Berkeley City Council
March 18, 2025

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other source, in order to administer this chapter.

The FPA is responsible for notification of other agencies, including:

1. Notifying adjacent communities and the California Department of Water Resources prior to alteration or relocation;

2. Submitting evidence of such notification to the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and

3. Assuring that the flood carrying capacity within the altered or relocated portion of said watercourse is maintained.

4. If the Base Flood Elevation Changes Due to Physical Alterations, within six months of information becoming available or project completion, whichever comes first, the FPA shall submit or assure that the permit applicant submits technical or scientific data to FEMA for a letter of map revision (LOMR). All LOMRs for flood control projects are approved prior to the issuance of building permits. Building permits must not be issued based on conditional letters of map revision (CLOMRs).

Approved CLOMRs allow construction of the proposed flood control project and land preparation as specified in the "start of construction" definition. Such submissions are necessary so that upon confirmation of those physical changes affecting flooding conditions, risk premium rates and floodplain management requirements are based on current data.

5. Notifying FEMA in writing whenever the corporate boundaries have been modified by annexation or other means and include a copy of a map of the community

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clearly delineating the new corporate limits.

The Building and Safety Division enforces compliance with floodplain regulations through inspections and monitoring. They ensure that the construction or improvements proceed according to the approved plans and that all regulatory requirements are met. Given that the City of Berkeley participates in the NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program), the FPA coordinates with FEMA to ensure that their implementation of substantial improvement/damage provisions meets federal requirements. This collaboration helps maintain eligibility for NFIP benefits and ensures consistency with national floodplain management standards.

For example, the FPA is responsible for the following:

1. Obtaining and maintaining for public inspection all Documentation of Floodplain Development.

2. Maintaining a record of all variance actions, including justification for their issuance, and report such variances issued in its biennial report submitted to FEMA.

3. Making interpretations where needed, as to the exact location of the boundaries of the areas of special flood hazard, where there appears to be a conflict between a mapped boundary and actual field conditions. The person contesting the location of the boundary shall be given a reasonable opportunity to appeal the interpretation.

4. Taking actions to remedy violations.

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5. Completing and submitting a biennial report to FEMA.

6. Assuring the community's General Plan is consistent with floodplain management objectives.

C.3 Disaster Mitigation Goals
Berkeley will focus on five goals to reduce and avoid long -term vulnerabilities to the hazards identified in Element B: Risk Assessment
• Reduce the potential for loss of life, injury , and economic damage to Berkeley residents and businesses from earthquakes, wildfires, landslides, fl oods, tsunamis, climate change, extreme heat, poor air quality, infectious disease, sea level rise, wind, utility disruption and their secondary impacts. • Increase City government’s ability to serve the community during and after hazardous events by mitigating risk to key City functions. • Protect and enhance quality of life in Berkeley.
• Connect with residents, community-based organizations, institutions, businesses, and essential lifeline systems in order to increase mitigation actions and disaster resilience in the community.
• Co-create mitigation plans, policies, and programs with Berkeley’s underserved communities, elevating the voices of these community members and prioritizing their needs to prepare for and adapt to climate change and natural hazards.

C.4 Overview of Actions
This plan identifies and analyzes 33 mitigation actions to reduce the impacts from hazards

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described in Element B: Risk Assessment. This suite of actions addresses every natural hazard posing a threat to Berkeley, with an emphasis on new and existing buildings and infrastructure. Given the number of new hazards included in the plan, several new actions and proposed activities were considered and added.

Plan actions were developed through a multi -step, broadly-inclusive process. The C ity convened an interdepartmental planning team, which reviewed the actions identified in the 2019 mitigation plan, as well as Berkeley’s progress on these actions since 2019. This Team then revised these actions, identified new actions, and established priorities to guide Berk eley’s mitigation strategy for the next five years. Actions with clear funding mechanisms were given greatest consideration. Based on feedback from community members, s taff revised actions and incorporated them into this 2024 First Draft Plan.

Additional detail on the process used to identify actions is provided in Element A: Planning Process.

Tables 4, 5, and 6 below summarize all of the actions. The tables group actions by their priority level (see Ele ment C.5.a for details on prioritization of actions), and identify the hazard(s) that each action addresses.

The 2024 Strategy Actions Spreadsheet in the Appendix includes further detail about each action, including how each action benefits socially vulner able populations. Actions that were considered but not prioritized are included in the second tab of the Strategy Actions Spreadsheet.

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Action Hazards
Continue appropriate seismic and fire safety analysis
based on current and future use for all City-owned
facilities and structures.

Multi-hazard
Strengthen or replace City buildings in the identified
prioritized order as funding is available.

Multi-hazard
Reduce hazard vulnerabilities for non-City-owned
buildings throughout Berkeley.

Multi-hazard
Implementation of the Retrofit Grants Program which
helps Berkeley building owners increase safety and
mitigate the risk of damage caused by earthquakes
Earthquake
Continue implementation of the Soft Story Retrofit
Program, which mandates seismic retrofit of soft story
buildings with 5+ residential units.

Earthquake
Complete the ongoing program to retrofit all remaining
non-complying Unreinforced Masonry (URM) buildings.

Earthquake
Monitor passage and implementation of mandatory
seismic retrofit ordinances for concrete buildings in
other jurisdictions to assess best practices.

Earthquake
Reduce fire risk in existing development through fire
code updates and enforcement.

Wildland-Urban
Interface Fire
Reduce fire risk in existing development through
vegetation management.

Wildland-Urban
Interface Fire
Manage and promote pedestrian evacuation routes in
Fire Zones 2 and 3.

Earthquake
Wildland-Urban
Interface Fire
Improve responder access and community evacuation
in Fire Zones 2 and 3 through roadway maintenance
and appropriate parking restrictions.

Earthquake
Wildland-Urban
Interface Fire
Research, identify, and implement infrastructure
improvements to facilitate emergency evacuation.

Wildland-Urban
Interface Fire
Tsunami
Mitigate wildfire risk to Berkeley’s overnight camps Wildland-Urban Interface Fire

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Action Hazards
Reduce fire risk through utility undergrounding. Earthquake Wil
dland-Urba
n
Interface Fire
High Winds
Work with EBMUD to ensure an adequate water supply
during emergencies and disaster recovery.

Earthquake
Wildland-Urban
Interface Fire
Reduce Berkeley’s vulnerability to extreme heat events
and associated hazards.

Extreme Heat
Poor Air Quality
Mitigate hazards associated with natural gas usage,
including disaster damage and energy service
disruption, by minimizing need for energy use and
moving toward use of electricity in lieu of natural gas.

Multi-hazard
Mitigate hazardous materials release in Berkeley
through inspection and enforcement programs.

Multi-hazard

Maintain City participation in the National Flood
Insurance Program.

Floods
Maintain City programs and projects to mitigate the
impacts of infectious diseases in Berkeley.

Infectious Disease
Collect, analyze and share information with the Berkeley community about Berkeley hazards and associated risk
reduction techniques.

Multi-hazard
Coordinate with and encourage mitigation actions of key City partners.

Multi-hazard
Coordinate regional wildfire mitigation strategies with key partners and stakeholders
Wildland-Urban
Interface Fire
Advance equitable community resilience, with a focus
on disadvantaged communities.

Multi-hazard

Action Hazards
Reduce Berkeley’s vulnerability to severe storms and
associated hazards through proactive research and
planning, zoning regulations, and improvements to
stormwater drainage facilities.

Landslide
Floods

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Action Hazards
Reduce Berkeley’s vulnerability to extreme heat events
and associated hazards.

Extreme Heat
Poor Air Quality
Implement energy assurance strategies at critical City
facilities.

Multi-hazard
Utility Interruption
Implement existing City programs, plans, and projects
designed to reduce emissions that contribute to poor air quality.

Poor Air Quality
Extreme Heat
Mitigate the impacts of sea level rise in Berkeley. Sea Level Rise Flood

Action Hazards
Mitigate climate change impacts by integrating climate
change research and adaptation planning into City
operations and services.

Multi-hazard
Collaborate with partners to increase the security of
Berkeley’s water supply from climate change impacts.

Multi-hazard
Mitigate Berkeley’s tsunami hazard. Tsunami
Give priority to project applications that would rebuild to current standards following disasters.

Multi-hazard
C.5 Action Prioritization
The City ’s Core Planning Team incorporated eight key factors into the prioritization strategy used for 2024 mitigation actions. These criteria are described below and summarized in the table that follows.

Key Factors
Support of goals and objectives
Actions that support multiple goals and objectives are prioritized.

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Cost/benefit relationship
A detailed benefit cost analysis is required for FEMA grant eligibility. A less formal approach is taken here to weigh the relative costs and benefits of various actions.

Because some projects may not be implemented for up to 10 years, the associated costs and benefits may change significantly over time. The following parameters were used to establish high, medium and low costs and benefits.

Costs
• High: Existing funding will not cover the cost of the project; implementation would require new revenue through an alternative source (for example, bonds, grants, and fee increases).
• Medium: The project could be implemented with existing funding but would require a reapportionment of the budget or a budget amendment, or the cost of the project would have to be spread over multiple years.
• Low: The project could be funded under the existing budget. The project is part of or can be part of an ongoing existing program.

Benefits
• High: Project will provide an immediate reduction of risk exposure for life of property.
• Medium: Project will have a long-term impact on the reduction of risk exposure for life of property, or project will provide an immediate reduction in the risk exposure for property.
• Low: Long-term benefits of the project are difficult to quantify in the short term. • Using this approach, projects with positive benefit versus cost ratios (such as high over high, high over medium, medium over low, etc.) are considered cost - beneficial and are prioritized accordingly.

Funding availability
Actions with secured funding are prioritized.

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Hazards addressed
Actions addressing the Plan’s hazards of greatest concern (earthquake and wildland- urban interface fire) are prioritized.

Public and political support
Actions with public and political support are prioritized.

Adverse environmental impact
Actions with low environmental impact are prioritized.

Environmental benefit
Actions that provide an environmental benefit are prioritized.

Benefit for marginalized communities
Actions that serve marginalized populations are prioritized.

Timeline for completion
Actions that are ongoing, or that can be completed in the short-term, are prioritized. • Ongoing: Currently being funded and implemented under existing programs • Short-term: To be completed in 1-5 years
• Long-term: To be completed in more than 5 years
The following table summarizes prioritization criteria. Using these factors, mitigation actions have been divided into high, medium, and low priorities. Some actions may not meet all criteria within their prioritization category. In these cases, the City’s Core

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Planning Team assigned the most suitable category.

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Factors
Priority
High Medium Low
Support of goals and
objectives
Supports multiple
goals and
objectives
Supports goals
and objectives
Will mitigate the
risk of a hazard
Cost/benefit
relationship1
Benefits exceed
cost
Has benefits that
exceed costs
Benefits do not
exceed the costs
or are difficult to
quantify
Funding availability2 Funding has not
been secured, but
the action is grant
eligible under
identified grant
programs
Funding has not
been secured, but
the action is grant
eligible under
identified grant
programs
Funding has not
been secured,
and a grant
funding source
has not been
identified
Hazards addressed Addresses hazards
of greatest concern
May not address
hazards of
greatest concern
Addresses
hazards identified
in Hazard
Analysis
Public and political
support
Has public and
political support
Has public and
political support
May not have
public and
political support
Adverse
environmental impact
No environmental
impact
Low
environmental
impact

May not have a
low
environmental
impact
Environmental
benefit
Environmental
benefit
No environmental
benefit
No environmental
benefit
Benefit for
marginalized
communities
Benefit Maybe some
benefit
No benefit
Timeline for
completion
Can be completed
in the short term (1
to 5 years) or is
ongoing
Can be
completed in the
short-term, once
funding is
secured
Timeline for
completion is
long-term (6-10
years)

1 Actions that address other hazards, but for which benefits exceed costs, may also be considered high priority.
2 Medium priority projects will become high priority projects once funding is secured.

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C.5 Household Mitigation Actions
The Local Hazard Mitigation Plan is designed to address and recognize how the whole community can and does work together to mitigate Berkeley’s natural hazards. The following steps are ways that individual community members and households reduce their own risks and contribute to Berkeley’s collective mitigation efforts:

Earthquakes
Secure your home
• Store heavy and breakable objects on low shelves
• Bolt bookshelves and heavy furniture to the wall
• Move or secure hanging objects over beds, sofas, and chairs • Use quake gel or putty to secure breakable objects in place For homeowners
• Assess your home by hiring a structural engineer
• Retrofit your home if needed
• Understand available retrofit grants, including the City’s Brace and Bolt program • Consider earthquake insurance
For renters
• Talk to your landlord:
• When was the house built?

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• What materials were used?
• Is the building retrofitted?
• Does it require retrofitting?
• Consider earthquake insurance
Prepare to be safe at home
• Store water (enough for 1 gallon per person per day for 3 days) Practice what to do during an earthquake
• Drop, cover, and hold on
• Do not stand in a doorway, run, or get into the “triangle of life”. The 'Triangle of Life' is a misguided idea about the best location a person should try to occ upy during an earthquake. Based on observations of past earthquakes, this idea doesn't apply to buildings constructed within the United States. Please do not consider this as a safe hiding spot.
• Learn how to turn off gas, electricity, and water at your house. If you rent, check in with your landlord.
• If after an earthquake you small gas, contact PG&E and tell them to shut it off or call 9-1-1
Wildland-Urban Interface Fire
Berkeley hills residents (Fire Zone 2 & 3):
• Review home’s Defensible Space Report and follow the instructions on defensible space and home hardening.
• Create Defensible Space: Understand that all of Berkeley is at risk of wildland- urban interface fire. Further, 95% of property in Berkeley is privately owned, meaning that owners have to act to make their properties defensible. • Defensible space is the area around a home where vegetation has been specifically maintained, and flammable items have been specifically positioned, in

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order to reduce the spread of wildfire.
• Keep Zone 0, or the first five feet from your home, clear of combustible materials.

Use hardscape like gravel or concrete, remove dead or dying plants, remove branches from chimneys, limit combustible items like pat io furniture, relocate firewood, replace any combustible fencing, and consider relocating garbage containers outside this zone.
• In Zone 1, or five to 30 feet around your home, remove all dead plants and dry leaves, and trim trees regularly. Create a separation between items like shrubs and items that catch fire like patio furniture and swing sets. • In Zone 2, or 30 to 100 feet from your home, reduce potential fuel within 100 feet of the property line. This includes cutting annual grass, creating space between shrubs and trees, removing fallen leaves, and keeping clearance around exposed wood piles.
• Harden your home to decrease the likelihood of fire igniting the structure. The highest priority items are:
o Install a fire resistive roof
o Clear and maintain decks and covered porches
o Regularly clear tree debris
o Remove large rugs and combustible wood, wicker, or plastic furniture o Ensure any small items like cushions are small enough to be moved inside on Red Flag or Extreme Weather days
o Remove anything stored under the deck or stairs
o Include a five-foot noncombustible buffer around deck and stairs o Install non-combustible gutter guards to keep tree debris out o Ensure the vents to your attic, basement, and crawlspace will block wind- blown embers from entering your home. You can install ember -resistant vents or cover Be ready to receive emergency information.

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For all Berkeley residents:
o Use the free Berkeley Chipper Day Program for curbside pickup, chipping, and disposal of vegetation material from your residential property. o Sign up for AC Alert
o Bookmark and get familiar with Berkeley’s Emergency Map o Get familiar with the test and emergency tones from Berkeley’s Outdoor Warning System
o Make your household fire weather plan.
o Stay out of the hills during extreme fire weather days.

Extreme Heat
Prepare to be safe at home
• Gather supplies to keep yourself cool, including:
o Ice – fill up all your ice trays and freeze them and any ice packs overnight o Spray bottle – to spray mist on yourself to keep cool o Personal fan – fan to point at yourself
o Towel – to wet and put on your body
• Plan to keep your home cool on hot days without air conditioning, using:
o A larger fan – to move hot air out of your home
o An indoor/outdoor thermometer – set this up to know when to let c ooler outside air into your home
o Be ready to block sunlight and heat, using blackout curtains, reflective film, solar blankets or cardboard. Blocking your windows with a light -colored sheet facing out, followed by a dark -colored sheet facing in, can help t o reflect light away and keep your home cooler.

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• Prepare for potential power outages (see utility disruption section) Make a plan for where to go (and how to get there) if your home gets too hot. • Consider locations you could visit that have air conditioning, like malls, stores, or community cooling centers.
• Make a transportation plan – consider using friends and family, public transit, carpooling, or using a taxi or rideshare service.
• If you use a wheelchair or other mobility device, you may also consider:
• Pre-scheduling a paratransit trip to a cool location before the hottest hours of the day
• Using Easy Does It for a Rescue Ride or Routine Transportation (BRSD members only)
Buddy up with your friends, family, and neighbors:
• Make a plan to check on friends, family and neighbors at least twice a day during a heat wave. Check to see if people are developing signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Remember that people who live alone are at the greatest risk in a heat wave because no one will notice if they develop heat stroke. • Think about how to work together to get to a location with air conditioning or a community cooling center if someone’s home gets too hot.

Monitor the heat
• The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) Heat Safety Tool helps you understand how hot it is where you are located.

During a heat wave
• Get Plenty to Drink: Sweating removes needed salt and minerals from the body.

When it is hot, drink more water, juice and sports drinks. Avoid drinks with caffeine (tea, coffee, and cola) and alcohol. Be sure to eat regularly. • Stay safe in your home:
o Wear as little clothing as possible when you are at home. Choose

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lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.
o Spray yourself with water or make your skin wet with towels, then stand in front of a fan. When the water evaporates it will pull heat away from your body.
o Keep windows open at night to capture the cool air. Closing windows to trap the cool air in the morning can be helpful before the heat of the day comes.

If you have an indoor/outdoor thermometer, monitor tem peratures inside and outside your home. When it is cooler outside, open windows and doors to let in cool air. When temperatures are equal, close windows and doors to keep cool air in as the outdoors heats up.
• If you must go outside:
o Choose lightweight, light -colored, loose- fitting clothing. In the hot sun, a wide-brimmed hat will keep the head cool. If you will be in direct sun, use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher and follow package directions. Reapply every 2 hours while in the sun. o Schedule Outdoor Activities Carefully: Try to be less active during the hottest part of the day, late afternoon. If you must be out in the heat, plan your activities so that you are outdoors either before noon or in the evening.

While outdoors, rest often in a shady area.
• Never leave children or pets in a parked car.
• Pace Yourself: If you are not used to working or exercising in hot weather, start slowly and pick up the pace gradually. Take frequent, regularly scheduled breaks.

If activity in th e heat makes your heart pound or leaves you gasping for breath, stop activity, get into a cool or shady area, and rest. Especially if you become lightheaded, confused, weak or feel faint.

Poor Air Quality
Get air quality information
• Be familiar with the Air Quality Index
• Bookmark websites with key air quality information:
• Forecasts: AirNow.gov

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• Real-time readings: US EPA/US Forest Service Fire and Smoke Map Prepare your home for poor air quality
• Keep outside pollution outside by replacing or sealing leaky windows and doors.

This will also make your home more energy efficient and comfortable. • People on limited incomes should check out California Weatherization Assistance Program services offered by Spectrum Community Services. • Purchase equipment to clean the air inside your home, with filters for your HVAC system or portable air cleaners.
• HVAC system filters: If properly configured and maintained, air cleaners and specialized filters designed for use in HVAC systems may have the greatest potential to improve your entire home’s air quality because most HVACs circulate very large volumes of filtered air throughout the home. • Install a high- efficiency filter (MERV 13 rating or higher) with a MERV rating as high as your system can handle, based on manufacturer recommendations. • Portable air cleaners: These units are usually best for single room use, rather than multiple room or whole- house use, because of their limited capacity to circulate large volumes of filtered air.
• Purchase one or more California Certified Air Cleaners for room(s) in your home.

Make sure your cleaner is on this certified list so you can be sure it will not emit harmful ozone when you use it.
• Use the “Clean Air Delivery Rate” (CADR) to calculate the correct size portable air cleaner for the room.
• If an air cleaner is out of your price range, you can construct one with a box fan for a cost of $45-$75.

Key Actions during poor air quality events (see the California Air Resources Board’s Smoke Ready California sit e for details)

• Stay inside: The best way to prevent breathing harmful particles is to stay indoors with windows and doors closed.

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• If you have a central-ducted heating/air conditioning and heating system, be sure to set the system to “on” to ensure air is being filtered constantly, rather than “auto,” which runs the system intermittently.
• If your system brings fresh air into the home, close the fresh- air intake so that it operates in in recirculation mode to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside. • Filter the air: Use a CARB -certified portable air cleaner and run continuously on the highest setting. This can greatly reduce indoor particle levels to further reduce impacts from smoke.
• Gather people in a room with the air purifier. A portable air cleaner will clean the air around it, but cannot is not designed to clean the air in your whole home. • Do not run whole house fans or swamp coolers.
• Avoid activities that increase indoor pollution, such as burning candles, using gas stoves and vacuuming.
• Use a damp cloth or mop to trap settled dust and particles. • Stay cool. Run fans, or run air conditioning on “recirculate” setting with a new filter.

NOTE: If poor air quality happens at the same time as extreme heat, do whatever you need to stay cool, even if it means opening windows and doors. Heat will kill more quickly than air pollution.
• If you must go outdoors for long periods of times in areas of heavy smoke, you may want to wear a NIOSH -certified N95 respirator mask. Those with existing respiratory, lung or heart conditions should limit their exposure by staying indoors.

Since wearing a respirator can make it harder to breathe, those with lung or heart conditions should check with their doctor before using one. • If you purchase N95 masks, make sure they are NIOSH-approved. Choose a size and model that fits your face and has no gaps. Test it by doing a seal check. • Keep a very close eye on children, who are less likely to notice or report symptoms than adults, even when they are affected.
• Look out for signs that you or those around you need cleaner air . Symptoms can include:
o Coughing

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o Throat irritation
o Pain, burning, or discomfort in the chest when taking a deep breath o Chest tightness, wheezing, or shortness of breath
High Wind
Keep trees properly maintained.
• City trees:

City trees grow between the sidewalk and the street, in a street median, in a public park, or on any other property owned by the City of Berkeley. View a map of Berkeley City trees.
• To submit a request for pruning or removal of a City tree, call 311 or email [email protected].

Privately owned trees
• All other trees are privately owned, and maintenance is the responsibility of the owner. Similarly, if a private tree or limb falls, cleanup and damages are also the responsibility of the homeowner.
• Get a professional arborist assessment to identify any signs of decay, dead branches, or other structural issues that could lead to problems in the future.

Before a wind event
• Bring any loose outdoor items such as holiday decorations and chairs inside, or securely tie them up. Beside the risk of these items being blown away or damaged, airborne debris can be dangerous.
• Be ready for power outages. In winter months, consider raising the temperature on your thermostat, in case you lose power for a few hours or longer.

During high winds
• If you must be outdoors, keep your distance from trees.

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• Avoid driving during the strongest winds, especially in high- profile vehicles. Your vehicle could be blown off the road. Trees could fall in the road ahead of you, which could be hard to see at night until it's right in front of you, or they could fall on your vehicle.

Landslide
Protect your home
• Have flexible pipe fittings installed to avoid gas or water leaks, as flexible fittings are more resistant to breakage. (Note, only PG&E or other professionals should install gas fittings).
• Plant ground cover on slopes and build retaining walls. • In mudflow areas, build channels or deflection walls to direct the flow around buildings. Remember: If you build walls to divert debris flow and the flow lands on a neighbor's property, you may be liable for damages.
• If you live in an area susceptible to landslide (See Maps 23 and 24), familiarize yourself with Landslide Warning Signs and preparedness/response actions. • Remember that landslide damage on private property is the homeowner’s responsibility. Homeowner’s insurance does not typically cover landslide damage.

A Difference in Coverage Insurance Policy can help cover this gap, if you live in an area susceptible to landslide.

Tsunami
For all Berkeley residents
• Understand Berkeley’s tsunami inundation area (Map 25in t he Risk Assessmen) to identify whether you might find yourself in the tsunami inundation zone • If your home or business is in the tsunami inundation zone, consider purchasing flood insurance.
• Be ready to act on tsunami alerts
• Sign up for AC Alert

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• Bookmark and get familiar with Berkeley’s Emergency Map • Get familiar with the test and emergency tones from Berkeley’s Outdoor Warning System
If you live in the tsunami inundation zone, make your household evacuation plan for tsunami, including:
o Where will you go – east, out of the tsunami zone
o What will you pack
o How will you get there, using which routes
o Who can help if you need it
• Know nature’s warning signs of a near-source tsunami:
o Earthquake with strong ground shaking for 20 seconds or more (making it difficult to stand or walk)
o Loud ocean roar
o Quickly receding water
o If you are near the water and see these signs, move inland and to higher ground immediately. If there is time (a distant source tsunami) of ficials will send out alerts and instructions.
• If a tsunami alert is issued
o Monitor your phone, the Outdoor Warning System, Berkeley’s Emergency Map, and TV and radio for updates
o Follow evacuation orders – as scientists get more information about what created the tsunami, the area that needs to evacuate will become more clearly defined
o Do not go towards the tsunami – it makes things harder for first responders and for your fellow residents.

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Maritime Community
• The City of Berkeley will evacuate docks and shut them down within 1 hour of a tsunami’s estimated arrival.
• Make a plan for your boat
• Should you take your boat OFFSHORE?
• Generally, it is safer to keep your boat docked during a tsunami because most tsunamis are relatively small. On the rare occasion when a larger tsunami is expected (Warning level), you may consider taking your boat offshore. Berkeley’s Harbormaster may provide the best advice, considering
• The SIZE of the tsunami,
• How much TIME until it arrives onshore, and
• The PREPAREDNESS of the boat and its captain.
• You may consider hauling your boat out of the water when possible for smaller events. Expect congested boat ramps and remember that you have to get your boat out of the water and to the trailer, and out of the tsunami zone be fore the tsunami arrives (or before officials close the docks).
• Understand whether or not your boat insurance will cover damage caused by a tsunami. Tsunami coverage is entirely dependent on your policy and how much comprehensive coverage you have purchased.
• Make sure your boat is secured and ready. Keep in mind that the City will shut down the dock 1 hour before the tsunami’s anticipated arrival time. • Secure your boat to the dock and tie down any loose gear. • Check your dock line condition and replace any worn dock lines. • Do not install fendering to the dock.
• Remove as much loose boating gear onboard as possible, especially electronics and important documents. Any gear that will remain on your boat should be secured.

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• Turn off and disconnect shore power cords, water supply hoses and propane or other gas valves.
• Secure and lock all hatches and port holes. Check for leaks, and seal them as necessary.
• Prepare a go-bag or backpack that you can grab and bring with you if you need to evacuate quickly for a near-source tsunami. Include:
o Flashlight/headlamp
o Area map, marked with driving/walking evacuation routes o Printed list of phone numbers and email addresses for important contacts o Battery-powered radio and extra batteries
o Prescriptions or critical medications
o Extra eyeglasses or contact lenses
o Extra set of keys
o Cell phone charger
o Copies of important documents
o Toiletries and change of clothing
o Hand sanitizer
o As you leave, grab your wallet and cell phone
o Make a list of the other items you will want to bring if you have more time to prepare to evacuate. Consider:
o Items to be safe and comfortable while you are away
o Medications, prescriptions, and medical devices
o Computers, electronics and chargers

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o Irreplaceable items (family treasures, art, photo albums) o Other valuables
Floods
For all Berkeley residents, protect your home and neighborhood • Flooding often occurs due to storm drain blockage. Protect your neighborhood and keep water flowing by participating in the adopt a drain program. • Direct water away from your building.
• Routinely clean and maintain gutters, downspouts, and splash blocks so that rainwater from your roof flows easily away from your home. • During an average rainstorm, watch how water flows or accumulates around your home to identify potential trouble spots. If stormwater does not drain away from the building, change your landscaping to improve runoff. This may include building up any sunken areas around the foundation, digging small depressions to properly channel water, and otherwise improving the yard so that it slopes away from your home.
• If you have a sump pump, make sure it has a battery -operated backup in case of power failure during a rainstorm.

Residents near Berkeley creeks, or who have experienced flooding in the past • Implement low-cost projects to reduce your flooding risk • Make your sandbag plan
• Learn how to sandbag and whether sandbags will be protective for your property • If you are unable to sandbag, c onnect with neighbors and friends who can assist you in sandbagging to protect your home during severe storms • Make a plan for where you’ll get sandbags in significant storms. The City usually offers sandbags, and they are also available at a low cost from hardware stores. • Consider flood insurance, since typical homeowners insurance policies do not

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cover flooding.
• During heavy rains
o Elevate important items, if possible, during heavy rains, especially from first floor/garage.
o Do not walk, swim or drive throug h flooded waters. Turn around, don’t drown.
o experienced flooding in the past
After a flood
o If your home floods, review this Field Guide for Flooded Home Cleanup.

Utility Interruption
Power Outage
• Know the location of your circuit breakers and/or fuse boxes and how to check them.
• Make sure PG&E can reach you and alert you of an outage by calling 1- 800-743- 5000 and updating your contact information.
• Make a plan to stay safe and comfortable during power outages. • First, think about your household’s emergency power needs. What will you need to stay warm? To keep food cool? To operate any medical devices? • Determine the power draw of the devices that you want to keep operating, and how long you want to operate them.
• Consider purchasing a power bank or generator to provide the power you need to stay safe in your home in short-duration outages.
• Make a plan to stay with family, friends, or at a hotel if your home is affected by a long-term power outage.
• When power outages are planned or likely (for example, severe storms or heat

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waves are forecast):
• Fully charge your phone and any chargeable devices including battery packs and even electric vehicles.
• Make sure you have flashlights and fresh batteries close at hand. • Prepare to use your alternate plans for refrigerating medicines or operating power- dependent medical devices.
• When a power outage occurs:
o Unplug all electric appliances to avoid overloading circuits or damaging devices when the power turns back on.
o Leave 1 lamp plugged in with the switch “on.” When the lamp turns back on you’ll know your home has power again. Turn your appliances back on one at a time when power is restored.
o If you encounter a downed power line, always stay away and call 9-1- 1 immediately. Do not touch anything that touching the lines or drive over them.

Water Outage
• Each person in your household will need 1- 2 gallons of water daily for drinking, washing, and cooking. Store as much water as you can. At minimum, store water for 3 days (3-6 gallons per person).
• Options for storing water include: single gallons of water, water barrels, water cubes, or canned water. When choosing the best option for your household, consider cost, ease of storage, required maintenance, and how easy it will be to access and use during an emergency.

Wastewater Outage
If you don't have water to flush with or your sewage system isn't working:
• Modify your own toilet to collect waste without flushing. Turn the water valve to off.

Fl
ush out any water still in the bowl (the toilet shouldn't refill). Put some kitty litter, peat moss, lime, or something similar that will absorb liquid and help reduce odors into the inner bag. Go to the bathroom in the inner bag. You may be able to use the same bag more than once before replacing. Once the inner bag is full or you

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feel it needs to be replaced, tie it up. Insert a new inner bag and add absorbent/odor reducer for the next use.
• Use a 5-gallon bucket. You can add a toilet seat and set it up as described above. • If sewage from plumbing fixtures backs up into your home, avoid contact with the sewage as it may contain harmful pathogens.

Telecommunications Outage
• Establish a backup communication with your family. Choose a meeting place and time in case you can’t call each other.
• Keep a battery -powered AM/FM radio handy to receive emergency alerts if internet, phone, and television aren’t working.
• Print important documents or save them to a thumb drive in case of internet outage. • During emergencies or large events, high demand for cellular networks can make it hard to place a call. A text message may go through when voice calls cannot, because text messages require less bandwidth from the cellular network. • If you lose cellular service completely to your phone but the internet is still working, you can switch your phone’s settings to turn on “Wi-Fi” calling to make calls through the internet.

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D. Plan Maintenance
D.1 Ongoing Public Participation
in the Plan Maintenance Process
The City’s Disaster and Fire Safety Commission will serve as the advisory body for implementation of this Plan. This group was created by ordinance to advise the City Council on disaster -related issues. All meetings of this Commission are held in public.

Staff will present progress on implementation of mitigation strategy actions as part of program management.

The City will maintain the Berk
eleyCA.gov/Mitigation website and the
[email protected] email address. Community members will be able to submit feedback during the implementation of this plan through this website and email address.

Community members are able to write and mail or hand- deliver feedback to the City Manager’s Office at any time. The City will also use the website to report implementation progress to the community.

As part of the 2024 update to the LHMP, the City created new outreach materials dedicated to teaching the public about mitigation and incorporating their efforts into the m
itigation strategy. These materials include videos, guides, and posters that help the community review the LHMP’s Risk Assessment data, information, and mitigation actions.

These materials also recognize the crucial role community members play in col lective hazard mitigation and encourage actions that individuals and households can take to

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reduce their risks. The City plans to continue to use these materials to educate the public and receive feedback on the Mitigation Actions. The ultimate goal is to determine how to measure and report the individual and household mitigation actions taken throughout Berkeley that reduce our risks.

The City will offer presentations of these materials as well as post them regular on social media and in public spaces. Examples of these materials are included in Element G:

Community Education.

D.2 Plan Monitoring, Evaluating,
and Updating
The City of Berkeley will monitor, evaluate, and update the 2024 LHMP’s Risk Assessment and Mitigation Strategy throughout the five- year plan cycle. The City will incorporate these efforts into a comprehensive plan evaluation and update for the 2029 LHMP.

Risk Assessment
The City’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) monitors newly-emerging information that will inform updates to the Risk Assessment of the LHMP, including:
• Type, location, and extent of all the natural hazards covered in the 2024 LHMP as well as newly-emerging hazards,
• Occurrences of hazards (inside and outside Berkeley) and estimated probabilities

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of future hazard events, and
• Hazard impacts and community vulnerabilities
Hazard impacts and community vulnerabilities.

OES staff will continue to monitor relevant hazard occurrences and new scientific discoveries that may impact the 2024 LHMP’s Risk Assessment . OES will provide this information to City staff, partners, and the public through the website, social media, and through outreach programs.

Actions in 2024 LHMP’s Mitigation Strategy
Each action in the Mitigation Strategy identifies a Department or Division Lead. As part of their day-to-day work, Departments or Divisions will monitor, evaluate, and report on the progress of their assigned LHMP actions at necessary meetings with other staff, community partners, the Disaster Council, relevant City commissions, and the Berkeley City Council.

Annually, the Office of Emergency Services will coordinate a monitoring, evaluation, and reporting effort for the entire LHMP. As part of this effort, OES will collect an updated progress report from each identified Lead for each action. The progress report will:
• Provide qualitative and quantitative evaluation of City progress on activities, • Identify any necessary changes to the action in order to more effectively achieve stated purpose and goals, and
• Identify new Plan actions to be incorporated into the Strategy In this way the actions in the plan will be monitored, evaluated, and updated each year

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during the five-year cycle. The Office of Emergency Services will maintain this information in order to facilitate the next update of all elements of the LHMP.

Comprehensive Plan Evaluation and Update
A comprehensive plan evaluation update will occur if a disaster occurs, or no later than the 4-year mark of the 2024 plan (late 2028). In either case, OES will reconvene the Core Planning Team to perform a thorough evaluation of the plan, including the ongoing efforts to update the Risk Assessment and mitigation action information.

The evaluation will include examination of:
• Significant development s in or affecting Berkeley, in order to update the Risk Assessment and Mitigation Strategy,
• Current data, scientific discoveries, and recent hazard events since plan adoption, in order to update hazard profiles and vulnerability assessments in the Risk Assessment,
• New policy, priority, and planning changes affecting Berkeley, in order to update the Mitigation Strategy, and
• Progress on actions in the 2024 Plan’s mitigation strategy, in order to update plan goals, objectives, and mitigation actions for 2029.

The Core P lanning Team, coordinated by the Office of Emergency Services, will use these assessments to create the updated Internal First Draft 202 9 LHMP. The Core Planning Team will first share this internal document with City staf f, hazard experts, and community partners for review and feedback. Following their review and relevant changes, the Core Planning Team will provide the First Draft 2029 LHMP to the Berkeley community for review. Public feedback, including that of Berkeley Commissions and individual community members, will inform development of the Final Draft 202 9 LHMP,

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which will be provided for review to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, and then to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Following approval pending adoption from FEMA, the 2029 LHMP will go to the City’s Planning Commission and the Disaster and Fire Safety Commission for recommendations to the City Council for adoption. The Berkeley City Council is the governing body that adopts the updates to the City of Berkeley Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.

The table on the following page summarizes the City’s approach to monitoring, evaluating, and updating the 2024 LHMP.

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Risk Assessment Monitoring 2024
Mitigation Strategy
Comprehensive Plan
Evaluation and Update
WHO Office of Emergency
Services
Department or Division
Leads, with Office of
Emergency Services as
Coordinator
Core Planning Team,
with Office of
Emergency Services as
Lead
WHEN Ongoing Ongoi ng/annually

After a disaster event, or
Comprehensive
Evaluation and Update
process starts 2 years
prior to plan expiration
HOW Monitors hazard
information
Reports information to
stakeholders and public
through City website and
outreach programs
Leads will monitor,
evaluate and report on the
progress of their assigned
LHMP actions through day-
to-day work
OES collects progress
reports annually
Review/revise Plan
accounting for:
• Development
affecting Berkeley
• Hazard/vulnerability
data and recent hazard
events
• Policy, priority, and
planning changes
• Progress on actions in
2024 Mitigation
Strategy

D.3 Mitigation Plan Integration
The City of Berkeley develops its updated Local Hazard Mitigation Plan every five years.

The planning process brings together staff from every department to develop the risk assessment, mitigation strategy, and report on progress since the last update. After this process, staff continue to work closely together on maintaining the LHMP as well as on new projects. Core Planning Team members bring their knowledge and experience with the LHMP to the ir respective departments and ensure its integrated into their other ongoing work. For example, the 2019 LHMP was incorporated into the 2023 City’s

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Housing Element.

The Risk Assessment is crucial to the City’s understanding of its hazards, vulnerabilities, and potential losses. It is used to educate City staff, partners, community members, and elected officials about the hazards that can occur in Berkley and what is at risk. The Office of Emergency Services works to maintain the Risk Assessment and ensure that the latest data, science, and information is used and integrated in educational materials and planning processes. For example, the 2019 LHMP Risk Assessment informed the City’s Community Wildfire Preparedness Plan (CWPP) as well as Extreme Heat Workshops for the City’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP).

The actions outlined in the Mitigation Strategy are developed and prioritized in collaboration with every Department that is involved in the work. To ensure that the list of actions remains manageable, only actions that have a confirmed clear and viable funding source are included. As a result, the LHMP is closely aligned with the City Budget and Capital Improvement Plan. Each year, the City assesses pote ntial capital improvement projects and available funding as it implements its Five- Year Capital Improvement Plan.

Capital improvement actions in the Plan are assessed as part of this annual process.

List of Planning Mechanisms
As with prior LHMP updates, this Plan will be well -integrated into the City’s existing and future plans. This list of planning mechanisms where the Plan will be integrated are listed below.

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Budget Process
Because the 2024 LHMP will be adopted by the City Council into the General Plan, the data and information from the Risk Analysis as well as the hazard mitigation goals and actions in the Mitigation Strategy will help guide the City’s budget process. The budget process assigns resources to address the goals, objectives, and community priorities set by the City Council. The budget process is the final step of assigning resources to implement mitigation actions. The Budget process is described in detail in Ele ment C:

Mitigation Strategy.

Community Outreach
Community outreach is a key component of any planning mechanism. The City’s Office of Emergency Services has been trying to augment its outreach capacity, in addition to improving the outreach associated wit h the LHMP. The 2024 LHMP planning process inspired a whole suite of new outreach materials designed to educate community members about hazard risks and the mitigation strategy, including actions they can take to reduce risk. These materials are designed to be relevant and adjustable so that they can be used after the 2024 LHMP is adopted.

LHMP as an Appendix to the General Plan
Upon its adoption by the Berkeley City Council, the 2024 LHMP will be incorporated as an appendix to the Disaster Preparedness and Safety Element of the City’s General Plan.

The Berkeley General Plan is a comprehensive, and long-range statement of community priorities and values developed to guide public decision- making in future years. The Plan’s goals, objectives, and policies serve as a guide for day-to-day decisions that are

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Final Draft 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
essential for responsive government. Decisions made by Berkeley City Council and its advisory boards, and commissions about the physical development of the City should be consistent with the goals, objectives, and policies of the General Plan. The City Council and Planning Commission will use the General Plan when evaluating land use changes and making funding and budget decisions. It will be used by the Zoning Adjustments Board and City staff to help regulate development proposals and make decisions on projects. The policies of the Plan apply to all property, both public and private, within the Berkeley city limits.

Upcoming General Plan Updates and Additions
From 2024-2026 the City will be updating the General Plan’s Safety Element, and creating a new Environmental Justice Element. The data and information in the 2024 LHMP’s Risk Assessment, as well as the actions in the Mitigation Strategy, will directly inform the updated goals for both of these critical new documents. Many of the 2024 LHMP’s Core Planning Team members will continue their collaborative mitigation work by participating in the process to develop the Safety Element updates and new Environmental Justice Element.

Berkeley Climate Equity Collaborative
The City is also working with the Berkeley Climate Equity Collaborative (Collaborative), a group of local community-based organizations representing disadvantaged communities, as community partners in developing the Environmental Justice Element and update to the Safety Element. The LHMP will be used as a resource to inform the Collaborative members of the hazards facing Berkeley, and will ultimately support the Collaborative’s

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efforts in these General Plan updates.

City of Berkeley Strategic Plan
On January 16, 2018, the City Council adopted the City of Berkeley 2018-2019 Strategic Plan. The City’s Office of Emergency Services will be responsible for working with Department leaders to further incorporate actions from this Mitigation Strategy into future Strategic Plan updates. City staff indicated under “Lead Organizations and Staff Leads” will be responsible for further developing the project plans, schedules and budgets outlined for actions in the Mitigation Strategy. Implementation of many of these actions will be dependent on outside funding sources.

Capital Improvement Plan
Each year, the City assesses potential capital improvement projects and available funding as it implements its Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan. Capital improvement actions in this Plan will be assessed as part of this annual process. Many actions presented in the 2024 LHMP Mitigation Strategy are already a part of the City’s Five- Year Capital Improvement Plan. Implementation of many of these actions will be dependent on outside funding sources.

