Background
As the District seeks to expand its impact on its jurisdiction, LAHCFD staff began exploring alternative funding sources for larger projects that would have a greater regional benefit to the County and the Bay Area. Staff identified the CalOES/FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant and began conversations at a staff level and at a Subcommittee level with two of the LAHCFD Commissioners to examine this opportunity.
January 18, 2022 – LAHCFD Regular Commission Meeting – Notice of Intent
At the January 18, 2022 Board of Commissioners meeting, LAHCFD staff introduced to the Commission the initial staff discussions regarding the I-280 Project and presented the CalOES Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Notice of Intent. A recording of the discussion can be viewed below. The presentation by the Operations Manager begins at 55:03 (Slides), and the presentation by the Community Wildfire Preparedness Plan / Integrated Hazardous Fuel Reduction (CWPP/IHFR) Ad Hoc Subcommittee begins at 1:12:03 (Slides)
February 15, 2022 – LAHCFD Commission Regular Meeting – Update
At the February 15, 2022 Board of Commissioners meeting, LAHCFD updated the Commission on the I-280 Project. A recording of the meeting can be viewed below. The presentation by the Operations Manager begins at 39:14 (Slides)
March 15, 2022 – LAHCFD Commission Regular Meeting – Update, Approval of Funding Commitments, Designation of Responsible Representative, Procurement of Grant Writer
At the March 15, 2022 Board of Commissioners meeting, LAHCFD updated the Commission on the I-280 Project and requested the Board’s approval for 1.) funding the 25% match required to submit the application, 2.) funding for a ten-year maintenance allocation to sustain the project, 3.) designating the General Manager as the Responsible Representative who signs letters providing confirmation of the above approvals, and 4.) Receiving information from the General Manager for procurement of services from an independent contractor Grant Writer for the CalOES sub-application. A recording of the meeting can be viewed below. The presentation by the Operations Manager begins at 34:40 (Slides & I-280 Memo Report)
April 19, 2022 – LAHCFD Commission Regular Meeting – Submission of grant sub-application
At the April 19th, 2022 Board of Commissioners meeting, LAHCFD staff updated the Commission on the I-280 Project regarding the submission of the CalOES/FEMA Grant Sub-application on April 7, 2022. A recording of the meeting can be viewed below. The presentation by the Operations Manager begins at 1:07:55 (Slides & Letters for 25% Match Commitment and Maintenance Commitment)
May 17, 2022 – LAHCFD Commission Regular Meeting – Project Update and Delegation of Authority to General Manager for Environmental Consulting Services
At the May 17th, 2022 Board of Commissioners meeting, LAHCFD staff updated the Commission on the I-280 Project and asked the Commission to delegate authority to the General Manager to execute an agreement between LAHCFD and Dudek Environmental Consultants for environmental consulting services that include the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance activities for various District project such as the I-280 grant sub-application, including a Visual Impact Assessment, among others. A recording of the meeting can be viewed below. The presentation to the Commission by the General Manager and the Programs, Planning & Grants Manager begins at 11:30 (View the Slides & Environmental Consulting Services Scope of Work – DRAFT)
June 21, 2022 – LAHCFD Commission Regular Meeting – Project update
At the June 21, 2022, Board of Commissioners meeting, LAHCFD staff let the Commission know that it received a Request for Information (ROI) on June 16, 2022 regarding I-280 grant sub-application. Staff will work with CalOES to provide the requested information. Staff will also continue to work with Dudek Environmental Consultants on the Environmental Compliance and Visual Impact Assessment portions of the sub-application. A recording of the meeting can be viewed below. The presentation to the Commission by the Programs, Planning and Grants Manager begins at 1:17. (View the slides)
July 19, 2022 – LAHCFD Commission Regular Meeting – Project update
At the July 19, 2022, Board of Commissioners meeting, LAHCFD staff updated the Commission on the subapplication, which included 6 additional Requests for Information (ROI) on July 5th and 9th, 2022 regarding budgeting hours and scope of work clarification, among other topics. The response to the June 16, 2022 RFI was submitted by staff and accepted by CalOES. Staff will work with CalOES to provide the requested information. Staff is proceeding with Dudek Environmental Consultants on the Environmental Compliance and Visual Impact Assessment portions of the sub-application; field work is currently being planned with a start date forthcoming. A recording of the meeting can be viewed below. The presentation to the Commission by the Programs, Planning and Grants Manager begins at 1:37. (View the slides)
September 20, 2022 – LAHCFD Commission Regular Meeting – Project update
At the September 20, 2022, Board of Commissioners meeting, LAHCFD staff reported the 7 cumulative Requests for Information (ROI) were completed and accepted. Dudek Environmental Consultants had completed the field visits for the Environmental Compliance and Visual Impact Assessment portions of the sub-application. Staff anticipates receiving and reviewing the draft reports from Dudek ad submitting them to CalOES in advance of the October 2022 meeting. A recording of the meeting can be viewed below. The presentation to the Commission by the Programs, Planning, and Grants Manager begins at 1:39. (View the slides).
