AGENDA ITEM #3: ATTACHMENT A
COMMERCIAL CANNABIS REGULATIONS ORDINANCE
CCMC CHAPTER 17.95
Title 17. Zoning
Chapter 17.95. COMMERCIAL CANNABIS REGULATIONS
§ 17.95.010. Purpose and findings.
A. Purpose. The purpose and intent of this chapter is to protect the public health, safety, and welfare through strong and effective regulatory and enforcement controls, to protect neighborhood character, and to minimize the potential negative impacts of commercial cannabis activity on people, communities, and the environment by establishing minimum land use controls. Within the Downtown Business (C-1) District, General Commercial (C-2) District, Waterfront Commercial (CW) District, and Highway Services (HS) District, commercial cannabis activity, as defined under Division 10 of the Business and Professions Code, may be permitted with a use permit, subject to the regulations governing the underlying zoning district, and the requirements set forth in this chapter.
B. Findings. The city council makes the following findings:
1. While cannabis is now legal in California for adult use (age twenty-one and older), it is still illegal for minors (under age twenty-one) to use and possess non-medicinal cannabis. The potential negative impacts on the health of minors and the intoxicating effects of cannabis justify regulations that help to: (a) keep cannabis out of the hands of minors; and (b) minimize the promotion of cannabis use in a manner that is directed or appealing to minors.
2. Commercial cannabis businesses are attractive targets for burglaries and robberies. Therefore, it is prudent to impose security requirements and other regulations on businesses that are aimed to provide a base level of protection against such thefts.
Burglaries and robberies not only impact the business owner but also employees, patrons, the public, and law enforcement.
§ 17.95.020. Interpretation and applicability.
A. No part of this chapter is to be deemed to conflict with federal law as contained in the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. Section 800 et seq., nor to otherwise permit any Planning Commission Recommendation Commercial Cannabis Regulations Update
activity that is prohibited under that Act or any other local, state, or federal law, statute, rule or regulation. Commercial cannabis activity in the city is controlled by the provisions of this chapter of the Crescent City Municipal Code.
B. Nothing in this chapter is intended, nor is it to be construed, to burden any defense to criminal prosecution otherwise afforded by California law.
C. Nothing in this chapter is intended, nor is it to be construed, to preclude a landlord from limiting or prohibiting commercial cannabis activities by tenants.
D. Nothing in this chapter is intended, nor is it to be construed, to exempt any cannabisrelated activity from any and all applicable local and state construction, electrical, plumbing, land use, or any other building or land use standards or permitting requirements.
E. Nothing in this chapter is intended, nor is it to be construed, to make legal any cannabis-related activity that is otherwise prohibited under California law.
F. All commercial cannabis activity within city limits is subject to the provisions of this chapter, regardless if the activity existed or occurred prior to adoption of this chapter or at the time of subsequent amendments to this chapter.
§ 17.95.030. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, the following terms and phrases are defined as follows:
“Active” in the context of a commercial cannabis use permit means a permit that has been duly issued and not revoked, expired, or surrendered. Suspended permits are considered “active” permits for purposes of this chapter. "Cannabis" means all parts of the plant cannabis sativa Linnaeus, cannabis indica, or cannabis ruderalis, whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin, whether crude or purified, extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its seeds, or resin. Cannabis also means the separated resin, whether crude or purified, obtained from marijuana. Cannabis also means marijuana as defined by Section 11018 of the California Health and Safety Code as enacted by Chapter 1407 of the Statutes of 1972. Cannabis does not include the mature stalks of the plant, fiber produced from the stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of the plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of the plant which is incapable of germination. For the Planning Commission Recommendation Commercial Cannabis Regulations Update
purpose of this chapter, cannabis does not mean "industrial hemp" as defined by Section 81000 of the California Food and Agricultural Code or Section 11018.5 of the California Health and Safety Code.
"Cannabis activity" means the commercial cultivation, possession, manufacture, processing, storing, laboratory testing, research and development, labeling, transportation, distribution, delivery, or sale of cannabis or a cannabis product. "Cannabis goods" means cannabis, including dried flower, and products containing cannabis.
"Cannabis manufacturer" means a person required to be licensed as a manufacturer pursuant to Division 10 (commencing with Section 26000) of the Business and Professions Code.
"Cannabis microbusiness or microbusiness" means a person licensed to conduct multiple commercial cannabis activities, as described in Business and Professions Code Section 26070.
"Cannabis processing" means, but is not limited to, the following activities: manicuring, drying, curing, pressing, cooking, baking, infusing, grinding, bagging, packaging, and rolling.
"Cannabis retailer" means a person required to be licensed as a retailer pursuant to Division 10 (commencing with Section 26000) of the Business and Professions Code. "Commercial cannabis activity" means the cultivation, possession, manufacture, distribution, processing, storing, laboratory testing, packaging, labeling, transportation, delivery, or sale of cannabis and cannabis products.
"Consumption" means the smoking, vaping, ingestion, or other method of use or consumption of cannabis goods.
"Cultivation" means any activity involving the indoor planting, growing, harvesting, drying, curing, grading, or trimming of commercial cannabis, including a nursery that produces only clones, immature plants, or seeds. This definition does not include outdoor cultivation or the processing (e.g., trimming) of commercial cannabis produced offsite.
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"Cultivation area" means the cumulative gross floor area of the room or rooms where cannabis plants are grown.
"Delivery employee" means an individual employed by a permitted retailer or permitted microbusiness authorized to engage in retail sales who delivers cannabis goods from the permitted retailer or permitted microbusiness premises to a customer at a physical address.
"Distribution" means the procurement, sales, and transport of cannabis goods between licensed entities. Distribution also includes the inspection, storage, including during quality assurance and batch testing processes, labeling, packaging, and other processes required prior to transport to a licensed cannabis retailer or cannabis manufacturing facility.
"Facility" or "facilities" means a facility, premise, tenant space, site or location where one or more types of cannabis activity are undertaken.
