Title
Supervisor Parlin recommending the Board:
1) Find that a public benefit is derived from supporting the Coloma Lotus Fire Hydrant Initiative project development; and
2) Approve and authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to sign a funding Agreement, consistent with the County’s standard form and upon the approval of County Counsel, with the South Fork Arts and Recreation - 501(c)3 nonprofit (sponsor for Coloma Lotus Fire Hydrant Initiative) authorizing payment of the $5,000 community funding contribution in support of this effort.
FUNDING: Community Funding.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Coloma Lotus Fire Hydrant Initiative will provide enhanced fire suppression capability for the Coloma / Lotus valley. This area includes >1200 residents and currently has no fire hydrants. This initiative has the support of EDC Fire, Cal Fire, EDC Fire Safe Council and the Coloma Lotus Advisory Council.
Funds will be applied to costs of developing supporting documentation for grant applications, including:
• Acquiring and recording easements required for the installation and maintenance of tank/hydrant sites.
- Acquisition, surveying, easement documentation, county recording costs
• Engineering services required to complete the tank/hydrant design for EDC Fire Station #74 and Clark Mountain Rd. sites (2 highest priority installations)
- Soil analysis, hydraulic engineering, mechanical design review
The Problem
The Lotus valley is a rural residential area of grassland and oak trees spanning about 40 sq. miles in the foothills of El Dorado County. This area is home to more than 500 households with property improvements worth <$200M. Most neighborhoods are accessed through a single, two lane road. There are no fire hydrants in this entire area, including the local Fire House (EDC Fire #74).
The Solution
Install a system of hydrants at strategic locations in the valley.
• 6 key locations have been identified
- Sites chosen based on population, traffic access pattern and distance from available hydrants.
• The Lotus Fire House will be the first priority and serve as a prototype for subsequent hydrant installations.
Design
Eldorado Irrigation District water is available for only one of the proposed hydrant sites. To reduce cost and time to completion for the rest of the sites a local agricultural irrigation ditch will be used as the water source for the hydrants.
At each hydrant site:
• The irrigation ditch will feed a 10,000 gal. water tank located next to the ditch.
• Water from the tank will be piped to the hydrant.
• Each hydrant site will be located so that a fire engine or tanker can be serviced without disrupting traffic flow.
• All design aspects will be reviewed and approved by EDC Fire.
Cost
Note: this project is scalable - each hydrant installation is a separate project.
• Fixed costs include the water storage tank and the hydrant pipe and valve.
• Site specific costs include site prep, length of pipe, cost of easement, road improvements.
• Ditch reliability and efficiency improvements will also be included as part of the project.
Project cost estimates are under development however a preliminary cost estimate is in the attachment.
Status
• All local stakeholders support this Initiative
- EDC Fire, Cal Fire, Fire Safe Council, Coloma Lotus Advisory Committee, District 4 County Supervisor
• Grant proposal is under development
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could chose not to approve funding
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Facilitate funding Agreement.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Infrastructure
Provide, operate and maintain our infrastructure, public facilities, and associated services that protect our community, environment and economic well-being
CONTACT
Lori Parlin, Shelley Wiley