MINUTES FROM MAY 5th 2025 (Special Meeting)
Voting Members in Attendance: Sue Kohl, Quentin Fleming, Beth Holden-Garland, Chris Spitz, Cindi Young, Steve Cron, Julia Nilsen, Kimberly Bloom, Karen Ridgley, Lorie Cudzil, Alex Hoerner, Andrew Wolfberg, John Padden, Eric Dugdale, Jessica Rogers, Haldis Toppel, James Alexakis, Kaye Steinsapir, Hagop Tchakerian, Janet Anderson, Richard Blumenberg
Non-voting Members and Advisors: Joanna Spak, Carole White, Lee Anne Sanderson, Daphne Gronich, Jan Shortz, David Card, Kevin Niles, Andy Frew, Valeria Serna, Ella Nozar
1. Call to Order and Reading of Community Council’s Mission. The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. Chris Spitz read the Mission Statement.
2. Introductions / Roll Call. The President introduced the members and called the roll.
3. Certification of Quorum. The President certified quorum.
The President began by expressing the community’s sorrow for the tragic death on May 4 of 19-year-old Palisadian Braun Levi (a Loyola High School senior and tennis star), who was hit by a suspected drunk driver as he was walking along Sepulveda Blvd. in Manhattan Beach, where his family had relocated after losing their home in the fire. All other announcements and reports were deferred.
4. New Business.
4.1. Presentation on Zone 0/Defensible Safe Regulations – David Barrett of MySafeLA.
This well-attended meeting was focused entirely on discussion of the new “Zone 0” defensible space regulations, proposed by an Advisory Committee of the state Board of Forestry. PPCC’s guest speaker – David Barrett, Executive Director of MySafeLA – gave an extensive and informative presentation and answered many questions about the proposed Zone 0 regulations, causes of wildfires, the Board of Forestry’s process in terms of meeting and adopting the regulations, and the work of MySafeLA. He suggested that PPCC should send the proposed letter attached to the agenda, and that we may want to consider providing specific proposals for new regulations. He also announced that MySafeLA will hold a virtual Fire Safe Town Hall on May 15 and will provide a flyer when it becomes available.
4.2. Motion for Board Approval of Proposed PPCC Comment Letter re Zone 0 (by Chris Spitz and Beth Holden-Garland; see attachment below). The motion was introduced by Chris Spitz (At-large Representative), who explained that Board approval was sought for the letter attached in the agenda, and that the deadline to submit comments was noon on May 8. No additional second was necessary because the motion was made by two voting members. During discussion, Donna Vaccarino of the Pacific Palisades Historical Society stated that the Historical Society did not support the letter as written. A vote was then taken. Result: Motion passed (19-1-0).
[A recording of the Zone 0 discussions at the special meeting can be accessed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq5JtbQdkR8.]
12. Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 pm.
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ATTACHMENT – Item 4.2:
Proposed PPCC Comment Letter:
May __, 2025
Zone Zero Regulatory Advisory Committee
California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection
Natural Resources Building
15 P Street
Sacramento, CA 95814 Via email: PublicComments@bof.ca.gov
Re: Defensible Space Zone 0 and Trees/Vegetation
Dear Committee Members:
This letter offers comments on the April 7, 2025, draft of the Zone 0 regulations proposed to be established under Public Resources Code Section 4291.
Pacific Palisades Community Council (PPCC) has since 1973 been the voice of Pacific Palisades – the community that was devastated by the massive Palisades Fire. Our community is located in an urban wildlands area of Los Angeles, in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains, and entirely within the designated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ).
As we begin the monumental task of rebuilding Pacific Palisades, we recognize the need for sensible, science-based regulations to create a defensible space and in turn prevent the unprecedented devastation experienced in January 2025. We appreciate the work of the Zone Zero Regulatory Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee) in proposing regulations and seeking public input.
We also seek to preserve our beautiful urban forest, to the maximum extent possible and consistent with public safety. Many trees and other landscaping emerged intact from the Palisades Fire; based on experience, we believe much of this vegetation was critical in preventing structure destruction. Community members are very concerned that adoption of the current proposed regulations would effectively result in a barren landscape with little or no protection for homes.
For these reasons, PPCC supports the comments set forth in the following letters submitted to the Advisory Committee: Letter from the Palisades Forestry Committee (PFC)[1] dated April 29, 2025 (PFC Letter); Letter from Dr. Travis Longcore / The Urban Wildlands Group dated April 26, 2025 (Longcore Letter).
We strongly agree with the conclusions expressed in both letters: that AB 3074 demonstrates the legislature’s “intent for a more flexible and balanced approach to vegetation around homes,” and further, that “‘the proposed regulations are inconsistent with that intent, threatening a negative impact ‘with a loss of tree and shrub cover … biodiversity, temperatures, humidity, erosion, water quality, public health outcomes, and loss of personal security.’ In addition, there’s the loss of the natural beauty of our neighborhood gardens and the mental peace they offer. Balance and flexibility, based on science, should be the watchwords.” (original emphasis; PFC Letter, p. 2)
Moreover, we concur with the conclusion of both the PFC and The Urban Wildlands Group that a“one-size-fits-all” approach to the regulations is inappropriate: “An urban area in chaparral vegetation should not be treated the same as a rural setting in a coniferous forest—the strategies to reduce fire risk are not the same and the risks are inherently different.” (Longcore Letter, p. 6). Or, as the PFC explains: “Palisades homes are not country homes in a forest, but rather suburban tracts of houses in close proximity. Zone 0 would eliminate most or all trees and vegetation between homes.” (PFC Letter, p. 2)
PPCC therefore respectfully urges Advisory Committee members to reconsider the current proposed Zone 0 regulations, and in doing so take into account the scientific data that supports retention of healthy, hydrated trees and other vegetation near homes in urban wildlands areas to prevent fire damage.
This letter was approved [unanimously] by the PPCC Board after full discussion at a public special Board meeting on May 5, 2025, in accordance with PPCC’s Bylaws.
Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Kohl
President
Pacific Palisades Community Council
cc (via email):
Hon. Ben Allen, SD 24
Hon. Jacqui Irwin, AD 42
Hon. Traci Park, CD 11
Background:
PFC Letter:
https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/PFC_Zone_0_letter_4-29-25.pdf
Longcore Letter:
https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250426_ZoneZeroPleadCommets.pdf
Links to the BOF/Advisory Committee proposed regulations:
https://calfire-umb05.azurewebsites.net/projects-and-programs/defensible-space-zones-0-1-2/
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[1] The PFC began as a committee of PPCC and is now a respected, independent non-profit and an organizational member of the PPCC Board.