Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Jasneet Sharma, Director, Sustainability Department
Subject: Second Amendment to Agreement #40000-24-R079868 with San Mateo Resource Conservation District for Administration of the Forest Health and Fire Resilience Program
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution:
A) Authorizing a second amendment to the agreement with the San Mateo Resource Conservation District for administration of the Forest Health and Fire Resilience Program, extending the term one year through June 30, 2027, and increasing the amount by $200,000 to an amount not to exceed $800,000, and
B) Authorizing the Director of the Sustainability Department, or designee(s), to execute the agreement and any amendments.
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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 resource conservation services for the local community related to wildlife, water, climate change, and agriculture. The RCD has been at the forefront of reducing fire risk by supporting fire recovery, forest health, and fire resilience programs. This work is accomplished by working in close partnership with local agencies, organizations, and communities to
provide fire resiliency services including community engagement, technical assistance and education, strategic fuel break project support, and landscape fuels treatment and vegetation management.
District-discretionary Measure K funding along with Net County Cost has been previously provided to the RCD to support fire resiliency work. On March 26, 2019, the Board approved a $175,500 agreement for Wildfire Risk Reduction (Resolution No. 076501).
On August 15, 2020, the Board approved a $150,000 agreement for post-CZU fire recovery and for implementation of the Neighborhood Chipping Program (Resolution No. 077794).
On February 22, 2022, the Board approved a new $400,000 agreement for the Forest Health and Fire Resilience Program (Resolution No. 078732), of which $100,000 was Measure K funds and $300,000 was County general funds. On December 13, 2022, this agreement was amended to add an additional $405,000 of Measure K funds and to extend the term to June 30, 2023 (Resolution No. 079388).
The Board approved the current fire resilience agreement with the RCD on August 1, 2023 with a $400,000 Measure K agreement for the Forest Health and Fire Resilience Program for the term of August 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025 (Resolution No. 079868). The Board amended this agreement on August 12, 2025, extending the term by one year, through June 30, 2026, and increasing the amount by $200,000 with County general funds for a new not to exceed amount of $600,000 (Resolution No. 081376).
Through these agreements, the RCD’s forest health and fire resiliency efforts have effectively reduced wildfire risks along the coast, in rural areas, and the forested lands of San Mateo County. A few of the many accomplishments for the current fiscal year include:
• Providing free chipping services through the Neighborhood Chipper Program to approximately 1,800 homes across the County in areas at risk of wildfire impacts, chipping 2,538 piles of brush and clearing approximately 2,250 cubic yards of material from defensible space areas.
• Beginning development of five Forest Management Plans (FMP) to help residents advance toward desired conditions for their forested land.
• Providing technical assistance related to hazardous trees, invasive species, fire resiliency, and the San Mateo County Tree Ordinance to 27 residents and 10 landowners.
• Fuel Reduction:
o Completing hazardous ground and ladder fuel reduction across approximately 4.5 acres on Coastside Land Trust property.
o Establishing a 19-mile, 306-acre fuel break around the community of La Honda designed to protect hundreds of homes from wildfire.
o Finishing a roadside fuel reduction project in the Middleton Tract to improve emergency access for 40 homes.
o Securing $500,000 for fuel reduction around King’s Mountain Elementary School and along critical evacuation routes in the King’s Mountain area.
• Co-leading the development of the Santa Cruz Mountains Regional Priority Plan, which contains a clearinghouse of 106 priority projects across the Santa Cruz Mountains (55 of which are in San Mateo County).
In FY 2025-26, as shared by the RCD, the $200,000 allocation to the RCD from the County leveraged $4.1 million in funding from local, state, and federal sources to accomplish all of the above and more.
DISCUSSION:
This proposed amendment to the agreement with the RCD continues the critical work of the Forest Health and Fire Resilience Program. It will support the continued administration of the San Mateo Fire Safe Council’s Neighborhood Chipper Program, allowing a minimum of 15 communities (275 to 550 homes per year) to receive chipping services one to two times per year. It will also support a minimum of three projects related to strategic fuel breaks, landscape fuels treatment, removing hazardous trees from coastal evacuation routes, and vegetation management. Additionally, RCD will continue to seek grants for fire mitigation, provide technical assistance for property owners to reduce fire risk throughout the County, and provide technical services to County landowners on streamlining permitting, hazardous tree removal, and fuel load reduction. The RCD will leverage broad public engagement where appropriate and will continue to partner with and connect key stakeholders including but not limited to SMC Parks Department, CalFire, and San Mateo Fire Safe Council for an integrated approach to forest health and fire resiliency.
The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the resolution and agreement as to form.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2026-27 Projected |
|
Continuation of the San Mateo Fire Safe Council’s Chipper Program. |
Provide chipping services to approximately 15 communities a year. |
|
Support of fire resiliency related project development. |
Develop a minimum of three projects supporting fire resiliency. |
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
The County is dedicated to ensuring access for all communities to the San Mateo Fire Safe Council’s Chipper Program and tree removal permitting assistance. This amendment will facilitate providing these services to constituents and organizations throughout the County.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The amendment to the agreement will increase the agreement amount by $200,000 for a new not to exceed amount of $800,000 and will extend the term to June 30, 2027. These County general funds have been included in the Sustainability Department’s FY 2026-27 Recommended Level Budget. There is no new Net County Cost associated with this agreement.