To: Board of Supervisors
From: Clerk of the Board
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Appoint New Members to the Humboldt Fire Safe Council
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the recommended appointments to the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council.
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund
DISCUSSION:
The Humboldt County Fire Safe Council (HCFSC) was formed by the Board of Supervisors as a County committee in 2002. The committee is currently enabled through Oct. 5, 2026 by Resolution No. 21-101. Per the Board of Supervisors updated Protocol for Board of Supervisors Appointments dated Feb. 7, 2023, the Fire Safe Council is listed on Exhibit 1 of Attachment B so therefore is excluded from the “At Large” appointment protocol.
The Humboldt County Resource Conservation District (HRCD) is seeking to update their alternate member on the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council following a staff transition. The HCRCD nominated Project Coordinator, Katrina Henderson as their new alternate on the HCFSC. In Addition, the Humboldt County Fire Chiefs’ Association wished to change its primary member to Humboldt Bay Fire Chief, Sean Robertson. Lastly, California State Parks has nominated, Forester, Ross Mathewson as their primary member and Forestry Aid, Allan Wiegman as their alternate. Nomination letters can be found in Attachment 1.
All appointed members will be required to comply with the California Fair Political Practices Form 700 requirements as well as completing the AB1234 Ethics training every 2 years.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Coordination of the HCFSC committee is currently provided by Public Works Natural Resource Planning Staff and a team of consultants; funded by a 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 HCFSC 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 (CWPP). The HCFSC 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 CWPP. The current CWPP, last updated in 2019 with guidance from the HCFSC, has been praised for its comprehensiveness and has been a powerful tool for leveraging funding and catalyzing support.
Since its re-certification in 2019, the CWPP has been cited in multiple county and collaborator grant applications, playing a part in bringing millions of dollars of implementation funds into the county. Public Works alone has secured over $3 million in grant funding to support CWPP implementation projects.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Framework.
Core Roles: Protect vulnerable populations
New Initiatives: Build interjurisdictional and regional cooperation
Strategic Plan: N/A
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Humboldt County Resource Conservation District, Humboldt County Fire Chiefs Association, Humboldt Redwoods State Park
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
None
ATTACHMENTS:
Nomination Letters
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A