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 in the city;

B. Petaluma generally has a climate conducive to wildfires and is prone to periodic dry conditions and wind events. Many of Petaluma’s native and nonnative plant species can be highly flammable during normal dry periods and have contributed to significant wildfires within the county. Increasingly dry conditions and severe wind events further exacerbate the fire danger and have resulted in catastrophic fire losses to life, property and the environment;

C. Petaluma has a diverse and complex landscape which includes mountainous areas or forest-covered lands, brush-covered lands, grass-covered lands, and other brush-covered wildlands which are home to many rare and sensitive plant and animal species;

D. Of paramount importance to the city council and the residents of Petaluma is the protection of lives and property from the threat of fire and the safety of fire and law enforcement personnel during wildfires;

E. 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 residents of Petaluma while at the same time protecting rare and sensitive plant and animal species and the environment;

F. 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 Petaluma for the reasons set forth above. Therefore, all hazardous vegetation or combustible material located on real property within Petaluma 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.