Announcements regarding hearings, grants, and public comment notices of importance to California's rural counties.
Public Feedback Requested for Development of Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Toolkit
The Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network has partnered with the Community Wildfire Planning Center the CA Fire Safe Council on a project seeking public feedback to inform the development of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Toolkit - a collection of resources and information to support California communities in the creation and implementation of CWPPs. Take the survey here.
CPUC Workshop on Telecommunications Service Quality Standards and Enforcement
On Thursday, September 7, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will hold an in-person workshop—with remote viewing and limited participation—to discuss proposed changes to minimum telecommunication service quality standards through their General Order 133 Proceeding. The purpose of the workshop is to discuss existing penalty mechanisms under the CPUC’s General Order, possible enforcement changes, and consider additional service quality metrics as the Commission considers revisions to General Order 133.
WHEN: Tuesday, September 7, 2023 from 9am to 4pm
WHERE: California Energy Commission, Art Rosenfeld Hearing Room (1516 9th Street, Sacramento 95814)
WebEx session may be accessed here.
California Launches Online Tool to Track Wildfire Resilience Projects
The Governor’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force (Task Force) has launched the beta version of a first-of-its-kind Interagency Treatment Dashboard that displays the size and location of state and federal forest and landscape resilience projects in California.
The dashboard offers a one-stop-shop to access data, provide transparency, and align the efforts of more than a dozen agencies to build resilient landscapes and communities in California. It reports treatment activities such as prescribed fire, targeted grazing, uneven-aged timber harvest, mechanical and hand fuels reduction, and tree planting. Users can sort treatments by region, county, land ownership and more.
The dashboard is an important step to increase the pace and scale of statewide actions addressing California’s wildfire crisis and is a key deliverable of the Governor’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, issued by the Task Force in January 2021.
The beta version of the dashboard will continue to be refined to include additional data, including projects by local and tribal entities, along with revisions based on public feedback. An official launch is expected in spring 2024 with more complete data on projects implemented in 2022.
CalRecycle Request for Data Regarding Potential Implementation Costs of SB 54
On June 28-29, 2023, CalRecycle hosted informal rulemaking workshops that included a description of the Standardized Regulatory Impact Assessment (SRIA) being performed in support of the SB 54 rulemaking, as well as a general description of the data needs for that analysis. As part of our continued efforts to ensure the analysis is as robust as possible, we are seeking additional data sources to supplement those we are currently utilizing in the analysis. This document provides an outline of the type of data CalRecycle is requesting to determine potential cost of SB 54 implementation over the implementation period. If you have access to, or are aware of others who might have access to, data sources that would help us better project these costs, please contact us via email at packaging@calrecycle.ca.gov. Include "SB 54 SRIA Data Needs" in the subject line to assist CalRecycle in identifying your offer to help with data. In order to allow sufficient time to review and incorporate new data sources in the analysis, please email no later than September 12, 2023.
RCRC to Host Pre-Annual Meeting Economic Development Forum September 19th
RCRC is hosting an Economic Development Forum in Monterey County on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, the day before the start of the RCRC Annual Meeting. The Forum will take place at the RCRC Annual Meeting conference hotel, the Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The event is free of charge and lunch will be provided. This is an in-person event only; a virtual option will not be provided.
Speakers from federal and state agencies will discuss programs that can strengthen communities in RCRC member counties. Additionally, representatives from Golden State Connect Authority partner, Tilson Technology, will address the many benefits of reliable, quality broadband to local governments and their residents and businesses. RCRC staff from the Economic Development and Business Development Teams will also introduce programs from RCRC-affiliate Golden State Finance Authority (GSFA) that can benefit employees, residents, and (infrastructure and community facility) projects in RCRC member counties. The agenda is available here.
Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Location: Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay (in person only; no virtual option)
RSVP to Julie Lunn at jlunn@rcrcnet.org
$32 Million Available for Clean Transportation & Planning Projects - Grant application deadline: September 8, 2023
The California Air Board (CARB) has $32.65 million available to fund multiple planning, clean transportation, and supporting projects across the State. Community-based organizations, local governments (including public school districts), and tribal governments are eligible to apply.
The Request for Applications is a two-phase process. The first phase - Concept Phase applications - must be received by CARB no later than 11:59 pm (PDT) on Friday, September 8, 2023. Applicants will then be selected to advance to the Full Application Phase. Applicants must apply for the Concept Phase to be eligible for the Full Phase.
CARB will host two Question & Answer (Q&A) sessions in each application phase. The remaining Concept Phase Q&A session is scheduled for Tuesday, August 29, 2023.
For more information, visit CARB’s website here. If you have questions, contact RCRC Policy and Local Assistance Manager, Eric Will.
Monthly Discussions on Williamson Act Key Topics with the Department of Conservation
Join Department of Conservation staff for a monthly discussion on key topics under the Williamson Act. County staff and members of the public are invited to these hour-long, virtual sessions where staff from DOC’s Division of Land Resource Protection (DLRP) discuss select topics, provide technical assistance, and invite questions on Williamson Act implementation.
Upcoming sessions in 2023 include:
- September 21st – Solar Use & WA Contracts
- October 19th – WA Enrollment Finder
- November 16th – Open Question Hour
For questions, contact LCA@conservation.ca.gov. For more information, please visit www.conservation.ca.gov/dlrp/wa.
Career Opportunities
- Yolo County is seeking applicants for the position of Chief Financial Officer. The recruitment brochure is available here. Those interested in this executive recruitment MUST email a letter of interest and resume to Khanida.Hunter@yolocounty.org. This position is open until filled.
Access the State Grants Portal for a Multitude of Funding Opportunities
Billions of dollars are up for grabs to public agencies and other entities, including tribes and businesses. Grant seekers can access a centralized portal of grant and loan opportunities here, or sign up to receive new grant opportunities delivered straight to your inbox