HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-1018 Study Session PACKET
CITY OF
ASHLAND
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Important: Any ciij~eri may orally address the Conneilon non-agenda items:duriilg th~ Public'Fofum. Any citizen may submit
written corriments to 'the 'Council on any. item on the Agenda:, unless it is the subject of a public .hearingand the record is closed.
Except for public hearings; there iSDo'absolute right taorally ~dre~s the Council on an agenda Item. Time permit!ing, the,
Presiding Officer may allo~ oral testimony; however, public meetings law guarantees only public attevdance; not public
participation. - Ifyail wish.to speak~ pJeasefill out the Speaker Request form located hear fue entrance to" the ~ouncil Chambers.
The chair will recognize you and inform you as to the anlOunt of time allotted to you; if any.' The time granted will be dependent to
some extent ~n ~he n~tur~ bft~e item under discussiori,'~e number of people who wis~.t-?be heard, and t~e le,ngth of the agenda."
CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
AGENDA
Monday, October 18, 2010 at 5:30 p.m.
Siskiyou Room, 51 Winburn Way
5:30 p.m. Study Session
1 . Look Ahead Review
2. Does the Council concur with the following staff recommendations?
. Adopt an ordinance requiring the phase out of flammable roofs throughout the
community.
. Establish an outreach and education program to encourage fire resistant
landscaping and vegetation management
. Establish by ordinance a Firewise Board?
. Work with the State Fire Marshall and State Building Codes division to either require
or allow local jurisdictions to require fire sprinklers in new residential construction
and in residential remodels
. Work on cooperative agreements with ODOT, Union Pacific Railroad, Central
Oregon and Pacific Railroad (CORP) and Jackson County on weed abatement on
properties under their jurisdiction? [60 Minutes]
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to panicipate in this
meeting, please contact the City Administrator's office at (541) 488-6002 (TTY phone number 1-800-735-
2900). Notification 72 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to
ensure accessibility to the meeting (28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title I).
COUNCIL IvrEETINGS ARE BROADCAST LIVE ON CHANNEL 'J
VISIT THE CITY OF ;\SFIL\ND'S WEll SITE: AI" WWWASHI.i\ND.OIU!S
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In
CITY OF
ASHLAND
Council Communication
Study Session for Potential Future Fire Safety Ordinances and Pro~rams
Meeting Date: October 18, 2010 Primary Staff Contact: John Karns
Department: Fire Department E-Mail: karnsj@ashland.or.us
Secondary Dept.: Administration Secondary Contact: John Karns
Approval: Martha Benn Estimated Time: 60 Minutes
Question:
Does the Council concur with the following staffrecommendations?
. Adopt an ordinance requiring the phase out of flammable roofs throughout the community.
. Establish an outreach and education program to encourage fire resistant landscaping and vegetation
management
. Establish by ordinance a Firewise Board?
. Work with the State Fire Marshall and State Building Codes division to either require or allow
local jurisdictions to require fire sprinklers in new residential construction and in residential
remodels
· Work on cooperative agreements with ODOT, Union Pacific Railroad, Central Oregon and Pacific
Railroad (CORP) and Jackson County on weed abatement on properties under their jurisdiction?
Background:
As outlined in the briefing of the Council on September 7, 2010, the recent Washington and Oak Knoll
fires provide an opportunity to evaluate how building construction, vegetation management, and
community involvement relate to fire prevention. While the wildland urban interface (WUI) has
received much attention in terms of fire vulnerability, all of the 6.5 square miles of Ashland are at risk.
The Oak Knoll fire demonstrated how several factors caused a vegetation fire to develop into the worst
structure fire loss in Ashland in over 100 years. These conditions exist many times each year
throughout Ashland, not just in the interface.
There are a number of communities that have similar vulnerability to fire and have used codes,
standards, and cooperative management to reduce risk. Staff recommends that Ashland adopt some
similar programs in an effort to prevent future fires.
Recommendations:
1. Adopt Roofing Material Ordinance
While Ashland regulates roofing material in the Wildfire Zone allowing only a Class A or B roof, it
doesn't do so in the remainder of the community. The proposal would be a two-part process. First,
restricting new construction and 25% or greater remodels to non-wood Class A roofing materials.
Second, requiring that all roof coverings in Ashland be of non-wood Class A materials within 10
years. A number of residents have voiced interest in replacing their roofs and have inquired about
the possibility of securing a low or no interest loans.
Page) of6
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CITY OF
ASHLAND
2. Create "Survivable Space" Hazardous Vegetation Model Program
The State of Oregon and Jackson County wildfire risk assessments rate the Ashland wildland
urban interface (WUI) as among the most hazardous in the State and the highest ranked
commuriity in Jackson County (State of Oregon Wildfire Risk Assessment 2005, Jackson County
Integrated Fire Plan, 2005). In addition, the Ashland Fire and Rescue Standards of Coverage
(2009) state that "looking at WUI wildfires in similar communities across the West, the prognosis
for structure survival during a major wildfire in Ashland looks grim. Factors include high housing
density, narrow and winding streets, a finite water supply (no water in many rural portions in the
mutual aid area), commonly hot and dry days, steep topography and highly flammable vegetation
surrounding the community all spell out a potentially challenging and hazardous environment for
firefighting with limited chances for avoiding home loss".
While these reports are specific to the Interface, many of these conditions exist throughout
Ashland. Staff recommends the City adopt a program and model standards for landscaping and
vegetation management. This model can be used in technical assistance with landowners in
property assessments, in education efforts, and during public outreach events. Fire-wise
landscaping and vegetation management are integral component to establishing and sustaining
overall community fire safety.
The fire-wise model does not recommend indiscriminate clearing of vegetation. Instead it focuses
on the placement of hazardous vegetation that can fundamentally alter the path and intensity of a
wildfire, and promote the planting and maintenance of fire-resistive species.
Communities around the country with identified wildfire hazard risk and significant potential of
home loss have addressed vegetation, often following disastrous urban interface fires in their
community. Vegetation models were completed in Bend, Oregon; California (Oakland, Big Bear
Lake, Glendale, Poway, San Diego County, EI Cerrito, Palmdale, Pasadena, Alpine, Ventura
County and others); Ruidoso, New Mexico; Larimer County, Colorado; Grand Haven, Michigan;
state of Utah; state of Florida; and others. National Fire Protection Association and International
Wildland Urban Interface codes from International Code Council were also consulted. Some of
these communities have done more than educate their residents but have adopted certain
ordinances that regulation landscaping and vegetation. Depending on Ashland's success in
addressing the issue through outreach and education, staff may wish to revisit the need for
regulations in future years. .
The proposed Vegetation Management Model: .
. Identi fies hazardous vegetation
. Recommends standards for planting and maintenance of vegetation in the "clear area"
around structures
. Can be applied throughout Ashland city limits
. Erosion/slope stabilization exemptions
. Recommends vegetation on list to be modified/removed, so excludes fire-resistant species
The recommendations for vegetation around standards will be:
Page2of6
r~'
CITY OF
ASHLAND
1. Hazardous vegetation should be removed or modified within 30 feet from any building or
structure including decks and combustible attachments, including combustible fences to
support adequate defensible space.
. Hazardous vegetation within 30 feet of structure should be installed and maintained to
minimize fire risk: by removing dead branches and twigs, modifying the lower foliage of
branches, and selectively pruning to reduce the density of the plant.
. Trees listed as hazardous within the 30 foot zone should be pruned a minimum of six feet
from ground or have clearance of three times the height of the understory vegetation under
the tree's canopy at the farthest reach from the trunk. All branches of trees listed as hazardous
should be no closer than ten feet from the structure, including the roofline, deck, and any
chimney.
. Hazardous vegetation should be installed and maintained with horizontal spacing such that
the space between two shrubs (horizontally) should be a minimum of two times the height of
the tallest shrub. Individual shrubs or groups of shrubs clumped together should be modified
so that their diameter does not exceed 15 feet. Groups of shrubs clumped together within a
diameter of 15 feet or less should be treated as a single plant.
. Exemption: should not apply to isolated vegetation that have been heavily modified by
thinning and limbing up and doesn't constitute a fire hazard.
. Accumulated waste vegetation should not be allowed to build up near buildings or structures
or upon premises and should be removed.
2. Hazardous Vegetation List
These plants are among those known for the amount of dead fuel that accumulates in them, and
high oil, high resin, or low moisture content of their leaves and branches. All plants are
flammable if not pruned periodically and the risk attached to anyone plant can be greatly
diminished with maintenance. This list is in no way inclusive and can be modified at any time
at the discretion of the Fire Chief, or his or her designee.
Trees Grasses, Sbrubs, Ground Covers
Arborvitae Juniper
Cedar Himalayan Blackberry
Cypress Manzanita
Douglas fir Buckbrush
Eucalyptus Pampas grass
Fir Rosemary
Juniper Scotch broom, French broom, Spanish
Palm broom
Pine Other ornamental shrub conifer varieties
Redwood
Spruce
Yew
Other ornamental conifer varieties
Pa~e3of6
r.l'
CITY OF
ASHLAND
3. Establish Firewise Board (and adopt an ordinance)
Firewise is a national program that emphasizes local solutions for wildfire safety, and involves
creating partnerships between homeowners, community leaders, firefighters, planners and others.
The program offers a wealth of information regarding wildfire home safety and the prevention of
loss during a wildfire. Firewise is a proven program with a research-based education and
mitigation message. It also creates a framework for a community recognition program, in which a
community can work together to mitigate wildfire issues and in doing so, become a recognized
Firewise Community. Over 500 communities across the country have become certified. Numerous
stories abound of how wildfire approached those communities, and disaster was averted because of
the work the community had completed.
