Title
Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 073-2021 to form a local coalition with Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Mariposa and Tuolumne Counties to address fire preparedness, forest health and community resilience.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
In December 2019, county administrative officers from Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Mariposa, Tuolumne, and El Dorado counties discussed forming a regional coalition to address fire preparedness, forest health, and community resilience. The Board of Supervisors at Alpine, Mariposa, and Tuolumne counties have already approved resolutions to create local coalitions. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the coalition was placed on hold in El Dorado County in order to address the immediate impact of the pandemic. As fire season begins this year, the coalition is being brought to the Board for discussion.
This coalition would bring a louder voice to the issue of fire safety in El Dorado County and the surrounding region. Rural counties face similar challenges in addressing severe and persistent fire danger. The coalition would allow the six counties to coordinate efforts and advocate at the state level through the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC).
El Dorado County faces unique hardships when dealing with fire safety due to high amounts of tree mortality, a significant number of senior citizens, and a large portion of residents living in the Wildland Urban Interface, or a zone where structures meet with undeveloped wildland or vegetative fuels.
The County’s Strategic Plan calls for improved communication and coordination between public safety and other agencies, including the effective non-emergency coordination of communication and data sharing between agencies to improve public safety. This coalition is aligned with the goals of the Strategic Plan by improving cooperation and coordination between similar counties.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to join the coalition of counties.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION
CAO recommends the Board approve the resolution and join the local coalition.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
N/A
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety
CONTACT
Sue Hennike, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer