CC SR 20230418 E - Peninsula-Wide Wildfire Cameras Funding Appropriation
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 04/18/2023
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to receive and appropriate $1.5 million in state funding
for Peninsula-wide wildfire detection cameras in Fiscal Year 2022-23
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
1. Approve the appropriation of a $1.5 million state funding allocation for the
implementation of the Peninsula-wide network of wildfire detection cameras in FY
2022-23.
FISCAL IMPACT: The recommended Council actions will increase the FY 2022-23
revenue by approximately $1.5 million.
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: $1,500,000
Account Number(s): 332-300-0000-3302 (State Grants - Revenue)
ORIGINATED BY: Jesse Villalpando, Senior Administrative Analyst
REVIEWED BY: Karina Bañales, Deputy City Manager
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. October 18, 2022 City Council Staff Report
B. Section 19.56 of the Budget Act of 2022
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
The Palos Verdes Peninsula has always been susceptible to wildfires and even more so
in recent years, with continual weather-related conditions. The majority of the Palos
Verdes Peninsula falls within a Cal Fire-designated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone
(VHFSZ), and early detection is critical to preventing brush fires from escalating into a
major wildfire that endangers lives and property.
To address this issue, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes entered into a Professional
Services Agreement (agreement) with Pano AI on October 18, 2022 (Attachment A) for
the implementation of a Peninsula -wide wildfire camera detection system. The Council
approved a five-year agreement with Pano AI to install a network of high-mounted
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cameras in the City that will be monitored 24/7 to detect wildfire smoke across the
Peninsula so first responders can be alerted to a wildfire as early as possible This state-
of-the-art system uses artificial intelligence technology to detect the first signs of smoke
and alerts emergency personnel in real-time. Installation of the cameras will begin in the
coming weeks. Three locations will be within the City of Rancho Palos Verdes and one
location will be in the City of Torrance, significantly covering all four Peninsula cities. The
agreement includes the deployment of four camera stations at an annual total cost of
$140,000 for a minimum of five years, with the option of annual extensions. The total cost
of the contract is $700,000.
The importance of this system was highlighted on November 7, 2022, by
Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, who announced that the City of Rancho Palos Verdes
had been allocated $1.5 million in state funding to support the implementation of the
Peninsula-wide wildfire detection cameras.
The funding allocation was provided under Section 19.56 of the Budget Act of 2022,
(Attachment B), which included the following provision:
“(d) PUBLIC SAFETY AND FIRE PREVENTION […]
(3) To be allocated by the Office of Emergency Services as follows: […]
(E) $1,500,000 to the City of Rancho Palos Verdes for a wildfire detection system for the
Palos Verde [sic] peninsula.”
The City Council approved resolution 2022 -41 establishing a total Governmental Fund
Revenues of $50,313,700 for FY 2022-23. Therefore, a City Council action is required to
appropriate the state grant as “additional revenue” for the FY 2022 -23 budget. Staff will
work with the Finance Department to ensure the funds are appropriately disbursed
pursuant to the Council-approved agreement.
CONCLUSION:
The City Council is being asked to appropriate the $1.5 million in the FY 2022-23 City
Budget as revenue for the implementation of the Peninsula-wide wildfire detection
cameras.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative actions are available for
the City Council’s consideration:
1. Direct Staff not to approve the additional appropriation of $1.5 m illion in state
funding for the development of a Peninsula-wide network of wildfire detection
cameras in FY 2022-23 which would require the funds to be returned to the state
and the project to be placed on hold.
2. Take other action, as deemed appropriate.
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