To: Board of Supervisors
From: Sheriff
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Supplemental Budget for Public Safety Power Shut-Off (PSPS) State Funding budget unit 1100-221801 (4/5 Vote Required)
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the supplemental budget for fiscal year (FY) 2019-20 for PSPS State Funding (Attachment 1) (4/5 vote required); and
2. Delegate authority to the Auditor/Controller's Office and County Administrator's Office (CAO) to approve budget transfer requests to create fixed assets for the PSPS Funding budget unit 1100-221801 up to $50,000.00 for equipment and up to $100,000.00 for building improvements that meet the eligibility criteria for the PSPS Funding (see attachment 2).
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
State of California
DISCUSSION:
Investor-owned utilities (IOUs) have significantly increased the use of Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) on their energized power lines to prevent wildfires during high wind or other severe weather events. Governor Newsom and the State Legislature included $75 million one-time General Fund in the 2019 Budget Act to support state and local government efforts. This funding is targeted at protecting public safety, vulnerable populations and to improving resiliency in response to utility-led PSPS actions. The County of Humboldt was allocated $384,912.00 to support equipment purchases and to improve local preparedness and response for PSPS events.
The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Services (OES) has received the funding and is responsible for managing the expenditures and reporting back to the state. OES has met with county stakeholders to begin the process of identifying the priority projects for this funding.
OES is requesting a supplemental budget to make the funds available to contract with engineers and electricians to assess the needs of the county for emergency power back-up. OES will continue to meet with county stakehold...
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