Title
Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience, a division of the Chief Administrative Office, recommending the Board:
1) Receive an annual update presentation by the Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience Coordination Group;
2) Receive and file the 2024 Annual Report from the Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience; and
3) Approve and endorse the 2025 Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience Annual Work Plan.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On September 21, 2021 (Legistar file 21-1515), the Board directed the Chief Administrative Office (CAO) to convene an El Dorado County Vegetation Management and Resiliency Working Group to collaborate on lessons learned, define funding streams, and initiate a robust, community-based wildfire resiliency and vegetation management program that would accelerate current County efforts, and then return to the Board with recommendation for consideration. The CAO convened this working group in November 2021, consisting of representatives from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Amador-El Dorado Unit (CAL FIRE AEU), El Dorado County Fire Safe Council, El Dorado County and Georgetown Divide Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs), El Dorado County Fire Chiefs' Association, and El Dorado County Fire Prevention Officers' Association.
On March 22, 2022 (Legistar file 22-0491), the working group presented a set of recommendations to the Board, including the creation and implementation of a strategic wildfire protection strategy for El Dorado County as well as the establishment of a dedicated wildfire resilience office within the CAO to prioritize and coordinate efforts on a countywide level based on the wildfire strategy. With the Board’s approval of these recommended actions, the Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience (OWPR) was established effective July 1, 2022. Additionally, the working group transitioned to a Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience Coordination Group (Coordination Group) for the CAO and was expanded to include additional agencies and organizations whose missions and/or statutory authorities and funding include wildfire prevention and preparedness. This Coordination Group currently consists of representation from the following agencies and organizations:
• Chief Administrative Office
• CAL FIRE Amador-El Dorado Unit
• El Dorado National Forest
• El Dorado County Fire Chiefs Association
• El Dorado County Fire Prevention Officers)
• El Dorado County Fire Safe Council
• El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services
• El Dorado and Georgetown Divide Resource Conservation Districts
• Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team
• El Dorado Water Agency
The Coordination Group worked extensively to prepare a County of El Dorado Wildfire Strategy (Wildfire Strategy), which was adopted by the Board on August 29, 2023 (Legistar file 23-1571). The purpose of this Wildfire Strategy is to serve as a comprehensive wildfire prevention and preparedness strategy for El Dorado County that fosters the creation, coordination, and maintenance of fire-adapted communities and that is in alignment with federal, state, and local policies, plans, and initiatives. While the Wildfire Strategy provides an organizational framework, identifies key work plan activities and a general strategy for the County, it’s important to note that it is intended to be a dynamic overall Wildfire Strategy and as new stakeholders, interested parties, strategic elements, initiatives, or opportunities for enhancements to improve efficiency and/or effectiveness arise, they can be incorporated into the document.
Through the development of the Wildfire Strategy, OWPR and the Coordination Group also created an OWPR Annual Work Plan (Attachment C), which is included as Appendix E of the Wildfire Strategy and outlines key initiatives for OWPR. As new priorities, tasks, or projects are identified, they are added to the Work Plan.
Since its establishment, OWPR has collaborated with the Coordination Group and other working groups formed to achieve significant milestones outlined in the Wildfire Strategy and Annual Work Plan. The purpose of this item is to provide a presentation to the Board by the Coordination Group, highlighting key accomplishments from 2024 and previewing upcoming priorities under the proposed 2025 OWPR Annual Work Plan. Additionally, OWPR is presenting its inaugural 2024 Annual Report, which provides a comprehensive summary of OWPR’s programs, progress, and accomplishments. This report highlights the collaborative and coordinated efforts of the County and its partner agencies to advance wildfire preparedness and resilience across El Dorado County.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board may choose not to approve the 2025 OWPR Annual Work Plan, make modifications, or direct staff to return to the Board at a later date.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
Legistar file 21-1515 - September 21, 2021 - Board directed the CAO to convene an El Dorado County Vegetation Management and Resiliency Working Group.
Legistar file 22-0491 - March 22, 2022 - The Working Group presented a set of recommendations to the Board, including the creation and implementation of a strategic wildfire protection strategy for El Dorado County as well as the establishment of a dedicated wildfire resilience office within the CAO to prioritize and coordinate efforts on a countywide level based on the wildfire strategy.
Legistar file 23-1571 - August 29, 2023 - County of El Dorado Wildfire Strategy was adopted by the Board.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
CAL FIRE Amador-El Dorado Unit
El Dorado National Forest
El Dorado County Fire Chiefs Association
El Dorado County Fire Prevention Officers)
El Dorado County Fire Safe Council
El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services
El Dorado and Georgetown Divide Resource Conservation Districts
Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team
El Dorado Water Agency
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost associated this item.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Tom Meyer, Program Manager
Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience