Title
Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board:
1) Determine that a public benefit is derived from continuing efforts that arose from the Sustainable Forest Action Coalition social/economic roundtables that began in 2014 with the United States Forest Service (Region 5) and California State University, Chico, including initiating a social/economic survey and study at the community level to gain a better understanding of the impacts of forest activities on communities that depend on forest-based commodity extraction and tourism for their economic well-being; and
2) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 192-2017 authorizing a contribution in the amount of $500 to be made payable to the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce to contribute toward the cost of conducting the social/economic survey and study.
FUNDING: Transient Occupancy Tax.
Body
DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board:
1) Determine that a public benefit is derived from continuing efforts that arose from the Sustainable Forest Action Coalition social/economic roundtables that began in 2014 with the United States Forest Service (Region 5) and California State University, Chico, including initiating a social/economic survey and study at the community level to gain a better understanding of the impacts of forest activities on communities that depend on forest-based commodity extraction and tourism for their economic well-being; and
2) Adopt Resolution xx-2017 authorizing a contribution in the amount of $500 to be made payable to the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce to contribute toward the cost of conducting the social/economic survey and study.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Sustainable Forest Action Coalition (SFAC) is a grass roots organization that was formed approximately seven years ago. SFAC connects county and community organizations and coalition participants in the healthy sustainable management of forest ecosystems, while maintaining the quality of life through healthy forests, healthy products industry, healthy communities and sustainable jobs. SFAC began as a quasi "blue-ribbon committee" in El Dorado County, in part through the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce, to address the closure of the Camino Mill in 2009. Since that time, SFAC has grown to represent 22 counties in California (including El Dorado County), 7 counties in Oregon, and 1 county in Nevada and Washington.
SFAC has worked for approximately five years with staff from the United States Forest Service Regional Office (Region 5) to bring awareness and a meaningful process to include social and economic input to all Forest Plans and individual project level National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) decisions.
In 2014 SFAC commissioned the Center for Economic Development at California State University, Chico (CED) to plan, organize, market, manage, and coordinate content of the Northeast California Forest Community Socioeconomic Roundtable.
The purpose of the economic roundtables was two-fold: (1) to collaboratively describe the unique roles and contributions of national forests to local communities; and (2) to form a consensus on a set of socioeconomic factors that are important to forest communities and that Forest Service staff can consider for inclusion in a document on regional guidance for socioeconomic NEPA analysis.
In 2014 El Dorado County contributed $500 toward the cost of the roundtables and has been closely involved with SFAC since its inception. The efforts of SFAC combined with the expertise provided by CED conducting economic roundtables and subsequent surveys and studies benefit the County by ensuring that the County participates in the discussions regarding consensus-based socioeconomic factors related to forest resources to be included in NEPA analyses.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to authorize the $500 contribution.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost associated with this item. Funding is available within this Fiscal Year 2017-18 Economic Development budget.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Provide the Chief Administrative Office-Economic Development with a copy of the Adopted Resolution signed by the Chair.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Economic Development
CONTACT
Don Ashton, CAO