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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFD Fire Prevention Grant Application Approval____________________________________________________________________________________ FOR CITY CLERK ONLY Council Meeting: 12/3/2018 Disposition: Resolution No. 14607 Agenda Item No: 4.i Meeting Date: December 3, 2018 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Department: Fire Department Prepared by: Christopher Gray, Fire Chief City Manager Approval: ______________ TOPIC: CAL FIRE – FIRE PREVENTION GRANT APPLICATION APPROVAL SUBJECT: RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FILING OF AN APPLICATION FOR THE CALIFORNIA CLIMATE INVESTMENT FIRE PREVENTION GRANT PROGRAM RECOMMENDATION: Adopt a resolution approving the filing of an application for the California Climate Investment Fire Prevention Grant Program. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Through the California Climate Investments Fire Prevention Grant Program, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention (CAL FIRE) allocated up to $155 million to support communities in their efforts to reduce the risk of wildland fires to habitable structures and communities, while maximizing carbon sequestration in healthy wildland habitat and minimizing the uncontrolled release of emissions emitted by wildfires. This grant funding opportunity provides funding for local projects and activities that address the risk of wildfire and reduce wildfire potential to forested and forest adjacent communities near State Responsibility Areas (SRA). Specifically, activities funded by this grant include the following: hazardous fuel reduction, fire planning, and fire prevention education with an emphasis on improving public health and safety while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As part of the application process, a resolution approving the filing of an application for the grant program is required. If the City is selected to receive an award, staff will utilize those funds to help improve the City’s Vegetation Management and Fire Prevention programs. The grant application will request an additional $400,000 to $600,000 to supplement the current Vegetation Management and Fire Prevention budget. Matching funds from the City are not required, and a 12 percent allowance is provided for administrative services relating to the grant. BACKGROUND: As part of their Fiscal Year 2018-19 Budget, the State of California allocated up to $155 million to Forest Health and Fire Prevention Programs, administered by the State Department of Forestry and Fire SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2 Protection (CAL FIRE). CAL FIRE’s California Climate Investment Fire Prevention Grant Program provides funding for local projects reducing wildfire potential and spread, including hazardous fuel reduction, fire prevention education, and fire prevention planning. The Fire Prevention Grant presents an opportunity to expand the City of San Rafael’s current vegetation management efforts towards larger vegetation management and fire prevention project areas impacting the resilience and safety of the community and State Responsibility Areas (SRA). While ongoing efforts have helped reduce San Rafael’s wildfire risk, additional funding is needed to meet the large demand for fuel reduction projects to address ever-growing fuel load and interface between the public and natural areas. New project sites and maintenance in previously cleared areas is needed to effectively reduce wildfire risk. For example, in 2014, the Fire Department worked with Marin County Fire and Caltrans to clear a portion of Puerto Suello Hill. The first phase, a two-acre portion of the land, was cleared of large Eucalyptus trees and additional dead debris. In the past four years, young Eucalyptus saplings have regrown in large numbers, along with another invasive species called French Broom. Housing a number of hazards, this area is overdue for fuel reduction. In November 2018, the Fire Department received a cost estimate for a 150-day removal plan aimed to get the dead and dying fuel removed from the Puerto Suello hillside, thus removing all the rapidly combustible ladder fuels. An initial phase of the project would be required to manage the fire threat early in the 2019 fire season. The completion of the project will help eliminate an area of potentially rapid fire spread. In addition to the above project, the Department has outlined other prescriptions for fuel reduction. In 2018, the surface of five miles of fire roads were improved, and fuel removed along the roadway, allowing for emergency vehicles to pass more easily. The fire roads along this five-mile path make up the boundaries with China Camp. Subsequent fuel removal is needed along additional fire roads to create continuous fuel break and assure safe response access to potential high fire risk areas. The grant can also be used to purchase equipment, such as a wood chipper, to reduce the City’s reoccurring costs relating to community chipper days. Additional fuel reduction is needed within City owned open space lands when in proximity to homes and critical infrastructure. ANALYSIS: By adopting the attached resolution, the City Council would affirm their support of the grant application to CAL FIRE, which will allow for the Fire Department to submit a grant application to support additional fuel reduction and fire prevention efforts in San Rafael. The resolution is a requirement for the grant application, which must be submitted on or before the December 19, 2018 deadline. Notice of project selection will occur in April 2019, with grant agreements completed before August 20, 2019. Work can be started immediately upon the grant agreement finalization. Work covered by the grant must be completed by March 15, 2022. The grant will support improved vegetation management, hazardous fuel reduction, and improved fire prevention without additional costs to the City. Grant funds will help complete fuel reduction in areas not previously treated, as well as provide maintenance in areas previously benefitting from fuel reduction efforts. COMMUNITY OUTREACH: As the grant application process moves forward, City staff will connect with stakeholders accordingly, including notification in the event of a grant award as well as limitations – geographic and otherwise – of allowable projects utilizing grant funding. If the City were to receive the grant, communications with the neighboring Homeowners Associations and Caltrans will be required if any proposed work will continue onto privately owned land. In addition, notification may be required if the U.S. Highway 101 northbound SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3 onramp at Villa Avenue will be needed for lower access or work to remove debris. Fuel reduction project status will be shared with the community to illustrate the ongoing efforts to reduce wildfire risk. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this item; formal adoption of the resolution simply approves the grant application submission. The grant will be completed by staff and utilizing information already compiled as part of a strategic review of vegetation management projects. Additional staff time will be required if the grant application is approved for the management of projects, contracts, and grant requirements. The Fire Department is finalizing a list of eligible project costs to include in the grant. The grant request will be for $400,000 to $600,000. Existing appropriated monies dedicated to Vegetation Management will support high priority work to be completed prior to the start of the grant performance period. These funds will be reported in the grant application to show local investment and represent “matching funds”. While not required, matching funds are positively viewed and increase the likelihood of the grant approval. Grant funds cannot and will not supplant current funding sources and budgeted projects. Once the grant application is approved, and a grant agreement is completed, the City will become eligible to begin the fuel reduction projects as described in the grant application. Payment of grant funds will generally be through reimbursement from the State upon approval of invoices San Rafael submits. City funds outside the existing budget may be temporarily expended to pay for completed work prior to receiving grant reimbursement from the State. Advanced payments of up to 25 percent of the total grant award may be requested and approved at the discretion of CAL FIRE. OPTIONS: The City Council has the following options to consider on this matter: 1. Adopt the resolution approving filing a California Climate Investment Fire Prevention Grant Program application. 2. Adopt the resolution with modifications and/or future requests. 3. Direct staff to return with more information. 4. Take no action. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt a resolution approving the filing of an application for the California Climate Investment Fire Prevention Grant Program. ATTACHMENT: 1. Resolution RESOLUTION NO 14607 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL, STATE OF CALIFORNIA APPROVING THE FILING OF AN APPLICATION FOR CALIFORNIA CLIMATE INVESTMENT FIRE PREVENTION GRANT PROGRAM ______________________________________________________________________________ WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of California in cooperation with the California State Legislature has enacted State of California Climate Investment, which provides funds to the State of California and its political subdivisions for fire prevention programs; and WHEREAS, the State Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has been delegated the responsibility for the administration of the program within the State, setting up necessary procedures governing application by local agencies, non-profit organizations, and others under the program; and WHEREAS, the applicant will enter into an agreement with the State of California to carry out the San Rafael Open Space Fire Prevention project; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of San Rafael: 1. Approves the filing by the City of San Rafael of an application for “California Climate Investment Fire Prevention Grant Program”; and 2. Certifies that said applicant has or will have sufficient funds to operate and maintain the project; and 3. Certifies that funds under the jurisdiction of the City of San Rafael are available to begin the project; and 4. Certifies that said applicant will expend grant funds prior to March 15, 2022; and 5. Appoints the Fire Chief, or a designee, to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents including, but not limited to applications, agreements, amendments, payment requests and so on, which may be necessary for the completion of the aforementioned project. I, Lindsay Lara, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the San Rafael City Council held on Monday the 3rd day of December 2018 by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers: Colin, Gamblin, McCullough & Mayor Phillips NOES: Councilmembers: None ABSENT: Councilmembers: Bushey LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk