Atherton City Council
February 26, 2024

AGENDA PACKET
Town of Atherton
City Council
FEBRUARY 26, 2024
SPECIAL MEETING
4:00 PM
Council Chambers
80 Fair Oaks Lane, Atherton, CA 94027
Join Zoom Meeting:

One tap mobile: 1 6699006833,,506897786#
US (San Jose)
Dial by your location: 1 669 900 6833 US (San
Jose)
Meeting ID: 506 897 786
Weblink: https://zoom.us/j/506897786
Remote Public Comments:

Meeting participants are encouraged to submit
public comments in writing in advance of the
meeting. The following email will be monitored
during the meeting and public comments will be
documented for the record.

Email: [email protected]
This Agenda may not reflect the actual order of items.  The order of items is subject to change based on Council action.

SPECIAL MEETING
ROLL CALL – Holland, DeGolia, Widmer, Vice Mayor Lewis, Mayor Hawkins­Manuelian PUBLIC COMMENT – Public Comments can be emailed directly to [email protected]
As a Special Meeting, Public Comment is limited to items that are on the Agenda. Speakers’ time is limited to three minutes. Speakers may also speak when the item comes up on the Agenda during the meeting.

SPECIAL MEETING ITEMS

1. PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON REACH CODE APPROACHES TO REDUCE
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM BUILDINGS
Report: GEORGE RODERICKS, CITY MANAGER
Recommendation: It is recommended that the Council consider various options in support of energy reach codes and provide feedback and direction to staff for the next steps.

Description: This item is an information presentation on a menu of policy options to encourage building electrification to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings in town.

2. BRIEFING ON PROCESS TO UPDATE THE ATHERTON SAFETY ELEMENT Report: BRITTANY BENDIX, TOWN PLANNER
Recommendation: It is recommended that the City Council receive a presentation from staff regarding the process to update the Town’s Safety Element.

Description: This will be a Council discussion of the update to the Town’s Safety Element, whichisasectionincludedwithintheGeneralPlan.

Meeting Agenda Packet – February 26, 2024

Recommendation: It is recommended that the Council consider various options in support of energy reach codes and provide feedback and direction to staff for the next steps.

Description: This item is an information presentation on a menu of policy options to encourage building electrification to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings in town.

2. BRIEFING ON PROCESS TO UPDATE THE ATHERTON SAFETY ELEMENT Report: BRITTANY BENDIX, TOWN PLANNER
Recommendation: It is recommended that the City Council receive a presentation from staff regarding the process to update the Town’s Safety Element.

Description: This will be a Council discussion of the update to the Town’s Safety Element, which is a section included within the General Plan.

3. RECIEVE AND FILE THE 2024 ATHERTON ANNUAL EVENT ACTIVITY

CALENDAR
Report: ANTHONY SUBER, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER/ CITY CLERK
Recommendation: It is recommended that the Council receive and file the 2024 Atherton annual Eevent activity cCalendar.

Description: This is an informational item that may involve a Council discussion related to the annual events hosted by the Town.

COUNCIL REPORTS/COMMENTS

ADJOURN
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

If you challenge a Town zoning, planning, or any other decision in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this agenda, or in written correspondence delivered to the Town at, or prior to, the public hearing.  Judicial review of any Town administrative decision may be had only if a petition is filed with the court not later than the 90th day following the date upon which the decision becomes final.  Judicial review of environmental determinations may be subject to a shorter time period.

Copies of all staff reports and documents subject to disclosure that relate to each item of business referred to on the agenda are available for public inspection by 5:00 p.m. the Friday before each regularly scheduled City Council meeting.

Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (650) 752­0500.  Notification of 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.  (29 CRF

35.104 ADA Title II)
Public Comments:

The Town of Atherton Council and Committee or Commission meetings are a limited public forum, and all public comment must relate to something that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Council or Committees. If comments do not relate to the subject matter jurisdiction of the Council or Committee, we will stop the comment and a warning  may be provided. If the comment continues to be outside of the subject matter jurisdiction the speaker will be stopped, and we will move on to the next speaker. Speakers found in violation of this rule of procedure may be removed from the meeting.

Meeting Agenda Packet – February 26, 2024

contact the City Clerks Office at (650) 7520500.  Notification of 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.  (29 CRF

35.104 ADA Title II)
Public Comments:

The Town of Atherton Council and Committee or Commission meetings are a limited public forum, and all public comment must relate to something that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Council or Committees. If comments do not relate to the subject matter jurisdiction of the Council or Committee, we will stop the comment and a warning  may be provided. If the comment continues to be outside of the subject matter jurisdiction the speaker will be stopped, and we will move on to the next speaker. Speakers found in violation of this rule of procedure may be removed from the meeting.

Meeting Agenda Packet – February 26, 2024

Item No. 1
Town of Atherton
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT – PRESENTATION
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: GEORGE RODERICKS, CITY MANAGER
DATE: FEBRUARY 26, 2024
SUBJECT: PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON REACH CODE APPROACHES TO

REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM BUILDINGS

RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Council consider various options in support of energy reach codes and provide feedback and direction to staff for the next steps.

BACKGROUND
The Town first established a strategic framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the 2016 Climate Action Plan (CAP). The CAP outlined various strategies to reduce energy consumption from residential buildings, one of the Town's largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. In implementing the CAP, the Council adopted Ordinance 656 in November 2022, amending Chapter 15.19 of the Atherton Municipal Code through the adoption of the 2022 California Green Building Code amended with a local reach, with exceptions, standard requiring new buildings to be all-electric. On April 17, 2023, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in California Restaurant Association v. City of Berkeley, that a Berkeley ordinance requiring all-electric new buildings was pre-empted by the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA) and was therefore invalid. In May 2023, due to the Ninth Circuit Court’s ruling, the Town suspended enforcement of the all-electric building requirement for new buildings. On January 2, 2024, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals declined to have the case reheard by the full panel of Ninth Circuit Court judges.

Staff have continued monitoring the situation and observed a lack of timely resolution in the Berkeley case and a lack of imminent statewide resolution (e.g., the California Energy Commission updates the California Energy Code on a triennial basis, and any future updates made by the California Energy Commission to the statewide code that might be more favorable for lowemissions buildings would have to wait until the effective date of the 2025 California Energy Code, which wouldn’t be enforceable until January 1, 2026). Going forward, the City of Berkeley’s only option is petitioning the United States Supreme Court to overturn the Ninth Circuit decision from April 2023. Should a subsequent ruling be issued overturning or otherwise vacating the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision, enforcement of Ordinance 656 amending Chapter 15.19 would resume. As this is unlikely, Staff recommends amending Ordinance 656 to remove electrification

February 26, 2024

requirements to provide clarity to developers and bring the Ordinance in line with the Ninth Circuit ruling.

With enforcement paused, the Council adopted the 2023 update to the Climate Action Plan and committed to exploring policy levers to encourage electrification. Based on the lack of resolution in the Berkeley case and the targets set by the updated Climate Action Plan, staff recommends exploring interim solutions to reduce emissions from buildings to continue forward motion on the Town’s Climate Action Plan requirements. Staff identified local amendments to the California Energy Code (also known as a “reach code”) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in new buildings as the preferred alternative approach. These local amendments were first placed on the City Council’s January 17, 2024 Regular Meeting agenda. To provide more time for discussion, the item was postponed for a Special Meeting to be held on February 26, 2024.

ANALYSIS
The California Restaurant Association v. City of Berkeley ruling limits how the City can reduce emissions from new buildings. Staff is providing a menu of reach code measures that seek to move building electrification, electric readiness, and energy efficiency forward in a manner that does not pre-empt EPCA. This analysis will describe each measure in the context of the California Energy Code. The California Energy Code establishes whole-building efficiency requirements, which account for a building’s water heater, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system, solar generating system, and insulation, among other things. However, it does not account for cooking equipment, laundry dryers, pools, or other unregulated energy uses. As such, the proposed reach code measures do not regulate cooking equipment, laundry dryers, or other energy uses not addressed by the California Energy Code.

California Energy Code Energy Evaluation Metrics
The 2022 California Energy Code provides baseline efficiency and building performance standards that a project must meet before receiving a building permit. The California Energy Code provides different metrics for different types of buildings and is organized. The metrics for single-family residential buildings are as follows:

A new single-family residential building must meet or exceed “Energy Design Rating” (EDR) scores. There are three EDR score categories:
1) EDR1 (Source Energy) – EDR1 is a score representing a building’s energy efficiency expressed in terms that serve as a proxy for greenhouse gas emissions. 2) EDR2 (Efficiency) – EDR2 is a score representing a building’s energy efficiency expressed in terms of the value and cost of energy consumed at different times of the day and year.
3) EDR Total (Total Energy Design Rating) is a score representing the building’s total energy expressed in terms of the value and cost of energy consumed at different times of the day and year while also factoring in solar and energy demand flexibility.

Proposed Energy Performance Enhancements for New Construction

February 26, 2024

Public Resources Code Section 25402.1(h)(2) and Section 10-106 of the Building Energy Efficiency Standards establish a process that allows local adoption of energy standards that are more stringent than the statewide standards. Under this process, the CEC requires any local amendments to the California Energy Code that affect energy use in regulated buildings to be costeffective and use less energy than the standard requirements. Staff recommends that the Council explore cost-effective local amendments (reach codes) to the California Energy Code to increase the required EDR1 score for single-family residential buildings by at least 9 points. An EDR1 compliance margin of 9 reflects a cost-effective baseline achievable by an all-electric code minimum new construction with a market-baseline heat pump water heater, that is also technically feasible by a mixed-fuel building with appliances efficiencies at minimum federal requirements.

Because of how the EDR1 and Source Energy scores are calculated in the 2022 California Energy Code, the higher standards proposed in the reach code would incentivize new buildings to include electric measures while allowing mixed-fuel buildings pathways to compliance using efficiency, photovoltaic (PV) solar, and battery measures. The enhanced performance requirements would apply equally to mixed fuel and all-electric buildings and are cost-effectively achievable through the energy code’s performance pathway without requiring appliances that exceed federal efficiency standards.

Electric Ready Requirements for Renovations, Remodels, and Additions The 2022 California Energy Code requires the construction of new mixed-fuel buildings to include “electric ready” components, including electric outlets near natural gas appliances, specifically, clothes dryers, cooktops, gas-fueled furnaces or gas-fueled water heaters, appropriate ventilation for future heat pump appliances, and reserved and labeled breakers in the electrical panel for a future electric appliance. However, the current code does not require electric-ready components for renovations, remodels, and additions. The Town could adopt a reach code requiring the installation of electric-ready components when appliances are being changed out, or specific spaces are being remodeled or added to the building. Opportunities for future-proofing homes that install gas equipment include:
▪ Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning: The Town could require an outlet for a future electric heat pump for alterations and additions, including an HVAC system. ▪ Water heating: The Town could require an outlet for a future water heater heat pump for alterations and additions, including a water heating system. ▪ Pool and Spas: The Town could require an outlet for a future electric pool pump for alterations and additions that include pool or spa equipment. ▪ Installing 240V outlet when renovating the laundry room (an outlet for a future electric clothes dryer) and the kitchen (an outlet for a future electric oven/stove) ▪ Panel
▪ When planning an electrical panel replacement and electrical panel upgrade, the Town could require the electrical panel to include panel capacity and breaker space for future electrification of building systems.
▪ No electric readiness requirements for equipment replacements.

An exception could be offered, whereas, as a result of these requirements, an increase in capacity for an electrical panel, feeders, transformer, or electrical service (not part of the appliance upgrade scope) is required.

Practical Effect of the Reach Code Page 6 of 68
February 26, 2024

Because the Town is working within the confines of the California Energy Code, the description of the proposed approach above is inherently technical. This section illustrates the practical effect of the proposed approach by providing a simplified example of how a single-family home designer would comply with the reach code.

A building designer working on a single-family home built to the code minimum would likely include high-efficiency LED lighting, rooftop solar, an electric heat pump hot water heater, a natural gas furnace, insulated walls, an insulated attic, and efficient windows, among other things.

The designer would load the building design into a computer model and estimate its energy performance. The energy modeling software would provide standard reporting metrics, including an EDR1 score. The designer would then compare the EDR1 score to a standard design building.

In this case, the designed building’s EDR1 score would be equal to the standard design building’s EDR1 score and would comply with that part of the California Energy Code.

With the reach code in place, the designer would now need to achieve an EDR1 score that is 9 points better than the standard design building. If this building designer replaced the gas furnace with a commonly available heat pump HVAC system, the building would achieve a score of 9 EDR1 points better than the code minimum and consistent with the proposed reach code requirements. Alternatively, the building designer could keep the gas furnace and install a battery storage system, which would also result in an increase of more than 9 EDR1 points. The building designer also has the option to develop a package of efficiency and solar measures; so long as the measures lead to an increase of 9 or more EDR1 points better than the code minimum, it is consistent with the reach code.

Cost Effectiveness
The California Energy Commission requires any local amendments to the California Energy Code that affect energy use in regulated buildings to be cost-effective and to use less energy than the standard requirements. The CEC requires the local agency to adopt a determination that the energy standards are cost-effective at a public meeting. The determination must subsequently be filed with the Energy Commission. One way to illustrate cost-effectiveness is through the “Time-Dependent Valuation” or “TDV” metric. The TDV metric is what the California Energy Commission uses in evaluating cost-effectiveness for efficiency measures in the California Energy Code and includes the onsite costs and savings of the proposed energy measures, as well as the energy system costs and benefits of the energy measures. The metric is “time-dependent” because energy use has different costs and impacts depending on the day and season. For example, electricity saved during peak periods has a much higher value than electricity saved during off-peak periods. In support of reach code development, the California Energy Codes and Standards Statewide Utility Program, which includes the State's Investor-Owned Utilities (PG& E, SDG&E, and SCE, under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission), developed and published the 2022 CostEffectiveness Study: Single Family New Construction Study (Attachment 2) and the associated cost-effectiveness data. The studies and the associated cost-effectiveness data include a calculated benefit-to-cost ratio for various measures, building types, and climate zones. A benefit-cost value of “1” or greater illustrates that the measures save more than they cost and are therefore “costeffective.”

February 26, 2024

Based on these studies, staff find the proposed local amendments to the 2022 California Energy Code cost-effective and consume less energy than Title 24, Part 6. In short, using the California Energy Commission’s TDV metric, the proposed amendments save more than they cost to implement.

Summary of Reach Code Policy Options
▪ Adopt Source Energy Compliance, giving builders a choice between mixed fuel or allelectric building. − Mixed fuel buildings will need additional energy measures to pass modeling including increased efficiency, solar, and battery storage. − All-electric buildings will pass modeling with code minimums for efficiency and solar (with a market-baseline heat pump water heater)
▪ Adopt Electric Readiness Requirements for New Construction (where readiness is not already required by the State code):
− Pools
▪ Adopt Electric Readiness Requirements for Remodels, Additions, Renovations, and Equipment Replacements
− Pools
− Laundry Room
− Kitchen
− HVAC
− Water Heating
− Panel Capacity
While the measures in the menu are less effective at reducing greenhouse gas emissions than the all-electric new building requirements codified in Municipal Code Chapter 15.19, the options provide the best and most timely opportunity to continue pursuing the Council’s adopted climate action goals within the existing legal framework. One or all measures may be further studied or presented for a first reading at a future City Council meeting.

FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact.

GOAL ALIGNMENT
This Report and its contents are in alignment with the following Council Policy Goals:
• Goal Area F – Be Forward-Thinking, Well-Managed, and Well-Planned

POLICY FOCUS
The City Council adopted an update to the Climate Action Plan (CAP) at the October 4, 2023, Study Session, providing a strategic plan to reduce emissions in the Town by 49% by 2030 and 100% by 2045. The CAP’s strategies include exploring policy pathways to encourage building electrification at the time of new construction and remodels, additions, and equipment changeout. Page 8 of 68 February 26, 2024

While the Town does not seek to require fuel type, reach codes are a policy lever that can be used to encourage electric buildings powered by on-site solar or by the County’s official electricity provider, Peninsula Clean Energy, which provides 100% clean electricity. The Council’s policy discussion should revolve around the adoption of a reach code to encourage electrification.

