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A. RESOLUTION NO. 2014-144 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA ACCEPTING GRANT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $386,310 UNDER THE PRE-DISASTER MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM THROUGH THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA) FOR BRUSH CLEARANCE IN RICE CANYON AND AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS OR HIS DESIGNEE THE POWER TO EXECUTE IN THE NAME OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA ALL NECESSARY GRANT DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO APPLICATIONS, AGREEMENTS, AMENDMENTS TO SECURE THE GRANT FUNDS; APPROPRIATING $386,310 IN GRANT FUNDING TO THE CIP EXPENSE CATEGORY OF THE FEDERAL GRANTS FUND FOR THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED "BRUSH CLEARANCE IN RICE CANYON" CIP OP225; AND TRANSFERRING $133,333 FROM FIRE DEPARTMENT'S NON CIP PROJECTS EXPENDITURE CATEGORY TO CIP OP225. (4/5 VOTE REQUIRED)
B. RESOLUTION NO. 2014-145 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA DESIGNATING THE CITY'S AGENTS TO PROVIDE ALL NECESSARY ASSURANCES AND AGREEMENTS REQUIRED BY THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommended Action
Council adopt the resolutions
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SUMMARY
The City has been awarded a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) pre-disaster mitigation grant in the amount of $386,310 for brush clearance in the Rice Canyon Open Space Area to reduce the risk of damage to property from a wildfire. A budget appropriation of $133,333 in the Fire Department operating budget for the required City match was approved by City Council with RESO 2012-082. This action is to accept the grant, establish a new capital improvement project, appropriate funds and to designate the City's agents to provide all necessary assurances and agreements to the State of California Governor's Office of Emergency Services that administers the grant.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Development Services Director has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity qualifies for a Class 4 (i) categorical exemption pursuant to Section 15304 [Minor Alterations to Land] of the State CEQA Guidelines because the activity consists of the use of State approved grant funds for the purpose of fuel management activities which will reduce the volume of flammable vegetation within the proximity of the Rice Canyon area in the City of Chula Vista. Thus no further CEQA environmental review is required.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
Not Applicable
DISCUSSION
The City has identified wildfire/structural fire as the greatest natural hazard to Chula Vista residents. Approximately 230 homes border the Rice Canyon open space area in Rancho Del Rey. The canyon has been identified as high and very high fire hazard areas. In 2009, the City applied for a pre-disaster mitigation grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for brush removal to create a 60 foot defensible space for the Fire Department to defend these homes in the case of a wildfire.
In September, 2013, the City received notification from the State of California Governor's Office of Emergency Services that the City has been awarded a FEMA pre-disaster mitigation grant in the amount of $386,310. The state is the grantee and the City is the subgrantee.
Payment of the grant funds from the State are on reimbursement basis and the grant requires a minimum City match of $128,770. The matching funds are included in the Fiscal Year 2014-15 operating budget of the Fire Department. This action is to accept the grant and to designate the City's agents to provide all necessary assurances and agreements that are required by the State to receive the funds.
Upon acceptance of the grant, City staff would release a notice for bids to hire a contractor to perform the brush removal services. The brush removal would not begin until after September due to the bird nesting season in the canyon that runs from March until September. Once completed, the defensible space area will be maintained by Open Space District contractors via District assessments.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the property holdings of the City Council and has found no property holdings within 500 feet of the boundaries of the property which is the subject of this action. Staff is not independently aware, and has not been informed by any City Council member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision maker conflict of interest in this matter.
LINK TO STRATEGIC GOALS
The City's Strategic Plan has five major goals: Operational Excellence, Economic Vitality, Healthy Community, Strong and Secure Neighborhoods and a Connected Community. The grant supports the Strong and Secure Neighborhoods goal, which includes implementing prevention efforts to mitigate potential natural disasters to both life and property.
CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this resolution will result in the appropriation of $386,310 in the CIP category of the Federal Grants Fund; these funds will be used for brush clearance in Rice Canyon. This appropriation is offset by FEMA grant funds.
Approval of this resolution will also authorize the transfer of $133,333 from the Fire Department's Non-CIP Project expense category to the Non Departmental CIP expense category for the Brush Clearance in Rice Canyon CIP. These funds will serve as the required matching funds for the grant. There is no additional fiscal impact as a result of this action.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
There is no ongoing fiscal impact as this is a one-time grant and there is no increase in ongoing maintenance and operating costs as it involves the removal of vegetation.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Grant Award Package
2. Grant Application
Staff Contact: Silvia Cosio