"Manufacturing facility" means a facility for the production, preparation, propagation, or compounding of cannabis or cannabis products, either directly or indirectly, or by extraction methods, or independently by means of chemical synthesis or by a combination of extraction and chemical synthesis, and includes a location that packages or repackages cannabis or cannabis products, or labels or relabels its container. "Non-storefront retail" means the commercial transfer of cannabis goods by delivery to a customer at a physical address. This definition does not include the mobile sales of cannabis goods.
"Non-volatile manufacturing" means a manufacturing process that does not involve the manufacturing, processing, generation, or storage of materials that constitute a physical or health hazard, as listed in Tables 307.1(1) and 307.1(2) of the California Building Code (CBC).
"Nursery" means a facility that produces only clones, immature plants, seeds, and other agricultural products used specifically for the propagation and cultivation of cannabis. "Off-site advertising sign" means any sign, poster, display, billboard, or any other stationary or permanently affixed advertisement promoting the sale of cannabis or cannabis products which are not cultivated, manufactured, distributed or sold on the same lot.
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"Person" means and includes any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association, social club, fraternal organization, corporation, estate, trust, business trust, receiver, assignee for the benefit of creditors, trustee, trustee in bankruptcy, or syndicate.
"Processing facility" means the location or facility where cannabis is dried, cured, graded, trimmed, and/or packaged by or under the control of one or more licensed cultivators, at a location separate from the cultivation site where the cannabis is grown and harvested.
"Storefront retail" means a physical storefront location that is open to the public and where cannabis goods are sold to customers. This definition includes the delivery of cannabis goods to a customer at a physical address.
"Testing laboratories" means a facility that offers or performs testing of cannabis or cannabis products where no commercial cultivation, processing, manufacturing, distribution, or sale of cannabis or cannabis products occurs. "Volatile solvents" means a solvent that is or produces a flammable gas or vapor that, when present in the air in sufficient quantities, will create explosive or ignitable mixtures.
For the purposes of this section, carbon dioxide and ethanol are non-volatile solvents, however, a use permit for manufacturing shall specify whether carbon dioxide or ethanol will be permitted.
§ 17.95.040. Commercial cannabis uses allowed.
The following commercial cannabis uses are allowed in city limits:
A. Storefront retail.
B. Non-storefront retail (delivery only).
C. Cultivation (indoor only) under a use permit issued prior to January 1, 2026.
D. Non-volatile manufacturing.
E. Processing facilities.
F. Distribution.
G. Microbusinesses.
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H. Testing laboratories.
§ 17.95.050. Commercial cannabis uses prohibited.
The following commercial cannabis uses are prohibited in city limits:
A. On-site consumption of cannabis.
B. Outdoor cultivation.
C. Volatile manufacturing or manufacturing facilities using volatile solvents.
D. Mobile or drive-thru retail sales.
§ 17.95.060. Use permit required.
A. Commercial cannabis activity is not allowed in the corporate limits of the city of Crescent City without a use permit. Use permits to conduct commercial cannabis activity are governed primarily by this chapter. There is a limit of eight (8) active commercial cannabis use permits for storefront retail at any one time. The procedures for use permits set forth in Chapter 17.54 of this title apply as well.
B. The use permit will be reviewed annually subject to the following requirements:
1. Annual Review at Staff Level: City staff will conduct an annual review of the use permit around the date of issuance of the state license to ensure the commercial cannabis activities are compliant with the terms of the use permit and approved operations.
2. Investigations: An onsite compliance inspection may be conducted, with at least twenty-four hours prior notice, by appropriate city officials during regular business hours (Monday – Friday, nine a.m. – five p.m.). Appropriate city officials include those officials identified in Section 17.95.150 of this chapter.
3. Annual Review at Planning Commission Level: At the discretion of city staff, annual review of the use permit may be conducted by the planning commission at a public hearing. The criteria for requiring annual review by the planning commission may include, but is are not limited to:
a. Any violation of any provision of this chapter during the prior year of operation of the commercial cannabis facility.
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b. Receipt of one or more complaints by city staff concerning operation of the commercial cannabis facility during the prior year. City staff shall investigate all complaints received prior to determining whether review by the planning commission is warranted.
4. During annual review, the planning commission may revoke the use permit, recommend administrative penalties, amend the use permit to include conditions necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter, or take no action.
5. As part of the annual review, the holder of the use permit must remit an annual review fee as set by resolution of the city council. The annual review fee is to be no more than the reasonable estimated amount to recover all costs of the city associated with conducting the review and monitoring compliance with the terms of the use permit for the next year.
C. All commercial cannabis activity will be subject to the following:
1. Before commencing operation of a commercial cannabis activity, the permittee must secure a license from the appropriate state licensing authority, pursuant to Division 10 of the Business and Professions Code. A copy of the license must be provided to the planning department.
2. The permittee must be in compliance with all conditions of the state license and all state laws, any violation of which will also constitute a violation of the Crescent City Municipal Code.
3. The permittee may operate only in accordance with the operating plans reviewed and approved by the city.
4. The permittee must timely remit all taxes required by state or local law to the appropriate agency and maintain all records necessary to determine the amount of tax owed, which records the city will have the right to inspect at all reasonable times.
5. The permittee must post or cause to be posted onsite the use permit and all required city and state permits and licenses required to operate. Such posting must be in a central location, visible to patrons, at the operating site, and in all vehicles that deliver or transport cannabis or cannabis products.
6. The permittee must maintain clear and adequate records and documentation demonstrating that all cannabis or cannabis products have been obtained from and are Planning Commission Recommendation Commercial Cannabis Regulations Update
provided to other permitted and licensed cannabis operations. The city will have the right to examine, monitor, and audit such records and documentation at all reasonable times.
7. Signs. See Chapter 17.38 for sign requirements, unless specified otherwise in this chapter. Pursuant to Section 17.38.170 (Architecturally-controlled signs), all signage for cannabis uses shall be subject to architectural review by the planning commission as part of the use permit process.
