Agenda

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Finance Committee

Meeting Date:	11/09/2021
FROM:	Bill Gallardo

Subject:

Grant Agreement with State of California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for Fire Prevention Grant

RECOMMENDATION

Approve a resolution accepting the grant and include the appropriate budget adjustments for FY 2021-22 in the Second Quarter Budget Adjustments.

BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION

Through the California Climate Investments (CCI) Fire Prevention Grant Program, CAL FIRE provides funding for local projects and activities that address the risk of wildfire and reduce wildfire potential to forested and forest adjacent communities. CAL FIRE’s Fire Prevention Grants enable local organizations such as fire safe councils to implement activities that address the risk of wildfire and reduce wildfire potential for communities. Funded activities include fuel reduction, wildfire planning and fire prevention education. The projects meet the goals and objectives of California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, as well as the State’s Strategic Fire Plan.

The City of Brea Fire Department applied for and was awarded a Fire Prevention grant in the amount of $436,432. The City of Brea’s Fire Prevention Project will encompass a range of fire prevention and planning activities, with a focus on strengthening the City’s Weed/Wildland Abatement program. The scope of this planning and prevention work will include analyzing structure ignition potential in all WUI areas in the City of Brea designated as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (including the Brea Canyon SRA); making mitigation recommendations; assessing the potential for structure ignition in the City’s Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas; developing written materials on mitigation techniques for the City’s WUI areas; identifying appropriate construction methods and materials to reduce the risk of structure ignition in the City’s WUI areas; code enforcement in the City’s WUI areas; and targeted brush removal activities in Carbon Canyon as a secondary project component.

The requested grant will fund one (1) full-time Wildfire/Prevention Specialist to carry out risk assessments; analysis of structure ignition potential; development of written educational materials; and code enforcement in the WUI year-round. In addition, coordinate road grading to improve emergency ingress and egress of fire access roads, firefighting capabilities, and fuels reduction by brushing back such access roads. The actual work of the repair and maintenance of the access roads along with brush clearance will be carried out by a qualified contractor. This will enable the Department to meet the need for year-round fire prevention, risk assessment, and vegetation management efforts in accordance with the lengthening fire season in California and renewed onset of drought conditions that will further heighten fire risk.

SUMMARY/FISCAL IMPACT

There will be a fiscal impact resulting in a budget adjustment for this fiscal year and costs included in subsequent fiscal years. These costs will be offset by the grant funds being accepted.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED

William Gallardo, City Manager
Prepared by: Lisa Keyworth, Disaster Preparedness Coordinator
Concurrence: Adam Loeser, Fire Chief

Attachments
Agreement