TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Minh C. Tran - County Executive Office
REPORT BY: Kendra Bowyer - Emergency Services Officer
SUBJECT: Bay Area Air Quality Management District Grant Opportunities
RECOMMENDATION
title
County Executive Officer/Director of Emergency Services requests the following related to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) programs distributing air filtration machines and replacement filters; with an estimated value of $216,000:
1. Approval and authorization for the Chair to sign the following documents to create a Countywide network of clean air facilities to mitigate adverse public health impacts due to wildfires and other smoke events:
a. Grant Application for AB 836;
b. A Memorandum of Agreement for the Wildfire Preparedness Program; and
2. Authorization for the County Executive Officer/Director of Emergency Services or designee to be the authorized representative and County Liaison for purposes of signing documents associated with the two programs.
body
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Office of Emergency Services is seeking grant programs to distribute air filtration machines and replacement filters. The BAAQMD is offering two grant programs: 1) Assembly Bill 836 - Clean Air Centers (AB 836) and 2) Wildfire Preparedness Program (WPP). These grants will cover 100% of the cost for the units and filters. The purpose of the clean air centers are to create a network of clean air facilities across the Bay Area in order to mitigate the adverse public health impacts due to wildfires and other smoke events.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
|
Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
No |
|
County Strategic Plan pillar addressed: |
Healthy, Safe, and Welcoming Place to Live, Work, and Visit |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The purpose of the clean air centers are to create a network of clean air facilities across the Bay Area in order to mitigate the adverse public health impacts due to wildfires and other smoke events.
Clean air centers are locations where the community may gather, including, but not limited to, evacuation shelters, libraries, community centers, and public meeting locations such as the board chambers. The center will provide the community a location where they can receive clean air refuge when necessary. It also allows for continuity of government by allowing jurisdictions the ability to hold their regularly scheduled meetings. The decision on when the centers will be opened will be made by County, City and Town officials.
The BAAQMD is offering two separate grant programs that will provide the supplies necessary to operate the clean air centers.
1) Assembly Bill 836 - Clean Air Centers (AB 836)
2) Wildfire Preparedness Program (WPP)
The grant programs will cover 100% of the cost for the units and filters. The BAAQMD will purchase the machines and filters and provide them to the County. These are not considered capital assets.
The County will be required to store and maintain the units for the duration of the grant period which is five (5) years for the AB 836 grant and two (2) years for the WPP grant. Storage locations have been identified within the County and Cities, such as libraries, South Campus County facility and other city locations. Each of the County departments and the Cities/Town: City of Calistoga, City of Napa and the Town of Yountville, have identified storage locations. Additional details are found in the attachment “Clean Air Facility Locations.” The County will develop Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) with the City of Calistoga, City of Napa and the Town of Yountville. The purpose of the MOA is to designate the responsibility for maintenance, security and distribution of the machines and filters and fulfill the reporting requirements.
In order to complete the applications for the AB 836 grant, the County must submit a completed application which includes providing the BAAQMD a list of facilities to potentially be used for clean air centers, this includes their location, size, hours of operation, specifications for, quantity and total cost of units and filters requested, delivery location and each facilities’ operations plan.
In order to complete the application for the Wildfire Preparedness Program grant, the County must submit an MOA with the BAAQMD designating a County Liaison, agreeing to notify the Air District when air filtration units are deployed, submitting semi-annual reporting to the Air District, agree to take ownership of air filtration units upon receipt, safely store air filtration units, maintain inventory and asset-tag all air filtration units, train County staff on how to operate and maintain air filtration units per manufacturer specifications and conduct such maintenance pursuant to manufacturer specifications. The County must deploy air filtration units for wildfire purposes to sheltering and evacuation centers and/or other congregate locations open to the public.
The letter, if so authorized by the Board, will be signed by the County Executive Officer/Director of Emergency Services or designee. Throughout the application, grant award, and reporting processes, additional documents may need to be signed. With this action, the Board authorizes the County Executive Officer/Director of Emergency Services or designee to act as the County's representative and signatory for all documents related to these grant programs. This action is not acceptance of the grant, nor will it require any expense at this time. It is authorization to proceed and is a commitment, if approved, for products that are subsequently accepted by the County, to abide by the above listed conditions.