8. The permittee is not allowed to advertise or market cannabis or cannabis products on an off-site advertising sign in a publicly visible location within one thousand feet of the perimeter of any school providing instruction in kindergarten or any grades 1 through 12, public playground or playground area in a public park (e.g., a public park with equipment such as swings and seesaws, baseball diamonds, or basketball courts), day care center (as defined in Health and Safety Code Section 1596.76), youth center (as defined in Health and Safety Code Section 11353.1(e)(2)), community-use center, or public library.
9. The permittee must not market, license, distribute, sell, or cause to be marketed, licensed, distributed, or sold, any item or service to a person under twenty-one years of age, which bears the brand name, alone or in conjunction with, any other word, logo, symbol, motto, selling message, recognizable color or pattern of colors, or any other indicia or product identification identical with, or similar to, or identifiable with, those used for any brand of cannabis product.
10. The operation of a commercial cannabis facility must not adversely affect the health or safety of the facility occupants or employees, or nearby properties through creation of mold, mildew, dust, glare, heat, noise, noxious gases, smoke, traffic, vibration, surface runoff, or other impacts, or be hazardous because of the use or storage of materials, process, products, or wastes.
11. All retail cannabis uses (storefront and non-storefront) in the city must comply with the following setback requirements:
a. A retail cannabis use may not be located within a six hundred-foot radius of the perimeter of a public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or grades 1 through 12 ("K-12 school") or a day care center (as defined in Health and Safety Code Section 1596.76). This does not include any private school in which education is primarily conducted in private homes nor does it include family child care homes.
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b. The distance specified in this section shall be defined as the horizontal distance measured in a straight line from the property line of the sensitive land use (i.e., K-12 school or day care center) to the closest property line of the lot on which the retail cannabis use is located.
c. No setbacks are required between retail cannabis uses and the property containing the Del Norte County Fairgrounds (currently identified as APN 118-020-033). d. Exceptions to the setback requirements in this section may be granted by the planning commission as specified in Section 17.95.060(C)(12) of this chapter.
12. An exception to the setback requirements in Section 17.95.060(C)(11) of this chapter may be granted by the planning commission when requested as part of a use permit application. To grant an exception, the planning commission must make one or more of the following findings:
a. The distance between the area on the property containing the sensitive land use (i.e., K-12 school or day care center) is a minimum of six hundred feet from the area on the property containing the retail cannabis use.
b. There is enough development or other buffering between the sensitive land use (i.e., K-12 school or day care center) and the retail cannabis use to minimize potential harmful impacts.
c. The location and design of the retail cannabis use is not likely to cause harmful impacts to minors at the sensitive land use (i.e., K-12 school or day care center) that is within the six hundred-foot radius.
13. Odor from cannabis activities must not be detectable from beyond the property boundaries. To achieve this, the area where cannabis activities capable of generating odors are conducted (e.g., cultivation, processing, manufacturing, testing, etc.), must be, at a minimum, mechanically ventilated with a carbon filter or other method to prevent the odor of cannabis from escaping the building and negatively impacting neighbors and the surrounding community. The ventilation and filtration system must be approved by the building official and installed prior to commencing cannabis activities within the structure. Failure to adequately control odors constitutes a public nuisance and subject to nuisance abatement procedures found in Title 8 of the Crescent City Municipal Code. Odor control issues may also be grounds for revocation of the use permit allowing commercial cannabis activity.
Planning Commission Recommendation Commercial Cannabis Regulations Update
14. All waste cannabis material generated by cannabis activity must be stored in a secure location in the facility and disposed of at a permitted disposal facility.
15. All cannabis uses that propose to discharge effluent to the city's wastewater treatment system, including, but not limited to, waste products, chemical fertilizers or pesticides, are required to first obtain an Industrial Wastewater Discharge Permit from the Public Works Department. No such effluent may be discharged into septic systems, water systems, or other drainage systems including those that lead to rivers and streams.
16. The permittee must implement and maintain sufficient security measures to both deter and prevent unauthorized entrance into areas containing cannabis goods in compliance with Section 26070 of the California Business and Professions Code and any rules promulgated by the licensing authority. Security measures must include, but are not limited to, the following:
a. Prevent individuals from loitering on the premises of the retailer if they are not engaging in activity expressly related to the operations of the retailer; b. Establish limited access areas accessible only to authorized dispensary personnel;
c. All cannabis facilities containing cultivation, processing, non-volatile manufacturing, and distribution are required to have a mantrap at the public entrance to the building. A mantrap is a small room with an entry door on one wall and an exit door on the opposite wall. Mantraps are used to separate non-secure areas from secure areas to prevent unauthorized access;
d. Store all cannabis goods in a secured and locked safe room, safe, or vault, and in a manner as to prevent diversion, theft, and loss, except for limited amounts of cannabis goods used for display purposes, samples, or immediate sale; and e. Install security cameras on site.
17. The permittee is required to notify the Crescent City Police Department and the licensing authority within twenty-four hours after discovering any of the following:
a. Significant discrepancies identified during inventory; Planning Commission Recommendation Commercial Cannabis Regulations Update
b. Diversion, theft, loss, or any criminal activity involving the dispensary or any agent or employee of the retailer;
c. The loss or unauthorized alteration of records related to cannabis, patients, or retailer's employees or agents; or
d. Any other breach of security.
18. Operators of cannabis facilities are required to maintain active enrollment and participation in the state's track and trace program. The city may require participation in a track and trace program separate from the state's track and trace program. Any separate program will be in addition to the state's track and trace program.
19. To ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter, an onsite compliance inspection may be conducted, with at least twenty-four hours prior notice, by appropriate city officials during regular business hours (Monday – Friday, nine a.m. – five p.m.).
Appropriate city officials include those officials identified in Section 17.95.150 of this chapter.
20. The permittee must maintain a safe environment and not participate in or tolerate conduct, activities, or behavior that endangers the health, safety or general welfare of the public.
21. The permittee must remit all applicable license and permit fees to city when due. Failure to pay any fee within thirty (30) days of its due date shall be considered a violation of this provision.
