Announcements regarding hearings, grants, and public comment notices of importance to California's rural counties.
County Staff Encouraged to Submit Survey on Zero-Emission Vehicle Readiness
The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) are requesting local government staff to submit a short survey by May 6, 2022 on Zero-Emission Vehicle readiness. The purpose of the survey is to better understand the challenges local jurisdictions face with the adoption of Zero-Emission Vehicles. The survey can be found here.
Update on ARPA Recovery Fund Project and Expenditure Reports - Due April 30th
This is an important update from the National Association of Counties, regarding the Treasury's ARPA Recovery Fund Project and Expenditure (P&E) Reports, which are due April 30, 2022.
- Treasury has stated that it is experiencing a very high volume of messages about problems that recipients are having with submitting their P&E Reports, which has caused a delay in addressing these issues. Treasury has stated that if your county has sent an email to Treasury outlining why the county is unable to submit your P&E Report, Your county will not be penalized if you submit AFTER April 30, 2022, if your problem is not addressed prior to that date. Please encourage your county point of contact to save a date stamped email and/or screen shot of their messages to Treasury!
If you are having an issue or are unable to submit your P&E Report, email both SLFRF@treasury.gov and covidreliefitsupport@treasury.gov and CC: questions@naco.org with a description and screenshot of what the problem is.
- If you are trying to submit your county’s P&E Report as the Authorized Representative, but the portal is stating it does not recognize your name/contact information, please watch the step-by-step walkthrough video released by Treasury. If the problem persists, email SLFRF@treasury.gov, covidreliefitsupport@treasury.gov, and cc: questions@naco.org with a description and screenshot of the problem.
- Counties are required to make a one-time, irrevocable election to either take the $10 million revenue loss standard allowance or calculate revenue loss. Counties must indicate this choice in this April P&E Report.
- If your county is claiming the $10 million revenue loss standard allowance, please follow the steps below. Please note that there are streamlined reporting requirements for revenue replacement funds.
Steps for claiming $10 million standard allowance and reporting requirements
- Go to the “Project Overview” section
- Choose 6 –Revenue Replacement– under the “Project Expenditure Category Group”
- Choose EC 6.1 –Provision of Government Services– under the “Project Expenditure Category”
- Enter in Project NameIf your county has not yet signed a contract, obligated or expended funds, select “My jurisdiction has no projects”)
- Enter Recipient Project ID#
- Enter Total Cumulative Obligations
- Enter Total Cumulative Expenditures
- Enter Program Description
- SKIP the following modules:
- Subrecipients/beneficiaries/contractors
- Subawards/direct payments
-Expenditures
-
- Go to the “Recipient Specific” module
- Choose “Yes” under“ Is your jurisdiction electing to use the standard allowance of up to $10 million, not to exceed your total allocation, for identifying revenue loss?”
- Enter in the amount you would like to claim in the field below “Revenue Loss Due to COVID-19 Public Health Emergency” For counties that receive less than $10 million in ARPA Recovery Funds and want to allocate the entirety of your allocation towards revenue loss, enter in your total allocation (total of first and second tranche) into this field
- Provide a description of how revenue replacement funds were allocated to government services
- NACo has released a number of resources that walk counties through the P&E Report submission process, including:
CARB Advanced Clean Fleets Rulemaking Workshop - State and Local Government Fleets
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is conducting a series of virtual public workshops to discuss the proposed Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation. ACF rulemaking is part of a comprehensive strategy to achieve a zero-emission truck and bus fleet by 2045 everywhere feasible and significantly earlier for market segments such as last mile delivery, public fleets, and drayage applications. Three focused workshops have been scheduled to provide an overview of the updated draft rulemaking language and to solicit feedback from affected stakeholders. The workshop focused on proposed requirements for state and local government fleets, will be held on May 4, 2022.
Date: Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Pacific Time)
Location: Zoom | Register Here
Board of Forestry and Fire Protection Hybrid Workshop - Changes to California’s Defensible Space Codes, Pre-Register by May 2nd
Interested stakeholders are invited to a workshop to participate in the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection’s development of the enabling regulations to modernize California’s defensible space codes. Specifically, AB 3074 (2020) directed the Board to establish a 0-5 foot “ember resistant” zone around structures adding to the existing two-zone defensible space system that requires fuel and vegetation management out to 100 feet from the structure. The event will include presentations on the history of California’s defensible space policy development and the science behind the required change. Participants will be invited to provide feedback on conceptual proposals and offer suggestions for inclusion in the regulations.