Resilience Strategy
In 2014 the City of Berkeley was selected to participate in the 100 Resilient Cities (100RC) Initiative, p ioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation. The City conducted extensive research that included community outreach and engagement as well as review of existing plans, including the 2014 LHMP , as it developed its Resilience Strategy, which was

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Final Draft 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
released in April 2016. Building on existing efforts and with guidance from the Mayor, the City Council, and the community, the Berkeley Resilience Strategy identifies six long-term goals and recommends specific short -term actions to help address some of Berkeley’s most pressing challen ges. One of the goals is to adapt to the changing climate, which integrates information from the LHMP.

The Resilience Strategy is being implemented through projects, programs and plans across the City, and the LHMP will continue to be a key planning document that influences these processes. The City continues to have a Chief Resilience Officer (CRO) and participates in organizations such as the Resilient Cities Network and the Bay Area Climate Adaptation Network (BayCAN). As an example of a current resilience project, the City is working to implement solar photovoltaic arrays and backup batteries at critical municipal facilities to provide clean, reliable energy assurance in the face of a disaster and/or power outage.

Waterfront Specific Plan
The Waterfront Specific Plan is a four -year planning project (formerly “Berkeley Marina Specific Area Plan”) that will provide a path for achieving a financially self -sustainable, publicly owned marina that preserves and enhances infrastructure to support current and future community needs, while adapting to climate change and promoting environmental stewardship. Key to this goal is consideration of the waterfront-specific hazards, including sea level rise and flooding. The 2024 LHMP’s data, information, and mitigation strategies are being developed hand- in-hand with the Waterfront Specific Plan (WSP) , which will designate areas for commercial redevelopment and recreation opportunities and provide

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design guidelines for future projects.

Climate Action Plan
The 2019 and 2024 updates to the LHMP support concepts outlined in the Berkeley Climate Action Plan, which wa s developed through a community -wide process and was adopted by City Council on June 2, 2009. The Climate Action Plan outlines a vision, goals and policies to reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 33 percent below 2000 levels. Further, in 2018, then-Governor Brown committed California to carbon neutrality by 2045, the Berkeley City Council resolved to become a “Fossil Fuel -Free City,” and the Council declared a Climate Emergency, all steps to signal the urgency of these ambitious goals and the need to act on climate threats in an equitable manner.

Because climate change impacts can cause or exacerbate many of Berkeley’s hazards of concern, in 2014 the LHMP was updated to include climate change as a hazard of concern. Historically, the City of Berkeley has used the Climate Action Plan to present activities to mitigate climate change itself by addressing ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the LHMP to present climate adaptation actions, which would better prepare the community to adapt to the changes in climate we are already seeing. In this way both plans reflect and support one another. The City continues to implement the initiatives set forth in the Climate Action Plan through other plans such as the Electric Mobility Roadmap (adopted in 2020) and Existing Buildings Electrification Strategy (adopted in 2021), and this and future updates to the LHMP will continue to inform these implementation plans and include actionable climate adaptation strategies. For example, the City is implementing the Pilot Climate Equity Fund and Just Transition Pilot Programs,

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both of which address transitioning away from gas in buildings, which can be hazardous as described in the LHMP’s Risk Assessment.

In the 2024 LHMP, climate change has been more thoroughly integrated into each hazard of concern rather than as a standalone hazard. As a result, there are more actions in this plan that relate to reducing emissions and mitigating climate change as a way of reducing the impacts of various natural hazards.

Final Draft 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan E-1

E. Plan Update
E.1 Changes in Development
The people and structures in Berkeley are continually changing. Since 2000, the City’s population has grown steadily, increasing approximately nine percent each decade. The Department of Finance estimates that the City’s population was 122,580 in 2020.

Berkeley’s population is anticipated to continue to grow steadily between 2020 and 2040 according to the Association of Bay Area Government’s Plan Bay Area 2040 projections.

The City’s population is anticipated to reach about 136,000 by 2030 and 141,000 by 2040.

According to the Department of Finance, there were 51,523 housing units in Berkeley in 2020.

This represents a four percent increase from 2010 and a 10 percent increase since 2000. Due to the built -out nature of the city’s development pattern, the majority of new units constructed in the last ten years are part of multi -family buildings containing five or more units, and are located on in- fil
l sites, mostly along existing commercial corridors.

Overall, the number of multi-family units in the City increased by seven percent while the number of single-family units increased by less than one percent.

The University of California, Berkeley is expanding its facilities both on and off the campus. UC Berkeley’s 2021 Long Range Development Plan projects that the campus population will increase 22% in the next 15 years. To accommodate this growth, UC Berkeley is planning to add over 2 million gross square feet to the campus footprint, an additional 11,000 student housing units, and over 1,000 new parking spaces in the vicinity

Final Draft 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan E-2

of the existing campus, which is located at the eastern portion of the city.

Residents ages 15 to 24 comprise the largest age group in Berkeley, followed by people ages 25 to 34, likely due to the presence of UC Berkeley. The majority of households are renter-occupied (57%), and there is a sizeable proportion of the population residing in group quarters (about 11%) due to dormitories and other student housing associated with the University. The senior population (ages 64 to 84) represents about 12% of the residents in Berkeley, and has increased by 40% since 2010. Overall, 42 percent of Berkeley’s households are considered lower income, earning less than 80 percent of the area median income (AMI). Special needs populations in Berkeley include senior-headed households (27% of total households), extremely low -income households earning up to 30% of AMI (21%), seniors living alone (12%), persons with a disability (8%), single- parent households, including those with children (8%), and large family households over five of more persons (4%). Additionally, about 1,100 persons (1%) are experiencing homelessness in Berkeley as of February 2022.

Housing cost burden is a prevalent issue in Berkeley, impacting over half of lower income households, and one third of moderate-income households. As of 2017, about 40 percent of Berkeley households are cost burdened with 23 percent experiencing a severe cost burden. Cost burden is notably more prevalent among renter households, with over half of renter households paying more than 30 percent of their income to housing expenses.

Building new housing is one way to reduce housing cost burden in the city. As of December 2023, approximately 4,600 new housing units were in the pipeline for development, representing almost 9% of the existing housing stock in Berkeley. Due in part to the City’s inclusionary housing ordinance, approximately 13% (620 units) of those

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units are deed- restricted affordable according to federal and State statutory limits on household size and income.

City plans and policies guide decision-making to address the housing needs of Berkeley’s residents. City resources should focus on housing affordability for people at the lowest income levels, and maintain and improve existing housing that will prepare buildings for a major seismic event. The City is working to expand the supply of housing for all residents through zoning amendments to increase the production of accessory dwelling units and infill ‘middle ho using’ in high resource neighborhoods. Further, the City is focusing on housing for special needs groups through numerous programs and actions that prevent homelessness, seek solutions for those who are experiencing homelessness, and encouraging housing projects that include affordable units and those suitable for households with children and large families.

Effects on Berkeley’s Risks and Vulnerabilities
As more people join the Berkeley community, the city will have more people who are exposed to the area’s hazards. Additionally, as density and population increase, the demand for fire and emergency services also increases. For example, 911 calls will increase, with each call having an impact on the system, including the availability of resources. In 2023, the City completed a Standards of Coverage and Community Risk Assessment (SOC) to define appropriate levels of service based on a comprehensive analysis which included the impacts of increased density and vertical growth. The SOC determined that fire and emergency resources need to be enhanced to meet current and future demand.

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Since the last plan was approved, because of Berkeley’s built -out nature, new development tends not to add new geographic areas of hazard exposure. But with increased density, more people will be exposed to the area’s hazards. All of Berkeley is exposed to earthquake shaking. All of Berkeley is exposed to wildland- urban interface fire, but the areas of heightened exposure are in the eastern hills. New state laws are mandating increased density throughout the city, including in the eastern hills, which are more exposed to wildland-urban interface fire and landslides.

The 100 year and 500 years floodplains are concentrated in west Berkeley along the Bay and around the Aquatic Park. These areas haven’t changed since the last update, and development in this area of the City is characterized by industrial and heavy commercial uses. Any new development would be required to comply with the applicable regulations to ensure avoidance of and/or adequate mitigation of hazard-induced risk.

The city’s western edge is also exposed to tsunami inundation and sea level rise from climate change. The tsunami inundation has increased slightly since the last update to reflect new science and local features. New science has also emerged evaluating the impact of shallow groundwater rising in low -lying coastal areas. Ultimately, low -lying inland areas could flood from below by emergent groundwater long before coastal floodwaters overtop the shoreline. Data shows that Berkeley already faces high groundwater in multiple areas in the west, meaning that the scenarios for sea level rise impacts are likely worse than previously thought. However, the actual areas of sea- level rise exposure, as well as the impacts of sea-level rise on the area’s liquefaction and flooding hazards, are not yet clear, as it depends on carbon emissions.

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New development in part reduces Berkeley’s vulnerability to natural hazards. New construction adheres to modern design codes, including regulations for structural resistance to earthquakes, landslide mitigation efforts, fire- resistant materials, fire mitigation measures, and elevation above flood levels. Replacing or significantly renovating older structures significantly increases the Berkeley community’s protection from natural hazards.

E.2 Changes in Priorities and
Progress on Local Mitigation
Efforts
While the City’s goals and objectives have remained very similar to the 20 19 plan, the 2024 LHMP reflects thorough revisions from the 201 9 document. The 2024 Risk Assessment accounts for newly available science and research and emerging hazards.

As a result of significant hazard events since the 2019 update, Poor Air Quality, Infectious Disease, Wind, and Utility Disruption have their own sections in the Risk Assessment.

Climate change has been thoroughly integrated into each hazard, instead of having its own section, inspired by community outreach that overwhelming suggested that it shouldn’t stand alone. The 2024 mitigation actions account for progress made on mitigation actions since 2019 , changes in development in Berkeley, and our new understanding of the hazards we face. There are several new actions related to mitigating the risk of Wildland Urban Interface Fire, resulting from the creation of a new WUI Division in the Fire Department and the development of the Community Wildfire Protection Plan

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(CWPP).

There are also new actions associated with mitigating the risks associated with Sea Level Rise and Flooding near the waterfront, especially in light of new data about the risks of rising groundwater.

The Mitigation Strategy also includes new actions associated with abiding by new state laws around evacuation and the upcoming process to update the City’s General Plan, Environmental Justice and Safety Element.

For the first time, this Mitigation Strategy highlights the work that community members do to reduce risk in Berkeley. There are Actions listed for individuals and households to take to reduce their risks and contribute to collective mitigation efforts.

Status of 2019 Mitigation Actions
This Plan was last adopted on December 20, 2019. Since that date, Berkeley has made steady progress on implementing 2019 plan actions and supporting activities.

The following categories are used to describe the progress made since 2019:
• Completed: Activity has been completed as written.
• Completed with modifications: Over the course of completing this action, the City modified the activity to better meet the associated objective. • In Progress: Progress has been made since 2019, but the activity is still ongoing. • Deferred: Progress has not been made since 2019, but the activity is still relevant. • Deferred with Modifications: Progress has not been made since 2019, but the activity is still relev ant, and the City modified the activity to better meet the

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associated objective.
• Deleted: Progress has not been made since 2019, and the activity is no longer relevant.

In Progress activities are incorporated into the 2024 LHMP’s mitigation strategy.

The Progress on the 2019 Actions are detailed in the Appendix in Status of 2019 Actions Spreadsheet.

Integration of Information
As with previous updates, the 2019 LHMP was well integrated into other planning mechanisms.

LHMP as an Appendix to the General Plan
Upon its adoption by the Berkeley City Council, the 2019 LHMP was incorporated as an appendix to the Disaster Preparedness and Safety Element of the City’s General Plan.

The Plan’s goals, objectives, and policies serve as a guide for day-to-day decisions that are essential for responsive government. Decisions made by Berkeley City Council and its advisory boards, and commissions about the physical development of the City should be consistent with the goals, objectives, and policies of the General Plan. The City Council and Planning Commission use the General Plan when evaluating land use changes and making funding and budget decisions. It will be used by the Zoning Adjustments Board and City staff to help regulate development proposals and make decisions on projects.

The policies of the Plan apply to all property, both public and private, within the Berkeley city limits.

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Budget Process
Because the 2019 LHMP was by the City Council into the General Plan, the data and information from the Risk Assessment as well as the hazard mitigation goals and actions in the Mitigation Strategy influenced the City’s budget process. The budget process assigns resources to address the goals, objectives, and community priorities set by the City Council. The budget process is the final step of assigning resources to implement mitigation actions.

In 2022 and 2023, the City of Berkeley considered the implication that extreme events, like natural disasters, could have on the City government’s financial condition, particularly its reserve levels for the general fund. In this plan for the first time, some hazard sections Risk and Loss Estimates include analysis from the GFOA. The City engaged the GFOA to produce a recommendation to help it decide the appropriate reserve level for t he general fund, given the risks from extreme events. GFOA is a non- profit association of more than 23,000 state and local government finance professionals and elected officials from across North America. A key part of GFOA’s mission is to promote best practices in public finance, including reserve policies. The analysis by GFOA also shed light on the potential broader economic losses to the community from the risks posed by extreme events and created additional analysis incorporated into the 2024 LHMP.

Community Wildfire Protection Plan
The Community Wildfire Protection Plan approved in 2023 integrates information from the 2019 LHMP, expanding upon the 2019 Hazard Analysis and Mitigation Strategy. The Community Wildfire Protection Plan is a roadmap for fire hazard mitigation and

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preparedness at both the City of Berkeley and neighborhood level and offers ways to mitigate the risks posed by wildfires, including goals for improving wildfire response, community preparedness, fuel management, infrastructure, ignition reduction, home hardening, and more. Demonstrating the connection between these documents, the Community Wildfire Protection Plan provided additional data, information, and hazard mitigation goals related to wildland-urban interface fires Vision 2050
Berkeley’s Mayor Arreguin launched Vision 2050, an initiative to encourage long -term planning to meet the serious challenges to our infrastructure, including climate change, inequality, population increases, and obsolescence. The Berkeley community voiced their support for Vision 2050 with the passage of Measure R in the November 2018 election.

The Vision 2050 Task Force was formed in Spring 2018 and included over 40 Berkeley community members with technical expertise and in- depth knowledge. The task for ce was organized into four working groups: quality of life, environment, technology, and finance/ management. The LHMP was one of the key plans reviewed and incorporated into the Vision 2050 Framework, particularly on the topics of earthquakes and landslides.

Housing Element
In 2023, the City of Berkeley adopted a 2023- 2031 Housing Element, deemed in compliance with State Housing Element Law by the California Department of Housing and Community Development on February 28, 2023. This Housing Element Update , incorporated into Berkeley’s General Plan, contains goals, policies, and programs to guide the City’s decision-making around the development and rehabilitation of housing,

Final Draft 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan E-10

to meet the City’s Regional Housing Needs Determination target of 8,934 new units of housing, across income levels, in Berkeley over 8 years.

The 2019 LHMP was used as a background document in the development of the 2023- 2031 Housing Element and was referenced in regards to environmental constraints to housing production. Specifically, the comprehensive strategy from the 2019 LHMP used to mitigate Berkeley’s WUI fire hazard, including annual property inspections, more restrictive local building code amendments, and vegetation management and defensible space, was used to determine safe housing development and rehabilitation in this area within the 2023-2031 Housing Element.

Final Draft 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan F-1

F. Plan Adoption
The public review process is considered a key step in the City Council’s adoption of the 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. To that end, City staff has engaged with City Commissions and the City Council and throughout the process to develop this plan. Two City Commissions play a key role in plan review and adoption:

Disaster and Fire Safety Commission
The Disaster and Fire Safety Commission (DFSC) is made up of nine members appointed by the City Council, per the guidance of a local ordinance. This Commission meets in public monthly, and advises the City Council on all matters affecting fire safety and/or disaster resilience within Berkeley. For this reason, following FEMA’s issuance of Approval Pending Adoption for the Final Draft 2024 LHMP, staff will request the Commission’s recommendation to Council on the Final Draft 2024 LHMP.

Planning Commission
The Planning Commission oversees and reviews the planning process and planning issues. Revisions to the General Plan come before the Planning Commission, which meets twice each month in public. Because the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan is an appendix to the City of Berkeley’s General Plan, following FEMA’s issuance of Approval Pending Adoption for the Final Draft 2024 LHMP, staff will request the Commission’s recommendation to Council on the Final Draft 2024 LHMP.

Final Draft 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan F-2

Additional Commissions
Concerned citizens staff nearly forty Berkeley commissions, boards and committees addressing a wide range of issues important to the community. All of these commissions meet in public.

Because of the wide scope of issues covered in the mitigation plan, the City invited all Commissions to review the First Draft Plan during the public comment period from May 24 to August 8, 2024.

Following the public feedback deadline, City staff reviewed feedback from Commissions and community members, and incorporated appropriate changes into the Final Draft Plan.

Following FEMA’s issuance of approval pending adoption, City staff will bring the Final Draft 2024 LHMP to the City’s Disaster and Fire Safety Commission and Planning Commission for their recommendations to City Council to adopt the Final Draft Plan.

Following those meetings, staff will bring the Final Draft 2024 LHMP to the Berkeley City Council for adoption.

List of LHMP Commission and Council Meetings
• September 27, 2023: Disaster and Fire Safety Commission to introduce First Draft Plan
• October 4, 2023: Planning Commission to introduce First Draft Plan • June 5, 2024: Planning Commission to review First Draft Plan • June 26, 2024: Disaster and Fire Safety Commission to review First Draft Plan

Final Draft 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan F-3

• July 15, 2024: Public Safety Committee (City Council) to review First Draft Plan • November 2024: Disaster and Fire Safety Commission to review Final Draft Plan and recommend Adoption
• November 2024: Planning Commission to review Final Draft Plan and recommend Adoption
• December 2024: Council for Adoption

Final Draft 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan G-1

G. Community Education
In the 2024 LHMP Planning Process, the City endeavored to make the Risk Assessment more applicable and accessible to individuals and households. First, to help the community understand the hazards and associated risks, the City of Berkeley Office of Emergency Services made videos available on YouTube that describe each hazard in this Plan. The videos also include a list of Community Actions to reduce risk as well as City Actions in the 2024 LHMP Mitigation Strategy. Additional videos related to mitigating wildfire risk are available on www.BerkeleyFire.Com.

Traditionally, this Plan has focused on the Actions that the City takes, with partner support, to mitigate risks. This plan recognizes that individuals and households also take actions to reduce risk and contribute to the community’s collective mitigation efforts. To support this work further, the end of Element C: Mitigation Strategy has a list of individual and household actions to reduce risks associate with that hazard. The Appendix also includes the list of Community Actions for individuals and households in a spreadsheet format that also includes how much time, money, and effort each Action might take.

Appendix
Status of 2019 Actions
Action Description Proposed Activities Status
Carried Over to
Plan Update Comments
Continue appropriate seismic and
fire safety analysis based on current
and future use for all City-owned
facilities and structures.

Continue analysis of structures supporting
critical emergency response and recovery
functions, and make recommendations for
structural and nonstructural improvements. In Progress Yes The City continues to analyze structures that support critical functions and make recommendations for improvements. The City is about to embark on a Seismic Evaluation of 1947 Center Street.

Continue appropriate seismic and
fire safety analysis based on current
and future use for all City-owned
facilities and structures.

Continue to prioritize analysis of remaining
structures based on occupancy and
structure type, taking historic significance
into consideration. Use analysis to make
recommendations for structural and
nonstructural improvements. In Progress Yes
The City continues to prioritize further analysis on non-critical structures and make recommendations for improvements.

Continue appropriate seismic and
fire safety analysis based on current
and future use for all City-owned
facilities and structures.

Continue to integrate unsafe structures into
a prioritized program for retrofit or
replacement. In Progress Yes
The City continues to integrate unsafe structures into a prioritized program for retrofit or replacement.

Strengthen or replace City buildings
in the identified prioritized order as
funding is available.

Retrofit North Berkeley Senior Center Completed No This retrofit was completed in 2022.

Strengthen or replace City buildings
in the identified prioritized order as
funding is available.

West Berkeley Service Center In Progress Yes The West Berkeley Service Center is being strengthened with minor improvements and is currently in the design process.

Action Description Proposed Activities Status
Carried Over to
Plan Update Comments
Strengthen or replace City buildings
in the identified prioritized order as
funding is available.

Old City Hall In Progress Yes
The City has completed Phase 1 of the Civic Center Vision Plan, which would re-envision Old City Hall and make it safe to use. Phase 2 starts in Summer 2023 to select a design and funding plan.

Strengthen or replace City buildings
in the identified prioritized order as
funding is available.

Veterans Memorial Building In Progress Yes
The City has completed Phase 1 of the Civic Center Vision Plan, which would re-envision Veterans Memorial Building and make it safe to use. Phase 2 starts in Summer 2023 to select a design and funding plan.

Strengthen or replace City buildings
in the identified prioritized order as
funding is available.

Live Oak Community Center Completed No This retrofit was completed in 2021.

Strengthen or replace City buildings
in the identified prioritized order as
funding is available.

Seek funding to seismically strengthen or
replace additional City buildings in a
prioritized order.

In Progress Yes The City continuously looks for funding opportunities to strengthen or replace City buildings.

Reduce hazard vulnerabilities for
non-City-owned buildings
throughout Berkeley.

