To: Board of Directors
From: Aaron McAllister, Deputy Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Report Title: APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Fire Chief, or designee, to submit an application to the California Fire Safe Council for an extension of the 2025 California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) County Coordinator Statewide Grant Program.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Fire Chief, or designee, to submit an application to the California Fire Safe Council for an extension of the 2025 California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) County Coordinator Statewide Grant Program. This extension will prolong the performance period from July 1, 2026, through October 15, 2027, enabling the Fire District to expend the remaining funds from the original grant award of $175,000, along with additional funds from the grant extension in the amount of $151,500, over the 15.5-month period of performance, for a total amount of $478,000.
FISCAL IMPACT:
100% State Grant Fund Revenue
This action extends the performance period of this grant to cover most costs related to hosting the County Coordinator position through October 15, 2027. The grant does not require a local agency match. Applying for this grant could also reduce expenses from the consulting line item funded by Measure X in the Wildfire Mitigation Program.
BACKGROUND:
On November 8, 2022, the Board authorized and approved the Fire Chief, or designee, 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. The Fire District was awarded the grant.
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 22 CAL FIRE CC STATEWIDE 423343), providing the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District with total funding not to exceed $175,000 for wildfire prevention planning.
On April 11, 2025, the California Fire Safe Council announced the 2025 County Coordinator Grant Program, which provided an extension for existing programs. The purpose of the County Coordinator Grant is to educate, encourage, and promote countywide collaboration and coordination among wildfire mitigation groups. Program funding covered administrative costs related to countywide coordination efforts, including but not limited to salary, support, and administrative expenses for a designated County Coordinator.
On April 15, 2026, the California Fire Safe Council (CFSC) will start accepting applications for the 2025 County Coordinator Program Extension. The applications aim to fund up to 21 counties with a one-time, 15.5-month grant extension. If awarded, the Fire District will continue to use the grant funds to pay the salary of a part-time, non-benefited contractor serving as the County Coordinator, as well as cover costs for supplies, outreach materials, administrative expenses, travel, and other meeting-related costs.
Deliverables for the program consist of:
1. Keep a record of all active wildfire mitigation groups in the county.
2. Continue analyzing gaps in county-wide wildfire resilience and emergency preparedness, and develop recommendations to address these gaps.
3. Develop strategies to enhance outreach and coordination efforts
4. This program extension will focus on county-wide collaboration and cross-sector partnerships to support wildfire resilience planning and implementation across the state.
The County Coordinator is responsible for developing plans and recommendations related to wildfire prevention and for coordinating among participating public and non-profit agencies; assisting in the formation of new fire safe councils and related groups; taking part in quarterly meetings with California Fire Safe Council staff, state, regional, and county coordinators, and other wildfire mitigation groups; and producing project deliverables. The County Coordinator may also support managing local Measure X-funded wildfire mitigation programs.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this action is not approved, the District will need to find an alternative revenue source to fund the County Coordinator position after the current grant ends.