Summary of objective implementation status (achievements or progress over last year; significant delays or issues, etc.)
SPI is working to meet this objective by committing additional resources to improve drainage (flood mitigation) and expand vegetation management (fire mitigation) efforts within the road right of way. In order to increase maintenance services in these areas by 5% annually the Department is focusing on developing community partnerships, implementing new programs and undertaking additional projects. Examples of these partnerships, programs and projects include:
- Partner with workforce development organizations which provide job skills training and increase ongoing vegetation management efforts.
- Identify and allocate resources for fire fuel reduction in geographically isolated areas.
- Increase fire fuel reduction in the right of way by increasing vegetation clearing from the edge of asphalt from two feet to four feet.
- Implement a Hazardous Tree Removal Program with input from the Board and community at large.
- Review and update SPI’s Vegetation removal policy on a regular basis
The following is a list of partnerships and locations entered into by the Department which have resulted in vegetation removal along over 25 miles of County Roads.
- Partnership with Maycamas Fire Safe Council along Cavedale and Trinity Roads
- Partnership with Circuit Riders along Sweetwater Springs/Mt. Jackson
- Partnership with Wilshire Heights Mutual Water Company along Wilshire, Crystal, Donner and Dana Drives
- Partnership with Northern California Conservation Corps to perform fire fuel reduction work within the road right of way along five miles on Grove Street near Sonoma and in and around Occidental. These roads serve as key emergency egress routes serving approximately 6,000 total residents.
Implementation of a Hazardous Tree Removal Program, including:
- Identification and removal of 110 Eucalyptus trees in the Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery (project W22702)
- Identification of hazardous trees along 8th St East in Sonoma (project W22701). SPI is currently working to resolve right-of-way issues with plans to begin tree removal in 2024.
- Identification and removal of hazardous trees along Main Street, Petaluma Hill Road, and Adobe Road in Penngrove (project M22101) by Road Maintenance crews in December 2021.
- Identification and removal of hazardous eucalyptus trees near Ross Road in Sebastopol (project W22704) in Spring 2022. Work completed in June 2022
- Establish and fund an annual vegetation management program beginning in 2022. During the first year of the program, SPI contracted out for tree removal on Lakeville Highway and along 7th Street East in the town of Sonoma as well as vegetation management on over 100 miles of Class II bicycle lanes.
Key Milestone Update
- The Department completed over 40 miles of roadside fire fuel reduction in geographically isolated areas.
- The Department has managed the removal of over 110 hazardous eucalyptus trees at the Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery and several other smaller scale tree removal projects throughout the County.
Coordination and Partnership Update
- SPI partnered with State of California Human Development (CHD) in a program that provides job skill training for road maintenance activities.
- SPI has partnered with community organization including Maycamas Fire Safe Council, the Circuit Riders and the Wilshire Heights Mutual Water Company to clear vegetation along over 25 miles of County roads in geographically isolated areas.
- SPI has partnered with Northern California Conservation Corps and CalFire to perform fire fuel reduction work within the road right of way in various locations throughout the County including near the City of Sonoma in District 1 and around Occidental in District 5.
- SPI has partnered with State of California Human Development (CHD) in a program that provides job skill training for road maintenance activities including vegetation removal, culvert cleaning and ditch re-establishment in the LNU Fire areas, including Sweet Water Springs Road.
Community, Equity, and Climate Update
The fire fuel reduction efforts being performed Countywide provide improved evacuation routes in geographically isolated areas. In addition, SPI is actively supporting community groups in their efforts to reduce fire fuel. The partnerships with community groups engage the public and assist in implementation of the services. The drainage culvert projects are spread throughout the County in geographically isolated areas to promote equitable services. Reports from the public of localized maintenance issues through our website and So Co Report It app provide public engagement and ensure equity in service.
Funding Narrative
Through traditional Roads funding sources such as annual allocations from State Highway Users Tax Account (HUTA) and Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Act (SB1) as well as grants, and one-time allocations by the Board, SPI spent approximately $12.75M on vegetation management efforts from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2022
In addition, SPI has been able to leverage regular funding resources through community partnerships with workforce development agencies and other community organizations focused on disaster mitigation. The following is a list of resources SPI has been using to maximize Department financial resources.
- Partnering with State of California Human Development (CHD) to provide job skill training for road maintenance activities. The program provides the labor at no cost to the SPI.
- Utilize $2,500,000 of one-time PG&E Settlement funding approved by the Board of Supervisors for hazardous tree removal.
- Using $78,670 of Proposition 68 funding for fuel reduction in the road right of way.