The steps to become a recognized Firewise Community are as follows:
. Enlist a wildland/urban interface specialist to complete a community assessment and create a
plan that identifies agreed-upon achievable solutions to be implemented by the community.
. Sponsor a local board or committee that maintains the Firewise CommunitylUSA program and
tracks its progress or status.
. Observe a Firewise CommunitieslUSA Day each year that is dedicated to a local Firewise
project.
. Invest a minimum of$2.00 per capita annually in local Firewise projects. (Work by municipal
employees or volunteers using municipal and other equipment can be included, as can
state/federal grants dedicated to that purpose.)
. Submit an annual report to Firewise CommunitieslUSA that documents continuing compliance
with the program.
The Firewise Board is responsible for accepting the community assessment and in determining
projects based on that assessment that will qualify as a mitigation project. The Firewise program
material states that the "Board/Commission should be made up of community residents,
stakeholders and homeowners. Fire staff will participate as invited guests." Having a Commission
is critical because it emphasizes the community decision-making process that the Firewise
program encompasses.
Ashland Fire and Rescue recommends the creation of a permanent Firewise Commission for the
following reasons:
. The structure and support of a City Commission is vital to long term success. Having a
collection of volunteers without the term requirements, City support, and responsibilities of a
City Commission will jeopardize the long term success of Firewise in Ashland beyond its
initial inception.
. Sponsoring a Commission indicates the support of City Council for wildfire safety and
prevention of home loss, and demonstrates to the community that the Council takes the issue
seriously.
. Placing the acceptance of the assessment and selection of community mitigation projects in a
Commission's hands establishes wildfire home safety as an issue that requires a community
wide partnership to successfully accomplish.
We recommend the creation of a Firewise Board through adoption of an ordinance. If Council
approves, the Council can take first reading of the proposed ordinance at the second meeting in
Page 4 of6
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CITY OF
ASHLAND
December. Staff would then work with the City Recorder to solicit nominations for the
Commission, which would allow the Mayor and Council to appoint the members in January,
allowing the Firewise Commission to begin work early in 2011.
Ashland Fire and Rescue is currently scheduling the Firewise community assessment for late 2010.
Once the assessment is complete, it will be ready to be discussed by the Commission, and work
can begin arranging a mitigation project for spring of2011. The capital investment requirements
will easily be met by staff time and volunteer time. Once a Firewise event is held, a report is
submitted to the National Firewise Committee, and Ashland will be on its way to being a certified
Firewise community. The Firewise Commission can also assist Ashland interface residents in
achieving 85% compliance with defensible space requirements, another requirement of Firewise
Communities certification. The Commission is responsible for maintaining the annual certification.
Each year, the Commission will plan an event and submit a report for renewal to the national
program.
4. Work to allow local adoption of a Residential Sprinkler Ordinance
Fires in residences have taken a high toll oflife and property. In 2006 there were:
.. 412,500 residential fires
. 2,620 residential fire deaths
. 12,925 residential fire inj uries
. $7.0 billion in residential property damage
Studies by the U.S. Fire Administration indicate that tht; installation of residential fire sprinkler
systems could have saved thousands oflives; prevented a large portion of those injuries; and
eliminated hundreds of millions of dollars in property losses.
In Oregon, building codes do not currently allow for a local ordinance to require installations of
Fire Sprinklers in new residences. Staff recommends that Ashland Fire and Rescue and the
Community Development Department work with the State Fire Marshall and with the Building
Codes Division to create either standards for residential fire sprinkling or flexibility in the local
building code that would allow the City to require sprinklers in new residential construction and in
certain remodel projects.
S. Establish formal agreements about vegetation management with the Oregon Department of
Transportation (ODOT), the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR), the Central Oregon and Pacific
Railroad (CORP) and Jackson County.
As Council is aware, the Oak Knoll Fire started on property that was not annexed to the City.
Additionally, there are several islands inside the City and areas close to the City that are still in
Jackson County. This means that the City does not have jurisdiction to conduct weed abatement
on those properties.
Also, in the past year, we have had significant concern expressed by citizens about the
maintenance of lands near the freeway, areas along the railroad tracks, and about the 20 acre parcel
owned by UPRR in the middle of town.
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CITY OF
ASHLAND
Staff wishes to pursue formal agreements with ODOT, Jackson County, and the two railroads to
ensure that weed abatement takes place on the properties. At this time, City staff cannot assume
direct responsibility for these areas without either additional funding or additional authority. This
item does not require Council action, but staff wants to share with Council that we are working on
this issue prior to summer 20 II.
Potential Motions:
None.
Attachments:
None.
Page 6 of6
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