To: Board of Supervisors
From: Clerk of the Board
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Humboldt County Fire Safe Council Committee Five-Year Extension and Membership Expansion
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Review a staff report and associated supporting documents regarding a proposal to extend the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council committee for five years and appoint new Humboldt County Fire Safe Council members; and
2. Adopt the attached resolution extending the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council committee and expanding the membership thereof.
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STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Safe & Healthy Communities
Strategic Plan Category: 1001 -Support and sustain partnerships between public safety and partner agencies to enhance public safety in our communities
DISCUSSION:
The Humboldt County Fire Safe Council was formed as a Board appointed committee in November 2002 to oversee the preparation of a countywide fire plan, which is now referred to as the Humboldt County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). Since its initial formation, this committee has been extended and expanded by Board resolution multiple times so that the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council could continue to guide the maintenance and implementation of the countywide CWPP. The Board last extended the term of the council on Oct. 5, 2021, with the adoption of Resolution No. 21-101. The current term of the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council will end on Oct. 5, 2026.
The Humboldt County Fire Safe Council has proven to be an invaluable countywide resource as strategies are developed and funding is sought to carry out the recommendations of the CWPP. The current CWPP, last updated in 2019 with guidance from the council, has been praised for its comprehensiveness and has been a powerful tool for community fire planning. The plan has been used to leverage funding and catalyze support. The County of Humboldt is currently administering a grant from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to update the 2019 countywide CWPP and the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council is providing invaluable guidance as the update process moves forward. The CWPP update is expected to be completed in 2028. To ensure continuity and capture institutional knowledge, extending the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council for five more years is recommended.
Its membership consists of individuals representing a variety of groups actively engaged in wildfire resilience fields including fire service, emergency preparedness, research, prescribed fire, forestry and more. While representation of these groups generally remains constant, Humboldt County Fire Safe Council members change over time as members move on to other positions and new partners emerge. Recommended changes to the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council resolution and new member nominations are described below and in the attachments.
The proposed resolution (Attachment 1) requests a five-year term extension for the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council and an expanded membership, and shall, if adopted, supersede any and all prior versions thereof as of the effective date of this action. The proposed resolution includes recommendations to expand the membership of the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council to include one new seat for the North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District. This action will bring the total number of members up to 24; 21 voting members and three nonvoting member advisors.
Contingent upon the approval of the resolution, staff requests the Board’s consideration of nominees for the proposed North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District seat. Kacy Tuel, Burn Program Coordinator and Winslow Condon, Deputy Air Pollution Control Officer have been nominated as primary and alternate members, respectively (Attachment 2).
The above recommendations were discussed with and supported by the current members of the
Humboldt County Fire Safe Council at its Aug. 13, 2026, meeting. Accordingly, staff now recommend that the Board adopt the attached resolution, as amended, to extend the term of the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council for an additional five years and expand the membership.
Per the Board of Supervisors Protocol dated June 20, 2017, the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council is included in Exhibit 1 of said protocol and is an exception to the appointment protocol requiring only one agenda item under “Consent” before the Board which can be brought by the Clerk of the Board as recommended by the council.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
California Fire Safe Council and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Grant Funds
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Coordination of the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council committee is currently provided by Public Works Natural Resources Planning staff and a team of consultants; funded by a County Coordinator grant awarded by the California Fire Safe Council with funding from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Budget Unit 1720-289). This action will not have an impact on the Humboldt County General Fund.
Maintaining the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council gives the County of Humboldt and partner agencies and organizations a competitive advantage when seeking grant funds related to implementing the Humboldt County Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The Humboldt County Fire Safe Council has proven to be an invaluable resource for the county as strategies are developed, and funding is sought to carry out the recommendations of the Humboldt County Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
STAFFING IMPACT:
The recommended action is not expected to increase staff workloads.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Members of the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Board discretion
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution Renewing the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council
2. Nomination Letters
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: Oct. 5, 2021
File No.: 21-1414