Title
Supervisor Briggs recommending Board:
1) Consider funding in the amount not to exceed $2,000, to El Dorado Transit for the purposes of bus transportation for members and staff of the California State Legislature, County of El Dorado and outside agency representatives to tour the King Fire area; and
2) If approved, direct staff to facilitate payment from the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors Department budget.
FUNDING: General Fund.
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Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost
There is no change to Net County Cost. Funds that will be used are already budgeted in the FY 2014-15 Budget.
Background
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy, in partnership with the USDA Forest Service, has scheduled a tour of the King Fire area for members and staff of the California State Legislature, the County of El Dorado and outside agencies.
The purpose of the tour is to provide state and local policy makers with a tour of the King Fire area to view the resulting damage and loss to public and private properties, watersheds, infrastructure and the environment in order to have a better understanding of the impact and the short and long term requirements for restoration.
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) is a California state agency created by bi-partisan legislation with the understanding that the environmental, economic and social well-being of the Sierra Nevada and its communities are closely linked. The SNC supports the Sierra Nevada Region by providing funding for local projects and offering technical assistance and other support for collaborative projects in partnership with local government, nonprofit organizations and Tribal entities. Activities supported contribute to program objectives that include reducing the risk of natural disasters, including wildfire; protecting and improving water and air quality; assisting the regional economy; and providing increased opportunity for tourism and recreation in the area.
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy Region is made up of all or part of 22 California counties, covering over 25 million acres. The 22 counties are organized into six subregions. The County of El Dorado is part of the Central Sierra Subregion that includes the Counties of Nevada, Placer and Yuba. Supervisor Briggs is the County of El Dorado's appointed representative to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and has represented the Central Sierra Subregion counties on the SNC Governing Board for two years.
The perimeter of the King Fire area stretches across over 97,000 acres, directly impacting land within three of the county's supervisorial districts and into Placer County. Damage and losses resulting from the fire will have short and long term economic, environmental and social impacts throughout the entire county and the surrounding region.
Reasons for Recommendation
Supervisor Briggs, therefore, recommends that the Board consider authorizing funding from the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors Department budget to provide the transportation services in support of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy's efforts to educate state and local policy makers and assist the County of El Dorado and the region in restoration efforts. The intent of the tour is to provide information to state and local officials that will assist in the development of policies to prevent future wildfire disasters as well as improve future response, support and restoration efforts.