HomeMy WebLinkAboutSB901_20180910_LetterToDoddCity of San Luis Obispo, Office of the City Council, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401-3249, 805.781.7114, slocity.org
September 18, 2018
The Honorable Edmund G. Brown
Governor, State of California
State Capitol, First Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
VIA Email: Leg.Unit@gov.ca.gov
RE: SB 901 (Dodd) Wildfires
Request for SIGNATURE
Dear Governor Brown,
The City of San Luis Obispo supports SB 901 (Dodd) and urges your signature of the measure. This bill is the
product of months of work by your Administration, the Legislature and the Conference Committee on Wild fire
Preparedness and Response.
As the costly and destructive wildfires over the past two years illustrate, extreme fire conditions have become a
year-round concern. SB 901 provides comprehensive solutions to address numerous issues related to wildfires,
while still protecting communities’ ability to rebuild after a wildfire. We appreciate the new safety and prevention
measures in this bill, the expansion of the use of Mutual Aid funding to allow for pre -positioning of equipment
and personnel, as well as the tools to ensure the state’s electric utilities remain fiscally solvent.
Located on the Central Coast, the City of San Luis Obispo is surrounded by open space and agricultural land.
Our vibrant City is bisected by both U.S. Highway 101 and the Union Pacific Rail Road line , both of which are
essential, high activity corridors. San Luis Obispo is the county seat and home to California Polytechnic State
University at San Luis Obispo’s 22,000 students.
Climate change has put our community at risk of catastrophic wildfires, like those experienced by communities
north and south of San Luis Obispo. While the term “fire season” is no longer an accurate descriptor for
California’s “fire reality,” there are predictable weather patterns that significantly increase our risk. SB 901
addresses California communities’ need to pre-position firefighting equipment and apparatus based on our
vigilant assessment the indicators of wildfire potential. SB 901 wisely sets aside $200 million annually through
the 2023-24 fiscal year for improved forest management practices incl uding reduction of excess trees and
vegetation that create a danger level of fuel. Finally, SB 901 proposes new requirements for utilities to implement
fire prevention plans and the streamlining of landscape and forestry management, which has been the cause of
fires in our community and throughout California.
We support this comprehensive plan to become more resilient, reduce the risk of wildfire, and establish policies
that improve the safety of our communities. For these reasons, the City of San Luis Obispo urges you to sign SB
901 (Dodd).
Sincerely,
Heidi Harmon
Mayor
City of San Luis Obispo
cc. Senator Bill Dodd senator.dodd@senate.ca.gov
Dave Mullinax dmullinax@cacities.org
Meg Desmond, League of California Cities, cityletters@cacities.org