PUBLIC NOTICE
Public notification was achieved by posting the agenda, with this agenda item listed at least 72 hours before the meeting in print and electronically. Information about the project is also disseminated via the Town’s electronic News Flash and Atherton Online. There are approximately 1,700 subscribers to the Town’s electronic News Flash publications. Subscribers include residents as well as stakeholders –including, but not limited to, media outlets, school districts, Menlo Park Fire Protection District, service providers (water, power, and sewer), and elected officials.

COMMISSION/COMMITTEE FEEDBACK/REFERRAL
This item has not been before a Town Committee or Commission

ATTACHMENTS

1. 01172024 Council Meeting Presentation

2. Statewide Reach Code Resource, including Cost-Effectiveness Study for Single Family New Construction is linked here: https://localenergycodes.com/content/reachcodes/electric-ready

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Atherton City Council Meeting
Encouraging Deeper Decarbonization
through Reach Codes
February 26, 2024
TRCcompanies.com

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Today’s Objective
▪ Discuss reach code approaches to encourage building electrification ▪ Provide staff direction regarding potential reach code pathways

1. Background of Reach Codes

2. New Construction Options

1. Air Quality Approach

2. Energy Performance Path

3. Example – Single Family New Construction

3. Opportunities for Existing Buildings

4. Wrap Up / Questions
Agenda
Featured photo: Located in Portola Valley, Tah Mah Lah, was recognized by PCE for being Zero Net Energy – all-electric estate and vehicles are fueled by both on-site solar and geothermal sources of energy.

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Background
3

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved 4
Atherton’s Building Electrification Journey
Jan 2024
City Council
adopts the 2023
Update to the
Town’s Climate
Action Plan,
charting a path
to a carbonneutral future by
2045.

The Plan outlines
strategies to
encourage
building
electrification
and reduce
energy use
through a variety
of strategies
including policy,
education, and
incentives.

Oct 2023
Atherton
suspends
enforcement of
the City’s allelectric new
building
requirements
May 2023
The City of
Berkeley filed an
appeal.

The appeal is not
likely to be
resolved in a
timely manner.

There are no
imminent
statewide fixes
for the problem.

May 2023
California Restaurant
Association v. City
of Berkeley ruling
said that a
Berkeley ordinance
requiring all-electric
buildings was preempted by the
federal Energy
Policy and
Conservation Act of
1975 (EPCA) and
was therefore
invalid.

April 2023
Atherton adopts
an all-electric
new building
reach code
through
Ordinance 656
Nov 2022
The Ninth Circuit
Court of Appeals
declined to have the
Berkeley case reheard by the full panel
of Ninth Circuit Court
judges.

Staff recommends
amending Ordinance
656 to remove
electrification
requirements to bring
the Ordinance in line
with the Ninth Circuit
ruling.

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved 5
The Bay Area and California’s Upcoming Electrification Changes California
Achieves
Carbon
Neutrality
Statewide gas piping
projected
decommissioning
date
2045
CARB Low NOx
Standards
Gas water heaters and
space heaters no
longer sold,
statewide
2030
BAAQMD Low
NOx space
heater
requirements
Gas furnaces no
longer sold in Bay
Area
2029
BAAQMD Low
NOx water
heater
requirements
Tank-type gas water
heaters no longer
sold in Bay Area
2027
CA State Energy
Code Update
Replacements of air
conditioning systems
in existing buildings
will be heat pumps
2026

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Why We Need Reach Codes
Continuous Signal
to the Market
Local Control
State and BAAQMD
Codes are Limited
Local Reach Codes
Influence the State
Allows More Action,
Sooner
• Avoid a progress gap for new construction from 2024-2026 • Send clear, continuous message to market
• Avoid stranded asset cost of continued gas investment • Enables innovative approaches for cost-effective decarbonization policy • Ability to design customized exemptions
• Jurisdictions with more progressive climate targets can pass more progressive reach codes • Greenhouse gas emissions are cumulative, so earlier actions have exponential savings • Existing building policy is needed immediately to meet 2030, 2035, and 2040 climate goals • Lacks specific existing building measures
• Cannot regulate remodels or other types of triggers for cost-effective building electrification • Ignores many methane appliances
• Statewide electrification codes incorporate elements from local reach codes • Statewide EV charging codes have been inspired by San Mateo’s EV Reach Codes • Smoother implementation of BAAQMD ruling if similar requirements are adopted before 2027

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved 7
Overview of Reach Codes
California Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Efficiency Standards) & California Green Building Standards
(CALGreen)
• Set by the California Energy Commission (CEC) .
• Increase energy conservation and reduce energy costs in buildings • Adopted every three years.

Building Reach Code
• Increases building code requirements above the current Efficiency Standards.
• Can be adopted at any time.
• Must meet CEC’s cost effectiveness standards.

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved 8
Why Adopt Reach Codes?
▪ Getting ahead of possible future policies results in
several years of avoided emissions.
▪ Reach codes enable communities to prepare for
future change and ease the burden of transition:
− Homeowner awareness and education
− Workforce development
− Develop enforcement mechanisms
− Prevent stranded assets
▪ Support public health by decreasing indoor and
outdoor air pollution emissions and exposure.

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Energy Performance
Approach
Option 2: New Construction
9

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved 10
Summary of Approach Homeowner/Developer
(New construction)
All-Electric Mixed-Fuel
(Methane Gas and Electric)
Electric space and water heating.

No additional measures required.

Gas space and/or water heating.

Increased efficiency, solar, and
battery storage are required.

Dramatic GHG emissions savings.

Through Peninsula Clean Energy
(PCE), Atherton has a 100% clean
power mix.

Compliant with Title 24, Part 6 and reach code.

Energy Performance Approach
Some GHG
emissions
savings

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved 11
Approaches to Compliance
Performance Path: Current
▪ In order to pass, a score of “0” or higher is required on all of the three EDR Compliance Margins.

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved 12
Approaches to Compliance
Performance Path: Energy Performance Path
9 ▪ In order to pass, a score of 9 or higher is required for the EDR1 Compliance Margin. ▪ EDR2efficiency & EDR2total do not change and still must achieve a score of “0” or higher to pass.

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Regulated Appliances
What’s included
▪ Space heating/cooling
▪ Water heating
What’s not included
▪ Stoves
▪ Laundry
▪ Pools
▪ Fireplace/pit

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved 14
Electric Readiness for Single Family New Construction
• Heat pump space heater
• Heat pump water heater
• Electric cooktop
• Electric clothes dryer
• For future installation, these require:
• Dedicated wiring installed within 3 ft of the gas-fired appliance.
• Reserved electrical breaker space provided for the
future installation of these systems and appliances.
• A heat pump water heater also requires:
• Space large enough to install it
• Plumbing for a condensate drain and hot and cold
water.
▪ OPPORTUNITY:
− Require electric readiness for pools for new construction Energy Code Existing Requirements
Source: Energy Code Ace

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Example
Single Family New Construction
15

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Gas Furnace
Standard
Design
Building
Building
Envelope
House Illustration source: Southern California Edison 14 Example 1

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Building
Envelope
House Illustration Source: Southern California Edison 15 Energy
Performance
Approach
(EDR1)
One Option:

Change Gas
Furnace to a
Heat Pump
Example 1
Fuel Type:

Electric

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Gas Furnace
Building
Envelope
House Illustration Source: Southern California Edison 16 Standard
Design
Building
Example 2

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Gas Furnace
Building
Envelope
House Illustration Source: Southern California Edison 17 Another Option:

Keep Gas Furnace
and add a Battery
Storage System
Energy
Performance
Approach
(EDR1)
Example 2
Fuel Type:

Mixed

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Existing Building
Options
20

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved 21
Existing Building Electrification Policy Approach
Time of Permit Reach Code policies require that
applicants, when they are already pulling a permit for a renovation project, abide by certain electric-ready
requirements.

These policies avoid missed opportunities to incorporate electric readiness at little additional cost. These
requirements can help avoid retrofit costs once
BAAQMD and CARB standards take effect.

Electric readiness does not mandate a specific
appliance/fuel be used. These existing building
requirements would build on new construction electric
readiness requirements from Title 24, Part 6.

