Vintage

The Orange County Division, League of California Cities hosted an unlikely group of visitors at the Arpil 10, 2008 Division meeting.  Snoopy (mascot of Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park), Hasan Ikhrata, Executive Director for the Southern California Association of Governments, and Ruben Grijalva, Director & Chief of the California  State Department of Forestry and Fire, all came together at the Hilton of Costa Mesa.

Just a few months after the Southern California fires blazed much of Southern California including Orange County's own Santiago Canyon, Chief Grijalva began to prepare for future disasters.  The Governor's Wildland Fire Fighting Initiative, as Chief Grijalva explained, is a step in making sure that California cities remain protected and safe.  The initiative calls on a 1.25% surcharge on all property owners statewide, amounting to approximately $10-12 per property owner each year.  These funds would enhance California's ability to prepare and respond to future emergencies and mitigate the kinds of costs accrued on behalf of the state, counties, and cities.

The Orange County Division, would like to thank Hasan Ikhrata and Chief Rubern Grijalva for participating in the evening's events.  We would also like to express our appreciation to the City of Buena Park for putting together a wonderful city presentation.