To: Board of Supervisors
From: Public Works
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Authorization for the Humboldt County Department of Public Works to Accept and Administer Funding Made Available through the 2019 Grants Clearinghouse Fire Prevention Program and Approval of the Associated Supplemental Budget (4/5 Vote Required)
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Authorize the Humboldt County Public Works Director, or a designee thereof, to execute a state standard agreement and any other documents, including, without limitation, professional services agreements, necessary to accept and administer funding made available through the 2019 Grants Clearinghouse Fire Prevention Program; and
2. Approve, and direct the Humboldt County Auditor-Controller to process, the attached supplemental budget request regarding the Phase II Part II: Humboldt County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (“CWPP”) Implementation project (4/5 vote required).
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Department of Public Works - Natural Resources Planning (1720 289), United Sates Forest Service (“USFS”) Cooperative Fire Program, State Fire Assistance and Tree Mortality grant; awarded through the California Fire Safe Council’s 2019 Grants Clearinghouse Fire Prevention Program
DISCUSSION:
In June of 2019, the County of Humboldt, by and through its Department of Public Works - Natural Resources Planning, submitted an application to the 2019 Grants Clearinghouse Fire Prevention Program. In August of 2019, the county’s application was selected for funding. Staff is now requesting that the Board authorize the Humboldt County Public Works Director, or a designee thereof, to accept and administer an award of Fifty Thousand Six Hundred Dollars ($50,600.00) to fund the implementation of the Phase II Part II: CWPP Implementation project.
The Phase II Part II: CWPP Implementation project is designed to kick off the implementation of the recently updated CWPP, with a burst of activity. The CWPP update, completed in early 2019, represents Phase I of the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council’s (“HCFSC”) increased focus on preparing local communities for wildfire. The Phase II Part II - CWPP Implementation Project will expand upon the scope of the Phase II CWPP Implementation Project funded through a recently awarded California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (“CAL FIRE”) grant. The CAL FIRE grant has been leveraged as a match to this federally funded award. These two (2) sources of funding will be combined to support this important work; using the recently updated CWPP as an action guide.
With support from these funds, “Chipper Days” will be hosted in select communities throughout Humboldt County. Staff will work closely with established community points of contact to plan each event. In addition, defensible space assistance will be provided for a select number of elderly, disabled and/or low-income residents. Homes will also be selected based on their suitability as model defensible space projects (visibility, proximity to other homes, etc.). Staff will work with community points of contact and/or local HCFSC members to identify candidates. Lastly, an additional and important goal of this project is to assist two (2) communities with the process of preparing and submitting an application to be recognized as a National Firewise site.
Accordingly, staff recommends that the Board authorize the Humboldt County Public Works Director, or a designee thereof, to execute a state standard agreement and any other documents necessary to accept and administer funding made available through the 2019 Grants Clearinghouse Fire Prevention Program.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Acceptance of the funding made available through the 2019 Grants Clearinghouse Fire Prevention Program will bring Fifty Thousand Six Hundred Dollars ($50,600.00) of federal funding into Humboldt County to support continued work to reduce the vulnerability of our rural communities to damage from wildfire. The recommended supplemental budget for the 2019-2020 fiscal year will increase appropriations in the Public Works budget for the USFS Clearinghouse Grant Fire by Fifty Thousand Six Hundred Dollars ($50,600.00) (revenue account 1720289-505105).
Federal grant funds will be matched by Fifty Thousand Six Hundred Dollars ($50,600.00) of in-kind contributions from local partners, CAL FIRE and the County of Humboldt. The Forty-Eight Thousand One Hundred Dollars ($48,100.00) grant match commitment from the county is already budgeted for in the approved fiscal year 2019-2020 Natural Resources Planning budget, “Revenue from CAL FIRE” (1720289-805500). An additional in-kind match contribution has been committed from the CAL FIRE Humboldt-Del Norte Unit in the amount of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00). As a result, acceptance of the funding made available through the 2019 Grants Clearinghouse Fire Prevention Program will not impact the county General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
The recommended actions support the Board of Supervisors Strategic Framework by creating opportunities for improved safety and health.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Humboldt County Fire Safe Council and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board of Supervisors may choose not to accept the funding made available through the 2019 Grants Clearinghouse Fire Prevention Program. However, this alternative is not recommended because of the community fire safety benefits that will be gained from implementation of the Phase II Part II: CWPP Implementation project.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. California Fire Safe Council Grants Clearinghouse Proposal
2. California Fire Safe Council 2019 Grant Award Announcements
3. Supplemental Budgets Request Regarding the Phase II Part II: CWPP Implementation Project
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: E-4; C-4, C-13; D-14, C-20
Meeting of: February 10, 2009; December 13, 2011; January 21, 2014; December 18, 2018, January 8, 2019
File No.: 18-1637, 18-1665