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 updated Protocol for Board of Supervisors Appointments dated Jan. 30, 2024, the Fire Safe Council is listed on Exhibit 1 of Attachment B, therefore it is excluded from the “at large” appointment protocol.
The Six Rivers National Forest has recommended that Jacqueline Olivera replace Benjamin Hendricks as the representative filling their primary seat on the council. Hendricks was appointed in May of 2022 as a non-voting advisor and is now moving on to other duties. Additionally, the Six Rivers National Forest has also recommended Britany Patterson to serve as their alternate representative.
Lastly, the Humboldt County Sheriff has recommended Lieutenant Josh McCall to replace Ryan Derby as the representative filling the Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services’ seat on the council. Derby was appointed in February of 2020, was an active member, and has now transitioned to a new position outside of Humboldt County.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Grant Funds
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Coordination of the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council 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 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 over $64 million dollars of local, state and federal funding to support implementation projects countywide.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Six Rivers National Forest
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Board discretion
ATTACHMENTS:
Recommendation Letters
Letter of Appreciation - Benjamin Hendricks
Letter of Appreciation - Ryan Derby
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A