To: Board of Supervisors
From: Clerk of the Board
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
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Appoint New Members to the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council and Letters of Appreciation for Outgoing Members
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the recommended appointments to the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council; and
2. Authorize the Chair to sign letters of appreciation for the outgoing Humboldt County Fire Safe Council members.
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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 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 Jan. 30, 2024, the Fire Safe Council is listed on Exhibit 1 of Attachment B, therefore is excluded from the “at large” appointment protocol.
The CAL FIRE Humboldt-Del Norte Unit would like to nominate Assistant Chief Sean Wilson to replace Chief Chris Ramey as their primary representative on the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council. In addition, the unit would like to nominate Fire Captain Garrett Gregory as a second alternate representative to ensure CAL FIRE maintains consistent representation and participation in Humboldt County Fire Safe Council activities. Captain Gregory’s appointment is to serve as a replacement for Jason Butcher, former CAL FIRE Humboldt-Del Norte SRA Forester.
Chief Ramey was appointed to the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council in 2016 and served as an invaluable resource during the development of the 2019 Countywide Community Wildfire Protection Plan. As vice-chair of the Fire Safe Council, Ramey provided exceptional leadership and guidance, and his dedication, expertise and commitment to advancing wildfire resilience throughout Humboldt County will be greatly missed.
Jason Butcher was appointed to the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council in 2016 and served as an outstanding technical resource during the development of the 2019 Countywide Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Butcher also provided significant expertise and guidance to Countywide Community Wildfire Protection Plan implementation partners as wildfire resilience projects were planned, funded and implemented throughout Humboldt County. His dedication, technical knowledge, and commitment to strengthening wildfire resilience will be greatly missed.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
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. The current plan, last updated in 2019 with guidance from the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council, 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 Humboldt County Community Wildfire Protection Plan has been cited in multiple county and collaborator grant applications, playing a part in leveraging nearly $65 million dollars of local, state and federal funding to support implementation projects countywide.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
CAL FIRE Humboldt-Del Norte Unit
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Board discretion
ATTACHMENTS:
Nomination Letter
Letter of Appreciation for Jason Butcher
Letter of Appreciation for Chris Ramey
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A