East Bay Hills Wildfire Prevention & Coordination
A grassroots advocacy effort to create a formalized agreement to reduce wildfire threat throughout the East Bay
Photo credit: Julia Sumangil Photography
Increasing Threats
In the face of increasing threats from wildfire, it is time for a new, more effective, regional approach to keep residents safe.
Regional Issue
Wildfires do not respect political boundaries so fire
prevention and vegetation management should be
regional efforts .
Difficult to Coordinate
Coordinating among the many jurisdictions is a
challenge without a specialized mechanism
Guiding Principles for a
Regional Approach to
Wildfire Prevention
Opportunities for Wildfire Prevention
Coordination
» Established coordination exists amongst fire officials » East Bay WUI areas with highly local needs and requirements (non- native species, high density)
» No dedicated staff for regional wildfire prevention coordination » No interjurisdictional framework for policy making
» Uneven enforcement of vegetation management regulations and state fire code
» Regional coordination increasingly prioritized in State and Federal programs
Existing Wildfire Prevention
Coordination Efforts
» Chiefs’ Associations (Alameda & Contra Costa Counties) » Hills Emergency Forum (HEF)
» East Bay Regional Communication System Authority
(EBRCSA)
» Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP)
» Regional Priority Plan (RPP)
» EBRPD Wildfire Risk and Fine Scale Vegetation Mapping Our Work to Date
» 2019-2021: Oakland Firesafe Council (OFSC) members began fundraising and speaking with local jurisdictions about wildfire prevention coordination; engaged Placeworks Consulting
» Dec 2021-Jun 2022: OFSC facilitated five meetings amongst 25+ local agency and elected officials to explore collaboration options--from existing mechanisms to a JPA » Summer 2022: Stakeholders agreed to work towards an MOU structure and delegated drafting to subset of stakeholders (working group)
» Dec 2022: Hanson-Bridgett law firm presents draft MOU to working group » Spring 2023: MOU finalized with input from working group » June 2023: Stakeholders meet, agree to present MOU to jurisdictions Photo credit: Julia Sumangil Photography
Alameda County
Office of Supervisor Keith Carson, Fire Chief William McDonald Contra Costa County
Office of Supervisor John Gioia, Fire Chief Lewis Broschard City of Berkeley
Councilmember Susan Wengraf, Assistant Fire Chief Dan Green City of Oakland
Deputy City Administrator Joe DeVries,
Deputy Fire Chief Damon Covington/Fire Chief Reginald Freeman City of Pinole
Mayor Pro Tem Maureen Toms
City of Richmond
Councilmember Gayle McLaughlin, Fire Chief Angel Montoya Moraga -Orinda Fire Protection District
Fire Chief Dave Winnacker
Working Group
Members
Photo credit: Julia Sumangil Photography
Funding Partners Supporting MOU
Development *
» Bay Area Air Quality
Management District
» Donner Family Fund
» California Coastal Conservancy
grant via Bay Area Council
» CSAA Insurance Group
» PG&E
» Numerous community members
and neighborhood groups in the
East Bay Hills
» Alameda County
» Contra Costa County
» City of Berkeley
» City of Oakland
» City of Pinole
» City of Richmond
» Moraga-Orinda Fire Protection
District
* Through donations to 501(c)(3) sponsor Oakland Firesafe Council (OFSC) Photo credit: Julia Sumangil Photography
Memorandum of Understanding
for coordination of wildfire prevention activities to protect the East Bay Hills in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties
MOU: A Simple Platform
» Explanation of wildfire risks in East Bay Hills
» Description of wi ldfire prevention activities performed by Participating Agencies and current collaboration efforts within counties
» Desire to improve coordination, enhance efficacy & efficiency » Goal of increasing each Participating Agency's level of service to residents and property owners
» No alteration of jurisdictional boundaries, cooperative efforts, or individual jurisdiction authority
Shared Intent / Potential Activities
Once formed, Participating Agencies will jointly decide on activities. The following have been discussed:
» Collaboration on strategies and policies to minimize wildfire hazards in the East Bay Hills including vegetation management » Assist in adoption of consistent codes for fire prevention » Partner to apply for state, federal, and other grant funds » Plan for wildfire response including evacuations across jurisdictions East Bay Hills Regional Wildfire Prevention
Coordinating Group -- Structure
» Each Participating Agency appoints :
Member and alternate from governing
body (council, board)
» Fire Officials to advise on strategies and
policies
Principles and Duties
» Hold open and public meetings
» Establish goals, procedures and programs
» Designate a fiscal agent; develop plan for staff support » Institute a dues structure and/or apply for grants as needed
» Adopt annual budget
NEXT STEPS
» Presentations to potential Participating
Agencies’ governing bodies
» Adjust MOU to incorporate feedback
» Ratification/approval by City Councils,
Boards of Supervisors, Fire District Boards
» GOAL: Initial meeting in 2023
JON KAUFMAN [email protected]
LISA JACOBS [email protected]
DAVID EARLY [email protected]
EastBayWildfire.org
Contact