 On Tuesday, September 21, I am bringing forward a board item along with Supervisor Hidahl to direct the CAO's office to convene a Working Group tasked with collaborating on lessons learned from the Caldor Fire in order to initiate a robust, community-based resiliency and vegetation management program throughout our County.
The Caldor Fire ravaged El Dorado County, destroying 1003 structures and consuming 219,267 acres. The loss was heartbreaking, and I know our hearts go out to all those that lost their homes and properties, especially in the communities of Grizzly Flats, along the American River corridor and up to Echo Summit. I think we also recognize that the devastation could have gone much deeper throughout our County.
What has struck me about this entire incident was the immense amount of vegetation management that fire crews did on both private and public lands to create defensible space that slowed or stopped the fire's spread. (That's work that private landowners, as well as the County and other public agencies, should have done!) The County did enact a Vegetation Management Ordinance in 2019, and that was a good start. The problem was, we didn't fund it. And while there are incredible efforts underway to create defensible space through entities like the Resource Conservation District and Fire Safe Councils, it's high time for El Dorado County to do things differently in order to create a more resilient and fire-adapted County. That's the point of this board item.
Link to Agenda Item
Special BOS Meeting...
On Friday, September 10th, there was a Special Board Meeting to adopt an Urgency Ordinance focused on rebuilding and resiliency measures.
A deep thanks to all those who joined us in this important, and at times, heart-wrenching conversation. I also want to applaud our staff who has worked diligently to get this done, despite many being evacuated themselves. We recognize that this Ordinance will be fluid, and that we will need to add to it or amend it. That said, it is a great start in helping our community move onto the road to recovery. Here are some highlights from the Ordinance:
- Waives Permit and Development Impact Fees
- Prioritizes Rebuilding Permits over other work in the Planning and Building Department
- Establishes Safe Parking Sites
- Expands Temporary Housing Options
- Permits Shipping Containers for Temporary Storage
To review the Ordinance, click on the link below:
Caldor Fire Resiliency and Rebuilding Ordinance
 As a reminder, the Public Review Period on the Dorado Oaks Tentative Subdivision Map will run through October 18, 2021.
Comments should be submitted in writing to the attention of Tom Purciel, El Dorado County Planning and Building Department – Planning Division, 2850 Fairlane Court, Placerville, CA 95667.
Comments may be submitted via email to dorado_oaks@edcgov.us.
Planning Staff advises to limit your comments to the issues addressed in the Draft EIR and the potential environmental impacts that may result from project implementation related to those issues. Keep in mind that comments should focus on the potential environmental impacts of the project based on the Draft EIR, and not the positive or negative attributes of the project itself. Comments pertaining to the impact analysis, criteria and thresholds, mitigation measures, and alternatives presented in the Draft EIR will be considered by the County during preparation of a Final EIR. The Final EIR will include copies of the comments received on the Draft EIR, and the County’s responses to those comments.
Link to Dorado Oaks Documents
They can be found under "Announcements" on the Planning Services website.
 "Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go..."
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