Mary A. Morris-Mayorga

The committee focused on the review and approval of Finance Committee protocols to guide governance and financial management. The agenda also included a comprehensive review of the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget recap and initial discussions regarding the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget. Detailed financial reports were presented for the District, encompassing balance sheets and budget-to-actual comparisons for the General Fund, Police Fund, Parks Department, Waste Management, and the Fire Department.

The board meeting centered on exploring governance options, specifically consolidation versus reorganization, for the two districts. Discussions focused on the legal distinctions between consolidation and reorganization processes, the regulatory role of the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), and potential impacts on tax revenue and board composition. Participants reviewed the procedural steps for submitting applications to LAFCO, the involvement of the County Auditor's office, and the potential for shared board representation following a successful reorganization.

This document, titled 'Red Flag Ready', compiles information and initiatives for enhancing emergency and wildfire preparedness within Kensington. It details strategic efforts focused on strengthening community resilience through robust communication networks, proactive wildfire mitigation programs, and comprehensive evacuation planning. Key initiatives include the establishment and expansion of Firewise communities, implementation of hazardous vegetation removal grants, public awareness campaigns, and ongoing community engagement through events and volunteer networks. The overarching goal is to foster a culture of preparedness, ensuring residents are well-informed and equipped to protect lives and property against the increasing threat of wildfires and other emergencies.

The key discussion topic listed for this meeting is a roundtable discussion involving the Fire Chief and Police Chief regarding Red Flag Days and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). This discussion segment includes reports from the Kensington Police Chief, the El Cerrito-Kensington Fire Chief, and the Kensington Emergency Preparedness Committee and Coordinator.

The agenda for the meeting included reviewing the progress on the 2026 EPC Work Plan, receiving an overview of the Kensington Ember Exclusion Program (KEEP) Pilot, reviewing new applications for EPC Public Member seats, and a presentation regarding K6. The KEEP pilot program focuses on community wildfire protection through education and the distribution of ember-resistant vent mesh, utilizing a portal-based model to manage applications and distribution, with distribution applications scheduled to open on April 1, 2026. The Work Plan review noted that the 2026 Work Plan was approved by the KCSD Board on February 12, 2026.