(323) 881-2401

December 29, 1998

The Honorable Board of Supervisors
County of Los Angeles
383 Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration
500 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Dear Supervisors:

SUBJECT: ACCEPTANCE OF FEMA HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PHASE II

(ALL DISTRICTS)
(3-VOTES)

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOUR HONORABLE BOARD, ACTING AS THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT:

1. Authorize the Fire Chief to accept up to $161,360 in funding for Phase II of a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant entitled "Biological Control of Vegetation on Fuelbreaks" as shown in Attachment A.

2. Authorize the Fire Chief to approve and sign a contract for the grazing of animals to reduce fire hazards in an amount not to exceed $161,360 in accordance with Purchasing and Central Services bid and purchase protocols.

3. Approve the expenditure of funds from the Consolidated Fire Protection District of Los Angeles County (District) budget for the maintenance of the Etz-Meloy Fuelbreak located in the Santa Monica Mountains as identified in the above named FEMA grant.

The Honorable Board of Supervisors
December 29, 1998
Page 2

PURPOSE OF RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Approval of Phase II funding from FEMA will allow the District to reestablish a 113 acre portion of the Etz-Meloy Fuelbreak located in the Santa Monica Mountains and reduce fuels on approximately 120 acres of open space land in the City of Claremont's, Claremont Hills Wilderness Park. Fuelbreaks historically have been maintained using a combination of heavy equipment (dozers), herbicides and hand crew labor. The cost of hand crew labor and environmental concerns associated with both chemical applications and soil disturbances created through the use of heavy equipment have significantly reduced maintenance of fuelbreaks. This project will evaluate the use of goats as an environmentally sensitive alternative of maintaining fuelbreaks without the hazards caused by herbicides and heavy equipment.

Phase I of the project was utilized to plan, design and prepare environmental documentation necessary for FEMA's approval of ground disturbances (Phase II).

The District is charged with maintaining the Etz-Meloy Fuelbreak. In the event that the use of goats is not successful, the District will utilize prescribed fire to maintain the fuelbreak. The City of Claremont is responsible for the fuelbreak in their Wilderness Park and is working with the District to develop a Vegetation Management Plan (Attachment B). FEMA requires that the District provide documentation by the applicant's governing body of a specific commitment to maintain the project area after the grant period to preserve the reduction in wildfire hazard achieved by the project.

JUSTIFICATION:

Fuelbreaks provide firefighting agencies with an opportunity to reduce the impact of wildland fires by reducing their intensity at the top of ridges or in canyon bottoms. The Etz-Meloy Fuelbreak is located on a ridge top. By limiting heat intensity, fire fighters have an opportunity

The Honorable Board of Supervisors
December 29, 1998
Page 3

to contain a fire and thereby reduce its size. Reduced environmental damage results which typically is associated with wildfires occurring during severe weather and in heavy older fuels.

FISCAL IMPACT:

FEMA appropriated $28,006 or 75 % of Phase I costs to plan the project, prepare environmental documents and secure landowner approvals. These tasks have been performed by the District. We are awaiting the completion of FEMA's National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review and approval. FEMA also requires that the District's acquire from its governing body a commitment to maintain the project. The maintenance costs are discussed below. FEMA has set aside an additional $161,360 for Phase II pending their receipt of a commitment to maintenance and approval of NEPA documents. The District's 25 % cost share will not exceed $53,787 of in-kind services.

A contractor will be required to perform the fuel treatments identified in the grant as the number of animals required and personnel to provide 24-hour per day supervision are not available within the County system. We are aware of five (5) potential contractors who will bid on the project and perform the work.

The following table is a comparison of costs for various fuels treatment maintenance methods.

The Honorable Board of Supervisors
December 29, 1998
Page 4

The District plans to utilize prescribed fire to maintain the Etz-Meloy Fuelbreak in the event the use of goats is not successful. Prescribed burns generally utilize fire personnel during their regular work shifts. They are also used for training exercises. The maintenance costs therefore do not appreciably add to the District's fixed labor costs.

FINANCING:

Up to 75 percent of the Phase II project costs of $215,146 are covered by an approved FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant. The grant was submitted pursuant to the Wildfire Safety Panel's Recommendation #37. This grant is entitled, "Los Angeles County Fire Department Biological Control of Vegetation on Fuel Breaks", for which funding is currently obligated by FEMA in the amount of $28,006. Up to an additional $161,360 will be appropriated by FEMA upon their review and approval of NEPA documentation and a maintenance commitment.

FACTS AND PROVISIONS/LEGAL REQUIREMENTS:

The District will utilize existing personnel to flag the project boundaries using its existing staff to ensure that only properties with an approved landowner use agreement are treated. The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) has indicated in writing that they will not allow goats to be grazed on their lands. These lands consist of four parcels within the Etz-Meloy Fuelbreak. The contractor will be required to supervise the goats at all times and transport them between fuelbreak segments. The SMMNRA has indicated that they are willing to treat their properties using prescribed fire to ensure that the benefits of this project are obtained. FEMA will not fund projects that occur on Federal lands. These small parcels will be treated as part of the District's Vegetation Management Program.

The District has submitted the required NEPA documents to FEMA for their approval. Approval of our environmental documentation must be secured from FEMA prior to any ground disturbing activity. The District will make public notifications of these projects and identify where the NEPA environmental documents can be obtained for review.

The Honorable Board of Supervisors
December 29, 1998
Page 5

Fuels management is necessary to reduce the threat of major wildland fires. The State's Public Resources Code, Sections 4475-4480 provides the legal mechanism for the District to conduct Vegetation Management Projects on private land.

IMPACTS ON CURRENT SERVICES:

The use of a contractor to provide goats to reduce fuels will result in little direct impact to the District's operations. Monitoring, flagging of non-participating landowner lands and coordination with the community and adjacent organizations will be required. Only existing personnel will be utilized to support this project.

CONCLUSION:

Your Board's approval of fuelbreak maintenance provides the necessary support for FEMA to recognize biological fuels treatment projects as a possible viable solution to wildland fire problems.

Respectfully submitted,

P. MICHAEL FREEMAN

PMF:jmb

Attachments

c: Auditor-Controller

bc: Freeman, Miller-Central Files (IN TURN), Richard Solis, Escoto, Lee, Wilkinson, Spitzer, #160, #63, #94, Chron, (a:/Goatbos3.R21/wp5.1)

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