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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5-13-2009 PSAC REPORTSCITY OF LAKE ELSINORE PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMISSION MIKE NORKIN, CHAIRMAN DR. SHAWN BHUTTA, VICE - CHAIRMAN NICOLE DAILEY, COMMISSIONER AL LYONS, COMMISSIONER DENNIS "JAY" STEWART, COMMISSIONER ROBERT BRADY, CITY MANAGER REGULAR MEETING AGENDA MAY 13, 2009 6:00 PM WWW.LAKE- ELSINORE.ORG (951) 674 -3124 PHONE (951) 674 -2392 FAX LAKE ELSINORE CULTURAL CENTER 183 NORTH MAIN STREET LAKE ELSINORE, CA 92530 The City of Lake Elsinore appreciates your attendance. Public participation provides the Commission with valuable information regarding issues of the community. Regular meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of every month. If you are attending this Public Safety Advisory Commission Meeting, please park in the Parking Lot across the street from the Cultural Center. This will assist us in limiting the impact of meetings on the Downtown Business District. Thank you for your cooperation. The agenda is posted 72 hours prior to each meeting outside of City Hall and is available at each meeting. The agenda and related reports are also available at the City Clerk's Office on the Friday prior to the Commission meeting and are available on the City's web site at www.lake- elsinore.org. Any writings distributed within 72 hours of the meeting will be made available to the public at the time it is distributed to the Public Safety Advisory Commission. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person with a disability who requires a modification or accommodation in order to participate in a meeting should contact the City Clerk's Office at (951) 674 -3124, ext. 261 at least 48 hours before the meeting to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility. CALL TO ORDER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL PUBLIC COMMENTS (Any person wishing to address the Public Safety Advisory Commission on any matter must complete a request form prior to commencement of the meeting. Comments limited to 3 minutes.) CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS (All matters on the Consent Calendar are approved in one motion, unless a Commissioner or any member of the public requests separate action on a specific action.) 1. Minutes of the April 22, 2009 Rescheduled Public Safety Advisory Commission Recommendation: Approve PSAC minutes of April 22, 2009 BUSINESS ITEMS 2. Wildland /Urban Interface- Defensible Space Update Recommendation: Discuss fire season issues related to recent laws and Building Code changes updating wildland /urban interface risk analysis and defensible space requirements affecting new residential construction and homeowner improvements. 3. Annual Fireworks Prohibition Campaign Recommendation: Discussion and direction on publicity tactics. 4. Update on Recruitment Process for Three PSAC Commission Openings in June Recommendation: Receive and file. PUBLIC SAFETY SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS CITY STAFF COMMENTS PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS PUBLIC COMMENTS ADJOURNMENT The Lake Elsinore Public Safety Advisory Commission will adjourn to a regular meeting to be held on Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at 6:00 p.m., at the Cultural Center located at 183 N. Main Street, Lake Elsinore, CA, 92530. AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING I, DEBORA THOMSEN, City Clerk of the City of Lake Elsinore, do hereby affirm that a copy of the foregoing agenda was posted at City Hall, 72 hours in advance of this meeting. HssH DEBORA THOMSEN CITY CLERK DATE MINUTES PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE 183 NORTH MAIN STREET LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2009 CALL TO ORDER — 6:00 P.M. Vice - Chairman Bhutta called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Commissioner Dailey. ROLL CALL PRESENT: VICE - CHAIRMAN BHUTTA COMMISSIONER DAILEY COMMISSIONER STEWART ABSENT: CHAIRMAN NORKIN COMMISSIONER LYONS Also present were: Information /Communications Manager Dennis, Assistant City Attorney Mann, Sergeant Mike Dittenhofer, Traffic Engineer Basubas and Office Specialist Porche. PUBLIC COMMENTS None COMMISSION APPROVES CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM(S) 1. Minutes Minutes from the Regular Public Safety Advisory Meeting of March 11, 2009. Recommendation: Approve 1 Commissioner Stewart noted a correction to the minutes stating he left the meeting at 6:40 p.m. It was motioned by Commissioner Dailey and second by Commissioner Stewart to approve the March 11, 2009 Public Safety Advisory Meetings Minutes with the noted corrections. The following vote resulted: AYES: VICE - CHAIRMAN BHUTTA COMMISSIONER DAILEY COMMISSIONER STEWART NOES: NONE ABSTAIN: NONE ABSENT: CHAIRMAN NORKIN COMMISSIONER LYONS BUSINESS ITEMS 2. Proposed Daytime Curfew Regulation Recommendation: To advise the City Attorney's office of any favored additional components to the City's existing Daytime Curfew Ordinance and, if applicable, direct the City Attorney to prepare a definitive amendment for consideration at the next Commission meeting. Information /Communications Manager Dennis introduced Assistant City Attorney Mann who would provide an overview of the project to the Commission. Assistant City Attorney Mann stated the City currently has a Daytime Curfew Ordinance that restricts minors during school days /hours. He stated it was adopted in 1999 and is consistent with what other cities have adopted. He stated when minors are out of school they are just like any other citizen and have a certain amount of freedom. He indicated he is not completely sure that the City can regulate the conduct that some of the businesses are complaining of, however, he stated he is satisfied with the current ordinance. Commissioner Dailey requested clarification on the hours the Ordinance specifies. Assistant City Attorney Mann responded by saying the Ordinance states until 4:00 p.m. Commissioner Dailey asked for information on what the City can legally do to regulate the times. 2 Assistant City Attorney Mann responded by saying the Ordinance already covers the times. Vice - Chairman Bhutta indicated he spoke with the resource officers and asked him if the City could change the curfew rule and he was told "No." Commissioner Dailey recommended to the Commission that this item be received and filed and not to make any changes. A motion was made by Commissioner Dailey and seconded by Commissioner Stewart and passed by unanimous vote to receive and file the Proposed Daytime Curfew Regulation with no changes. The following vote resulted AYES: VICE - CHAIRMAN BHUTTA COMMISSIONER DAILEY COMMISSIONER STEWART NOES: NONE ABSTAIN: NONE ABSENT: CHAIRMAN NORKIN COMMISSIONER LYONS 3. Palomar Street Recommendations regarding Traffic Safety analysis Recommendation: Receive and file. Information /Communications Manager Dennis indicated the reason that this is back on the agenda was to report to the Commission the action taken on the meetings and communications between the Traffic Engineer and Mr. John Treese. Traffic Engineer Basubas stated should the Commission agree with staff's recommendations then he would proceed as long as there is funding for the project. Commissioner Stewart asked about the raised median in phase II. Traffic Engineer Basubas stated that the raised median in phase II would possibly eliminate traffic. Commissioner Dailey stated she appreciates all the recommendations and agrees that a concrete median would mitigate the issues and the recommendations look great. She feels that the residents would be happy with the results. Vice - Chairman Bhutta asked which suggestion would be implemented first. 3 Traffic Basubas responded by saying staff could implement recommendations A — E. There being no further discussion, Vice - Chairman Bhutta requested a motion. It was motioned by Commissioner Dailey and seconded by Commissioner Stewart and passed with a unanimous vote to receive and file the recommendations of staff regarding the Palomar Road Traffic Safety Analysis. The following vote resulted: AYES: VICE CHAIRMAN BHUTTA COMMISSIONER DAILEY COMMISSIONER STEWART NOES: NONE ABSTAIN: NONE ABSENT: CHAIRMAN NORKIN COMMISSIONER LYONS 4. Lake Elsinore Citizen's Committee Outreach Meetinq Recap and Evaluation Recommendation: Discuss meeting follow -ups and recommendations for our next outreach meeting. Commissioner Stewart provided the Commission with an overview of the Lake Elsinore Citizen's Committee Outreach meeting which was held on April 16th at the Tuscany Hills Recreation Center. He stated they had an excellent turn -out and many questions were answered. He indicated that Information /Communications Manager Dennis did a wonderful job of providing a PowerPoint presentation to the audience and did a great job explaining to the audience the purpose of the Public Safety Advisory Commission. He pointed out that the City's Web site would be very helpful with providing information and he feels that the Committee accomplished what they were trying to achieve. Vice - Chairman Bhutta heard a lot of great things about the outreach. He stated it is a great program and asked if any of the Commissioners had any suggestions on a different area. Commissioner Dailey suggested addressing the Rotary or any other organizations. Vice - Chairman Bhutta thought it was a great option however trying to stick with meeting outreach to the community rather then making presentations to organizations. 