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March 4, 2025
ITEM TITLE
Grant Acceptance and Appropriations: Accept Grant Funds from the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation for the CVFD Fuels Crew and Chula Vista Fire Safe Council
Report Number: 25-0013
Location: No specific geographic location
Department: Fire
G.C. § 84308 Regulations Apply: No
Environmental Notice : The Project qualifies for a Categorical Exemption pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines Section 15301 Class 1 (Existing Facilities) , Section 15304 Class 4 (Minor Alterations to Land), and Section 15061(b)(3).
Recommended Action
Adopt resolutions A) Accepting the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation grant of $45,650 and appropriating funds for that purpose (4/5 vote required), and B) Accepting the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation grant of $6,550 and appropriating funds for that purpose. (4/5 vote required)
SUMMARY
The Fire Department applied for the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation Grant for assistance in supporting hazardous fuels reduction efforts and community fire education and safety awareness. San Diego Regional Fire Foundation awarded $45,650 in grant funds for the Chula Vista Fire Dep artment hazardous fuels reduction projects and awarded an additional $6,550 for Chula Vista Fire Safe Council activities.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Director of Development Services has reviewed the proposed project for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the project qualifies for a Categorical Exemption pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 Class 1 (Existing Facilities), Section 15304 Class 4 (Minor Alterations to Land), and Section 15061(b)(3) because the proposed actions would not result in a significant effect on the environment, create a cumulative impact, or damage a scenic highway. Thus, no further environmental review is required.
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BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
Not Applicable
DISCUSSION
The City of Chula Vista Hazard Mitigation Plan classifies wildfire as posing a highly significant threat to the City and its residents. Chula Vista has several residential communities and commercial structures built in and around many wildland and open space areas. A number of these structures were developed prior to the enactment of the City’s Urban-Wildland interface Code in 2000. Additionally, Chula Vista’s eastern boundary abuts a rural mountainous region that is rated as a very high fire hazard severity zone. Wildfire is rated as a “high” hazard within the City because of the amount of open space and canyon areas that are in the center city. These areas, if involved in a wildland fire, have the potential to affect much of the City’s population.
In response to the ever -increasing threat of wildfire, the Fire Department established its first ever Fuels Crew. By industry standards, a fuels crew is a group of personnel that specializes in vegetation fuel management related to vegetation fire hazar ds and risks. The mission of the Fuels Crew is to reduce the wildfire risk to the public through the Hazardous Fuels Reduction Program. This program is intended to address the City’s potential for wildfire within the wildland -urban interface and reduce the risk to life and property while fostering healthy landscapes that are resilient to wildfire.
By reducing wildfire risk, the City creates safer communities and safer places to recreate, while generating awareness for fire safety and preparedness. Additionally, by performing hazardous fuels reduction activities, aimed at keeping wildfires smaller and more manageable, the City creates a safer environment for first responders to combat wildfires and reduce the risk of loss of life and property.
The Chula Vista Fire Safe Council helps to advance the Fire Department’s mission of educating our community about fire safety. Fire Safe Councils are typically community -based organizations dedicated to reducing wildfire risks and promoting fire safety. Fire Safe Council s are formed by local residents, landowners, businesses, and government agencies who collaborate to create strategies for wildfire prevention, preparedness, and recovery in fire -prone areas. The Chula Vista Fire Safe Council seeks to educate the community, promote fire hazard reduction, partner with the Fire Department’s mission to protect life, environment, and property, and apply for grant funding to support fire safe council activities.
The San Diego Regional Fire Foundation
The mission of the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation is to make San Diego the safest county in the nation from fire related incidents. To accomplish this mission, the foundation supports programs throughout San Diego County by working closely with fire departments, community-based organizations and other partners to identify and raise funds for needs related to fire safety, preparedness, and response.
The Chula Vista Fire Department applied to the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation grant opportunity, seeking funding for an estimated eighteen-week hazardous fuel reduction project in the Otay River Valley .
The San Diego Regional Fire Foundation has allocated funding to support one -third of the cost to complete the project. The remaining two -thirds of the funding was previously allocat ed through Measure A in the annual budget of the Fuels Crew pilot program.
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The Chula Vista Fire Safe Council also applied to the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation, seeking funding for re-start up costs for supplies and equipment as well as funding for public education material and community engagement and cleanup events.
Both the Fuels Crew and Fire Safe Council applications were s uccessful, and the foundation has agreed to provide a total of $52,200 toward hazardous fuels reduction projects and Fire Safe Council activities.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site-specific and consequently, the real property holdings of the City Council members do not create a disqualifyi ng real property-related financial conflict of interest under the Political Reform Act (Cal. Gov't Code § 87100, et seq.).
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.
CURRENT-YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of resolutions A and B will result in the acceptance of a total of $52,200 from the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation and amend the fiscal year 2024-2025 budget by appropriating funds to the Fire Section of the Other Grants Fund and State Grants Fund. This will fully fund one-third of the eighteen-week project. The remaining two-thirds of the project budget is included in the fiscal year 2024-25 Measure A budget.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
There are no ongoing fiscal impacts as a result of this action.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Jan 25 CV Fuels Crew Grant Letter
2. Jan 25 CV FSC Grant Letter
Staff Contact: Marlon King, Emergency Services Manager
Harry Muns, Fire Chief
Tom Doyle, Principal Management Analyst