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved 22
Time of Permit - Electric-Readiness Reach Code
An exception could be offered for situations where as a result of these requirements, an increase in capacity for an electrical panel, feeders, transformer, or electrical service (that is not part of the appliance upgrade scope) is needed.

Retrofit Category Details
Heating, Ventilation
and Air Conditioning
For alterations and additions that include an HVAC system, the Town could require an outlet for a future electric heat pump.

Water heating For alterations and additions that include a water heating system, the Town could require an outlet for a future water heater heat pump.

Pool and Spas For alterations and additions that include pool or spa equipment, the Town could require an outlet for a future electric pool pump.

Installing 240V outlet
when renovating the
following areas:

Laundry room (an outlet for a future electric clothes dryer) Kitchen (an outlet for future electric oven/stove)
Panel When planning an electrical panel replacement and electrical panel upgrade, the Town could require the electrical panel to include panel capacity and breaker space for future electrification of building systems.

Photos: Energy Code Ace

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved 23
Example Code Language
Based on San Mateo Ordinance
▪ 4.106.5.3 Existing one-and two-family dwellings.
− 4.106.5.3.1 Alterations and additions that include space heating appliances shall have a 240 volt, 30 ampere circuit and receptacle installed within 6 feet of appliance location.
− 4.106.5.3.2 Domestic water heater appliance alterations and additions shall have a 240 volt, 30 ampere circuit and receptacle installed within 6 feet of appliance location. Water heater appliance upgrades for pools and spas shall have a 240 volt, 50 ampere circuit and receptable installed within 6 feet of the appliance location.
− 4.106.5.3.3 Kitchen alterations shall include a 240v, 50 ampere circuit and receptacle installed within 6 feet of the cooktop, oven, and/or range location.
− 4.106.5.3.4 Alterations to areas designated for the installation of laundry equipment shall include a 240v, 30 ampere circuit and receptacle installed within 6 feet of clothes drying appliance location. − 4.106.5.3.5 Alterations or additions that include or require an increase to the capacity of electrical panels or transformers as part of the scope shall include reserved physical space for circuit breakers on the electrical panel, and reserved electrical capacity on transformers, as calculated per California Electric Code Section 220 for the following current or proposed appliances as applicable to the project site:
̵ Electric water heaters meeting the requirements of the California Energy Code. ̵ Electric space heater and air-conditioner meeting the requirements of the California Energy Code. ̵ Electric pool and/or spa water heater.
̵ Electric clothes dryer.
̵ Electric cooking equipment.
̵ Electric vehicle charger.
̵ Solar photovoltaic array
Green font indicates modified for Atherton Source: San Mateo

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Summary
Opportunities to Encourage Building Electrification
24

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved 25
Menu of Options
▪ Adopt Energy Performance Approach
− Mixed fuel buildings include increased efficiency, solar, and battery storage to pass performance modeling − All-electric buildings will pass modeling with code minimums (with a market-baseline heat pump water heater) ▪ Adopt Electric Readiness Requirements for New Construction (where readiness is not already required by the State code):
− Pools
▪ Adopt Electric Readiness Requirements for Remodels, Additions, Renovations, and Equipment Replacements
− Pools
− Laundry Room
− Kitchen
− HVAC
− Water Heating
− [If already upgrading] Panel Capacity for future electrification New Buildings Existing Buildings

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved 26
Recommendation
▪ It is recommended that the Council consider various options in support of energy reach codes and provide feedback and direction to staff for the next steps.

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved 27
Email Us:
[email protected]
[email protected]
Thanks!

© TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved 28

Item No. 2
Town of Atherton
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT – ACTION ITEM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL

GEORGE RODERICKS, CITY MANAGER
FROM: BRITTANY BENDIX, TOWN PLANNER
DATE: FEBRUARY 26, 2024
SUBJECT: BRIEFING ON PROCESS TO UPDATE THE ATHERTON SAFETY

ELEMENT

RECOMMENDATION
Receive a presentation from staff regarding the process to update the Town’s Safety Element.

BACKGROUND
This briefing provides an overview of the Town’s effort to process an update to its Safety Element. This report includes information regarding what a Safety Element is and its purpose, requirements of the California Government Code and state law relative to the update process, the different functions of the element, what the update process includes, and the anticipated timeline for the project.

DISUCUSSION
What is a Safety Element?
The Safety Element of Atherton’s General Plan (Attachment 1) is a State-mandated element that identifies potential natural and human-caused hazards that could affect residents, businesses, and services in the community. The purpose of the Safety Element is to establish a framework that identifies and anticipates these hazards and prepares the community to minimize risks and harm resulting from these hazards.

The Safety Element identifies the natural and human-caused hazards that affect Atherton, describes present and expected future conditions, and sets goals and policies to minimize hazards to safety.

This includes efforts to protect the health and safety of community members, minimize physical harm to the buildings and infrastructure, and reduce damage to local economic systems, community services, and ecosystems. Page 38 of 68
Safety Element Briefing
February 26, 2024

Purpose of the Safety Element Update
In recent years, the complexity of safety elements has increased due to expanded State requirements. In addition, safety elements are able to rely on improved and updated science, more sophisticated mapping, and an expanded set of best practices and tools for hazard mitigation and resilience. The purpose of this project is to not only address the safety element legal requirements in the California Government Code since the previous Safety Element was adopted in 2019, but also address recent hazards and related issues of concern in Atherton and across the county, respond to community concerns, and create a unified approach to improving resilience countywide.

The Town’s Safety Element Update is part of the Multi-Jurisdictional Safety Element Collaborative Project, which is a partnership of the County of San Mateo and the cities of Belmont, Brisbane, Burlingame, East Palo Alto, Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, and San Bruno. This collaborative effort provides greater efficiency and effectiveness to the safety element outreach and program overall, as well as an cost savings to the Town. Although this is a multi-agency effort, Atherton will receive an updated Safety Element that is tailored to our community and consistent with other General Plan elements and applicable agency plans, enhance eligibility for grant funding, and maintain compliance with State regulations.

A consultant team provides project management and technical assistance to the project.

Community Planning Collaborative is serving as project manager to coordinate and communicate the needs of all agencies through the process. PlaceWorks is leading the technical and subject matter expert team, with support from Atlas Planning Solutions, Climate Resilient Communities, and Nexus Planning & Research.

State Law Requirements for Safety Elements
California Government Code Section 65302(g) contains the requirements for Safety Elements, including that it must be updated upon each revision of the housing element or local hazard mitigation plan, but not less than once every eight years. In recent years, State legislation has updated the Government Code to include additional requirements for flood, wildfire, and climate change adaptation and resilience as follows:
▪ SB 1241 added Section 65302(g)(3) to the California Government Code, requiring jurisdictions in a state responsibility area or very high fire hazard severity zone to provide background, historical context, and goals, policies, and implementation measures to address wildfire risks in a community.
▪ SB 1035, which established Section 65302(g)(6) of the California Government Code, builds on previous legislation and requires local governments to review and update their Safety Element during an update to their Housing Element or Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP), or no less than every eight years. Any revisions should include updated information related to flood hazards, fire hazards, and climate adaptation and resilience. ▪ SB 379 requires local governments to conduct vulnerability assessments as part of their longrange planning efforts and to prepare resilience and adaptation policies that will protect against harm caused by climate change.

Safety Element Briefing
February 26, 2024

▪ AB 2140 added Sections 8685.9 and 65302.6 of the California Government Code, enabling cities and counties to adopt an LHMP into the Safety Element. ▪ SB 99 established Section 65302(g)(5) of the California Government Code and requires jurisdictions to review and update the Safety Element to include information identifying residential developments in hazard areas that do not have at least two emergency evacuation routes.
▪ AB 747 added Section 65302.15 to the California Government Code (amended by AB 1409), requiring local governments to identify the capacity, safety, and viability of evacuation routes and locations in the Safety Element or LHMP. This work is being done as part of a separate countywide effort and is not part of the Multi-Jurisdictional Safety Element update project.

