMA,
GHGRF
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 9 – Town of Los Gatos
SWCA Environmental Consultants 17 April 2019
ID Project Description Location and
Responsible Party Method Serves to: Timeline
for Action
Priority
(1,2,3) Monitoring Resources/funding
sources available
Strategic Goal: FR 11- Create Sustainable programs for creating Defensible Space at the parcel Level.
LG-
FR11.1
Create Sustainable
programs for creating
Defensible Space at
the parcel Level within
Los Gatos
Home Owner, FireSafe
Councils, Home Owner
Associations, SCCFD,
Administrators for SRA
fee distributions.
Example projects -
Curbside green waste
pickup programs,
community chipping
piles, drive-up
chipping, on site
chipping.
Ensure that
defensible space
actions are
sustained in all
communities
Within 1
year
1 Regular
maintenance
schedule
should be
implemented
to ensure
clearance
levels are
maintained.
Grants: CA FSC;
CFIP; NRCS, FEMA,
GHGRF
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 9 – Town of Los Gatos
SWCA Environmental Consultants 18 April 2019
Table 9.5. Recommendations for General Planning Projects in Town of Los Gatos
ID Project Description Method Timeline for
Action
Priority
(1,2,3) Monitoring/Sustainability Resources/Funding
Sources Available
Strategic Goal GP1: Ensure project sustainability.
LG- GP1.1 The CWPP serves as the
wildfire component of Los
Gatos LHMP and General
Plan - Safety and other
element amendments.
Work with city planning to identify timeline
for incorporation in next LHMP update.
Explore having the strategic-level CWPP
incorporated into the Safety Element of the
General Plan when the safety element is
next revised.
Next 5 years 2 The core group of stakeholders
would need to ensure that the
document is kept relevant in that
time and position it for
incorporation.
Internal funding
LG- GP1.2 Ensure project
sustainability.
Have a target date for updating the
datasets used in the risk assessment model
and re-running the model.
Establish trigger points for updating CWPP.
Make contact with Santa Clara County Fire
Department to note your interest in
participating in the project and identify
CWPP meeting schedule.
Annually
1 Establish annual oversight of the
CWPP and project status.
Get buy-in from Core Team
members for long-term
commitment to CWPP review.
Internal funding
LG- GP1.3 Designate a member to the
Countywide CWPP Core
Team for CWPP updates.
Identify staff and convene a kickoff of the
working group and identify tasks and goals
for CWPP updates.
Meet
quarterly
1 Commit to attendance at one
CWPP meeting annually.
Internal funding
LG- GP1.4 Develop methods for
sustainability of hazardous
fuel reduction.
Develop options for Town Council to
evaluate sustainable hazardous fuel
maintenance funding
As needed 2 Enactment of policy. Internal funding
Strategic Goal G24: Parcel Level Defensible Space Inspection Task Force
LG-GP2.1 Join countywide task force
to do parcel level
inspection work to enhance
model; utilize portable data
collection and ArcGIS as
analysis tools.
Carryout parcel level assessments to
enhance risk assessment model
components at a finer scale.
Add data to model and re-run as necessary.
2 years 1 Set target number of parcels to
be assessed each year.
Review number of parcels
assessed each year at annual
CWPP meeting.
Internal funding
Strategic Goal GP3: Develop countywide standard and method for continued data gathering and risk analysis.
LG-GP3.1 Use a countywide standard
and method for continued
data gathering and risk
analysis.
Conduct funding to purchase a commercial
application, such as Fulcrum, that provides
a standard data collection platform that
could be used on a smart phone/tablet.
2 years 1 Annual review of progress as part
of Core Team.
California Fire Safe
Council
clearinghouse
grants; internal
funding
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 9 – Town of Los Gatos
SWCA Environmental Consultants 19 April 2019
ID Project Description Method Timeline for
Action
Priority
(1,2,3) Monitoring/Sustainability Resources/Funding
Sources Available
Strategic Goal GP5: Add hyperspectral and LiDAR imaging to periodic aerial photography flights.
LG-GP5.1 Seek LiDAR and
hyperspectral imagery for
aerial photography of Los
Gatos.
Work in conjunction with the City Planning,
County Assessor, or others to add
additional sensing cameras to aerial photo
flights.
Hyperspectral and LiDAR can provide in
depth identification and analysis of hazards
and risks.
1–3 years 1 Periodic new flights to update
data sets.
Grants: Federal
Emergency
Management
Agency, Department
of Homeland
Security,
Greenhouse Gas
Reduction