Title
Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience, a Division of the Chief Administrative Office, recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Board Chair to sign Agreement 8713 with Lake Valley Fire Protection District to provide defensible space inspection services, including education, outreach, and response to resident complaints for violations, within the Tahoe Basin in the amount of $78,750 for the period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025; and
2) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute any necessary amendments relating to Agreement 8713, excluding term extensions and increases to the not-to-exceed amount, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
FUNDING: General Fund.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
California Public Resources Code 4291 (PRC 4291) requires residents to clear hazardous vegetation on their property to provide "defensible space," against wildfire risk. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) identifies Defensible Space Inspection Areas, previously Target Hazard Areas, annually in which to conduct defensible space inspections and educate residents about their responsibilities under PRC 4291. El Dorado County Ordinance No. 5101, Chapter 8.09 Vegetation Management and Defensible Space, also establishes local requirements for maintaining defensible space. Following the Board’s adoption of Chapter 8.09 in 2019, the County has modeled its inspection program after CAL FIRE's program by identifying County Emphasis Areas (CEAs) in which to conduct proactive and focused defensible space inspections on an annual basis.
In addition to preparing updates to the County’s hazardous vegetation and defensible space requirements under Chapter 8.09 and working to enhance the County’s Defensible Space Program, the Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience (OWPR) Defensible Space Working Group is also tasked with identifying these inspection areas. For the upcoming CEA inspection cycle be...
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