Consent-General Government # 13.
Board of Supervisors
County Administrator
- Meeting Date:
- 07/25/2023
- Brief Title
- Reallocation of Early Action Funding to enhance fire preparedness
From:
Gerardo Pinedo, County Administrator, County Administrators Office
Staff Contact:
Kristin Weivoda, Chief of Emergency Services, County Administrators Office, x4933
Supervisorial District Impact:
Countywide
Subject
Approve the reallocation of Early Action Funding; approve staff recommendation of empowering Yolo County Fire Safe Council to prioritize projects, and authorize the County Administrator to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with Yolo County Resource Conservation District to manage said projects and return to the Board of Supervisors to provide a staff update by the end of the fiscal year. (No general fund impact) (Pinedo/Weivoda)
Recommended Action
- Approve the reallocation of Early Action Funding;
- Approve staff recommendation of empowering Yolo County Fire Safe Council to prioritize projects, and
- Authorize the County Administrator to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with Yolo County Resource Conservation District to manage said projects and return to the Board of Supervisors to provide a staff update by the end of the fiscal year.
Strategic Plan Goal(s)
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Thriving Residents |
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Safe Communities |
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Flourishing Agriculture |
Reason for Recommended Action/Background
On February 22, 2022, Item 37 was taken to the Board to approve the expenditure of the County of Yolo, receiving $1.5 million in Early Action funding for the LNU Lightning Complex burn area. At Supervisor Don Saylor’s post-LNU listening sessions held in October 2020, residents requested a better alert system; $800,000 of the funds were earmarked to study the feasibility of a siren system along the Yolo-Solano County line. In the 2.5 years since that fire, numerous discussions among emergency responder professionals led to the conclusion that a siren system is not feasible. Yolo County Office of Emergency Services and the Yolo County Fire Safe Council (YCFSC) request that the Board of Supervisors reallocate the $800,000 to fund the projects listed below and empower the YCFSC to prioritize these projects and approve them for management by the Yolo County Resource Conservation District (RCD).
These projects are taken from the 2023 Yolo County Community Wildfire Protection Plan and were identified through robust engagement with the community and local fire professionals. The Board of Supervisors signed the CWPP on March 21, 2023. The list was carefully vetted below by the YCFSC members at the May YCFSC meeting and was unanimously approved on May 24, 2023.
These projects are taken from the 2023 Yolo County Community Wildfire Protection Plan and were identified through robust engagement with the community and local fire professionals. The Board of Supervisors signed the CWPP on March 21, 2023. The list was carefully vetted below by the YCFSC members at the May YCFSC meeting and was unanimously approved on May 24, 2023.
| Project Name | Project Description | Est. Budget including costs for RCD project management |
| Capay Valley Equipment Fuel | Reimburse local volunteers for diesel fuel to use their equipment for mechanical vegetation removal in Capay Valley. | $4,000.00 |
| Capay Valley Homes Fuels Cleanup Program | Work with Capay Valley Fire Safe Council to clean up properties needing vegetation management and defensible space work. | $25,000.00 |
| Capay Valley State Hwy 16 Fuels Reduction | Prescribed burning and vegetation management along State Hwy 16 in the high ignition area west of Capay. | $100,000.00 |
| Ingress/Egress Capay Valley | Evacuation and access planning in eastern Capay Valley. Work with Capay Valley Fire Protection District (CVFPD) to map and improve potential shallow-water crossings. | $5,000.00 |
| Rumsey Ditch Vegetation Management | Vegetation clearing along Rumsey Ditch to improve ingress/egress on Rumsey Canyon Road. | $50,000.00 |
| Rumsey Fire Buffer and Firewise Certification | Begin fuels reduction work with the CVFPD, Capay Valley Emergency Response Auxiliary & Fire Safe Council, and RCD technical assistance to plan and implement a wildfire buffer around the community of Rumsey using a combination of grazing, burning, and vegetation management to help Rumsey become Firewise certified. | $250,000.00 |
| State Highway Fire Awareness Signs | Build and install fire awareness signs on State Highway 128 and Highway 16. | $12,000.00 |
| West Winters State Hwy 128 Fuels Reduction | Mechanical vegetation control along State Hwy 128 west of Bray Canyon to create a shaded fuel break along 1.5 miles of Hwy 128. | $150,000.00 |
| Winters Area Creekside Fuel Reduction | Treat fuels along Dry and Putah Creeks near the City of Winters. | $100,000.00 |
| Winters Westside Buffers | Create fire buffers in the grasslands around the north and west side of Winters using prescribed fire and grazing. | $34,000.00 |
| Yolo County Fuels Reduction Chipper Program | Continue funding of the existing Neighborhood Chipper Program to provide no-cost chipping in high-fire areas to maintain defensible space and vegetation along access roads for safer access and evacuation routes. | $70,000.00 |
| TOTAL: | $800,000.00 |
Staff is asking to approve the reallocation of Early Action Funding, approve the staff recommendation of empowering Yolo County Fire Safe Council to prioritize projects, and approve the County Administrator to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with Yolo County Resource Conservation District to manage said projects and return to the Board of Supervisors to provide a staff update by the end of the fiscal year.
