Posting Language
Title
Authorize the execution of an interlocal agreement with Travis County to provide reimbursement funding to the City for updating the existing Austin-Travis County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) and to cooperate on implementation of the updated CWPP, in an amount not to exceed $100,000.
De
Lead Department
Austin Fire
Fiscal Note
Funding in the amount of $100,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2024 Austin Fire Department operating budget.
For More Information:
Carrie Stewart, Fire Division Chief, 512-974-0181; Justice Jones, Wildfire Mitigation Officer, 512-974-0199.
Additional Backup Information:
This interlocal agreement provides for the City and County to cooperate and provide funding to hire a contractor to update the Austin-Travis County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). Following catastrophic wildfire in and around Austin in 2011, staff members from the City and County organized the Austin-Travis County Joint Wildfire Task Force. The Joint Wildfire Task Force identified a critical need was a detailed science-based analysis of specific wildfire risks and threats, detailed descriptions and specifications for best management practices that would mitigate risk and remove threats, and a process to implement this action at the small community and neighborhood level. In 2013, the City of Austin and Travis County identified a contractor and worked to create the original CWPP. After 10 years in service, the CWPP needs to be updated to identify new goals and objectives. These goals and objectives will guide our Wildfire efforts over the next five to 10 years.
The proposed interlocal agreement provides that the City and County will cooperate to share funds to update and implement the CWPP as follows. Grant funds received by the City from the Texas Forestry Service, up to $200,000, shall be used first to cover the costs of the contract to hire a contractor to update the CWPP. If the City’s grant funds are not sufficient to cover the costs of the contractor, then the City and County shall equally pay the remainder of the costs of the contractor, not exceed $100,000 each. If the City’s grant funds are sufficient to cover the costs of the contractor, or if the County’s $100,000 contribution is not exhausted by the costs of the contractor, then the County’s $100,000 contribution, or any remaining amount thereof, will be used for risk modeling services, implementation of the CWPP update, or both, as determined cooperatively by the County and City.
The City and County have not yet selected the contractor who will provide the CWPP update.