REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
AND RECORD OF ACTION
July 13, 2021
FROM
DAN MUNSEY, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Application for the 2020 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, take the following actions with respect to a grant application to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) as the administering agency and applicant for the 2020 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) for the purpose of securing funding to support a potential community fire hazard mitigation project in and around the mountain communities of Oak Glen, Mountain Home Village, Forest Falls, Angelus Oaks, and the Yucaipa Foothills:
1. Ratify the Fire Chief’s approval of the amended grant subapplication to CalOES, dated April 29, 2021, changing the scope of the potential community fire hazard mitigation project to also include the Yucaipa Foothills, increasing the not to exceed amount by $400,779 (from $999,221 to $1,400,000) and updating the project schedule and narrative, with all other subapplication terms remaining the same.
2. Approve the updated Local Match Fund Commitment Letter, dated July 13, 2021, that identifies the requested federal share grant amount of $1,050,000, the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District local match amount of $350,000, and the funds availability date of July 13, 2021.
3. Approve the updated Project Maintenance Letter, dated July 13, 2021.
4. Continue to find the potential community fire hazard mitigation project and expenditure of HMGP and San Bernardino County Fire Protection District funds on public and private properties in and around the mountain communities of Oak Glen, Mountain Home Village, Forest Falls, Angelus Oaks, and, as part of the amended subapplication, these communities and the Yucaipa Foothills:
a. Accomplishes the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District purposes identified in Health and Safety Code section 13862 of fire protection, as well as the protection of lives and property; and
b. Meets the public safety needs of the population of the County of San Bernardino pursuant to Government Code section 26227.
5. Continue to authorize the Fire Chief/Fire Warden to proceed with the following actions on behalf of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District in relation to the 2020 HMGP:
a. Execute and file documents with CalOES for submittal of the grant subapplication.
b. Act as signatory for the grant reimbursement claims, performance reports, and other documents required to administer the grant.
c. Execute any non-substantive grant amendments to extend the performance timelines upon review of County Counsel.
6. Continue to authorize the Fire Chief/Fire Warden to execute any non-substantive amendments in relation to the 2020 HMGP subapplication upon review by County Counsel.
7. Continue to direct the Fire Chief/Fire Warden to transmit all documents and amendments in relation to the 2020 HMGP subapplication to the Clerk of the Board of Directors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Dan Munsey, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, 387-5779)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Improve County Government Operations.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost).
This item seeks approval to ratify the amended 2020 HMGP grant subapplication in the not-to-exceed amount of $1,400,000. The grant subapplication was increased from $999,221 to $1,400,000 in order to serve an additional community at risk, namely the Yucaipa Foothills. The $1,400,000 includes a federal share amount from CalOES of $1,050,000 (75%) and a required local match of $350,000 (25%). The 2020 HMGP grant also includes certain post-grant maintenance obligations at San Bernardino County Fire Protection District’s (SBCFPD) cost, estimated at $201,245 over a four-year period. If this grant is awarded, SBCFPD will fund the local match and post-grant maintenance commitments through the use of its available reserves.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In 2020, there were over 20 Fire Mitigation Assistance Grant (FMAG) declarations for California. The FMAG declarations provide hazard mitigation assistance directly to areas affected by wildfire through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) HMGP. The HMGP is offered by FEMA to support hazard mitigation activities to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to human life and property caused from a natural hazard event.
The Apple Fire near Oak Glen burned in excess of 33,424 acres. The El Dorado Fire, which started in Yucaipa, burned in excess of 22,744 acres. Because of these recent devastating wildfires, SBCFPD was qualified to submit a Notice of Interest (NOI) to CalOES, the administrating agency for the HMGP program, for HMGP funds. The NOI was a request for CalOES to invite SBCFPD to apply for funding under the HMGP program for a proposed project within the FMAG declared areas. On December 9, 2020, SBCFPD received notification from CalOES inviting SBCFPD to apply as a subapplicant with CalOES for the HMGP program.
On February 9, 2021 (Item No. 68), the Board of Directors (Board) approved the subapplication submission that would allow SBCFPD to apply for 2020 HMGP funding in support of hazard mitigation activities in and around the communities of Oak Glen, Mountain Home Village, Forest Falls, and Angelus Oaks. After further review and discussions with CalOES, SBCFPD has determined that the additional communities in and around Yucaipa Foothills should be added to the subapplication. This addition increases the grant funding request in the subapplication by $400,779, from $999,221 to $1,400,000. Of this new amount, the SBCFPD local match increases by $100,195, from $249,805 to $350,000. The Fire Chief signed the amended grant subapplication on April 29, 2021. Due to the substantive changes to the grant application, Board ratification of the amended grant subapplication is required. Board approval of the updated Local Match Fund Commitment Letter (Exhibit A) and Project Maintenance Letter (Exhibit B) is also required.
Approval by the Board of the updated subapplication submission will allow SBCFPD to apply for 2020 HMGP funding and potentially support hazard mitigation activities in and around the communities of Oak Glen, Mountain Home Village, Forest Falls, Angelus Oaks, and Yucaipa Foothills. The proposed project intends to prevent life and property loss by reducing the rate of fire spread and intensity accomplished through the elimination of fuels, thus protecting the mountains and surrounding communities from the devastating and catastrophic effects of wildfire by addressing defensible space measures and hazardous fuels reduction activities on public and private properties. This, in turn, protects lives and properties, as well as reduces SBCFPD emergency response activities and costs. The proposed project supports hazard mitigation activities as identified in the San Bernardino County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan approved by FEMA on July 13, 2017.
The potential community fire hazard mitigation project and expenditure of HMGP and SBCFPD funds on public and private properties in and around the mountain communities of Oak Glen, Mountain Home Village, Forest Falls, Angelus Oaks, and Yucaipa Foothills: a) accomplishes the SBCFPD purposes in Health and Safety Code section 13862 of fire protection, as well as the protection of lives and property; and b) meets the public safety needs of the population of San Bernardino County pursuant to Government Code section 26227.
If the HMGP subapplication is successful, SBCFPD will return to the Board for review of the potential project under the California Environmental Quality Act and acceptance of the 2020 HMGP funds/approval of subgrant award agreement. Any needed budget adjustments would also be requested at that time.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Scott Runyan, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on June 28, 2021; Finance (Tom Forster, Administrative Analyst, 387-4635) on June 28, 2021; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on June 30, 2021.