DATE: February 26, 2019
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Pomaville, Director
Department of Public Health
Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Retroactive Applications for Fire Prevention Program Grant Funds
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Retroactively authorize the Department of Public Health’s previous submittal of a grant application in the amount of $1,680,000 to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, for FY 2018-19 Fire Prevention Program Grant funds to remove and dispose of dead and dying trees on the State Route 168 corridor.
2. Retroactively authorize the Department of Public Health’s previous submittal of a grant application in the amount of $840,056 to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, for FY 2018-19 Fire Prevention Program Grant funds to remove and dispose of dead and dying trees on the State Route 180 corridor.
REPORT
On December 17, 2018, the Director of the Department of Public Health submitted two competitive grant applications for California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) grant funds, contingent upon your Board’s approval. The grants provide funding for removal of dead and dying trees that are within 300 feet of permanent private structures, roadways, and public or private infrastructure on either the State Route (SR) 168 or 180 corridors, with no increase in Net County Cost. This item pertains to locations in District 5.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board not approve the recommended actions, the grant applications will be rescinded and the County would not be allowed to compete. However, the Fire Prevention Program Grant is the only available grant funding source at this time that allows for removal and disposal of dead and dying trees on private property.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The recommended actions represent two applications in the amount of $1,680,000 and $840,056 each, totaling $2,520,056. The grant applications are competitive and do not require matching funds; however, the Department of Public Health (DPH) proposes to utilize $53,650 in Health Realignment to offset a portion of staff costs associated with grant administration and contract coordination. The grants allow for full reimbursement of direct costs but limits indirect cost recovery to 12% or $270,006. DPH’s current indirect cost recovery rate is 25.42%; the difference ($240,756) will be covered with Health Realignment. Should the County’s applications be approved, the Departments will return to your Board to execute the necessary agreements and increase the appropriations and estimated revenues.
DISCUSSION:
On December 17, 2018, DPH submitted two applications to CAL FIRE requesting a total of $2,520,056 for the removal of dead and dying trees and that are within 300 feet of permanent private structures, roadways, and public or private infrastructure. The first application, in the amount of $1,680,000, covered the Auberry, Meadow Lakes, Shaver Springs, Tollhouse, Pine Ridge, Shaver Lake, Cressman, Bretz Mountain Village, Quartz Mountain, and Wildflower Village communities within the SR 168 corridor. The second application, in the amount of $840,056, covered the Millwood, Pinehurst, Etheda Springs, Cedarbrook, Dunlap, Miramonte, Deer Crossing, and Squaw Valley communities within the SR 180 corridor.
Approximately 3,100 dead and dying trees and 100,000 cubic yards of ground fuel have been identified for removal within the SR 168 corridor high hazard zones. Approximately 2,500 dead and dying trees and 75,000 cubic yards of ground fuel has been identified for removal within the SR 180 corridor high hazard zones. The grants allow for the removal and disposal of dead and dying trees, and debris cleanup around homes and private roads. Approximately 4,636 homes and 65 roads have been identified to be assessed for tree hazard removal work. The Departments propose to continue contracting for the assessment, identification, removal, and disposal of dead and dying trees and cleanup projects within the high hazard communities. The Departments also propose the utilization of grant funds to offset staff costs associated with the coordination of contracted tree removal and disposal services.
The County has utilized General Fund, State Responsibility Area, Local Assistance for Tree Mortality, Fire Prevention Program grants, and California Disaster Assistance Act funding for the removal and disposal of dead and dying trees since April 2016. Approximately 16,000 trees and 10,000 cubic yards of ground fuel has been removed and disposed along County and private roads, near homes, and infrastructure.
The County has been in a proclaimed state of emergency since September 22, 2015. In December 2017, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that the U.S. Forest Service had identified an additional 27 million dead trees state-wide since its last aerial survey in November 2016. The increase brings the total number of dead and dying trees since 2010 to over 129 million on 8.9 million acres of California’s drought stricken forests. Approximately 30,000 dead and dying trees have been identified for removal on the high hazard zones adjacent to structures in and around communities in the County. However, available funds will only help address a portion of trees in need of removal.
Successful grant applicants will be notified in April 2019. Should the County be an award recipient, the Departments will return to your Board to request your Board’s approval of revenue agreements by the CAL FIRE’s deadline of August 30, 2018.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #39, January 29, 2019
BAI #21, September 22, 2015
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Fire Prevention Program Grant Application - SR 168 Corridor
On file with Clerk - Fire Prevention Program Grant Application - SR 180 Corridor
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa