Title
a. Approve and authorize the Resource Management Agency Director or designee to execute two (2) Memoranda of Understanding (State Form FC-31) with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for a term of one-(1) year for the use of Gabilan and Cuesta Conservation Camp crews to provide special fire suppression/reduction, flood protection efforts, and other activities in Monterey County parks, lakes, County Service Areas, County Road Rights-of-Way, and areas threatened by floodwaters;
b. Approve and authorize the RMA Director or designee to execute and submit Conservation Camp Program Project Request and Record (State Form FC-32), on an as needed project basis to authorize individual project work and payment for a total amount not to exceed $10,000 per project, or a combined fiscal year aggregate amount not to exceed $100,000; and
c. Authorize the RMA Director or designee to execute and submit two (2) annual CAL FIRE Memoranda of Understanding (State Form FC-31) for the use of Gabilan and Cuesta Conservation Camp crews to provide special fire suppression/reduction, flood-protection efforts, and other activities in Monterey County parks, lakes, County Service Areas, County Road Rights-of-Way, and areas threatened by floodwaters and Conservation Camp Program Project Request and Record (State Form FC-32) on an as-needed project basis to authorize individual project work and payment for a total amount not to exceed $10,000 per project, or a combined fiscal year aggregate amount not to exceed $100,000, for a maximum of five (5) years where there are no substantive changes to the terms and conditions of FORMs FC-31 and FC 32, subject to review and approval of County Counsel as to form and legality.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Resource Management Agency Director or designee to execute two (2) Memoranda of Understanding (State Form FC-31) with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for a term of one-(1) year for the use of Gabilan and Cuesta Conservation Camp crews to provide special fire suppression/reduction, flood protection efforts, and other activities in Monterey County parks, lakes, County Service Areas, County Road Rights-of-Way, and areas threatened by floodwaters;
b. Approve and authorize the RMA Director or designee to execute and submit Conservation Camp Program Project Request and Record (State Form FC-32), on an as needed project basis to authorize individual project work and payment for a total amount not to exceed $10,000 per project, or a combined fiscal year aggregate amount not to exceed $100,000; and
c. Authorize the RMA Director or designee to execute and submit two (2) annual CAL FIRE Memoranda of Understanding (State Form FC-31) for the use of Gabilan and Cuesta Conservation Camp crews to provide special fire suppression/reduction, flood-protection efforts, and other activities in Monterey County parks, lakes, County Service Areas, County Road Rights-of-Way, and areas
threatened by floodwaters and Conservation Camp Program Project Request and Record (State Form FC-32) on an as-needed project basis to authorize individual project work and payment for a total amount not to exceed $10,000 per project, or a combined fiscal year aggregate amount not to exceed $100,000, for a maximum of five (5) years where there are no substantive changes to the terms and conditions of FORMs FC-31 and FC 32, subject to review and approval of County Counsel as to form and legality.
SUMMARY:
Authorizing the Resource Management Agency (RMA) Director or designee to sign the two (2) Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) will allow the RMA to utilize conservation crews assigned to the Gabilan and Cuesta Conservation Camps for special labor-intensive projects related to maintenance of Monterey County Parks, including Lake San Antonio and Lake Nacimiento in San Luis Obispo County; County Service Areas (CSAs); County-owned open space, public rights-of-way along County-maintained roads and properties threatened by floodwaters.
DISCUSSION:
Under the CAL FIRE Conservation Camp Program, conservation crews can be used by local governmental jurisdictions for special projects. The primary mission of the program is to support federal, state, and local government agencies as they respond to emergencies such as fires, floods, and other natural or manmade disasters. RMA has used this program for vegetation clearing along public rights-of-ways adjacent to County roads; wildfire fuel abatement in CSA open space, drainage ditches, and creek bottoms; and in emergency flood situations for sandbag creation and placement. CSA 15 Serra Village & Toro Park, CSA 17 Rancho Tierra Grande, CSA 45 Oak Hills, CSA 50 Rio Way Tract 2, Toro Park, San Lorenzo Park, Lake San Antonio, Lake Nacimiento, and Public Works Road Maintenance have benefited from this program.
