CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE & AGENDA
April 12, 2023
Meeting Time: 2:30 p.m.
Meeting Location: Big Bear Lake Civic Center, 39707 Big Bear Boulevard, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
COUNCILMEMBERS
MAYOR RANDALL PUTZ
MAYOR PRO TEM PERRI MELNICK
COUNCILMEMBER RICK HERRICK
COUNCILMEMBER BYNETTE MOTE
COUNCILMEMBER KENDI SEGOVIA
CITY STAFF
CITY MANAGER ERIK SUND
CITY ATTORNEY STEPHEN DEITSCH
CITY CLERK ERICA STEPHENSON
DEPUTY CITY CLERK REBECCA CANNON
__________________________________________________________________________________________
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
NOTICE & AGENDA
To:
Mayor Randall Putz
Mayor Pro Tem Perri Melnick
Councilmember Rick Herrick
Councilmember Bynette Mote
Councilmember Kendi Segovia
City Manager
City Attorney
Division Managers
Local Media
NOTICE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the City Council will conduct a Special Meeting on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at 2:30 p.m., at 39707 Big Bear Blvd, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315; said meeting is being called pursuant to Section 54956 of the Government Code of the State of California for the purpose of considering the following matter:
AGENDA
OPEN SESSION
CALL TO ORDER
SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA
April 12, 2023 – Page 2
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
The public is encouraged to submit written public communications about any item on this meeting agenda, to the City Clerk in person, via mail or by email at [email protected]. All written communications received by the City Clerk prior to the meeting will be distributed to the City Council prior to the start of the meeting, however, the public is encouraged to submit comments by 5:00 pm the day before this meeting to ensure adequate time for Council review and consideration.
Public comment is permitted only on items included on the posted agenda. There is a three-minute maximum time limit when addressing Council during this time period. The time limit is subject to adjustment at the discretion of the Presiding Officer. Speakers are limited to their individual maximum time limit and other members of the public cannot cede their speaking time to another person.
DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEM
1. REVIEW OF CITY’S EMERGENCY OPERATION PLAN
City Council will review and discuss the City’s Emergency Operations Plan and provide feedback and direction to staff for future emergencies.
Environmental Determination: Under Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, this is exempt under the “common sense exemption” and, therefore, no environmental review is required.
ADJOURNMENT
I hereby certify under penalty of perjury, under the laws of the State of California, that the foregoing agenda was posted in accordance with the applicable legal requirements. Dated this 6 th day of April, 2023.
_______________________
Erica Stephenson, City Clerk
The City of Big Bear Lake wishes to make all of its public meetings accessible to the public. If you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (909) 866-5831. Notification 72 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.
MEETING
DATE: April 12, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Erik Sund, City Manager
SUBJECT: Review of City’s Emergency Operation Plan
BACKGROUND
At the March 8, 2023 City Council meeting, the City Council received an update from staff on the storm event the City experienced. As part of this discussion, the City Council directed staff to come back at a future date and conduct a public workshop to discuss the City of Big Bear Lake’s (City) emergency response plan and provide feedback and direction to City staff for future emergencies. The agenda report from the March 8th City Council meeting is attached for your reference (Attachment 1).
DISCUSSION
The City can experience a wide range of emergencies and/or disasters that can effect the City.
These threats range from wildfires, earthquakes, flooding, snow related impacts, traffic related issues, power outages, etc. In each of these instances a variety of actions are needed and in most cases, a number of other public agencies are involved in the response to the incident. The recent storms are the catalyst for this discussion on how the City addresses future emergencies. Please reference Attachment 2, which is a chronological timeline from the recent storms.
As part of the City’s response to an emergency, the City has an Emergency Operations Plan (Attachment 3), that is based upon the State of California’s Standardized Emergency Management Systems (SEMS). SEMS is the cornerstone of California’s emergency response system and the fundamental structure for the response phase of emergency management. The system unifies all elements of California’s emergency management community into a single integrated system and standardizes key elements.
SEMS incorporates:
• Incident Command System (ICS) – A field-level emergency response system based on management by objectives.
• Multi/ Inter-agency coordination – Affected agencies working together to coordinate allocations of resources and emergency response activities. • Mutual Aid – A system for obtaining additional emergency resources from non-affected jurisdictions.
• Operational Area Concept – County and its sub-divisions to coordinate damage information, resource requests, and emergency response.