2 Information /Communications Manager Dennis stated the target audience was homeowners and one of our outreach tactics was meeting with existing homeowners associations. Vice - Chairman Bhutta suggested scheduling outreach meetings in conjunction with future back to school nights. Commissioner Stewart suggested having an outreach meeting with the Rosetta Canyon's HOA. Information /Communications Manager Dennis replied by saying some of the HOA are directly contracted with property manager associations. Commissioner Stewart asked Traffic Engineer Basubas if there has been any follow up regarding the Riverside Transit Districts handicap parking on Corydon and the proposed stop sign at the Summerhill/Via Scenica intersection. Traffic Engineer Basubas has not been able to find out any information regarding the handicap parking along Corydon; however, he would try to handle it by the end of the week. He addressed the possibility of having a stop sign at Summerhill and Via Scenica which still needs to have a traffic study. Commissioner Stewart also suggested that the Traffic Engineer, Fire Chief and Police Sheriff attend the outreach meetings. A motion was made by Commission Dailey and seconded by Vice - Chairman Bhutta and passed with a unanimous vote to file and receive the Lake Elsinore Citizen's Committee Outreach Meeting Recap and Evaluation, and to direct staff to follow up with the traffic issues mentioned at the Tuscany Hills meeting and, if available, have a staff representative at each meeting. The following vote resulted: AYES: VICE - CHAIRMAN BHUTTA COMMISSIONER DAILEY COMMISSIONER STEWART NOES: NONE ABSTAIN: NONE ABSENT: CHAIRMAN NORKIN COMMISSIONER LYONS PUBLIC SAFETY SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS Commissioner Stewart provided an overview of the meeting for the Citizens Corps Committee which was held on April 15th 2009. He indicated Code Red provided a presentation on the alert system which is proposed for the City and felt that it would be a valuable tool for the City. Commissioner Dailey advised the Commission that she serves on the sub- committee for the applicants who are interested on serving on the Citizens Corp. She suggested establishing a way to follow up with the interested parties to verify that they are still interested in participating. Vice - Chairman Bhutta asked if a citizen could sign up online. Information /Communications Manager Dennis replied by saying "Yes, they can sign up online." CITY STAFF COMMENTS Information /Communications Manager Dennis commented on the following: He spoke of the Joint Study Session to be held on May 6th at 5:00 p.m. at the City's Cultural Center to discuss the Downtown Master Plan. He advised the Commission of the Budget Study Session to be held on May 21St at the City's Cultural Center at 5:00 p.m. He advised the Commission that the City has been recognized by the California Association of Public Officials (CAPIO) for excellence in communications and received the "Award of Distinction" for the loaner life jacket safety campaign. Traffic Engineer Basubas commented on the following: • He provided status of the signs for the Neighborhood Watch Program within Rosetta Canyon. PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMISSIONERS'S COMMENTS Vice Chairman Bhutta commented on the following: • He noted that the Public Safety Advisory Committee has come a long way from when it first was implemented. • He wished everyone Happy Earth Day. Commissioner Dailey commented on the following: She commended staff for their excellent work on the loaner life jacket safety campaign. R Commissioner Stewart commented on the followina: • He stated he has served on the Public Safety Advisory Committee for two years and in his opinion he has seen progress and he commends staff for their hard work. • He apologized for not attending the outreach program in Tuscany Hills. PUBLIC COMMENTS None ADJOURNMENT It was the consensus of the Commission to adjourn to a regular meeting on May 13, 2009, at 6:00 p.m. in the Cultural Center located at 183 North Main Street, Lake Elsinore, California, CA, 92530. Vice - Chairman Bhutta adjourned the meeting at 6:53 p.m. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: DANA C. PORCHE OFFICE SPECIALIST MIKE NORKIN, CHAIRMAN PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMISSION 7 CITY OF LADE LSII`IOKE err`` DREAM EXTREME REPORT TO PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMISSION TO: HONORABLE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMISSION FROM: MARK DENNIS INFORMATION /COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER DATE: MAY 13, 2009 SUBJECT: WILDLAND /URBAN INTERFACE - DEFENSIBLE SPACE UPDATE Background This presentation by Chief Jerry Hendershot is to update the PSAC on the status of fire laws introduced last year that affect building and safety standards for new construction and defensible space for urban residents. nicrimiminn Lake Elsinore is surrounded by wildland and open space that can be problematic for firefighters when urban development and wildland abruptly meet. A map of fire hazard severity zones was presented last year showing that the majority of the City's housing stock is at risk from potential wildland fires. The recent devastating fires in California have shown how fire fighting strategies and tactics for defending urban development not only must adapt to increased risk, but building and safety and housing development standards must also be updated to mitigate such risk. Cities must now implement new Building Codes and fire laws in accordance with the final fire hazard severity zone maps for their respective regions. The challenge for municipalities is to manage the wildland /urban interface properly and according to new state laws. Building and Safety Manager Robin Chipman will update the PSAC on how the City of Lake Elsinore will implement new Code requirements and upcoming wildland /urban interface regulations. Public Safety Advisory Commission May 13, 2009 Page 2 Homeowners who reside in wildland /urban interface zones need to learn how to make their property fire safe by creating "defensible space." This means removing all flammable vegetation within a prescribed distance from all structures. Related CAL FIRE fact sheets about wildland -urban interface requirements are included (Attachments `A' through 'E'). Publications are also available for download at this URL: http://www.fire.ca.,qov /fire prevention /fire prevention wildland publications.php Fiscal Im pact None. Recommendation Discuss fire season issues related to recent laws and Building Code changes updating wildland /urban interface risk analysis and defensible space requirements affecting new residential construction and homeowner improvements. Attachment 'A' FACT SHEET: California's Fire Hazard Severity Zones California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection,; Office of the State Fire Marshal While all of California is subject to some degree of fire hazard, there are specific features that make some areas more hazardous. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is required by law' to map areas of significant fire hazards based on fuels, terrain, weather, and other relevant factors. These zones, referred to as Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ), influence how people construct buildings and protect property to reduce risk associated with wildland fires. The maps were last updated in the mid -1980s and early 1990s. They are currently being updated to incorporate improved fire science, data and mapping techniques. The proposed Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for lands where the state has financial responsibility for wildland fire protection, known as state responsibility area or SRA, are available for review and public comment. A series of public hearings is being conducted in 56 counties with state responsibility area lands to gather comment for consideration. After the comment period ends, the CAL FIRE Director will either modify or adopt the Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps. In 2008, CAL FIRE will produce Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for the areas of California where local governments have financial responsibility for wildland fire protection, known as local responsibility areas, or LRA. Only lands zoned very high are identified within local responsibility areas. e ' (PRC 4201 -4204 and Govt. Code 51175 -89) Buildings on the fringes of California's wildland areas face a greater fire hazard than those in cities and towns. Fire Hazard Elements Vegetation - Fire hazard considers the potential vegetation over a 30- to 50- year time horizon. Vegetation is "fuel" to a wildfire and it changes over time. Topography - Fire typically burns faster up steep slopes. Weather - Fire moves faster under hot, dry, and windy conditions. Crown Fire Potential - Under extreme conditions, fires burn to the top of trees and tall brush. Ember production and movement - Fire brands are embers blown ahead of the main fire. Fire brands spread the wildfire and they get into buildings and catch the building on fire. Likelihood - Chances of an area burning over a 30- to 50 -year time period based on history and other factors. Burning embers, known as firebrands, spread fire ahead of the flame front and can ignite buildings up to a mile away from the main fire. What is the map for? The Fire Hazard Severity Zones identify fire hazard, not fire risk. "Hazard" is based on the physical conditions that give a likelihood that an area will burn over a 30 to 50 -year period without considering modifications such as fuel reduction efforts. "Risk" is the potential damage a fire can do to the area under existing conditions, including any modifications such as defensible space, irrigation and sprinklers, and ignition resistant building construction which can reduce fire risk. Risk considers the susceptibility of what is being protected. Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps are intended to be used for: • Implementing wildland -urban interface building standards for new construction • Natural hazard real estate disclosure at time of sale • 100 -foot defensible space clearance requirements around buildings • Property development standards such as road widths, water supply and signage • Considered in city and county general plans How are zones determined? The Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps were developed using a science -based and field - tested computer model that assigns a hazard score based on the factors that influence fire likelihood and fire behavior. Many factors are considered such as fire history, existing and potential fuel (natural vegetation), flame length, blowing embers, terrain, and typical weather for the area. There are three hazard zones in state responsibility areas: moderate, high and very high. Urban and wildland areas are treated differently in the model, but the model does recognize the influence of burning embers traveling into urban areas, which is a major cause of fire spread. How do I determine the fire hazard in my area? Visit the CAL FIRE Website at www_ht ,. - , s,ov. You can enter your address and easily find your Fire Hazard Severity Zone IF your property is in the state responsibility area. The statewide map and maps for each county with state responsibility area lands are also posted. For more information about Fire Hazard Severity Zones or wildland -urban interface building codes, contact your local CAL FIRE Unit. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection May 2007 Attachment 'B' PROJECT BACKGROUND: California's Fire Hazard Severity Zone Update and Building Standards Revision California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Office of the State Fire Marshal ;Niy*,'.q siwct yafw The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is revising maps that identify wildfire hazard in areas for which the State has financial responsibility for wildland fire protection (state responsibility areas). Early next year recommendations will be made for very high fire hazard zones in areas where locals provide fire protection (local responsibility areas). CAL FIRE is mandated by Public Resources Code 4201 -4204 and Govt. Code 51175 -89 to identify fire hazard severity zones statewide. These are areas of significant fire hazard based on fuels, terrain, weather, and other relevant factors. In state responsibility area, CAL FIRE has mapped three hazard ranges - moderate, high and very high. In local responsibility area, the law only requires identification of very high fire hazard severity zones. These state statutes arose out of legislation following large, catastrophic urban conflagrations and are designed to implement mitigations to reduce damages from wildfires. The existing fire hazard severity zone maps in state responsibility area were last approved in the mid - 1980s. Maps in local responsibility area were completed in the mid 1990s. CAL FIRE is now updating the maps because they will be used to implement the new wildland -urban interface building standards adopted by the California Building Standards Commission. The new building codes establish ignition - resistant construction for roofing, walls, decks, windows and other building elements for homes in the wildland -urban interface based upon the area's fire hazard severity zone classification. The maps will be the basis of legal requirements affecting property owners in state responsibility areas, very high fire hazard severity zones in local responsibility areas, and other fire -prone areas zoned by local government. The updated fire hazard severity zones will influence choice of construction materials and techniques for new buildings in the wildland urban interface. The new wildland -urban interface building codes will increase the cost for new construction an average of $1,800 per home. Fire Hazard Severity Zones ky Wildland -Urban ' Interfaaa Building Codes This graphic, posted on industry and association websites, is a link to CAL FIRE's "Living and Building in the Wildland" FHSZ/BSR Website at �t�7��<c', irc .c�a.�yoe� /iyilrilrairrl.i�Irt+ The updated zones will also be used by property owners to comply with natural hazards disclosure requirements at time of sale of property. In addition, it is possible that the fire hazard severity zones will be used by local governments as they update the safety element of general plans. The re- mapping project is funded in part by a $250,000 Federal Emergency Management Agency grant facilitated by the Governor's Office of Emergency Services. There are separate maps for state responsibility area and local responsibility area; each requires a different adoption process. The adoption process for the state responsibility area maps will include public hearings in the 56 counties that have state responsibility areas. The hearings will be conducted throughout the summer and the maps are scheduled for adoption under CCR Title 14 regulation by December 31, 2007. Following the hearings, the CAL FIRE Director may elect to amend the maps or adopt them without revision. Release of the local responsibility area maps, which only identify very high fire hazard severity zones, will follow next year. Local governments will conduct public hearings and adopt local ordinances based on recommendations from the Director for implementing the ignition- resistant construction standard. The draft state responsibility area maps have been reviewed by the 21 CAL FIRE units statewide and six contract counties. Recommendations for changes have been provided. The recommendations were reviewed by Cal FIRE technical staff, and all the state responsibility area maps have been released. The public hearing process will take place in June and July 2007. The existing state responsibility area maps were developed in the mid- 1980s, using available mapping techniques and information. Local responsibility area maps were developed in the mid- 1990s. For several reasons, existing maps have been updated and now reflect improved fire science, mapping techniques, and data. The most significant new factor is ember production and the intrusion of embers into buildings through vents, or collecting /gathering in areas that ignite combustible materials. The assumptions used were developed to create a scientifically -based hazard map for one use - to reduce structure losses in the case of wildland fires by instituting more protective ignition- resistant building requirements in areas where the fire hazard is greater. The fire hazard severity zone maps evaluate hazard, not risk. Hazard is based on the physical conditions that give us a likelihood that an area will burn over a 30- to 50 -year period without considering modifications such as fuel reduction efforts. Risk is the potential damage a fire can do to the area under existing conditions, including any mitigation taken. The model used to develop the fire hazard severity zone maps focuses on hazard alone, which only takes into account the probability of the area burning and potential fire behavior in the area based on elements such as fire history, potential fuel over a 30- to 50 -year period, blowing embers, terrain and weather. It is not an evaluation of the level of risk the area faces because it does not consider modifications such as defensible space, community -based fuel modification or fire breaks, building construction, irrigation and sprinklers. Representatives from stakeholder groups including the California Building Officials Association, the California Building Industry Association, California Fire Chiefs Association, California League of Cities, Regional Council of Rural Counties, product manufacturers, the insurance industry and the Sierra Club have been involved in development and implementation of the building standards throughout the process. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection May 2007 Attachment 'C' FACT SHEET: Wildland -Urban Interface Building Codes California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Office of the State Fire Marshal FRE SWOC 188.1 Over the years, it has become clear that the two most common ways that buildings are lost during wildland fires are from direct heat and flames, or from burning embers that can blow up to a mile ahead of the fire. This knowledge has led to a two- pronged approach in addressing the problem: Heat and flames must be kept away from buildings AND the ability of embers to ignite buildings must be eliminated. California law already requires that homeowners clear flammable vegetation within 30 feet of buildings and modify vegetation within 100 feet around buildings to create a defensible space for firefighters to safely protect their homes. Ongoing education and inspection are conducted to enforce those requirements. The second component is to construct buildings that resist burning embers. Buildings catch fire when burning embers fall on wood roofs, blow into the building through vents, pile up in cracks or lodge under boards. Ignition- resistant construction creates an "envelope" around the structure to decrease the number of burning embers that can enter the building. By building the structure in a way that diminishes ember intrusion, the main cause of home loss during wildland -urban interface fires can be reduced and even eliminated. After a thorough and collaborative effort between the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Office of the State Fire Marshal, local fire districts, building associations and other public safety organizations to identify better construction methods and materials to make buildings more ignition- resistant, new wildland building standards have been developed for California's fire prone areas. The following ignition resistant standards will make homes and businesses more resistant to wildfire: ✓ Decks enclosed with ignition resistant material to within six inches of the ground ✓ Eaves protected on the exposed side with ignition resistant material ✓ Roof built to Class A fire resistant standards in state responsibility areas and in very high Fire Hazard Severity Zones in local responsibility areas ✓ All under -floor areas enclosed ✓ Dual -paned tempered glass for all exterior windows ✓ Ignition- resistant materials for exterior doors ✓ All exterior vents designed to prevent ember intrusion A working group of builders, firefighters, inspectors, researchers, city and county representatives, housing experts, and the insurance industry have worked closely with the State Fire Marshal to develop these standards. The standards are based on lab- tested and verifiable performance standards that describe the type of wildfire exposure a building must be able to withstand. This allows for a wide range of materials and designs. For more information about living safely in California's wildland -urban interface visit the CAL FIRE website at www.fire.ca.ctov California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection May 2007 Attachment 'D' 1 SPACE Why, 100.Fe V f b Y Following theFe simple sups can crarrr iy increase the chance. of your hon e suviving a wildfire! ADefensible Space of 100 feet around your home is required by law.' The goal is to protect your home while providing a safe area for firefighters. - Clearing an area of 30 feet immediately surrounding your home is critical. This area requires the greatest reduction in flammable vegetation. - The fuel reduction zone in the re- maining 70 feet (or to property line) will depend on the steepness of your property and the vegetation. Spacing between plants improves the chance of stopping a wildfire before it destroys your home. You have two options in this area: 0 Create horizontal and vertical spacing between plants. The amount of space will depend on how steep the slope is and the size of the plants. ,, - a Large trees do not have to be cut and removed as long as all of the plants beneath them are removed. This eliminates a vertical "fire ladder." When clearing vegetation, use care when operating equipment such as lawnmowers. One small spark may start a fire; a string trimmer is much safer. Remove all build - up of needles and leaves from your roof and gutters. Keep tree limbs trimmed at least 10 feet from any chimneys and remove dead limbs that hang over your home or garage. The law also requires a screen over your chim- ney outlet of not more than 1/2 inch mesh. 1. These regulations affect most of the grass, brush, and timber- covered private lands in the State. Some fire depart - mentJurisdictions may have additional requirements. Some activities may require permits fortree removal. Also, some activities may require special procedures for, 1) threatened and endangered species, 2) avoiding erosion, and 3) protection of water quality. Check with local officials if in doubt. Current regulations allow an insurance company to require additional clearance. The area to be treated does not extend beyond your property. The State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection has approved Guidelines to assist you in complying with the new law. Contact your local CAL FIRE office for more details. 