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Receive a presentation on the status of the 2022 California Fire Safe Council Grant Program
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Published Notice Required? Yes_______ No ___X____
Public Hearing Required? Yes_______ No ___X____
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Sheriff recommends that the Board of Supervisors receive a presentation on the status of the 2022 California Fire Safe Council Grant Program.
SUMMARY:
After the successful closeout of the 2021 County Coordinator Grant, Solano County applied for and was awarded a 2022 Wildfire County Coordinator-Northern Grant from the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). CAL FIRE requires all grantees to provide their Boards with a status update of grant activities during the grant term which ends December 31, 2024. The Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services is now presenting a status update to the Board to meet CAL FIRE requirements.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no General Fund impact for the Board to receive this presentation. The cost associated with preparing the agenda item is nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2024/25 Working Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The 2022 CAL FIRE Wildfire County Coordinator-Northern Grant Program provides funding to assist counties with wildfire mitigation outreach and coordination. The objective of the County Coordinator Grant is to educate, encourage, and develop countywide collaboration and coordination among various wildfire mitigation groups operating within counties. A status update of the 2022 CAL FIRE Wildfire County Coordinator-Northern Grant is summarized below.
Solano County Office of Emergency Services (OES) has completed projects listed below:
• Extra-Help Emergency Services Coordinator: fund one extra-help Emergency Services Coordinators to assist the full-time OES Staff in Wildfire Coordinator duties, including participating in outreach/educational events/trainings, and participation in meetings required under the grant award.
• Wildfire Community Preparedness Day: This past May, we held our third annual event. This year's event took place in the northern area of the county at Lake Solano. Solano OES collaborated with the three local fire safe councils, Solano Resource Conservation District (RCD), and various wildfire partners. Currently planning for 2025’s event, which is scheduled for Saturday, May 3, 2025. Tentatively planned to be in the southern area of the county, location to be determined. This event aligns with the National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day (observed the first Saturday in May).
• Residential Green Waste Recycling Event: Held over the course of two weekends, August 3rd and August 10, 2024, from 8AM to 12PM at various locations throughout the county: Vacaville Fire Protection District, Station 67, Falls Elementary School, Montezuma Fire Protection District, Station 52, Suisun Fire Protection District, Station 32, and Recology Vallejo. This event provided an opportunity for the community to dispose their landscape trimmings, including branches, grass, leaves, vines, plants, weeks, and small quantities of fruit attached to branches. This event collaborated with Resource Management, local fire safe councils, Recology, and county fire districts. We are working toward offering these events more often in the future.
Solano County OES has ongoing projects listed below:
• Living with Wildfire Handbook: to be available to the community to educate them on the resources and information to help reduce wildfire risk. The handbook was created in collaboration with wildfire stakeholders throughout the county. The handbook will be printed in English, with Spanish and Tagalog available electronically.
• Countywide Wildfire Preparedness Mailer: this flyer will entail educational information on Alert Solano and Know Your Zone campaigns as well as wildfire preparedness and mitigation tips. Solano OES plans on sending this to residences and businesses within Solano County.
• Community Outreach Efforts: Solano OES continues to participate in community events to maximize efforts in educating the community on wildfire preparedness and mitigation.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to receive and/or reschedule this presentation; however, this alternative is not recommended as CAL FIRE requires grantee’s Boards to receive a presentation during the grant term and noncompliance may result in Solano County having to return grant funds.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Solano County Human Resources, Solano RCD, Solano Fire Safe Council and its supporting partner organizations, Solano County Resource Management, County Administrator’s Office, and the Solano County fire agencies (cities and districts).
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION