Two years after an audit called for significant changes in how San Diego manages brush on city land to prevent wildfires, city officials report that progress has stalled.
The audit highlighted that the city’s brush management practices are poorly coordinated and lack comprehensiveness, prompting recommendations for reform.
However, officials attribute their inaction to ongoing bureaucracy and a budget crisis.
Despite hopes that destructive wildfires across Los Angeles this winter would motivate San Diego to act, city officials confirmed that efforts remain at a standstill.
One major recommendation yet to be implemented is the proactive monitoring and inspection of brush on city-owned land in high-risk areas, a task designated for the Fire-Rescue Department.
Deputy Fire Chief Tony Tosca explained to the City Council’s Audit Committee that progress was hindered by the former chief operating officer’s failure to establish an administrative rule that would facilitate collaboration between fire officials and other city departments as urged by the audit.
“The administrative regulation would give the Fire-Rescue Department the authority to enforce regulations when needed,” Tosca noted.
Without this key guidance, he added, the department cannot effectively proceed with the implementation of the proposed policies.
The previous chief operating officer, Eric Dargan, was let go this winter, having been in position for over 18 months since the audit’s release in July 2023, leaving Mayor Todd Gloria to take on those duties.
In addition to the requirement for more oversight, Fire officials have yet to act on another critical recommendation: to expand their workforce for brush management responsibilities across the city.
The department has identified a need for five new positions, including a newly created role titled “wildfire prevention specialist,” and has sought funding to make these hires.
Currently, no personnel in the Fire-Rescue Department possesses a specialized background in brush management, which requires a distinct approach compared to traditional firefighting.
Despite the department’s requests to include funding for these positions in the draft budget released last week by Mayor Gloria for the fiscal year beginning July 1, the proposal was denied.
“We have the software, we have all the acreage — everything we need — prepared. We’ll just need to have the funding of those positions,” Tosca stated.
He expressed that while the department is striving to improve with existing staff, they face significant limitations without additional personnel.
City Auditor Andy Hanau emphasized that taking the lead on brush management is a priority for fire officials, characterizing it as standard practice in other municipalities.
He suggested that this issue should be revisited during the upcoming budget discussions between the mayor and city council.
Meanwhile, the Parks and Recreation Department has made some headway in implementing some of the audit’s recommendations.
The department has successfully conducted meetings with various departments to consolidate brush management efforts and evaluate contractors previously engaged in such work.
However, three primary tasks outlined in the audit remain incomplete.
These tasks include the departmental takeover of brush management from other city departments, managing brush on “paper streets,” and assessing the staffing needs necessary for these responsibilities.
Deputy Director Erika Ferreira reported that the department had reached a special agreement with the Transportation Department regarding management of paper streets, yet funding for the required staff was rejected a year ago during budget negotiations.
This year, due to projected deficits, officials chose not to request funding again.
Ferreira mentioned that they would aim to make a request for additional resources in FY27 if deemed necessary in the next fiscal year budget negotiations, which are set to occur in spring 2026.
She noted that the Parks Department has positively concluded discussions for consolidating brush management across city departments that operate land with brush, including departments such as transportation, economic development, police, fire-rescue, and libraries.
However, Ferreira did not mention public utilities, another department with significant land holdings, which could potentially impact brush management efforts.
Despite these developments, Ferreira acknowledged that adequate staffing and funding are critical to effectively carry out the brush management tasks planned by the Parks Department.
At present, she indicated, the department finds itself at an impasse regarding the audit’s recommendations.
Ferreira did share some encouraging news with the Audit Committee concerning the recent release of new fire severity zone maps by CalFire.
“The changes in the fire severity zone maps do not impact or increase the city’s brush management acreage,” she said, ensuring that all relevant city property and areas within 100 feet of habitable structures are included in the current brush management assessments.
Councilmember Vivian Moreno, who chairs the Audit Committee, expressed disappointment that parks officials did not prioritize a formal funding request to the mayor for the additional staffing required for effective brush management.
“I believe there is a responsibility that we have to let the mayor know on paper, ‘Hey, this is what we actually need,’” Moreno remarked.
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