Thank you for your work on the Legislative Platform. There are a few additions Climate Action Mendocino encourages you to insert that better emphasize energy items vital to our climate resilience.
Under Climate Resilience and Renewable Energy: while the highest hazard type risk ratings are an excellent guide for our local threats we also think that the Hazards paragraph that was removed such as extreme heat events, severe winter storms, etc. was an applicable item.
For State and Federal Action in the 2nd bullet we recommend adding at the end of that sentence "through local energy resources such as solar, geothermal and wind". At the 4th bullet at the end of the first sentence add "through renewable energy and zero emission vehicles". At the 5th bullet add "through tax credits".
There were a few items that were dropped that we would like to see added back under State and Federal Action:
"Advocate for support of local power as energy sources"
"Support forest and agricultural programs that promote carbon capture"
"Support water storage systems such as rainwater catchment"
"Implement Sea Level Rise adaptation plan"
"Support the use of biomass/biofuels from healthy forest management projects to capture carbon"
Under Natural Resources State Action at the 4th bulet from the bottom "new and innovative programs and projects that capture carbon such as..."
Under Economic and Community Development
Two additions, possibly after the mention of the the County's Strategic Plan:
"Advocate for legislation that incorporates clean energy and increases economic development efforts, especially in jobs that reduce utility costs and address the County's high hazard risks."
"Advocate for support for a workforce trained for the installation of local power generation (heat pumps, electric vehicle chargers and their maintenance, induction stoves, solar, etc.) as clean energy sources."
Thank you for the mention of securing funding for maintenance and planning of the Great Redwood Trail. Under the next bullet we would hope to see an addition of "educational certificate programs, especially for energy efficiency jobs."
Thank you for seriously considering these additions.

Dear Board of Supervisors,

The Mendocino County Fire Chiefs Association (MCFCA) requests the inclusion of fire agency related issues into the County’s 2026 Legislative Platform. We propose language as follows:

Issue:
Mendocino County partners with the 22 local fire agencies providing all-hazard fire and EMS services and mutual aid. Fire agencies struggle to raise revenues to match the increasing service demands and escalating mandates and standards. Deferred staffing, training, facility and equipment needs are a threat to local and regional response capacity. Recognizing that local fire agencies are critical to our public safety system, Mendocino County advocates for state and federal policies that provide funding, support, technical assistance and resources to local fire agencies.

Actions:
Advocate for and support statewide fire service initiatives led by the Fire District Association of California (FDAC) and CalChiefs that seek to correct decades of state underfunding perpetuating financial instability and difficulties meeting new mandates.

Advocate for and support the expansion of state and federal grant programs to fund the recruitment retention of fire and EMS personnel, as well as dedicated technical assistance and administrative capacity to help small rural agencies access, qualify and manage grants.

Advocate for and support changes to the Fire Code that promote equitable fees and taxation regulations for all property types.

Advocate for and support maximum and timely reimbursement for participation in state and federal incident responses.

Advocate for and support regulations, funding or legislation to ease the maintenance, construction and upgrading of critical fire infrastructure such as fire stations, training facilities and water storage or suppression systems.

Advocate for and support resources and policy flexibility to help rural and volunteer fire agencies meet standards related to minimum staffing, personal protective equipment and apparatus replacement.

Advocate for and support the development of state or federal programs that provide tangible benefits to volunteer firefighter or emergency medical personnel such as health insurance subsidies, retirement incentives or tax rebates to strengthen recruitment and retention of volunteers in rural areas. Advocate for and support investment in fire and EMS training opportunities within Mendocino County to build capacity and meet standards.

Sincerely,
Doug Hutchison - President, Mendocino County Fire Chiefs Association