To: Board of Supervisors, County of Sonoma
Department or Agency Name(s): Emergency Management; Permit Sonoma
Staff Name and Phone Number: Jeffrey DuVall, CEM / 707-565-1152; Scott Orr/Steve Mosiurchak / 707-565-1900
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
California Fire Assistance Agreement (CFAA)
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Adopt a Resolution identifying the reimbursement terms and conditions for Emergency Management and Permit Sonoma Fire Prevention staff mutual aid response to CalOES emergency incidents.
B) Authorize the Director of Emergency Management to sign the 2026 California Fire Assistance Agreement with CalOES and grant delegated authority to sign amendments for any future adjustments to labor, benefits, and position rates to the Agreement.
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Executive Summary:
This item requests the Board adopt a Resolution identifying the terms and conditions for Department of Emergency Management and Permit Sonoma Fire Prevention staff response away from regular duties and assigned to a California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) emergency incident, and to authorize the Director of Emergency Management to sign the 2026 California Fire Assistance Agreement (CFAA), and grant delegated authority to sign amendments for any future adjustments to labor, benefits, and position rates to the Agreement.
Discussion:
The California Fire Assistance Agreement (CFAA) provides the framework for requesting, deploying, and reimbursing local government resources during State-coordinated emergencies. Under this agreement, Sonoma County personnel from the Department of Emergency Management and Permit Sonoma Fire Prevention may be assigned to incidents statewide, with reimbursement for eligible costs provided by the State and, in some cases, federal partners.
The Third Addendum extends the current CFAA term through October 30, 2026, allowing Sonoma County to continue participating in the agreement without interruption. Maintaining an active agreement is necessary to ensure that County resources remain eligible for reimbursement when deployed under the California Master Mutual Aid System.
The proposed Resolution establishes the County’s internal policies for compensating personnel assigned to these incidents. It confirms that employees will be compensated portal-to-portal and in accordance with applicable Memoranda of Understanding and County personnel rules while deployed outside their normal duty assignments. This alignment is required to meet CFAA reimbursement standards.
Approval of the recommended actions will ensure that Sonoma County remains compliant with State requirements, maintains eligibility for reimbursement, and continues to support mutual aid operations during large-scale emergencies.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No.
Prior Board Actions:
05/19/2015: Adopted a Resolution identifying the terms and conditions for Fire and Emergency Services staff and volunteer firefighters response away from regular duties and assigned to CalOES emergency incidents.
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
No impact on the General Fund. Hours worked by the staff positions and basic travel expenses are fully reimbursable by the State of California through this agreement.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None.
Attachments:
1. Resolution
2. CalOES CFAA State Agreement_2020-2024
3. CalOES CFAA State Agreement_Addendum
4. CalOES CFAA Rate Letter_Nov 2025
5. Salary Resolution - August 2025
6. SCLEA MOU 2023-2026
7. SEIU 2023 MOU
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.