STAFF REPORT

DATE: September 3, 2021 FILE: 0540-04 EASC

TO: Chair and Directors, Electoral Area Services Committee

FROM: Dave Leitch Chief Administrative Officer

RE: COMMUNITY RESILIENCY INVESTMENT - GRANT OPPORTUNITY PURPOSE To consider an application to the Community Resiliency Investment grant program of the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) to further the Regional District’s efforts to reduce wildfire risks.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Community Resiliency Investment (CRI) grant is a provincial program intended to reduce the risk and impact of wildfires on communities in BC. The general goal of FireSmart is to encourage communities and citizens to adopt and conduct FireSmart practices to mitigate the negative impacts of wildfire to public and private property assets. The program can contribute up to 100% of the cost of eligible activities provided the application has a Council or Board resolution indicating support for the proposed activities and a willingness to provide overall grant management. Regional Districts may submit a single application for eligible, collaborative projects that include multiple electoral areas. The maximum base funding for fuel management is $50,000 plus up to $50,000 for FireSmart activities for each electoral area. All local governments (municipalities and regional districts) and First Nations (bands and Treaty First Nations) in BC are eligible to apply. Eligible applicants may submit one application per intake. The deadline for the next intake of applications is October 8, 2021.

It is proposed that an application be submitted by the Regional District to undertake a number of FireSmart activities in each electoral area as outlined below in detail. If approved, it is anticipated that 100% of the total costs of the FireSmart activities would be covered by the grant award.

The Regional District continues to work with and provide assistance where desired to those municipalities and first nations that are considering submission of separate applications for FireSmart projects within their communities.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. THAT the report from the Chief Administrative Officer be received.

2. THAT the Committee recommend that an application to the 2022 Community Resiliency Investment grant program be submitted for FireSmart activities in the electoral areas as outlined in the September 3, 2021 report from the Chief Administrative Officer, and

THAT Regional District commit to overall grant management if the application is successful.

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Emergency Support Services in a wildfire event. The Heritage Hall has an agreement with the Regional District to serve as Emergency Support Services facility during a wildfire event.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS Providing support for a CRI grant indicates that the Regional District is prepared to accept responsibility for this project and to provide overall grant management. It is suggested that the following eligible items be applied for.

BASE FUNDING FUEL MANAGEMENT ESTIMATED COST Wildfire fuel treatment for 11ha of Crown Land in the Carrington Bay area of $140,625 Wildfire Fuel Prescriptions Obtain Wildfire Fuel Management Prescriptions for 30 Hectares of $12,000 Crown Land Throughout 6 Parcels In The Valley Adjacent to Residential Property. Total $152,625

ELECTORAL AREA A: KYUQUOT NOOTKA / SAWARD ESTIMATED COST FireSmart Renovations at Heritage Hall $34,500 Curbside Wood Debris Chipping for Residents of the Sayward Valley $12,000 Two FireSmart Community Presentations $3,000 Mailout and Printing Costs $500 Total $50,000

ELECTORAL AREA B: CORTES ISLAND ESTIMATED COST Curbside Wood Debris Chipping for All Residents $42,000 Develop FireSmart Neighbourhood Plans $6,500 Provide WFF SPP-1 Training for 5 Members of the Cortes Island Fire Department $500 Provide Incident Command System Level 100 Training For 5 Members of the Cortes Island $500 Fire Department Mailout and Printing Costs $500 Total $50,000

ELECTORAL AREA C: / MAINLAND INLETS ESTIMATED COST Curbside Wood Debris Chipping for Residents of $32,000 Develop FireSmart Neighbourhood Plans $14,710 Firesmart Promotional Items $2,790 • Pop up tents with walls = $1,820 • Sporks (500) = $520 • Re-usable Tote Bags (150) = $450

Mailout and Printing Costs $500 Total $50,000

ELECTORAL AREA D: OYSTER BAY / BUTTLE LAKE ESTIMATED COST Curbside Wood Debris Chipping for All Residents $20,000 Develop FireSmart Neighbourhood Plans $24,100 Two Community FireSmart Presentations $3,000 FireSmart Promotional Items $2,400 • Campfire Mugs (100) = $1,400 • Toques (100) = $1,000

Mailout and Printing Costs $500 Total $50,000 Staff Report – Community Resiliency Investment Grant Opportunity Page 4

INTERDEPARTMENTAL INVOLVEMENT/IMPLICATIONS Financial services would provide overall supervision of the grant management. Protective services would provide overall supervision of the project.

Prepared by: S. Koopman – Protective Services Coordinator

Attachments: A – Status of Community Wildfire Protection Plans in the SRD B – Location of the proposed wildfire fuel treatment area on Cortes Island C – Location of the proposed wildfire fuel prescription areas in the Sayward Valley D - SRD’s Community Resiliency Grant Application E - Community Resiliency Grant Application Guide

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Attachment A: Status of Community Wildfire Protection Plans in the Strathcona Regional District

Electoral Areas Community CWPP Developed? Year Electoral Area A – Sayward Valley Yes 2020 Electoral Area B – Cortes Island Yes 2021 Electoral Area B – Marina Island No - Electoral Area C – No - Electoral Area C – No - Electoral Area C – No - Electoral Area C – Yes 2020 Electoral Area C – Stuart Island No - Electoral Area C – Quadra Island Yes 2021 (in development) Electoral Area C – Yes 2020 Electoral Area C – Yes 2020 Electoral Area C – Rendezvous Island Yes 2020 Electoral Area C – No - Electoral Area C – No - Electoral Area D – Oyster Bay / Buttle Lake Yes 2021 (in development)

Municipalities Community CWPP Developed? Year City of Campbell River Yes 2020 Village of Gold River Yes 2020 Village of Sayward Yes 2020 Village of Tahsis Yes 2020 Village of Zeballos Yes 2020

First Nations (Traditional Territories) Community CWPP Developed? Year Ehattesaht First Nation No - Homalco First Nation No - Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k:tles7et’h No 2020 Kwiakah First Nation No - Klahoose First Nation No 2020 K’omoks First Nation No - Mamalilikulla-Qwe’Qwa’Sot’Em First Nation No - Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation No - Nuchatlaht No 2020 Weiwaikum First Nation Yes 2020 Wewaikai First Nation No -

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Attachment B – Location of proposed wildfire fuel treatment area on Cortes Island

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Attachment C – Location of proposed wildfire fuel prescription areas in the Sayward Valley

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Attachment D: SRD’s Community Resiliency Grant Application

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Attachment E: Community Resiliency Grant Application Guide

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