HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Resolution 14733 (Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority)
RESOLUTION NO. 14733
RESOLUTION OF THE SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR,
ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL, TO EXECUTE A JOINT EXERCISE
OF POWERS AGREEMENT TO JOIN THE MARIN WILDFIRE PREVENTION
AUTHORITY AND REQUESTING THAT THE MARIN COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS PLACE A TEN-YEAR MARIN WILDFIRE PREVENTION
PARCEL TAX MEASURE ON THE MARCH 3, 2020 BALLOT
WHEREAS, Marin County residents, including those in the City of San Rafael, are faced
with a significant and increasing risk of wildfires that do not respect jurisdictional boundaries,
with immediate action and sustained commitment needed to protect Marin residents, homes and
businesses; and
WHEREAS, intensifying climate change and extensive fuel build-up are contributing to
the increased threat of wildfire throughout Marin County and, to the extent possible, should be
addressed through ecologically sound practices that minimize release of greenhouse gases and
protect the biodiversity and resilience of Marin‘s landscapes; and
WHEREAS, our county’s nearly 260,000 residents receive fire protection and
emergency response services from 19 separate cities, towns, fire districts, and the County,
where no single agency currently exists for coordinating wildfire prevention; and
WHEREAS, local fire agencies and emergency service providers must work together in
close coordination to develop and implement a comprehensive wildfire prevention and mitigation
plan; and
WHEREAS, the most effective way to protect all of our community from the risk of
wildfire is to come together in a joint powers authority to implement a countywide program of
priority wildfire prevention, education and suppression actions; and
WHEREAS, in 2018 Marin County published Lessons Learned from North Bay Fire
Siege, summarizing key findings and conclusions from the 2017 wildfires that devastated
Sonoma, Napa, Lake, Solano and Butte counties, burned nearly 250,000 acres, destroyed
nearly 9,000 structures, forced 90,000 evacuations, caused $14.5 billion in property damage
and killed 44 people; and
WHEREAS, in 2019 the City of San Rafael accepted the Wildfire Prevention and
Protection Plan intended as a master planning framework document to guide continual efforts to
reduce the wildfire risk in San Rafael; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority will be a collective effort
by all residents and property owners to build a resilient community and reduce the threat of
wildfire, including improving emergency alert and warning systems to enhance early alert for
organized evacuations, expanding coordinated efforts to reduce combustible vegetation;
improving evacuation routes and infrastructure to enhance traffic flow and promote safe
evacuations; enhancing defensible space and structure evaluations and educating owners
about how to reduce the vulnerability of buildings to wildfire; creating and sustaining a
coordinated local wildfire public safety and disaster preparedness program; and
WHEREAS, efforts are needed to assist seniors, persons with disabilities, and low
income households to maintain defensible space, make homes fire resistant, and prepare for
emergencies to mitigate wildfire threats to structures and defensible space; and
WHEREAS, each of Marin’s communities has unique local needs; the Marin Wildfire
Prevention Authority will seek to address these specific local needs with a local wildfire
mitigation program that assists local fire agencies in meeting unique community needs while
sustaining a core countywide program for consistency; and
WHEREAS, the San Rafael City Council has been presented for its consideration and
acceptance a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement authorizing the City of San Rafael’s
participation in the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority to jointly develop and fund, for a period of
10 years, the protection of all Marin communities from the risk of wildfire on a regional basis;
and
WHEREAS, a countywide parcel tax measure has been proposed to provide funding for
the activities of the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OS SAN RAFAEL
RESOLVES as follows:
1. The City of San Rafael hereby joins the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority;
2. The Mayor of the City of San Rafael is authorized to sign the Joint Exercise of Powers
Agreement for Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority on behalf of the City of San Rafael as
presented in the Staff Report for this matter, including any administrative/clerical
corrections if necessary; and
3. The City of San Rafael requests that the Marin County Board of Supervisors place a
Parcel Tax Measure on the March 3, 2020 ballot to fund the Marin Wildfire Prevention
Authority for a term of 10 years.
I, LINDSAY LARA, City 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 City
Council held on the 21st day of October 2019 by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Colin, McCullough & Mayor Phillips
NOES: Councilmembers: Gamblin
ABSENT: Councilmembers: None
LINDSAY LARA, CITY CLERK