Title
Planning and Building Department recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign a budget transfer amending the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget, adjusting appropriations for intrafund transfers, operating transfers, grounds maintenance, and contingency related to the removal of a downed tree within an El Dorado County rare plant property. (4/5 vote required)
FUNDING: Eco Preserve funds.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
El Dorado County’s (County) Rare Plant Endowment Fund (Fund) is a long-term funding source used to support the ongoing maintenance and management of rare plant habitat within the County’s ecological preserves, including the Pine Hill Preserve. The Fund is built from rare-plant mitigation fees paid by developers, with the goal of generating sustainable interest income to cover annual costs such as vegetation management, site cleanup, security, and preservation of habitat for several state and federally listed plant species. The County has used the endowment for specialized maintenance projects on preserve lands, and financial planning documents estimate the level of endowment needed to reliably fund yearly stewardship activities.
In September 2025, it was reported that a tree located on a County rare plant property (Assessor’s Parcel Number 109-230-012) fell and became lodged within another tree, posing a risk of falling onto an adjacent industrial private property toward emergency shut offs for the fuel and power on the property. With assistance from the Chief Administrative Office, Facilities Division, the County successfully removed the hazardous tree.
The County may utilize Rare Plant Endowment Funds to cover the costs associated with the tree removal because the rare plant subject parcel is within or pending enrollment in the Pine Hill Preserve. A budget transfer for the $20,000 estimated tree removal cost is required to accurately reflect appropriations for intrafund transfers, operating transfers, grounds maintenance, and contingency related to this tree removal.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could decline to approve the requested budget transfer, and the General Fund would not be reimbursed for the completed work.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Chief Administrative Office, Facilities Division
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The cost of removing the tree is expected to be approximately $20,000. The budget transfer will increase intrafund and operating transfers that will allow for the General Fund to reimbursed for those expenses with funds from the Rare Plant Endowment Fund.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
The Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair's signature on the original budget transfer and will forward the budget transfer to the Auditor-Controller for processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Thea Graybill, Planning Manager, Long Range Planning
Planning and Building Department