DATE: October 11, 2016
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Pomaville, Director, Department of Public Health/Assistant Emergency Services Director
SUBJECT: Retroactive Applications for State Responsibility Area Fire Prevention Funds and Tree Mortality Grant Program
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Retroactively approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Public Health/Assistant Emergency Services Director previous submittal of applications to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for FY 2016-17 State Responsibility Area Fire Prevention Fund and Tree Mortality Grant Program for the removal of dead and dying hazardous trees.
REPORT
The Director of the Department of Public Health/Assistant Emergency Services Director submitted competitive applications for FY 2016-17 State Responsibility Area Fire Prevention Fund (SRAFPF) and Tree Mortality (TM) Grant Program funds by the program deadline of September 28, 2016. The grants provide funding for projects related to the removal of dead and dying trees, hazardous fuel (vegetation) reduction, fire prevention education, and fire prevention planning as well as for the removal of hazardous trees that pose a threat to public health and safety in the project areas. The Department submitted 16 separate TM Grant Program applications at the maximum amount of $200,000 each totaling $3,200,000. Grant funding would allow the County to contract for the removal of dead and dying trees that are within 300 feet of permanent private structures, roadways, and public or private infrastructure, with no increase in Net County Cost.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board not approve the recommended action, the grant applications will be rescinded and the County would not be allowed to compete. However, the SRAFPF and TM Grant Program is the only available grant funding source that allows for removal of dead and dying trees on private property and County operated Community Service Areas.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The grant guidelines allow for submittal of multiple applications not to exceed $200,000 each. The Department submitted 16 TM Grant Program competitive applications totaling $3,200,000. Should the County’s applications be approved, the Department will return to your Board to execute the necessary agreements and increase the appropriations and estimated revenues.
DISCUSSION:
On August 22, 2016, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal FIRE) released the FY 2016-17 SRAFPF and TM Grant Procedural Guide under one solicitation; a total of $15.75 million in a one-time appropriation. TM projects primarily focused within the ten priority counties, which include Fresno County, are allocated $11 million of the $15.75 million and SRAFPF projects are allocated the remaining $4.75 million statewide. TM grants are intended for the removal of hazardous trees that pose a threat to public health and safety. SRAFPF grants are intended for fire prevention projects and activities related to hazardous fuel (vegetation) reduction, fire prevention planning, and fire prevention education that addresses the risk and potential impacts of wildfire to habitable structures throughout the entire State Responsibility Area of California.
The grant application period opened on August 22, 2016 and closed on September 28, 2016. The Department was unable to request your Board’s approval prior to the application deadline due to the compressed timeline and necessary preparation for submittal of the TM Grant Program applications. The grant guidelines require:
• identification and count of dead and dying trees;
• quantity of habitable structures;
• maps; and,
• cost estimates for tree removal in a limited amount of time.
The Department worked with the Departments of Public Works and Planning and Internal Services, as well as, the local fire agencies to develop 16 TM Grant Program applications totaling $3,200,000 for dead and dying tree removal for the high hazard and high fire hazard severity zone areas listed on Attachment A.
Should the County be awarded funding, the Department proposes to contract for tree removal services with Registered Professional Foresters and Licensed Timber Operators through the County’s Master Service Agreements.
The following entities submitted grants as follows:
• The Oak to Timberline Fire Safe Council directly submitted four $200,000 SRAFPF grant applications to remove dead and dying trees and reduce hazardous fuels along roadways in the Miramonte and Pine Hurst areas, and disposal of trees already on the ground.
• The Highway 168 Fire Safe Council directly submitted four $200,000 SRAFPF grant applications to remove dead and dying trees and reduce hazardous fuels along roadways in the Alder Springs, Shaver Springs, Radio Lane, and Dogwood areas.
• Sequoia Lake YMCA directly submitted a $200,000 TM grant to remove dead and dying trees that are within 300 feet of cabins and roads.
Successful grant applicants will be notified in November, 2016. Should the County be an award recipient, the Department will return to your Board to request your Board’s approval of revenue agreements by the SRAFAP and TM Grant Program deadline of January 31, 2017. Cal FIRE anticipates removal of dead and dying trees to commence in March, 2017.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
Cal FIRE and the U.S. Forest Service (U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service) provided guidance and review in the drafting of the applications. The Department coordinated with the Oak to Timberline Fire Safe Council, Highway 168 Fire Safe Council and Sequoia Lake YMCA to ensure the grant applications were consistent with one another’s agencies.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
FY 2016-17 SRAFPF and TM Grant Procedural Guide
BAI #39, September 13, 2016, Fresno County 2016 Resolution -Proclamation of Local Emergency-Tree Mortality
BAI #39, September 13, 2016, Proclamation of State Emergency
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Attachment A - Tree Mortality Grant Program Applications Submitted
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia De La Rosa