Grand Jury

MARINCOUNTYCIVILGRANDJURYFINALREPORTSUMMARIES 3 MARINCOUNTYCIVILGRANDJURY 2018-2019 • OCTOBER2019 PhotoCredit:iStockPhoto WILDFIREPREPAREDNESS: ANEWAPPROACH Marinfacesunprecedented danger from wildfire. e Grand Jury reviewed conditions that make us vulnerable to wildfire, assessed plans currently in place to correct them, and recommends a new approach to meeting these challenges. Four areas of vulnerability stand out: Vegetation Management Fuel conditions make Marin extremely vulnerable to wildfires. Overgrown vegetation has created hazardous fuel loads throughout the county. Policies and procedures intended to manage and reduce vegetation are inadequate and inconsistent. Few inspectors are available to determine compliance, and enforcement is slow. Education of the Public e public's ignorance of how to prepare for and respond to wildfires makes Marin vulnerable. Most people do not know how to create defensible space by cutting back vegetation. Many have failed to collect emergency supplies or plan for evacuations. Nearly 90% of residents have not signed up to receive emergency alerts. Programs to educate the public for wildfire are not well known and are offered infrequently. Alerts e two crucial emergency alert systems in the county, Alert Marin and Nixle, as opt-in systems, warn only those who have registered. Evacuations Marin's topography creates danger for those who live far from the main evacuation routes. Connecting roads are narrow and overgrown. Some are constricted by traffic calming obstacles which impede traffic in emergency evacuations. Plans to ease emergency traffic flow are years away from implementation. Marin's roads lack the capacity for a mass evacuation in personal vehicles. Public transit is a neglected piece of evacuation preparedness. Inertia and complacency have prevented a proactive and nimble response to wildfire dangers. The Grand Jury proposes the creation of a joint powers authority to coordinate a comprehensive, consistent approach to pre-ignition planning funded by a ¼ cent sales tax. This approach will remedy the gaps in our preparedness and demonstrate our political will to improve wildfire safety in Marin. 2018-2019 MARIN COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT SUMMARIES Video Podcast: https://youtu.be/OLuK4ln46U4 RECOMMENDATIONS Vegetation R1. Create a comprehensive, countywide vegetation manage- ment plan that includes vegetation along evacuation routes, a cam- paign to mobilize public partici- pation, and low-income subsidies. R2. Hire at least 30 new civilian vegetation inspectors and at least eight fire/fuels crews focused on fuel reduction in the high risk areas of the county, including fed- eral, state and local public lands. R3. Develop and implement a fast, streamlined procedure to enforce vegetation citations. Education R4. Adopt and deliver a compre- hensive education program fo- cused on action for all residents of Marin on a regular schedule by a team of expert trainers. R5. Promote the creation of Firewise Communities in every neighborhood by all local juris- dictions. Recommendations continued on page 4

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