22. The permittee must maintain, through the life of the operation, a surety bond in an amount not less than fifteen thousand dollars, payable to the city, issued by a corporate surety approved by the city, which is licensed to transact surety business in the State of California.
D. Before the planning commission approves any use permit for commercial cannabis activity, the planning commission must hold a public hearing, noticed pursuant to Government Code Section 65091, make the following findings, and set forth the facts supporting its determination in writing:
1. The applicant has demonstrated that it can and will comply with all requirements of the state and city to operate the proposed commercial cannabis activity.
2. The proposed activity, as conditioned, will not result in significant unavoidable impacts on the environment.
Planning Commission Recommendation Commercial Cannabis Regulations Update
3. The operation plan includes adequate measures to minimize nuisances to the neighborhood and community, including minimizing odor, noise, light, traffic, and loitering.
4. The operation plan includes adequate security measures.
5. The proposed activity either: (a) meets the setback requirements in subsection (C)(11); or (b) makes the findings required by subsection (C)(12).
6. The issuing of the use permit would not exceed the limit of eight (8) active commercial cannabis use permits for storefront retail at any one time.
E. All applications for a use permit for a commercial cannabis activity shall be filed with the planning department. In all cases the application must contain, without limitation, the following documentation:
1. Notarized, written authorization from all persons and entities having a right, title, or interest in the property that is the subject of the application consenting to the application and the operation of the proposed commercial cannabis activity on the subject property.
2. The name and address of all persons and entities responsible for the operation of the commercial cannabis activity, including managers, corporate officers, any individual with an ownership interest, any member of a board of directors, any general or limited partner, and/or any member of a decision-making body for the commercial cannabis activity, and a complete list of all the valid licenses, including license type and license number which has been issued to each person by the state or any other city or county.
3. An application fee as prescribed by resolution of the city council. The application fee is to be no more than the reasonable estimated amount to recover all costs of the city associated with processing applications and monitoring compliance with the terms of the use permit for the next year. If the application is denied, then that portion of the fee attributed to monitoring activities will be refunded to the applicant.
4. An indemnification agreement on a form provided by the city.
5. Proof of having obtained a surety bond in an amount not less than fifteen thousand dollars, payable to the city, issued by a corporate surety approved by the city, which is licensed to transact surety business in the state of California.
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6. A detailed operation plan, which includes:
a. Site plans, floor plans, conceptual improvement plans, and a general description of the nature, size, and type of commercial cannabis activity(ies) being requested;
b. Onsite security measures both physical and operational; c. Standard operating procedures manual detailing how operations will comply with state and local regulations; how safety and quality of products will be ensured; recordkeeping procedures for financing, testing, and adverse effect recording; and product recall procedures;
d. Proposed hours of operation;
e. Waste disposal information;
f. Product supply chain information including where cultivation occurs, where the product is processed or manufactured, any required testing of cannabis or cannabis products, transportation, and packaging and labeling criteria; g. A recordkeeping policy;
h. Track and trace measures;
i. Sustainability measures including water efficiency measures, energy efficiency measures, high efficiency mechanical systems, and alternative fuel transportation methods;
j. Odor prevention devices;
k. Size, height, colors, and design of any proposed signage at the site; l. A parking plan, if applicable;
m. A storage protocol and hazardous response plan;
n. Information on products used during operation, including liquids, solvents, agents, and processes; and
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o. A quality control plan.
7. An application that includes a request for an exception from the setback standards specified in subsection (C)(11) of this section, must also contain the following information:
a. A map drawn to scale illustrating the requested setback reduction. The map must clearly identify the distance between the proposed retail cannabis use and the sensitive land use from which the setback reduction is being requested. b. A justification for making one or more of the findings specified in subsection (C)(12) of this section.
8. Such other information as city staff may reasonably require.
F. No use permit may be issued until all applicable application and licensing fees associated with the business have been paid to the City.
G. If a permittee with a commercial cannabis use permit for storefront retail fails to commence business operations and open its doors to the public within twentyfour (24) months of the issuance of the use permit, then that permit shall automatically expire and be of no further force and effect. In addition, if a storefront retail business closes its doors to the public for more than sixty (60) consecutive days, then that permit shall be deemed surrendered and of no further force and effect.
§ 17.95.065. Suspension, revocation or amendment of use permit.
A. Suspension.
The expiration, suspension or revocation of a license, permit or entitlement issued by the State of California that is required for the operation of a commercial cannabis business permitted under this chapter, will result in the automatic suspension of the use permit and legal ability to conduct commercial cannabis operations under said use permit, unless and until such State license, permit or entitlement is reinstated.
B. Revocation.
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The Planning Commission may revoke a use permit issued under this chapter in accordance with procedures outlined in this section for the following reasons:
1. If a license, permit, or entitlement issued by the State of California that is required for the operation of a commercial cannabis business permitted under this chapter is expired, suspended or revoked and not reinstated within sixty (60) days.
2. Failure of a permittee to comply with any requirement imposed by the provisions of this Code (or successor provision or provisions), including, but not limited to, any rule, regulation, condition or standard adopted pursuant to this chapter, or any term or condition imposed on the commercial cannabis use permit, or any provision of State law.
C. Amendment.
As an alternative to revocation, the Planning Commission may amend the commercial cannabis use permit to include requirements and provisions to address the violations that the Planning Commission found to have occurred.
D. Notice and hearing – revocation proceedings.
1. If the City Manager, or their designee, determines that a ground for revocation of a commercial cannabis use permit exists, then they shall cause a hearing to be scheduled before the Planning Commission.
2. At least twenty-one (21) calendar days prior to the hearing, the permittee shall be provided written notice of the date, time, and location of the revocation hearing as well as the reasons therefor. The notice may be served on the permittee either personally or by certified first class mail to the address listed on the application.
3. At the date, time and location set forth in the Notice of Hearing, the Planning Commission will hear and consider the testimony of the City staff, the permittee, and/or their respective witnesses and documentary evidence properly submitted for consideration.
4. The following rules shall apply at the appeal hearing:
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a. Hearings are informal, and formal rules of evidence and discovery do not apply. However, rules of privilege shall be applicable to the extent they are permitted by law, and irrelevant, collateral, undue, and repetitious testimony may be excluded.
b. The City bears the burden of proof to establish the grounds for suspension or revocation of a permit by a preponderance of evidence (i.e., more likely than not).
c. If the permittee, or their legal representative, fails to appear at the hearing, the Planning Commission may hold the hearing in their absence.
5. Notice of decision; appeal rights.
a. Following the conclusion of the revocation hearing, the Planning Commission, shall determine if any ground exists for the revocation or amendment of a commercial cannabis use permit. If the planning Commission determines that no grounds for revocation exist, then the use permit will remain valid as issued. If the Planning Commission determines that one or more of the reasons or grounds do exist for the revocation or amendment of the commercial cannabis use permit, then the Planning shall issue a written decision within ten (10) business days. The written decision shall include the following information:
i. A finding and description of each reason or grounds for revocation or amendment.
ii. Any other finding, determination or requirement that is relevant or related to the subject matter of the appeal.
iii. A holding that the commercial cannabis use permit is revoked or amended. If amended, the specific amendments to the permit. iv. Notice of appeal rights provided under this chapter.
E. Appeals.
1. Notice of appeal.
a. Within ten (10) calendar days after the date of service of the notice of the decision of the Planning Commission to revoke a commercial cannabis use permit or to add conditions to a permit, an aggrieved party may appeal such Planning Commission Recommendation Commercial Cannabis Regulations Update
action by filing a written appeal with the City Clerk setting forth the reason why the decision was not proper. Date of service shall mean the date when a notice or written decision was personally delivered to the permittee, or the date when the notice was caused to be delivered by certified, first-class mail. b. The Notice of Appeal shall be in writing and signed by the person making the appeal (“appellant”), or their legal representative, and shall contain the following:
i. Name, address, and telephone number of the appellant. ii. Specify decisions, actions, or a particular part thereof, made that are the subject of the appeal.
iii. State with specificity the reasons and grounds for making the appeal, including, but not limited to, a statement of facts upon which the appeal is based in sufficient detail to enable the City Council to understand the nature of the controversy, the basis of the appeal, and the relief requested. iv. All documents or other evidence pertinent to the appeal that the appellant requests the hearing officer or body to consider at the hearing.
v. An appeal fee, as established by resolution of the City Council. c. Failure of the City Clerk to receive a timely appeal constitutes a waiver of the right to appeal the decision of the Planning Commission. In this event, the Planning Commission’s decision is final and binding.
d. In the event a written Notice of Appeal is timely filed, the revocation or amendment shall not become effective until a final decision has been rendered and issued by the City Council. Notices of appeal not served in a timely manner or served by non-operational businesses shall not serve to allow such businesses to operate pending appeal.
2. If no appeal is timely filed, the revocation or amendment shall become effective upon the expiration of the period for filing a written Notice of Appeal.
3. Appeal hearing and proceedings.
a. All appellants that timely file a written Notice of Appeal shall obtain review thereof before the City Council.
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b. Upon receipt by the City Clerk of a timely-filed appeal, the City Clerk shall schedule the administrative appeal within sixty (60) days, and no sooner than thirty (30) days, after receipt of a timely filed Notice of Appeal. The appellant(s) listed on the written Notice of Appeal shall be notified in writing of the date, time, and location of the hearing at least ten (10) days before the date of the hearing (“notice of appeal hearing”).
c. The City Council shall preside over the hearing on appeal. d. At the date, time and location set forth in the Notice of Appeal hearing, the City Council hear and consider the testimony of the appellant(s), City staff, and/or their witnesses, as well as any documentary evidence properly submitted for consideration.
e. The following rules shall apply at the appeal hearing:
i. Appeal hearings are informal, and formal rules of evidence and discovery do not apply. However, rules of privilege shall be applicable to the extent they are permitted by law, and irrelevant, collateral, undue, and repetitious testimony may be excluded.
ii. The City bears the burden of proof to establish the grounds for the revocation or amendment of a permit by a preponderance of evidence. iii. The issuance of the Planning Commission’s notice of decision constitutes prima facie evidence of grounds for the revocation or amendment, and City staff who significantly took part in the investigation, which contributed to the Planning Commission issuing a notice of decision, may be required to participate in the appeal hearing.
iv. The City Council may accept and consider late evidence not submitted initially with the Notice of Appeal upon a showing by the appellant of good cause. The City Council shall determine whether a particular fact or facts amount to a good cause on a case-by-case basis.
v. If the appellant, or their legal representative, fails to appear at the appeal hearing, the City Council may cancel the appeal hearing and send a notice thereof to the appellant by certified, first class mail to the address(es) stated on the Notice of Appeal. A cancellation of a hearing due to non- Planning Commission Recommendation Commercial Cannabis Regulations Update
appearance of the appellant shall constitute the appellant’s waiver of the right to appeal and a failure to exhaust all administrative remedies. In such instances, the Planning Commission’s notice of decision is final and binding.
4. Decision of the City Council, or appointed hearing officer or body; final decision.
a. Following the conclusion of the appeal hearing, the City Council shall determine if any ground exists for the revocation or amendment of a Commercial Cannabis Use Permit. If the City Council determines that no grounds for revocation or amendment exist, the Planning Commission’s notice of decision shall be deemed vacated. If the City Council determines that one or more of the reasons or grounds enumerated in the notice of decision exists, a written final decision shall be issued within ten (10) business days, which shall at minimum contain the following:
i. A finding and description of each reason or grounds for revocation or amendment.
ii. Any other finding, determination or requirement that is relevant or related to the subject matter of the appeal.
iii. A holding that the Planning Commission’s decision is affirmed or modified.
b. The decision of the City Council, or appointed hearing officer or body, is final and conclusive and is subject to the time limits set forth in California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1094.6.
c. A copy of the final decision shall be served by certified, first-class mail on the appellant. If the appellant is not the owner of the real property in which the commercial cannabis business is located, or proposed to be located, a copy of the final decision may also be served on the property owner by first class mail to the address shown on the last equalized assessment roll. Failure of a person to receive a properly addressed final decision shall not invalidate any action or proceeding by the City pursuant to this chapter.