1 Attachment 'E' FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT: Fire Hazard Severity Zoning and New Building Codes for California's Wi ldland -urban Interface►.` California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Office of the State Fire Marshal Question: What can be done to reduce buildings loss from wildfire? Answer: Years of experience by fire agencies and others have led to a statutory strategy for reducing the chance of building loss or damage. It is a two - pronged approach: 1) defensible space - reduce flammable material around homes to keep direct flames and heat away from the side of the building. (The law already requires property owners to create 100 feet of defensible space around buildings); 2) exterior wildfire exposure protection - construct buildings so that they have less chance of catching fire from burning embers. We have learned that we must make changes to the surrounding property and to the buildings themselves. Question: What do the new building codes do? Answer: Recently adopted building codes and standards reduce the risk of burning embers igniting buildings. Codes already in effect place standards on roofing construction and attic venting. The new building codes require siding, exterior doors, decking, windows, eaves wall vents, and enclosed overhanging decks to meet new test standards. Question: Do the building codes apply equally in the different Fire Hazard Severity Zones? Answer: Yes. The new ignition resistant codes apply to all fire hazard zones in the state responsibility area and in very high Fire Hazard Severity Zones in local responsibility areas. Question: Why are fire hazard severity maps being updated? Answer: The hazard maps are being updated to more accurately reflect the zones in California that are susceptible to wildfire. The hazard mapping process incorporates new science and technology in determining hazard ratings. How was the fire hazard severity determined? Answer: Using the latest fire science, CAL FIRE has developed and field tested a model that serves as the basis of zone assignments. The model evaluates properties using characteristics that affect the probability of the area burning and potential fire behavior in the area. Many factors are considered such as fire history, existing and potential fuel, flame length, blowing embers, terrain, weather and the likelihood of buildings igniting. Question: Can the new building codes protect my home from fire? Answer: Fire safe building practices can't make your home fire proof but they can improve the chances that it will still be standing after the wildfire is out. Question: How will the new building codes affect me as a property owner? Answer: It depends on your specific situation. Always check with your local building department for specific information. If your property is in state responsibility area and: You applied for a building permit for your home before January 1, 2008 - You need only concern yourself with the fire safety practices that are already on the books. That means you must clear a defensible space around your property, keep your roof clear of flammable material like twigs and leaves, trim tree branches away from your chimney and keep a spark arrester on your chimney. Visit the CALFIRE website at www.fire.ca. ov for information on living safely in California's fire prone areas. Use appropriate roofing assembly for your hazard zone You applied for a building permit on or after January 1, 2008 - In addition to complying with the fire safety requirements mentioned above you must: • Use approved building products and construction methods. That information is available from the Office of the State Fire Marshal's Building Materials_ Listing Program. • Use exterior wildfire exposure protection materials and construction methods for exterior siding, windows, eaves vents, exterior doors, decks • Enclose all under -floor areas and the underside of decks to within six inches of the ground • You are remodeling a home on your property after January 1, 2008 - The new codes apply to the design and construction of new buildings located in the wildland- urban interface fire area. Local ordinances may require improved exterior wildfire exposure protection materials and construction methods for remodel projects. Check with your local building department to determine which ignition resistant building codes apply to your project. Question: Is there an easy way to determine the Fire Hazard Severity Zone of my property? Answer: If you know your address or the address of a nearby property, you can find the designation for state responsibility area lands on the web at: http:l /www.fire.ca.govlfireprone QUESTIONS ABOUT FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES What is a "Fire Hazard Severity Zone," or FHSZ? Answer: California law requires CAL FIRE to identify areas based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail there. These areas, or "zones," are based on factors such as fuel (material that can burn), slope and fire weather. There are three zones, based on increasing fire hazard... medium, high and very high. How is a FHSZ determined? Answer: Using the latest fire science, CAL FIRE has developed and field tested a model that serves as the basis of zone assignments. The model evaluates property using characteristics that affect the probability of the area burning and potential fire behavior in the area. Many factors are considered such as fire history, existing and potential fuel, flame length, blowing embers, terrain, weather and the likelihood of buildings igniting. What does FHSZ measure? Answer: Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps evaluate "hazard," not "risk ". They are like flood zone maps. "Hazard" is based on the physical conditions that create a likelihood that an area will burn over a 30 to 50 -year period without considering modifications such as fuel reduction efforts. "Risk" is the potential damage a fire can do to the area under existing conditions, including any modifications such as defensible space, irrigation and sprinklers, and ignition resistant building construction. Where do Fire Hazard Severity Zones apply? Answer: Fire Hazard Severity Zones are found in areas where the State has financial responsibility for fire protection, called State Responsibility Areas. More than 31 million acres are in this area. Very high Fire Hazard Severity Zones are found in local jurisdictions as well. What are the uses of Fire Hazard Severity Zones? Answer: The zones serve several purposes. They are used to designate areas where exterior wildfire exposure protection building codes apply to new buildings. It can be a factor in real estate disclosure. Local government considers fire hazard severity in the safety element of the general plan. Can I find my street address on the map? Answer: Yes. The University of California Berkeley Center for Fire Research and Outreach has developed an interactive mapping tool for the internet. Fire hazard is shown for individual properties identified by street address. This mapping tool can be accessed through: http:llwww.fire.( -1. _qov /1jreprone What if I disagree with the Fire Hazard Severity Zone designation of my property? Answer: The CAL FIRE Director will conduct public hearings in every county with state responsibility areas in June and July 2007. You may comment about Fire Hazard Severity Zone designations at these hearings or you may send in a written comment via mail or e-mail. The public notice of the regulation includes the address for submitting written comments. The Director will respond to all comments before making final adoption of the maps in state responsibility areas. QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE MODEL USED BY CAL FIRE What are the key elements of the Fire Hazard Severity Zone model? Answer: The fire hazard severity model for wildland fire has two key elements: probability of burning and probable fire behavior. Hence, the factors considered in determining fire hazard are how often an area will burn and, when it does burn, what characteristics might lead to buildings being ignited. In the model, Fire Hazard Severity Zones are areas that have similar burn probabilities and fire behavior characteristics that result in damage to buildings. In wildland areas, expected fire behavior is based on typical fire intensity on a normally severe fire weather day. The calculation also incorporates the potential of vegetation to be ignited by an ember and expectations based on fire history over the last 50 years. What is the difference between moderate, high, and very high Fire Hazard Severity Zones as ranked in the model? Answer: Classification of a zone as moderate, high or very high fire hazard is based on a combination of how a fire will behave and the probability of flames and embers threatening buildings. Each area of the map gets a score for flame length, embers, and the likelihood of the area burning. Scores are then averaged over the zone areas. Final zone class (moderate, high and very high) is based on the averaged scores for the zone. Why does the model place an emphasis on the spread of burning embers? Answer: Embers spread wildfire because they can travel long distances in the wind and ignite vegetation, roofs, attics (by getting into vents), and decks. How do model elements relate to the law that requires Fire Hazard Severity Zones to be designated? Answer: The Public Resources Code Section 4202 calls for zones to embrace relatively homogenous lands and shall be based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, and other relevant factors present. The zone model considers these elements by zoning homogenous vegetation and slopes and considers fire behavior within these zones. Fire behavior is based on fuel type, slope, and severe fire weather. Has the model been tested and verified to be accurate locally by CAL FIRE or other fire agencies? Answer: The model uses on nationally accepted fire behavior calculation systems. Model results were reviewed extensively in four counties: Butte, Calaveras, Sonoma, and San Diego. These four counties were selected to represent the different fuel conditions found in California. Further, results were reviewed and field validated in the 