HomeMy WebLinkAboutFD Regional Wildfire Prevention____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
Council Meeting: 09/03/2019
Disposition: Accepted Report
Agenda Item No: 6.a
Meeting Date: September 3, 2019
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: Fire Department
Prepared by: Christopher Gray,
Fire Chief
City Manager Approval: ______________
TOPIC: REGIONAL WILDFIRE PREVENTION
SUBJECT: MARIN WILDFIRE PREVENTION AUTHORITY INFORMATIONAL REPORT
RECOMMENDATION: Accept report and provide direction to staff.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The deadliest and most destructive wildfires in our state’s recent history have occurred in the past two
years. Marin County’s and San Rafael’s wildlands and lush vegetation leaves San Rafael particularly
vulnerable to devastating and deadly wildland fires. San Rafael has a long history of leading efforts to
proactively address wildfire risks. Despite our best local efforts, fire does not respect jurisdictional
boundaries and immediate and sustained action is needed to better protect all communities in Marin.
Given the changing climate and increased risk of wildfires, we have been partnering with FireSafe Marin
and all our neighboring Marin towns and cities to develop a countywide approach to wildfire prevention.
The purpose of this report is to update the City Council on these countywide efforts and present the
proposed plan that would create a new joint powers authority agreement (JPA). A countywide coalition
that includes the cooperation of all Marin fire and cities/towns has proposed the creation of the Marin
Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA). The MWPA would be a multi-agency authority to fund, coordinate
and oversee wildland fire detection, fuel reduction, public education, defensible space evaluations, and
local agency wildfire prevention efforts. A fact sheet that describes this new initiative and the MWPA can
be found in Attachment 1.
BACKGROUND:
In 2007, the City Council adopted a model ordinance, entitled Wildland-Urban Interface—Vegetation
Management Standards, for vegetation management to proactively reduce the risk of wildfires (S.R.M.C.
4.12). This ordinance specifically codifies required vegetation management standards for parcels located
in designated Wildland-Urban Interface (“WUI”) areas, with the goal of creating defensible space around
structures that will minimize the spread of fires from wildlands to structures, from structures to wildlands,
and from structures to structures.
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In September 2018, the Marin County Fire Department presented a Lessons Learned Report to the Board
of Supervisors with recommendations developed by a multi-disciplinary sub-committee, which includes
a list of proposed areas across the County for improvement in managing local wildfire risk.
In August 2018, City staff presented an informational report to the City Council relating to the City’s
wildfire prevention efforts. As part of the presentation, the City Council provided direction to staff to draft
a bold and comprehensive plan to further address wildfire risk in San Rafael.
On March 18, 2019, the City Council approved the San Rafael Wildfire Prevention and Protection Action
Plan. The 38-point plan outlines various goals to proactively and aggressively address the growing risks
associated with wildfire. The implementation of this framework is underway, with continual feedback from
the Citizen Wildfire Advisory Committee, co-chaired by Mayor Phillips and Councilmember Bushey.
However, the vast majority of the actions require additional funding and/or countywide collaboration to
be fully and effectively implemented.
On April 25, 2019, the Marin County Civil Grand Jury released their investigative report on the conditions
of wildfire preparedness and made recommendations for improvement in the areas of vegetation
management, public education, evacuations, and creation of a joint powers authority to improve wildfire
safety in Marin County. The City Council responded to this report on June 17, 2019.
At the July 15, 2019 meeting, the City Council adopted the Marin County Multi-jurisdictional Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan (MCM LHMP). This plan fully incorporated the existing Local Hazard Mitigation Plan while
demonstrating countywide collaboration and commitment to mitigating the multiple natural hazards
impacting Marin County.
ANALYSIS:
Marin County has 19 local fire agencies and no single agency responsible for coordinating wildfire
prevention and mitigation efforts. A working group of city managers (including San Rafael’s City
Manager), fire chiefs and staff have been working on a new approach to coordinate prevention and
mitigation efforts countywide. This new approach proposes to create a new joint powers authority, the
Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA), as well as a revenue measure for sustained support of
wildfire prevention activities. The proposed new revenue measure for consideration by voters in March
of 2020 would accomplish key initiatives such as: improving emergency alert and warning systems,
reducing combustible plans and vegetation, improving evacuation routes, and expanding and enhancing
defensible space and home evaluations.
All proceeds of the measure would stay local and be protected from any taking by the State. Funds would
be dedicated to wildfire prevention and cannot be diverted. In addition, independent oversight and annual
audits would be required. Finally, the new revenue source would help all Marin agencies collectively
qualify for state and federal grants that would otherwise go to other communities around the state. If the
proposed tax measure is not passed, the MWPA would dissolve.
