5e) Discussion and Possible Action Including Direction to Staff Regarding Strategically Investing One-Time Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) Disaster Settlement Funds
(Sponsor: Executive Office)
Dear Honorable Board of Supervisors,
The money which has been received from the PG&E Settlement should be used carefully and thoughtfully. There are many needs and wants in this county. I can only imagine how many hands are outstretched asking for a piece of this money. However, it seems to me that this money should be prioritized in a couple of ways:
1. It should be spent to help repair damages inflicted by the fires of 2017 and since. This includes damages sustained by the county to infrastructure and our citizens who are still trying to rebuild.
2. It should be spent on projects that protect against future fire damage. There will always be another fire. Ensuring that our systems to deal with that fire are adequate should take priority over fixing roofs and installing generators on buildings that were not and hopefully will never be impacted by a wildfire because of their location.
3. I do agree with spending money on first responders, emergency communication infrastructure, targeted fuel reduction plans, hardening of critical infrastructure like fire stations and repeaters, and evacuation warning systems.
Thank you for your consideration of these thoughts.
Sincerely,
Frost Pauli
I believe the board of supervisors should take a very deep breath and not be so eager to spend the PGE windfall without considerate contemplation. One has to question how many of the items on the proposed spending plan would of been funded without these monies, my guess, not as many or some at a much lower cost. Now is the time to be prudent, as we continue to experience unexpected changes to our quality of life.
I think there is very little detail to the plans for spending this money. I'd prefer to see funds used to support our county sheriff department by hiring more personnel and provide them with better technology to do their jobs. Also $9M to build an IT system seems ridiculous when there are so many other things in the county that need attention, including our need for a county wide water management system.
I support the use of the PG & E settlement funds for continuing the work of the Mendocino County Fire Safe Council in coordinating wildfire mitigation efforts. Their program of community chipper days and crewed chipper projects has been proven successful and merits continued funding. Please put the maximum amount possible toward funding the Fire Safe Council.
Solid Wastes of Willits, Inc., through a contract with the County of Mendocino, operates the Potter Valley Transfer Station. After the tragic fire that destroyed the roof structure, office and wall improvements at the site, SWOW requested from the County if any funds were available for rebuilding the roof structure, office and other repairs. SWOW also lost 4 large debris boxes in the fire. At the time of the request and after several letters to County staff and the 1st District Supervisor we were told that we needed to wait until funding became available. There are now disaster settlement funds available and we request that funds be provided for those improvements caused by the fire. In the past we have provided pictures of the site prior to the fire and pictures of the site after the fire. SWOW will be willing to provide engineering drawings and estimated costs of repairs for such funding. Thanks.
Dear Honorable Board of Supervisors,
The money which has been received from the PG&E Settlement should be used carefully and thoughtfully. There are many needs and wants in this county. I can only imagine how many hands are outstretched asking for a piece of this money. However, it seems to me that this money should be prioritized in a couple of ways:
1. It should be spent to help repair damages inflicted by the fires of 2017 and since. This includes damages sustained by the county to infrastructure and our citizens who are still trying to rebuild.
2. It should be spent on projects that protect against future fire damage. There will always be another fire. Ensuring that our systems to deal with that fire are adequate should take priority over fixing roofs and installing generators on buildings that were not and hopefully will never be impacted by a wildfire because of their location.
3. I do agree with spending money on first responders, emergency communication infrastructure, targeted fuel reduction plans, hardening of critical infrastructure like fire stations and repeaters, and evacuation warning systems.
Thank you for your consideration of these thoughts.
Sincerely,
Frost Pauli
I believe the board of supervisors should take a very deep breath and not be so eager to spend the PGE windfall without considerate contemplation. One has to question how many of the items on the proposed spending plan would of been funded without these monies, my guess, not as many or some at a much lower cost. Now is the time to be prudent, as we continue to experience unexpected changes to our quality of life.
I think there is very little detail to the plans for spending this money. I'd prefer to see funds used to support our county sheriff department by hiring more personnel and provide them with better technology to do their jobs. Also $9M to build an IT system seems ridiculous when there are so many other things in the county that need attention, including our need for a county wide water management system.
I support the use of the PG & E settlement funds for continuing the work of the Mendocino County Fire Safe Council in coordinating wildfire mitigation efforts. Their program of community chipper days and crewed chipper projects has been proven successful and merits continued funding. Please put the maximum amount possible toward funding the Fire Safe Council.
Solid Wastes of Willits, Inc., through a contract with the County of Mendocino, operates the Potter Valley Transfer Station. After the tragic fire that destroyed the roof structure, office and wall improvements at the site, SWOW requested from the County if any funds were available for rebuilding the roof structure, office and other repairs. SWOW also lost 4 large debris boxes in the fire. At the time of the request and after several letters to County staff and the 1st District Supervisor we were told that we needed to wait until funding became available. There are now disaster settlement funds available and we request that funds be provided for those improvements caused by the fire. In the past we have provided pictures of the site prior to the fire and pictures of the site after the fire. SWOW will be willing to provide engineering drawings and estimated costs of repairs for such funding. Thanks.