October 18, 2022 – LAHCFD Commission Regular Meeting – Project update
At the October 18, 2022, Board of Commissioners meeting, LAHCFD staff reported that final supporting reports were submitted to CalOES on October 11 and were accepted. CalOES will move sub-application materials to FEMA on November 1, 2022 for review; FEMA estimates review process to be completed in Q3 or Q4 2023. LAHCFD may receive additional RFIs from FEMA during the review process. A recording of the meeting can be viewed below. Staff also gave an update on the CEQA evaluation and Visual Impact Assessment, Projects 1 and 2, of the Dudek Agreement. The presentation to the Commission by the Programs, Planning, and Grants Manager begins at 1:38. (View the I-280 slides and the Dudek slides).
February 21, 2023 – LAHCFD Commission Regular Meeting – Project update
At the February 21, 2023, Board of Commissioners meeting, LAHCFD staff reported that an additional Request for Information was received, to which staff responded in January 2023. Staff reported that CalOES had moved the subapplication on to FEMA with a recommendation of “waitlisted,” which means that the application was strong, but there were more projects submitted than there were funds available. If more funds are to become available under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, the LAHCFD subapplication may be further considered. The presentation to the Commission by the Programs, Planning, and Grants Manager begins at 1:46. (View the slides).
April 18, 2023 – LAHCFD Commission Regular Meeting – Project update
At the April 18, 2023, Board of Commissioners meeting, LAHCFD staff reported that FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HGMP) released additional funding in response to the January 2023 storms event, with a current deadline for Notice of Intent to submit of May 10, 2023. County OEM and CalOES both recommended that LAHCFD resubmit the project for this new round of funding. Staff requested that the Commission provide direction as to whether or not to submit the NOI. The Board of Commissioners approved filing the NOI, 6-0, with 1 absent. The Commission also directed staff to provide a presentation at a future date on the different phases of the project so they could consider various paths forward. The presentation to the Commission by the Programs, Planning, and Grants Manager begins at 1:16. (View the slides and memo report).
May 16, 2023 – LAHCFD Commission Regular Meeting – Project update
At the May 16, 2023, Board of Commissioners meeting, LAHCFD staff reported that after additional research, the District’s existing subapplication was copied over and was submitted for the future round of funding. The project is now submitted for two cycles of funding and LAHCFD will not lose its current place on the first waitlist while submitting for a new funding source. CalOES will begin the review for the new funding cycles, with RFIs anticipated to begin August 023. CalOES will move selected applications to FEMA in January 2024. The new grant application requires a 25% match commitment. LAHCFD remains on the waitlist for the original subapplication, with awards expected in October/November 2023. The waitlist for that round of funding will expire in January 2024. The presentation to the Commission by the Programs, Planning, and Grants Manager begins at 1:16. (View the slides).
June 20, 2023 – LAHCFD Commission Regular Meeting – Project update
At the June 20, 2023, Board of Commissioners meeting, LAHCFD staff provided a brief update that CalOES has hired a consultant to review the applications who confirmed that the LAHCFD application in is both funding pools for consideration. Do not anticipate any RFIs on either subapplication until the application deadline on August 5, 2023. The presentation to the Commission by the Programs, Planning, and Grants Manager begins at 1:16. (View the slides).
