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October 24, 2023
ITEM TITLE
Emergency Operations: Adopt the City of Chula Vista Emergency Operations Plan and the 2023 Multi - Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan – City of Chula Vista Annex Report Number: 23-0164
Location: No specific geographic location
Department: Fire
Environmental Notice : The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the activity qualifies for an Exemption pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines.
Recommended Action
Adopt resolutions: A) Adopting the City of Chula Vista Emergency Operations Plan and B) Adopting the 2023 Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan - City of Chula Vista Annex.
SUMMARY
Today’s recommended action is to approve a r esolution adopting both the City of Chula Vista Emergency Operations Plan and the 2023 Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan - City of Chula Vista Annex.
The Emergency Operations Plan provides the foundation from which disaster preparedness efforts, response operations, and recovery activities are derived. The Emergency Operations Plan sets forth roles and responsibilities, defines lines of authority, and provides the framework for the City’s emergency organization.
The Hazard Mitigation Plan reaffirms the City’s commitment to reducing hazard impacts (i.e., loss of life and property), and will allow the City of Chula Vista to continue to submit applications for hazard mitigation grants and remain eligible for public assistance hazard mitigation funds for the next five years.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Director of Development Services has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines because the proposed activity consists of a governmental
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fiscal/administrative activity which does not result in a physical change in the environment; therefore, pursuant to Se ction 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, the activity is not subject to CEQA.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, it has also been determined that the activity qualifies for an Exemption pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Qua lity Act State Guidelines. Thus, no environmental review is required.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
Not applicable.
DISCUSSION
Emergency Operations Plan
The protection of life, the environment and property are primary goals of governmental public safety agencies. The California Emergency Services Act authorizes local jurisdictions to develop plans for meeting any condition constituting a local emergency or state of emergency, including, but not limited to, earthquakes, natural or manmade disasters specific to that jurisdiction, or state of war emergency; those plans shall provide for the effective mobilization of all the resources within the political subdi vision, both public and private.
Emergency plans provide the basis from which response and recovery operations are executed. The City of Chula Vista Emergency Operations Plan (“EOP”) is modeled after the County of San Diego Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan. The EOP is adapted to meet the needs of the City of Chula Vista with respect to organizational structure and response resources.
The purpose of the Chula Vista EO P is to identify the City's overall emergency planning organization and response policies and procedures . The plan highlights the City’s organized response to extraordinary emergency/disaster situation , including but not limited to natural disasters, human caused events, technological incidents, and national security emergencies. The EOP does not address normal day -to-day emergencies or the well-established and routine procedures used by public safety departments in managing such emergencies. The operational concepts reflected in the EOP focus on potential large-scale disasters that generate unique situations requiring multi-departmental, multi -agency coordination and response when day-to-day resources are overwhelmed.
The EOP is a preparedness document , intended to be read, understood, and exercised prior to an emergency/disaster and is designed to include the City of Chula Vista as part of the San Diego County Operational Area. The EOP was developed in accordance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101 Version 2.0 and incorporates the standardized Emergency Management system , t he National Incident Management System concepts, and the Incident Command System, and is designed with management provisions to be used in any type of disaster situation. The plan is scalable and flexible enough to use in all emergencies , coordinating response and short -term recovery activities.
The EOP addresses the emergency response functions of local government departments, public officials, and other public and privat e organizations during emergencies/disasters. As such, t he plan was developed through a collaborative effort of City departments, including public safety agencies such as fire, law
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enforcement, and public works. All primary and support departments/ organizations play a vital role in responding to emergencies. The plan also addresses roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, emergency operations center activation and coordination, emergency proclamation procedures, mutual aid, information dissemination, public alert and warning, communications, recovery operations, and financial reconciliation.
The EOP has been reviewed by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and determined to be acceptable in accordance with the requirements of the Emergency Services Act and the California Master Mutual Aid Agreement.
Hazard Mitigation Plan
The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (the "Act"), signed into law (Public Law 106- 390) on October 30, 2000, requires all jurisdictions to have an approved hazard mitigation plan in place in order to qualify for pre-and- post disaster/hazard mitigation funds. In 2004, the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services (“County OES”) led an effort to develop the first Mult i-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, a pre -disaster strategic plan that serves as a guideline for lowering the risks and exposure to hazards in the region. The last revision of the plan was accepted by the regional Unified Disaster Council (UDC) and adopted by the Chula Vista City Council in 2018.
