El Dorado County Grand Jury
• 2021-2022
• Agency Response
El Dorado County Board of Supervisors’ Response Case 21-09: Ordinance 5101 - Vegetation Management and Defensible Space
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 6 findings
F2
Page 2
As of May 2022, the County's Vegetation Management Office has transitioned under the new Wildfire Resiliency Office. The Board of Supervisors agrees with the finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Page 3
The BOS should follow up with the newly formed Wildfire Resiliency Office and receive updates on a quarterly basis from the CAO by December 31, 2022. The recommendation requires further analysis. The CAO will direct the Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience to provide another update to the Board before December 31, 2022. At that point the Board will determine how often it would like to receive reports from the Office and whether a regular reporting schedule is necessary.
F3
Page 2
There has been no comprehensive County plan to implement Ordinance 5101, which includes defensible space inspections. The Board of Supervisors disagrees wholly with the finding. As stated above, the County's plan was to focus on outreach and education and conduct systematic inspections in CEAs.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Page 3
The BOS should direct appropriate County departments to comply with Ordinance 5101 by clearing County properties that violate the Ordinance by June 30, 2023. The recommendation has not been implemented but will be implemented in the future. The CAO has already begun the process of identifying the barriers that have prevented some County properties from becoming compliant with the ordinance, A plan for ensuring compliance of County properties will be developed no later than June 30, 2023.
F4
Page 2
The new Wildfire Resiliency Office has been given the responsibility to develop a comprehensive County plan. The Board of Supervisors disagrees partially with the finding. The Grand Jury appears to be conflating the Countywide Wildfire Protection Strategy, identified in the County's Strategic Plan in March, with the Vegetation Management Program. While the Vegetation Management Program is under the Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience, and the Vegetation Management Ordinance is one tool to be used to meet the County's Strategic Plan goal to "Lead and facilitate the creation and maintenance of fire-adapted communities, " it is important to note that the scope of the plan with which the Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience encompasses much more than the Vegetation Management Program. The Office has already begun reviewing the Vegetation Management Program and will be reaching out to stakeholders for suggestions on potential revisions to the ordinance and ways to structure the program to more fully support the County's Strategic Plan goal.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Page 3
The BOS should decide whether the enforcement component of Ordinance 5101 needs to be amended by December 31, 2022. The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not feasible. The Board of Supervisors looks forward to considering any recommendations from the Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience with regard to the Vegetation Management Program; however, it is not feasible at this point for the Board to set a time frame for one specific aspect of the program.
F5
Page 2
The enforcement component of Ordinance 5101 has not been implemented. The Board of Supervisors disagrees wholly with the finding. As stated above, 1,147 inspections have been conducted, 10 community workshops have been held, and notices have gone out to homeowners making them aware of their duty to comply with the ordinance. While no fines have been levied, fining is not the only measure of enforcement, and has not been the goal of the County program. As previously stated, the program's focus has been on encouraging voluntary compliance through outreach, education, and inspections that serve to inform homeowners of the importance of compliance, what they need to do to bring their properties into compliance, and where possible, link them with additional resources.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Page 4
The BOS should send a letter by December 31, 2022, to the State Insurance Commissioner advocating that insurance companies provide or continue to provide insurance for rural areas. The recommendation has not been implemented but will be implemented by December 31, 2022. Additionally, the Board of Supervisors have been, and will continue, advocating that insurance companies provide or continue to provide insurance for rural areas with the State Insurance Commissioner and other appropriate venues.
F6
Page 3
There are County properties in violation of its own Ordinance 5101.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
Page 3
Availability and affordability of fire insurance is an ongoing issue in the County. The Board of Supervisors agrees with the finding.
No recommendations for this finding