REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Note and File the 2020 Evaluation Report of the Hazard Mitigation Plan [Council Pillar: Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure]
Report
BACKGROUND
The City of Santa Clara’s Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) was adopted by the City Council on December 19, 2017 as Annex L of the City’s Emergency Operations Plan. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) determined Volume 2 of the HMP to also be the City’s Floodplain Management Plan during the 2018 audit of the City’s National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS). Consequently, an Annual Evaluation of the HMP is required by FEMA as part of their annual audit of the City’s CRS.
The CRS is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements. Flood insurance premium rates for residents and businesses are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk. The City is currently designated as CRS Class 7, which means the City’s residents and businesses in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) are eligible for a 15% insurance premium discount, and others in the City not in a SFHA are eligible for a 5% insurance premium discount.
DISCUSSION
The Evaluation Report of the HMP documents the City’s progress on hazard mitigation objectives determined in 2017. The report was prepared by the City’s Office of Emergency Services with input from the Hazard Mitigation Review Committee comprised of City Department leaders and private sector partners, who met on July 15 and October 29, 2019, and January 13, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the City’s emergency response to that effort, meetings were not held in April or July 2020. However, the Evaluation Report has been updated to reflect changes since the pandemic response. Quarterly meetings will resume after Emergency Operations Center activities decrease in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic.
One finished objective is the completion of the desilting of the Westside Retention Basin. This desilting restored the original storage (capacity) of the basin to hold additional storm water and reduce flooding risk.
Flood preparedness will continue to increase with the introduction of new objectives which involve restoring the original storm water storage capacity of the Eastside Retention Basin, “rehabilitating” the Laurelwood Storm Pump Station, and replacing the Westside Storm Pumps.
Other 2019 highlights for the City of Santa Clara include the following:
• Incorporated the Hazard Mitigation Plan into the City’s General Plan;
• Launched a Training Program for appointed Emergency Operations Center (EOC) staff that exceeds the National Incident Management system (NIMS) training requirements with the goal for staff to achieve Level III credentialing defined by the California Specialized Training Institute (CSTI), the training branch of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES);
• Hired a Consultant to complete a Water Utility Risk and Resilience Assessment (RRA) by March 31, 2020 and an Emergency Response Plan by September 30, 2020 for the City’s Water/Sewer Utility. This will support emergency response actions to the City to reduce risk and enhance resilience from water service disruption for the benefit of customers. The RRA identifies and characterizes both asset-specific and system-wide vulnerabilities and threats, as well as quantifying the consequences of disruption, preserving property and maintaining community trust in the City;
• Initiated a citywide generator replacement project after a comprehensive review of the City’s generator capacity;
• Initiated rehabilitation of three water storage tanks that store over 13 million gallons. This includes a seismic upgrade to the tanks. All new water pipelines (installed) over the last 10 years have been fully restrained with thrust blocks for dual protection; and
• Continued a major condition assessment of the sanitary sewer pipes and appurtenances using closed-circuit-television (CCTV) technology. The City has $13 million budgeted for system improvements to repair defects identified by the condition assessments, which will continue to assist with mitigating hazards.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact other than staff time.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office, City Manager’s Office, Silicon Valley Power, Water & Sewer Utilities, the Community Development, Police, and Public Works Departments.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov>.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Note and File the 2020 Evaluation Report of the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Staff
Reviewed by: Ruben Torres, Fire Chief
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2020 Evaluation Report of the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
2. 2017 Annex L, Hazard Mitigation Plan, Volume 2