July 15, 2025
TO: City Council
REQUESTED BY: Travis Randel, Deputy City Manager, Development Services APPROVED BY: Robert A. Johnson, City Manager
SUBJECT: Adoption of Resolutions No. 4087 and 4088 – CAL FIRE Wildfire Prevention Grant Applications
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Approve Resolution No. 4087, authorizing the submittal of a grant application to CAL FIRE for funding under the California Climate Investments (CCI) Wildfire Prevention Grants Program;
2. Approve Resolution No. 4088, authorizing the submittal of a grant application to CAL FIRE for funding under the Proposition 4 Wildfire Prevention Grants Program; BACKGROUND:
In November 2022, the City adopted its comprehensive General Plan Update, Envision San Jacinto – General Plan 2040, following a multi-year planning and public outreach process. The plan sets the foundation for a sustainable and resilient future and includes updated goals and policies for land use, housing, circulation, infrastructure, and public safety in alignment with evolving community priorities and state mandates.
To build on this foundation, the City now seeks to secure grant funding through two recently announced wildfire prevention programs administered by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE).
In June 2025, CAL FIRE released updated guidelines and opened the application window for the FY 2025–26 grant cycle, presenting a timely opportunity for the City to pursue dedicated funding for wildfire resilience planning and mitigation projects:
• The California Climate Investments (CCI) Wildfire Prevention Grants Program provides funding for planning, vegetation management, defensible space programs, and wildfire resilience initiatives. Funded by Cap-and-Trade proceeds, CCI grants are designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by preventing catastrophic wildfires. For planning projects like Local Hazard Mitigation Plans (LHMPs) and General Plan Safety Element updates, the program allows for awards of up to $950,000, with no local match required.
• The Proposition 4 Wildfire Prevention Grants Program, authorized by voters in 2024, is a bond-funded program that supports a broad range of wildfire prevention strategies, including community education, fuels reduction, capacity-building, and climate adaptation planning. This program can be used in tandem with CCI funding and offers awards of up to $3 million per project. Eligible costs include contractor services, public outreach, small equipment (under $5,000/unit), and larger capital equipment (capped at $750,000 total per project for items over $5,000/unit). Like the CCI program, no match is required, but in-kind contributions can strengthen competitiveness.
Together, these two grant programs present a timely opportunity for the City to develop and implement a comprehensive wildfire risk reduction strategy tailored to the local environment.
Proposed activities include:
• Preparing a state-compliant Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, • Updating the General Plan Safety Element to align with SB 1030 and Cal OES guidance, • Developing community-based wildfire outreach and defensible space strategies, and • Procuring equipment and materials to support local fuels management efforts.
These efforts will enhance the City’s long-term resilience, improve public safety, reduce wildfire vulnerability, and position the City for future funding under FEMA and Cal OES mitigation programs. The combination of planning and implementation funding ensures the City can move swiftly from policy to action without relying on the General Fund for upfront costs.
DISCUSSION:
The City’s pursuit of funding under the California Climate Investments (CCI) Wildfire Prevention Grant Program and the Proposition 4 Wildfire Prevention Grant Program represents a strategic and timely opportunity to improve both long-term planning and immediate wildfire risk reduction in San Jacinto. These programs serve complementary functions and, if awarded, would allow the City to address wildfire prevention on both a policy and operational level.
CCI Grant – Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
If awarded, the CCI grant will fund the development of a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP).
This FEMA- and Cal OES-compliant plan will assess the City’s vulnerability to wildfire and other hazards, prioritize risk reduction strategies, and strengthen eligibility for future mitigation funding. The LHMP will also provide the technical foundation for a future General Plan Safety Element update, ensuring alignment with state mandates such as SB 1030 and Government Code §65302(g).
The LHMP will benefit the San Jacinto community by:
• Identifying and addressing wildfire and multi-hazard risks • Improving the City’s eligibility for federal disaster mitigation and recovery funds • Informing land use and infrastructure decisions to reduce vulnerability • Promoting cross-agency coordination and public awareness Staff is actively working with De Novo Planning Group to develop a preliminary scope of work and budget that will support and justify the City’s requested funding amount in the CCI grant application. De Novo served as the lead consultant for the City’s General Plan 2040 Update and is uniquely qualified to complete the LHMP due to its in-depth familiarity with the City’s land use framework, environmental constraints, hazard conditions, and policy priorities. This institutional knowledge will support a more efficient and integrated planning process, reduce duplicative work, and help ensure a higher-quality outcome.
