Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael P. Callagy, County Manager
Subject: Measure K: Agreement with the San Mateo Resource Conservation District for CZU August Lightning Complex post-fire recovery services and expansion of the San Mateo Fire Safe Council’s Chipper Program
RECOMMENDATION:
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Measure K: Recommendation to:
A) Adopt a resolution authorizing a $150,000 agreement with the San Mateo Resource Conservation District for CZU August Lightning Complex post-fire recovery services and expansion of the San Mateo Fire Safe Council’s Chipper Program; and
B) Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) for $100,000 from Non-Departmental Services to the Office of Sustainability.
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BACKGROUND:
The San Mateo Resource Conservation District (RCD) is a special district within San Mateo County that provides comprehensive and integrated services around wildlife, water, climate, and agriculture to the local community. The County and the RCD have formed a strong partnership through prior projects involving water conservation, water quality improvements, floodplain restoration, and agricultural water projects.
RCD has received previous Measure K funding for the following completed and ongoing projects:
1) Coordinating monthly Fire Safe San Mateo County Meetings (18 since funding approval)
2) Developed projects with large landowners and other stakeholders to apply for CAL FIRE Forest Health grants
3) Provided chipping services to 16 communities
4) Developing programmatic permits to streamline forest health and fuel load projects
In addition to these projects, the RCD has leveraged Measure K funding to secure over $3,000,000, including $2,500,000 for fire fuel reduction work.
DISCUSSION:
The historic CZU August Lightning Complex (CZU Complex) fire required immediate, currently unfunded, post-fire recovery services; those needs are ongoing. The proposed agreement will be dated beginning August 15, 2020, to account for the services provided immediately in the aftermath of the fire on an emergency basis. The proposed agreement will allow RCD to complete the following services to aid in ongoing recovery from the CZU Complex fire, focusing on damaged infrastructure, marking hazard trees, reducing erosion, flooding, revegetation, road and drainage repairs, stream crossings, and minimizing new fuel load and weed invasions. The proposed agreement also includes an expansion of the San Mateo County Fire Safe Council chipper program.
Related to the CZU Complex fire response, RCD has completed and will continue to provide services as outlined in the following tasks:
1) Post-fire site visit for technical assistance ($30,000): The RCD will coordinate across agencies, land owners and other stakeholders to disseminate information and visit properties directly damaged and/or threatened by the CZU Lightning Complex fire to aid in post-fire recovery. During these site visits RCD staff will assess post-fire conditions and identify priority resources and infrastructure at risk due to post-fire conditions. Technical assistance will be provided to land owners/managers/residents based on best practices for mitigating post-fire impacts.
2) Site-specific recommendations and designs ($40,000): Under this task the RCD and as-needed consultants, subject to County approval, will develop site-specific recommendations and conduct site surveys to develop more detailed recommendations and designs. Recommendations and plans will focus on damaged infrastructure, marking hazard trees, erosion, flooding, revegetation, road and drainage repairs, stream crossings, and minimizing new fuel load and weed invasions.
3) Purchase of supplies and equipment: Under this task the RCD will make strategic purchases of materials and equipment to aid in recovery efforts.
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Performance Measures FY 2020-21 |
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Measure |
Target |
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Number of constituents receiving assistance |
30 |
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Number of site visits |
30 |
RCD will also expand the Fire Safe Council chipping program to provide additional service days across San Mateo County to reduce future fire risk. The estimated cost of this program expansion is $50,000.
As RCD is a state agency, compliance with County Employee Jury Service Ordinance is waived in the Agreement.
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the agreement and resolution as to form.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Appropriations for the services related to the Agreement will be made via an Appropriation Transfer Request and will be included in future fiscal years as needed. Funding for the chipping program will come from AB 939 and is already appropriated in the Office of Sustainability FY 2020-21 Adopted Budget.