1 STAFF REPORT
DATE: February 11, 2025
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Danny Alvarez, Fire Chief
SUBJECT: Authorization to Submit a Subappl ication and Match Commitment Letter to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for Federal Funding through the 2024 Post Fire Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the Burbank Fire De partment to submit a subapp lication to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) for $243,750 in federal funding through the 2024 Post Fire Hazard Mitigat ion Grant; authorize the City Manager or designee to issue a match commitment lett er guaranteeing the availability of $81,250 to satisfy the local match requirement of the grant (Attachment 2); and if awarded, authorize the Burbank Fire Department to receive and appropriate grant funds towards hazard mitigation activities.
BACKGROUND
The 2024 Post Fire Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) is a targeted funding opportunity provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to jurisdictions in counties that had a Feder al Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) declaration during the prior federal fisca l year. The program provides funding to implement wildfire mitigation activities that reduce risk to life, property, and infrastructure.
FMAG-declared counties in California that are eligible for the 2024 Post Fire HMGP include Butte, Kern, Lake, Los Angeles, Ma riposa, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Tehama. Per FEMA program gui delines, municipalities wi thin these counties with approved and adopted local hazard mitigation plans are eligible to apply as subapplicants through CalOES to fund activities that reduce the risk of natural wildfire hazards and that are compliant with environmental and historic preservation (EHP) requirements.
FIRE
DEPARTMENT
2 DISCUSSION
Fire hazard reduction and brush removal are cr itical components of wildfire mitigation strategies and aim to reduce the intensity and spread of wild fires by eliminating excess vegetation and creating defensible spaces around homes, infrastructure, and natural resources. As a jurisdiction within Los Angele s County, the City of Burbank qualifies to apply as a subapplicant through CalOES for funding from the 2024 Post Fire HMGP. The Burbank Fire Department already oversees brush clearance and vegetation management by a third-party vendor for City properties in state-designated Very Hire Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ) as well as brus h clearance inspections for private properties in these areas. The Fire Department seeks to bu ild upon its fire prevention activities by facilitating hazardous fuels removal and brush clearance beyond minimal annual maintenance conducted at three distinct sites as shown in Attachment 3:
Site 1 - Debris basin located along the Scott Way service road Site 2 - Stough Canyon Nature C enter and access road along Walnut Avenue Site 3 - Open space in upper Sunset Canyon and along Country Club Drive
The scope of work for all three sites will be consistent with the City’s requirements for brush clearance and vegetation management and will include cutting of grasses, removal or thinning of native shrubs, and tree tri mming. All work will be completed by crews on foot and with hand tools or small mechanical tools such as line trimmers and power saws.
The total funding request includes projected costs for labor and equipment, as well as administrative costs the City may incur to manage the project. If awarded, the City would have two years to complete the work and would be required to adhere to federal and local purchasing policies in contracting with a vendor to conduct brush clearance on the identified sites.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This grant is not a “project” subject to the requirements of the Ca lifornia Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 14 Cal. Code Regs § 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
Staff is requesting Council authority to appl y for $243,750 in federal funding for hazard mitigation activities, and as a requirement of the subapp lication, to issue a match commitment letter guaranteeing the availability of $81,250 as a loca l match. If awarded, matching funds will be drawn from 001. ND000.30010.0000.00000 (General Fund, Non- Departmental, Unassigned Fund Balance) and the Fiscal Year 2024- 25 Budget will be amended by appropriating $243,750 in awarded grant funds from revenue account 001.ND000.48010.0000.25108 (General Fund, Non- Departmental, Other Intergovernmental Revenue, FEMA HM GP 2024) to expenditure account 3 001.FD01A.62170.0000.25108.00000 (General Fund, Fire Prevention, Private Contractual Services, FEMA HMGP 2024), for a total appropriation of $325,000.
CONCLUSION
When approached strategically, fire hazard reduction and brush removal are not only effective in enhancing safety but also in deliv ering long-term cost savings to the City, homeowners, and the local co mmunity. Staff recommends City Council authorize submission of a subapplication for federal funding from the 2024 Po st Fire HMGP to support wildfire hazard reduction activities and authorize the City Manager or designee to issue a letter guaranteeing the availabili ty of local funds to satisfy the match requirement of the grant. If awarded, t he Burbank Fire Department will receive and appropriate grant funds towards the identified hazard mitigation activities.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – 2024 Post Fire HMGP Notice of Funding Opportunity Attachment 2 – Match Commitment Letter
Attachment 3 – Site Maps