RES 2025054 - Laserfiche WebLink

maintenance contractor. The contract with the tree maintenance contractor can be revised when the contract is renewed or re -bid to include a requirement to maintain trees in the WUI areas to the standards recommended in this section of the UFMP. Several recommended maintenance activities cannot be accomplished with the current staffing levels or tree maintenance contract, and the City will need to consider hiring additional staff or a new contractor to perform the recommended work. Annual defensible space and vegetation inspections in the WUI areas would require additional staffing to complete the inspections and follow up with property owners before the peak of the fire season (August - October). One to two full-time staff members would be required to complete the annual inspection program, which includes public outreach, property inspections (private and public), and the required follow-up (notification letters, scheduling work, etc.). It is recommended that these additional staff be assigned to the Fire Prevention section of LPFD so that the inspectors can perform a variety of wildfire preparedness duties and allow the fire department to enforce its vegetation management standards fully. Preparing for Wildfire The tree maintenance and removal standards described above are part of a larger and more comprehensive program to prepare properties for a wildfire that includes vegetation management, home hardening, address and water supply identification, and access. Implementing all of the parts of this comprehensive wildfire preparedness program is the key to minimizing the risk of destructive wildfire spreading across a property. It is essential to recognize that this comprehensive program is more than the sum of its parts. Overemphasizing one part of this program does not compensate for not performing another part. For example, a home with a combustible roof and exterior is still at risk of ignition during a wildfire, even if the property owner removes every tree within 100 feet of the home. Public and private property owners should consider all the wildfire vulnerabilities and all the preparedness steps they can take to protect their properties, including tree maintenance and removal. The LPFD can provide property owners with information and guidance on how to reduce the risk of wildfire for their properties. Tree Maintenance Responsibility Ownership and responsibility for the maintenance of trees within the WUI areas of the City is complex. There are a variety of different property types, both private and public, with different maintenance responsibilities depending on the property types or the improvements built upon them. It is important to recognize that in the WUI areas of the City, the tree maintenance standards do not change depending on who owns the property or who is responsible for tree maintenance. Responsibility for tree maintenance can be organized into the following groups: Private Property Owner -Single Family Use. This refers to a property designated for the use of a single family, typically a stand-alone structure built on its parcel of land. Private Property Owner -Single Family Residential -Planned Development Tract, Common Area, Use. This term refers to common areas (e.g., parks, pools, playgrounds, golf courses, etc.) in a housing development owned by the Homeowner's Association (HOA). Common areas in some Planned Unit Development PUDs can include roads and open spaces. • Public Property -Open Space: Refers to areas owned by the City, county, or other public agency and open and accessible to the general public. In the WUI areas of the City, open space is predominantly natural areas but can include City parks. APPENDIX A -WILDFIRE 24 of 219