Title
Planning and Building Department recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign a letter to the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection appointing Tiffany Schmid, Director of the Planning and Building Department, as El Dorado County's authorized primary designee and Anne Novotny, Deputy Director of Planning, as El Dorado County's authorized secondary designee to review Timberland Conversion Permits (or equivalent) and Less Than 3 Acre Conversion Exemptions.
FUNDING: N/A
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On December 18, 2018, the County received a request from the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection for the County’s authorized designee to review and approve a Less Than 3 Acre Conversion Exemption.
On October 10, 2017, the County Board of Supervisors appointed Roger Trout, former Director of the Planning and Building Department, as the County’s authorized designee to review Timberland Conversion Permits (or equivalent) and Less than 3 Acre Conversion Exemptions for CAL FIRE and the California Board of Forestry. (Refer to Legistar File No. 17-1017, Attachment C).
Roger Trout retired from the County in September 2018. Tiffany Schmid is now the current Director of the Planning and Building Department.
Traditionally, Timberland Conversion Permits and Less Than 3 Acre Conversion Exemptions have been reviewed by the Planning Department for compliance with local regulations. Registered Professional Foresters (RPFs) will prepare the applications with the local authorities providing acknowledgement that the timber operation is compliant with local regulations. Although this had not been a formalized process in the past, the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection sent the County a letter dated August 23, 2017 requesting the County formally appoint an authorized designee in order to improve the communication between the RPFs, local jurisdictions, CAL FIRE, and the State Board of Forestry. (Refer to Legistar File No. 17-...
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