To: Board of Supervisors
From: Public Works
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Authorization for the Humboldt County Department of Public Works to Accept and Administer Funding Made Available through the 2018 Grants Clearinghouse Fire Prevention Program and Approval of the Associated Supplemental Budget (4/5 Vote Required)
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Authorize the Humboldt County Public Works Director, or a designee thereof, to execute a state standard agreement and any other documents, including, without limitation, professional services agreements, necessary to accept and administer funding made available through the 2018 Grants Clearinghouse Fire Prevention Program; and
2. Direct the Humboldt County Auditor-Controller to supplement the following budget (4/5 vote required):
Revenue: 1720289-505105 USFS Clearinghouse Grant Fire $55,000.00
Expense: 1720289- 3114 USFS Clearinghouse Grant Fire $55,000.00
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
United States Forest Service (USFS) Cooperative Fire Program, State Fire Assistance and Tree Mortality Grant; awarded through the California Fire Safe Council’s 2018 Grants Clearinghouse Fire Prevention Program
DISCUSSION:
In August of 2018, the County of Humboldt, by and through its Department of Public Works - Natural Resources Planning, submitted an application to the 2018 Grants Clearinghouse Fire Prevention Program. In December of 2018, the county’s application was selected for funding. Staff is now requesting that the Board authorize the Humboldt County Public Works Director, or a designee thereof to accept and administer an award of Fifty-Five Thousand Dollars ($55,000.00) to fund the implementation of the Restoration of Beneficial Fire 2018 project.
The Restoration of Beneficial Fire 2018 Project represents implementation of the Humboldt County Community Wildfire Protection Plan, Restoration of Beneficial Fire Action Plan which directs the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council (HCFSC) to work with the Humboldt County Prescribed Burn Association (HCPBA), among others, to enhance education around, and increase implementation of, prescribed burning on private land. Over the last year, University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) staff, in collaboration with private landowners, volunteer fire departments (VFD), local non-governmental organizations and federal and state agency partners, has worked to build the HCPBA. This group has safely and successfully burned hundreds of acres, achieving multiple benefits. Through this current round of funding, Natural Resources Planning staff, under the guidance of the HCFSC, will collaborate with the UCCE to increase prescribed fire training and capacity building. The program will be carried out countywide, with a focus on Southern Humboldt in particular. A contracted Southern Humboldt liaison will be hired to facilitate the goals of the program in that region from the USFS Clearinghouse Grant Fire.
Specifically, the project will be focused on the following three (3) areas of emphasis:
1) Providing prescribed fire training for VFDs, which are a critical component of the HCPBA;
2) Providing workshops and trainings for private landowners and other community members on the benefits and application of prescribed fire; and
3) Developing burn plans for units on private lands.
In addition, this project supports UCCE and HCFSC collaboration on the following three (3) focus areas:
1) Disseminating materials to promote the beneficial uses of fire;
2) Planning a series of prescribed fire presentations at HCFSC meetings; and
3) Promoting legislative and policy efforts to increase the use of prescribed fire.
Accordingly, staff recommends that the Board authorize the Humboldt County Public Works Director, or a designee thereof, to execute a state standard agreement and any other documents necessary to accept and administer funding made available through the 2018 Grants Clearinghouse Fire Prevention Program.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Acceptance of the funding made available through the 2018 Grants Clearinghouse Fire Prevention Program will bring Fifty-Five Thousand Dollars ($55,000.00) of federal funding into Humboldt County to support continued work to reduce the vulnerability of our rural communities to damage from wildfire. The recommended supplemental budget for the 2018-2019 fiscal year will increase appropriations in the Public Works budget for the USFS Clearinghouse Grant Program by Fifty-Five Thousand Dollars ($55,000.00) (revenue account 1720289-505105).
Federal grant funds will be matched by Fifty-Five Thousand Dollars ($55,000.00) of in-kind contributions from local partners and the County of Humboldt. The Two Thousand Dollar ($2,000.00) grant match commitment from the county is already budgeted for in the approved fiscal year 2018-2019 Natural Resources Planning budget, Title III Fund 3675 (1720289-505010). Additional in-kind match contributions have also been committed from the UCCE ($45,300.00) and through the participation of the members of the HCFSC ($7,700). As a result, acceptance of the funding made available through the 2018 Grants Clearinghouse Fire Prevention Program will not impact the Humboldt County General Fund.
The recommended actions support the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Framework by providing for and maintaining infrastructure, creating opportunities for improved safety and health and protecting vulnerable populations.
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OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Humboldt County Fire Safe Council, Restoration of Beneficial Fire Work Group and the University of California Cooperative Extension
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board of Supervisors may choose not to accept the funding made available through the 2018 Grants Clearinghouse Fire Prevention Program. However, this alternative is not recommended because of the community fire safety benefits that will be gained from implementation of the Restoration of Beneficial Fire 2018 project.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. California Fire Safe Council Grants Clearinghouse Proposal
2. California Fire Safe Council 2018 Grant Award Announcements
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: E-4; C-4, C-13; D-14
Meeting of: February 10, 2009; December 13, 2011; January 21, 2014; December 26, 2018