City Council

(30) 26-0386 PUBLIC SAFETY and PLANNING AND LAND USE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES’ REPORT relative to establishing a program to authorize the Fire Department to proactively demolish abandoned structures that pose a significant fire risk. Recommendations for Council action, pursuant to Motion (Padilla – Lee): 1. INSTRUCT the Fire Department, with the assistance of the Department of Building and Safety, the City Administrative Officer, and the City Attorney, to report on the feasibility of establishing a program to authorize the Fire Department to proactively demolish abandoned structures that pose a significant fire risk prior to the occurrence of a fire, including necessary due process protocols such as owner notification and a final opportunity to abate. 2. INSTRUCT the Fire Department to report on the effectiveness of the current Department of Building and Safety abatement process and identify any limitations that delay or prevent timely mitigation of hazardous structures, including whether Fire Department involvement or a joint task force would accelerate removal efforts. 3. INSTRUCT the Fire Department to report with recommendations on objective criteria for defining “high-risk” abandoned structures (such as proximity to Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones), and to identify legally enforceable cost- recovery mechanisms, including nuisance abatement liens or special assessments added to the property tax roll, to ensure demolition costs are recovered without reliance on the General Fund.