City Manager’s Office August 21, 2020 Anne Grandlund, Foreperson

R5

The City Councils of El Cerrito, Pinole and Richmond should consider directing their Fire Chief to update wildfire evacuation plans and incorporate pre-determined polygons and advanced routing technology, by June 30, 2021. RESPONSE: The recommendation has been implemented in 2019 and tested through a cooperative agreement with Zonehaven, Inc., a software company based in San Francisco. Currently in Contra Costa County, this program is only operational in Orinda and Moraga as sponsored by the Moraga-Orinda Fire District and in El Cerrito and the community of Kensington as sponsored by the El Cerrito Fire Department. However, the Contra Costa County Fire Chiefs Association has supported a Bay area UASI grant application for $300,000 to provide funding for the procurement and implementation of a software program that will provide a uniform evacuation planning platform for the entire County. The grant was approved last year with funding to be available later this year.

R6

The City Councils of El Cerrito, Pinole and Richmond should consider identifying funds to adopt or expand the use of new technologies, such as ground sensors, drones, satellites, and fire spotting cameras, to help detect fires in high-risk areas, by June 30, 2021 RESPONSE: This recommendation has been partially implemented from both a local and Countywide platform. Since 2015, El Cerrito/Kensington has had a UAV (drone) with a high-resolution camera as well as infrared and thermo scanning capabilities to use for search and rescue as well as fire detection in the urban interface when needed. However, to consider the UAV as an early detection tool is not accurate at this time as it is not usually CITY HALL 10890 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 Telephone (510) 215-4305 Fax (510) 215-4379 http://www.el-cerrito.org 2 CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE used in a patrol mode but rather to investigate an area where smoke has been spotted. Additionally, drone use around a working vegetation fire is prohibited as it can interfere with aerial firefighting resources such as helicopters and planes. Over the last two years, the Contra Costa County fire agencies have supported the independent work of ALERTWildfire and the numerous cameras that have been installed on behalf of PG&E as well as Cal Fire that provide visual access to many of the parks and wildland interface areas of the County. These cameras can be controlled by the Contra Costa County Regional Fire Communication Center (CCRFCC) as well as the County Fire/Rescue Mutual Aid Coordinator and various other Chief officers to move and focus in on a given locations and confirm a fire and its size and dispatch appropriate resources. CFRCC also has access to real-time satellite detection of fires as provided by PG&E. They can use this information to confirm a fire, often undetected in a remote area and dispatch fire resources as well as support the operation with real time data. This technology can be considered as early detection. Many of the local fire agencies within Contra Costa County have been working individually, and collectively, on researching or implementing many of the other technologies referenced such as the ground sensors but they have not proven to be feasible at this time. Many others are still in development and testing stages and are not commercially available.

R7

The City Councils of El Cerrito, Pinole and Richmond should review and consider mechanisms, such as the ordinance passed by the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District, that would enable their fire district to recover labor and equipment costs from PG&E for overseeing electrical utility work that presents a high fire risk, by June 30, 2021. RESPONSE: This recommendation requires further analysis. At this point, it is unclear whether PG&E can be regulated by a local agency. It is our understanding that there are legal challenges from PG&E to San Ramon Valley Fire’s ordinance. Outcomes of these challenges will provide a clearer direction for other agencies to potentially proceed and will open the door to other local regulations of all PG&E’s work being conducted in our response area. There is no set time for any resolution and implementation is not possible until the legal matters are settled. Please do not hesitate to let me know if you have any questions or require additional information concerning the above responses. You can reach me directly at (510) 215- 4301 or by email at [email protected]. Sincerely, Karen E. Pinkos City Manager City of El Cerrito cc: El Cerrito City Council CITY HALL 10890 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 Telephone (510) 215-4305 Fax (510) 215-4379 http://www.el-cerrito.org 3