Pursuant to Section 3.08.070(C) of the City’s Purchasing Ordinance, formal solicitation procedures may be waived when “competitive solicitation would offer no competitive advantage.” In this case, De Novo’s familiarity with the City’s planning context and prior work product provides a clear efficiency and continuity advantage. No contract is being awarded at this time. If the grant is awarded, staff will return to the City Council to formally approve the contract and appropriate the necessary funds.
Prop 4 Grant – Fuel Modification Work
In parallel, the City is applying for funding under the Proposition 4 Wildfire Prevention Grant Program to implement fuel modification work in high-priority areas identified by the San Jacinto Fire Department. Proposed activities include vegetation thinning, brush clearance, and ladder fuel removal within the wildland-urban interface to reduce wildfire spread, protect critical infrastructure, and enhance public and firefighter safety.
In addition to direct vegetation management, the grant will support the procurement of equipment, tools, and materials necessary to implement and sustain these efforts. This may include items such as chainsaws, hoses, hand tools, protective gear, and other fire preventionrelated supplies. The City also anticipates using a portion of the funds for temporary signage, public outreach materials, and other resources to support community education and awareness during the implementation phase.
All implementation activities will comply with the City’s procurement policies, and any contracts or purchases exceeding applicable thresholds will be brought to the City Council for consideration and approval.
Grant Competitiveness and Community Benefit
The City is well-positioned for both grants based on the eligibility and scoring criteria in CAL FIRE’s FY 2025–26 grant guidelines. Specifically:
• San Jacinto is located in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone • The City has an adopted General Plan and is prepared to integrate mitigation planning into land use policy
• The Fire Department has identified actionable fuel reduction zones based on risk and access
• Interdepartmental coordination is already in place between Planning, Fire, and Public Works
Importantly, San Jacinto is designated as a Disadvantaged Community (DAC) under CalEnviroScreen 4.0, a statewide environmental justice mapping tool used by CAL FIRE to evaluate vulnerability and funding equity. This designation provides a significant competitive advantage, as both the CCI and Proposition 4 programs explicitly prioritize investments in communities facing disproportionate wildfire risk and socioeconomic barriers to mitigation.
The City’s DAC status, coupled with its location in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone and its adopted land use plans, places San Jacinto among the most eligible jurisdictions for funding consideration in this grant cycle.
Together, these grant-funded initiatives will significantly improve public safety, environmental resilience, and the City’s capacity to plan for and respond to wildfire events—without relying on General Fund resources.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with submitting the grant applications. At this time, staff is only seeking authorization to apply for funding under the CCI and Proposition 4 Wildfire Prevention Grant Programs. If one or both applications are successful, staff will return to the City Council with a request to accept the award(s), appropriate funds for project implementation, and authorize execution of any related contracts. All project costs are anticipated to be fully reimbursable under the terms of the respective grant programs, resulting in no net General Fund impact.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Submittal of these grant applications does not constitute a “project” under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4), which excludes the creation of government funding mechanisms or other fiscal activities that do not involve a commitment to a specific project that may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment.
Under Section 15378(b)(5), the proposed action also qualifies as a general organizational or administrative activity of government that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. The applications themselves do not approve or implement any specific construction or ground-disturbing activity and are limited to seeking potential grant funding.
In addition, the action is exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), known as the “General Rule” Exemption, which applies when it can be seen with certainty that the activity in question will not have a significant effect on the environment. The act of submitting a grant application does not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change to the environment.
If awarded, the CCI grant funds will be used to support the development of a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP). This effort qualifies for a statutory exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15262, which exempts feasibility and planning studies for possible future actions that have not been approved or funded. The LHMP will be a policy planning document and does not in itself authorize any physical activity or development.
The Proposition 4 grant, if awarded, would support vegetation management, equipment acquisition, and related wildfire mitigation activities. These would be subject to separate environmental review and CEQA compliance prior to implementation. Any future on-the-ground actions, including fuel modification work, will undergo appropriate site-specific review as needed based on their scope and potential environmental impacts.
Accordingly, no CEQA determination is required at this time, and the proposed action is categorically and statutorily exempt based on the nature of the application and the lack of any commitment to a physical project.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution 4087 - Cal Fire CCI Grant
Resolution 4088 - Cal Fire Prop 4 Grant