§ 17.95.070. Storefront retail.
Cannabis retailers conducting storefront retail, which can include deliveries, must meet the following minimum requirements:
Planning Commission Recommendation Commercial Cannabis Regulations Update
A. The use permit must specify whether the permittee may sell adult-use cannabis or medicinal cannabis, as those terms are used in Division 10 of the Business and Professions Code.
B. The city shall limit the hours of operation for a retail facility to begin no earlier than six a.m. and to end no later than ten p.m.
C. Retailers which have a retail/public floor area must have glass or transparent glazing in the windows and doors. No more than ten percent of any window or door area may be visually obstructed by signs, banners, or opaque coverings of any kind so that law enforcement personnel will have clear view of the entire public area in the premises from the public sidewalk.
D. Retailers must not distribute any cannabis or cannabis product unless the cannabis goods are labeled, and in a tamper-evident package, in compliance with Section 26120 of the California Business and Professions Code and any additional rules promulgated by the licensing authority.
E. Cannabis deliveries that are associated with a permitted retail facility located within city limits, and for which delivery originates from the retail facility, are only allowed when the delivery activity is specifically authorized under the use permit for the retail facility.
F. Cannabis deliveries that are associated with a permitted retail facility located within city limits must comply with all state regulations, including those implemented by the Bureau of Cannabis Control. This includes, but is not limited to, California Code of Regulations Title 16 Sections 5415 through 5421.
G. A vehicle used in the delivery of cannabis goods must not have any marking or other indications on the exterior of the vehicle that may indicate that the delivery employee is carrying cannabis goods for delivery.
H. While carrying cannabis goods for delivery, a permitted retailer's delivery employee must ensure the cannabis goods are not visible to the public. Cannabis goods are required to be locked in a fully enclosed box, container, or cage that is secured on the inside of the vehicle.
I. The retailer must not permit the smoking, vaping, ingestion, or consumption of cannabis onsite.
J. Sale or consumption of alcohol or tobacco is not allowed onsite.
Planning Commission Recommendation Commercial Cannabis Regulations Update
§ 17.95.080. Non-storefront retail (delivery only).
Cannabis retailers conducting non-storefront retail (delivery only) activities must meet the following minimum requirements:
A. Cannabis deliveries originating from non-storefront retail facilities within city limits must comply with all state regulations, including those implemented by the Bureau of Cannabis Control. This includes, but is not limited to, California Code of Regulations Title 16 Sections 5414 through 5421.
B. Cannabis deliveries originating from outside city limits, and delivering cannabis goods within city limits, are only allowed upon the granting of a business license.
C. A vehicle used in the delivery of cannabis goods must not have any marking or other indications on the exterior of the vehicle that may indicate that the delivery employee is carrying cannabis goods for delivery.
D. While carrying cannabis goods for delivery, a permitted retailer's delivery employee must ensure the cannabis goods are not visible to the public. Cannabis goods are required to be locked in a fully enclosed box, container, or cage that is secured on the inside of the vehicle.
§ 17.95.090. Cultivation (indoor only).
Cannabis cultivators must meet the following minimum requirements:
A. The indoor cultivation of cannabis must comply with all applicable state, county, and local regulations, including fire and building codes. Outdoor cultivation is prohibited.
B. Only one use permit for commercial cannabis cultivation may be possessed or used by a person or entity, including the representatives, agents, parent entities, or subsidiary entities of that person or entity.
C. Only one use permit will be issued per legal parcel for commercial cannabis cultivation.
D. The maximum cultivation area allowed is two thousand square feet.
E. All cannabis cultivation activity must occur exclusively within a fully enclosed and secure structure.
Planning Commission Recommendation Commercial Cannabis Regulations Update
F. Entrance to any cultivation area, and any cannabis storage areas, must be locked at all times, and under the control of the facility's staff.
G. Cannabis cultivation must be concealed from public view at all stages of growth and there may be no visual or auditory evidence of cultivation occurring at the premises from a public right-of-way or from an adjacent parcel. Indoor lighting used for the cultivation process must not be visible from outside the building.
H. Cannabis cultivation areas must be adequately secured to prevent unauthorized entry and must not be accessible to persons under twenty-one years of age.
I. Areas of the licensed premises for cultivation must be separated from the distribution and retail areas by a wall and all doors between the areas are to remain closed when not in use.
J. All areas recorded by the security cameras must have adequate lighting at all times to allow the surveillance cameras to effectively record images, except when lighting would interfere with the indoor cultivation cycle.
K. Applications for a use permit for cannabis cultivation are required to contain an energy calculator quantifying the expected electricity usage and greenhouse gas emissions, a list of energy efficiency measures, best practices, and proposed greenhouse gas emission offsets. A minimum of fifty percent emissions offset or equivalent in efficiency measures is encouraged for indoor cannabis cultivation.
M. No use permits for cannabis cultivation shall be issued as of January 1, 2026. § 17.95.100. Non-volatile manufacturing.
Cannabis manufacturers must meet the following minimum requirements:
A. Cannabis manufacturing shall be conducted using only non-volatile solvents, or no solvents.
B. All employees of a cannabis manufacturing facility operating potentially hazardous equipment are required to be trained on the proper use of equipment and on the proper hazard response protocols in the event of equipment failure. In addition, employees handling edible cannabis goods or ingredients are required to be trained on proper food safety practices.
§ 17.95.110. Processing facilities.
Planning Commission Recommendation Commercial Cannabis Regulations Update
Cannabis processors must meet the following minimum requirements:
A. Cannabis processing facilities are facilities that process cannabis material that is produced off-site.
B. Processing facilities must be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition including all work surfaces and equipment.
C. Processing operations must implement protocols which prevent processing contamination and mold and mildew growth on cannabis.
D. Employees handling cannabis in processing operations must have access to facemasks and gloves in good operable condition as applicable to their job function.