56 counties with state responsibility areas. QUESTIONS ABOUT FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES AND BUILDING STANDARDS IN STATE RESPONSIBILITY AREAS What is "State Responsibility Area," or SRA? Answer: State responsibility area is a legal term defining the area where the State has financial responsibility for wildland fire protection. Incorporated cities and federal ownership are not included. The prevention and suppression of fires in all areas that are not state responsibility areas are primarily the responsibility of local or federal agencies. There are more than 31 million acres in state responsibility area with an estimated 1.7 million people and 750,000 existing homes. How is state responsibility area determined? Answer: The Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (Board) classifies land as state responsibility area. The legal definition of state responsibility area is found in the Public Resources Code Section 4125. The Board has developed detailed procedures to classify lands as state responsibility area. Lands are removed from state responsibility area when they become incorporated by a city, change in ownership to the federal government, become more densely populated, or are converted to intensive agriculture that minimizes the risk of wildfire. While some lands are removed from state responsibility area automatically, the Board typically reviews changes every five years. Can I request that my land be taken out of state responsibility area? Answer: Yes. While not common, property owners can petition the Board to remove their land from state responsibility area. What Fire Hazard Severity Zones are in state responsibility area? Answer: All of state responsibility area is in a Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Lands are either ranked as moderate, high or very high Fire Hazard Severity Zones. What is the impact of new building codes in state responsibility area? Answer: Recently adopted building codes reduce the risk of burning embers pushed by wind -blown wildfires from igniting buildings. Roofing standards vary by the fire hazard zone rating of the site. The new codes for siding, decking, windows, and vents apply throughout all state responsibility area regardless of the fire hazard severity ranking. QUESTIONS ABOUT VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES IN LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY AREAS NOTE: The Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for Local Responsibility Area will be rolled out in 2008. An expanded question /answer sheet will be provided in this space at that time. This Q and A contains a limited amount of detail and is provided as an introduction to next year's program. What is "Local Responsibility Area ", or LRA? Answer: Wildland fire protection in California is the responsibility of either the State, local government, or the federal government. Local responsibility areas include incorporated cities, cultivated agriculture lands, and portions of the desert. Local responsibility area fire protection is typically provided by city fire departments, fire protection districts, counties, and by CAL FIRE under contract to local government. What is the "Bates" bill? Answer: The "Bates" bill, Government Code Section 51175, was prompted by the devastating Oakland Hills Fire of 1991. This mid -1990s legislation calls for the CAL FIRE Director to evaluate fire hazard severity in local responsibility area and to make a recommendation to the local jurisdiction where very high Fire Hazard Severity Zones exist. The Government Code then provides direction for the local jurisdiction to take appropriate action. How are Fire Hazard Severity Zones determined in local responsibility areas? Answer: CAL FIRE uses an extension of the state responsibility area Fire Hazard Severity Zone model as the basis for evaluating fire hazard in local responsibility area. The local responsibility area hazard rating reflects flame and ember intrusion from adjacent wildlands and from flammable vegetation in the urban area. Scientists at the U. C. Berkeley Center for Fire Research and Outreach provided an urban fuels model that was incorporated in the hazard rating. When will CAL FIRE recommend very high Fire Hazard Severity Zones to local agencies? Answer: CALFIRE will prepare draft very high Fire Hazard Severity Zone recommendations for local responsibility areas during the summer of 2007. These recommendations are scheduled to reflect hazard ratings in adjacent state responsibility area zones. CAL FIRE anticipates reviewing and validating these draft local responsibility area recommendations with local agencies during the fall of 2007. What are the requirements for landowners in very high Fire Hazard Severity Zones in local responsibility areas? Answer: The exterior wildfire exposure protection codes apply to the design and construction of new buildings located in very high Fire Hazard Severity Zones in local responsibility areas. Local ordinances may require ignition resistant construction for remodel projects. Check with your local building department to determine which ignition resistant building codes apply to your project. In addition, Government Code Section 51182 calls for flammable vegetation clearance and other wildland fire safety practices for buildings. Owners are also required to make a natural hazard disclosure as part of a real estate transfer. For information regarding clearance around buildings see the Homeowners Checklist at www. fire. ca�poy.. Does the designation of very high Fire Hazard Severity Zone in the local responsibility area trigger the 100 foot clearance requirement? Answer: Yes, unless exempted by local government under specified conditions, the 100 foot clearance requirements apply. Will there be a single map that shows FHSZ statewide? Countywide? Answer: There will be a single map that shows FHSZ on state responsibility areas statewide and for each county with state responsibility areas. There will be an initial map of Very High FHSZ recommendation on local responsibility areas. However, there is no reporting requirement for local government to report back to CAL FIRE on the action they took on the VHFHSZ recommendation. Will the FHSZ map be updated? Answer: Yes, updates are to be periodic. Other questions should be directed to your local building department or fire officials. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection May 2007 CITY OF _� LADE 5- LS I`IOI�E DREAM EXTREME REPORT TO PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMISSION TO: HONORABLE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMISSION FROM: MARK DENNIS INFORMATION /COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER DATE: MAY 13, 2009 SUBJECT: ANNUAL FIREWORKS PROHIBITION CAMPAIGN Background The City prohibits public use of fireworks —both illegal and so called 'safe and sane' devices — because they pose well documented fire and safety hazards. The PSAC has previously recommended an annual public information campaign to remind City residents of the dangers inherent to using fireworks. Discussion Fire season officially begins in May, though prolonged drought conditions make it fire season all year long. The City's fireworks ordinance (LEMC Chapter 8.52) was adopted in March, 2007, based on the County of Riverside's fireworks ordinance. As a result, fireworks are prohibited in all areas of Riverside County, with the exception of some municipalities in the lower desert. To promote awareness of the City's fireworks prohibition and the fire danger from several successive years of drought conditions, the City regularly uses display advertising, press releases and existing City publications to publicize the message, "Fireworks and Fire Season Don't Mix" (Attachment `A'). Alternately, staff is researching the timing and availability of using CR &R's trash bill mailing for a fireworks prohibition insert. The cost to print approximately 22,000 full color Public Safety Advisory Commission May 13, 2009 Page 2 inserts as a third cut billing insert is estimated to be less than $3,000, if designed in- house. The use of a bill stuffer is contingent on CR &R's quarterly billing schedule, which will be confirmed for the PSAC's discussion, but was not available at this writing. Fiscal Impact Except for display advertising and billing inserts, the tactics above can be performed in 2009 at no cost. Sufficient funding exists in the PSAC budget for Fiscal Year 2008 -09 to print a third -cut billing insert for under $3,000 and to order a 3- column by 8 inch display advertisement concurrently in The Californian and the Press - Enterprise on two run dates in June for a total not to exceed $2,000. Recommendation Discussion and direction on publicity tactics. Attachment 'A' Fireworks and Fire Season Don't Mix No fireworks allowed in Lake Elsinore city limits. Fireworks facts for City residents • Fireworks are prohibited within city limits and most of Riverside County. Fines range from $500 to $1000 per violation. • Illegal fireworks may be surrendered "no questions asked" when brought to any fire station for disposal. • Anyone using fireworks and causing a fire will be financially responsible for all firefighting costs. ♦ The safest way to enjoy fireworks is at the City's annual fireworks show over Lake Elsinore on July 4 at 9:30 p.m. Best viewing is from all City beaches, Lakepoint Park McVicker Park, Swick/Matich Park, and Lake Elsinore Recreation Area & Campground. ♦ Call 951.674.3124 x 265 for more information. To report illegal fireworks online, visit www.riversidesheriff.org /crime /fireworks.htm CITY OF A� . LADE 9 LSI1`IOI�E P DREAM EXTREME REPORT TO PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMISSION TO: HONORABLE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMISSION FROM: MARK DENNIS INFORMATION /COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER DATE: MAY 13, 2009 SUBJECT: UPDATE ON RECRUITMENT PROCESS FOR THREE PSAC COMMISSION OPENINGS IN JUNE 2009 Background Three Public Safety Commissioners' terms will expire in June (Norkin, Lyons, Bhutta). The City has publicized this volunteer opportunity for citizens and local business owners who may be interested in serving on the Public Safety Advisory Commission. Discussion The Public Safety Advisory Commission consists of five appointed Commissioners who serve four -year staggered terms. In June, three Commissioners' terms will expire. Newly appointed Commissioners will be seated at the regular PSAC meeting on July 8, 2009. The recruitment policy established for Commissions by the City Council includes a notice of application period of 30 days, followed by interviews of candidates by a two - member City Council subcommittee, culminating