Reso. No. XX-17
RESOLUTION NO. XX
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 PREVENTION COORDINATING
GROUP TO IMPROVE REGIONWIDE COLLABORATION ON WILDFIRE
MITIGATION ACTIVITIES AND TO REDUCE WILDFIRE RISK THROUGHOUT
THE EAST BAY HILLS
WHEREAS, the series of historic wildfires throughout California and the Western United States in recent years demonstrates that the impacts of global climate change will continue to have potentially devastating local effects throughout the region; including habitat destruction, loss of life, economic impacts, infrastructural damage, and public health hazards associated with air quality, and
WHEREAS, reactive approaches to fire management and containment are deployed during times of crisis and overextend local and state resources; and
WHEREAS, the spread of wildfire does not respect political or jurisdictional boundaries; burning embers travel widely and air quality impacts from smoke extend throughout the region; and
WHEREAS, a large portion of the East Bay region, including the East Bay Hills from Hercules to Fremont are a CalFire designated high-risk danger zone; and
WHEREAS, a more coordinated approach among jurisdictions and investment in vegetation management and other wildfire prevention programs will help to mitigate the number and severity of wildfire events; and
WHEREAS, regional intergovernmental coordination may prove both more effective and more efficient in developing and implementing best practices, as well as sharing expertise and other resources; and
WHEREAS, the East Bay Region contains more than 20 municipalities, counties, and fire districts, including the City of Richmond, that may benefit from a coordinated fire management approach; and
WHEREAS, with support from local community organizations and individuals concerned with wildfire prevention, a group of public officials representing the counties, municipalities and fire districts in the East Bay Hills decided to create a formal structure for interested cities, counties and fire districts in the East Bay Hills to collaborate and meet their common goals regarding regional wildfire prevention; and
WHEREAS, these public officials have agreed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which provides the legal basis for the jurisdictions to work together to accomplish agreed upon goals, would be the most efficient and effective legal structure to create this intergovernmental collaboration, referred to as the “Wildfire Prevention Coordinating Group” (WPCG); and
WHEREAS, the counties of Alameda and Contra Costa, the cities of Berkeley, Oakland, Pinole and Richmond, and the Moraga-Orinda Fire District have all contributed financing to facilitate discussions about forming a WPCG and developing a draft MOU; and
WHEREAS, the participants in the MOU, referred to as Participating Agencies, would themselves decide upon goals, objectives, activities, any required budget and staffing, to support the WPCG; and
WHEREAS, participants have discussed several potential areas of collaboration, including: developing and implementing joint plans to reduce flammable wildland vegetation and replace it with wildfire resistant vegetation where appropriate; partnering Reso. No. XX-17
together to identify and apply for state, federal or other grant funds to assist with regional wildfire risk mitigation activities; collaboration on local building and fire code updates; and planning together for wildfire evacuations and response, especially those that cross jurisdictional boundaries between one or more of the Participating Agencies; and
WHEREAS, each Participating Agency would appoint one member and one alternate from its governing body to serve on the WPCG. More specifically, all WPCG members and alternates shall be elected or appointed members of Boards of Supervisors, City or Town Councils, Boards of Directors, or a functional equivalent; and
WHEREAS, the WPCG will designate one of the Participating Agencies to serve as the WPCG's "Fiscal Agent," in which role that entity will (i) facilitate ongoing discussions of the WPCG, (ii) serve as the WPCG treasurer, and (iii) enter into contracts on behalf of the WPCG, if necessary; and
WHEREAS, signing the MOU and appointing a member to the WPCG would not obligate any Participating Agency to include other Participating Agencies in their individual wildfire prevention and risk mitigation activities; and
WHEREAS, signing the MOU and appointing a member to the WPCG would not alter any of the Participating Agencies’ jurisdictional boundaries, existing cooperative efforts at the staff or Board/Council levels, or substantive legal authorities; and
WHEREAS, the MOU supplements, and does not replace, any prior or future agreements between any two or more Participating Agencies, including for contracted, shared or cooperative fire prevention and/or emergency medical services; and
WHEREAS, at any time and without cause, a Participating Agency may terminate its participation in this MOU by giving sixty (60) days’ prior written notice to the other Participating Agencies; now, therefore, be it
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Richmond City Council approves the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Richmond and other Participating Agencies in the East Bay Hills in order to improve collaboration on wildfire prevention activities and improve safety throughout the region, and authorizes the City Manager to execute the MOU.
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I certify that the foregoing resolution was passed and adopted by the Council of the City of Richmond at a regular meeting thereof held September 12th, 2023, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
PAMELA CHRISTIAN
CLERK OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND
(SEAL)
Approved:
Mayor
Reso. No. XX-17
Approved as to form:
City Attorney
State of California }
County of Contra Costa : ss.
City of Richmond }
I certify that the foregoing is a true copy of Resolution No. XX, finally passed and adopted by the Council of the City of Richmond at a regular meeting held on INSERT DATE ADOPTED.
Pamela Christian, Clerk of the City of Richmond