Safety Element Update Process
The Safety Element Update process includes several steps to ensure that the element includes the most up-to-date information, addresses climate change vulnerability, and integrates community input into the goals, policies, and actions. The Safety Element Update process includes seven primary tasks. [The County of San Mateo and the cities of Atherton, Belmont, Burlingame, East Palo Alto, Half Moon Bay, and San Bruno are participating in all aspects of the Safety Element Update process. Pacifica has chosen to participate in Tasks 1-2 and Brisbane in Tasks 1-3. These two agencies are collecting data and information for their own separate General Plan update process which will include a future safety element update.]

1. Initial Identification & Ideas. Research, review of background materials, and community input will be used to identify each community’s hazards, needs and assets for further analysis.

2. Conduct climate change vulnerability assessments. The vulnerability assessment will analyze how climate-related hazards may affect populations and assets in the participating communities especially as these hazards become more frequent and intense in the future. These assessments will follow the four steps outlined in the California Adaptation Planning Guide:
1) Identify exposure; 2) analyze sensitivity and potential impacts; 3) evaluate adaptive capacity; and 4) conduct vulnerability prioritization. This task also includes conducting an evacuation constraints analysis and providing hazard mapping.

3. Compile background information on hazards. Background information will be updated to discuss the regulatory context that informs the Safety Element, the purpose of the Safety Element and the reason for updating them, and information about each of the key issue areas.

This includes mapping, current and historic conditions and events, and how the issue may change in the future.

4. Prepare goals, objectives, policies, and implementation programs. This step includes identifying regional best practices, reviewing existing plans and requirements, and drafting the goals and policies. The goals, policies, and programs build upon the data collection efforts, vulnerability assessment, and community and stakeholder feedback to detail the specific steps required to implement the Safety Element policies.

5. Compile Draft Safety Element. Once the individual segments of the Safety Element update are ready, the results will be assembled into a draft Safety Element. These documents will incorporate all the content and analyses prepared in prior steps.

Safety Element Briefing
February 26, 2024

6. Conduct environmental review. After the Safety Elements are drafted, a CEQA-compliant environmental analyses will be conducted along with required Native American tribal consultation.

7. Local and State Agency Reviews and Approvals. Jurisdictions that include State Responsibility Areas or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones must submit their draft Safety Element for Board of Forestry Review at least 90 days prior to adoption. (At this time, Half Moon Bay and San Mateo County will go through the Board of Forestry Review process.) Once agency review is complete, the last step in the process is Public Agency Review and Approval, which includes Study Sessions and approval hearings at Planning Commission and City Council.

Community Engagement and Role of the City Council
Staff is currently in the process of crafting a community outreach plan that would include ongoing briefings to both the Planning Commission and City Council, development of a Town webpage, presentations to the Town’s various community groups (to include ADAPT) and regular updates in the Town’s newsletter and social media platforms. Additional suggestions for engagement efforts are welcomed.

Throughout the process the City Council will have the opportunity to provide feedback during the preparation of goals, objectives, policies, and implementation programs included in the Safety Element. The adoption of the Safety Element update will also be under the purview of the City Council.

Project Schedule
Overall, the project is expected to last for two years, having commenced with collecting background information in August 2023 through the analysis, community engagement and document preparation and adoption process that will extend into June 2025. The timing for the seven primary tasks are as follows, and depicted graphically below:

1. Initial Identification & Ideas: August 2023 to October 2023

2. Compile background information on hazards: August 2023 to January 2024.

3. Conduct climate change vulnerability assessments: December 2023 to June 2024.

4. Prepare goals, objectives, policies, and implementation programs: March 2024 to September 2024.

5. Compile Draft Safety Element: August 2024 to March 2025.

6. Conduct environmental review: August 2024 to May 2025.

7. Local and State Agency Reviews and Approvals: December 2024 to June 2025.

Safety Element Briefing
February 26, 2024

2023 2024 2025

A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J
Task 1
Task 2
Task 3
Task 4
Task 5
Task 6
Task 7

ATTACHMENTS

1. Safety Element of Atherton’s General Plan

Community Safety Element – January 2020 VIII CS - 70

COMMUNITY SAFETY ELEMENT
Attachment 1

Community Safety Element – January 2020 VIII CS - 71
Table of Contents
I. Purpose and Relation to Other Elements 72
II. Background Information 72
Seismic Hazards 72
Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zones 72
Surface Rupture 72
Ground Shaking 73
Ground Failure 73
Tsunami 73
Seiche 73
Dam Failure 74
Slope Instability 74
Land Subsidence 75
Liquefaction 75
Flooding 75
Urban and Wildland Fires 76
Emergency Operation Plan 77
Climate Change 78
Evacuation Routes and Peak Load Water Supply Requirements 78 III. Goals, Objectives and Policies 79
Community Safety Element Diagram 81
Attachment 1

Community Safety Element – January 2020 VIII CS - 72

COMMUNITY SAFETY ELEMENT
I. Purpose and Relation to Other Elements
The Safety Element is intended to describe natural and man-made disasters which may pose a hazard to the residents of Atherton. It sets forth policies for responding to threats to public safety. It includes identification of unreasonable risks, and policies for the protection of the community from such risks. The goal of the safety element is to reduce the potential short and long-term risk of death, injuries, property damage, and economic and social dislocation resulting from fires, floods, droughts, earthquakes, landslides, climate change, and other hazards.

The Safety Element is closely related to the Circulation, Land Use, and Open Space and Conservation Elements as development plans must adequately account for public safety considerations, and open space for public health often incorporates area of increased hazard (for example, increase hazard associated with dam safety within the Bear Gulch Reservoir open space).

II. Background Information
Seismic Hazards
The primary seismic threat to the Town of Atherton is represented by the San Andreas fault and its attendant rift valley which lies approximately five miles to the west of the Town. This fault has a long history of earthquake activity. While there are no known active or potentially active faults within the Town of Atherton, it is subject to periodic, very strong earthquakes which originate either on the San Andreas or from the Hayward and Calaveras faults in the East Bay. Most geologists agree that an earthquake of comparable magnitude to that which occurred in 1906 may well be experienced by the current generation of Bay Area residents.

Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zones
Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zones are regulatory zones, delineated by the State Geologist, within which site-specific geologic studies are required to identify and avoid fault rupture hazards prior to subdivision of land and/or construction of most structures for human occupancy. There are no AlquistPriolo Earthquake Fault Zones within the Atherton Town limits. The closest such zone, the San Andreas Fault Zone, is located in Woodside, approximately one-half mile southwest of I-280. Other such zones are located in the East Bay and include the Hayward Fault Zone and the Calaveras Fault Zone.

Seismic hazards associated with earthquakes include the following:

Surface Rupture
Seismically induced surface rupture refers to a break in the ground’s surface and associated deformation resulting from the movement of a fault. Surface rupture is usually limited to a narrow zone along the fault.

Attachment 1

Community Safety Element – January 2020 VIII CS - 73
Since there are no know active or potentially active faults within the Town of Atherton, it is unlikely that significant seismically induced surface rupturing will occur within Town.

Ground Shaking
Seismically induced ground shaking poses a serious potential hazard to Atherton. In the future, the major source of earthquake damage is likely to come from the San Andreas Fault system, including the Hayward Fault and the Calaveras Fault branches in the East Bay area. The principal effect of such an earthquake in most of the Town will be a sudden, unexpected initiation of a strong shaking motion of the ground, which could last approximately one minute or more. This ground shaking can be expected to be hazardous to people during the earthquake.

Ground Failure
Seismically induced ground failure refers to mudslides, landslides, liquefaction or soil compaction caused by a seismic event. The California Department of Conservation has mapped areas where previous occurrence of landslide movement, or local topographic, geological, geotechnical and subsurface water conditions indicate a potential for permanent ground displacements such that mitigation would be required. Mitigation in this context means those measures that are consistent with established practice and that will reduce seismic risk to acceptable levels.

