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May 5, 2026
ITEM TITLE
Grant Acceptance and Appropriations: Accept Grant Funds from the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation for Chula Vista Fire Department Wildfire Mitigation Efforts Report Number: 26-0148
Location: Rice Canyon Open Space Preserve, located between N. Rancho Del Rey Parkway and S. Rancho Del Ray Parkway
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) and Section 15304 Class 4 (Minor Alterations to Land).
Recommended Action
Adopt a resolution accepting the San Diego R egional Fire Foundation grant of $45,000 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 wildfire mitigation efforts. The San Diego Regional Fire Foundation awarded $45,000 in grant funds for the Chula Vista Fire Department Fuels Crew to perform hazardous fuels reduction in Rice Canyon.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The proposed activity has been reviewed for compliance with the Calif ornia Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and it has been determined that the project qualifies for a Categorical Exemption pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 Class 1 (Existing Facilities) and Section 15304 Class 4 (Minor Alterations to Land), because the proposed project would not result in a significant effect on the environment, create a cumulative impact, damage a scenic highway, or cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. Thus, no further environmental review is required.
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BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
On April 10, 2025 meeting, the Measure A Citizens’ Oversight Committee received the Proposed Fiscal Year 2025-26 Measure A Public Safety Spending Plan and determined that the proposed expend itures comply with the requirements of Measure A. The fiscal year 2025-26 Measure A Public Safety Spending Plan includes funding for the Fuels Crew program, which will be partially supported by the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation Grant.
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.
The Fire Dep artment’s Fuels Crew is actively engaged in wildfire mitigation efforts, performing wildfire education and hazardous fuels reduction in wildland areas throughout the City. The mission of the Fuels Crew is to reduce the wildfire risk to the public through t he 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 mo re manageable, the City creates a safer environment for first responders to combat wildfires and reduce the risk of loss of life and property.
The San Diego Regional Fire Foundation strives 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 Fire Department applied to the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation for funding to support wildfire mitigation in Rice Canyon, outlined on the next page. 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 allocated through Measure A in the annual budget of the Fuels Crew program.
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Rice Canyon Open Space Preserve
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the property holdings of the City Council members and has found no property holdings within 1,000 feet of the boundaries of the property which is the subject of this action. Consequently, this item does not present a disqualifying real p roperty-related financial conflict of interest under California Code of Regulations Title 2, section 18702.2(a)(7) or (8), for purposes of 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 this resolution will resu lt in the acceptance of $ 45,000 from the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation and an increase to appropriations of $45,000 to the Other Expenses category of the Fire Grants Section of the State Grants Fund. This will fund one -third of the vegetation manageme nt project. The remaining two-thirds of the project expenses are included in the fiscal year 2025-26 budget for the Measure A Sales Tax Fund and Fire Grants Section of the State Grants Fund , resulting in no net fiscal impact to the General Fund.
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ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
There are no ongoing fiscal impacts as a result of this action.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Rice Canyon Letter of Commitment
Staff Contact: Chris Manroe, Fire Chief
Marlon King, Emergency Services Manager