HomeMy WebLinkAboutAB 29x letter~~•r "~"~~ BOARD OF SUPERV~S4RS
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ADMINISTRATION CENTER
25 COUNTY CENTER DRIVE
SUITE 200
OROV
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ILLE, CALIFORNIA 95965
,~"""°'~ TELEPHONE: (530) 538-7631
BELL CONNELLY
First District
LARRY WAHL
Second District
MAUREEN KIRK, Vice Chair
Third District
STEVE LAMBERT, Chair
Fourth District
KIM K. YAMAGUCHI
Fifth District
January 13, 2012
OAL Reference Attorney
California Office of Administrative Law
300 Capitol Mall, Suite 1250
Sacramento, CA 95814
By Fax 916-323-fi826; 916-653-0989
By Email sta_ffCa~aal,ca.gov, eric.huff(a~fire.ca.go~, George.,, ec~nfry~fire.ca.ctov
RE: SRA Fee Regulations -- 14 CCR, Ch. 13 ~ 1665
To Whom It May Concern:
On behalf of the Butte County Board of Supervisors I am writing to object to the validity of
the emergency regulation currently under OAL review for the adoption of the State
Responsibility Area Fire Prevention Benefit Fees.
AB 29X (Blumenfield} was signed into law by the Governor in July 2011, and deemed an
emergency, necessary far the immediate preservation of the public peace, heal#h and
safety, .and the general welfare. The process undertaken by the California Board of
Forestry and Fire Protection (Board), however, belies the emergency designation. The
Board has repeatedly approved the regulations only to subsequently pull the regulations
from further consideration. This contradicts the idea that the regulations are necessary for
'the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, and the general welfare.
Additionally, the Board's process has not been conducive to meaningful stakeholder input
and thoughtful discussion due to minimal outreach and quiet posting of critical documents,
at times giving only two days to review and submit comment.
The Butte County Board of Supervisors requests the Office of Administrative Law
disapprove the proposed SRA Fee Rules based on the absence of an emergency. If a
situation existed that clearly posed an immediate and serious harm, as is required to exist
in order to adopt emergency regulations, the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection could
have proceeded several months ago.
ccsCcS~CeA
The Butte Caunty Board of Supervisors ask that the proposed SRA Fee' be subject to a
more transparent and reasonable vetting process, which includes extensive public notice,
as well as sufficient time for stakeholders to provide meaningful input.
Sincerely,
~~ a~
Steve Lam ert
Chair, Butte County Board of Supervisors
cc: Members, Butte County Board of Supervisors
The Honorable Governor Jerry Brown
The Honorable Senator Doug La Maifa
The Honorable Assemblyman Jim Nielsen
The Honorable Assemblyman Dan Logue
Ms. Ana Matosantos, Director of the Department of Finance
George Gentry, Executive Officer California Board of Forestry and Fire Pro#ection
Eric Huff, Execu#ive Officer, California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection
Chief Ken Pimlott, Director of CAL FIRE
Paul Yoder, Shaw Yoder
Karen Keene, California State Association of Counties
Stacy Heaton, Regional Council of Rural Counties
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