The City Council makes the following findings:
(A) It is the intent of the City Council that this chapter shall apply to the abatement of hazardous vegetation and combustible material on unimproved and improved parcels;
(B) The City of Placerville has a climate conducive to wildfires with periodic dry seasons and wind events. Many of the City's native and non-native plant species can be highly flammable during normal dry periods. Increasingly dry summers and severe wind events further exacerbate the fire danger and have the potential to result in catastrophic fire losses to life, property and the environment;
(C) Of paramount importance to the City Council and the citizens of Placerville is the protection of lives and property from the threat of fire and the safety of fire and law enforcement personnel during wildfires;
(D) It is the purpose of this chapter to establish a hazardous vegetation and combustible material abatement program that protects the lives and property of the citizens of Placerville while at the same time protecting rare and sensitive plant and animal species and the environment, and maintaining the City of Placerville's unique charm;
(E) The City Council finds that hazardous vegetation or combustible material poses a danger to the health, safety and welfare of the residents in the vicinity of any real property located throughout the territory of the City of Placerville for the reasons set forth above. Therefore, all hazardous vegetation or combustible material located on real property within the City of Placerville is deemed a public nuisance and poses a hazard to the safety of the landowners, residents in the vicinity, users of public highways and to the public generally;
(F) The City finds that this chapter is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it will not result in significant environmental impacts and pursuant to the following categorical exemptions: section 15304(i) (specified fuels management activities within 100 feet of a dwelling), 15308 (actions taken as authorized by local ordinance to assure protection of the environment), 15321 (action by agency for enforcement of a law, general rule, standard or object administered or adopted by the agency). (Ord. 1698, 8-13-2019)