TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: David Shew, Fire Administrator
REPORT BY: J.R. Rogers, Assistant Fire Administrator
SUBJECT: Agreement with Napa Communities Firewise Foundation
RECOMMENDATION
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Approve and authorize Agreement No. 250340B with Napa Communities Firewise Foundation to project manage and implement the 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. (Fiscal Impact: $1,605,000 Expense; Fire Fund; Budgeted; Discretionary)
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BACKGROUND
Napa County has been preliminarily awarded the 2024 Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through a congressional earmark by Congressman Mike Thompson. The grant requires the completion of environmental studies, allowed under pre-award, for final award. The grant award is $1,383,069, with local matching funds from Napa County in the amount of $461,023, totaling $1,844,092. The funds are targeted for the Lake Hennessey & Deer Park Fuel Reduction and Community Infrastructure Protection Project. These projects will span a total of three years, with two potential extensions of twelve months each.
The Lake Hennessey project is a 120.5 acre project designed to enhance the fire resiliency of the City of Napa Water Treatment Plant, that services much of the Napa Valley, and reduces fuel along an evacuation route that services the Conn Valley community. The Deer Park Fuel Reduction project services 84 acres on Glass Mountain removing dead and dying trees affected by the 2020 Glass Fire and creates a fuel break for the Deer Park Community and Adventist Health St. Helena Hospital.
As a part of the Pre-Award, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was created to select a consultant. The consultant would facilitate the environmental requirements of CEQA/NEPA for final award, project management for the life of the grant and to obtain right-of-entry agreements and contracts on a task order basis. Napa Communities Firewise Foundation (NCFF) was the lowest responsible bidder. NCFF shall work with the Napa County Fire to facilitate and implement the grant to its completion.
Requested Actions:
1. Approve and authorize an agreement with NCFF to project manage and implement the 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Grant program through March 11, 2028.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
Yes |
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Where is it budgeted? |
Fire Fund 2100 |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
This Agreement will help meet County goals to improve wildfire preparedness and prevention efforts. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
This Agreement will set the stage for expenditure of future funding to help homeowners reduce wildfire risk to structures and property. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
Without this Agreement, the risk of wildfire impacts in the County will continue to increase, potentially resulting in larger impacts from future wildfires. |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The action is not a project as defined by California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and/or exempt under sections 15301 and 15304, subds. (a) and (i), [See Class 1 (“Existing Facilities”) and Class 4 (“Minor Alterations to Land”)] and, therefore, CEQA is not applicable.