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Adopt a resolution approving continued participation in the 2025 CAL FIRE Wildfire County Coordinator Grant Program Extension for the amended grant term of May 15, 2025, through October 15, 2027, for an additional $151,500 for a total amount of $303,000; Authorize the Sheriff, Undersheriff, or Director of Administrative Services, to take any actions necessary to obtain and administer the grant and pending County Counsel concurrence, sign the Grant Subaward Amendment, sign any grant related documents, service or operational contracts, and subsequent amendments itemized in the grant expenditure plan; and Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request recognizing $151,500 in unanticipated grant revenue offset by grant appropriations to continue wildfire related efforts (4/5 vote required)
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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:
1. Adopt a resolution approving continued participation in the 2025 CAL FIRE Wildfire County Coordinator Grant Program Extension for the amended grant term of May 15, 2025, through October 15, 2027, for an additional $151,500 for a total amount of $303,000;
2. Authorize the Sheriff, Undersheriff, or Director of Administrative Services, to take any actions necessary to obtain and administer the grant and pending County Counsel concurrence, sign the Grant Subaward Amendment, any other grant related documents, service or operational contracts, and subsequent amendments itemized in the grant expenditure plan; and
3. Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request recognizing $151,500 in unanticipated grant revenue offset by grant appropriations to continue wildfire related efforts. (4/5 vote required)
SUMMARY:
In March 2026, the California Fire Safe Council (CFSC), the administering entity for CAL FIRE, released the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the 2025 CAL FIRE Wildfire County Coordinator Grant Program Extension, which supports counties in advancing wildfire mitigation outreach, coordination, and education. Solano County was awarded up to $303,000 under the Program Extension to continue this work through October 15, 2027. Solano County’s Expenditure Plan was developed through an assessment of operational needs and alignment with the program’s required deliverables.
Key activities include continuing to fund the County Coordinator position, updating the Living with Wildfire handbook, integrating with CAL FIRE, promoting the CWPP toolkit, and supporting local wildfire mitigation groups. The plan also includes participation in trainings, meetings, and statewide workshops, as well as tracking and reporting all grant-related efforts. The Office of Emergency Services (OES) will oversee implementation to ensure program goals are met efficiently.
DISCUSSION:
In March 2026, the California Fire Safe Council (CFSC), the administering entity for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), released the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the 2025 CAL FIRE Wildfire County Coordinator Grant Program Extension. This grant program provides funding to support counties in enhancing wildfire mitigation outreach, coordination, and collaboration; with a primary objective to educate the public, encourage local action, and strengthen coordination among wildfire mitigation groups operating within each county. The Program Extension builds on Solano County’s participation in the original 2025 County Coordinator Grant, which began May 15, 2025, and places an increased emphasis on countywide collaboration and cross-sector partnerships. Solano County was awarded an additional $151,500 under the Program Extension to continue and expand these efforts, with the grant term extended through October 15, 2027 for a total award amount not to exceed $303,000.
Solano County’s proposed Expenditure Plan for the 2025 CAL FIRE Wildfire County Coordinator Grant Program Extension was developed through a targeted assessment of operational needs and alignment with the required deliverables outlined in the NOFO. The plan focuses on building capacity, fostering local partnerships, and supporting strategic wildfire planning efforts over the amended grant term of May 15, 2025, through October 15, 2027.
An overview of the proposed Expenditure Plan is provided below:
County Coordinator Position - $69,000: Fund a part-time, extra-help Emergency Services Coordinator II (up to 999 hours per year) to serve as the County Coordinator, leading program implementation and ensuring alignment with county wildfire mitigation efforts. A limited portion of the supervising Coordinator - Programs/Emergency Services position’s time is also charged to the grant for program oversight and grant administration including: meet with local CAL FIRE unit and key stakeholders to share information and plan for better integration of the County Coordinator role to aid collaboration and partnership; continue updating the California Fire Safe Council (CFSC) GIS Portal with local stakeholder and partner agency information; register for and attend a CAL FIRE Qualified Entities Training on defensible space and home hardening assessments; convene a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) working group to evaluate and update the countywide CWPP using the CWPP toolkit, coordinating with local Fire Safe Councils and updated Local Responsibility Area maps to identify priority projects; report findings and next steps to stakeholders and CFSC; identify and track local wildfire mitigation groups, projects, and grants. Develop a reporting format for stakeholder updates to be shared during Fire Safe Council meetings; present the County Coordinator grant scope of work, deliverables, and anticipated impact to the Board of Supervisors, and present the updated countywide CWPP to the Board for adoption; create and maintain a tracking system to document meetings, workshops, collaborative tasks, and developed plans throughout the grant term; attend the 2026 and 2027 CFSC in-person Networking and Peer Learning Workshops in Sacramento; attend monthly CFSC-hosted virtual County Coordinator meetings; track activities and expenditures; prepare and submit required quarterly reports; work with State partners to provide the data layers required for the statewide CWPP boundary and attribute database, and continue contributing local stakeholder and partner data to the CFSC GIS Networking Portal; continue contributing local stakeholder and partner data to the CFSC GIS Networking Portal; review wildfire information that is shared across the county and expand outreach to non-traditional and historically under-represented partners, including community-based organizations, homeless prevention teams, code compliance, and utility providers, to reach populations most at risk from wildfire.
Living with Wildfire Handbook Update - $55,000: Review and update the Living with Wildfire handbook - produced through contracted graphic design, printing, and multilingual translation services - to reflect current local conditions, best practices, and community needs.
Expanded and Inclusive Community Outreach - $27,500: Review how wildfire information is shared across the county and expand outreach to non-traditional and historically under-represented partners, including community-based organizations, homeless prevention teams, code compliance, and utility providers, to reach populations most at risk from wildfire
The Office of Emergency Services (OES) will manage all aspects of program implementation and provide oversight to ensure grant compliance, impact, and fiscal accountability.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The 2025 CAL FIRE Wildfire County Coordinator Grant Program Extension provides Solano County with up to $151,500 in additional grant funds. This Appropriation Transfer Request would recognize the $151,500 unanticipated Program Extension grant revenue and increase the grant related appropriations. Board approval will not impact the County General Fund. Grant expenditures will be reimbursed by CAL FIRE on a quarterly basis and will not significantly impact the County’s cash flow.
The cost associated with preparing the agenda item is nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2026/27 Working Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board of Supervisors could choose not to authorize participation in the grant program; however, this alternative is not recommended as non-participation may negatively impact the County’s wildfire mitigation efforts. Additionally, this alternative is not fiscally prudent as funds would be redistributed to other counties and without these funds, the Sheriff’s Office does not have sufficient appropriations to carry out the activities.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Coordination with local fire agencies and wildfire related community groups, as appropriate.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION