Council Set to Vote on Fire Safety Maps Tonight

The City Council will vote tonight whether to reject the state’s latest fire safety maps that show thousands of local Mission Viejo homes resting in very high fire danger areas. 

Officials are scheduled to discuss whether to create a Special Fire Protection Area in the city rather than accept the recommendations of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Recently the state released fire safety maps showing about 12,000 parcels of the city sit in “Very High Fire Hazard Security Zones.”

After the maps' release, .

Most of the homes affected sit on the city's eastern border, north of the 241 toll road or near El Toro Road.

Neighborhoods in the proposed Special Fire Protection Area include Aliso Villas, Ashton Court, Auburn Ridge, Califia, California Court, Canyon Estates, Casta del Sol, Cordova, Coronado, Eastbrook, El Mirador, Emerald Point, Evergreen Ridge, Greystone, Highland Park, Hillcrest, Mission Viejo Environmental, Mission Sunrise Ridge, Oso Valley Greenbelt, Pacific Hills, Pacific Knolls, Painted Trails, Palmia, Pinecrest, Quail Run, Rainbow Ridge, Stoneridge and Terrace View.

According to the Orange County Fire Authority, the city can decide to reject the state’s proposed zones by showing that Mission Viejo has vegetation and construction standards that are equal or better than those used in 1992.

To read the staff report on the item, click here. 

Other business

• Officials will consider whether to vote to increase the maximum possible allowed size for real estate signs from 4 square feet to 16 square feet.
• Councilmembers will also vote on whether to allow staff to install shade structures at the Village Green.
• The council will vote whether to spend $25,000 to replace the City Hall cameras currently used to stream video of council meetings and other City Hall proceedings. 

The meeting begins tonight at 6 p.m. at , at 200 Civic Center.