Grand Jury City of Scotts Valley 2019-2020 Grand Jury Responses 1 message

Santa Cruz County residents are at increased risk of fire danger due to the lack of risk management for wildfire. Specific risks are not formally identified, tracked, assessed for impact, nor is progress reported by fire departments in the County. Therefore, leaders responsible for budgets and accountability are left unprepared to manage risk, impact, or performance. AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): The City of Scotts Valley does not provide fire services and cannot authoritatively comment on the state of countywide fire risk assessment, management and reporting. However, we are aware that our local fire district, the Scotts Valley Fire Protection District (SVFPD), takes fire mitigation very seriously. In addition to conducting its own activities, SVFPD is a ready partner to the City to coordinate on fire risk/vegetation management needs across Scotts Valley. While this work is not underpinned by a formal plan, SVFPD and City Public Works continually coordinate on projects to reduce fire risks to Scotts Valley.

There are only approximately 17,000 accounts for the Santa Cruz County opt-in CodeRED™ emergency system, which implies that a significant portion of the County may not receive emergency alert messages, which potentially reduces residents’ opportunity to take action in a timely, life-saving manner. AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): The City of Scotts Valley has no jurisdiction with the CodeRED emergency system, but understands that technology evolution is constant and new means of notifying residents of emergency situations are continually emerging.

The FireWise institution provides a valuable fire prevention program and, as of March 2020, there were eight FireWise communities registered in the County. Marin County, by contrast, with a similar population, has sixty registered communities, highlighting the need for more FireWise promotion and participation in Santa Cruz County. AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): As the City of Scotts Valley does not provide fire services, we have no jurisdiction or direct involvement with the FireWise institution and cannot authoritatively comment on whether there is inadequacy within our County or if there are proxy systems or programs in operation.

Property owners in the County are responsible for their own vegetation management, yet they are often not sufficiently educated about vegetation management practices, or do not have the capability, financial resources, or desire to create defensible space. _ AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Fire preparation and vegetation management are frequently discussed issues and there are many information sources to educate community members. Questions of capability, desire or financial resources is not within the City of Scotts Valley’s scope.

No single organization in the County is assuming a leadership role in Fire Hazard Mitigation. It is not clear whose responsibility it is to minimize this County wide risk. AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Although the City of Scotts Valley does not provide fire services, it understands that the County of Santa Cruz has a leadership role in Fire Hazard Mitigation for the County. Moreover, the Fire Chiefs across the County regularly meet and coordinate on countywide priorities such as this.

The 2015 County of Santa Cruz Emergency Operations Management plan does not adequately address evacuation, and references data too outdated to be useful, such as a population density map from the 2000 census. AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): The City of Scotts Valley has not assessed the County of Santa Cruz Emergency Operations Management Plan. Scotts Valley completely revised its own Emergency Operations Plan in November 2015 and updated it in 2017 and 2018, with another revision planned for 2021.

The Grand Jury finds that formally specified baseline and target performance statements, in alignment with the Center for Public Safety Excellence Assessment Process, neither currently exist nor are they reported by fire departments in the County as required by best practice standards. There are no goals set or measures made of progress for review by the Board of Supervisors regarding County Fire/CAL FIRE performance. Other fire districts in the County are similarly remiss in reporting to their governing bodies. Appropriate goals would include progress on response times, vegetation management, and code inspection progress, all of which are necessary to properly quantify the budget and resources required for full-time, volunteer, and prison inmate workforces, in appropriate, affordable proportions. X AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree):