To: Board of Supervisors
From: Clerk of the Board
Agenda Section: Departmental
SUBJECT:
title
Humboldt County Fire Safe Council 5-Year Term Extension
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Review a staff report and associated supporting documents regarding a proposal to renew the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council (HCFSC) for 5 years and appoint new HCFSC members; and
2. Approve the attached list of proposed HCFSC member appointees and alternates; and
3. Adopt the attached resolution extending the HCFSC and expanding the membership thereof
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Title III of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (revenue line 1720289-9101); state and federal grants.
DISCUSSION:
The HCFSC was formed in November 2002 for a term of 2 years to oversee the preparation of the Humboldt County Master Fire Protection Plan, which was updated in 2013 and renamed the Humboldt County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). Since its initial formation, the term of the HCFSC has been extended eight times so that the HCFSC could continue to guide the maintenance and implementation of the CWPP. The Board last extended the term of the HCFSC on Oct. 11, 2016, with the adoption of Resolution No. 16-119. The current term of the HCFSC will end on Oct. 11, 2021. Subsequent Resolutions further expanded the membership of the HCFSC; the last of these, adopted on Feb. 9, 2021, was Resolution No. 21-12.
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 community fire planning. The plan has been used to leverage funding and catalyze support. Since its certification in 2019, the CWPP has been cited in multiple county and collaborator grant applications, playing a part in bringing millions of dollars of implementation funds into the county. Public Works alone has secured over $1.7 million in grant funding to support CWPP implementation projects.
The HCFSC membership consists of individuals representing a variety of groups actively engaged in fire-related fields including fire service, community emergency preparedness, prescribed fire, forestry, and more. While representation of these groups generally remains constant, HCFSC members change over time as members move on to other positions and new partners emerge. Recommended changes to the HCFSC resolution and new member nominations are described below. More details can be found in the documents and letters attached to this item.
The attached resolution (Attachment 1) requests a 5-year term extension for the HCFSC and an expanded membership, and shall, if adopted, supersede any and all prior versions thereof as of the effective date of this action. The proposed resolution includes recommendations to expand the membership of the HCFSC to include two new seats: one for the Humboldt County Resource Conservation District (HCRCD) and one for the Timber Industry. This action will bring the total number of HCFSC members up to 23; 20 voting members and three nonvoting member advisors.
Contingent upon the approval of the resolution, staff requests the Board’s consideration of nominees for the proposed Timber Industry seat: Mike Miles, Director of Forestry Operations for Humboldt Redwood Company and Brita Goldstein, Community Affairs & Communications Representative for Green Diamond Resource Company have been nominated as primary and alternate members, respectively. A joint nomination letter is provided in Attachment 2. Representation from these two timberland owners will bring valuable perspective and expertise to the HCFSC. If the proposed HCRCD seat is approved, appropriate nominations will be sought and brought before the Board for appointment.
In addition, the Humboldt County Prescribed Burn Association (HCPBA) nominated current HCPBA board members, Elicia Goldsworthy as primary and Jeff Stackhouse as alternate to fill their vacant seat on the HCFSC. The nomination letter is provided in Attachment 2.
The complete list of proposed HCFSC member appointments and alternates is provided in Attachment 3.
Per the Board of Supervisors Protocol dated June 20, 2017, the Fire Safe Council is included in
Exhibit 1 of said protocol and is an exception to the appointment protocol requiring only one agenda item under “Consent” before the Board which can be brought by the Clerk of the Board as
recommended by the Council.
The above recommendations were discussed with and supported by the current members of the
HCFSC at their Aug. 19, 2021 meeting. Accordingly, staff now recommends that the Board adopt the attached resolution, as amended, to extend the term of the HCFSC for an additional 5 years and expand the membership thereof; and approve the member nominations as set forth in the attached list of HCFSC member appointees and nomination letters.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
This agenda item will renew the HCFSC for 5 years. Maintaining an active HCFSC is expected to have a net positive financial impact for the county and other program recipients. The work of the HCFSC gives Humboldt County and cooperators a competitive advantage when seeking grant funds related to the CWPP. Public Works alone has secured over $1.7 million in grant funding to support CWPP implementation projects. Staff will only provide the level of support to the HCFSC allowed by the availability of Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act, Title III funds (revenue line 1720289-9101) and/or other grant funding sources as they become available.
Expenditures related to supporting the HCFSC reside in Public Works Department-Natural Resources Division (1720-289), and have been included in the Fiscal Year 2021-22 budget. Therefore, the recommended actions will not impact the Humboldt County General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by creating opportunities for improved safety and health .
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Humboldt County Fire Safe Council
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Board discretion
ATTACHMENTS:
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: C-2, C-10, C-8, C-10, C-19, C-4, C-7, C-9, C-3, C-7
Meeting of: September 21, 2010; September 4, 2012; September 2, 2014; October 11, 2016; July 30, 2019; February 11, 2020; July 28, 2020; February 9, 2021; April 20, 2021; June 8, 2021
File No.: N/A