Tsunami
A tsunami refers to a series of waves generated in a body of water by a rapid disturbance that vertically displaces the water. These changes can be caused by an underwater fault rupture that generates an earthquake, a volcanic eruption, or underwater landslides typically triggered by earthquakes. The California Emergency Management Agency has prepared a series of maps plotting the potential inundation line for a tsunami runup along the San Francisco Bay shoreline. The inundation line represents the maximum considered tsunami runup from a number of extreme, yet realistic, tsunami sources. In the Atherton vicinity, the potential inundation line follows the southwesterly shoreline of the Westpoint Slough and the Ravenswood Slough located in the salt evaporators within the margins of San Francisco Bay. A runup of approximately 4 feet at Ravenswood Point (East Palo Alto) could occur, as estimated by the US Geological Survey. The inundation line runs approximately ½ to 1-mile northeast of the dike protecting the east Menlo Park and Redwood City industrial area. As the inundation line is located approximately 1 to 1 ½ miles northeast of the Atherton City Limit along Bay Road, there appears to be little chance that a tsunami would affect land within the Town. Further since the inundation line is located approximately ½ to 1-mile northeast of US 101 there appears to be little chance that a tsunami would affect that major evacuation route.

Seiche
Seismic seiches (sloshing) are standing waves set up on rivers, reservoirs, ponds, and lakes when seismic waves from an earthquake pass through the area. A seiche can overflow or even erode an embankment, potentially releasing significant volumes of water that could flood and damage developed areas downstream. Bear Gulch Reservoir is the only body of water within Atherton large enough to be subject to a seiche. A potentially damaging seiche at this location could adversely impact properties and development downstream.

Attachment 1

Community Safety Element – January 2020 VIII CS - 74
Dam Failure
The Bear Gulch Reservoir Dam is the only dam in Atherton and is large enough to endanger lives and property in the event of a failure. A seismic event could cause the dam to fail and endanger an estimated population of approximately 1,000 people, according to the Atherton Emergency Operations Plan. The flood plain that would result from catastrophic failure of this dam has been mapped by California Water Service Company (Cal Water), the dam owner; the map is on file with the Office of Emergency Services.

The California Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD), (a division of the Department of Water Resources [DWR]) routinely and periodically inspects the dam for performance and problem identification. Should a problem be identified that could lead to failure potential the dam owner (or as directed by the DSOD) takes mitigating actions such as reducing the water level to avoid catastrophic loss of water or other actions specified in its Emergency Action Plan.

The Atherton neighborhood most seriously threatened by dam failure and wildfire hazard is the Walsh Road neighborhood. This neighborhood has only one primary evacuation route; Walsh Road, which is a narrow, two lane residential street that intersects with Alameda de las Pulgas. Two other evacuation routes have been identified:
• The main secondary automobile evacuation route is the road at the end of Reservoir Road through the Cal Water property adjacent to Bear Gulch Reservoir connecting to Moore Road. Cal Water must open the gate at the entrance of the road for this to be passable. Cal Water maintains a 24/7 presence at the Bear Gulch site. Calling 1-855-CAL-WATER, then selecting “1” for emergency will provide access to a Cal Water employee who will notify an on-site employee to unlock the gate. • There is a pedestrian only exit using the horse tunnel from Valley Court under highway 280.

In the event of a fire or flood, a warning siren has been installed at the Cal Water facility on Reservoir Road. The siren can be activated by the Fire or Police Department to advise residents that an evacuation should take place.

An all-volunteer group of concerned Atherton residents formed the Atherton Disaster and Preparedness Team (A.D.A.P.T.) to collaborate with town officials, Menlo Park Fire, Atherton Police and other professional emergency responders and the California State “Get Ready” and FEMA’s/US Citizens’ Corps programs to help organize, train, educate, communicate with and aid fellow Athertonians in preparing for major emergencies and natural disasters. A.D.A.P.T is sponsored by the Atherton Police Department and is linked to the Menlo Park Fire Protection District’s Community Crisis Management (CCM)/Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program.

Slope Instability
Landslides include all movements of soil, rock, or debris as a result of falling, sliding, or flowing. Most landslides are a combination of two or more types of motion and/or material. Landslides are categorized according to the types of motion and material involved. They can be directly caused by earthquakes or be completely independent of them.
• Falls describe the sudden movement of material from vertical or near-vertical slopes and are generally labeled by the type of material displaced (e.g. soilfall, rockfall).

Attachment 1

Community Safety Element – January 2020 VIII CS - 75
• Slides refer to movements in which the material moves more or less as a unit along recognizable shear surface. If the shear surface is concave, the slide movement will be rotational and is denoted by the term "slump." If the shear surface is planar, transnational movement occurs and the term "slide" is used alone. Both slides and slumps are further classified according to the type of material involved (e.g., earth slump, rockslide, debris slide where "debris" refers to combinations of soil, weathered bedrock and/or organic material).
• Flows describe the movement of material in which a myriad of small-scale movements rather than massive sliding is the dominant mechanism of transport. This category is further broken down by the type of material involved and the rate at which it moves (e.g., debris flow, mudflow). The modifier "avalanche" is used to describe exceptionally fast flows.

Much of the land surface in Atherton is relatively flat and not subject to slope instability. Land west of Alameda de las Pulgas however is steeper and therefore subject to slope instability. A map prepared by San Mateo County which shows the general location of existing landslides, characterizes the area west of Alameda de las Pulgas as having “few landslides”. Another map produced by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) identifies “earthquake induced landslide study zones” and “rainfall induce study zones” each contain a few acres on the south side of Walsh Road and near Bear Gulch Reservoir.

Land Subsidence
Land subsidence is defined as the lowering of the land surface. Many different factors can cause the land surface to subside. Subsidence can occur rapidly due to a sinkhole or underground mine collapse, or during a major earthquake. It may happen slowly in the case of groundwater withdrawal or natural gas extraction. In Atherton the subsurface composition is such that sinkholes have rarely occurred. There are there no known mines or natural gas fields. There has been groundwater withdrawal, however the withdrawal has not resulted in significant land subsidence. A program to monitor measurements of landsurface elevations and future subsidence is on-going and described in the Open Space and Conservation Element. While there could be seismically induced land subsidence in Town during a major earthquake, such an effect has not been known to have occurred in the past.

Liquefaction
Loose sand and silt that is saturated with water can behave like a liquid when shaken by an earthquake.

This phenomenon is called liquefaction. During an earthquake the soil can lose its ability to support structures, flow down even very gentle slopes, and erupt to the ground surface to form sand boils. Many of these phenomena are accompanied by settlement of the ground surface, usually in uneven patterns that damage buildings, roads and pipelines.

A map produced by ABAG identifies liquefaction susceptibility hazards in Atherton. In general, the area of Town northeast of a line formed by Euclid Avenue/Monte Vista Avenue/Camino por los Arboles is characterized as having a “moderate susceptibility”. The narrow band of land adjacent to the Atherton Channel is characterized has having a “very high susceptibility”. The balance of the Town is characterized as having a “very low to low susceptibility”.

Flooding
Attachment 1

Community Safety Element – January 2020 VIII CS - 76
Flooding has not presented a significant, extensive hazard in Atherton in the past. There have been numerous recurring localized areas of flooding. During the 2001 Town-wide Drainage Study, 97 localized flooding complaints were identified and evaluated. These events were classified by type of problem such as building floods, saturated or clogged drywell, channel or ditch overflow, driveway and intersection floods, and storm system overflow or clog. Many of these problem areas were addressed with improvement projects implemented since 2001 or with maintenance activities.

In 2015 the Town-wide Drainage Study was updated. During that process, 17 localized flooding complaints were identified; three of which coincided with flooding complaints from the 2001 Drainage Study. The report includes general and specific recommendations for mitigating these hazards.

There are no Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) identified flood prone or hazard areas in Atherton. The Town has chosen not to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program.

There are areas within the Town, due to their proximity to the Atherton Channel or in portions of lowerlying Lindenwood, which require raised finished floor elevations (typically by approximately 1 foot) during new construction. Finished floor elevations in these areas are recommended by the project engineer based on studies required by the Town during the grading and drainage plan review process.

Flooding resulting from failure of the Bear Gulch Reservoir dam is a hazard that is addressed under the topic of Dam Failure in this Element.

Atherton has entered into a partnership with the jurisdictions of Redwood City, Menlo Park, and San Mateo County to complete the planning for the proposed Bayfront Canal/Atherton Channel Flood Protection and Restoration Project. The Atherton Channel and Bayfront Canal watersheds have experienced decades of repetitive flooding in the lower reaches of the channels in Redwood City. This project is further discussed in the Conservation Element.

The proposed Atherton Water Capture Project, a runoff diversion, storage and filtration system is discussed in the Open Space and Conservation Element.