with the appointment of new Commissioners by the City Council at their regular meeting on June 9th. The application period opened on April 29th and closes at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27, with confirmation of qualifying applicants to be completed by Friday, May 29. Newspaper advertisements (attachment `A') and the City's Web page have been used to publicize this PSAC volunteer opportunity. Public Safety Advisory Commission May 13, 2009 Page 2 To be considered for appointment, an application form (attachment `B') should be completed by any interested resident of Lake Elsinore, or owner of a licensed business that is located within City limits. Any seated Commissioner whose term ends in June 2009 may apply for reappointment. All qualified applicants will be interviewed by the City Council recruitment subcommittee between June 1 and June 4, so the subcommittee recommendation for appointment can be considered at the June 9, 2009 City Council meeting. PSAC appointments are contingent on a clean Live Scan screening and background check. Newly appointed Commissioners will be sworn in by the City Clerk and receive an orientation in preparation for being seated at the PSAC meeting on July 8, 2009. Fiscal Impact The cost of newspaper advertising in The Californian and The Press - Enterprise for a three - column by 8" display ad for the PSAC Notice of Open Recruitment is $1,589.28. Sufficient funding is in the PSAC advertising budget for this expense. The cost of conducting a Live Scan background check for each appointee is nominal. PSAC Commissioners do not receive a meeting allowance or compensation of any kind for their volunteer service. Recommendation Receive and file. Attachment 'A' w Background The City of Lake Elsinore is accepting applications from interested citizens to serve on the Public Safety Advisory Commission (PSAC ). Three seats are available.The City Council will appoint three Commissioners in June. Commissioners will serve four year terms. To obtain an application, please contact the City Clerk's Office at 951.674.3124 ext. 269, or visit our Web site at www.lake- elsinore.org. Deadline A signed application must be returned to the City Clerk's Office by 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, 2009. Three seats available Public Safety Advisory Commission Application closing date: Wednesday May 27, 2009 4:00 p.m. Eligibility Requirements The City of Lake Elsinore Public Safety Advisory Commission consists of five members. A member must legally reside within the City limits or be the owner of a business that is currently established and licensed inside the City limits. A Live Scan background check is required: An Oath of Office and Statement of Economic Interests filing will also be required. Training will be provided by the City. PSAC meetings are held every 2nd Wednesday of the month in the Cultural Center, 183 N. Main Street. For more information please contact the City Clerk's Office at 951.674.3124 ext. 269 CITY OF^c� LAIJE� LSINOIDNE t - V DREAM EXI REM 11 Please sign and return completed form to: City of Lake Elsinore 130 South Main Street Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 951 - 674 -3124 ext. 262 Print Form Attachment 'B' For Official Use Only Date Due: Date Received: Interview Date: Interview Time: Appointed: ❑ Yes ❑ No Date Appointed: Term: COMMISSION APPLICATION Commission Applying For: ❑ Planning ❑ Public Safety Advisory The City of Lake Elsinore Planning /PSAC Commission's consist of five members who shall not be officials or employees of the City and shall legally reside within Lake Elsinore City limits or be the owner of a business that is established and currently licensed inside Lake Elsinore City limits (LEMC Section 2.24.020). Members are appointed to four year terms by the City Council. Instructions: To complete this form, either print and fill -out by hand, or enter the information using your computer (must have Acrobat Reader). You may attach a separate sheet for additional information if you like. APPLICANT INFORMATION ❑ City Resident O Business Owner ILast Name �MI First Name (Home Address , State, Zip Home Phone ork Phone Other Phone ILength of Residency in Lake Elsinore Length of Residency in California BUSINESS INFORMATION (if applicable) Business Name Business Address City of Lake Elsinore Business License Number Expiration Date Business Phone Date Business Established EDUCATION INFORMATION Please List School(s) Attended Units Completed School's City & State DEGREES OR CERTIFICATES ATTAINED ❑ High School Diploma ❑ Associates ❑ Masters ❑ G.E.D. Certificate ❑ Bachelors ❑ PHD Page 2 of 2 WORK EXPERIENCE (Beginning with current or last position) Employer Address Position Held i Employment Dates: From To Employer Address Position Held Employment Dates: From To Employer Address Position Held Employment Dates: From To REFERENCES (Local residents who are qualified to comment on your capabilities) Name 1 Address Phone PLEASE DESCRIBE COMMUNITY SERVICE PARTICIPATION (if any) *You may attach a separate sheet for additional information REASONS FOR INTEREST IN SERVING ON COMMISSION *You may attach a separate sheet for additional information Applicant's Signature Date Please mail or hand - deliver this application to 130 South Main Street, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530. Faxes will not be accepted. Should you have any questions, please contact the City Clerk's Office at 951 - 674 -3124 ext. 262. Comm App Rev 04/24/09 11%� �-/ Riverside County 00 OW Community Health Agency J Department of u 6U c 41leedih May 6, 2009 RIVERSIDE COUNTY Contact: Sarah Mack, Public Information Officer (951) 358 - 5121 Media Advisory Susan Harrington, M.S., R Director, Department of Public He; One additional probable case of swine flu has been identified in Riverside County, bringing the total number of cases to 13, public health officials announced today (May 6). The case is a one - year -old boy from Riverside. His travel history and whether he was hospitalized is unknown. State officials have confirmed six cases of swine flu in Riverside County. Confirmation on the remaining seven probable cases is pending. The county's Department of Public Health will transition to non - emergency operations today at 5 p.m. as a result of declining swine flu cases. Public health officials will continue to monitor cases of swine flu, also known as H1N1 virus for its scientific name. Should the severity of the virus increase, emergency operations will resume. All local H1N1 virus updates will be posted on the county's swine flu page at iltti)://iiews.co.rivci*side.ca.us/swiiienu/. Additional information is available on the county's public health page at www.riveopii.orp, and the Centers for Disease Control's site at www.edc.gov /hlnlflu /. Public health officials continue to recommend that anyone who feels ill with flu -like symptoms stay home from work or school to prevent spreading any illness to others. Residents with further questions can call the state's public health hotline at (888) 865- 0564. Any calls to the county's swine flu hotline will be directed to the state information center. City of Lake Elsinore honored for its promotion of life jacket program I Riverside County ... Page 1 of 2 YAHOO! O! SI-N �uwcvuel by sm = Search PE.com Soarch Wriss!! tcllr"H • , (I...a k'r,r_ + +. Com i ri ents F) I Recommended City of Lake Elsinore honored for its promotion of life jacket program III ►M 0►1 TO S T O R Y .atlll 13 Download stary_._podcast 10:00 PM PDT on Monday, May 4, 2009 By GENE GHIOTTO The Press - Enterprise The city of Lake Elsinore has been honored for its effort to prevent drownings by making lake visitors aware of its loaner life jacket program. The city received the 2009 Excellence in Communications Award of Distinction for its entry that discusses the year -old program. The announcement was made April 17 in San Diego by the California Association of Public Information Officials. The loaner life jacket program was instituted in May 2008, in time for the prime lake season of June through September. City officials said it was started because accidental drownings pose the greatest risk to lake visitors and usually are preventable. �V Life r 61,,� cwutl i,sbcl­ Lijdll 1.vf ;st l: U$1 And •- ftctufn n � n M Gene Ghiolto / The Press - Enterprise This is one of the loaner lifejacket stations that Lake Elsinore installed at Ehn Grove Beach., "People use them (life jackets) all the time," said Pat Kilroy, director of lake and aquatic resources for Lake Elsinore. "When I look back and think of how many people went out on the lake and wished they had a life jacket, I'm just amazed." Six life jacket stations were installed, each with six life jackets in sizes that fit small children to large adults. They are at Elm Grove Beach and on the south side of Seaport Boat Launch. The life jackets are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, even though the lake is closed between sunset and sunrise. The stations include instructions in English and Spanish on how to select and properly secure a child or adult in the life jacket. They also http:// www. pe. com llocalnewslrivcountylstoriesIPE News _Local_S_sjacketO5.45126c4.html 5/5/2009 City of Lake Elsinore honored for its promotion of life jacket program I Riverside County ... Page 2 of 2 incorporate an illustration of a large pelican and two smaller pelicans wearing life jackets that urges parents to show extra care when their children are near the water. The cost for making the life jacket stations was $1,098 each, city officials said. The life jackets cost $5.50 each. In the first year of operation, thieves and vandals stole or destroyed dozens of the life jackets, city officials said, with the cost of replacing the lifejackets totaling $1,419. Kilroy, though, said the city believes the program is worth those costs. "It's a very effective program," Kilroy said. "It's tax dollars well spent." Reach Gene Ghiotto at 951 -375 -3729 or , I.. t t6118 .. Mn h4:// www. pe. com llocalnewslrivcountylstoriesIPE News_Local S_sjacketO5.45126c4.httnl 5/5/2009 Elsinore cameras to target taggers :: The Temecula Valley News Page 1 of 2 0 comments for "Elsinore cameras to target taggers; " Be the first to share your opinion on this article! Add your Comment Name Comments Disclaimer We Invite you to contribute your opinions and thoughts. Images, Formatting, or HTML Is not allowed. You may post up to 5 website addresses within your comment. Please, no advertising, trolling or derogatory comments. Comments with vulgar or obscene words will be ignored. http : / /www.myvalleynews.com/story /37399/ 4/27/2009 VALLEYNEWS Home I News I Sports I Entertainment I Business I Arts I Education I Opinion I Classifieds I Contact Search, April 27th 2009 The Temecula Valley LOCAL NEWS S b rib. na R'S News — � Bookmark Browse stories by issue Elsinore cameras to target taggers Our Advertisers ♦,.