Staff Report.Ad Hoc Wildfire Update
PREPARED BY: Arn Andrews
Assistant Town Manager
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Parks and Public Works Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 10/19/2021 ITEM NO: 8
DATE: October 11, 2021
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Receive an Update on the Implementation of the Town Council Accepted Ad
Hoc Wildfire Committee Report
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive an update on the implementation of the Town Council accepted Ad Hoc Wildfire
Committee Report.
BACKGROUND:
On December 1, 2020, the Town Council accepted the Ad Hoc Wildfire Committee Report
(Attachment 1). The report was the culmination of peer reviewed best practices, lessons
learned from recent California fires, mitigation characteristics unique to Los Gatos, and
significant input from the Santa Clara County Assistant Fire Chief. The report was structured
around five primary strategic goals accompanied by relevant action items. The identified goals
in the report appear sequentially in their order of initial priority focus. Goal sequencing is not
intended to reflect attainment of one goal prior to initiating another but rather a function of
prioritizing protection of life followed by property and the environment. It should be noted
that goals and many action items are anticipated to often be addressed concurrently. Following
are the identified goals of the Committee:
• Emergency Communication
• Emergency Evacuation
• Roadside Fuel Reduction
• Open Space and Residential Land Management
• Emergency Partnerships
PAGE 2 OF 8 SUBJECT: Ad Hoc Wildfire Committee Report Implementation DATE: October 11, 2021
BACKGROUND (continued):
In addition to the sequencing of goals, action items were individually ranked into either Priority
1 (within two years) or Priority 2 (within three to five years). The priority ranking of action
items is a byproduct of establishing reasonable and attainable actions as opposed to signifying
certain action items are less important than others.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Council asked staff to report back in a year and provide an
update on the progress of report goals and action items.
DISCUSSION:
Following is a discussion of the identified goals and corresponding progress to date on relevant
action items:
GOAL: All residents should receive emergency communications in a timely manner.
ACTION ITEMS PRIORITY TIMEFRAME
Maximize the use of Nixle/AlertSCC and ensure that existing communication systems are fully utilized.
Update - On July 24, 2021, the AlertSCC emergency notification system was utilized to notify preestablished participating residents during a mock evacuation drill. Approximately 50 hillside households
and participating volunteers were contacted during the drill.
Priority 1 – within 2 years
Increase resident adoption of Town social media platforms and SCCFD Twitter feed. Update – Since December 2020, staff has significantly increased
wildfire mitigation/preparedness messaging on the Town’s social media platforms.
Nextdoor: 17 posts with a total impression count of 34,857 Facebook: 26 posts with a total post reach of 4,180 Instagram: 20 posts with a total reach of 9,188
Priority 1 – within 2 years
PAGE 3 OF 8 SUBJECT: Ad Hoc Wildfire Committee Report Implementation DATE: October 11, 2021
DISCUSSION (continued):
GOAL: To the greatest extent feasible, create and maintain conditions necessary for efficient
and effective evacuations.
Explore additional non-cell/internet reliant emergency communication systems (e.g., siren system).
Update – The Town is in the early research phase of audible notification options. Particular attention is being given to systems that can clearly annunciate voice messages at loud volumes as
opposed to blasts or other sounds.
Priority 1 – within 2 years
Increase SCCFD Ready, Set, Go Programs in Town
Update – Staff routinely cross promotes all Santa Clara County Fire Department (SCCFD) Ready, Set, Go promotional programs on the
Town’s social media platforms.
Priority 1 – within 2 years
Explore adding electronic message boards in front of fire stations and possibly police station.
Priority 1 – within 2 years
ACTION ITEMS PRIORITY TIMEFRAME
Identify and explore the development of roadside and other
Temporary Refuge Areas (TRAs) throughout the WUI.
Priority 1 – within 2 years
Assess and address evacuation feeder routes leading out of the WUI throughout Los Gatos. Update – SCCFD implemented Zonehaven in the Town starting September 2021. The Town is currently segmented into 16 unique zones based on an assessment of roadway infrastructure and number
of vehicles per zone. In addition, SCCFD initiated the “Know Your Zone” public outreach and has scheduled resident education webinars through March 2022.
https://community.zonehaven.com/?latlon=37.21610629166834,-121.91023023106976&z=12&selected=LGA-E019
Examine elimination of on-street parking where appropriate
Priority 1 – within 2 years
Priority 2 – within 3 to 5
years
PAGE 4 OF 8 SUBJECT: Ad Hoc Wildfire Committee Report Implementation DATE: October 11, 2021
DISCUSSION (continued):
Implement reflective home address signage throughout the WUI. Update - The Civic Center Hillside Neighborhood resident group
(Foster Road area) recently installed reflective signage in that area.
Priority 2 – within 3 to 5 years
Study/identify and develop alternate evacuation routes throughout the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI).
Priority 2 – within 3 to 5 years
Identify potential road widening, turnout projects throughout the WUI. Develop a multi-year project to implement needed improvements.
Priority 2 – within 3 to 5 years
Develop plan to practice annually simulated evacuations in WUI neighborhoods.
Update - On July 24, 2021, Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department in conjunction with County Fire, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) staged a mock evacuation drill due to wildfire. The drill involved volunteer community members along Tourney Loop, Highland Terrace, and Foster Road. Approximately 50 hillside households joined the drill. The AlertSCC emergency notification system was utilized to notify participating residents of this mock evacuation. All participants were evacuated to the Calvary Church parking lot and debriefed lessons learned from the exercise.