The workshop will be in-person with an on-line option available. When registering, please indicate how you will participate.
Date: May 4th, 2022
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Hybrid meeting at Resources Building Room 221, Sacramento
Register Here | More Info
Preregistration is required by May 2nd to receive the online meeting invite.
CalRecycle SB 1383 Procurement Requirements Webinar
On Tuesday, May 3rd, CalRecycle will host a webinar on how jurisdictions are implementing SB 1383 procurement requirements. The webinar will highlight approaches jurisdictions are taking to coordinate their procurement efforts, offer different ways to utilize procured compost and mulch, and information on setting up agreements with direct service providers. There will also be a portion of the webinar dedicated to jurisdictions discussing procurement achievements in a “peer share” format to spark new ideas.
Date: Tuesday, May 3, 2022
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
GoToWebinar Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8152675731461830160
Contact information: SLCP.Organics@calrecycle.ca.gov
Participating in the Webinar: To watch the webinar only, you may use the customary webcast available at: https://calrecycle.ca.gov/Broadcast/
To ask clarifying questions during the webinar, please register using the GoToWebinar links. If you would like to send questions beforehand, please send to the SLCP inbox (SLCP.Organics@calrecycle.ca.gov) and indicate that the question(s) is for this webinar.
Webinars are being recorded and will be posted to the website as an implementation resource as soon as the materials are made ADA compliant.
Career Opportunity in Plumas County
The County of Plumas seeks a County Administrative Officer. The CAO is a contracted, at-will position both appointed by and accountable to the Board of Supervisors and is responsible for enforcement of all County codes, ordinances and regulations, the conduct of all financial activities, and the efficient and economical performance of the County’s operations. First review of qualified applicants scheduled for May 6, 2022. For additional information and to view the job posting click here.
Career Opportunity – California Farm Bureau
The California Farm Bureau is seeking a Political Coordinator to provide support to the Department of Political Affairs by assisting with campaign reporting, fundraising, grassroots activities, political donations, and coordinating special events to further the California Farm Bureau’s political objectives and grow its political presence at the state and federal level. The job description is available here. Resumes may be submitted directly to the California Farm Bureau Federation’s Director of Political Affairs, Steven Fenaroli.
California Water Management Research Needs Virtual Workshop May 27th, Hosted By Water UCI
Join Water UCI for a one-half day workshop aimed at prioritizing the most urgent research needs for water resilience in California. The workshop will consist of a series of large and small discussions on issues of water equity, sustainability, research translation, as well as a review of the survey results. Water UCI looks forward to hearing from stakeholders about what research is most urgent and how it can best be applied.
Date: May 27, 2022
Time: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
RSVP Here
Sierra Nevada Conservancy Launches New Grant Programs to Conserve Lands and Boost Local Economies
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy has launched its 2022 Strategic Land Conservation and Vibrant Recreation and Tourism Directed Grant programs. The Vibrant Recreation and Tourism Directed Grant Program supports efforts to enhance and develop sustainable recreation and tourism opportunities, as well as increase access to public lands in the Sierra Nevada region. The Strategic Land Conservation Directed Grant Program conserves lands through the planning and implementation of fee-title and conservation-easement acquisitions that provide access for public use or to public lands, safeguard lands threatened by conversion, and protect lands that provide critical resilience to climate change.
Applicants interested in applying for a grant are encouraged to discuss project ideas with an SNC Area Representative. Concept Proposals must be submitted by May 6, 2022. If invited, full proposals will be due July 22, 2022. Awards will be made starting in December 2022.
USDOT Opens Application Window for Competitive Grants to Support Infrastructure Projects
On Wednesday, March 23rd, United States Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced $2.9 billion in competitive grants is available for major infrastructure projects as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. While there are three major grant programs with funding up for grabs, including the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program (RURAL), USDOT has combined the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) into a single application to reduce the burdens on state, regional and local government applicants, as well as make it easier to apply for more than one program at a time. Up to $300 million is available this year for rural highway, bridge, and tunnel projects that help improve access to an agricultural, commercial, energy, or transportation facilities that support the rural economy.
The application deadline is May 23, 2022 at 11:59pm EST. The NOFO can be found here. For more information, including frequently asked questions or how to apply, see here.
Access the State Grants Portal for a Multitude of Funding Opportunities
Billions of dollars are up for grabs to public agencies and other entities, including tribes and businesses. Grant seekers can access a centralized portal of grant and loan opportunities here, or sign up to receive new grant opportunities delivered straight to you