San Diego Urged to Revamp Flammable Brush Management

News Summary

San Diego is under pressure to improve flammable brush management practices as wildfire risks increase. An audit revealed significant deficiencies, leading to concerns among city officials and residents. Despite majority support for increased funding, Mayor Gloria’s proposed budget does not address these urgent needs. Community members are advocating for a cohesive management plan amid ongoing budget negotiations, emphasizing the risk of unmanaged brush in high-risk areas and the necessity of additional fire safety staffing.

San Diego is facing an urgent need for an overhaul of its flammable brush management practices as wildfire risks continue to rise in the region. Ongoing budget negotiations between Mayor Todd Gloria and the City Council have left funding for enhanced brush management on city land in jeopardy. A recent audit revealed significant shortcomings in San Diego’s brush management, indicating that current efforts are poorly coordinated and incomplete. This situation has prompted council members to voice their frustration over the lack of meaningful actions taken by the city following the audit’s recommendations.

The need for improved brush management has become increasingly evident following recent devastating wildfires in neighboring Los Angeles. San Diego officials are carefully reassessing their approach to managing flammable brush, particularly in high-risk areas. While council members have expressed a clear majority support for increased funding, the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year does not allocate the necessary resources for brush management.

In light of the audit’s findings, which recommended that the Fire-Rescue Department should proactively monitor and inspect high-risk brush areas, city officials have recognized the need for additional staffing. The Fire-Rescue Department has requested five new positions, which include a “wildfire prevention specialist,” with an estimated annual cost of $1.1 million. However, Mayor Gloria did not include these positions in the proposed budget, as well as failing to address the need for overdue fire inspections due to the city’s estimated $350 million budget deficit. This deficit has led to funding cuts across various sectors, impacting even community services such as libraries and recreation centers.

Mayor Gloria’s aides have communicated that due to financial constraints, brush management has been deprioritized in favor of addressing other critical needs within the city. Currently, fire crews continue inspections of private properties near canyons, having evaluated approximately 46,000 parcels last year as part of ongoing brush management efforts. In addition to these evaluations, the city is exploring potential funding solutions, including state grants and increased parks user fees, to support brush management initiatives.

While the Parks Department is collaborating with community members to encourage voluntary brush management on city land, concerns over unregulated efforts have been raised. The city council is scheduled to finalize the budget on June 10, 2025, which will further determine the future of brush management funding. Council members, including Council President Joe LaCava and Councilmember Vivian Moreno, are advocating for prioritization of brush management in the budget discussions, particularly in light of the heightened fire risks reflected in the audit.

The Parks and Recreation Department has made partial progress in implementing the audit’s recommendations but continues to face setbacks due to a lack of staffing. There have been no recent funding requests for additional staff from the Parks Department, which presents challenges to achieving fully coordinated brush management efforts. Community concerns have intensified, particularly among residents in areas such as Scripps Ranch, where unmanaged brush and eucalyptus trees are viewed as potential fire hazards.

Local residents are calling for a cohesive brush management plan that incorporates collaboration across local, state, federal officials, and private property owners. Furthermore, there are proposals for constructing a new fire station in Scripps Ranch to enhance fire protection; however, that project is currently stalled due to budget constraints. With increasing fire threats, the San Diego City Council faces pressure to take decisive actions regarding brush management as they finalize budget allocations in the upcoming weeks.

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Additional Resources

• San Diego Union-Tribune: Council Members Want Money in the Budget for Brush Management
• NBC San Diego: City Audit Raises Concerns About Brush Management
• Times of San Diego: How San Diego Residents Can Reduce Wildfire Risks
• Fox 5 San Diego: Scripps Ranch Residents Concerned About Fire Risks in Open Spaces
• 10 News: Goats Graze Dry Brush to Limit Fire Risk
• Wikipedia: Wildfire Management
• Google Search: Brush Management California
• Google Scholar: Brush Management Wildfires
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Wildfire
• Google News: San Diego Fire Management