September 12, 2023
City Council
DATE: September 12, 2023
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Vice Mayor Gayle McLaughllin
Subject:
Wildfire Prevention Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU)
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The City of Richmond previously has contributed $3,500 as its share of funding for the creation of this MOU
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
On September 28, 2021, the City Council approved a
resolution to form a Joint Powers Agency (JPA) to work
jointly with other East Bay jurisdictions on Wildfire Safety and Prevention
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The City of Richmond agreed in 2021 to engage in
meetings with other East Bay Public Agencies to explore creating a Joint Powers Agency (JPA) to work together
on wildfire safety and prevention in the East Bay Hills.
Later, there was a consensus that a JPA which would
create a new government entity was unnecessary and
that a MOU among the agencies desiring to participate
would be sufficient.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: RECEIVE a presentation; and ADOPT a resolution authorizing the City of Richmond to enter into a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among
jurisdictions in the East Bay Hills to form a wildfire
coordinating group to improve regionwide collaboration
on wildfire mitigation activities and reduce wildfire risk throughout the East Bay Hills. – Vice Mayor McLaughlin
510-620-6636
AGENDA
REPORT
September 12, 2023
DISCUSSION:
On September 28, 2021, the City Council adopted a resolution in support of considering a Joint Powers Agency (JPA) among the more than 20 municipalities, counties, and fire districts in the East Bay Hills, including the City of Richmond, to facilitate coordination of wildfire safety and prevention.
Vice Mayor McLaughlin and Chief Montoya attended the meetings in regard to this. At a certain point in the discussions, it became clear that the group would prefer that agencies establish a coordinating group via a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among the participating agencies rather than a JPA. There was a consensus that a JPA which would create a new government entity was unnecessary and that a MOU among the agencies desiring to participate would be sufficient.
Meetings have occurred regularly over the past year two years. A smaller working group was established to come up with a draft MOU which both the Vice Mayor and the Fire Chief have participated in.
On June 28, 2023, some 40 public officials representing 28 jurisdictions met to discuss the MOU to facilitate coordination of wildfire prevention in the high-risk area of the East Bay Hills. The MOU itself was drafted by Shayna van Hoften, a partner with the Hanson Bridgett law firm working with counsel from several of the agencies represented at the meeting.
The next step is for the officials of the two counties, the cities and the fire districts in the area, to officially enter into the MOU.
Please see the attached MOU, a resolution introducing it, a list of all attendees at the June 28 meeting, and the presentation from June 28th.
After approval of the MOU by all participating agencies, the first meeting of the new Wildfire Prevention and Coordination Group is expected to be scheduled in the fall.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – MOU
Attachment 2 – Resolution
Attachment 3 – List of all attendees at the June 28 meeting Attachment 4 – Presentation from June 28th