Fire Hazard Severety Zone Map Causes Quandary

The Laguna Niguel City Council may be facing a challenge tonight regarding the adoption of CAL FIRE’s fire hazard severity zone map, which is required to be adopted by state law.

CAL FIRE’s fire hazard severity zone map identifies areas within cities that are at greater risk of fire. Property owners in these areas will be forced by law to take extra precautions when they build to help prevent potential fires.

At the Feb. 7 meeting, the City Council faced several problems with the adoption of this map, including the possibility that Councilmember Robert Ming may vote against adopting the map. Ming said at the meeting that he did not feel it was fair to impose new regulations on land owners that were not in place when they bought their property.

The City Council will also vote to:

• Approve the joint recommendation from the Laguna Niguel Military Support Committee and the Senior Citizens Committee to install a Veterans Plaque at the Sea Country Senior & Community Center.

• Adopt the Resolution for the 2013 Federal Transportation.

• Approve the request to refurbish and convert two existing Crown Valley Elementary School tennis courts into eight Pickleball courts.

• Approve a donation of $2,000 to the Dana Hills High School Grad Nite Committee.

The City Council will also hold a closed session following the regular meeting.

The City Council meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the council chambers at City Hall, 30111 Crown Valley Pkwy.