To: Board of Supervisors
From: Public Works
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
SUBJECT:
title
Authorization for the Humboldt County Department of Public Works to Accept and Administer $167,900 in Grant Funding Made Available Through the California Fire Safe Council 2025 State Fire Capacity Program, Approval of the Associated Supplemental Budget and Authorization for the Auditor-Controller to Create an Interest-Bearing Account (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 grant agreement with the California Fire Safe Council and any other documents, including, without limitation, professional services agreements, necessary to accept and administer funding made available through the County Coordinator Grant Program following applicable review from County Counsel, County Administrative Office, and Risk Management; and
2. Approve, and authorize the Humboldt County Auditor-Controller to post the attached supplemental budget request (Attachment 1) and make technical corrections as needed; and (4/5 Vote Required)
3. Authorize the Humboldt County Auditor-Controller to establish an interest-bearing trust account and/or fund for advance payments of grant funds.
Body
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 California Fire Safe Council (CFSC) has awarded the County of Humboldt, by and through its Department of Public Works - Natural Resources Planning (NRP), a 2025 State Fire Capacity Program Grant, in the amount of $167,900.00. The associated application, the submittal of which was approved by the County Administrative Office on August 14, 2025, can be found in Attachment 2.
The “CWPP Connect: Tools for Turning Plans into Action” project is designed to bridge the gap between planning and implementation by equipping local partners with practical guidance, Geographic Information System (GIS) tools, and data-backed guidance that enable participation in Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) priority project development and implementation, especially in areas with limited organizational capacity or spatial expertise. The project would complement and build upon the ongoing effort to update the countywide CWPP as part of a separate grant funded by CAL FIRE. The CWPP update will include new analyses and spatial planning tools for which guidance tailored to specific user groups will facilitate application of this data to wildfire risk reduction projects. Managing this project is consistent with NRP staff’s role in facilitating the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council (HCFSC), the Board-appointed committee that provides guidance for CWPP maintenance and implementation.
Staff now request that the Board authorize the Humboldt County Public Works Director, or a designee thereof, to accept these grant funds, approve the supplemental budget, and authorize the Auditor-Controller to create an interest-bearing account.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
California Fire Safe Council’s 2025 State Fire Capacity Program with funding provided from the Cooperative Fire Program of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Department of Agriculture, Pacific Southwest Region.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
|
Expenditures (1720289) |
FY25-26 |
FY26-27 Projected* |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$75,000.00 |
$92,900.00 |
|
Total Expenditures |
$75,000.00 |
$92,900.00 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
|
Funding Sources (1720289) |
FY25-26 |
FY26-27 Projected* |
|
State/Federal Funds |
$75,000.00 |
$92,900.00 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$75,000.00 |
$92,900.00 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
Narrative Explanation of Financial Impact:
Acceptance of the funding made available through the County Coordinator Grant Program and approval of the attached supplemental budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year will increase appropriations in the Public Works budget unit 1720289 by $167,900.00 and bring federal funding into Humboldt County to support continued work to reduce the vulnerability of rural communities to damage from wildfire.
The expense of preparing this agenda item and other associated administrative tasks is covered by other the County Coordinator grant already budgeted for in the Natural Resources Planning budget unit 1720289.
Matching funds are being provided from the CAL FIRE Prevention grant funding the CWPP update mentioned above ($177,960.00), the CFSC Round 3 County Coordinator grant funding NRP coordination of wildfire mitigation efforts ($50,000.00), and matching funds committed by the Humboldt County Resource Conservation District ($25,000.00). The matching funds are budgeted in Natural Resources Planning 1720289 budget in FY 25-26.
STAFFING IMPACT:
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impact:
This new multiyear grant revenue will help maintain current Department of Public Works - Natural Resources Planning staffing levels. Activities planned through this funding will complement and expand upon existing programs currently funded through other grants, some of which will be expiring during the term of this new grant. The workload will be adjusted as needed among current staff and monitored on an ongoing basis. The need for additional personnel is not projected.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Humboldt County Fire Safe Council and the California Fire Safe Council.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board of Supervisors may choose not to accept the funding made available through the 2025 State Fire Capacity Program. However, this alternative is not recommended because of the community fire safety benefits that will be gained from implementation of the CWPP Connect: Tools for Turning Plans into Action Project.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Supplemental Budget Request Regarding State Fire Capacity Award
2. CWPP Connect: Tools for Turning Plans into Action Application
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A