+Print Local Yellow Pages Coupon Corner Tim O'Leary Valley News Staff Search locally Download our Media Kit Sections Friday, April 24th, 2009. Issue 17, Volume 9. Announcements Anza Valley Outlook A decision last week to buy and Install surveillance cameras at key Lake Elsinore locations has marked a new stage in the •Aif- : y. Armchair Activist city's graffiti- fighting efforts. _ Business "It's a big piece," said Mark Dennis, the city's communications manager. "I think it's a unique approach that Lake Elsinore l� Classifieds has taken." Education To date, a city graffiti task force has spent about a year studying the problem and evaluating various responses. Entertainment Faith Matters Since a newcomer's reaction to a community is often based on first Impressions, the task force gave the city's graffiti problem a high priority, Dennis said. V O M M n Get Out ycmcrFul t'nI'u Health &Fitness During their study work, task force members frequently ran across media reports and government accounts that favored Ar,t:rlrlJ:r+1 Pn�'cwn Home & Garden the use of surveillance systems. Local News The city group presented findings in March that recognized the need for a photo surveillance system to deter thefts, " Motor Scene tagging and other types of vandalism. ._ LN I Non - Profit Dennis said Lake Elsinore currently spends about $100,000 a year removing graffiti. s'li'd, ''•' Fu" }';,." Sk Obituaries On Top of the That cost does not reflect the time code enforcement officers, public works employees, parks supervisors and other city Underground officials spend on the problem, he said. Most Commented Opinion 72 Four Marines arr... City policy calls for workers to quickly remove graffiti from parks and public buildings and notify private property owners 70 Answers sought I... Out and About of graffiti damage at their sites. ea Another officer ... Penny Pincher e1 Is Granite havin... Pets of the Week Officials can enter private property if needed to assess the damage. They can also seek financial restitution from taggers so Bikers steering ... - who are caught and prosecuted. se Murrieta mother ... Real Estate 53 Former officers ... Sheriff Blotter The task force initially recommended that five of the mounted, stationary cameras be purchased from the Torrance -based 44 Family files dam... Q -Star Technology. 43 Mini bike ban co... Sports 4a. A letter to the ... Valley Legal In order to keep a lid on spending, however, the purchase request was scaled back to three cameras, City Manager as DUI suspect flee... Valley Scene Robert A. Brady said in a report to the City Council. 3S Husband of slain... 37 Temecula man Valley Sports Review "They could also be utilized for police surveillance, should the need arise," Brady said in his report. com... Wine Scene 34 Lake Elsinore An... Community Along with the three cameras - which can be equipped with 14- second voice message alerts - the city will receive three 34 The good, bad an... "dummy" units. Churches Clubs & Organizations Those three mountings would leave taggers and crime suspects guessing as to which of the bulletproof boxes are Information equipped with the cameras and which aren't, Dennis said. 414py0 Sulvdlllant0 About Us The solar - powered cameras can take up to 1,000 photos per cycle with the times and dates imprinted in the image. The 24/7 Recording & Quick Links night flash equipment can illuminate a 100 -foot swath. Monitoring With A Fallbrook Village News Surveillance System The city will spend $23,164 to purchase and install the cameras. from ADT 9)1 Fal (brook, org www ADT. coiNBUSiness As the task force finalized its recommendations, steps were launched to identify graffiti "hot spots" In the city. Wlfelel;s il34Y C7 Once those spots are identified, the three cameras and three empty boxes will be installed in the most graffiti -prone Survollla"CQ Sys locations. Free Quotos. - Multiple Dealers Compare The cameras, which operate around- the - clock, will be moved to the various locations to increase their coverage, officials Paces. Features& said. Saval Suivoianca.Su"r7,ona, "It's gearing up," Dennis said of Lake Elsinore's effort. "We've crafted a plan that is achievable without costing a lot to the y V city. We've gleaned a lot of information and I think it opened our eyes." 0 comments for "Elsinore cameras to target taggers; " Be the first to share your opinion on this article! Add your Comment Name Comments Disclaimer We Invite you to contribute your opinions and thoughts. Images, Formatting, or HTML Is not allowed. You may post up to 5 website addresses within your comment. Please, no advertising, trolling or derogatory comments. Comments with vulgar or obscene words will be ignored. http : / /www.myvalleynews.com/story /37399/ 4/27/2009 Elsinore City Hall damaged by fire causing $5,000 damage:: The Temecula Valley News Page 1 of 1 VALLEYYNE S Home I News I Sports I Entertainment I Business I Arts I Education I Opinion I Classifieds I Contact Search April 27"' 2009 The Temecula Valley LOCAL NEWs fj Subscribe ri"RS5 News Elsinore City Hall damaged by fire causing $5,000 damage Bookmark Browse stories b Issue v { Print Local Yellow Pages — — :Search local) Our Advertisers Friday, April 241h, 2009. Issue 17, Volume 9. At 4:57 a.m. Monday, April 13, firefighters put out a blaze at Lake Elsinore City Hall, `��l _ �, ""f }'n I r Coupon Corner Download our Media Kit Sections Announcements V IG) M M A Powrrful L140ki Adicvrdr�+r Pragnm Anza Valley Outlook Armchair Activist Business Classifieds Education Paul Gallaher photo. Francisco Castaneda sweeps soot from a storage trailer at Lake Elsinore City Hall on Monday, April 13, after an early morning fire damaged the building. City officials believe most of the documents stored in the trailer were saved. A police officer discovered the fire while patrolling the area, according to city spokesperson Mark Dennis. "It was serendipity that saved us," he said. The building that burned was physically separate from the rest of City Hall. It was a portable building that housed records .+ e •c!rqH Entertainment Faith Matters Get Out Health & Fitness Home & Garden Local News Motor Scene Non- Proflt Obituaries On Top of the Underground waiting to be scanned and stored digitally. The part of the building that sustained the most damage was that which housed records pertaining to public safety, Dennis said. The records appeared undamaged but staff will be going through them over the next few days to assess whether any were destroyed. The fire department is currently investigating the causes of the fire. It was probably not electrical because the fire began underneath the building, said Dennis, and there Is nothing electrical there. Black stains were visible on the exterior. An eight -foot section of the rear exterior wall was unattached from the building and leaning against another wall nearby. The fire department cut the section of wall out, according to Dennis. Long lashes of black char striped the wooden rectangle, showing the flames had been at least eight feet tall at one point. The area was under surveillance at the time of the fire, Dennis said. Several cameras are mounted on the wall In the rear of City Hall's main structure, though the rear of the portable records building would have remained unseen to the nearest camera. 0 comments for " Elsinore City Hall damaged by fire causing $5,000 damage" 11, Be the first to share your opinion on this article! Most Commented n Four Marines arr... 7o Answers sought !... ra Another officer ... 61 Is Granite havin... ss Bikers steering ... se Murrieta mother ... 53 Former officers ... 44 Family files dam... 43 Mini bike ban co... 4o A letter to the ... 39 DUI suspect flee... 39 Husband of slain... 37 Temecula man com... 34 Lake Elsinore An... 34 The good, bad an... Opinion Out and About Penny Pincher Pets of the Week Real Estate Sheriff Blotter Sports Valley Legal Valley Scene Valley Sports Review Wine Scene Community Churches Clubs & Organizations Fire, smoke, Damage Damage Repair 24f7 Holline, Onslte Within 60 Min, www.AlladinResloration IaQalgrauo t Information About Us Quick Links — Fallbrook Village News Fallbrook.org . ` flMy e Add our Comment }r - -- - SpeCall ;�.QG. Free Estimates - Name Disclaimer Flood - Mold 949-554 - 4791 Call 24 Hrs We Invite you to contribute your Wa m Wale roamagacom opinions and thoughts. Images, Comments Formatting, or HTML is not allowed. 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Privacy Arts I Business I Classifieds I Education I Entertainment I Food I Health Home & Garden I Local News I Motor Scene I Opinion I Religion I Sports I Login The Temecula Valley News Inc, 127 West Elder Street, Fallbrook CA 92028 http : / /www.myvalleynews.com/story /37410/ 4/27/2009 268,000 Edison customers lose power:: The Temecula Valley News Page 1 of 1 VALLEYN EW Home I News I Sports I Entertainment I Business I Arts I Education l Opinion I Classifieds I Contact Search 5@arflg April 24"i 2009 The Temecula Valley News LOCAL News Sulk. h.. RSS Local Yellow Pages search local) 268,000 Edison customers lose power 61 Bookmark { Pdns Browse stories by issue Our Advertisers Coupon Corner Download our Media Kit Special to the Valley News Friday, April 241h, 2009. Issue 17, Volume 9. MURRIETA - Power was fully restored tonight to communities caught in a blackout that affected a large part of western Riverside County, officials said. Roughly 268,000 Southern California Edison customers were affected by the outage, which began at 5:54 p.m. and continued to 6:45 p.m., according to Lois Pitterbruce of Southern California Edison. "I would say 60 to 70 percent had their power restored in 10 minutes," Pitterbruce said. The cause of the blackout had not been determined, Pitterbruce said. Portions of Corona, Homeland, Idyllwlld, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Moreno Valley, Perris, Riverside, San Jacinto, Temecula and Wildomar lost electrical service during the outage, Pitterbruce said. The California Highway Patrol reported some traffic signals lost power. 0 comments for "268,000 Edison customers lose power" — - ► Be the first to share your opinion on this articlel Add your Comment Name Disclaimer We invite you to contribute your opinions and thoughts. Images, Comments Formatting, or HTML is not allowed. You may post up to 5 website addresses within your comment. Please, no advertising, trolling or derogatory comments. 