The use of green infrastructure techniques and systems can help to reduce the impacts of localized flooding associated with stormwater runoff, the Atherton Channel, and Bayfront Canal while also assisting the Town in satisfying the provisions of the MRP.1
Urban and Wildland Fires
Fire protection for Atherton is provided by the Menlo Park Fire District; a special district that serves the cities of Menlo Park, Atherton, East Palo Alto and portions of San Mateo County. Backup assistance for the Fire District is available through mutual aid agreements. All fire agencies in San Mateo County have signed the California Master Mutual Aid Agreement and participate in mutual aid operations as required.

The Menlo Park Fire District also has specific Mutual Aid agreements with the cities of Palo Alto and Redwood City.
1 Source: CD+A
Attachment 1

Community Safety Element – January 2020 VIII CS - 77
The Fire District actively works to prevent structural and wildfires through its regulations, education and training programs; some of which include residential and commercial fire sprinkler requirements, plan review of new construction, periodic inspection of commercial buildings, weed abatement, defensible spaces, home ignition zones, disaster and emergency preparedness.

Wildland fire is a hazard that exists throughout the Town of Atherton. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has mapped fire threatened communities in the State. The entire Town of Atherton has been identified as a “Community At Risk”.

Wildfire hazard in the Walsh Road neighborhood is a topic that is addressed in the Dam Failure section of this Element.

Emergency Operations Plan
The Town of Atherton Police Department and the Menlo Park Fire Protection District have jointly prepared the Town of Atherton Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) which describes how the jurisdictions will manage and coordinate resources and personnel responding to emergency situations. The Atherton EOP, along with a companion document; the Atherton Hazard Mitigation Strategies (HMS) is the Town’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan specified in the federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-390). The HMS contains policies designed to mitigate hazards identified in the EOP.

The Atherton Town website currently has a section entitled “Evacuation Plan & Emergency Siren” that provides information about the Walsh Road emergency siren and evacuation routes in the event of a fire or flood. The same website section provides general information about the Atherton Disaster and Preparedness Team (A.D.A.P.T) a Police Department sponsored emergency preparedness and action program as well as other preparedness resources for the community.

The Town of Atherton EOP is designed to be consistent with Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)-5, National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the California Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) requirements. The plan:
• Conforms to the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS)
• Provides Emergency Operations Center (EOC) responders with procedures, documentation, and user-friendly checklists to effectively manage emergencies • Provides detailed information of supplemental requirements such as Public Information, Damage Assessment, and Recovery Operations.

The Town of Atherton Emergency Operations Plan is a document that is continually evolving. The EOP provides a comprehensive emergency response document that includes detailed information covering Emergency Operations Center procedures, documentation and reference and support information.

Pursuant to California Government Code Section 65302.6, the Atherton Emergency Operations Plan together with the Atherton Hazard Mitigation Strategies are hereby adopted by reference and included in this Community Safety Element. Further, any future amendments to the EOP and HMS are adopted by reference and included in this Element.

Attachment 1

Community Safety Element – January 2020 VIII CS - 78
The Town also participates with a coalition of San Mateo County cities and special districts in updating and adopting the San Mateo County Hazard Mitigation Plan.2 This plan includes an assessment of the risk and vulnerability to the impacts of natural hazards, develops a mitigation strategy consistent with a set of uniform goals and objectives, and creates a plan for implementing, evaluating and revising the strategy.

Climate Change
Atherton’s proposals and policies related to climate change are contained in its adopted3 Climate Action Plan. The Town’s Climate Action Plan serves as a guiding document to identify methods that the Town and community can implement to significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Plan provides a comprehensive roadmap of programs that can be implemented to reduce emissions and increase sustainability. Transportation aspects of the Climate Action Plan are addressed in the Circulation Element.

Energy, water and solid waste programs and policies are addressed in the Open Space and Conservation Element.

Atherton has adopted a target of reducing GHG emissions to 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020.

Evacuation Routes and Peak Load Water Supply Requirements Pursuant to the State Planning Guidelines, evacuation routes have been designated in the Policies below.

State Planning Guidelines require the Safety Element to include a statement specifying the peak load water supply requirements of the Town. Peak load water supply requirements currently average just under five million gallons per day during the months of August and September.

Emergency evacuation routes are shown on the Community Safety Diagram, Figure CS-1. These routes are generally located along minor arterials that provide access from all Atherton neighborhoods to El Camino Real, and, ultimately U. S. 101 and I-280. The streets included are El Camino Real, Middlefield Road, Marsh Road, Alameda de las Pulgas, Atherton Avenue/Fair Oaks Lane, Valparaiso Avenue, Stockbridge Avenue, Glenwood Avenue, Encinal Avenue, Watkins Avenue and Ringwood Avenue. These routes would be used for general emergencies (e.g. earthquake, wildfire) and dam failure at Bear Gulch Reservoir. 2 Adopted October 19, 2016
3 Adopted October 19, 2016
Attachment 1

Community Safety Element – January 2020 VIII CS - 79
III. Goals, Objectives, Policies and Actions
Goal CS-1: The Town recognizes the potential danger to public safety that may result from natural or man-made causes and seeks to minimize the public risks in such hazards.

Goal CS-2: Reduce the risk of injury, structure and property damage from exposure to seismic activity.

Policy CS-2.1: Support the Goals, Objectives and Policies contained in adopted Atherton local hazard mitigation plans and Emergency Operations Plans.

Policy CS-2.2: Public education, research and information dissemination on seismic hazards and emergency response shall be encouraged.

Policy CS-2.3: The Town shall seek to improve interjurisdictional cooperation with other agencies for geotechnical safety in land use planning, hazard prevention and emergency response.

Goal CS-3: Reduce hazards related to natural flooding and potential inundation from failure of the Bear Gulch Reservoir Dam.

Goal CS-4: Support any Town Green Infrastructure programs that address stormwater infrastructure that may use natural processes to manage water and create healthier urban environments.

Goal CS-5: Prevent and reduce risks to property and protect residents from urban and wildland fire hazards.

Goal CS-6: Support the Town’s ability to respond effectively to natural and human-caused emergencies.

Policy CS-6.1: Support the preparation, implementation and regular update of local preparedness and evacuation plans, training and education; and multijurisdictional cooperation and communication for emergency situations.

Attachment 1

Community Safety Element – January 2020 VIII CS - 80
Policy CS-6.2: Continue to participate in regional emergency planning efforts.

Policy CS-6.3: The emergency evacuation routes established in this General Plan Element are El Camino Real, Middlefield Road, Marsh Road, Alameda de las Pulgas, Atherton Avenue/Fair Oaks Lane, Stockbridge Avenue, Valparaiso Avenue, Glenwood Avenue, Encinal Avenue, Watkins Avenue and Ringwood Avenue.

Attachment 1

BEAR GULCH

RESERVIOR
BAY RD

SELBY LN

MARSH RD

POLHEMUS AVE

PARK LN

JAMES AVE

SELBY LN

VALPARAISO AVE

FAIR OAKS LN

WATKINS AVE

STOCKBRIDGE AVE STOCKBRIDGE AVE

ATHERTON AVE ATHERTON AVE

AUST NI AVE
ALA

MEDA DE LAS PULG
AS

STATE H GI HWAY
82 HWY

WALSH RD

MIDDLEFIELD

RD MIDDLEFIELD RD

ALMENDRAL AVE

OAK GROVE AVE
Community Safety Diagram
Figure SC-1
0 0.5 1 /
Miles
Legend
Town Boundary
Earthquake Induced Landslide Zones
Emergency Evacuation Routes
Liquefaction Zones
Bear Gulch Dam Failure Inundation Area
Attachment 1

Atherton Safety
Element Update

CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING
FEBRUARY 26, 2024

Agenda

1. Overview of Project

2. Project Schedule

3. Community Engagement Overview

4. Next Steps
Agenda

Consultant Project Team
Collaboration
Project
Manager
Subject Matter
Experts &
Technical Analysis

What is a Safety Element?
•Mandatory part of a General Plan.
•Identifies hazards of concern and
related risks to the community.
•Helps protect the community against
natural disasters and other hazards.