Each year, CAL FIRE requires a new MOU with the County that includes certain State standard provisions. For projects implemented each year pursuant to the MOU, CAL FIRE requires Conservation Camp Program Project Request and Record forms (State Form FC32) to be executed. Project-specific information captured on the State Form FC32, includes, but is not limited to, project name, project location, estimated number of project workdays, project benefit assessment, and operational cost recovery at a daily rate. RMA will identify projects where CAL FIRE crew assistance is required and complete and submit the required State Form FC32s to CAL FIRE.
The MOU for the Gabilan Conservation Camp (Attachment A) allows for provision of services in Monterey County. State Form FC32s, (Attachment B) includes projects currently identified in County Parks locations within Monterey County at Lake San Antonio-South Shore; Lake San Antonio-North Shore; Royal Oaks Park; Jacks’ Peak Park; Toro Park; Manzanita Park; San Lorenzo Park. Additional projects have been identified in the following County Service Areas: CSA 15 Serra Village & Toro Park; CSA 17 Rancho Tierra Grande; CSA 50 Rio Way Tract 2; CSA 66 Oak Tree Views; and CSA 72 Las Palmas Ranch. Additional projects will be scoped as identified.
The MOU for the Cuesta Conservation Camp, (Attachment C) allows for provision of services in San Luis Obispo County. State Form FC32, (Attachment D) includes one County Parks project currently identified at Lake Nacimiento in San Luis Obispo County. Additional projects will be scoped as needed.
The proposed action would allow the RMA Director or designee to sign the MOUs and FC32s with CAL FIRE for projects identified for completion in Fiscal Year 2019-20. The proposed action would also allow the RMA Director or designee to sign future CAL FIRE MOUs, which are issued annually, and associated State Form FC32s, authorizing individual project work and payment where the individual projects do no exceed $10,000 or the combined fiscal year annual aggregate does not exceed a total amount of $100,000 per MOU.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Offices of the County Counsel-Risk Management and Auditor-Controller have reviewed and approved each MOU as to form and legality and fiscal provisions, respectively.
FINANCING:
Sufficient funding is available in the respective Fiscal Year 2019-20 Adopted Budgets for the identified projects listed herein: Fund 056 CSA 15 Serra Village/Toro Park, Appropriation Unit RMA052, Budget Unit 8198; Fund 057 CSA 17 Rancho Tierra Grande, Appropriation Unit RMA053, Budget Unit 8198; Fund 077 CSA 50 Rioway Tract #2, Appropriation Unit RMA073, Budget Unit 8198; Fund 087 CSA 66 Oak Tree Views, Appropriation Unit RMA083, Budget Unit 8198; Fund 091 CSA 72 Las Palmas Ranch, Appropriation Unit RMA087, Budget Unit 8198; General Fund 001 All County Parks & Lake San Antonio, Appropriation Unit RMA104, Budget Unit 8150; and Fund 452 Lake Nacimiento, Appropriation Unit RMA102, Budget Unit 8477.
For future MOU’s, RMA will request appropriations during the annual budget process which requires the Board of Supervisors’ approval.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
The recommended action supports BOS Strategic Initiatives for: 1) Infrastructure by keeping road rights-of-way free of encroaching vegetation and improving the functionality of drainage systems by keeping them clear of debris, obstructions, and excess vegetation; and 2) Public Safety by providing vegetation clearance and management which can reduce the risk of wildfire and provides greater access to County park trails, lakes and open space; and enabling flood protection efforts in emergency flood situations for sandbag creation and placement.
__ Economic Development
__ Administration
__ Health & Human Services
X Infrastructure
X Public Safety
Prepared by: Dona Luna, RMA Administration Management Analyst II, (831) 755-5455
Prepared by: Dalia Mariscal-Martinez, RMA Administration Management Analyst III
Reviewed by: Melanie Beretti, RMA Services Manager
Approved by: Shawne Ellerbee, RMA Deputy Director of Administrative Services
Approved by: Carl P. Holm, AICP, RMA Director
Attachments:
Attachment A-MOU CAL FIRE, FC-31, Gabilan Conservation Camp
Attachment B-CAL FIRE FC-32, Gabilan Conservation Camp
Attachment C-MOU, CAL FIRE, FC-31, Cuesta Conservation Camp
Attachment D-CAL FIRE FC-32, Cuesta Conservation Camp
(Attachments on file with the Clerk of the Board)