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Home My WebLink AboutLetter from CA Fire Safe Council to Butte County Fire Safe Council BME COUNTY ADMINISTRATION ` APR 2 n 2418 OROv CALIFORNIA. CALIFORNIA April 19,2018 Mr. Darrell Wilson Chairman, The Butte County Fire Safe Council 5619 Black Olive Drive Paradise,CA 95969 Dear Chairman Wilson, This is in response to a memo from Butte County Fire Safe Council received in the post 311912018. It concerns Forest Service Grant 15-WUI-0003.Abbreviations used: CFSC=California Fire Safe Council;and BCFSC=Butte County Fire Safe Council. The Butte memorandum makes three requests: 1. "If there is a formal process Butte County FSC may utilize to appeal your Executive Director's decision, please forward this to the appropriate office and/or provide the undersigned with such appeal information " 2. That "Butte County Fire safe Council requests an opportunity to be heard at CFSC next board meeting in Sacramento, Ca." 3. What are the reason(s) that payments for another grant (15-SFAX-37813)have not been made. With regard to a review process: BCFSC has already questioned the CFSC decision and escalated it directly to R. Moore,Chief Forester, Region 5,the U.S. Forest Service. Forester Moore very appropriately,charged one of his directors to gather the information and perspectives of both parties,to review the materials along with a federal regulations subject matter expert,and then facilitate a meeting between the parties with the expert. All parties participated in the conference,they asked and answered all questions posed to and from the subject matter expert. The expert unconditionally supported the decisions made by CFSC. This decision was rendered over a year ago: March 21,2017. Trudie Mahoney,Asst. Director,Fire&Aviation Management, was the meeting facilitator,appointed by R. Moore. In attendance were: BCFSC—Darrell Wilson BCFSC—Douglas Teeter BCFSC—Calli-Jane DeAnda USFS—Trudie Mahoney USFS—Wendy Yun USFS—Lynne Sholty CFSC—Stephen Gort CFSC—Thelma Clark The federal regulations subject matter expert stated that the entire grant could be disallowed and terminated. CFSC stated that it wished to pay all the other costs for vendors and employees,except items concerned with the conflict of interest,and MOU. The subject matter expert commended CFSC's intention to pay the other costs, but said this was not necessary.CFSC has paid$174,000 for other approved grant expenses. This dialogue between the parties has gone on for over 18 months and the items covered in this memo have all been aired,discussed,explained and closed.There is nothing new in this BCFSC memo. The California Fire Safe Council 5834 Price Avenue, Suite 101, McClellan Park, CA 95652-2442 {916) 648-3600 With regard to addressing the Board of Directors: The California Fire Safe Council is always available for dialog with local fire safe councils. However, its position on this matter is that the decisions.rendered are final and are completely supported by the Forest Service,and its subject matter expert.The CFSC Board of Directors would not now consider putting itself in opposition to these findings. With regard to The 15 SFAXrg ant: In the CFSC memorandum to Messrs.Wilson and Teeters of November 27,2017,they were notified that any other payments were being temporarily withheld,and that BCFSC was on notice,that they had 90 days to pay the $38,551 and interest.The 90 day deadline has come and gone. The total exposure on the 15 WUI Grant is$38,936.51. It is comprised of the principal of$38,551 plus interest of$385.51 (1%). In an effort to assist you,rather than have to pay this in one lump sum, we would like to offer two possible alternatives: 1. A simple BCFSC payment plan. 2. A payment plan along with a credit from the 15-SFAX Grant. Either plan would reduce the impact of a large lump-sum payment. By easing that requirement it would hopefully allow your organization to continue to function and perform the work so vital to your community. We hope that one of these ideas can work for you. We do genuinely want you to continue to succeed. An explanation of the terms for these plans follows. Please let us know if you would like to choose one of these alternatives. Plan 1. A Butte County Fire Safe Council Payment Plan. If BCFSC agrees to this plan,the parties will: a) BCSFC would agree to 15 monthly payments of$2,570,beginning May 1,2018 and ending July 31,2019, b) CFSC will waive the interest of$385.51. c) BCFSC would arrange an automatic,scheduled monthly bank payment to CFSC. d) Once this agreement is agreed and signed by both parties,and the first automated payment is received, CFSC will work with BCFSC staff to review and finalize the other open grant(15 SFAX) and forward any funds owing from that grant. Plan 2. A Butte County Fire Safe Council Payment Plan with a credit from the 15 SFAX Grant. CFSC has attempted to work with BCFSC on the balance of the 15 SFAX rant,but B p g _ CFSC has refused to return phone calls or respond to emails,and has canceled a scheduled conference call.CFSC has stated there is$27,000 of remaining funds associated with the 15 SFAX grant,and that$17,000 are not contested leaving$10,000 of costs to be reviewed. If BCFSC agrees to this plan the parties will: a) BCFSC will return to the table to work on the balance of 15 SFAX grant. b) CFSC will give BCFSC a credit(an administrative offset)of the$17,000 against the 15 SFAX grant towards the owed$38,55 l on the 15 WUI Grant, leaving a debt balance of$21,551. c) CFSC will waive the interest of$385.51. d) BCFSC will agree to a payment plan of$1,436.73 per month for the fifteen months beginning May 1,2018 and ending July 31,2019. e) BCFSC would arrange an automatic, scheduled monthly bank payment of$1,436.73 to CFSC. f) Once this agreement is agreed and signed by both parties,and the first automated payment is received,and BCFSC has returned to the table to work with CFSC,the parties will review and finalize the status of the $10,000 balance of the 15 SFAX grant. It is understood that some of this amount may be allowed,some may be disallowed depending on the results of the mutual review work. The California Fire Safe Council 5834 Price Avenue, Suite 101, McClellan Park, CA 95652-2442 (916) 648-3600 CFSC highly values fire safe councils throughout the state,such as BCFSC, who provide fire safety programs, projects, and support to its citizens, residents,and landowners. It is in fact, the CFSC mission to support these organizations in their important work. It is our responsibility to help them to manage their projects and accomplish their goals all within the bounds of the federal regulations. The BCFSC has provided many years of wonderful service to its community and it is our hope that you will continue to do so and to thrive. For the Board of Directors: E. Jerry Davies J Chairman, The California Fire Safe Council COPIES TO: Randy Moore Regional Forester, U.S. Forest Service,Pacific Southwest Region 5 1323 Club Drive, Vallejo,CA 94592 Robert Baird Fire Director, U.S. Forest Service,Pacific Southwest Region 5 1323 Club Drive, Vallejo,CA 94592 Wendy Yuri Office of Fire and Aviation Management, U.S. Forest Service,Pacific Southwest Region 5 1323 Club Drive, Vallejo,CA 94592 Board of Directors The California Fire Safe Council 5834 Price Ave., Suite 101, McClellan Park,CA 95652 James Gallagher California Assemblyman, District 1130 Civic Center Blvd,Yuba City,CA 95993 Jim Nielson California Senator, California District 4 2635 Forest Ave,Suite 110, Chico,CA 95928 Doug LaMalfa U.S. Assemblyman, California District 1 2862 Olive Highway,Suite D, Oroville,CA 95966 Butte County Board of Supervisors 26 County Center Drive,Oroville,CA 95965 Kathleen Greeson Butte Deputy County Counsel 25 County Center Drive, Suite 210, Oroville,CA 95965 The California Fire Safe Council 5834 Price Avenue, Suite 901, McClellan Park, CA 95652-2442 (916) 648-3600