A local mitigation plan is also required for non -emergency assistance provided under the Stafford Act following a Presidential declared disaster, including public assistance restoration of damaged facilities (Categories C through G) and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) implemented the Act through Part Ill Federal Register 44 C ode of Federal Regulations Parts 201 and 206. The law requires the following related to natural disasters:
Identification and assessment of risks related to disasters Implementation of adequate measures to reduce losses
Ensuring critical services and facilities will continue to function after the disaster Approval of the 2023 Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP) - City of Chula Vista Annex meets these requirements.
The multi-jurisdictional/multi-hazard mitigation planning process began in September 2019 and over the course of the next three years, included several planning meetings, hazard workshops and seminars, risk assessments, and public forums . The County OES led this multi -jurisdictional planning process, which included members from all incorporated jurisdiction s in San Diego County, as well as special districts. The Chula Vista planning team consisted of several City departments and divisions, including Fire, Public Works, Engineering, Development Services, and the Office of Sustainability.
The MJHMP is a pre -disaster strategic plan that serves as a guideline to lowering the risk and exposure to natural disasters. The plan identifies potential hazards, reviews disaster history and reoccurring events to estimate losses and develops goals and objectives that can help reduce or lessen the impacts an occurrence any given hazard will have on the community. The plan outlines a strategy of implementing mitigation actions that will help accomplish the overall goal of protecting people, property, and the environment.
The following were identified as the top hazards to be addressed within the city of Chula Vista:
Wildfire/Structure Fire
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Floods/Dam Inundation
Geologic (Earthquake, Landslide, Liquefaction)
Climate Change Risks
Extreme Heat
Planning team members from various City departments identified hazards affecting the City of Chula Vista.
After reviewing the City's current capabilities, specific goals, objectives, and action items were developed with the intent to lessen the impact of natural and manmade disasters. The goals, objectives, and action items included in the plan are designed to:
Promote public understanding, support, and demand for hazard mitigation Build and sustain a local commitment to become less vulnerable to hazards Promote disaster resistant existing and future development Reduce the possibility of damage and losses to existing assets, including people and critical infrastructure, due to structure fire/wildland fire, geological hazards, dam failure, flooding, climate change risks, and tsunamis.
Current updates reflect the expansion of climate change inclusion within hazard impacts, public feedback regarding hazard concerns, and updated hazard mitigation Goals, Objectives, Actions/Priority Actions for the County of San Diego and cities within the regional area to align with current and existing countywide plans, procedures, and priorities.
The City continues to make strides in improving the safety of our city and the MJHMP is an example of the City's commitment to public safety. This MJHMP has been approv ed by FEMA and Cal OES and will be used as the City continues to address and mitigate the ever -changing hazards that pose a threat to our communities. Today's action will adopt a resolution to approve the MJHMP, which will allow the City to continue to submit applications for hazard mitigation grants. Ultimately, the MJHMP improves emergency preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation capabilities for both natural and man-made disasters.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site-specific and consequently, the real property holdings of the City Council members do not create a disqualifying real property-related financial conflict of interest under the Political Reform Act (Cal. Gov't Code § 87100, et seq.).
Staff is not independently aware, and has not been informed by any City Council member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision-maker conflict of interest in this matter.
CURRENT-YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
There is no current year fiscal impact associated with this request. The MJHMP is a pre -disaster strategic plan that serves as a guideline to lowering the risk and exposure to hazards in the City. Further, adopting the resolution to approve the MJHMP will allow the City to continue to submit applications for hazard mitigation grants.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
There is no ongoing fiscal impact associated with this request.
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ATTACHMENTS
1. City of Chula Vista 2021 Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)
2. Cal OES Chula Vista EOP Letter
3. San Diego County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2023 – Base Plan
4. City of Chula Vista 2023 MJHMP Annex
5. FEMA San Diego County MJHMP Amended Approval 5-9-2023 Staff Contact: Harry Muns, Fire Chief
Marlon King, Emergency Services Manager