HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 01251994 - S.1 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS . +
.4
FROM: Contra
J .
Tom Powers, District One Supervisor Costa i `'_
Jeff Smith, District Two Supervisor - 4
DATE; r: '',.r.`�
County
January 25, 1994 -'
SUBJECT:
East Bay Vegetation Management Consortium
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATIONS)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
Recommendation:
Direct the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District to
participate in the East Bay Vegetation Management
Consortium in the name of Pion Garland, Fire Marshal for the
Orinda Fire Protection District.
Background:
The County of Contra Costa borders many parts of the 1991
Oakland-Berkeley Hills Firestorm area and also has much of the
same vegetation. Wildfires have no boundaries so it is essential
that we work with our neighbors in Alameda County to develop a
coordinated vegetation management plan.
The goal of the consortium is to develop a vegetation management
plan that can be funded through a grant application to the Federal
Emergency Management Agency.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(Si: _
ACTION Of BOARD ON-- January 2591 911 w
— - APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED , X OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
.1Y._UNANIMOUS(ABSENT- AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: ESTER January 25, 1994
CCC Fire Protection Dist. (Attn: Chief I.,itt�''e)
County Administrator PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISOAS AND COUNTY AOMJNISTRATOR
!"1
M362 110'881 BY t+EPUTA
EAST BAY VEGETATION MANAGEMENT CONSORTIUM
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
EAST BAY HILLS VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PLAN
(FEMA - 919 - DR -- CA)
Federal Project Number #0004
State Project #269
EAST BAY HILLS VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PLAN January, 1992
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
INTRODUCTION
The East Bay Hills Vegetation Management Consortium, composed of
Cities, special districts and agencies, requests proposals from
qualified consultants to prepare a Vegetation Management Plan
(VMP) for approximately 15, 000 acres of publicly and privately
held lands located in the Oakland/Berkeley Hills.
PROPOSED GOALS
The goals of this project are to develop a comprehensive VMP for
the Oakland--Berkeley Hills which will be composed of the
following elements:
i
Identifying and Mapping High Fire Hazard Areas.
Developing vegetation Management Prescriptions for
Private Property.
Developing vegetation Management Prescriptions for
Public Property.
Developing Fire Safety Prescriptions for Residential
Dwellings.
Developing a Methodology for Establishing Inter-agency
Hazard Mitigation Priorities.
Developing a Framework for Coordinating Inter-agency
�. vegetation Management Activities and Implementing
Interim Study Work Products.
Developing a Process to Implement Plan Work Products
and Provide Mechanism for Long Term Maintenance of Plan
and Goals.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On October 20, 1991, the East Bay Hills Firestorm destroyed 1600
acres, 3 , 354 single family dwellings, 456 apartments, and caused
damages in excess of $1. 5 Billion dollars. It killed 25 people
and injured another 150. 'The combined economic and human losses
made this fire the worst urban/wildland fire in United States
history.
2
EAST BAY HILLS VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PLAN January, 1992
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
The Firestorm occurred in an area of the East Bay Hills which has
experienced repeated urban/wildland fires. It is estimated that
there have been as many as 14 major fires in the East Bay Hills
since the catastrophic Berkeley fire of 1923 .
More than ten years ago, the East Bay Regional Park District
(EBRPD) recognized the recurring nature of these fire. In the
1982 "Blue Ribbon Report" sponsored by the EBRPD, conditions
which generated these fires were enumerated. The Report mapped
high fire risk areas using manual graphics and called for a
ongoing effort to identify high risk conditions. The Report also
called upon local agencies to develop and implement a wide
variety of mitigation efforts, with fuelbreaks prominently
featured as an effective hazard mitigation technique.
In the East Bay Hills there exists a combination of population,
climate, topography and vegetation that creates an escalating
potential for severe fire problems. Residential development has
encroached upon the wildland and wildland vegetation has been
allowed to become re-established within developed areas. The
Plan Study Area is a mixture of urban areas, wooded pine and
eucalyptus groves, and open space parklands. Residential areas
feature steep topography, irregular lot patterns, and narrow and
unusual street configurations. These characteristics make the
Plan Study Area particularly vulnerable to the effects of fire
under high temperature, low humidity, and high wind conditions.
A common concern regarding these hazardous conditions brought
together agencies with jurisdiction in the Plan Study Area: the
cities of Oakland, Berkeley, and Piedmont, the East Bay Regional
Park District (EBRPD) , the East Bay Municipal Utility District
(EBMUD) I the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL) . and the
University of California at Berkeley (UCB) . The historic joining
of these agencies in a common cause resulted in the formation of
the East Bay Vegetation Management Consortium.
The goal of the Consortium is to ensure that when the next major
urban/wildland fire occurs in the East Bay, it will not be nearly
as devastating as the last. This goal will be accomplished
through adoption of a truly ecological perspective featuring long
term inter-agency coordination, cooperation, and planning
regarding vegetation management issues. The entire region is at
risk and is looking to this East Bay effort to lead the way in
long term regional vegetation management planning and
implementation. Both the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) and the State office of Emergency Services are
anticipating that this effort, of which the Plan is a part, will
be a model to be replicated in similar high fire risk areas.
3
.East Bay Huls Vegetation Management Plan Request for Proposals 5.1
WORK PRODUCTS
Element A: Work Products 1 and 2 will be developed by the University of California and submitted
Identifying and to the consultant by September 30, 1993, for incorporation into the Plan. Consultant will
Mapping High be encouraged to establish a close working relationship with UC staff during development
Hazard Areas of Work Products 1 and 2.
