To: Board of Directors
From: Lewis Broschard, Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Report Title: 2022 CAL FIRE County Coordinator Grant Program extension through December 31, 2024. 
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Fire Chief, or designee, to apply for an extension for the 2022 California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) County Coordinator Statewide Grant Program, to extend the performance period from August 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024 and allow the Fire District to spend the remaining funds from the original grant award of $175,000.
FISCAL IMPACT:
100% State Grant Funds. This action extends the period of performance for this grant to provide revenue to cover the costs of the District hosting the County Coordinator position through December 31, 2024. This grant does not require a local agency match.
BACKGROUND:
On November 8, 2022, the Board authorized and approved the Fire Chief to apply to the California Fire Safe Council for the 2022 CAL FIRE County Coordinator Statewide Grant Program for a one-time, 18-month grant of $175,000; CAL FIRE awarded the grant to the District on January 20, 2023.
On February 7, 2023, the Board authorized and approved the Fire Chief, or designee, to execute the California Fire Safe Council Subaward Agreement (Contra Costa County Coordinator Project 2022 CAL FIRE CC STATEWIDE Subaward #423343) providing the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District total funding in an amount not to exceed $175,000 for wildfire prevention planning.
Currently, the California Fire Safe Council (CFSC) is accepting grant extension applications for the 2022 CAL FIRE County Coordinator Statewide Grant Program. The applications are intended to fund up to 21 counties for a one-time, 6-month grant extension. If awarded, the Fire District will continue to use the grant funds to pay the part-time, non-benefited, contractor to serve as the County Coordinator; as well as the costs for supplies, outreach materials, administrative costs, travel, and other meeting expenses.
Deliverables for the program include:
• Identifying, summarizing, and reporting on local groups, grants, and projects within each county at the onset on the grant project, within the grant period, and at the conclusion of the grant project;
• Tracking and monitoring collaboration efforts, tasks, meetings, workshops, and plans developed by the County Coordinator during the project window;
• Preparing and submitting quarterly programmatic and fiscal reports; and
• Updating GIS Networking Portal Project data files, which may include project maps and lists of mitigation groups.
• Host one annual collaborative Wildfire Mitigation Program event/workshop that includes Contra Costa County stakeholders (including Fire Safe Councils, Resource Conservation Districts, and Firewise Communities).
The County Coordinator is responsible for developing plans and recommendations related to wildfire prevention and for collaboration amongst participating public and non-profit agencies; assisting in new fire safe council and associated group formations; participating in quarterly meetings with California Fire Safe Council staff, state/regional/county coordinators, and other interested wildfire mitigation groups; and producing project deliverables. The County Coordinator may also assist in managing local Measure X funded wildfire mitigation programs.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this action is not approved, the grant extension will not be provided and the additional costs of hosting the County Coordinator position would need to be fully covered by the District.