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Home My WebLink AboutFD Fire Prevention Grant Application____________________________________________________________________________________ FOR CITY CLERK ONLY Council Meeting: 12/02/2019 Disposition: Resolution 14745 Agenda Item No: 4.d Meeting Date: December 2, 2019 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Department: Fire Department Prepared by: Christopher Gray, Fire Chief City Manager Approval: ______________ TOPIC: FIRE PREVENTION GRANT APPLICATION 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 $49.7 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 approximately $75,000 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 2019-20 Budget, the State of California allocated up to $49.7 million to Forest Health and Fire Prevention Programs, administered by the State Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). CAL FIRE’s California Climate Investment Fire Prevention Grant Program SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2 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 capabilities by allowing for more strategic and data-driven planning decisions. The Fire Department has identified the need for increased fire prevention planning activities to assist the City. Specifically, parcel-level mapping and wildland fire fuel analysis are needed throughout its service area. Geo-imaging vendors would provide this service via topographical reconnaissance of City parkland and open space, allowing for identification of vegetation coverage, species, and health. This, in turn, would allow the Department to make better decisions about how to prioritize fuel reduction projects throughout the City. Additionally, parcel-level mapping and wildland fire fuel analysis would assist with all-hazard disaster planning and sustainability efforts. In October 2019, PG&E shut off power to almost all of Marin County under Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) conditions, and major portions of the City are vulnerable to flooding and the impacts of sea level rise. The fire prevention planning activities in the City’s grant application would allow the City to better target its limited resources for achieving resiliency and grid hardening – including battery pack infrastructure upgrades and microgrid analysis. Evacuation route planning, including maintenance and education, also could be better prioritized based on risk. 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 4, 2019 deadline. Notice of project selection will occur in March 2020, with grant agreements completed before August 31, 2020. Work can be started immediately upon the grant agreement finalization. Work covered by the grant must be completed by March 15, 2024. The grant would support improved fire prevention planning for vegetation management, hazardous fuel reduction, and improved fire prevention without additional costs to the City. Grant funds would 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. 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 request is expected to be approximately $75,000. Existing appropriated monies dedicated to Vegetation Management will support high-priority work to be completed prior to the start of the grant performance period. 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 fire prevention projects as described in the grant application. SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3 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 14745 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL, STATE OF CALIFORNIA APPROVING THE FILING OF AN APPLICATION FOR THE 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 Planning 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, 2024; 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. CERTIFICATION OF RESOLUTION ATTEST: 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 2nd day of December 2019 by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Colin, Gamblin, McCullough & Mayor Phillips NOES: Councilmembers: None ABSENT: Councilmembers: None ________ LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk