TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THRU: Jarad Hildenbrand, City Manager
FROM: Sean deMetropolis, Fire Chief
1. Subject
title
Finding of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemption for Hazardous Fuels Removal Project.
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2. Summary
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant application requires subapplicants to outline how California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance will be achieved for proposed projects. The City’s proposed Hazardous Fuels Removal Project qualifies for exemption under sections 15301 (Class 1 - Existing Facilities) and 15304 (Class 4 - Minor Alterations to Land).
3. Recommended Action
recommendation
Find the Hazardous Fuels Removal Project Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act per Guidelines Sections 15301 and 15304.
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4. Fiscal Impact
None.
5. Strategic Plan Goals
Goal 1: Enhance Community Safety and Resilience - Objective 1.1: Implement proactive measures to mitigate natural hazards.
6. Discussion and Background
Recent wildfires in Los Angeles County have underscored the importance of proactive fire management strategies. In response, the City is preparing to apply for federal funding through Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant application to support a Hazardous Fuels Reduction project. This project aligns with the City’s efforts to mitigate wildfire risk and enhance community safety.
As part of the application, the City must comply with federal and state environmental review requirements, including demonstration of compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Staff is seeking City Council’s approval, as the lead agency, to outline the proposed project as CEQA exempt under Class 1 (Existing Facilities) and Class 4 (Minor Alterations to Land), which cover ongoing fuel management and minor vegetation clearing to protect existing structures and infrastructure. Council’s approval of this Notice of Exemption (NOE) does not constitute approval of the project or acceptance of grant funds. Should the HMA application be awarded funding, staff will return to Council to present the project details and request acceptance of grant funds.
7. environmental review
The proposed project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Class 1 - Existing Facilities) and Section 15304 (Class 4 - Minor Alterations to Land), because the project involves ongoing fuel management and maintenance activities within developed and previously disturbed areas that are necessary to protect existing structures, infrastructure, and evacuation routes in high and very high fire hazard severity zones. Specifically, vegetation removal is limited to grasses, weeds, scrub, brush, and small trees under 18 inches in diameter, with no removal of healthy, mature, or scenic trees, ensuring that the project avoids significant adverse impacts to biological resources, scenic quality, or surface waters. By maintaining existing landscaping and native growth conditions within 30 to 100 feet of structures, the project supports defensible space and reduces wildfire risk across 284 acres in the wildland-urban interface while also safeguarding critical facilities. As the activities are minor in scope, environmentally protective in intent, and confined to fuel reduction consistent with public agency fire protection requirements, the project falls squarely within the scope and intent of both the Class 1 and Class 4 categorical exemptions.
8. ATTACHMENTS
• Attachment 1 Hazard Mitigation Grant Project Map (2-mile)
• Attachment 2 Project Grant Parcels