Collaborations (including Board advisory groups and external partner agencies)
Yolo County Fire Safe Council
Yolo County Resource Conservation District
American Red Cross
Cache Creek Conservancy
Capay Valley Fire District Fire Safe Council
Capay Valley Vision
Capay Valley Fire Protection District
City of Winters
Yolo County Office of Emergency Services
Dunnigan Fire Protection District
East Davis County Fire Protection District
Golden Bear Fire Safety Committee
Madison Fire Protection District
West Winters Fire Safe Council
Winters Fire Protection District
Yocha Dehe Fire Department
Yolo County Board of Supervisors, District 4-Provenza
Yolo County Board of Supervisors, District 2-Frerichs
Yolo County Board of Supervisors, District 5 -Barajas
Yolo County In-Home Supportive Services Advisory Committee
Yolo County Resource Conservation District
American Red Cross
Cache Creek Conservancy
Capay Valley Fire District Fire Safe Council
Capay Valley Vision
Capay Valley Fire Protection District
City of Winters
Yolo County Office of Emergency Services
Dunnigan Fire Protection District
East Davis County Fire Protection District
Golden Bear Fire Safety Committee
Madison Fire Protection District
West Winters Fire Safe Council
Winters Fire Protection District
Yocha Dehe Fire Department
Yolo County Board of Supervisors, District 4-Provenza
Yolo County Board of Supervisors, District 2-Frerichs
Yolo County Board of Supervisors, District 5 -Barajas
Yolo County In-Home Supportive Services Advisory Committee
Competitive Bid Process/Vendor Performance
On February 24, 2009, the County entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Yolo County Resource Conservation District (RCD) to assist with the implementation of the county conservation project and plans due to the RCD’s unique expertise, capabilities, and equipment.
On June 8, 2021, the Board of Supervisors approved a revised MOU with RCD, when the County recognized a need for additional services and further collaboration with the RCD due to the increased prevalence of wild land fires in the County. With RCD being especially skilled and staffed to provide these types of services the Office of Emergency staff coordinated with RCD on numerous fire prevention projects that have been identified through both community and county-led meetings. Projects include vegetation management, open space restoration and fire prevention planning, and the implementation of the County Fire Safe Council.
Due to RCD’s role on the County Fire Safe Council and their expertise staff believe that it is best that RCD manage the projects moving forward and that, while their MOU encompasses several grants, where possible and permissible RCD would incur project fees as the projects allow.
On June 8, 2021, the Board of Supervisors approved a revised MOU with RCD, when the County recognized a need for additional services and further collaboration with the RCD due to the increased prevalence of wild land fires in the County. With RCD being especially skilled and staffed to provide these types of services the Office of Emergency staff coordinated with RCD on numerous fire prevention projects that have been identified through both community and county-led meetings. Projects include vegetation management, open space restoration and fire prevention planning, and the implementation of the County Fire Safe Council.
Due to RCD’s role on the County Fire Safe Council and their expertise staff believe that it is best that RCD manage the projects moving forward and that, while their MOU encompasses several grants, where possible and permissible RCD would incur project fees as the projects allow.
Fiscal Impact
No Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact (Expenditure)
- Total cost of recommended action:
- $ 800,000
- Amount budgeted for expenditure:
- $ 800,000
- Additional expenditure authority needed:
- $ 0
- One-time commitment:
- Yes
Source of Funds for this Expenditure
- State
- $800,000
Further explanation as needed:
Funding for these projects was secured in the FY 2022-23 fiscal year. If adjustments to the FY 2023-24 budget are needed, the department will include them in their Adopted budget submission. No general fund dollars are required for these projects.
Attachments
Form Review
| Inbox | Reviewed By | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Bryan | Mark Bryan | 06/13/2023 01:31 PM |
| Mark Bryan | Mark Bryan | 07/05/2023 10:41 AM |
| Mark Bryan | Mark Bryan | 07/11/2023 04:53 PM |
| Financial Services | Laura Liddicoet | 07/17/2023 01:14 PM |
| County Counsel | Hope Welton | 07/17/2023 01:50 PM |
- Form Started By:
- kweivoda
- Started On:
- 06/13/2023 09:16 AM
- Final Approval Date:
- 07/18/2023