Mountain Views News          Saturday, May 10, 2014

Mountain View News Saturday, May 10, 2014 


SURVIVING A WILDFIRE - VEGETATION 
MANAGEMENT 

Sierra Madre, CA. May 8, 2014 - Year after year, Sierra Madre is faced with the potential for disaster. 
As we get closer to brush fire season with its high temperatures and low humidity the once green 
vegetation that surrounds our City starts to turn brown as the moisture is pulled from it by the Santa 
Ana winds that blow in off the deserts. The thick, volatile chaparral that blankets our hillsides are 
like bombs waiting for their fuses to be lit. We have all heard the term “firestorm” used to describe 
the incredible temperatures and tremendous winds that are generated in a raging chaparral fire. 
Hardly any house can withstand direct exposure to such a storm. Wildland fires usually pass by fast 
and furiously. Typically, they’re controllable only when the wind dies out or they run out of fuel. 
If you reduce the amount of combustible brush around your house, you have taken the first step to 
preventing disaster. 

The success over the 2008 Santa Anita fire that occurred six years ago this month was no accident. 
The Fire Department put up a good fight; however, we could not have done it without the help of 
the homeowners who gave us a “fighting chance” by maintaining proper brush clearance around 
their homes. 

Each year, The Sierra Madre Fire Department works with the residents in the foothills to help 
provide that “fighting chance” that is desperately needed to prevent a disastrous fire. This is done 
through an aggressive brush management program and by educating the residents on what to do 
before, during, and after a brush fire. 

Here is a list of the brush clearance requirements that you can use to protect your home: 

· 
Maintain the first 30 feet around any structure free of native brush and hazardous vegetation. 
· 
Aggressively thin and trim the vegetation 30 to 100 feet around any structure. 
· 
Remove dead branches from trees and keep all braches 6 feet off the ground. 
· 
Clear vegetation 10 feet from roadways. 
· 
Remove tree limbs that are within 10 feet of a chimney outlet. 
· 
Maintain 5 feet of vertical clearance between your roof and overhanging vegetation. 
· 
Keep all roof surfaces clear of dead leaves and twigs. 
· 
Post your street number on your house so it is visible from the street. 

In Sierra Madre, we have a conscientious community of educated, resourceful and dedicated citizens 
concerned about fire prevention. The need for fire prevention needs to be known. You can help us 
combat urban wildfire in your neighborhood, but you must start around your own home. 

This year’s Brush Inspections will begin mid-May. 

Working together, we can accomplish a common goal; abatement of hazardous vegetation. If you 
have any questions, or would like additional information, please contact the Sierra Madre Fire 
Prevention Bureau at 355-3611. 

NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING 
MAY 22, 2014, 6:00 P.M.
SIERRA MADRE CITY HALL 


City staff and Heritage Housing Partners (HHP) are hosting a Neighborhood 
meeting regarding preliminary plans to adaptively reuse the former Gloria Dei 
Lutheran Church building at 186 W. Highland Avenue into three affordable/workforce 
housing units. 

In June of 2013, the City of Sierra Madre entered into an agreement with HHP, 
a non-profit affordable housing development company, to explore development 
of the existing building as “for-purchase workforce housing”. HHP specializes in 
preservation and neighborhood revitalization and the development of affordable 
housing options for first-time home buyers. City staff and HHP will present preliminary 
plans and would like to receive input and feedback from neighbors and 
other interested community members at this meeting. We encourage all interested 
persons to attend. 

If you have any questions about this project, please contact Danny Castro, Director 
of Development Services at 626.355.7138. 

JOIN THE CITY TEAM – APPLY TO BE A CITY COMMISSIONER 
TODAY -We want you to be a part of our City Team! 

The Sierra Madre City Council encourages citizen participation in its decision-making process through 
the use of citizen commissions. Currently, there are five citizen commissions established by the Council 
to advise and assist them in dealing with specific problems. 

Applications to serve on a commission may be obtained at City Hall or the City website at http:// 
cityofsierramadre.com/commissions-boards-committees. Applications will be accepted until all positions 
are filled; however, it is recommended that applications for appointment for the beginning of the 20142015 
fiscal year be submitted by Friday, May 23, 2014 to the City Manager’s Office. There are currently 
vacancies on the following commissions: 

COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION 
The Community Services Commission is responsible for overseeing the City’s recreation and community 
services programs. The Commission oversees the general use of park facilities and matters relating 
to the community’s arts and recreational service needs. The Commission provides information and 
recommendations to the City Council in these areas. Meets the 3rd Monday at 6:30 pm, in the City Hall 
Council Chambers 

LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES 
The responsibilities of the Library Board include the following: establishing Library policies and programs 
to ensure that quality programs are provided to the community, recommending an annual budget to the 
City Council for approval, and ensuring that efficient and effective services are provided at the Library. 
Meets the 4th Wednesday at 7:00 pm, in the City Hall Council Chambers 

PLANNING COMMISSION 
The responsibilities of the Planning Commission fall into two broad categories: consideration of current 
land-use (i.e. applications for General Plan amendments, zone changes, specific plans, conditional use 
permits, tract maps, variances, and appeals of staff land-use decisions); and advising the City Council on 
City initiated amendments to the City’s General Plan. Meets the 1st and 3rd Thursday at 7:00 pm, in the 
City Hall Council Chambers 

The advisory bodies study a variety of topics in detail. After gathering all pertinent information, hearing 
arguments, and weighing values, they recommend to the Council what they consider the best action to 
take. In certain situations, commissions are empowered to make specific decisions, subject to appeal to 
the Council. Public notices on all commissions are prepared in compliance of the Maddy Act. 

For more information please visit www.cityofsierramadre.com or call 626.355.7135.