Title
Planning and Building Department, Tahoe Planning and Building Division, recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign a non-financial Right of Entry Agreement between Lake Valley Fire Protection District, City of South Lake Tahoe, and the County of El Dorado for the provision of a community fire hazard reduction project on 71 County-owned parcels within the Lake Tahoe Basin, with a term to expire on November 30, 2027; and
2) Authorize the Planning and Building Department Director, or designee, to execute future, non-financial, Fuel Hazard Reduction Project Agreements with public agencies within the Tahoe Basin, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
(District 5)
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Lake Valley Fire Protection District (Lake Valley) and the City of South Lake Tahoe (City) have obtained grant funding to conduct a fire hazard reduction project to reduce fuels, increase forest health, and improve wildfire resilience on approximately 71 County-owned parcels within the south shore area of the Lake Tahoe Basin (Attachment C). The Right of Entry Agreement (Agreement) is necessary to allow Lake Valley and the City access to the County-owned properties for implementation of the fuels treatment work.
Lake Valley and City crews have expertise and experience in implementing fuels treatments in the Lake Tahoe Basin. The crews will use chainsaws/hand tools to remove intermediate and suppressed conifer species and flammable brush species to reduce the vertical and horizontal continuity of fuels. The resulting slash will be chipped and removed from the property or broadcast back on the ground to less than six (6) inches in depth. There may be limited areas where hand piling for future burning is used to dispose of slash based on topography and access. Activities on County parcels will also be subject to the following conditions:
1. No vegetation larger than 14 inches in diameter at breast height (DBH) may be removed.
2. Trees larger than 14 inches in DBH may be removed on a case-by-case basis with prior consent from the County.
3. Lake Valley/City shall comply with all applicable laws.
4. All reasonable precautions will be exercised to avoid damage and protect persons and/or property.
5. Access to the properties shall be between the hours of 6:00 AM - 8:30 PM.
6. The project activities shall not unduly prevent access to the properties and will not interfere with County activities or operations on the properties. The County will provide at minimum 48 hours’ notice to Lake Valley/City if any activities or operations are anticipated on the properties.
Lake Valley/City will implement best practices to ensure a safe working site and will leave the properties in good condition with as minimal erosion potential as reasonably feasible. Upon completion of the project, Lake Valley/City further agree to reasonably repair any damage or destruction to roads, fences, or other property structures negligently caused by their implementation of the project. Lake Valley/City shall not seek to recover from County the costs of any remediation or damages to the properties incurred due to actions taken pursuant to this Agreement.
Your Board previously approved signature delegation authority for fuel reduction hazard projects with the Tahoe Conservancy. This item will extend signature authority to fuel reductions projects with other public agencies in the Tahoe Basin.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board may choose not to approve the Agreement, which would prevent Lake Valley and the City from accessing the 71 County-owned parcels and performing fuels reduction treatment work. As a result, the treatment effectiveness and fire resiliency on non-County parcels would not be as advantageous.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel, Lake Valley Fire Protection District, City of South Lake Tahoe
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County cost associated with this Agreement as there are no costs or funding requirements.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) The Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair’s signature on one (1) copy of the Agreement; and
2) The Clerk of the Board will forward the executed Agreement to Brendan Ferry, Planning and Building Department, for further processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Safe and Healthy Communities
Priority: Strengthen Emergency Response Capabilities and Effectiveness
Action Item: Develop and implement community disaster preparedness programs and initiatives, engaging with community partners and stakeholders
CONTACT
Brendan Ferry, Chief Deputy Director
Planning and Building Department