To: Board of Supervisors
From: Clerk of the Board
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Appointments to the Humboldt County 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:
Grant 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 October 5, 2026 by Resolution No. 21-101. Per the Board of Supervisors updated Protocol for Board of Supervisors Appointments dated March 23, 2021, the Fire Safe Council is listed on Exhibit 1 of Attachment B so therefore is excluded from the “At Large” appointment protocol.
The Willow Creek Fire Safe Council (WCFSC) is seeking to update their alternate member on the HCFSC and is nominating Olivia Lopes. Olivia, who is affiliated with both the WCFSC and the Willow Creek Volunteer Fire Department/Fire Protection District, will replace outgoing alternate Gina Moon who has served in the position since August 9, 2022. Further, Green Diamond Resource Company is nominating Professional Forester, Reid Cody to replace Brita Goldstein as the alternate representative in the Timber Industry seat on the HCFSC. Brita was appointed in October of 2021 and is now transitioning to other duties. The Southern Humboldt Fire Chiefs’ Association is adding an alternate representative and selected Telegraph Ridge Fire Chief, Peter Lawsky as their nominee. In addition, Supervisor Rex Bohn is nominating Sara Vroom, Mattole Restoration Council Executive Director, as his appointed alternate, representing the first Supervisorial District. Lastly, Supervisor Michelle Bushnell is nominating Anna Rogers, Education, Development and Administrative Director of Sanctuary Forest, as her appointee for the Second District. Anna will be filling the seat vacated by Kai Ostrow who recently stepped down after over eight years of active service on the Council. Nomination letters can be found in Attachments.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Coordination of the HCFSC committee is currently provided by Public Works Natural Resources 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 leveraging over $65 million dollars of local, state, and federal funding to support implementation projects countywide.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Framework.
Core Roles: Create opportunities for improved safety and health
New Initiatives: Provide community-appropriate levels of service
Strategic Plan: 4.1 - Identify synergies between all county departments and cities to increase efficiency and effectiveness
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Humboldt County Fire Chiefs’ Association, Green Diamond Resource Company, Willow Creek Fire Safe Council, Mattole Restoration Council, and Sanctuary Forest.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Board discretion
ATTACHMENTS:
Nomination Letters
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A