Periodically update and adopt the California
Building Standards Code with local
amendments to incorporate the latest
knowledge and design standards to protect
people and property against known seismic,
fire, flood and landslide risks in both
structural and non-structural building and
site components. Ongoing Yes
The City continues to update and adopt California Building Standards Code with local amendments every 18 months.

Reduce hazard vulnerabilities for
non-City-owned buildings
throughout Berkeley.

Explain requirements and provide guidance
to owners of potentially hazardous
structures to facilitate retrofit, including
owners participating in the Earthquake
Brace and Bolt program and those applying
for Transfer Tax rebates. Ongoing Yes
The City continues to explain requirements and provide guidance to owners to facilitate retrofits. This action has changed slightly to add the Earthquake Soft Story (ESS) Program launched in April 2023 by the California Residential Mitigation Program.

Action Description Proposed Activities Status
Carried Over to
Plan Update Comments
Implement the Retrofit Grants
Program, which helps
Berkeley building owners increase
safety and mitigate the risk of
damage caused by earthquakes.

Assist participating property owners with
the grant process, including dissemination of
program rules and guidelines.

In Progress Yes
Current federal funding for the Retrofits Grant Program participants is available through late 2025. City staff continue to seek additional grant funding to implement future rounds of the program.

Implement the Retrofit Grants
Program, which helps
Berkeley building owners increase
safety and mitigate the risk of
damage caused by earthquakes.

Project Manager will:
a. Respond to inquiries from owners,
tenants, engineers and contractors about
the grant program, including FEMA
compliance procedures and requirements
b. Environmental and Historic Preservation
Reviews (EHP) for specified projects
c. Review plan submittals for compliance
with City guidelines and FEMA requirements
d. If more funding is secured, conduct
outreach to property owners to offer
additional Retrofit Grants to increase tenant
safety
In Progress Yes
The City continues to implement the Retrofit Grants Program, following the activities listed. As of 8/2/2023, 63 design grants and 75 construction grants have been disbursed to Berkeley property owners under the Retrofit Grants Program.

Continued Implementation of the
Soft Story Retrofit Program, which
mandates seismic retrofit of soft
story buildings with 5+ residential
units.

Continue to inform impacted property
owners of the requirement to seismically
retrofit their buildings. In Progress Yes The City continues to inform impacted property owners of requirements.

Action Description Proposed Activities Status
Carried Over to
Plan Update Comments
Continued Implementation of the
Soft Story Retrofit Program, which
mandates seismic retrofit of soft
story buildings with 5+ residential
units.

Designated project manager will:
a. Respond to inquiries from owners,
tenants, engineers, contractors and realtors
about the mandatory program, compliance
procedures and requirements
b. Review plan submittals for soft-story
seismic retrofits
c. Issue permits and perform field
inspections
d. Remove retrofitted buildings from the
Soft-Story Inventory
e. Review appeals to accommodate unique
circumstances preventing owners from
meeting program requirements; consider
time extensions, etc.
f. Enforce soft story ordinance; issue
citations to owners who are out of
compliance. In Progress Yes
The City continues to implement the program, following the listed activities. As of July 2023, 277 buildings have completed their retrofit, 26 buildings still need to be retrofitted, and 61 buildings were removed from the inventory for other reasons. These reasons include: the building was determined to have fewer than 5-units or that a soft story condition was not present.

Complete the ongoing program to
retrofit all remaining non-complying
Unreinforced Masonry (URM)
buildings.

Work with owners of remaining potentially
hazardous URM buildings to obtain
structural analyses of their buildings and to
undertake corrective mitigation measures to
improve seismic resistance or to remove the
buildings and replace them with safer
buildings. In Progress Yes
The City continues to work with owners of remaining potentially hazardous URM buildings. As of July 2023, four buildings still need to be retrofitted.

Complete the ongoing program to
retrofit all remaining non-complying
Unreinforced Masonry (URM)
buildings.

Apply available legal remedies, including but
not limited to citations, to owners who fail
to comply with the URM ordinance. In Progress Yes
The City continues to apply available legal remedies to owners who fail to comply with ordinance.

Action Description Proposed Activities Status
Carried Over to
Plan Update Comments
Monitor passage and
implementation of mandatory
seismic retrofit ordinances for
concrete buildings in other
jurisdictions to assess best practices.

Monitor mandatory seismic retrofit
ordinances for concrete buildings passed by
other municipalities for effectiveness and
best practices In Progress Yes
The City continues to monitor mandatory seismic retrofit ordinates for concrete buildings.

Monitor passage and
implementation of mandatory
seismic retrofit ordinances for
concrete buildings in other
jurisdictions to assess best practices.

Communicate and collaborate with other
cities and Structural Engineers Association of
California (SEAOC) regarding
implementation challenges and successes. In Progress Yes The City continues to communicate and collaborate with other cities and SEAOC on implementation. The City is newly exploring the possibility of developing retrofit ordinances for rigid wall-flexible diaphragm and non-ductile concrete buildings.

Improve the disaster-resistance of
the natural gas delivery system to
increase public safety and to
minimize damage and service
disruption following a disaster.

Maintain a program to provide free
automatic gas shutoff valves to community
members who attend disaster readiness
training. Provide subsidized permit fee
waivers for low-income homeowners.

Completed with
Modifications No
The City completed the pilot gas valve shutoff incentive program. The City determined not to make program permanent due to extraordinarily high staff time requirements to manage program, along with low community participation and benefit.

Action Description Proposed Activities Status
Carried Over to
Plan Update Comments
Improve the disaster-resistance of
the natural gas delivery system to
increase public safety and to
minimize damage and service
disruption following a disaster.

Promote electrification of buildings, both
existing buildings and new construction, to
mitigate hazards associated with natural gas
usage and the impacts of damage to
infrastructure after a hazard occurs. In Progress Yes with updates Berkeley City Council adopted a Prohibition of Natural Gas Infrastructure in New Construction Ordinance (2019) and the Berkeley Existing Building Electrification Strategy (2021) to support and guide this work. The Berkeley Emissions Saving Ordinance (BESO) was amended in 2020 to include building electrification assessments when buildings are sold, and upgrade requirements are being evaluated.

The City continues to promote the benefits of building electrification, including the health and safety benefits. For example, through the City’s Pilot Climate Equity Fund, the City is working with a group of community organizations representing disadvantaged communities to provide education and resilience benefits including around building electrification and is using the Fund to install building electrification features in the homes of low-income residents. The City is also partnering with local trades and workforce groups to promote and advance building electrification and high road jobs for contractors.

Reduce fire risk in existing
development through fire code
updates and enforcement.

Periodically update the Berkeley Fire Code
and adopt the California Fire Code with local
amendments to incorporate the latest
knowledge and State regulations to protect
people and property against known risks in
both structural and non- structural building
and site components. Ongoing Yes
Berkeley Fire Code was adopted with local amendment in 2023. The City will continue to monitor and update the Fire Code to incorporate the latest knowledge and State regulations.

Reduce fire risk in existing
development through fire code
updates and enforcement.

Evaluate Fire Prevention Division staffing
necessary to adequately perform and
enforce required inspections for both
Annual and HFA inspections. In Progress No
The City has taken serveral action steps to improve staffing, increasing inspection staff in the Fire Prevention Division and creating the WUI Division. The WUI Division has an internship program to help with defensible space inspections.

Action Description Proposed Activities Status
Carried Over to
Plan Update Comments
Reduce fire risk in existing
development through fire code
updates and enforcement.

Consider expansion of the number of
properties to be included in the Hazardous
Fire Area inspection program.

Completed with
Modifications No
The concept of the Hazardous Fire Area has been replaced by the expanded WUI Enforcement Program, which includes Fire Zones 2 and 3 and 8,600 properties (many of which are multi-parcel).

Reduce fire risk in existing
development through fire code
updates and enforcement. Explore possibility of a program to inspect vacant lots throughout the city.

Completed with
Modifications No
The City now will do vacant lot inspections as part of the WUI Enforcement Program in Fire Zones 2 and 3 annually. For Zone 1, inspections will be done on a complaint driven basis.

Reduce fire risk in existing
development through fire code
updates and enforcement.

Maintain Fire Department efforts to reduce
fire risk through inspections: annual building
inspections in all Fire Zones, Hazardous Fire
Area Inspections, Multi-unit-residential
building inspections in all Fire Zones. Ongoing Yes with updates The Fire Department has replaced Hazardous Fire Area inspections with annual Defensible Space inspections in Zone 2 and 3. This includes home hardening evaluations and education.

Reduce fire risk in existing
development through fire code
updates and enforcement. Evaluate inspection procedures and adjust inspection cycle annually based on changing
climatic conditions. Ongoing Yes
The WUI Division has created 9 zones that include a hazards and climatic conditions analysis. The schedule of inspections is based on the climate and needs of each of the zones. This is revisited annually adjust for changing conditions. The work to enforce this is ongoing.

Reduce fire risk in existing
development through fire code
updates and enforcement.

Develop and enforce Fire Code requirement
for fire fuel clearance on public roadways. In Progress Yes with updates Developed the Fire Code requirement in July 2022. Enforcement is ongoing in Fire Zones 2 and 3. The City has applied for a grant to do more enforcement.

Reduce fire risk in existing
development through fire code
updates and enforcement. Create a standard for written vegetation management plans for major construction
projects in Fire Zones 2 and 3.

Completed with
Modifications No
The Plan Check Division has an initial draft completed. Since this work cannot be completed until there is guidance from the State Board of Forestry on Zone 0, this Action is considered completed with modifications for now.

Action Description Proposed Activities Status
Carried Over to
Plan Update Comments
Reduce fire risk in existing
development through vegetation
management.

Maintain Fire Fuel Chipper Program. Ongoing Yes with updates As a result of the passage of Measure FF, a new brush chipping program started in the summer of 2023. The program is called Chipper Days and is now under the leadership of the Berkeley Fire Department.

Reduce fire risk in existing
development through vegetation
management. Maintain Fire Fuel Abatement Program on
Public Land In Progress Yes
The City continues to maintain this program in order to reduce fire fuel on public property. From May to mid-August each year, an average of 125 tons of debris are removed from approximately 98 public sites, including parks, roadways, and landscaped medians.

Reduce fire risk in existing
development through vegetation
management.

Maintain Fire Fuel Debris Bin Program In Progress Yes
The Fire Fuel Debris Bin Program is coordinated by the Department of Public Works’ Zero Waste Division, which delivers and removes 30-yard roll-off boxes from requesting neighborhoods. This effort yields an average of 132 tons of plant debris per year.

Reduce fire risk in existing
development through vegetation
management. Maintain Weekly Curbside Plant Debris
Collection In Progress Yes
30,000 tons of residential and commercial plant debris and commercial food waste is collected each year through weekly curbside collection and converted to compost.

Reduce fire risk in existing
development through vegetation
management.

Pursue external funding to increase
education and awareness of vegetation
management standards for fire fuel
reduction. Ongoing Yes with updates
The City continues to pursue external funding to increase education and awareness of vegetation management standards. The City has applied for multiple grants to support public education around Grizzly Peak as well as funding to clean up private parcels in Cerrito Canyon. In 2024 Plan, this Action is combined with related Action in row 38.

Reduce fire risk in existing
development through vegetation
management.

Work with partners and stakeholders to
identify fire fuel reduction zones and to
promote and facilitate removal of
vegetation in those zones to mitigate fire
spread. Completed No
The Community Wildfire Protection Plan identifies the fire fuel reduction zones and describe how the City will promote and facilitate removal of vegetation in those zones.

The City will continue to evaluate these zones and the CWPP on an annual basis.

Action Description Proposed Activities Status
Carried Over to
Plan Update Comments
Reduce fire risk in existing
development through vegetation
management.

Pursue external funding to perform
vegetation management on public and
private property. In Progress Yes with updates
The City has applied for multiple grants to fund this work. In the 2024 Plan, this Action is combined with related Action in row 36.

Reduce fire risk in existing
development through vegetation
management.

Develop and enforce Fire Code requirement
for fire fuel clearance on public roadways
(see Fire Code action for details) In Progress Yes
Developed the Fire Code requirement in July 2022. Enforcement is ongoing in Fire Zones 2 and 3. The City has applied for a grant to do more enforcement.

Manage and promote pedestrian
evacuation routes in Fire Zones 2 and

3. Public Works Staff will maintain paths on an
as-needed basis, and will coordinate with
the Berkeley Path Wanderers to maintain
public pathways to provide safe pedestrian
evacuation routes from the hill areas. Ongoing Yes
Public Works Staff continues to maintain paths on an as needed basis coordinating with the Berkeley Pathwanderers.

Manage and promote pedestrian
evacuation routes in Fire Zones 2 and

3. Maintain signage for public pathways to
identify safe and accessible pedestrian
evacuation routes from the hill areas. Ongoing Yes Public Works Staff continue to maintain signage for public pathways.

Manage and promote pedestrian
evacuation routes in Fire Zones 2 and

3. Update City maps of all emergency access
and evacuation routes to include pedestrian
pathways. Completed No
The City has worked with the Berkeley Path Wanderers to create a GIS map of Berkeley's pedestrian pathways. This map was included in the 2019 LHMP and the GIS layer remains available for use.

Manage and promote pedestrian
evacuation routes in Fire Zones 2 and

3. Publicize up-to-date maps of all emergency
access and evacuation routes. In Progress Yes
The CWPP has up to date maps of emergency access and evacuation routes. The City continuously updates these maps and publishes them on the City website. The City also uses real-time evacuation maps with Zonehaven.

Action Description Proposed Activities Status
Carried Over to
Plan Update Comments
Improve responder access and
community evacuation in Fire Zones
2 and 3 through roadway
maintenance and appropriate
parking restrictions. Maintain and improve roadways in Fire Zones 2 and 3. Ongoing Yes
The City continues to maintain and improve roadways in Fire Zones 2 and 3. From 2019- 2022 the City completed 3.78 miles in Zones 2 and 3. By the end of 2023, the City will complete 1.52 miles in Zone 2. The City plans to complete 11.64 miles in Zone 2 from 2024-2028.

Improve responder access and
community evacuation in Fire Zones
2 and 3 through roadway
maintenance and appropriate
parking restrictions.

Maintain community-driven process to
identify and consider areas for parking
restrictions and red curbing.

Completed with
Modifications No
The City has contracted to complete an Evacuation Time Study, which includes a robust public outreach process, to understand what restrictions may promote a safer and more efficient evacuation of residents during unsafe fire conditions. The results of the study will inform what actions are taken next such as parking restrictions, so this action is considered completed for now.

Improve responder access and
community evacuation in Fire Zones
2 and 3 through roadway
maintenance and appropriate
parking restrictions.

Explore options for comprehensive parking
restrictions in Fire Zones 2 and 3 during Red
Flag and/or Extreme Fire Weather
conditions. In Progress Yes
The City has contracted to complete an Evacuation Time Study, which includes a robust public outreach process, to understand what restrictions may promote a safer and more efficient evacuation of residents during unsafe fire conditions. The wording of this action has been updated for 2024.

Improve responder access and
community evacuation in Fire Zones
2 and 3 through roadway
maintenance and appropriate
parking restrictions.

Develop and enforce Fire Code requirement
for fire fuel clearance on public roadways
(see Fire Code action for details) In Progress Yes with updates Developed the Fire Code requirement in July 2022. Enforcement is ongoing in Fire Zones 2 and 3. The City has applied for a grant to do more enforcement.

Reduce the potential threat of
overhead utility wires in the Berkeley
Hills.

Construction of undergrounding in the
Berkeley Hills within UUD No. 48 (portions of
Grizzly Peak Blvd., Summit Rd., Avenida Dr.,
Fairlawn Dr., and Senior Ave.) In Progress Yes
This undergrounding project is under construction, estimated to be completed in three years.

Reduce the potential threat of
overhead utility wires in the Berkeley
Hills.

Construction of undergrounding of overhead
utility wires within UUD No. 35A (Vistamont
Ave., Rochdale Way, and Rosemont Ave
from Woodmont Ave. to Vistamont Ave.) Deleted No
Due to lack of funding, there has been no progress on this action since 2019. However, the City continues to explore funding options for additional undergrounding projects.

Action Description Proposed Activities Status
Carried Over to
Plan Update Comments
Reduce the potential threat of
overhead utility wires in the Berkeley
Hills.

Construction of undergrounding of overhead
utility wires on Bayview Place Deleted No
Due to lack of funding, there has been no progress on this action since 2019. However, the City continues to explore funding options for additional undergrounding projects.

Reduce the potential threat of
overhead utility wires in the Berkeley
Hills.

Complete the Phase 3 undergrounding study
spearheaded by the Undergrounding
Subcommittee in collaboration with Public
Works Department, Fire Department, and
Public Works Commission. This is a citywide
study to underground overhead wires on
arterial and collector streets as a component
of maintaining ingress and egress on roads
during a major disaster. Completed No The City completed the Phase 3 Undergrounding Study in February 2020.

Reduce the potential threat of
overhead utility wires in the Berkeley
Hills.

Explore other strategies, including funding
mechanisms, for reducing the potential
threats of overhead utility wires In Progress Yes
The City continues to explore other strategies, funding and otherwise, to reduce the thread of overhead utilities.

Work with EBMUD to ensure an
adequate water supply during
emergencies and disaster recovery.

Coordinate with EBMUD regarding plans to
install a new 48-inch aqueduct by 2020 to be
able to continue potable and firefighting
water supply following a seismic event. Completed No
The major portion of the Wildcat Aqueduct project is complete in Berkeley. In winter 2023-2024 EBMUD will be installing a valve and pipe at Colusa and Marin, which is the second and final phase.

Work with EBMUD to ensure an
adequate water supply during
emergencies and disaster recovery.

Explore project approaches with EBMUD to
expedite replacement of problem pipelines
in Berkeley neighborhoods exposed to
wildland-urban interface fire and seismic
ground failure. Completed No EBMUD has a process in place to prioritize and replace pipelines.

Action Description Proposed Activities Status
Carried Over to
Plan Update Comments
Work with EBMUD to ensure an
adequate water supply during
emergencies and disaster recovery.

Coordinate with EBMUD to ensure that
pipeline replacement projects and upgrades
are coordinated with the City’s five-year
street paving program and other City
programs. Completed No
The City meets with EBMUD quarterly to ensure coordination on pipeline replacement projects and upgrades are in alignment with the City's programs.

Reduce Berkeley’s vulnerability to
extreme heat events and associated
hazards.

Monitor and support regional and State-
level efforts to forecast the impact of
climate change on temperatures and
incidence of extreme heat events in
Berkeley and the region, and integrate
extreme heat event readiness, focusing on
the most vulnerable populations impacted
and improving access to resources, into City
operations and services. In Progress Yes
The City has been monitoring the latest science related to extreme heat, including studies conducted by Alameda County. The City of Berkeley has been coordinating both internally within multiple departments, as well as externally with regional, national and international entities to learn and develop effective extreme heat planning measures, focusing on the most vulnerable populations. The City is participating in a regional extreme heat planning group being coordinated by UC Berkeley.

Reduce Berkeley’s vulnerability to
extreme heat events and associated
hazards. Continue to create and maintain shading by
maintaining the health of existing trees and
sustaining municipal tree planting with a
focus on efforts in areas where there are
fewer trees. Ongoing Yes
The City has secured state grants to expand tree planting in lower canopied areas while still planting trees elsewhere. The City continues the effort to plant the right tree for the location in order to provide maximum environmental and social benefits while limiting negative impacts to the surrounding infrastructure and existing trees. This includes tree placement in relation to inhabited structures, shade and wind breaks around recreational areas, and adjacent to paved roads and parking lots.

Reduce Berkeley’s vulnerability to
extreme heat events and associated
hazards. Continue to implement energy efficiency
ordinances for existing residential and
commercial buildings to improve building
comfort, including in extreme weather
conditions, and to reduce energy use. Ongoing Yes

The City continues to promote and implement energy efficiency in buildings including assuring compliance with Berkeley’s Energy and Green Building Codes (adopted in 2022).

Energy efficiency measures will also be incorporated in low-income homes that are part of the City’s Climate Equity Fund and Just Transition Residential Electrification Pilot Programs.

Action Description Proposed Activities Status
Carried Over to
Plan Update Comments
Reduce Berkeley’s vulnerability to
extreme heat events and associated
hazards.

Encourage cooling strategies for the built
environment through voluntary programs to
mitigate the urban heat island effect. This
can include strategies like green roofs, cool
roofs, and cool pavements, increased
vegetation, as well as electric heat pumps
and natural ventilation which can provide
cooling to buildings in an extreme heat
event. Ongoing Yes with updates The spirit of this action continues in three new actions in the 2024 document.

Mitigate hazardous materials release
in Berkeley through inspection and
enforcement programs.

Implement the following programs:
~Hazardous Materials Release Response
Plans and Inventories (HMRRP) Program
~Implement California Accidental Release
Prevention (CalARP) Program
~Underground Storage Tank (UST) Program
Aboveground Petroleum Storage Act
Requirement for Spill Prevention
~Hazardous Waste Generator and Onsite
Hazardous Waste Treatment Programs
~Implement Hazardous Materials
Management Plans (HMMP) and Hazardous
Materials Inventory Statements per
California Fire Code Ongoing Yes
The Toxic Management Division continues to maintain these inspection and enforcement programs to mitigate hazardous materials release in Berkeley.

Mitigate hazardous materials release
in Berkeley through inspection and
enforcement programs.