Why Update the Safety Element?
• Incorporate the 2021
Multijurisdictional Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan (LHMP).
• Ensure consistency with other General
Plan Elements and applicable agency
plans - Climate Action Plan (CAP) &
Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)
• Enhance eligibility for grant funding.
• Comply with State regulations.

Safety
Element
LHMP

CAP EOP

Safety Element Update per State Law
SB 1241
• Update flood and
wildfire sections
• Identify responsible
agencies
• Minimize risks for
new buildings and
essential facilities
SB 379
• Prepare vulnerability
assessment
• Develop goals,
policies, and actions
to increase
adaptation and
resilience
SB 2140
• Incorporate LHMP
into Safety Element
SB 99
• Identify evacuationconstrained
residential areas

What is a Vulnerability Assessment?
• Identifies how people and key community assets may be affected by climate change. • Evaluates availability of existing policies or programs to help people avoid or recover from impacts. • Prioritizes vulnerabilities that inform the resilience and adaptation policies and implementation programs of the Safety Element. • Expected local impacts of climate change: • Increases in intense rainfall and drought conditions. • More frequent extreme heat events. • More frequent and intense regional wildfires. • Shoreline jurisdictions: Sea level rise and increased coastal/shoreline flooding

Project Schedule
Compile
Background on
Hazards*
August 2023 –
January 2024
Conduct
Vulnerability
Assessment*
December 2023 –
June 2024
Prepare Goals,
Policies, and
Programs*
March 2024 –
September 2024
Prepare Safety
Element
August 2024 –
March 2025
Conduct
Environmental
Review*
August 2024 –
May 2025
State/Local
Agency Review
& Approval*
December 2024 –
June 2025

Next Steps
• Compiling data on hazards, populations, and community assets. • Creating a GIS database for spatial data. • Beginning preparation of the climate vulnerability assessment. • Beginning community outreach.

City Staff Contact
Brittany Bendix, Town Planner
[email protected]
(408) 688-2432

Item No. 3
Town of Atherton
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT – REGULAR AGENDA
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL

GEORGE RODERICKS, CITY MANAGER
FROM: ANTHONY SUBER, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER/ CITY CLERK
DATE: FEBRUARY 26, 2024
SUBJECT: RECIEVE AND FILE THE 2024 ATHERTON ANNUAL EVENT

CALENDAR

RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Council receive and file the 2024 Annual Event Calendar.

BACKGROUND
At the April 20, 2023, City Council Goals Session a few themes emerged from the discussion which included the following:

• Improving the representation in government,
• Building trust in local government; and
• Creating a sense of community
To give the Council a perspective on the various Town-hosted annual community activities and events, staff produced the attached 2024 Event Calendar. The City Manager wanted to provide the Council an opportunity to provide input into the various events and activities. The events listed do not include topic-specific workshops or community engagement meetings, such as Housing Element workshops, staff-attended neighborhood meetings, or meetings with community groups (such as ADAPT). Staff also conduct regular meetings with members of the broader community such as the Builders Roundtable which is held every other month, Committee and Commission meetings for the six Council-appointed governing bodies, and two additional resident-led community groups.

The calendar graphic included as Attachment 1 identifies events that have been scheduled and future events that are still in the planning process. The Town hosts several summer events in June, July and August and collaborates with community groups and private businesses for sponsorship opportunities for our summer event series.

Staff are planning for two concerts and two movies in June and July with target dates set as follows:

Atherton 2024 Event Calendar
FEBRUARY 26, 2024

7 8
7 • June 20 – Concert at the Park [Band is TBD]
• June 28 – Movie [TBD at Holbrook or Library Deck]
• July 11 – Concert at the Park [Band is TBD]
• July 19 – Movie [TBD at Holbrook or Library Deck]
In recent years, turnout at concerts and movies have been down coming out of COVID; however, turnout at recent library events and the turnout at the 2023 Centennial was higher. Most Town events involve collaborative efforts across multiple departments but there is typically a departmental lead for each event.

A Few Annual Event Highlights:
• April 6 & 7 - Annual Waste Wise Event for paper shredding, e-waste, and other recycling options. This year's event will include a Goodwill component which will be able to accept clothing, electronic products and other items to refurbish for resale. The event will also take place over 2 days.
• April 20 – Annual Police Department Open House
• April 22 – Annual Earth Day Event, which is led by the Environmental Programs Committee in partnership with City Management staff and the Council Committee liaison. • August 6 – Annual National Night Out, led by the Police Department. This is a wellattended event and brings out a few hundred residents and neighbors. The Town partners with numerous community groups to participate and involves food that has been historically sponsored by the Interwest Consulting Group.

In addition to these events, there is Coffee with a Cop, Halloween Event, Town Holiday Party, Shop with a Cop, Tree Lighting, Bike Rodeo, and various Police Community meetings throughout the year focused on contemporary public safety activities. Each year, the Town hosts, on average, 12-15 community events and staff attend/host 5-10 neighborhood, community group or specific outreach meetings in addition to the monthly or bi-monthly Committee or Commission meetings.

This is an informational item only.

FISCAL IMPACT
None.

GOAL ALIGNMENT
This Report and its contents are in alignment with the following Council Policy Goals:
• Goal Area E – Strengthen Community Engagement and Transparency

Atherton 2024 Event Calendar
FEBRUARY 26, 2024

7 8
7 POLICY FOCUS
The events calendar presented in this report represents the planned activities related to community engagement and education goals set by Council and staff. There are no significant policy issues associated with this item.

PUBLIC NOTICE
Public notification was achieved by posting the agenda, with this agenda item being listed, at least 72 hours prior to the meeting in print and electronically. Information about the project is also disseminated via the Town’s electronic News Flash and Atherton Online. There are approximately 1,400 subscribers to the Town’s electronic News Flash publications. Subscribers include residents as well as stakeholders –to include, but be not limited to, media outlets, school districts, Menlo Park Fire Protection District, service provides (water, power, and sewer), and regional elected officials.

COMMISSION/COMMITTEE FEEDBACK/REFERRAL
This item has not been before a Town Committee or Commission

ATTACHMENTS

1. Atherton 2024 Events Calendar

ATHERTON 2024 EVENTS CALENDAR

HIGHLIGHT EVENTS DEPT LEAD DATE
WASTE WISE City Manager April 6 & 7
EARTH DAY 2024 City Manager &
EPC
April 22

COFFEE WITH A COP &

NATIONAL OFFICERS DAY
Police May 15
SUMMER CONCERTS City Manager June 20 & July 11
SUMMER MOVIES City Manager June 28 & July 19
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT Police August 2
BIKE RODEO Police September 21
HALLOWEEN EVENT Police October
TOWN HOLIDAY PARTY City Manager December
TREE LIGHTING City Manager December
CITY COUNCIL RE-ORG City Manager December
TOY DRIVE Police December
SHOP WITH A COP Police December

DETAILS
Annual paper shred, e-waste, and compost event.

Annual Earth Day Celebration hosted by the EPC and City Manager’s Department
Chief McCulley hosts a coffee with a copy community engagement event.

Summer concerts with local bands and family friendly movie nights. Staff are in the process of confirming bands and determining if we will host the events at Holbrook-Palmer Park, the library deck or a combination of both.

Annual event to engage residents and neighbors hosted by the Police Department.

Bike safety community event hosted by the Police Department These events will take place in the second half of 2024 and exact dates have not been determined. The Town has held a Halloween event in partnership with the library in October, Town holiday party, annual Tree Lighting, City Council Re-Org, Toy Drive, and Show with a Cop all in December in connection with the holiday season.

The highlights listed below represent events that dates have been confirmed. Staff will update this calendar as dates are solidified and provided updates to Council and the community.

POTENTIAL EVENTS DEPT LEAD DATE
POLICE OPEN HOUSE Police TBD
SENIOR RESOURCE DAY City Manager TBD

POLICE BURGLARY

PREVENTION WORKSHOP
Police TBD
Attachment 1

ATHERTON 2024 EVENTS CALENDAR

JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE

M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 30 31 26 27 28 29 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 29 30 27 28 29 30 31 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER

M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 1
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 29 30 31 26 27 28 29 30 31 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 28 29 30 31 25 26 27 28 29 30 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 30 31
Attachment 1