HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/7/2025 Item 8a, Bennett (2)
Tim Bennett <
To:E-mail Council Website; Tuggle, Todd
Cc:Stewart, Erica A; Jay & Connie Walter
Subject:October 7-Study Session - 8a
(October 7-Study Session - 8a)
Good afternoon, Chief Tuggle…
We met last month when you and your team were kind enough to sit with my Castillo neighbor, Jay
Walter, and me, and hear our concerns.
I’ve lived near Prefumo Canyon for over 25 years. First, at the top, where I built a home, and now at the
bottom, where I still ride my bike up the canyon several times a week. I know that area quite well.
CAL FIRE’s new 2025 map now puts our neighborhood in a High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. A few years
back, the City/County cleared dead brush and trees from the bottom to the top of Prefumo, and it really
helped.
With this new “high risk” label, what does the City (and County) plan to do in the next year for our area?
Here’s what neighbors like me are hoping for:
Keep and extend the cleared buffer along the Irish Hills/Prefumo edge—basically a wider, well-
maintained strip with less dense brush.
Thin the thick chaparral and small growth just behind homes where a small fire could climb into
the trees.
Make sure Prefumo and side streets are kept clear for evacuation and fire trucks (about 20
feet wide and 14 feet high).
Set a regular schedule for grazing or mechanical clearing so it doesn’t all grow back after one
season.
Hold a short neighborhood meeting with a simple map, timeline, and a single point of contact.
Share any homeowner help—rebates or assistance for vents, roofing, and defensible space,
especially for seniors and people with disabilities.
Could you share a plain-English summary of the work, a simple map of where it will happen, how it’s
funded (e.g., CAL FIRE or state grants like AB-100/Prop 4), and when it starts? I’m happy to help get the
word out on our block.
I appreciate your interest and the work you’ve already done out here! We’re still hoping to schedule a
meeting with Joe Little on Castillo Court to make our community a FireWise one.
Tim Bennett
1930 Castillo Court
1
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
312.804.1099 - c
P.S. This note above is in addition to the two short notes I sent last week, which are shown below. I
promise no more!
1) Since upgrades to existing homes, like the removal of flammable trees in close proximity to
residences, will be costly, are there any reimbursements or recommendations for lower-cost
contractors? (During Jay Walter’s & my meeting with the Fire Chief and his team last month, they
discussed trying to find contractors who might provide discounts for getting more referrals.)
2) What deadlines for existing homes in the new high-severity zone are you contemplating for the
commencement of ordinances & fines so we have time to plan and pay for? I recall 2029?
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