Enforce California Fire Code for Hazardous
Materials Compliance (See Fire Code Action) Ongoing Yes Improved Fire Prevention staffing level is improving ability to review and enforce hazardous materials storage and use conditions. New staff also includes individuals that have hazardous materials enforcement experience.

Action Description Proposed Activities Status
Carried Over to
Plan Update Comments
Define clean air standards for
buildings during poor air quality
events and use those standards to
assess facilities for the Berkeley
community.

Participate in regional efforts to define
standards and tools to predict buildings’
ability to deliver clean air to occupants
during poor air quality events.

Completed with
Modifications No
Air Quality Index levels of health concern have been established byt the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

Define clean air standards for
buildings during poor air quality
events and use those standards to
assess facilities for the Berkeley
community.

Apply standards and tools to assess City
facilities’ ability to provide clean air to
occupants during poor air quality events.

Completed with
Modifications No
Since 2019, air filters have been installed into HVAC systems at many City sites, and portable air filters have been distributed to many other sites.

Define clean air standards for
buildings during poor air quality
events and use those standards to
assess facilities for the Berkeley
community.

Coordinate with willing Berkeley partners to
apply standards and tools to partner
facilities.

Completed with
Modifications No
Using a grant from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the City received and distributed air cleaners to City libraries and recreation centers for use during poor air quality days.

Define clean air standards for
buildings during poor air quality
events and use those standards to
assess facilities for the Berkeley
community.

Use findings to develop a list of potential
clean air facilities (City-run and partner-run)
to the community.

Completed with
Modifications No Designated sites are communicated during poor air quality events.

Maintain City participation in the
National Flood Insurance Program. Continue to use the most current FEMA information defining flood areas. Ongoing Yes
The City keeps the Berkeley Municipal Code Chapter 17.12: Flood Zone Development Ordinance consistent with the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program requirements.

Maintain City participation in the
National Flood Insurance Program. Continue to incorporate FEMA guidelines and suggested activities into City plans and
procedures for managing flood hazards. Ongoing Yes
The City performs the suggested actions by keeping the Berkeley Municipal Code Chapter 17.12: Flood Zone Development Ordinance consistent with FEMA National Flood Insurance Program requirements.

Action Description Proposed Activities Status
Carried Over to
Plan Update Comments
Collect, analyze and share
information with the Berkeley
community about Berkeley hazards
and associated risk reduction
techniques. Track changes in hazard risk using the best- available information and tools. Ongoing Yes
The Office of Emergency Services continues to trck changes in hazard risk by conducting research and consulting with subject matter experts.

Collect, analyze and share
information with the Berkeley
community about Berkeley hazards
and associated risk reduction
techniques.

Collect and share up-to-date hazard maps
identifying areas subject to heightened risk
from hazards. Ongoing Yes
The Office of Emergency Services continues to provide updated hazard maps online and in the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Collect, analyze and share
information with the Berkeley
community about Berkeley hazards
and associated risk reduction
techniques. Publicize financial and technical assistance resources for risk reduction. Ongoing Yes
The Office of Emergency Services and other City Departments publicize technical assistance resources on the City website as its available.

Coordinate with and encourage
mitigation actions of key City
partners.

Coordinate with and encourage mitigation
actions of:
• Institutions serving the Berkeley
community
• Berkeley organizations and nonprofits
• Other partners whose actions affect the
Berkeley community Ongoing Yes
City staff connect and collaborate with a variety of nonprofits to encourage and support both ongoing preparedness and mitigation actions. Through the Community Resilience Center Program and Apartment Resilience Center Program, City staff maintain connections with organizations serving marginalized populations in Berkeley. The City regularly shares information about upcoming mitigation opportunities with participating organizations.

Reduce Berkeley’s vulnerability to
severe storms and associated
hazards through proactive research
and planning, zoning regulations, and
improvements to stormwater
drainage facilities.

Use development standards to ensure that
new development does not contribute to an
increase in flood potential. Ongoing Yes
Land Use Planning Division, Building and Safety Division, Office of Energy and Sustainable Development, and Department of Public Works coordinate efforts to ensure stormwater management best practices are followed.

Action Description Proposed Activities Status
Carried Over to
Plan Update Comments
Reduce Berkeley’s vulnerability to
severe storms and associated
hazards through proactive research
and planning, zoning regulations, and
improvements to stormwater
drainage facilities.

Complete the Watershed Management Plan
to recommend improvements to problem
areas in individual watersheds.

Develop a Stormwater Master Plan to
perform hydraulic analysis and condition
assessment, and identify flow capacity and
flooding issues as basis for the Watershed
Management Plan. In Progress Yes with updates

The City has begun development of the Stormwater Master Plan, to be completed at the end of 2025. The Stormwater Master Plan will identify deficiencies in the City’s stormwater system, prioritize capital improvement projects, identify funding needs, develop City specific drainage design standards, and update maintenance and inspection plans for stormwater facilities.

The Stormwater Master Plan is a new assessment that will provide an updated assessment of the Potter and Codornices Watersheds, as well as the other watersheds not included in the 2011 Watershed Management Plan.

Reduce Berkeley’s vulnerability to
severe storms and associated
hazards through proactive research
and planning, zoning regulations, and
improvements to stormwater
drainage facilities.

Design public improvements such as streets,
parks and plazas, for retention and
infiltration of stormwater by diverting urban
runoff to bio- filtration systems. Ongoing Yes
The City has installed Green Infrastructure facilities at five locations. The City is also in the process of daylighting Codornices Creek at Kains Avenue to increase channel volume, in order to minimize potential flooding.

Implement energy assurance
strategies at critical facilities.

Identify potential actions to mitigate energy
assurance vulnerabilities at critical City
facilities during planning/conceptual design
of both retrofits and new construction. In Progress Yes The City continues to identify ways to mitigate energy assurance vulnerabilities.

Currently, the City is exploring solar and battery-operated energy systems.

Implement energy assurance
strategies at critical facilities.

Provide guidance to help the City consider
opportunities to design, finance and
implement clean energy assurance
strategies (e.g., photovoltaic-supplemented
generation, energy efficiency activities,
and/or mobile charging stations). In Progress Yes
The City is currently in the process of contracting with East Bay Community Energy (EBCE) to install solar + storage at several critical municipal facilities, as well as several electric vehicle DC Fast Chargers for public charging. The City is also in process of installing EV charging stations for City fleet vehicles.

Action Description Proposed Activities Status
Carried Over to
Plan Update Comments
Implement energy assurance
strategies at critical facilities. Work with partners to identify additional non-City critical facilities and develop
strategies to provide clean backup power at
these sites. In Progress Yes
The City of Berkeley is working through its Community Resilience Center (CRC) program to understand backup power needs at critical community sites. The Office of Energy and Sustainable Development is evaluating funding opportunities that could support clean backup power at CRCs and/or other critical community sites.

Mitigate climate change impacts by
integrating climate change research
and adaptation planning into City
operations and services.

Determine staffing needs to monitor
research and oversee integration of climate
change adaptation into City operations and
services Completed No
Staff is working within current staffing capacity to advance integration of climate change adaptation into City operations and services.

Mitigate climate change impacts by
integrating climate change research
and adaptation planning into City
operations and services.

Develop and implement a process to
integrate adaptation planning into City
operations including ways to address
potential climate impacts in municipal
capital and land use planning. In Progress Yes with updates Training on climate change was provided to City staff. The City is including climate change considerations in its municipal capital projects (such as T1 bond), and included climate change considerations in its Housing Element update. The City will also be including climate change considerations in its forthcoming General Plan Safety Element Update and new Environmental Justice Element.

Mitigate the impacts of sea level rise
in Berkeley. Monitor and participate in regional and
State-level research on projected sea-level
rise in Berkeley and the region. Completed No
The City has conducted a sea level rise study for the Marina area, and continues to stay apprised of regional and state-level research on sea-level rise, including as a member of the Bay Area Climate Adaptation Network.

Mitigate the impacts of sea level rise
in Berkeley.

Develop guidelines, regulations, and review
development standards to ensure new and
existing public and private developments
and infrastructure are protected from floods
due to sea-level rise. Ongoing Yes with updates
The Land Use Division of the Planning Department manages the permitting process for new development and conditions projects to ensure that it does not contribute to an increase in flood potential due to sea-level rise.

Action Description Proposed Activities Status
Carried Over to
Plan Update Comments
Collaborate with partners to increase
the security of Berkeley’s water
supply from climate change impacts.

Partner with East Bay Municipal Utility
District (EBMUD) to provide and market
incentives for residents, businesses and
institutions to conserve water. Completed No The City has promoted and will continue to promote EBMUD incentives.

Collaborate with partners to increase
the security of Berkeley’s water
supply from climate change impacts.

Partner with agencies such as EBMUD and
StopWaste to encourage private property
owners and public agencies (including the
City government) to use sustainable
landscaping techniques that require less
water and energy to maintain. Ongoing Yes
The City continues to implement the State of California's Water Efficient Landscaping Ordinance (WELO) in partnership with relevant agencies such as EBMUD and StopWaste.

Collaborate with partners to increase
the security of Berkeley’s water
supply from climate change impacts. Encourage water efficiency and conservation in existing buildings, such as incorporating
water assessments into existing policies or
creating a compliance program for SB407. Ongoing Yes
The City continues to encourage water efficiency and conservation in buildings, through requiring a certificate of compliance that water-conserving plumbing fixtures have installed when a property is undergoing additions, alterations, or improvements.

Additional opportunities for promoting or requiring water, and energy, efficiency in existing are being monitored.

Mitigate Berkeley’s tsunami hazard.

Continue to fund and replace damaged
finger docks. In Progress Yes
The City continues to fund and replace damaged finger docks on an going basis as needed. Since 2019, the City has used City funds and grant funds in total of $1.2 million to replace damaged finger docks.

Mitigate Berkeley’s tsunami hazard. Secure funding for replacement of D and E docks; begin the permitting process once
funding is secure In Progress Yes
PRW received approval for a loan from the General Fund to replace D and E docks. The project is scheduled to break ground in 2024-2025.

Mitigate Berkeley’s tsunami hazard. Begin the permitting process for piling replacement. Completed No Compromised pilings throughout the Marina have been replaced.

Mitigate Berkeley’s tsunami hazard. Repair University Avenue, Marina Boulevard, and Spinnaker Way in order to mitigate
tsunami vulnerabilities.

Completed with
Modifications No
Roads have been rebuilt to modern-day standards and are now more likely to withstand tsunami impacts than before.

Action Description Proposed Activities Status
Carried Over to
Plan Update Comments
Mitigate Berkeley’s tsunami hazard.

Collaborate with the California Office of
Emergency Services, the California
Geological Survey, and the Federal
Emergency Management Agency to
document and explore additional tsunami
hazard mitigation measures for Berkeley’s
maritime communities. Ongoing Yes
The City regularly collaborates with external partners to explore additional tsunami mitigation measures.

Streamline the zoning permitting
process to rebuild residential and
commercial structures following
disasters.

Explore a Zoning Amendment to BMC
23C.04.100 that streamlines the Zoning
permitting process to allow damaged
industrial and commercial buildings, and
dwelling units to rebuild by right following
disasters. Deleted No
Due to limited capacity, no progress has been made since 2019, but the activity is still relevant. The City has updated the language of this Action for the 2024 LHMP to clarify next steps.

Streamline the zoning permitting
process to rebuild residential and
commercial structures following
disasters. Consider different treatment for buildings in high-risk areas. Deleted No
Due to limited capacity, no progress has been made since 2019, but the activity is still relevant. The City has updated the language of this Action for the 2024 LHMP to clarify next steps.

Streamline the zoning permitting
process to rebuild residential and
commercial structures following
disasters.

Define the standard for documentation of
current conditions for residential and
commercial property owners to rebuild by
right (in conformity with current applicable
codes, specifications and standards)
following disasters. Deleted No
Due to limited capacity, no progress has been made since 2019, but the activity is still relevant. The City has updated the language of this Action for the 2024 LHMP to clarify next steps.

Streamline the zoning permitting
process to rebuild residential and
commercial structures following
disasters. Define the process for the City to accept and file this documentation. Deleted No
Due to limited capacity, no progress has been made since 2019, but the activity is still relevant. The City has updated the language of this Action for the 2024 LHMP to clarify next steps.

Streamline the zoning permitting
process to rebuild residential and
commercial structures following
disasters. Outreach to property owners about this
documentation process. Deleted No
Due to limited capacity, no progress has been made since 2019, but the activity is still relevant. The City has updated the language of this Action for the 2024 LHMP to clarif next steps.

Action Description Proposed Activities Status
Carried Over to
Plan Update Comments
Streamline the zoning permitting
process to rebuild residential and
commercial structures following
disasters.

Evaluate location of essential public facilities
prior to rebuild in order to prioritize
development outside high-risk areas when
feasible. Deleted No
Due to limited capacity, no progress has been made since 2019, but the activity is still relevant. The City has updated the language of this Action for the 2024 LHMP to clarify next steps.

Streamline the zoning permitting
process to rebuild residential and
commercial structures following
disasters.

Explore how other cities provide protections
for people that may be vulnerable during
the rebuilding process. Deleted No
Due to limited capacity, no progress has been made since 2019, but the activity is still relevant. The City has updated the language of this Action for the 2024 LHMP to clarify next steps.

2024 Mitigation Strategy Actions
Action Description Proposed Activities
Priority
Level
Related
Natural
Hazard(s)
How would this benefit
underserved communities
and socially vulnerable
populations?
Lead Office,
Division, or
Department Funding Sources Timeline
Advance equitable community
resilience, with a focus on
disadvantaged communities.

Work with community partners
to co-create solutions to
improve community resilience,
including through the Climate
Equity Collaborative.

High Multi-hazard
The Climate Equity Collaborative
represents underserved communities,
and will directly benefit these
communities through meaningful
involvement to identify needs and
priorities.

Planning Department:

Office of Energy and
Sustainable
Development
Seed funding secured
through the Climate
Equity Fund Pilot
($100,000 for the
Climate Equity
Collaborative)
Ongoing
Advance equitable community
resilience, with a focus on
disadvantaged communities.

Develop General Plan
Environmental Justice Element
and update the existing Safety
Element, with community-
identified priorities related to
climate adaptation.

High
Multi-hazard
Direct benefit through involvement to
identify needs/solutions
Planning Department:

Land Use Division

Planning Department:

Office of Energy and
Sustainable
Development
Funding obtained
through a $497,042
Adaptation Planning
Grant Program from the
CA Governor's Office of
Planning and Research.

City General Fund and
Enterprise Fund.

Short term (1-5 years)

Action Description Proposed Activities
Priority
Level
Related
Natural
Hazard(s)
How would this benefit
underserved communities
and socially vulnerable
populations?
Lead Office,
Division, or
Department Funding Sources Timeline
Collaborate with partners to
increase the security of
Berkeley’s water supply from
climate change impacts.

Support EBMUD through the
design and environmental
review process to expand
recycled water pipelines in
Berkeley and increase the
security of the water supply.

Low
Multi-hazard
Water security and efficiency will have
financial benefits in addition to
environmental benefits, especially for
disadvantaged and/or low-income
communities.

Public Works
Department

Planning Department:

Office of Energy and
Sustainable
Development
Federal funding from
Water Resources
Development Act and
EBMUD
Long term (5-10 years)
Collaborate with partners to
increase the security of
Berkeley’s water supply from
climate change impacts.

Continue to partner with
agencies such as EBMUD and
StopWaste to encourage
private property owners and
public agencies (including the
City government) to use
sustainable landscaping
techniques that require less
water and energy to maintain.

Low
Multi-hazard
Underserved communities are most
impacted by climate change.

Planning Department:

Office of Energy and
Sustainable
Development
City General Fund
City Permit Service
Center Fund
City Enterprise Fund
Ongoing
Collaborate with partners to
increase the security of
Berkeley’s water supply from
climate change impacts.

Encourage water efficiency and
conservation in existing
buildings.

Low
Multi-hazard Water efficiency and conservation will
have financial benefits in addition to
environmental benefits, especially for
disadvantaged and/or low-income
communities.

Planning Department:

Office of Energy and
Sustainable
Development
City General Fund Ongoing
Collect and share information
with the Berkeley community
about hazards and associated
risk reduction techniques.

Create new formats and user-
friendly guidance to educate
the public, especially
underserved populations, on
Berkeley hazards. High
Multi-hazard
Ensure that underserved communities
have access to hazard information and
materials.

Fire Department - Office
of Emergency Services
City General Fund
Ongoing
Collect and share information
with the Berkeley community
about hazards and associated
risk reduction techniques.

Provide key hazard information
and best practices to Berkeley's
business and arts community
through established networks,
for example by exploring
opportunities for local business
to share best practices and High
Multi-hazard
Small businesses, arts organizations, and
nonprofits often serve socially
vulnerable populations. Small
businesses and cultural institutions
themselves run on small margins and
are especially vulnerable to shocks and
stresses.

City Manager's Office -
Office of Economic
Development City General Fund Ongoing

Action Description Proposed Activities
Priority
Level
Related
Natural
Hazard(s)
How would this benefit
underserved communities
and socially vulnerable
populations?
Lead Office,
Division, or
Department Funding Sources Timeline
resources during utility
interruptions.

Complete the ongoing program
to retrofit all remaining non-
complying Unreinforced
Masonry (URM) buildings.

Continue to work with owners
of remaining potentially
hazardous URM buildings. High Earthquake
Multi-unit housing is more affordable
and serves a large percentage of socially
vulnerable and underserved
communities. Inspections help to ensure
the safety of this housing stock.

Planning Department:

Building and Safety
Division

Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program (HMGP) Ongoing
Continue appropriate seismic
and fire safety analysis based on
current and future use for all
City-owned facilities and
structures.

Continue analysis of structures
supporting critical emergency
response and recovery
functions, and make
recommendations for
structural and nonstructural
improvements.

High Multi-hazard
City facilities and structures serve
socially vulnerable populations day to
day and during emergencies.

Public Works
Department: Supervising
Civil Engineer for
Facilities
City General Fund
T1 Bond Ongoing
Continue implementation of the
Soft Story Retrofit Program,
which mandates seismic retrofit
of soft story buildings with 5+
residential units.

Continue to inform impacted
property owners of the
requirement to seismically
retrofit their buildings,
including newly added
properties to the soft story
inventory.

High Earthquake
Multi-unit housing is more affordable
and serves a large percentage of socially
vulnerable and underserved
communities. Inspections help to ensure
the safety of this housing stock.

Planning Department:

Building and Safety
Division

Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program (HMGP) Ongoing
Continue to implement the
Retrofit Grants Program, which
helps Berkeley building owners
increase safety and mitigate the
risk of damage caused by
earthquakes.

Assist participating property
owners with the grant process,
including dissemination of
program rules and guidelines
and approving design and
disbursement construction
grants. High Earthquake
Multi-unit housing is more affordable
and serves a large percentage of socially
vulnerable and underserved
communities. Inspections help to ensure
the safety of this housing stock.

Planning Department:

Building and Safety
Division
Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program (HMGP) Ongoing

Action Description Proposed Activities
Priority
Level
Related
Natural
Hazard(s)
How would this benefit
underserved communities
and socially vulnerable
populations?
Lead Office,
Division, or
Department Funding Sources Timeline
Continue to monitor passage
and implementation of
mandatory seismic retrofit
ordinances for concrete
buildings in other jurisdictions to
assess best practices.

Continue to monitor
mandatory seismic retrofit
ordinances for concrete
buildings passed by other
municipalities for effectiveness
and best practices.

Communicate and collaborate
with other cities and Structural
Engineers Association of
California (SEAOC) regarding
implementation challenges and
successes. High Earthquake
Multi-unit housing is more affordable
and serves a large percentage of socially
vulnerable and underserved
communities. Inspections help to ensure
the safety of this housing stock.

Planning: Building and
Safety Program and
Administration Manager City General Fund Ongoing
Coordinate regional wildfire
mitigation strategies with key
partners and stakeholders
Coordinate local fire mitigation,
prevention, and funding
strategies with the East Bay
Hills Wildfire Prevention
Coordination Group High WUI Fire
Wildfires disproportionately impacts
people with access and functional needs
and collaborating with local partners
helps reduce wildfire risks.

Fire Department - WUI
Division
City General Fund
Measure FF Ongoing
Coordinate regional wildfire
mitigation strategies with key
partners and stakeholders
Coordinate regional efforts to
mitigate wildfire risk in the
Oakland - Berkeley hills
through the Hills Emergency
Forum High WUI Fire
Wildfires disproportionately impacts
people with access and functional needs
and collaborating with local partners
helps reduce wildfire risks.

Fire Department - WUI
Division
City General Fund
Measure FF Ongoing
Coordinate with and encourage
mitigation actions of key City
partners.

Coordinate with and encourage
mitigation actions of
institutions serving the
Berkeley community. High Multi-hazard
Benefits institutions serving the
Berkeley community.

Fire Department: Office
of Emergency Services
City General Fund
Measure GG Ongoing

Action Description Proposed Activities
Priority
Level
Related
Natural
Hazard(s)
How would this benefit
underserved communities
and socially vulnerable
populations?
Lead Office,
Division, or
Department Funding Sources Timeline
Implement energy assurance
strategies at critical facilities.

Identify potential actions to
mitigate energy assurance
vulnerabilities at critical City
facilities during
planning/conceptual design of
both retrofits and new
construction. Medium
Multi-hazard
Utility Interruption
City facilities and structures serve
socially vulnerable populations day to
day and during emergencies.