The proposed annual budget of the MWPA of approximately $20 million would be allocated as follows:
• 60% or $12 million for Wildfire Detection & Evacuation Program Improvements, Vegetation
Management and Fuel Reduction, Grants and Public Education/Outreach.
• 20% or $4 million for Defensible Space Evaluations.
• 20% or $4 million countywide for Local-specific Wildfire Prevention Efforts.
The 20% allocated to local-specific efforts would mean approximately $930,000 annually in direct funds
to San Rafael. These funds would support unique needs in San Rafael (like our need for Open Space
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3
Park Rangers) that would not be supported by the efforts of the MWPA, such as: addressing
encampments, installation of parking boxes on narrow hillside streets, or other efforts. These funds would
allow us to implement critical actions in San Rafael’s Wildfire Prevention and Protection Action Plan that
do not currently have a funding source.
An 11-member Board of Directors would provide governance, with two elected from each of five proposed
zones. These five zones would include San Rafael, Ross Valley, West Marin, Novato and Southern Marin
– as well as 1 area representing the small fire districts. An Operations/Budget committee of 11 would be
comprised of agency staff, such as the City Manager or Fire Chief, from the member agencies from the
five proposed zones. Finally, an Advisory Committee of technical staff would help provide advice and
help inform the annual workplan and budget.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
Over the next six weeks, the Marin County Fire Chiefs Association in cooperation with local Fire
departments, will provide informational presentations to fire district boards and city and town councils.
Once all the feedback is received, the City Manager/Fire Chief working group will finalize the plan. Then
outreach efforts can continue with the goal of each fire district board, and city/town council responsible
for fire suppression to join the Joint Powers Authority by agreeing to the JPA agreement.
Locally, San Rafael continues community outreach and education related to wildfire. On June 10, 2019,
San Rafael held its first Wildfire Advisory Committee meeting. The committee is made up of 15 residents
of San Rafael. The committee has met four times and is providing excellent feedback on the specific
items of the Wildfire Prevention and Protection Action Plan. Staff expects to have a presentation to the
City Council with all the committee’s feedback in late October/early November.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This informational report has no fiscal impact.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Accept the report and provide direction to staff.
ATTACHMENT:
1. Local Wildfire Prevention & Mitigation Initiative Fact Sheet
Local Wildfire Prevention & Mitigation Initiative
Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority
Marin’s Communities are Threatened by Wildfire
More than 260,000 people live in Marin County, served by cities, towns, the County of
Marin, and well-coordinated fire agencies. Marin’s wildlands and lush vegetation make
our neighborhoods beautiful and desirable places to live, but also leave residents and
visitors vulnerable to wildfire. Local fire agencies and communities must coordinate
wildfire prevention and disaster preparedness, including maintaining defensible
space, reducing combustible vegetation, making homes fire resistant, and planning for
organized evacuation in an emergency. Individual homes and properties are more fire
resilient when preparedness is approached at the community scale. A collective effort by
all citizens and property owners is necessary to build a resilient community and reduce
the threat of wildfire to life, property, and infrastructure.
A Wildfire Prevention Effort to Reduce Marin’s Fire Risk
Wildfires are bigger, burn longer, cause more damage, and kill more people than ever before. This new reality
requires greatly expanding prevention, preparedness, and fuel-reduction efforts throughout Marin. The Marin
Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA) is a coalition of local fire agencies, emergency service providers, and
cities, towns, and county government being formed to support the development and implementation of a
comprehensive wildfire prevention and emergency preparedness initiative.
MWPA Initiative
Key elements of this initiative include:
Improving emergency alert and warning systems to enhance early alert for organized evacuations
Expanding coordinated efforts to reduce combustible plants and vegetation
Improving evacuation routes and infrastructure to enhance traffic flow and promote safe evacuations
Expanding and enhancing defensible space and home evaluations and educating homeowners about how to
reduce the vulnerability of their home and neighborhood to wildfire
Providing grants and support to seniors, persons with disabilities, and low-income homeowners who need
assistance maintaining a defensible space, making homes fire resistant, reducing combustible vegetation, and
preparing for emergencies
Creating and sustaining a coordinated local wildfire public safety and disaster preparedness program
Supporting residents to establish Firewise USA programs in neighborhoods through ongoing public education
Bringing a Local Wildfire Prevention Initiative to Reality
Marin’s fire agencies, cities, towns, and county government are currently working to form the MWPA and
develop a coordinated program for wildfire prevention.
To be successful, a stable source of locally-controlled funding dedicated to wildfire prevention and public
safety is required.
A comprehensive wildfire prevention strategy is under development and will be announced later this year.
Questions?
If you have questions about this planning effort, please contact Christie Neill at cneill@marincounty.org
or (415) 473-3759.