LA County Board

5. Defending LA County’s Oak Trees from the Invasive Goldspotted Oak\nBorer\nRecommendation as submitted by Supervisors Horvath and Barger: Instruct the\nChief Sustainability Officer, with the assistance of the Fire Chief, Agricultural\nCommissioner/ Director of Weights and Measures, Directors of Regional\nPlanning and Office of Emergency Management, Chief Executive Office, and\nother relevant County Department Heads and external partners to immediately\nexplore the possibility of declaring a local or State emergency related to the risk\nof the spread of Goldspotted Oak Borer (GSOB) in the County and to the Santa\nMonica Mountains; explore funding options to fulfill the staffing need of the Fire\nDepartment for one Deputy Forester and two Forestry Assistants, including\nthrough contractor services; explore options for the Department of Agricultural\nCommissioner/Weights and Measures, or other relevant Departments , to assist\nwith the monitoring, treatments and reforestation efforts required to respond to\nand mitigate the spread of GSOB; collaborate with CALFIRE on funding\nopportunities to meet needs related to GSOB, including staffing, contractor\nneeds, technical and data needs, mapping needs, tree removal and treatment\nneeds, and reforestation; and\nInstruct the Chief Sustainability Officer, with the assistance of the Fire Chief,\nthe Agricultural Commissioner/Director of Weights and Measures, Director of\nRegional Planning, County Counsel, and other relevant County Department\nHeads to report back to the Board in writing within 180 days on the following\nnext steps:\nDevelop recommendations for an ordinance to regulate the movement of\nfirewood to prevent the spread of invasive tree pests, including identifying\nassociated education and engagement needs; and\nDevelop recommendations for reforestation following invasive pest\ninfestations, including potential funding opportunities. (24-1713)