HERCULES CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. XX –
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HERCULES AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO APPLY FOR THE COMMUNITY WILDFIRE DEFENSE GRANT (CWDG) FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE APPLICATION PROCESS WHEREAS, the Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is a $1 billion, five-year competitive grant program funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, with the aim to assist communities in implementing wildfire management strategies; and WHEREAS, the City of Hercules experiences significant natural hazards annually, including impacts from the loss of tree canopy, high-risk reduction zones, and the increasing risks of wildfires and environmental landslides due to adverse climate conditions, as evidenced by seven FEMA-declared disasters from 2017 to 2023; and WHEREAS, in 2019, the Diablo Fire Safe Council prepared and updated the Contra Costa Countywide Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), which identifies wildfire hazards, prioritizes strategies to reduce them, and provides measures to decrease the ignitability of structures within the community; and WHEREAS, the Contra Costa Countywide CWPP, Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, and the General Plan provide a comprehensive understanding of community risks and serve as guiding documents for implementing wildfire hazard mitigation measures in Hercules; and WHEREAS, the CWDG provides an opportunity to secure up to $3.8 million in funding to support activities such as fuel reduction, forest health improvements, watershed protection, and preparation for severe storms and other natural hazards, with a required 50% match that can be met through ongoing fire prevention efforts funded by Measure O and complementary planning initiatives; and WHEREAS, pursuing this funding opportunity aligns with the City’s goals of proactively protecting the community from wildfire risks, enhancing environmental resilience, and safeguarding the residents and natural landscapes of Hercules.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HERCULES AS FOLLOWS:
The City Council authorizes the City Manager to apply for the Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The City Manager is authorized to execute all necessary documents related to the application process.
The foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Hercules held on the 25th day of March 2025 by the following vote of the Council:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
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Dion Bailey, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Eibleis Melendez, City Clerk