1. Using the computerized CIS product developed by UCB,prepare detailed maps which
identify vegetation types and high fire hazard areas/gradients.
2. Develop definitions and criteria to justify high hazard area mapping. Incorporate
these into an Integrated Risk Assessment Model capable of replication outside the Plan
Study Area.
Element B: 3. Develop a Model Vegetation Management Ordinance which is consistent with AB 337
Developing and which establishes unique, minimum vegetation management standards for private
Vegetation property in the Plan Study Area.
Management 4. Develop an informational booklet regarding application of the model ordinances
Prescriptions for (work Products 3 and 10) and relevant State regulations regarding landscaping and
Private residential construction requirements in high fire hazard areas.
Residential 5. Develop an educational program aimed at local fire suppression,vegetation
Property. management,planning and building agencies to assist them in communicating to the
public regarding what public land management prescriptions,each Model Ordinance,and
relevant standards(Work Products 3,8 and 10) are in actual practice.
Element 0 6. Map and develop a plan specifying optimum locations for fuelbreaks,greenbelts and
Develop fire trails for the Plan Study Area.
Vegetation
Management 7. Develop a feasibility model and Plan for conversion of high fire risk vegetation to
Prescriptions for lower risk vegetation.
Public Property
and -large 8. Develop a prescription matrix which details specific standards and maintenance
Privately-Owned requirements for public and large--lot private parcels by vegetation type(e.g., Eucalyptus
Wildland Parcels. forest,Pine Cypress Forest, Bay Oak Woodland, Chaparral, and Exotics) which incorporate
hydrological,erosion/sediment control,biodiversity, land use and public access
considerations.
Element D: 9. Develop Retrofit Standards based on simple and proved criteria for retrofitting
Develop Fire residences at risk. Develop a variety of mitigation packages or options based on specific
Safety types of risk exposure and relative cost.
Prescriptions for 10. Develop a Model Ordinance which establishes minimum fire safety standards for
Residential residential construction (new and retrofit) in the high fire risk area.
Buildings
Element E: 11. Building on Work Products#1 and #2,develop risk assessment criteria and craps
Develop a identifying specific high fire risk areas which require priority attention.
Mcthodology for 12. Develop a process by which participating jurisdictions can reach consensus on
Establishing Inter- establishing a regional work program for mitigating identified highest risk areas.
agency Mitigation
Priorities. 13. Develop a list of vegetation management resources(equipment, labor, funding, etc.)
available from participating agencies.
14. Develop a system for allocating resources to the regional work program developed in
Work Product#14, above.
February 22, 1993 Continued
East Bay Hills Vegetation Management Plan Request for Proposals
WORK PRODUCTS `
Element F: 15. Develop an Interim VMF Implementation Plan that includes short-term minimum policies
Develop a and standards for vegetation management in the hazard area and clarifies operational roles in the
Framework for areas of vegetation abatement(public and private properties),fire prevention,and fire operations.
Coordinating
Inter-agency
Vegetation
Management 16. Develop a framework for coordinating VMP implementation actions with other fire safety
ActivitW and elements including early warning weather systems,emergency response/evacuation systems, and
Implementing other GIS applications.
Interim Study
Work
Products,
Element G: 17. Develop a public information process for presentation of VMP Interim(and Final)Reports to
Develop a the Hills Emergency Forum and its participating jurisdictions and their City Councils or governing
Process to boards which includes feedback mechanisms from these bodies.
Implement 18. Prepare informational materials which describe the VMP,its development process,goals,and
Platt Work implementation mechanisms.
Products and 19. Develop an administrative process by which additional interested agencies may participate
Provide organizationally and financially in the Consortium.
Mechanisms
for I,on
g TMn 20. Develop a process for adoption of VMP Hazard Areas,Coals and Objectives by Consortium
Maintenance members. This process should include a Letter of intent which specifies the role and obligations
Platt and of participating jurisdictlrns in the VMP,legislation to formally adopt and implement the VMP,
Of and a Work Program with key dates and work products to be provided by each participating
Goals. agency. Include a feasibility analysis of forming a Joint Powers Agency for VMP implementation.
21. Develop a Model VMP sub-element for incorporation into each municipality's Safety Element
of the General Plan to support a common policy approach to vegetation management.
22. Recommend common operations procedures (e.g, timing,content and process for vegetation
management work,maintenance contracting methods,etc.) for adoption by all jurisdictions.
23. Evaluate the consequences of any one jurisdiction not adopting(or continuing to implement)
the VMP,and recommend "carrot and stick"methodologies for encouraging VMP adoption and
long term implementation.
24. Provide recommendations for periodic VMP review and updating, including estimate costs for
the VMP updates. Recommend administrative support requirements such as responsibility for
convening meetings, maintaining records,and analyzing reports.
Additional 25. Review pertinent literature(required minimum literature listed p. 9,detailed RFP) and
General provide a balanced overview of the state of scientific opinion regarding vegetation management
Required practices to provide sufficient background for decision makers and interested public.
Work 26. Prepare summary environmental review documents (Initial Study) required under the
Products and California Environmental Quality Act(CEQA) for use by each Consortium member in fulfilling
Tasks CEQA requirements.
27. Provide an overview of pertinent case law regarding public agency liability in the event of
wildland fires.
28. Provide a listing of potential funding sources for VMP implementation, including
Federal/State programs and private foundations. Include brief descriptions of funding
requirements (e.g.,matching funds), time frames and contact information.
Physical and Em»ranrnentat Planning,Unipmity of Caf#ivnia.Berkeley Feb uxy 22,T993
TOTAL P.07