Public Works
Department: Supervising
Civil Engineer (Facilities)
CIty General Fund
T1 Bond
Measure GG
Ratepayer funds from
PG&E East Bay
Community Energy
Grants from Energy
Foundation Urban
Sustainability Directors
Network
California Energy
Commission California
Air Resources Board Ongoing
Implement energy assurance
strategies at critical facilities.

Provide guidance to help the
City consider opportunities to
design, finance and implement
clean energy assurance
strategies (e.g., photovoltaic-
supplemented generation,
energy efficiency activities,
and/or mobile charging
stations). Medium
Multi-hazard
Utility Interruption
Clean energy assurance solutions could
provide backup and critical power
benefit underserved communities who
wouldn't otherwise have access to
power during an emergency.

Planning Department:

Office of Energy and
Sustainable
Development
City General Fund
Ongoing
Implement energy assurance
strategies at critical facilities.

Work with partners to identify
additional non-City critical
facilities and develop strategies
to provide clean backup power
at these sites. Medium
Multi-hazard
Utility Interruption
By working with organizations serving
disadvantaged communities to help
advance their energy assurance, this
would directly benefit both underserved
organizations and community members
served by these organizations.

Planning Department:

Office of Energy and
Sustainable
Development
City General Fund
Ongoing
Implement existing City
programs, plans, and projects
designed to reduce emissions
that contribute to poor air
quality.

Continue to implement the
traffic safety capital
construction projects identified
and prioritized in the Berkeley
Pedestrian Plan (2021),
Berkeley Bicycle Plan (2017),
Berkeley Vision Zero Action
Plan (2020), and Berkeley
Transit-First Implementation
Plan; these projects are Medium
Extreme Heat
Poor Air Quality
Poor air quality disproportionately
impacts communities of color, and
South and West Berkeley.

Public Works
Department -
Transportation Division
City General Fund
County Transportation
Sales Tax Ongoing

Action Description Proposed Activities
Priority
Level
Related
Natural
Hazard(s)
How would this benefit
underserved communities
and socially vulnerable
populations?
Lead Office,
Division, or
Department Funding Sources Timeline
intended to encourage non-
driving modes
Implement existing City
programs, plans, and projects
designed to reduce emissions
that contribute to poor air
quality.

Continue to implement the
City’s Electric Mobility Road
Map which includes electric
shared mobility (bikes and
scooters) as well as electric and
hybrid car-sharing, and the
installation of public charging
stations. Medium
Extreme Heat
Poor Air Quality
Poor air quality disproportionately
impacts communities of color, and
South and West Berkeley.

Public Works
Department -
Transportation Division
City General Fund
County Transportation
Sales Tax Ongoing
Implement existing City
programs, plans, and projects
designed to reduce emissions
that contribute to poor air
quality.

Transportation program
coordination with transit
providers, Berkeley Unified
School District (Safe Routes to
Schools), Berkeley Police
Department (Vision Zero), and
others, to promote transit
efficiency and traffic safety for
non-driving modes. Medium
Extreme Heat
Poor Air Quality
Poor air quality disproportionately
impacts communities of color, and
South and West Berkeley.

Public Works
Department -
Transportation Division
City General Fund
County Transportation
Sales Tax Ongoing
Improve responder access and
community evacuation in Fire
Zones 2 and 3 through roadway
maintenance and appropriate
parking restrictions.

Continue to enforce Fire Code
requirement for fire fuel
clearance on public roadways. High WUI Fire
Wildfires disproportionately impact
people with access and functional needs
and enforcing the Fire Code reduces
risks.

Fire Department: WUI
Division Measure FF Ongoing
Improve responder access and
community evacuation in Fire
Zones 2 and 3 through roadway
maintenance and appropriate
parking restrictions.

With multiple agency partners,
clear hazardous vegetation
along 45 roadways in Fire Zone
2 protecting evacuation routes. High WUI Fire
Evacuation is more difficult for people
with disabilities and people with access
and functional needs.

Fire Department: WUI
Division
Measure FF
Cal Fire Grant Ongoing

Action Description Proposed Activities
Priority
Level
Related
Natural
Hazard(s)
How would this benefit
underserved communities
and socially vulnerable
populations?
Lead Office,
Division, or
Department Funding Sources Timeline
Improve responder access and
community evacuation in Fire
Zones 2 and 3 through roadway
maintenance and appropriate
parking restrictions.

Develop process to increase
parking enforcement in fire-
vulnerable areas during fire
weather. High WUI Fire
Evacuation is more difficult for people
with disabilities and people with access
and functional needs.

Fire Department: Office
of the Fire Chief

Public Works
Department:

Transportation Division

Police Department:

Traffic Division Measure FF Ongoing
Improve responder access and
community evacuation in Fire
Zones 2 and 3 through roadway
maintenance and appropriate
parking restrictions.

Maintain and improve
roadways in Fire Zones 2 and 3. High WUI Fire
Evacuation is more difficult for people
with disabilities and people with access
and functional needs.

Public Works
Department: Supervising
Civil Engineer City General Fund Ongoing
Maintain City participation in
the National Flood Insurance
Program.

Continue to use the most
current FEMA information
defining flood areas. High Flood
Flooding disproportionally impacts in
South and West Berkeley.

Public Works
Department: Manager of
Engineering
City General Fund
Permit Service Center
Enterprise Fund
Measure M Bond Funds
Building Resilient
Infrastructure and
Communities (BRIC)
Grant Program
Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program (HMGP) Ongoing
Maintain City participation in
the National Flood Insurance
Program.

Continue to incorporate FEMA
guidelines and suggested
activities into City plans and
procedures for managing flood
hazards. High Flood
Flooding disproportionally impacts in
South and West Berkeley.

Planning Department:

Land Use Division
City General Fund
Permit Service Center
Enterprise Fund
Measure M Bond Funds
Building Resilient
Infrastructure and
Communities (BRIC)
Grant Program
Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program (HMGP) Ongoing

Action Description Proposed Activities
Priority
Level
Related
Natural
Hazard(s)
How would this benefit
underserved communities
and socially vulnerable
populations?
Lead Office,
Division, or
Department Funding Sources Timeline
Maintain City programs and
projects to mitigate the impacts
of infectious diseases in
Berkeley.

Continue surveillance and
epidemiology, which is the
ongoing collection, analysis,
interpretation, and sharing of
data in order to prevent and
control disease. High Infectious Disease
In Alameda County, communities of
color face inequitable conditions that
increase the risk of chronic diseases
Health, Housing &
Community Services
Department, Public
Health Officer Unit,
Public Health Division
Public Health Emergency
Preparedness Grants
Future of Public Health
Grant City General Fund Ongoing
Maintain City programs and
projects to mitigate the impacts
of infectious diseases in
Berkeley.

Implement non-pharmaceutical
interventions, like personal
protective measures such as
masks and communitywide
measures such quarantining,
aimed at reducing exposure. High Infectious Disease
In Alameda County, communities of
color face inequitable conditions that
increase the risk of chronic diseases
Health, Housing &
Community Services
Department, Public
Health Officer Unit,
Public Health Division
Public Health Emergency
Preparedness Grants Ongoing
Manage and promote
pedestrian evacuation routes in
Fire Zones 2 and 3.

Publicize up-to-date maps of all
emergency access and
evacuation routes. High WUI Fire
Evacuation is more difficult for people
with disabilities and people with access
and functional needs.

Department of
Information Technology:

GIS Division- GIS
Coordinator

Fire: OES- Emergency
Services Coordinator City General Fund Ongoing
Manage and promote
pedestrian evacuation routes in
Fire Zones 2 and 3.

Maintain signage for public
pathways to identify safe and
accessible pedestrian
evacuation routes from the hill
areas. High WUI Fire
Evacuation is more difficult for people
with disabilities and people with access
and functional needs.

Public Works
Department: City Traffic
Engineer City General Fund Ongoing
Manage and promote
pedestrian evacuation routes in
Fire Zones 2 and 3.

Public Works Staff will maintain
paths on an as-needed basis,
and will coordinate with the
Berkeley Path Wanderers to
maintain public pathways to
provide safe pedestrian
evacuation routes from the hill
areas. High WUI Fire
Ensure that people with access and
functional needs can use the pedestrian
paths.

Public Works
Department: Assistant
Public Works Engineer City General Fund Ongoing
Manage and promote
pedestrian evacuation routes in
Fire Zones 2 and 3.

Install handrails on all public
pathways, prioritizing areas
with high usage and steep
inclines to increase pedestrian
safety and accessibility. High WUI Fire
Ensure that people with access and
functional needs can use the pedestrian
paths.

Public Works
Department - Traffic
Engineering City General Fund Short term (1-5 years)

Action Description Proposed Activities
Priority
Level
Related
Natural
Hazard(s)
How would this benefit
underserved communities
and socially vulnerable
populations?
Lead Office,
Division, or
Department Funding Sources Timeline
Mitigate Berkeley’s tsunami
hazard at the Berkeley Marina.

Continue to repair and replace
damaged finger docks at the
Berkeley Marina.

Complete the demolition and
replacement of D&E docks.

Consider reconstruction or
repair to J docks as funding
becomes available. Low Tsunami
10% of Marina boaters have a permit to
live aboard their vessels. Many of these
boaters are low-income.

Parks, Recreation, and
Waterfront Department:

Waterfront Division
T1
State Coastal
Conservancy
City General Fund
Marina Fund
Building Resilient
Infrastructure and
Communities (BRIC)
Grant Program
Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program (HMGP)
City General Fund
City-Issued Bonds Ongoing
Mitigate Berkeley’s tsunami
hazard at the Berkeley Marina.

Collaborate with the California
Office of Emergency Services,
the California Geological
Survey, and the Federal
Emergency Management
Agency to document and
explore additional tsunami
hazard mitigation measures for
Berkeley’s maritime
communities. Low Tsunami
10% of Marina boaters have a permit to
live aboard their vessels. Many of these
boaters are low-income.

Fire Department: Office
of Emergency Services

Parks, Recreation, and
Waterfront Department:

Waterfront Division
Building Resilient
Infrastructure and
Communities (BRIC)
Grant Program
Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program (HMGP)
City General Fund
City-Issued Bonds Ongoing
Mitigate climate change impacts
by integrating climate change
research and adaptation
planning into City operations
and services.

Develop and implement a
process to integrate adaptation
planning into City operations,
including ways to address
climate impacts in municipal
capital and land use planning.

Low Multi-hazard Underserved communities are most
impacted by climate change.

Planning Department:

Office of Energy and
Sustainable
Development
City General Fund
Ongoing

Action Description Proposed Activities
Priority
Level
Related
Natural
Hazard(s)
How would this benefit
underserved communities
and socially vulnerable
populations?
Lead Office,
Division, or
Department Funding Sources Timeline
Mitigate hazardous materials
release in Berkeley through
inspection and enforcement
programs.

Implement the following
programs:
~Hazardous Materials Release
Response Plans and Inventories
(HMRRP) Program
~Implement California
Accidental Release Prevention
(CalARP) Program
~Underground Storage Tank
(UST) Program
Aboveground Petroleum
Storage Act Requirement for
Spill Prevention
~Hazardous Waste Generator
and Onsite Hazardous Waste
Treatment Programs
~Implement Hazardous
Materials Management Plans
(HMMP) and Hazardous
Materials Inventory Statements
per California Fire Code High
Multi-hazard
Hazardous
Materials Release
Hazardous materials are located in
south and west Berkeley.

Planning Department:

Toxics Division City General Fund Ongoing
Mitigate hazardous materials
release in Berkeley through
inspection and enforcement
programs.

Enforce California Fire Code for
Hazardous Materials
Compliance (See Fire Code
Action) High
Multi-hazard
Hazardous
Materials Release
Hazardous materials are located in
south and west Berkeley.

Fire Department: Fire
Prevention Division City General Fund Ongoing
Mitigate hazards associated with
natural gas usage, including
disaster damage and energy
service disruption, by minimizing
need for energy use and moving
toward use of electricity in lieu
of natural gas.

Promote energy efficiency and
electrification of buildings,
both existing buildings and new
construction.

High Multi-hazard City funds are targeted at underserved populations.

Planning Department:

Office of Energy and
Sustainable
Development
City General Fund Ongoing

Action Description Proposed Activities
Priority
Level
Related
Natural
Hazard(s)
How would this benefit
underserved communities
and socially vulnerable
populations?
Lead Office,
Division, or
Department Funding Sources Timeline
Mitigate impacts of sea level rise
Continue to ensure new and
existing public and private
developments and
infrastructure are protected
from floods due to sea-level
rise through the permitting
process for new development
and conditions. Medium Sea Level Rise
Waterfront provides many free and low-
cost recreational amenities for the
community and is adjacent to lower-
income communities in South and West
Berkeley, which historically had fewer
parks and less green space.

Planning Department:

Land Use Division City General Fund Ongoing
Mitigate impacts of sea level rise
Identify funding and nature-
based solutions to adapt to sea
level rise at Berkeley
Waterfront areas at risk of
future inundation at the
shoreline at the north segment
of Marina Blvd between the
Virginia Street Extension and
the entrance to Cesar Chavez
Park. Medium Sea Level Rise
Waterfront provides many free and low-
cost recreational amenities for the
community and is adjacent to lower-
income communities in South and West
Berkeley, which historically had fewer
parks and less green space.

Parks, Recreation, and
Waterfront Department
State Coastal
Conservancy Grant
Short term (1-5 years)
Mitigate impacts of sea level rise
Identify funding and nature-
based solutions to adapt to sea
level rise at Berkeley
Waterfront areas at risk of
future inundation at the
shoreline to the south of
University Avenue between
West Frontage Road and
Marina Blvd. Medium Sea Level Rise
Waterfront provides many free and low-
cost recreational amenities for the
community and is adjacent to lower-
income communities in South and West
Berkeley, which tend to have fewer
parks and green space.

Parks, Recreation, and
Waterfront Department

FHWA PROTECT
Discretionary Grant
Program
Short term (1-5 years) (if FHWA
grant received)
Mitigate impacts of sea level rise
Identify funding and nature-
based solutions to adapt to sea
level rise at Berkeley
Waterfront areas at risk of
future inundation at the
northeast corner of the inner
harbor of the Marina. Medium Sea Level Rise
Waterfront provides many free and low-
cost recreational amenities for the
community and is adjacent to lower-
income communities in South and West
Berkeley, which tend to have fewer
parks and green space.

Parks, Recreation, and
Waterfront Department
Adapting to Rising Tides,
San Francisco Bay
Conservation &
Development
Commission, National
Oceanic & Atmospheric
Administration, Urban
Sustainability Director’s
Network, or Resource
Legacy Fund Long term (5-10 years)

Action Description Proposed Activities
Priority
Level
Related
Natural
Hazard(s)
How would this benefit
underserved communities
and socially vulnerable
populations?
Lead Office,
Division, or
Department Funding Sources Timeline
Mitigate impacts of sea level rise
Conduct a groundwater study
on impacts of groundwater rise
combined with sea level rise on
underground toxic materials
Medium Sea Level Rise
There is a risk of underground toxic
materials shifting as groundwater and
sea level rise, impacting those nearby.

This study will shed light on potential
impacts, on places such as West
Berkeley which has s a history of
industrial use and environmental
pollution, and is also where many low-
income and disadvantaged communities
live.

Planning Department:

Office of Energy and
Sustainable
Development
This work is included in
the funding obtained
through a $497,042
Adaptation Planning
Grant Program from the
CA Governor's Office of
Planning and Research
Short term (1-5 years)
Mitigate wildfire risk to
Berkeley's overnight camps.

Analyze fire risk at overnight
camps and identify appropriate
mitigation actions. Medium WUI Fire
The Berkeley overnight camps offer
opportunities for recreations for people
with access and functional needs and
people with low incomes.

Fire Department - WUI
Division

Parks, Recreation, and
Waterfront Department Measure FF Short term (1-5 years) Reduce Berkeley’s vulnerability
to extreme heat events and
associated hazards.

Continue to seek out funding to
use cool paving materials on
streets when feasible to reduce
urban heat island impacts.

Medium
Extreme heat
Urban heat island effects are more
prominent in the Berkeley flats, which
are more paved and less vegetated, and
which is where more underserved
communities live.

Planning Department:

Office of Energy and
Sustainable
Development
State grants from Office
of Planning and
Research Ongoing
Reduce Berkeley’s vulnerability
to extreme heat events and
associated hazards.

Continue to implement energy
efficiency ordinances for
existing residential and
commercial buildings to
improve building comfort,
including in extreme weather
conditions, and to reduce
energy use. Medium
Extreme heat
Extreme heat in places with bad
ventilation or uncomfortable conditions
impact the health and wellbeing of
elderly and disabled populations.

Planning Department:

Office of Energy and
Sustainable
Development
City General Fund Ongoing

Action Description Proposed Activities
Priority
Level
Related
Natural
Hazard(s)
How would this benefit
underserved communities
and socially vulnerable
populations?
Lead Office,
Division, or
Department Funding Sources Timeline
Reduce Berkeley’s vulnerability
to extreme heat events and
associated hazards.

Encourage passive and energy-
efficient strategies to cool
buildings such as natural
ventilation, shading, insulation,
cool roofs, whole-house fans,
and heat pump HVAC systems. Medium Extreme heat
Extreme heat in places with bad
ventilation or uncomfortable conditions
impact the health and wellbeing of
elderly and disabled populations.

Planning Department:

Office of Energy and
Sustainable
Development
City General Fund
Ongoing
Reduce Berkeley’s vulnerability
to extreme heat events and
associated hazards.

Monitor and support regional
and State-level efforts to
forecast the impact of climate
change on temperatures and
incidence of extreme heat
events in Berkeley and the
region, and integrate extreme
heat event readiness, focusing
on the most vulnerable
populations impacted and
improving access to resources,
into City operations and
services. Medium Extreme Heat
Low income populations have less
access to resources and readiness.

Extreme heat impacts the flats due to
urban heat island effect, and there is a
large low-income population living in
the flats.

Fire Department: Office
of Emergency Services

Planning Department:

Office of Energy and
Sustainable
Development
City General Fund
Ongoing
Reduce Berkeley’s vulnerability
to extreme heat events and
associated hazards.

Continue Urban Forestry Unit's
tree maintenance and planting
programs to increase canopy
coverage for extreme heat
events to provide shade and
mitigate impacts from poor air
quality. Medium
Extreme Heat
Poor Air Quality
Reduces heat island effect, mitigates
through carbon sequestration
Parks, Recreation, and
Waterfront Department
- Parks Division - Urban
Forestry Unit
Parks Tax
State of CA
Environmental
Enhancement and
Mitigation Project Grant
State of CA Urban
Greening Grant
Urban and Community
Forestry Grants through
the Inflation Reduction
Act
Short term (grant-funded efforts
will be completed by end of FY27)
and ongoing
Reduce Berkeley’s vulnerability
to severe storms and associated
hazards through proactive
research and planning, zoning
regulations, and improvements
Use development standards to
ensure that new development
does not contribute to an
increase in flood potential. Medium Flood
Flooding disproportionally impacts in
South and West Berkeley.

Planning Department:

Land Use Division City General Fund Ongoing

Action Description Proposed Activities
Priority
Level
Related
Natural
Hazard(s)
How would this benefit
underserved communities
and socially vulnerable
populations?
Lead Office,
Division, or
Department Funding Sources Timeline
to stormwater drainage
facilities.

Reduce Berkeley’s vulnerability
to severe storms and associated
hazards through proactive
research and planning, zoning
regulations, and improvements
to stormwater drainage
facilities.

Design public improvements
such as streets, parks and
plazas, for retention and
infiltration of stormwater by
diverting urban runoff to bio-
filtration systems. Medium Flood
Flooding disproportionally impacts in
South and West Berkeley.

Public Works:

Engineering
City General Fund
Permit Service Center
Enterprise Fund
Measure M Bond Funds
Building Resilient
Infrastructure and
Communities (BRIC)
Grant Program
Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program (HMGP) Ongoing
Reduce Berkeley’s vulnerability
to severe storms and associated
hazards through proactive
research and planning, zoning
regulations, and improvements
to stormwater drainage
facilities.

Renovate all eight tide tubes
that remove storm water from
Berkeley Aquatic Park and
Potter Street to the Bay. Medium Flood
Flooding disproportionally impacts in
South and West Berkeley.

Parks, Recreation, and
Waterfront Department
Promoting Resilient
Operations for
Transformative,
Efficient, and Cost-
saving Transportation
Program (PROTECT)
Grant Parks Tax Medium Term (3-5 years)
Reduce Berkeley’s vulnerability
to severe storms and associated
hazards through proactive
research and planning, zoning
regulations, and improvements
to stormwater drainage
facilities.

Complete a Stormwater Master
Plan for all City stormwater
infrastructure, to identify
system deficiencies, establish a
capital stormwater
improvement plan, and identify
funding mechanisms. Medium Flood
Flooding disproportionally impacts in
South and West Berkeley.

Public Works:

Engineering
City Stormwater Fund
($1.5M) City General
Fund ($400k) Short term (1-5 years)
Reduce fire risk in existing
development through fire code
updates and enforcement.

Continue to evaluate
inspection procedures and
adjust inspection cycle annually
based on changing climatic
conditions. High WUI Fire
Wildfires disproportionately impact
people with access and functional needs
and ensuring inspections are up to date
reduces risk.