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Garden I Local News I Motor Scene I Opinion I Religion I Sports I Login The Temecula Valley News Inc, 127 West Elder Street, Fallbrock CA 92028 http : / /www.myvalleynews.com/story /37387/ 4/24/2009 Print: LAKE ELSINORE: Wildomar man named as victim in Riverside Drive crash: Nor... Page 1 of 1 Print Page .;1 , r)2 TI Ni rl Tf4T C,\ i�. l l oll R N?l,,!`7 Last modified Wednesday, April 22, 2009 9:09 PM PDT LAKE ELSINORE: Wildomar man named as victim in Riverside Drive crash By The Californian LAKE ELSINORE - - -- Authorities have identified the 35- year -old Wildomar man who was struck and killed by a vehicle while walking on Riverside Drive on Monday night. About 9 p.m., Jameson G. Mantas was crossing Riverside Drive between Walnut Drive and Joy Street when he was struck by a vehicle driven by a 49- year -old Lake Elsinore woman, police said previously. Mantas was pronounced dead at the scene. The Lake Elsinore Police Department's traffic accident reconstruction team investigated the crash. Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to call (951) 245 -3300. http: / /www.nctimes.comlarticlesl 2009 /04/23/ news/ califomian llake__elsinorelz295a4l al931... 4/23/2009 Lake Elsinore woman hit by car dies - PE.com - Daily News Digest Daily News _Digest B OG Search this Blog <<-Previous Ditry I Blog Borne I Next Entry__> Search Lake Elsinore woman hit by car dies 8:10 AM Tue, Apr 21, 2009 1 P_ermalink I Comments (1) Categories Posted by: PE News Pagel of 3 Breaking News A 35- year -old pedestrian died last night after being hit by a car in Lake Elsinore, according to Riverside County coroner's officials. Wildfires The accident happened at 8:56 p.m. along the westbound lanes of Riverside RSS `" Drive, about the length of a football field east of Joy Street. Subscribe to this blog's feeds: The victim died at the scene. His name was withheld pending confirmation of his identity and notification of relatives. Recent Posts [Riverside County sheriffs deputies are investigating. i [What are feeds ?] — Richard Brooks irbrooks@PE.com Recent Comments deborah on Lake Elsinore woman hit by car dies: who was it ?! the title sa . More PE.com Blogs 1 Comments News deborah on April 2121, 2009 8:40 AM said: DaijyNew_ _s_ Digest who was it ?! the title says woman, the article says, "His name was withheld "? which is it? we are concerned because we have a meeting on that street at that Political Empire time some of our people walk home... Business San Bernardino Homicide Watch Leave a comment Name: (required) Multimedia Photogrraphy Email: (required; will not be displayed) News Section URL: (optional) http: //blogs.pe.com/news/ digest/ 2009 /04 /lake - elsinore- hit - and - run- vict.html 4/21/2009 Print: LAKE ELSINORE: Pedestrian killed in traffic collision: North County Times - Ca... Page 1 of 1 Print Page , )1�'r,1 (cl1 ': `'-1' `' TiNtvs THF? CA Last modified Tuesday, April 21, 2009 10:22 PM PDT LAKE ELSINORE: Pedestrian killed in traffic collision By The Californian LAKE ELSINORE - - -- A 35- year -old Wildomar man was struck and killed by a vehicle while walking on Riverside Drive on Monday night, authorities said. The collision took place just before 9 p.m. between Walnut Drive and Joy Street, said Lake Elsinore police Sgt. John Kaiser. The pedestrian was walking west across Riverside and was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim's name was not released because family members had not yet been notified, the sergeant said. The driver was identified as a 49- year -old Lake Elsinore woman. The Lake Elsinore Police Department's traffic accident reconstruction team investigated the scene. Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to call (951) 245 -3300. http: / /www.nctimes.com/articles /2009 /04/21 /newslcalifomianllake elsinorclzd72a82ade00... 4/22/2009 Print: LAKE ELSINORE: City to buy surveillance cameras: North County Times - Calif., Page 1 of 1 Print Page Last modified Wednesday, April 15, 2009 5:00 PM PDT LAKE ELSINORE: City to buy surveillance cameras By The Californian LAKE ELSINORE - - -- The city is going high -tech in its efforts to throttle graffiti, as a result of City Council action Tuesday. The council voted 4 -1, with Councilwoman Melissa Melendez dissenting, to purchase a photo surveillance system, including three mobile cameras that can be set up at graffiti hot spots such as parks. The cameras also can be used in other law enforcement operations, including the deterrence of theft of copper wiring and equipment, a report by city officials states. The devices are bulletproof and solar - powered, and hold up to 1,000 digital photographs that can be wirelessly transmitted to a remote laptop computer, the report states. When activated, the camera emits a flash that illuminates a 100 -foot area and issues a voice message warning intruders that the area is under surveillance, officials said. As a result, the system functions as a deterrent, while capturing images of would -be vandals, the report states. The system, which is created and marketed by Q -Star Technology, has been used effectively by other cities, officials said. It costs $23,164, which will be paid for from law enforcement grants, according to city officials. http: / /www.nctimes.comlarticlesl 2009 /04/16 /newslcalifomianllake_ elsinorelz71bbb0133ff... 4/16/2009 Print: LAKE ELSINORE: Fire doused at city trailer: North County Times - Californian Page 1 of 1 Print Page F , ? t wrl -1 C(lt rN 1`)' Ti -of"S 'THY \11FC�RNI AN , Last modified Tuesday, April 14, 2009 6:51 PM PDT LAKE ELSINORE: Fire doused at city trailer By The Californian LAKE ELSINORE - - -- A fire broke out early Monday in a trailer behind City Hall that the city uses to store records and plans, authorities said. The fire started shortly before 5 a.m. Firefighters found flames wrapping around the bottom of the structure's middle section and extinguished them before they penetrated the trailer near Prospect Avenue, city spokesman Mark Dennis said. Losses were limited to an estimated $5,000, Jody Hagemann of the Riverside County Fire Department stated in a release. Dennis, however, said there was enough damage to require replacement of the trailer, which the city leases. There was little damage worth noting to documents, which are stored there until they can be recorded electronically, he said. On Tuesday, Hagemann said investigators were still looking into the cause of the fire. Dennis said video from a surveillance camera monitoring activity behind City Hall was turned over to fire officials. http: //v ww.nctimes.comlarticles /2009 /04/14 /newslcalifomianllake elsinorelzl4dfb62lf69... 4/15/2009 Print: LAKE ELSINORE: City seeking safety commission applicants : North County Tim... Pagel of 2 Print Page ll�� Jill -I cot Tm1 j T1 i1. ( ii.iF i ±RNl AN Last modified Friday, May 8, 2009 7:07 PM PDT LAKE ELSINORE: City seeking safety commission applicants By MICHAEL J. WILLIAMS - mwilliams @californian.com LAKE ELSINORE - - -- When three seats on the Public Safety Advisory Commission are filled in June, the panel will for the first time have a full complement of five members serving four - year appointments, officials said. When the group formed in 2004, terms were limited to two years, said Mark Dennis, the Lake Elsinore administrator assigned to assist and advise the commission. The city later decided to extend the terms to four years, beginning with two seats in 2007. "When we were having two -year veterans going off (the commission), institutionally, it was weakening our effectiveness," Dennis said. The commission, which meets on the second Wednesday of each month, was established to scrutinize threats to public safety and serve as a liaison between residents and city officials on such issues. The commission can make recommendations to the City Council as it did on the creation of a citizens corps, the provision of loaner life jackets at the public lake -front beach and measures for curtailing graffiti. The commission is the current edition of a body that was disbanded in the 1980s. Its re- establishment was spearheaded by council members Bob Magee, who is now mayor, and Thomas Buckley, Dennis said. Dennis said the commission has been valuable in learning about problems facing the community. "This is a great bunch of people who are very committed to Lake Elsinore," Dennis said of the commissioners. "That's better than an energy drink, when we have people like this to work with." The seats opening up are held by the commission's chairman, Mike Norkin, its vice chairman, Shawn Bhutta, and Commissioner Al Lyons, all of whom are allowed to apply for reappointment. Their appointments date from 2007, when the terms were still two years for those seats. Commissioners Nicole Dailey and Jay Stewart were appointed to four -year terms later in 2007. "This will be an important step," Dennis said of the upcoming decisions. "These appointees will be with us for four more years." The city is accepting applications for the commission seats through May 27; residents should http: / /www.nctimes.comlarticles /2009 /05/08 /newslcalifomianllake elsinorelz942cc330bfe... 5/11/2009 Print: LAKE ELSINORE: City seeking safety commission applicants : North County Tim... Page 2 of 2 submit the forms at the City Clerk's office, 130 S. Main St. A council subcommittee consisting of Councilwoman Melissa Melendez and Councilman Daryl Hickman will review the applicants and interview candidates in early June, according to the Web site. The subcommittee is expected to make its recommendations to the full council June 9, and those chosen will take their seats at the commission's meeting scheduled July 8. Norkin said emphatically he will reapply. "For anyone who is civic - minded and really looking to make a difference in their community, this is a perfect place to do it," he said. "This is a way to get involved and positively effect change in your area." In the last year, the commission, at Norkin's suggestion, launched a new strategy. In addition to its regular sessions, it has been holding outreach meetings in neighborhoods. For instance, the commission appeared April 16 at a meeting of the Lake Elsinore Citizens Committee at the Tuscany Hills Recreation Center, and in March appeared in Canyon Hills in association with that community's homeowners association. "If presidential campaigns and city council campaigns can have town hall meetings, we can have town hall meetings," Norkin said. The idea was partially borne from the frustration of sparsely attended commission meetings. "That's ultimately the way I think government should work; if you don't come to us, we're going to come to you," he said. Contact staff writer Michael J. Williams at (951) 676 -4315, Ext. 2635, or mwilliams @californian.com. http: / /www.nctimes.comlarticlesl 2009 /05/08/ news /califomianllake _ elsinorelz942cc330bfe... 5/11/2009