E. Employees must wash hands before and after handling cannabis or use gloves.
F. Processing operations must implement safety protocols and provide all employees with adequate safety training relevant to their specific job functions, which may include:
1. Employee accident reporting and investigation policies;
2. Hazard communication policies, including maintenance of material safety data sheets (MSDS);
3. Materials handling practices;
4. Job hazard analyses; and
5. Personal protective equipment policies, including respiratory protection. § 17.95.120. Distribution.
Cannabis distributers must meet the following minimum requirements:
A. The distribution of cannabis goods within city limits must comply with all state regulations, including those implemented by the Bureau of Cannabis Control. This includes, but is not limited to, California Code of Regulations Title 16 Sections 5300 through 5315.
B. Cannabis distribution conducted by a permitted cannabis use within city limits is only allowed when the distribution activity is specifically authorized through a use permit.
Planning Commission Recommendation Commercial Cannabis Regulations Update
C. Cannabis distribution that is not conducted by a permitted cannabis use within city limits will only be allowed upon the granting of a business license. § 17.95.130. Microbusinesses.
Cannabis microbusinesses must meet the following minimum requirements:
A. Microbusinesses operating within city limits must comply with all state regulations, including those implemented by the Bureau of Cannabis Control. This includes, but is not limited to, California Code of Regulations Title 16 Sections 5500 through 5507.
B. A microbusiness may only conduct the commercial cannabis uses identified in Section 17.95.040 of this chapter.
C. All retail, non-volatile manufacturing, and distribution activities conducted by a permittee under a microbusiness must occur on the same premises.
D. Areas of the licensed premises for manufacturing and cultivation must be separated from the distribution and retail areas by a wall, and all doors between the areas are to remain closed.
§ 17.95.140. Testing laboratories.
Testing laboratories operating within city limits must comply with all state regulations, including those implemented by the Bureau of Cannabis Control. This includes, but is not limited to, California Code of Regulations Title 16 Sections 5700 through 5739. § 17.95.150. Enforcement.
This chapter may be enforced in any lawful manner by any peace officer, or by any employee, agent, or officer of any of the following city department or agencies:
A. Police department
B. Community development department
C. City attorney
D. Fire department
§ 17.95.160. Public nuisance.
Planning Commission Recommendation Commercial Cannabis Regulations Update
Any violation of this chapter is hereby declared a public nuisance and may be abated by the city pursuant to Title 8 of this code.
§ 17.95.170. Separate offense for each day.
Any person who violated any provision of this chapter will be guilty of a separate offense for each and every day during which any person commits, continues to permit, or causes a violation thereof.
§ 17.95.180. Criminal penalties.
Any violation of any provision of this chapter may be prosecuted as a misdemeanor. § 17.95.190. Administrative remedies.
In addition to the civil remedies and criminal penalties set forth above, any violation of this chapter may be subject to administrative remedies, as set forth by Chapter 1.24. § 17.95.200. Other ordinance code provisions.
Notwithstanding this chapter, the city, its employees, agents, and officers have the authority to pursue any and all applicable remedies for any other violations of any local, state, or federal laws.
-----END OF ORDINANCE-----
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: MAYOR WRIGHT AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: ERIC WIER, CITY MANAGER
BY: BOB BROWN, CONTRACT PLANNING DIRECTOR
DATE: NOVEMBER 17, 2025
SUBJECT: OPC GRANT APPLICATION – COASTAL RESILIENCY STRATEGY ______________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
• Hear staff report
• Technical questions from the Council
• Receive public comment
• Further Council discussion
• Authorize staff to submit a grant application to the Ocean Protection Council for Development of Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plans in Compliance with SB 272
BACKGROUND
SB 272 (Laird 2023) requires local governments to create sea-level rise (SLR) plans based on the best available science which include: (1) conducting Vulnerability Assessments of coastal hazards exacerbated by SLR; and (2) developing Adaptation Plans with recommended projects that could result in reduced coastal hazards. SB 272 requires the results of these two plans to be part of the Coastal Commission’s approved City Local Coastal Program (LCP) before 2034. State funding for project implementation is currently available to jurisdictions that have completed this process.
ITEM ANALYSIS
Currently there is funding available for jurisdictions to develop these Plans through the Ocean Protection Council (OPC). SHN, with the City, has been working towards submitting a grant application before December 12th to OPC for the City to address climate change resiliency, as is required by SB 272. Coastal Quest is under contract with OPC and has been providing the City with technical assistance for the OPC grant submission. The grant request will be for approximately $320,000 over a 2-year period.
The grant does not require a local match but includes approximately $60,000 for City staff to participate in community engagement activities and grant administration, $3,400 for materials and approximately $7,700 in overhead reimbursement. SHN’s $260,000 role will include compiling the research of existing data, facilitating the community OPC GRANT APPLICATION – COASTAL RESILIENCY STRATEGY
November 17, 2025
2 engagement events and outreaches, developing the GIS vulnerability maps and compiling a prioritized list of City adaptation projects in order to qualify for future funding.
It is intended that SHN will be responsible for completing the grant requirements and not create an extra burden on City staff.
The City of Crescent City has approximately 3.5 miles of coastline. The City is susceptible to coastal hazards, including both bluff retreat on its west side and storm surge/tsunami/flooding damage on its southern and eastern sides, both of which would be exacerbated by sea level rise (SLR). Through this proposed program, the City will:
1) Compile existing reports and research to determine the City’s vulnerability to coastal hazards (flooding, tsunami, wave runup and overtopping, tidal inundation, bluff erosion, etc.) as a result of SLR;
2) Identify vulnerable community resources, infrastructure, environmentally sensitive habitat areas, coastal access, and tribal cultural resources; and 3) Develop and prioritize resilient adaptation strategies, which, as noted above, would qualify for future funding as long as it is available.
Community engagement will be incorporated throughout the process, providing information, and listening to concerns, needs and suggestions on adaptation strategies.
Existing conditions assessment, vulnerability assessment, and adaptation strategies related to SLR, flooding, tsunami hazards, and erosion will ultimately result in an update to the City’s local coastal program (LCP) to begin to address SB 272 requirements.
