65B - RPT - SANTIAGO CREEK FIRE PREV PLAN

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SANTIAGO CREEK FIRE PREVENTION ACTION PLAN November 5, 2014 Page 3 of 4 Fire Prevention Many of the adjacent property owners have expressed concern at the potential fire behind their houses and have requested the City to manage the risk by removing dead trees or portions of trees as well as dead brush. Other residents along the creek prefer the vegetation left as is. The residential structures along the creek typically have a rear yard setback such that the houses are placed near the street and away from the fire load within the creek bed and embankment. This helps to reduce the threat of fire extending to residences in the event a fire occurs in the creek. However, some habitable structures along Park Lane and Riverside Drive are within 50 feet of the City's creek right of way containing combustible vegetation. The City is responsible for keeping its right of way safely maintained and providing reasonable efforts to reduce the risk of fire. As with any natural land area in close proximity to habitable structures, land owners can lower the risk of a fire by removing dead vegetation from their property. Proposed Fuel Management Efforts Staff recommends working with the Orange County Fire Authority to remove of dead vegetation at no cost to the City or residents adjacent to the creek. The City and OCFA are intending to clean -up dead trees and brush within the City's right of way. The purpose of the fuel management is strictly to reduce the fire danger to those homes near the creek. Regulatory Permits The City provided California Department of Fish and Wildlife with a Notification of Lake or Streambed Alteration in November of 2013 to perform routine maintenance within Santiago Creek between Flower Street and Interstate 5 Freeway, specifically vegetation management to reduce the risk of fire along the creek embankment and within 100 feet of habitable structures. The notification states that no heavy equipment will be used in the creek. In December of 2013, the Department of Fish and Wildlife acknowledged receipt of the notification, determined that the proposed maintenance effort will not have a substantially adverse affect on existing fish or wildlife resource, and informed the City that a Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreement is not needed. The described correspondence allows the City /OCFA staff to perform the referenced maintenance work. Staff will investigate to determine whether the allowance extends to the property owners. Required Permission to Access over Private Properties The City's property within the creek contains steep ground slope, dense vegetation, large rocks and encroachments from neighboring parcels. Access to the City's right of way is made difficult by this L•