For more information on the SEMS structure, please click on the following link:
https://www.caloes.ca.gov/office-of-the-director/operations/planning-preparednessprevention/planning-preparedness/standardized-emergency-management-system/ The City is currently developing its budget for fiscal year 2023-24. In this budget, the City anticipates designating a position that will be responsible for emergency management services, in addition to other responsibilities. It is also the City’s intent to fund the drafting of a new Emergency Operations Plan in fiscal year 2023-24 and provide citywide training to all applicable staff and City Council, with the goal that all City staff understand their role in the event of an emergency response. This will benefit the City on many fronts: Federal reimbursement, mutual aid, and most importantly a more effective response to an emergency.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
Under Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, this is exempt under the “common sense exemption” and, therefore, no environmental review is required.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council review and discuss the City’s Emergency Operations Plan and provide direction to staff.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Agenda Report dated March 8, 2023
2. Powerpoint Presentation from March 8, 2023 Council Meeting
3. Emergency Operations Plan
ATTACHMENT 1
MEETING
DATE: March 8, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Erik Sund, City Manager
SUBJECT: 2023 Extreme Cold Winter Storm Event – Emergency Operations Overview
BACKGROUND
On Thursday, February 23, the National Weather Service issued a Blizzard Warning for the San Bernardino Mountains. At that time, the San Bernardino County Office of Emergency Services began issuing “Flash Reports” providing relevant public agencies pertinent information related to the event they titled the 2023 February Extreme Cold Winter Event. As a result, immediately the City staff began operating under non-stop emergency operations. On February 27, 2023, as the mountain communities continued to be besieged by several severe snow storms, San Bernardino County issued a Proclamation of Existence of a local Emergency, followed by Governor Gavin Newsom signing a Proclamation of a State of Emergency on March 1, 2023.
DISCUSSION
As a result of the 2023 Extreme Cold Winter Storm Event, the City staff began operating under 24/7 emergency snow conditions beginning Thursday, February 23. During these emergency operations, City officials engaged in collaborative snow removal efforts and life safety protection actions with all relevant agencies, such as the San Bernardino County Sheriff Department, Big Bear Fire Authority, California Highway Patrol and the team at Caltrans District 8. In addition, staff was in constant communication with all of the pertinent emergency agencies, including the San Bernardino County’s Office of Emergency Services, that had formed an incident command to manage this massive snow removal operation. All of these round the clock, collaborated efforts helped to safeguard Highway 18 through Lucerne as the Big Bear Valley’s “lifeline” for emergency access and essential deliveries. Throughout the emergency event, the City’s snow removal operations were primarily focused on maintaining at least one passable lane on all roads throughout Big Bear Lake, in an effort to ensure lifesaving emergency services could provide help to those in critical need.
This extremely significant one-week storm activity brought approximately 4 feet of snow accumulation in most areas of the City, which is not accustomed to these heavy snow fall totals, especially occurring over a one-week timeframe. City staff and City contractors did an outstanding job providing snow removal services 24 hours a day and working hard to maintain all of our equipment in good working order to help facilitate the snow plowing efforts. In addition, City employees’ continued operation of the City’s phone lines in an effort to address the community’s concerns. We have also utilized the City’s social media outlets as an effective tool to communicate timely and often with the public, by providing important updates related to the City and local agencies emergency operations. There are several more emergency operations and important collaborative efforts that were occurring “behind the scenes” as the City worked to support the community and provide assistance (i.e. providing snow plowing services on portions of Big Bear Blvd.) to our agency partners. Therefore, City staff and representatives from local government agencies will be providing the City Council and the public a detailed presentation regarding the recent emergency operations and engaging the City Council in a discussion related to these emergency actives.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact related to this discussion item. Although, in the coming weeks as all of the storm related expenses are submitted and calculated, City staff will identify all labor, professional services and material/supplies emergency operation expenses and work with State and County representatives in an effort to seek any available reimbursements for eligible expenses.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
Per section 15061 (b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, this item is exempt under the “common sense exemption” and, therefore, no environmental review is required.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council receive a presentation from City staff and representatives from local agencies that collaborated with City officials throughout the emergency storm operations. Furthermore, City Council is encouraged to engage in a discussion with City staff and local agency representatives regarding the City’s emergency response efforts related to the 2023 Extreme Cold Winter Storm Event.
ATTACHMENTS
1. California Proclamation of a State of Emergency
2. San Bernardino County Proclamation of Existence of a Local Emergency ATTACHMENT 2
City Council Meeting – March 8, 2023
Item 2.1 – 2023 Extreme Cold Winter Storm Event
2023 EXTREME COLD WINTER STORM EVENT
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS OVERVIEW
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Services Department
BACKGROUND
• Snow began falling in the Big Bear Valley on Tuesday, February 22, 2023.
• With minor breaks in between, snow stopped falling the morning of March 2, 2023.
• Public Works Staff measured snowfall accumulation of
approximately 85 inches during this period.
