To: Board of Supervisors
From: Clerk of the Board
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Appointments to the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the appointments to the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund
DISCUSSION:
The Humboldt County Fire Council (HCFSC) is seeking to update its membership following the transition of several individuals into and out of member organizations, or roles therein. 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 HCFSC 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.
The Department of Planning and Building has nominated Supervising Planner Michael Richardson as their representative with Code Enforcement Manager Karen Meynell as his alternate, to fill the Department’s place on the HCFSC. This seat was previously filled by former Senior Planner John Miller who served on the HCFSC for two years and whose contributions for years prior instigated the establishment of a permanent seat for the Department.
The Southern Humboldt Safe Council has nominated Kathy Weber as their representative with Dave Kahan remaining as alternate. Ms. Weber would replace Bill Eastwood who served the HCFSC for over 10 years. The members of the HCFSC are deeply grateful to Bill for his dedication and guidance through multiple Community Wildfire Protection Plan updates, involvement in the design, continued refinement of, and implementation of several grant funded wildfire mitigation programs, and ongoing participation in preparing Humboldt communities for wildfire.
Additionally, the Willow Creek Fire Safe Council has nominated Patti Pedigo as their representative with Regina Moon as her alternate, following the resignation of Basho Parks and Blaze Shannon from the WCFSC.
Lastly, the Hoopa Fire Department and Office of Emergency Services Chief and HCFSC representative for the Hoopa Tribe, provided a letter requesting that his alternate be removed and informing the County that a new nominee will be forthcoming.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Coordination of the HCFSC committee is currently provided by Public Works Natural Resource 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 bringing millions of dollars of implementation funds into the county. Public Works alone has secured nearly $2 million in grant funding to support CWPP implementation projects.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by providing community-appropriate levels of service and protecting vulnerable populations
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Board discretion
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Department of Planning and Building Nomination Letter
2. Southern Humboldt Fire Safe Council Nomination Letter
3. Willow Creek Fire Safe Council Nomination Letter
4. Hoopa Valley Tribe Office of Emergency Services Letter
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A