Contra Costa Fire approved as fiscal agent for East Bay wildfire coordination; district to pay $30,000
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Summary
The Contra Costa Fire Protection District board voted unanimously to serve as fiscal agent for an East Bay Wildfire Coordinating Group MOU and to provide $30,000 in dues for the current fiscal year. Board members and partner organizations said the short-term funding will support regional wildfire mitigation planning and grant competitiveness.
The Contra Costa Fire Protection District board voted unanimously Aug. 12 to serve as fiscal agent for an East Bay Wildfire Coordinating Group memorandum of understanding and to provide $30,000 for the current fiscal year.
The action authorizes the district to collect and hold dues for the coordinating group and to disburse funds to pay consultants or other costs at the group's direction. The board's approval directs the fire district to fund the $30,000 share from the district budget; staff said no immediate budget amendment is required.
The MOU is intended to coordinate wildfire mitigation and prevention planning across jurisdictions in the East Bay Hills in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The group aims to present consistent fire-code adoptions and to improve competitiveness for regional grants, officials said. Supervisor Gioia of Contra Costa County serves as the group's chair, and member jurisdictions include cities such as Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond, El Cerrito and Pinole, as well as Alameda County and the Alameda County Fire Department. Partner organizations include East Bay Regional Park District, East Bay MUD, PG&E and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, among others.
“This started at least two years ago as a concept,” the fire chief said, describing how the idea evolved from a potential joint powers authority into the current MOU. The chief said the group is not an independent legal entity that can hold funds, which is why a fiscal agent is needed.
John Kaufman of the Oakland Fire Safe Council, a founding partner and past fiscal agent for related efforts, commented during public comment: “As a co-founder of the Coalition of Governments, I just want to take a moment to thank the fire district for taking on the responsibility of being our fiscal agent.”
Board members said they view the one-year commitment as a prudent, short-term investment given recent wildfire events and a state executive order on wildfire mitigation. The board also requested the chief return within a year with an update on whether the coordinating group is producing useful, measurable results and whether continued funding is warranted.
The board voted unanimously to authorize the district to serve as fiscal agent and to approve the dues payment. No amendment to the county budget was required at the time of the vote.
Votes at a glance: The motion to approve the district serving as fiscal agent and to provide the $30,000 contribution passed unanimously (5–0).
