REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Note and File the 2022 Evaluation Report of the Hazard Mitigation Plan
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure
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.
The Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Management (SCCOEM) has been awarded a grant to complete the update of the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP), which is set to expire at the end of 2022. The County reports that they are currently in the process of selecting a contractor for the plan update and will begin the planning process once the contractor has been selected, and the County officially accepts the grant funds. SCCOEM plans to engage all jurisdictions in the operational area, including the City of Santa Clara, in their plan update process, and anticipates the planning process to begin in Fall of 2022. Although the current plan expires in December 2022, SCCOEM has received assurance from the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) that none of the existing mitigation projects are at risk upon plan expiry as long as the plan update is in progress.
DISCUSSION
The Evaluation Report of the HMP documents the City’s progress on hazard mitigation objectives that were 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 November 8, 2021, and January 10, April 25, and June 28, 2022. This evaluation report has been updated to reflect changes made since the pandemic response.
Flood preparedness will continue to increase as the newer objectives reach completion. These involve restoring the original storm water storage capacity of the Eastside Retention Basin, “rehabilitating” the Laurelwood Storm Pump Station, and the recent completion of the Westside Storm Pump replacement in 2020.
Other 2021/22 highlights for the City of Santa Clara include the following:
• The City’s proclaimed emergency for COVID-19 continues as does the City's proclaimed emergency for extreme drought. As the extreme drought conditions persist, the City continues to implement the Council approved Water Shortage Contingency Plan, Stage 2 and increase outreach on water use prohibitions and conservation rebates. One of the major modifications to the Water Shortage Contingency Plan taken by City Council on April 19, 2022, was to reduce outdoor watering to 2 days per week in order to further achieve water use reduction goals.
• The Fire Department developed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)/drone capability for hazard mitigation surveys and post-disaster damage assessments, and developed policies, procedures, and staff training guidelines for UAV use. The Fire Department completed the purchasing process for a drone and took possession in May 2021. The Fire Department is fully authorized to fly the drone after successfully acquiring a Certificate of Authorization (COA) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The Fire Department has flown the drone on two missions, one for post-fire damage assessment/ investigation and the other for incident command of a large commercial building fire.
• The citywide generator replacement project continues. Phase I of the generator replacement project is nearing completion and new generators have been installed at several fire stations, the Emergency Operations Center, and some water department sites. Phase II of the project, which includes two storm pump stations and two water well sites is currently in design phase.
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.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office, City Manager’s Office, Silicon Valley Power, Water & Sewer Utilities, and Community Development, Finance, Fire, 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> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Note and File the 2022 Evaluation Report of the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Staff
Reviewed by: Ruben Torres, Fire Chief
Approved by: Rajeev Batra, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2022 Evaluation Report of the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
2. 2017 Annex L, Hazard Mitigation Plan, Volume 2