Memorandum
Date: March 16, 2021
To: The Honorable Bruno Sabatier, Chair, Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Crandell, District 3 Supervisor
Subject: (a) Consideration of “extra” agenda item, and, (b) Consideration of letter to the Board of Forestry, authorizing the Chair to sign, voicing our opposition to proposed revisions to the state minimum fire safe regulations
Executive Summary: (include fiscal and staffing impact narrative):
(a) This item is being submitted as an “extra” agenda item. The justification for this request to consider an item not on the posted agenda is as follows:
This item came to my attention subsequent to the posting of the current agenda and there is a need to take action before the next agenda.
(b) I am requesting our Board approve the attached letter to the Board of Forestry, authorizing the Chair to sign, voicing our opposition to proposed revisions to the state minimum fire safe regulations.
No County knows the impacts of devastating wildfires as does Lake County where, since 2015, more than 60% of our landmass has burned. The proposed regulations will throttle our long term recovery.
Further, these regulations will have immense impacts on rural California. It is critical to take the time necessary to produce sensible provisions. It’s more important to do it right than to do it quickly.
The regulatory process should include a multidisciplinary team of experts in all relevant fields, including local planners, public works directors, and elected officials, to reach a informed balanced product that is a holistic approach to fire safety, acknowledges the need for continued housing in all areas of the state.
The proposed regulations would establish “no build” zones throughout large swaths of California, including any area served by public roads deemed “substandard” by BOF.
Even on roads not deemed “substandard,” small projects involving the creation of even a single new parcel, no matter how large, or any change to a use permit or zoning, no matter how minor, would be required to upgrade public roads at the property owner’s expense.
The proposed regulations ignore the environmental consequences and physical constraints affecting the road widening and regrading that would be required. The proposed regulations give no consideration to the local community’s housing needs, and would render housing production infeasible or unaffordable in many areas.
The improvement requirements would also apply to any increase in commercial "service capacity," such as constructing a restaurant patio to expand socially distanced outdoor dining.
These proposed regulations adopt a one-size-fits-all approach that imposes the same requirements on construction of a single family residence as on a multi-million dollar industrial facility, and on a two-unit parcel map (such as contemplated by Senate Bill 9) and a 3,000 unit planned development.
These requirements would be mandated by state regulations, and would not be waivable by the local jurisdiction.
Reverses longstanding Board of Forestry interpretation and application of their regulations.
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Estimated Cost: ________ Amount Budgeted: ________ Additional Requested: ________ Future Annual Cost: ________
Consistency with Vision 2028 and/or Fiscal Crisis Management Plan (check all that apply): ☐ Not applicable
☒ Well-being of Residents ☒ Public Safety ☒ Infrastructure ☐ Technology Upgrades
☒ Economic Development ☒ Disaster Recovery ☐ County Workforce ☐ Revenue Generation
☐ Community Collaboration ☐ Business Process Efficiency ☐ Clear Lake ☐ Cost Savings
If request for exemption from competitive bid in accordance with County Code Chapter 2 Sec. 2-38, fill in blanks below:
Which exemption is being requested?
How long has Agreement been in place?
When was purchase last rebid?
Reason for request to waive bid?
(a) I request that the Board take action by motion to accept this item for consideration as an “extra” agenda item.
(b) Approve letter to State Board of Forestry, authorizing the Chair to sign.