Fire Safety 

SB 1241 (Kehoe) – Oppose
As Introduced February 23, 2012

SB 1241, by Senator Christine Kehoe, would revise the safety element requirements for local general plans and require local governments prior to 2015 and upon each revision of the housing element to take into account the most recent version of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research’s (OPR) “Fire Hazard Planning” document, which this bill would require the office to update on or before January 1, 2014. In addition, SB 1241 would require counties to make three specified findings before approving a tentative map for an area located in a state responsibility area (SRA) or a very high fire hazard severity zone (VHFSZ), including:

1. Ensure that the design and location of each lot in the subdivision is consistent with any applicable regulations adopted by the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection regarding defensible space and clearance.
2. Structural fire protection and suppression services will be available for the subdivision through a local district, or a contract with CAL Fire.
3. Ingress and egress for the subdivision meets the regulations regarding road standards for fire equipment access.

This bill would also require the Board of Forestry, prior to January 1, 2014, to initiate a rulemaking process to adopt regulations requiring a minimum of 2 separate access roads for a subdivision in the SRA or VHFSZ. Finally, SB 1241 would require OPR, on or after January 1, 2013, to prepare, develop, and transmit to the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency recommended proposed changes or amendments to the initial study checklist within CEQA guidelines for the inclusion of questions related to fire hazard impacts for projects in the SRA and VHFSZ and also require the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency to certify and adopt these recommended proposed changes or amendments.

This bill is almost identical to SB 1207 (2010), which was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger. CSAC opposed that bill and will continue to oppose SB 1241 due to its cost implications. This bill will be heard in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee on Tuesday, March 27th. 

AB 1506 (Jeffries) – Support
As Amended March 8, 2012

AB 1506, by Assembly Member Kevin Jeffries, would repeal the State Responsibility Area (SRA) fees enacted by ABX1 29 (Chapter 8, 2011). As you are aware, ABX1 29 was enacted as part of the budget process last year, authorizing the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to develop regulations creating an annual $150 fire prevention fee on habitable structures located in the SRA. Emergency regulations meant to implement an SRA fee have gone before the Board of Forestry on August 22d, November 9th and again on January 11, 2012. In each instance, the proposed regulation has been dramatically amended. Because of this drawn out timeframe and the fact that the proposed fees will not result in greater fire protection, we question the Board’s claim that the emergency regulations are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety or general welfare. 

CSAC remains opposed to any SRA fee proposal. This bill will be heard in the Assembly Natural Resources and Water Committee on March 26, 2011. 

Solid Waste- Conversion Technology

The County Engineers Association of California (CEAC) Conversion Technology Working Group met for the first time this week during the Public Works Officers Institute, a joint conference between city and county public works officials. The group, spearheaded by Pat Proano, Los Angeles County Assistant Deputy Director of Public Works, is a subcommittee of the CEAC Solid Waste Policy Committee and includes both county and city representatives. The goal of the group is to provide information and education about the burgeoning conversion technologies available in the solid waste industry and to create better understanding and awareness of the opportunities and challenges associated with conversion technology. 

Conversion technologies are thermal, chemical, mechanical and/ or biological processes capable of converting post-recycled residual solid waste into useful products and chemicals, green fuels like ethanol and biodiesel, and clean renewable energy. Representatives from Los Angeles and Santa Barbara County discussed their ongoing efforts to bring conversion technology to their respective communities. A representative from the City of San Jose also shared with the group information about their pilot anaerobic digestion project. For more information about this group, please contact Cara Martinson at cmartinson@counties.org.