Fire Department - WUI
Division Measure FF Ongoing
Reduce fire risk in existing
development through fire code
updates and enforcement.

Maintain Fire Department
efforts to reduce fire risk
through inspections through
annual building inspections in
all Fire Zones, including Multi- High WUI Fire
Multi-unit housing is more affordable
and serves a large percentage of socially
vulnerable and underserved
communities. Inspections help to ensure
the safety of this housing stock.

Fire Department: Fire
Prevention Division
City General Fund
UC Settlement Fund Ongoing

Action Description Proposed Activities
Priority
Level
Related
Natural
Hazard(s)
How would this benefit
underserved communities
and socially vulnerable
populations?
Lead Office,
Division, or
Department Funding Sources Timeline
unit-residential building
inspections.

Reduce fire risk in existing
development through fire code
updates and enforcement.

Maintain Fire Department
efforts to reduce fire risk
through Defensible Space
Inspections in Fire Zones 2 and

3. High WUI Fire
Provides career and workforce
development in public safety for local
youth.

Fire Department: WUI
Division
Measure FF
YouthWorks Program
funds Ongoing
Reduce fire risk in existing
development through fire code
updates and enforcement.

Continue YouthWorks pilot
program to staff expansion of
Defensible Space inspections in
Fire Zones 2 and 3. High WUI Fire
Provides career and workforce
development in public safety for local
youth.

Fire Department - WUI
Division
Measure FF
Youth Works Program
funds Ongoing
Reduce fire risk in existing
development through fire code
updates and enforcement.

Continue to periodically update
the Berkeley Fire Code and
adopt the California Fire Code
with local amendments to
incorporate the latest
knowledge and State
regulations to protect people
and property against known
risks in both structural and
non-structural building and site
components. High WUI Fire
The Fire Code incorporates the latest
knowledge in protecting the diverse
buildings that house the Berkeley
community.

Fire Department: Fire
Prevention Division
City General Fund
UC Settlement Fund
Permit Service Center
Enterprise Fund Ongoing
Reduce fire risk in existing
development through
vegetation management.

Explore additional options to
provide collaborative, citywide
vegetation management on
private and public property. High WUI Fire
Expand access to vegetation
management.

Fire Department - WUI
Division Measure FF Short term (1-5 years)
Reduce fire risk in existing
development through
vegetation management.

Maintain Weekly Curbside
Plant Debris Collection High WUI Fire
Expand access to vegetation
management.

Public Works
Department: Zero Waste
Division
City General Fund
Refuse Fee Ongoing

Action Description Proposed Activities
Priority
Level
Related
Natural
Hazard(s)
How would this benefit
underserved communities
and socially vulnerable
populations?
Lead Office,
Division, or
Department Funding Sources Timeline
Reduce fire risk in existing
development through
vegetation management.

Pursue external funding to
perform vegetation
management on public and
private property and to
increase education and
awareness of vegetation
management standards for fire
fuel reduction, home
hardening, and ignition
controls. High WUI Fire
Expand access to vegetation
management.

Fire Department - WUI
Division
Measure FF
City General Fund Ongoing
Reduce fire risk in existing
development through
vegetation management.

Maintain Fire Fuel Debris Bin
Program High WUI Fire
Expand access to vegetation
management.

Public Works
Department: Zero Waste
Division
City General Fund
Refuse Fee Ongoing
Reduce fire risk in existing
development through
vegetation management.

Maintain Fire Fuel Abatement
Program on Public Land with
technical assistance from WUI
Division High WUI Fire
Expand access to vegetation
management.

PRW: Senior Landscape
Supervisor

WUI Division
City General Fund
Refuse Fee
Measure FF Ongoing
Reduce fire risk in existing
development through
vegetation management.

Continue to allocate UC
Settlement Funding to do
vegetation management
projects on UC Berkeley
properties. High WUI Fire
Expand access to vegetation
management.

Fire Department - WUI
Division UC Settlement Fund Ongoing
Reduce fire risk in existing
development through
vegetation management.

Maintain redesigned and
expanded citywide fire fuel
chipper program to provide
curbside pickup, chipping, and
disposal of vegetation material
from residential properties. High WUI Fire
Expanded program provides access to
vegetation management support to all
City residents and is no longer limited.

Fire Department - WUI
Division Measure FF Ongoing
Reduce fire risk in existing
development through
vegetation management.

Manage the Eucalyptus
Understory Cleanup Program High WUI Fire
Expand access to vegetation
management.

Fire Department - WUI
Division Measure FF Short term (1-5 years)

Action Description Proposed Activities
Priority
Level
Related
Natural
Hazard(s)
How would this benefit
underserved communities
and socially vulnerable
populations?
Lead Office,
Division, or
Department Funding Sources Timeline
Reduce fire risk through
residential assistance program.

Continue to implement
Resident Assistant Program
pilot to provide home
hardening materials and
defensible space materials and
instructions to low income
residents in targeted high fire
risk areas. High WUI Fire
Provides subsidized materials to
residents at greatest risk of WUI fire.

Fire Department - WUI
Division Measure FF Short term (1-5 years)
Reduce fire risk through utility
undergrounding.

Urge PG&E to perform utility
undergrounding in Berkeley's
Very High Fire Hazard Severity
Zone (VHFHSZ) to mitigate
wildfire risk and limit
evacuation and ingress
obstruction. Coordinate efforts
with the State of CA Public
Utilities Commission, and
elected officials. High
WUI Fire
Earthquake
High Wind
Berkeley's Very High Fire Severity Zone
has residents with access and functional
needs that may have trouble evacuating
in a wildfire. Berkeley City Council City General Fund Short term (1-5 years) Reduce hazard vulnerabilities
for non-City-owned buildings
throughout Berkeley.

Continue to periodically update
and adopt the California
Building Standards Code with
local amendments to
incorporate the latest
knowledge and design
standards to protect people
and property against known
seismic, fire, flood and
landslide risks in both
structural and non-structural
building and site components.

High Multi-hazard
Underserved communities live in old
housing stock and multi-family
buildings.

Planning Department:

Building and Safety
Division
City General Fund Ongoing
Reduce hazard vulnerabilities
for non-City-owned buildings
throughout Berkeley.

Explain requirements and
provide guidance to owners of
potentially hazardous
structures to facilitate retrofit,
including owners participating
in the Earthquake Brace and
Bolt program, Earthquake Soft
Story Program, and those
applying for Transfer Tax
rebates.

High Multi-hazard
Underserved communities live in old
housing stock and multi-family
buildings.

Planning Department:

Building and Safety
Division

Finance Department (for
Transfer Tax applications
and disbursement)
City General Fund Ongoing

Action Description Proposed Activities
Priority
Level
Related
Natural
Hazard(s)
How would this benefit
underserved communities
and socially vulnerable
populations?
Lead Office,
Division, or
Department Funding Sources Timeline
Reduce wildfire risk throughout
Berkeley by implementing the
Action Plan identified in the
Community Wildfire Protection
Plan (CWPP).

Implement the Action Plan in
the CWPP. High WUI Fire
The CWPP has identified actions that
support low income residents in
conducting home hardening and
vegetation management.

Fire Department: WUI
Division
Measure FF
Cal Fire Grants Ongoing
Research, identify, and
implement infrastructure
improvements to facilitate
emergency evacuation.

Complete implementation of
the Evacuation and Response
Time Study to identify
necessary roadway safety
improvements, along with
prioritized roadways, to
facilitate safe evacuation
during emergency scenarios. High Multi-hazard
Evacuation is more difficult for people
with disabilities and people with access
and functional needs. Fire Department Measure FF Short term (1-5 years) Research, identify, and
implement infrastructure
improvements to facilitate
emergency evacuation.

Complete evacuation analysis
required by new State
evacuation laws under SB99,
AB747, and AB1409.

Incorporate findings into the
updated Safety Element of the
General Plan. High Multi-hazard
Evacuation is more difficult for people
with disabilities and people with access
and functional needs.

Fire Department: Office
of Emergency Services Measure FF Short term (1-5 years) Streamline the zoning
permitting process to rebuild
residential and commercial
structures following disasters.

Give priority to project
applications that would rebuild
to current standards following
disasters. Low Multi-hazard
This makes it easier to rebuild post
disaster, hopefully allowing for diverse
populations to stay in Berkeley.

Planning Department:

Land Use Division City General Fund Short term (1-5 years) Strengthen or replace City
buildings in the identified
prioritized order as funding is
available.

West Berkeley Service Center
Old City Hall
Veterans Memorial Building
High Multi-hazard
City facilities and structures serve
socially vulnerable populations day to
day and during emergencies.

Public Works
Department: Supervising
Civil Engineer for
Facilities
Building Resilient
Infrastructure and
Communities (BRIC)
Grant Program
Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program (HMGP)
City General Fund
T1 Bond
Ongoing
Strengthen or replace City
buildings in the identified
prioritized order as funding is
available.

Continue to seek funding to
seismically strengthen or
replace additional City
buildings in a prioritized order.

High Multi-hazard
City facilities and structures serve
socially vulnerable populations day to
day and during emergencies.

Public Works
Department: Supervising
Civil Engineer for
Facilities
Building Resilient
Infrastructure and
Communities (BRIC)
Grant Program
Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program (HMGP)
City General Fund
T1 Bond
Ongoing

Action Description Proposed Activities
Priority
Level
Related
Natural
Hazard(s)
How would this benefit
underserved communities
and socially vulnerable
populations?
Lead Office,
Division, or
Department Funding Sources Timeline
Strengthen or replace City
buildings in the identified
prioritized order as funding is
available.

MLK Junior Youth Services
Center, Williard Clubhouse,
African American Holistic
Resource Center. High Multi-hazard
The Center operates a lot of free
programs for the Berkeley community.

Parks, Recreation, and
Waterfront Department
City General Fund
T1 Bond
Parks Tax Short term (1-5 years)
Evaluate potential land use
controls impacts on emergency
services
Ensure that Fire Department
staff have the opportunity to
review any proposed revisions
to land use controls that would
increase allowed densities,
evaluate how the revised land
use controls could impact the
provision of emergency
services, and convey that
information to City Council
prior to final action. High Multi-hazard
Ensure that the provision of emergency
services to underserved and socially
vulnerable populations doesn't decline.

Fire Department

Planning Department:

Land Use Planning
City General Fund Ongoing

Other Actions Considered
Action
Description Proposed Activities
Priority
Level
Related
Natural
Hazard(s)
How would this benefit
underserved
communities and
socially vulnerable
populations?
Lead Office,
Division, or
Department
Funding
Sources Timeline Notes
Reduce fire risk in
existing
development
through vegetation
management.

Explore options for developing a
City-run hand crew to implement
vegetation management projects
on public and private property. High WUI Fire
Expand access to vegetation
management. Potential workforce
development opportunity people
who were formerly incarcerated.

Fire Department
- WUI Division Measure FF Long Term
Action considered but for longer time than in
the next five years.

Reduce fire risk
through
community-focused
education, training,
and fire code
updates.

Conduct multi-unit-residential
building inspections in all Fire
Zones. High WUI Fire
Lower income people live in multi-
residential-unit housing.

Fire Department
- Fire Prevention General Fund Ongoing Goal, but need more capacity

Action
Description Proposed Activities
Priority
Level
Related
Natural
Hazard(s)
How would this benefit
underserved
communities and
socially vulnerable
populations?
Lead Office,
Division, or
Department
Funding
Sources Timeline Notes
Reduce fire risk
through
community-focused
education, training,
and fire code
updates.

Using community volunteers,
through WUI Ambassador
Program, to educate people city-
wide on vegetation
management, home hardening,
and defensible space. High WUI Fire
Expand access to educational
programs and reach people who
would not otherwise receive
information.

Fire Department
- WUI Division Measure FF
Short term (1-5
years)
Pilot program in 2023-24, need to evaluate
what next steps might be
Reduce fire risk
through
community-focused
education, training,
and fire code
updates.

Conduct annual building
inspections in all Fire Zones. High WUI Fire
Fire Department
- Fire Prevention General Fund Ongoing Goal, but need more capacity Advance
opportunities for
water reuse.

Research and support
opportunities to advance purple
pipe implementation. Medium Multi-hazard
Increases the security of Berkeley's
water supplies from climate change
impacts for all residents
Planning and
Public Works
EBMUD is
expected to
fund
2024-2030
(estimated) Goal, but not the top of the priority list
Reduce Berkeley’s
vulnerability to
extreme heat
events and
associated hazards.

Tree planting/urban forestry
program High
Poor Air Quality,
Extreme Heat
Reduces heat island effect,
mitigates through carbon
sequestration Parks and Rec
In progress;
needs PRW
vetting and
input
In progress; needs
PRW vetting and
input
Some new actions included around urban
forestry, but room to build out more capacity in
the future
Reduce flood risk
Nature based solutions at
shoreline Medium Flooding
Underserved communities are
most likely to live in/near areas
that would be impacted
Public Works and
Parks
Needs
PRW/PW
vetting and
input
Needs PRW/PW
vetting and input
Some new actions included around nature-
based solutions on the shoreline, but room to
build out more capacity in the future
Implement existing
City programs,
plans, and projects
designed to reduce
emissions that
contribute to poor
air quality.

Continue to manage on-street
parking and maintain City
parking garages to reduce
emissions by making it easier to
find a parking space more quickly
(reducing the time spent circling
around looking for parking). Air Quality
Extreme Heat,
Poor Air Quality
Poor air quality disproportionately
impacts communities of color, and
South and West Berkeley.

Public Works
Department -
Transportation
Division
City funds,
County
Transportation
Sales Tax, and
Grant Funding Ongoing
This is something that the City does and has
infrastructure for, but not entirely sure the
research is there that it helps reduce emissions.

Further work to expand air quality mitigation
measures for next round

Action
Description Proposed Activities
Priority
Level
Related
Natural
Hazard(s)
How would this benefit
underserved
communities and
socially vulnerable
populations?
Lead Office,
Division, or
Department
Funding
Sources Timeline Notes
Strengthen or
replace City
buildings in the
identified prioritized
order as funding is
available. South Berkeley Senior Center High Multihazard The South Berkeley Senior Center
serves South Berkeley, the area of
Berkeley with higher numbers of
people of color and low income
residents.

Parks,
Recreation, and
Waterfront
Department CRC grant
Short term (1-5
years)
The City applied for a CRC grant to fund this
effort, but was not awarded. New funding must
be identified.

2024 Community Actions
Hazard Action Type Action Cost Time Commitment Resources Air Quality Home Improvement
Replace or seal leaky
windows and doors High High https://www.csd.ca.gov/Pages/Low-Income-Weatherization-Program.aspx Air Quality Buy
Purchase equipment to
clean air inside your home Medium Low https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/list-carb-certified-air-cleaning-devices Air Quality Buy
Construct an air cleaner
with a box fan and a filter Low Low https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/fact-sheets/indoor-air-cleaners-and-wildfire-smoke-faq-0 Air Quality Stay updated
Be familiar with the Air
Quality Index None Low https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics/ Air Quality Stay updated
Bookmark sites with key
information, like AirNow.gov
and Fire.AirNow.gov None Low
Air Quality
Protect Yourself and
Others
When there is poor air, stay
indoors with the windows
and doors closed None Low
Air Quality Learn
Know the signs that you or
those around you need
clean air None Low https://www.epa.gov/ozone-pollution-and-your-patients-health/patient-exposure-and-air-quality-index Earthquake Home Improvement
Secure your home by storing
heavy and breakable objects
on low shelves None Low

Hazard Action Type Action Cost Time Commitment Resources Earthquake Home Improvement
Secure your home by
securing bookshelves to the
wall Low Low
Earthquake Home Improvement
Move beds and sitting areas
away from windows None Low
Earthquake Home Improvement
Move or secure hanging
objects away fro beds, sofas,
and chairs Low Low
Earthquake Home Improvement
Use quake gel to secure
breakable items in place Low Low
Earthquake Home Improvement
Assess your home by hiring
an engineer and checking
building permits Medium Medium
Earthquake Home Improvement
Retrofit your home if
needed High High
Earthquake Home Improvement
Understand available grants
for seismic retrofits None Low https://berkeleyca.gov/construction-development/seismic-safety/funding-seismic-retrofits Earthquake Buy
Consider purchasing
earthquake insurance High Low
Earthquake Buy
Store water for a week (7
gallons per person) Medium Low
Earthquake Learn
Practice what to do in an
earthquake (drop, cover,
and hold on) None Low
Earthquake Learn
Learn how to turn off gas,
electricity, and water at
your house. None Low
Extreme
Heat Buy
Gather supplies to keep
yourself cool, including ice,
spray bottle, and personal
fan. Low Low
Extreme
Heat Home Improvement
Plan to keep your home cool
on days without air
conditioning. Medium Low https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BLfYtE4Kow Extreme
Heat Make a Plan
Decide where you will go
and how you will get there if
it gets too hot. None Low Malls, stores, and community cooling centers usually have air conditioning.

Extreme
Heat Volunteer
Check on friends, family,
and neighbors. None Medium
Flood
Protect Yourself and
Others
During a heat wave, drink
plenty of water, wear loose,
lightweight clothing, spray
yourself with water Low Medium
Flood Volunteer
Protect your neighborhood
and keep water flowing by None Medium https://berkeleyca.gov/community-recreation/volunteering/adopt-drain

Hazard Action Type Action Cost Time Commitment Resources participating in the adopt a
drain program
Flood Home Improvement
Routinely clean and
maintain gutters,
downspouts, and splash
blocks. Medium Medium
Flood Home Improvement
If stormwater does not drain
away from building, change
landscaping to improve
runoff. Medium Medium
Flood Home Improvement
Implement lower cost
projects to reduce your
flooding risk Medium Medium https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_protect-your-home-from-flooding-brochure_2020.pdf Flood Home Improvement Elevate important items None Low Flood Learn
How to sandbag and
whether sandbags will be
protective for your property Low Medium https://www.cityofmadison.com/flooding/during-a-flood/how-to-sandbag Flood
Protect Yourself and
Others
Do not walk, swim, or drive
through flood waters None Low
High Wind Home Improvement
Keep trees near your home
properly maintained. Medium Medium
High Wind Home Improvement
Bring in or secure any loose
outdoor items, such as
holiday decorations an
chairs. None Low
High Wind
Protect Yourself and
Others
During high winds, if you
must be outdoors, keep
your distance from trees None Low
High Wind
Protect Yourself and
Others
During high winds, avoid
driving, especially in high
profile vehicles. None Low
Landslides Home Improvement
Have flexible pipe fittings
installed to avoid gas or
water leaks, as flexible
fittings are more resistant to
breakage. Medium Medium Note, only PG&E or other professionals should install gas fittings Landslides Learn
If you learn you’re in an area
susceptible to landslides
(Berkeley hills generally),
familiarize yourself with
landslide warning signs. None Low
https://www.usgs.gov/programs/landslide-hazards/landslide-preparedness#:~:text=assistance%20to%20evacuate.- ,Evacuate.,if%20escape%20is%20not%20possible
Landslides Buy
Consider a "Difference in
Coverage" Insurance Policy
to cover the gap in typical
homeowner's insurance. High Low

Hazard Action Type Action Cost Time Commitment Resources Tsunami Learn
Understand Berkeley’s
tsunami inundation area to
identify whether you might
find yourself in the tsunami
inundation zone None Low
Tsunami Learn
Know nature's warning signs
of a near source tsunami None Low Earthquake with ground shaking, loud ocean roar, quickly receding water Tsunami Stay updated
Be ready to act on tsunami
alerts by signing up for AC
Alert None Low https://member.everbridge.net/453003085612570/login Tsunami Stay updated
Bookmark and get familiar
with Berkeley's Emergency
Map None Low https://protect.genasys.com/search?z=15.664002727664615&latlon=37.867534308013134%2C-122.2869101 Tsunami Stay updated
Get familiar with the test
and emergency tones from
Berkeley's Outdoor Warning
System None Low https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/our-work/capital-projects/outdoor-warning-system-emergency-siren-network Tsunami Make a Plan
If you live in the inundation
zone, make your household
evacuation plan for tsunami. None Medium Decide where you will go, what you will pack, how you will get there, and who can help Tsunami Make a Plan
If you are part of the
maritime community, plan
for your boat. None Medium
Tsunami
Protect Yourself and
Others
If you are part of the
maritime community,
prepare a go bag or
backpack if you need to
evacuate quickly. Medium Medium
Tsunami
Protect Yourself and
Others
If a tsunami alert is issued,
monitor your phone, follow
evacuation orders, and do
not go towards the tsunami. None Low
Utility
Disruption Buy
Have an emergency supply
kit that includes water,
food, medications,
flashlights, batteries,
important documents, and
cash. Medium Medium
Utility
Disruption Buy
Consider having a battery-
powered portable charger Varies Medium Depends on what kind of water you buy - some vessels are expensive, but last longer.

Utility
Disruption Buy
Store water for a week (7
gallons per person) Medium Low
Utility
Disruption Make a Plan
Make a plan to stay safe and
comfortable during power
outages Medium High

Hazard Action Type Action Cost Time Commitment Resources Utility
Disruption Make a Plan
Explore alternative sources
of information and
entertainment when
internet access is
unavailable None Medium
Utility
Disruption Make a Plan
Make a backup
communications plan with
your family. Choose a
meeting a place if you can't
reach each other. None Medium
Utility
Disruption Make a Plan
Make sure PG&E can reach
you and alert you to an
outage by calling 1-800-743-
5000 and updating your
contact information.

Utility
Disruption Home Improvement
Modify your toilet to collect
waste without flushing or
use a five-gallon bucket Medium Medium
Utility
Disruption
Protect Yourself and
Others
Know the location of your
circuit breakers and fuse
boxes and how to check
them None Low
Wildfire Home Improvement
If you're in Fire Zones 2 or 3,
review your home's
Defensible Space Report and
follow the instructions on
defensible space and home
hardening. Varies Varies
Wildfire Home Improvement
Use the Free Chipper Day
program to remove
vegetation material from
your property None Medium https://www.chipperday.com/berkeley/ Wildfire Home Improvement
Use guidance on
BerkeleyFire.Com to harden
your home and create
defensible space Varies Varies
Wildfire Make a Plan
Make your household fire
weather plan None High https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/2022-02/berkeley-fire-weather-planning-tool.pdf Wildfire
Protect Yourself and
Others
Stay out of the hills on
extreme fire weather days Varies Varies https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/2022-02/berkeley-fire-weather-planning-tool.pdf Wildfire
Protect Yourself and
Others
Sign up for AC Alert to
receive evacuation and
other emergency
notifications None Low https://member.everbridge.net/453003085612570/login Wildfire
Protect Yourself and
Others
Bookmark the Berkeley
Emergency Map None Low https://protect.genasys.com/search?z=15.664002727664615&latlon=37.867534308013134%2C-122.2869101

Internal

EXHIBIT B
DRAFT

GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT
The proposed changes to the fifth paragraph on page S-3 of the Disaster Preparedness and Safety Element are as follows:

In 2004, the City adopted its first Hazard Mitigation Plan. It is part of the Disaster Preparedness and Safety Element of the General Plan. The City updated the Disaster Mitigation Plan in 2014 and renamed it the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP). On 12/16/14, the City Council adopted the LHMP (by reference) into the General Plan. (Reso. 66,897-NS (Exh. A), 2014). The LHMP has since been updated in 2019 (Reso. 69,237-NS (Exh. A), 2019) and in 2025 [City Council Resolution #] superseding previously adopted plans. The LHMP will continue to be updated periodically, as required by State and Federal regulations.

ATTACHMENT 2

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

BERKELEY CITY COUNCIL

LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN (LHMP) UPDATE AND

ASSOCIATED TECHNICAL EDIT TO THE GENERAL PLAN DISASTER

PREPAREDNESS AND SAFETY ELEMENT
The public may participate in this hearing by remote video or in-person.

The Fire Department Office of Emergency Services is updating the City’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) which identifies natural hazards in Berkeley and outlines a five- year strategy to further protect Berkeley’s people, buildings, infrastructure and environment from those hazards. Adoption of the updated LHMP is required for the City to be eligible for federal and state mitigation funding and post-disaster recovery funding.

In order to comply with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services’ (Cal OES) requirements, the City’s General Plan Disaster Preparedness and Safety Element must be amended to explicitly reference the adoption year of the LHMP update. City’s LHMP was last adopted in 2014 and 2019.

The Planning and Development Department is proposing a non-substantive technical amendment to the General Plan Disaster Preparedness and Safety Element to reference the adoption year of this latest LHMP update.

The hearing will be held on, March 18, 2025 at 6:00 pm in the School District Board Room, located at 1231 Addison Street, Berkeley CA 94702.

A copy of the agenda material for this hearing will be available on the City’s website at https://berkeleyca.gov/ as of March 6, 2025. Once posted, the agenda for this meeting will include a link for public participation using Zoom video technology, as well as any health and safety requirements for in-person attendance.

For further information, please contact Alisa Shen, Principal Planner, Department of Planning and Development at 510-981-7409.
.

Written comments should be mailed or delivered directly to the City Clerk, 2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704, or e-mailed to
[email protected] in order to ensure
delivery to all Councilmembers and inclusion in the agenda packet.

Communications to the Berkeley City Council are public record and will become part of the City’s electronic records, which are accessible through the City’s website. Please note: e-mail addresses, names, addresses, and other contact information are not required, but if included in any communication to the City Council, will become part of the public record. If you do not want your e-mail address or any other contact information to be made public, you may deliver communications via U.S. Postal Service or in person to the City Clerk. If you do not want your contact information included in the public record, please do not include that information in your communication. Please

ATTACHMENT 2
contact the City Clerk at (510) 981-6900 or [email protected] for further information.

Published: March 7, 2025 – The Berkeley Voice
Public Hearing required by BMC 23.412.050 and Govt Code 65853; notice provided according to Govt Code 65090 and BMC 23.404.040.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I hereby certify that the Notice for this Public Hearing of the Berkeley City Council was posted at the display case located near the walkway in front of the Maudelle Shirek Building, 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, as well as on the City’s website, on March 6, 2025.
__________________________________
Mark Numainville, City Clerk

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
FEMA
Region 9
1111 Broadway, Suite 1200
Oakland, CA 94607-4052
www.fema.gov
January 13, 2025
Jamie
Albrecht
Emergency Services Coordinator
City
of Berkeley, Office of Emergency Se rvices
2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley, CA 94704
Dear Jamie Albrecht:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has completed its review of the City of Berkeley 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and has determined that this plan is eligible for final approval pending its adoption by the City of Berkeley.

For
mal adoption documentation must be submitted to FEMA Region 9 within one calendar year of the date of this lette r, or the entire plan must be updated and resubmitted for revie w. FEMA will approve the plan upon receipt of the documentation of formal adoption.

If you have any questions regarding the planning or revie w processes, please contact the FEMA
Region 9 Hazard Mitigation Planning Team at [email protected].

Sincerely,
Alison Kearns
Planning and Implementation Branch Chief
Mitigation Division
FEMA Region 9
Enclosure (1)
cc:

City of Berkeley Plan Review Tool, dated January 13, 2025 Robyn Fennig, State Hazard Mitigation Officer, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
Victoria
LaMar-Haas, Hazard Mitigation Planning Chief, California Governor’s Office of Emergency
Services

Commission on the Status of Women
2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 ● Tel: (510) 981-7000 ● TDD: (510) 981-6903 ● Fax: (510) 981-7099 E-Mail: [email protected] Website: https://berkeleyca.gov/

ACTION CALENDAR
March 18, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Commission on the Status of Women
Submitted By: Carole Marasovic, Chairperson, Commission on the Status of Women Subject: Formation of a Sex Trafficking Task Force to Address Current Sex Trafficking in Berkeley

RECOMMENDATION
To recommend to Council to refer to the City Manager to form a sex trafficking task force. The Task Force’s objective shall be two-fold: to develop recommendations of sex trafficking prevention strategies to be implemented including through social media and to provide recommendations for supports for women and girls seeking to exit sex trafficking.

That the Task Force be comprised as follows: 2 members of the Commission on the Status of Women (1 of whom will be a UC Berkeley student); 1-2 members of the Berkeley Police Department formerly or currently working on this issue in Berkeley as determined by the Berkeley Police Department; 2 members of the 2x2 Committee (1 of whom shall be a Councilmember and 1 of whom shall be a School Board member); 1 member of the City of Berkeley Youth Commission who is a Berkeley High School student; 1 person with knowledge and expertise in sex trafficking, prevention and resources, that person unidentified with a Berkeley City-funded agency so as to avoid any potential conflict of interest in the recommendations; 1 woman with a history of having been sex-trafficked (a stipend is recommended for that member of the Task Force); and 1 person with expertise in workplace development and related economic resources.

POLICY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
No final action was taken by Health, Life Enrichment, Equity & Community Policy Committee. Item is automatically returning to the Council agenda pursuant to time limit for items referred to policy committees.

FISCAL IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION
The fiscal impacts of this recommendation are best determined by staff.

Formation of a Sex Trafficking Task Force ACTION CALENDAR to Address Current Sex Trafficking in Berkeley March 18, 2025

CURRENT SITUATION AND ITS EFFECTS
The Commission on the Status of Women heard from several speakers on sex trafficking in Berkeley including a FBI Special Agent entrusted with pursuing human trafficking in Berkeley. That FBI Special Agent disclosed that in the last 3 years, 12 sex trafficking operations were prosecuted in Berkeley.

Since the last time these issues were explored through a Task Force in Berkeley, that being with City Council forming a task force in 2012 which concluded in 2013, the landscape has changed. The previous Task Force resulted in the Berkeley Police Department’s closure of Berkeley massage parlors.

Currently, the presence of sex trafficking in Berkeley has moved away from the streets and massage parlors, into more covert operations. These operations often are transacted through social media.

Contrary to what may be commonly believed, the FBI Special Agent advised the Commission that no social or economic class was precluded from being recruited into sex trafficking.

The Commission on the Status of Women also heard from MISSYE, a support organization in Oakland, for girls and women exiting sex trafficking. Last, the Commission heard from an expert in human trafficking with extensive experience in working on cases with women and girls in Contra Costa County and Marin County, also having worked on a cross-jurisdictional case in collaboration with the Berkeley Police Department. She disclosed that she has worked on cases with victims as young as 2 years old.

BACKGROUND
On April 17, 2024, the Commission on the Status of Women passed a motion as follows:

To recommend to Council to refer to the City Manager to form a sex trafficking task force. The Task Force’s objective shall be two-fold: to develop recommendations of sex trafficking prevention strategies to be implemented including through social media and to provide recommendations for supports for women and girls seeking to exit sex trafficking.

That the Task Force be comprised as follows: 2 members of the Commission on the Status of Women (1 of whom will be a UC Berkeley student); 2 members of the Berkeley Police Department formerly or currently working on this issue in Berkeley; 2 members of the 2x2 Committee (1 of whom shall be a Councilmember and 1 of whom shall be a School Board member); 1 member of the City of Berkeley Youth Commission who is a Berkeley High School student; 1 person with knowledge and expertise in sex trafficking, prevention and resources, that person unidentified with a Berkeley City-

Formation of a Sex Trafficking Task Force ACTION CALENDAR to Address Current Sex Trafficking in Berkeley March 18, 2025

funded agency so as to avoid any potential conflict of interest in the recommendations; 1 woman with a history of having been sex-trafficked ( a stipend is recommended for that member of the Task Force); and 1 person with expertise in workplace development and related economic resources.

M/S/C: Marasovic, Ortiz-Cedeno
Ayes: Goodwin, Marasovic, Oliver, Ortiz-Cedeno, Posey, Seshagiri Noes: None
Abstain:

Absent: Arora
Leave of Absence: Boyd, Plese

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
There are no known identifiable environmental effects.

RATIONALE FOR RECOMMENDATION
Based on the information received, the Commission on the Status of Women believes that it is advisable to form another sex trafficking task force to address current concerns around sex trafficking prevention strategies and supports for women and girls seeking to exit sex trafficking.

The landscape has changed. With 12 sex trafficking operations prosecuted in Berkeley in the last 3 years, the Commission believes that sex trafficking should be addressed locally through prevention strategies, particularly through social media which as a double-edged sword can be used both positively and negatively and through supports for women and girls needing resources to successfully exit sex trafficking in a safe, humane, supportive manner.

ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS CONSIDERED
The only alternative is to not address the issue.

CITY MANAGER
This initiative is not in the Health, Housing and Community Services Department’s work plan and it would be challenging to redirect resources to this work in the near future.

The City Manager recommends that the Commission develop a subcommittee to identify recommendations of sex trafficking prevention strategies including through social media and to provide recommendations for supports for women and girls seeking to exit sex trafficking.

Formation of a Sex Trafficking Task Force ACTION CALENDAR to Address Current Sex Trafficking in Berkeley March 18, 2025

CONTACT PERSON
Okeya Vance-Dozier, Commission Secretary, City Manager’s Office, (510) 981-7239

Internal

ACTION CALENDAR
March 18, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
Submitted by: Jennifer Louis, Chief of Police
Subject: Revised External Fixed Surveillance Camera Locations and Vendor Transition

RECOMMENDATION
We recommend Council approve a resolution authorizing the City Manager to begin the Surveillance Technology Ordinance (STO) process with a proposal to transition the External Fixed Video Surveillance Camera program from Edgeworth Integration, LLC to Flock Safety. This proposal also reallocates camera placements away from corridors already served by the ALPR system and positions them in areas with high pedestrian traffic. The change addresses installation challenges such as PGE power limitations and Caltrans right-of-way delays and strengthens the City's ability to respond to and investigate crime. We recommend that the resolution authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary actions to implement this transition in compliance with applicable ordinances and policies. We also recommend that Council provide authorization as required by the STO to the City Manager to seek available grant funding for surveillance cameras.

The proposed camera placements result from a detailed review of key factors. We identified locations where monitoring would capture individuals entering or exiting areas of heavy pedestrian traffic. Analysis of crime trends and retail theft data revealed zones that would benefit most from surveillance. Local feedback from business districts and community meetings also indicated specific areas of concern. These considerations have led us to propose camera sites adjacent to key intersections:
 Center / MLK  College / Ashby
 Milvia / Alston  9th / Gilman
 Center / Shattuck  Solano / Colusa
 University / Shattuck  4th / Hearst
 Cedar / Shattuck  Adeline / Fairview
 Durant / Telegraph  Shattuck / Ashby
 4th / Virginia  62rd / King
 University / MLK  College / Alcatraz

Internal

In the case that additional funding becomes available and/or Council wishes to authorize more locations, we propose additional camera sites adjacent to these intersections: Ashby / Domingo, Ashby / San Pablo, Ashby / 6th and University / San Pablo.

This revision responds to two main issues. First, camera placements along Ashby and San Pablo will encounter delays due to Caltrans right-of-way challenges and Edgeworth cameras have electricity requirements that cannot be accommodated within our flat-rate contracts for traffic signals with PGE, and installing a dedicated meter would be prohibitively expensive. These challenges render the installation of Edgeworth cameras unfeasible. Second, the widespread deployment of ALPRs now covers vehicle movements, which makes the previously approved locations redundant.

The new approach concentrates on high-foot-traffic areas that promise improved evidence collection during incidents.

CURRENT SITUATION AND ITS EFFECTS
Initial camera placements were selected to address vehicle-related crime patterns.

The recent deployment of ALPRs now records vehicle ingress and egress citywide.

This overlap has rendered some of the originally planned sites unnecessary. In parallel, installation delays on Ashby and San Pablo have emerged from issues with the Caltrans right-of-way. PGE restrictions have also prevented the use of traffic signal poles for powering Edgeworth cameras.

Switching to Flock resolves these issues because its solar-powered cameras can be mounted on any pole along the City’s right-of-way, and focusing on pedestrian traffic removes the impetus for placing cameras on Caltrans ROW. In addition, these cameras integrate seamlessly with Flock's ALPR system. They offer superior technical specifications, featuring advanced pan, tilt, and zoom capabilities along with robust real-time activity alerts.

Adopting a new vendor triggers the requirement to submit a fresh acquisition report under the Surveillance Technology Ordinance. Although the underlying technology remains consistent, the ordinance mandates a new submission and waiting period. In addition, the City must work with Edgeworth and Finance to resolve the $292,000 already expended. Future council items may include authorizing the reallocation of these funds as well as presenting the new acquisition report after review by the Police Accountability Board.

BACKGROUND
Council actions on October 12, 2021, and January 30, 2024 authorized the installation of External Fixed Video Surveillance Cameras at designated intersections. The original directive allocated $600,000 from the FY 2024 baseline Public Works budget (General Fund 011) for cameras at key locations, and the City has already disbursed $290,000 to Edgeworth Integration, LLC. Recent evaluations have uncovered significant challenges with this approach. Edgeworth's cameras and servers draw more significantly more electricity than permitted under our flat-rate contract with PGE for

Internal

traffic signals- a limitation that prevents installation at all the approved sites. In addition, Caltrans right-of-way issues are delaying installations specifically along Ashby and San Pablo. Furthermore, the City's expanding rollout of ALPR cameras now renders the original locations redundant for vehicle tracking purposes. The ALPR project is progressing well, with 32 of 52 approved Flock ALPRs installed; the remaining sites along Ashby and San Pablo await Caltrans permits. Given these issues, we propose a revised plan that pivots our focus to high-foot-traffic areas while adopting Flock’s solar-powered cameras. This vendor switch resolves our electricity challenges and integrates seamlessly with our ALPR system, offering increased investigative value and more effective evidence collection during incidents..

ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS CONSIDERED
Staff considered continuing with the original set of intersections. However, internal reviews suggest that the proposed sites offer more targeted coverage, prompting this request to redistribute the installations. Staff also considered continuing with Edgeworth products; however, technical challenges have rendered this alternative unworkable.

RATIONALE FOR RECOMMENDATION
The revised strategy enables Public Works to complete the camera installations promptly. Devices will be located at points that best support investigations and discourage criminal behavior. Of the 15 fixed camera locations originally proposed and approved by Council that remain uninstalled, 1 location is included the proposed plan for surveillance cameras (62nd / King), 9 are directly covered by an installed or planned ALPR camera (San Pablo / University; 7th / Ashby; San Pablo / Ashby; Sacramento / Ashby; College / Ashby) and the remaining 5 are on thoroughfares covered by nearby ALPRs (7th / Dwight, San Pablo / Dwight, Claremont / Ashby, Alcatraz / College, Woolsey / Shattuck).

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE IMPACTS
Transitioning to solar-powered cameras will reduce the carbon footprint of this project

FISCAL IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION
The FY 2024 baseline Public Works budget (General Fund 011) provides $600,000 to support this project. Flock solar-powered cameras are priced at $5,000 per camera each year. At that rate, the 15 approved cameras will require an annual expenditure of $75,000. The City has already disbursed $290,000 to Edgeworth, but Public Works and the Finance Department will work with Edgeworth to reassign these funds to other projects, including camera installations at the animal shelter, transfer station, and corporation yard. An additional $310,000 remains requisitioned and unspent. This

Internal

amount covers four years of operating costs for the Flock cameras. If the $290,000 is recovered, it would provide an additional four years of funding.

The Flock surveillance cameras qualify for a consortium purchasing agreement—the same method we used to purchase Flock ALPRs—allowing the City to leverage pre‑negotiated pricing and standardized terms.

Additionally, grant funding is available to support the purchase, subject to Council approval per the Surveillance Technology Ordinance. Therefore, we are also requesting permission to seek a grant—including one scheduled to close on March 21, 2025, for up to $300,000—to cover the purchase costs.

CONTACT PERSON
Jennifer Louis, Chief of Police, (510) 981-5700

ATTACHMENTS
1: Resolution

Internal

RESOLUTION NO. ##,###N.S.

RESOLUTION APPROVING REDISTRIBUTION OF FIXED CAMERAS AND

AUTHORIZING VENDOR TRANSITION
WHEREAS, the City’s earlier plan for External Fixed Video Surveillance Cameras no longer reflects current operational needs because the Automated License Plate Recognition system now covers key corridors; and
WHEREAS, ongoing issues—including delays from Caltrans right-of-way complications and PGE power supply restrictions—have hindered installations at the initially designated sites; and
WHEREAS, a detailed review of crime trends, retail theft data, and community feedback has identified that reallocating surveillance resources to high pedestrian traffic areas will provide greater investigative value and more effective evidence collection during incidents; and
WHEREAS, the updated plan shifts camera installations to select locations, namely:
 Center / MLK  College / Ashby
 Milvia / Alston  9th / Gilman
 Center / Shattuck  Solano / Colusa
 University / Shattuck  4th / Hearst
 Cedar / Shattuck  Adeline / Fairview
 Durant / Telegraph  Shattuck / Ashby
 4th / Virginia  62rd / King
 University / MLK  College / Alcatraz
WHEREAS, switching from Edgeworth Integration, LLC to Flock Safety permits the use of solar-powered cameras that can be installed on any City right-of-way pole and integrated with the ALPR network without previous constraints; and WHEREAS, the fiscal framework for this revised approach aligns with the Public Works budget while addressing funds previously allocated to projects with Edgeworth Integration; and
WHEREAS, the revised strategy adheres to the approved Surveillance Camera Policy and is expected to provide more effective coverage for investigative purposes.

NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED that the City Manager is hereby authorized to:

1. Initiate the process to transition the External Fixed Video Surveillance Camera program from Edgeworth Integration, LLC to Flock Safety, including the adoption of solar-powered cameras;

Internal

2. Reallocate camera placements from corridors now served by the ALPR system to the high pedestrian traffic intersections identified above;

3. Execute all necessary actions, in compliance with applicable ordinances and policies, to implement the revised camera installation strategy;

4. Submit a new acquisition report as required under the Surveillance Technology Ordinance; and

5. Seek, on behalf of the City, available grant funding to assist with the purchase costs of the new system.

Communications

All communications submitted to the City Council are
public record. Communications are not published directly to the City’s website. Copies of individual communications are available for viewing at the City Clerk Department and through Records Online.

City Clerk Department
2180 Milvia Street
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 981-6900

Records Online
https://records.cityofberkeley.info/

To search for communications associated with a particular City Council meeting using Records Online:

1. Select Search Type = “Public – Communication Query (Keywords)”

2. From Date: Enter the date of the Council meeting

3. To Date: Enter the date of the Council meeting (this may match the From Date field)

4. Click the “Search” button

5. Communication packets matching the entered criteria will be returned

6. Click the desired file in the Results column to view the document as a PDF