Priority 2 – within 3 to 5 years
Leverage SCCFD Zonehaven GIS platform for the planning/implementation of evacuations. Update – SCCFD implemented Zonehaven in the Town starting September 2021. The Town is currently segmented into 16 unique zones based on an assessment of roadway infrastructure and number of vehicles per zone. In addition, SCCFD initiated the “Know Your Zone” public outreach and has scheduled resident education webinars through March 2022.
https://community.zonehaven.com/?latlon=37.21610629166834,-121.91023023106976&z=12&selected=LGA-E019
Priority 2 – within 3 to 5 years
PAGE 5 OF 8 SUBJECT: Ad Hoc Wildfire Committee Report Implementation DATE: October 11, 2021
DISCUSSION (continued):
GOAL: Vegetation along primary hillside roadways should be maintained to achieve a clearance
of 20 feet horizontally and 13 feet six inches vertically above roadways, as well as clearance of
non-fire-resistant vegetation within 10 feet of the roads.
ACTION ITEMS PRIORITY TIMEFRAME
Complete current 11-mile Fuel Reduction project by February 28,
2021. Update - In November 2020, the Town initiated the project with
$500,000 in Town funding to complete 6.5 miles of the highest priority project roadways. Council allocated an additional $500,000 for FY 2021/22 toward the remaining highest priority project roadways to begin December 2021. In addition, staff secured $750,000 in federal earmark funding toward furtherance of the project.
Priority 1 – within 2
years
Develop a plan to ensure that the 31.09 miles of highest roadway
concern identified in Exhibit 2 achieve a 6-year management cycle (5 miles per year).
Priority 1 – within 2
years
Identify/map all private roadways in the WUI.
Priority 1 – within 2 years Work with residents to educate and implement vegetation management practices for these private properties. Update – Staff successfully secured $2.0 million in State funding to
implement a pilot defensible space Wildland Fire Specialist Program to be implemented and overseen by SCCFD.
In addition, staff developed a dedicated Town webpage to wildfire education “Be Wildfire Ready”.
https://www.losgatosca.gov/2581/Be-Wildfire-Ready
Priority 2 – within 3 to 5 years
PAGE 6 OF 8 SUBJECT: Ad Hoc Wildfire Committee Report Implementation DATE: October 11, 2021
DISCUSSION (continued):
GOAL: Ensure that all public and private property owners are maintaining the mandated
defensible spaces.
ACTION ITEMS PRIORITY
TIMEFRAME
Conduct annual defensible space inspections and enforce compliance with state and local fire codes.
• Develop strong neighborhood relationships to educate all property owners of their defensible space obligation.
• Partner on a pilot Wildland Fire Specialist program to develop relationships with Very High Fire Hazard Zone homeowners and drive compliance through education and inspection.
• Educate residents about Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) inspection program.
• Explore region partnership with SCCFD fuels crews (once developed) and defensible space inspectors. Update – Staff successfully secured $2.0 million in State funding to implement a pilot defensible space Wildland Fire Specialist Program to be implemented and overseen by SCCFD. In addition, staff developed a dedicated Town webpage to wildfire education “Be Wildfire Ready”. https://www.losgatosca.gov/2581/Be-Wildfire-Ready
Priority 1 – within 2 years
Priority 1 – within 2
years Priority 1 – within 2 years
Priority 2 – within 3 to 5 years
Explore SCCFD performing defensible space citation function.
Priority 2 – within 3 to 5 years Develop private driveway fuel reduction initiative
Priority 2 – within 3 to 5 years
Develop Eucalyptus eradication plan for Town property within the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI).
Priority 1 – within 2 years
Develop incentive program (cost share) for residential Eucalyptus removal possibly utilizing tree replacement fund.
Priority 2 – within 3 to 5 years
PAGE 7 OF 8 SUBJECT: Ad Hoc Wildfire Committee Report Implementation DATE: October 11, 2021
DISCUSSION (continued):
GOAL: Ensure all regional partners are implementing consistent land management practices to
reduce wildfire risk on their properties and right-of ways.
CONCLUSION:
Receive the Town Council adopted Ad Hoc Wildfire Committee Report update and provide any
additional direction to staff.
COORDINATION:
This staff report has been coordinated with the Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Parks and
Public Works Director.
Develop policy for prohibition of highly flammable plants for new construction within the WUI.
Priority 1 – within 2 years
Develop Community chipping program
Priority 2 – within 3 to 5 years
ACTION ITEMS PRIORITY TIMEFRAME
Work with neighboring cities of Monte Sereno and Saratoga to coordinate mitigation efforts and jointly advocate for the continuation and increased vegetation management among Town partners. Update - Staff successfully secured $2.0 million in State funding to implement a pilot defensible space Wildland Fire Specialist Program to be implemented and overseen by SCCFD.
Priority 1 – within 2 years
Ensure timely communications between the Town and these entities regarding activities that may affect another partner’s land management.
Priority 1 – within 2 years
Explore regional projects outlined in CWPP for possible grant funding.
Priority 2 – within 3 to 5 years
PAGE 8 OF 8 SUBJECT: Ad Hoc Wildfire Committee Report Implementation DATE: October 11, 2021
FISCAL IMPACT:
None
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachment:
1. Ad Hoc Wildfire Committee Report