• Snow fall was likely higher at resort levels
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Services Department
SNOWFALL
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday February 19 February 20 February 21 February 22 February 23 February 24 February 25 12” 10” 3” 12”
February 26 February 27 February 28 March 1 March 2 March 3 March 4 - 2” 14” 32” - - -
Staff Measured Snow Fall: 85” / 7’1”
2021/22 Season Total: 42”
2020/21 Season Total: 72”
2019/20 Season Total: 58”
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Services Department
SNOW REMOVAL ACTIVITES
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Services Department
SNOW REMOVAL ACTIVITES
Jurisdictional Notes:
• The City of Big Bear Lake is responsible for snow removal on all City streets
• Caltrans is responsible for snow removal on Big Bear
Boulevard throughout the valley
• The City removes snow from the sidewalks along Big Bear Boulevard under a reimbursement agreement with the State • County Public Works / Special Districts is responsible for all streets in the County unincorporated area
• Status of Highways into Big Bear – Caltrans/CHP
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Services Department
SNOW REMOVAL ACTIVITES
• The City is broken up into eleven (11) districts
• 4 are managed by City crews
• 1 is managed by Big Bear Mountain Resorts
• 6 are managed under on-call contract
• The City’s on-call contractors with assigned districts:
• Roman’s Construction
• Mile High Equipment
• Nolan Thoren Construction
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Services Department
SNOW REMOVAL RESOURCES
• 27 City Field Personnel
• City Owned/Rented
• 1 – Motor Grader
• 8 – Loaders
• 6 – Backhoes
• 4 – Dump Trucks
• 2 – Blowers
• Contractors
• 2 – Motor Graders
• 5 – Loaders
• 5 – Backhoes
• 10 + Dump Trucks
• 2 – Blowers
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Services Department
SNOW REMOVAL ACTIVITES
• In the predawn hours of February 22, staff mobilized all available snow removal resources.
• This commenced 24-hour operations with the City crews working in approximately 12-hour shifts
• As of right now, work continues nearly around the clock City of Big Bear Lake | Public Services Department
SNOW REMOVAL ACTIVITES
• Snow is pushed to the right side of the roadway
• After several days of this effort, resulting from the size and duration of this storm, crews began
using blowers and buckets to widen roadways
• Berm reduction has been undertaken during the
widening of roadways and will continue into this
weekend
• Snow is loaded into trucks and removed from the
Village, Moonridge Corridor, Big Bear Boulevard
Sidewalks, and cul-de-sacs as needed
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Services Department
HIGHWAY STATUS
• As the snow began to fall and roadway conditions began to degrade, Caltrans and the CHP began issuing chain restrictions and closures for the highways into Big Bear
• Current Roadway Status:
• State Route 330 / 18 (Front Grade)- Big Bear is not
accessible from this approach at this time.
• State Route 38 (Redlands) is open to residents, critical workers, and critical supplies.
• State Route 18 (Lucerne Valley) is open with no restrictions.
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Services Department
ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES / COMMODITIES
• On February 25, staff began to work with CHP,
Caltrans, and San Bernardino County Sheriff
to ensure a viable supply of commodities in
Big Bear.
• SR-18 from Lucerne Valley was designated as
the “lifeline” for these critical supplies.
• Dozens of trucks were able to arrive in Big
Bear during the incident:
• Food, Fuel, Mail and more
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Services Department
LOOKING AHEAD - WEATHER
• Staff is monitoring two potential rain events that are forecasted in the coming week.
• Friday into Saturday – Potential for rainfall of 0.50” – 1.0” • Middle of Next Week – Potential for increased rainfall of 1.0” or more • Staff will continue to monitor the weather forecasts as they are updated often
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Services Department
LOOKING AHEAD - OPERATIONS
• Crews will continue to work on snow removal on Big Bear Boulevard through tonight.
• Crews are focusing on the following priorities:
• Continuing Berm Reduction Operations
• Clearing and opening drainage infrastructure
• Preparing sandbags
• Coordinating staff for any response
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Services Department
COMMUNICATIONS
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Services Department
CONTACT INFORMATION
CITY OF BIG BEAR LAKE
www.citybigbearlake.com
City Hall (909) 866-5831
Public Works (909) 866-7521
CALTRANS DISTRICT 8:
Road Conditions:
https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/
909-383-4631
SUPERVISOR DAWN ROWE:
https://bosd3.sbcounty.gov/
909-387-4855
BIG BEAR SHERIFF’S STATION:
www.sbcounty.gov
909-866-0100
BIG BEAR FIRE:
www.bigbearfire.com
(909) 866-7566
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS:
https://dpw.sbcounty.gov/
909-387-7910
MOUNTAIN TRANSIT:
www.mountaintransit.org
909-878-5200
ATTACHMENT 3