Agenda - 10-20-2009 - 4g - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Enforcement of State forest fire laws, • Provision of mutual aid in times of emergency, and • Taking preventative measures, educational and otherwise as necessary, to prevent forest fires. In addition to their statutory responsibilities, the County and District offices participate in many public education efforts. For example, BOCC 2009-10 Priority P-1 calls for the conservation of high priority natural areas, prime forests and wildlife habitat. Part of the strategy to address this priority in 2009-10 is a public seminar series that includes a session on `Sustainable Forest Management and Stewardship" in which the County and District offices plan to participate. During 2008-09, almost 100 forest management plans for 3,600 acres were created by the local offices, and $11,072 in State cost-share funds were provided to Orange County landowners for tree-planting and pre-commercial thinning. Erosion control practices with the Soil and Water office were performed at two sites, including Rashkis Elementary, and 248 acres of new forest were planted. The Forest Service addressed 19 forest fires on 22 acres of land and completed two community wildfire protection plans with volunteer fire departments. While pertorming these duties, the Forest Service also managed to operate under budget cutbacks with $10,405 returned to state and County coffers at the end of FY 2008-09 due to service reductions. FINANCIAL IMPACT: As is done each year, the anticipated budget for the Forest Service contract is shared with the County prior to budget approval and amounts budgeted accordingly and approved as part of the County budget in June. The approved FY 2009-10 Forest Service budget is $163,000, which is a decrease of $700 from the FY 2008-09 budget. The County's share of the budget as per the proposed contract is $65,200, a decrease of $292 from last year. These funds are included in the adopted FY 2009-10 County budget. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive the information about the Forest Service activities, approve the annual agreement between Orange County and the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources for FY 2009-10, and authorize the Chair to sign the agreement.