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BACKGROUND The threat of the recent Canyon Fire on the Pleasanton Ridge, which burned 71 acres in June 2022, prompted an internal discussion between LPFD and City staff regarding fire management and future fire protection along the city's western edge. Staff discussed opportunities such as grants, that would help to address the challenges of the "Very High Fire Severity Zones" that are located along the Pleasanton Ridge. In early 2023, a grant opportunity was presented via the Cal Fire California Climate Investments Wildfire Prevention Grants Program. Cal Fire allocated $115 million in funding for three types of activities: hazardous fuels reduction, wildfire prevention planning, and wildfire prevention education. The program is funded through California Climate Investments, which "puts cap-and-trade dollars to work," and does not require matching funds from the agency applying for the grant. City and LPFD staff reviewed the grant opportunity and partnered to apply for a grant in March 2023 for the Augustin Bernal Fuels Reduction project for Augustin Bernal Community Park in the amount of $1,049,100 under the Hazardous Fuels Reduction portion of the Cal Fire Wildfire Prevention Grants Program. DISCUSSION Augustin Bernal Community Park, which is a City-owned park located on the west side of the city between private residential developments and East Bay Regional Park District lands, includes 237 acres of natural open space that was dedicated to the City of Pleasanton as part of the Golden Eagle Farm housing development project. A significant amount of dead and dry debris has accumulated in the park over time. The park is designated by Cal Fire to be in a "Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone" and in fact, a portion of the park burned during the Canyon Fire. Upon analysis of the grant program goals, staff determined that fuel reduction work in Augustin Bernal Community Park would provide the greatest impact for the community and would also be very competitive for funding based on the goals of the grant. The project will reduce threats to lives and assets in the area, which together total more than $1 billion. The project will also create temporary refuges for hikers and emergency response personnel in the event of a fire. The Augustin Bernal Fuels Reduction Grant will cover approximately 125 acres and focus on the sections of Augustin Bernal Community Park adjacent to housing, the old fire road, generally known as the Golden Eagle and Valley View trails, as well as up to 100 feet on both sides of the trail network (see Attachment 2). This would include land immediately adjacent to the trail on the lower side of the park owned by the Golden Eagle HOA (see Attachment 3). The grant application includes funding for fuels reduction work performed by mechanical means and hand labor. This project will allow the City to hire contractors to thin, chip, and remove these dead and dying fuels thereby reducing the tons per acre and the BTUs produced during a fire. In addition, the grant funding will allow for the reduction of ladder fuels (low-growing vegetation that can carry fire to taller vegetation, including Page 2 of 3