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Auburn council adopts environmental clearance, approves $323,750 contract for Baltimore Ravine shaded fuel‑break
Summary
The Auburn City Council adopted an initial study–mitigated negative declaration under CEQA and authorized a professional services agreement with White Oak Land Management not to exceed $323,750 to begin phase 1 of the Baltimore Ravine Shaded Fuel Break Project, funded primarily by a Cal Fire wildfire‑prevention grant.
The Auburn City Council on a 5‑0 vote adopted the Initial Study–Mitigated Negative Declaration (ISMND) for the Baltimore Ravine Shaded Fuel Break Project and authorized the city manager to execute a professional services agreement with White Oak Land Management not to exceed $323,750.
Fire Chief John Rockwood, introducing the project, said the department received a Cal Fire Wildfire Prevention Grant in 2023 totaling just over $797,000 to complete a four‑year project and that the ISMND was finalized in October 2024 after a 30‑day public comment period. “With our RFP process, We received 9 proposals, to complete phase 1, and staff is recommending that White Oak Land Management be awarded the contract as the most qualified, responsible, and responsive contractor,” Rockwood said.
The council packet shows phase 1 covers about 120 acres along the west edge of Baltimore Ravine adjacent to Interstate 80. Staff described the phase‑1 treatment as approximately 59 acres of hand cutting and chipping, 14 acres of hand cut with lop‑and‑scatter, and 47 acres of mastication. Rockwood said staff hopes to have the contractor start within about 30 days of contract execution and that staff will return to council for phase 2 at the end of 2025 or beginning of 2026.
Staff said only one resident attended a noticed virtual public forum and that the only formal comment received during the public review period came from the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board; that letter is included in the council packet. City staff also noted the ISMND includes a mitigation monitoring and reporting plan listing biological, noise and greenhouse gas mitigation measures and related monitoring obligations.
Council members asked procedural and budget questions during the discussion. When asked whether the selected proposer was the low bid, Rockwood replied, “We had 9 and they they were the most qualified and they also came in as the lowest.” Council members also identified a transposition error in the draft resolution’s dollar figure; staff confirmed the correct contract cap is $323,750 and not the alternate figure that appeared earlier in the packet.
A motion to adopt the ISMND, approve the mitigation monitoring and reporting plan, authorize the fire chief to submit a Notice of Determination and authorize the city manager to execute a professional services agreement with White Oak Land Management passed unanimously. The council did not change funding source information during the meeting; staff repeatedly identified the Cal Fire grant as the primary funding source for the work.
The contract award authorizes phase‑1 treatments described above; staff will return with further details and a recommended contractor for phase 2. Questions about long‑term maintenance, contractor permitting and coordination with other agencies were raised and will be addressed in project reporting to council.
