Title
Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience, a division of the Chief Administrative Office, recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Agreement 10506 with the El Dorado County Fire Safe Council for the disbursement of funds authorized through Title III of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act for the purpose of funding fire prevention and planning projects, with a term of September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2029;
2) Authorize the Contract Administrator to issue a letter to the El Dorado County Fire Safe Council for the purpose of determining the funding amounts for federal fiscal years 2026, 2027, and 2028, contingent upon County’s receipt of allocated Title III funds and consistent with the Board-approved budget regarding the allocation of Title III funds; and
3) Authorize the Purchasing Agent, or designee, to execute any further documents determined necessary related to Agreement 10506, including amendments which do not increase the not-to-exceed amount or term of the Agreement, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
FUNDING: Title III Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act funds.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act (Act) was first enacted by Congress to stabilize funding to counties for road maintenance and public schools in recognition of the decline in revenue from timber sales on federal lands. This Act has been reauthorized by Public Law 115-141 to expand the authorized uses of these funds, which includes the following purposes:
• Carrying out activities under the Firewise Communities Program
• Reimbursing the participating county for search and rescue and other emergency services, including firefighting and law enforcement patrols
• Covering training costs and equipment purchases directly related to the emergency services described above
• Developing and carrying out community wildfire protection plans
On June 21, 2022 (Legistar file 22-1022), the Board directed that all funding received from the Act (or otherwise referred to as Title III funds) for Fiscal Year 2021-22 be directed to the El Dorado County Fire Safe Council (EDCFSC) for the purpose of funding fire prevention and planning projects. The disbursement of the full allocation of Title III funds for Fiscal Year 2021-22 (federal fiscal year 2021) in the amount of $120,641 was completed under the County’s existing Agreement 4758 with the EDCFSC.
On June 13, 2023 (Legistar file 23-1120), as part of the Fiscal Year 2023-24 recommended budget, the Board directed that County’s full Title III funding allocation be directed to the EDCFSC for federal fiscal year 2022 as a result of funding the Sheriff’s search and rescue activities and costs through other funding in lieu of using Title III funds.
On April 2, 2024 (Legistar file 24-0227) the Board approved Agreement 8460 with the EDCFSC to continue the disbursement of Title III funds for federal fiscal years 2022 through 2025. The 2022 Title III award of $140,141.29 was disbursed in May 2024, and the 2023 Title III award of $144,187.50 was disbursed in January 2025.
Due to Federal budget delays in 2025, the Title III awards for 2024 and 2025 were delayed. In February 2026, the 2024 award of $145,160.74 and 2025 award of $135,734.11 were issued to the County. A Public Notice pursuant to Public Law 110-343 was posted, inviting public comment for 45 days on proposed Title III projects. This Notice stated that the County elected to set aside half of the funding to the EDCFSC and the other half to El Dorado County Search and Rescue due to changes in the budget for the Sheriff’s search and rescue activities. No public comments were received during this period. A memo dated August 6, 2026, was sent to EDCFSC stating that the County has elected to provide $152,441.19 to the El Dorado County Fire Safe Council for fire prevention and planning projects under Sections 302(a)(1) and 302(a)(3), as specified under Article I, Payment and Use of Funds, of Agreement 8460, which is comprised of $72,580.37 for Federal Fiscal Year 2024, $67,867.05 for Federal Fiscal Year 2025, and $11,993.77 in interest and fund balance.
The funding split between EDCFSC and Search and Rescue is included in the Board-approved Fiscal Year 2026-27 Recommended Budget. The EDCFSC amounts for these allocations is in the process of being disbursed under the prior Agreement 8460. Any remaining Title III funds disbursed to EDCFSC pursuant to Agreement 8460 that are unexpended as of August 31, 2026, will be administered under Agreement 10506 if this agreement is approved.
Staff recommends the Board approve Agreement 10506 with EDCFSC. As indicated in the previous agreement, Agreement 10506 specifies that contributions for future federal fiscal years (2026, 2027, and 2028) shall be determined by the County’s Chief Budget Officer, or designee, and issued via a letter to the EDCFSC. Before any funding is distributed, it will first be approved by the Board through the budget.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board may choose not to approve the proposed Agreement or provide staff with direction for alternative allocation and/or allocation amounts of the Title III funding.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
The Board has previously taken the following actions related to the authorized allocation and disbursements of Title III funds:
• Legistar file 13-1542 - July 15, 2014 - The Board directed that Title III funds shall be split evenly between the Sheriff’s Office and the EDCFSC
• Legistar file 13-1542 - January 12, 2016 - The Board approved Amendment V to Agreement 228-F1111, extending the term to June 30, 2017
• Legistar file 19-1359 - October 8, 2019 - The Board reaffirmed its previous direction of splitting Title III funds and directed staff to draft an agreement with the EDCFSC
• Legistar file 20-1100 - September 1, 2020 - The Board approved Agreement 4758 with the EDCFSC with a term of three (3) years and in the amount of $156,469 for federal fiscal year 2020
• Legistar file 22-1022 - June 21, 2022 - The Board directed that the full Title III funding allocation for federal fiscal year 2021 be directed to the EDCFSC
• Legistar file 23-1120 - June 21, 2022 - The Board directed that the full Title III funding allocation for federal fiscal year 2022 be directed to the EDCFSC
• Legistar file 23-1249 - August 29, 2023 - The Board approved Agreement 7598 to disburse the Title III funding in the amount of $140,141.29 to the EDCFSC
• Legistar file 24-0227 - April 2, 2024 - The Board Approved Agreement 8460 to disburse Title III funding in the amount of $140,141.29 to the EDCFSC.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel
Chief Administrative Office
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost Associated with this item. Future disbursements for the remaining term of this Agreement utilizing the Title III funding will be made consistent with the Board’s direction and adoption of the subsequent years’ recommended budgets.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Obtain the Chair’s signature on two original copies of Agreement 10506;
2) Forward one fully-executed original Agreement to the Chief Administrative Office, Procurement and Contracts Division, for further processing; and
3) Forward one copy of the Agreement to the Chief Administrative Office, Central Fiscal Division, Attention: Ambria Hamilton, for further processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Tanya Harlow, Program Manager
Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience