Special Notice / Hearing: None
Vote Required: 4/5ths
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Don Mattei, Interim Director, Department of Emergency Management
Subject: Submittal of Grant application for the FEMA FY 2023 Federal Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing the County Executive or the County Executive's designee(s) to submit a grant application to the California Office of Emergency Services for the FEMA FY 2023 Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant for the term of September 30, 2023, through September 30, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $494,300.
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BACKGROUND:
In July 2022, Congresswoman Jackie Speier secured $16.9 million in federal funding for 15 local community projects. The projects were part of a package of federal appropriations bills. A portion of this funding was earmarked for a wildfire mitigation project at Filoli, a 654-acre nonprofit historic house, museum, public garden, and nature preserve in the heart of San Mateo County.
DISCUSSION:
Filoli sits in a high fire hazard severity zone at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The site includes five distinct ecosystems in the Crystal Springs Watershed region. Filoli is part of a critical watershed - wildfire at the site could impact the region through water quality degradation and mudslides in addition to fire destruction and poor air quality. As one of the largest landowners in the county, Filoli is uniquely positioned to mitigate regional wildfire risk.
Filoli plans to use funding from the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant to support wildfire resilience in the wildland-urban interface. Anticipated work includes protection of power line infrastructure in forest areas, providing adequate clearances along forested roads for emergency access, fuel load reduction from ground level to canopy, wildfire protection measures for structures and cultural resources, and management of forest and natural resources for climate resilience.
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