SHN is committed to engage in this Program in a manner that ensures that it is successfully completed within budget and time schedule. SHN has dedicated staff with necessary technical experience in Planning, Engineering, Geology, GIS, public facilitation, etc. providing guidance to help the City achieve its resiliency goals.
Some possible SLR scenarios to consider:
• Increased sea levels will increase the elevation of storm surges. Highway 101 is already overtopped at South Beach. Further overtopping could occur at the S curves on Highway 101 adjacent to Elk Creek, closing roadways during extreme storm events.
• Initially, Highway 101 and the Lighthouse Cove RV Park may be affected by king tides 2-4 times/year, requiring closure of both during those times. • SLR could cause tidal influence further up the Elk Creek channel and change habitats in the Elk Creek wetlands east of Highway 101 into salt marsh or mudflats.
Riparian vegetation would die back due to increased salt intrusion. • SLR could cause tidal influence, combined with storm surges and stream flooding, to begin to inundate the eastern portion of the City by accessing the Elk Creek wetlands east of Highway 101. Increasing SLR will begin to inundate the eastern areas of the City and extend to both the north and west. • Raised storm surges/wave cutting at the base of the unprotected western bluffs may increase the vulnerability of the bluffs to recede with possible loss of sections of Pebble Beach Drive, as occurred in 2023.
OPC GRANT APPLICATION – COASTAL RESILIENCY STRATEGY
November 17, 2025
3 • Storm drain systems/culverts may back up and be less effective at discharging runoff, affecting drainage in the downtown area.
• Groundwater elevations may rise throughout the City, changing vegetation, drainage patterns and potentially ground stability.
• While the Wastewater Treatment Plant is above current projections of SLR, the collection system may be surcharged by tidal influence and increased groundwater levels, resulting in increased I/I at the plant.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There is no direct fiscal impact on the City. There is no match proposed/required for this grant and, while there are funds available to City staff to support this Project, SHN will be responsible for completion of this Project.
STRATEGIC PLAN ANALYSIS
This action supports the following Strategic Plan Goals:
GOAL 1: SUPPORT QUALITY SERVICES, COMMUNITY SAFETY, AND HEALTH TO
ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND EXPERIENCE OF OUR RESIDENTS AND
VISTORS
(A) Enhance collaboration with other agencies and the community to better aid the public (B) Ensure that information shared between departments, with other agencies, and with the public is both accurate and timely.
(C) Empower and utilize Police, Fire, and Public Works departments to make Crescent City one of the safest cities in the United States.
GOAL 2: PROMOTE A THRIVING LOCAL ECONOMY
(D) Collaborate with other jurisdictions and non-profits to maximize regional effectiveness and amplify funding opportunities.
(F) Plan and prepare for the growth and future needs of the Crescent City community by:
Expanding on the success of grant funding by maximizing utilization of opportunities with corresponding community needs.
ATTACHMENTS
• OPC Grant Application Work Program
OPC SB 1 Grant Program
Track 1: SLR Adaptation Planning - Full Proposal
Please respond to the summary information and full proposal prompts on the following pages.
Please submit all materials as one attached PDF file to [email protected] using the subject: [Main Applicant Name]-Track 1 Project-Proposal.
Section 1: Cover Page
Contact Information
Lead Entity Name City of Crescent City
Contact Person Bridget Lacey
Position/Title Grants and Economic Development Manager
Phone 707-458-4814
Email [email protected]
Mailing Address 377 J Street, Crescent City, CA 95531
Federal Tax ID# 94-6000-552
Subcontractor Information (if applicable)
Please list all subcontractors below. Use the example provided and copy/paste for each additional subcontractor that is included on the project team.
Subcontractor 1 Name: SHN
Contact Person: Bob Brown, AICP
Position/Title: Contract Community Development Director Phone & Email: 707-499-9910, [email protected]
Mailing Address: 812 W Wabash, Eureka CA 95501-2138
Federal Tax ID #: 942571944
2 FULL PROPOSAL|CNRA OPC 721
Brief Description of their role in the project: SHN has provided city planning and engineering services to Crescent City on a contract basis for the last 6.5 years. SHN’s coastal resiliency experience and knowledge of City functions, stakeholders and public influencers, city infrastructure and constraints qualifies them to take technical lead on this project, while the City still maintains grant administrative role and community involvement strategies.
Letter of Commitment included in application? Yes
Project Information
Project Name Crescent City Coastal Resiliency Plan
Amount
Requested $XXX,000
Total Project
Cost $XXX,000
State Leveraged
Funds $0
Non-State
Leveraged
Funds
$0
Project Duration
(in years) 2
Please indicate which of the following project types of SLR Adaptation Planning will be addressed by the proposed project (check all that apply):
☐ Community Visioning (Phase 1)
x Vulnerability Assessments (Phase 1)
x Data/Information Gathering (Phase 2)
x Outer Coast SLR Adaptation Plans (Phase 3)
☐ Multi-jurisdictional San Francisco Bay Shoreline Adaptation Plans (Phase 3) ☐ Single Jurisdiction San Francisco Bay Subregional Shoreline Adaptation Plans (Phase 3) ☐ City
☐ County
☐ Sector Specific Adaptation Plans (Phase 3) - Please refer to Section III. G. Proposal Requirements of the Solicitation for instructions regarding projects seeking to complete a Sector Specific Adaptation Plan. Do not complete a full proposal for a Sector Specific Adaptation Plan until you have received approval from OPC Staff. 3 FULL PROPOSAL|CNRA OPC 721
Section 2: Application Completeness Checklist
When submitting your full proposal package, please indicate if you have included or completed each item listed.
Item Requisite Complete
Section 1: Cover Page Required ☐
Section 2: Application Completeness Checklist Required ☐ Section 3: Project Description Required ☐
Section 4: Project Work Plan Required ☐
Section 5: SLR Adaptation Criteria Justification Required ☐ Section 6: Project Schedule and Major Deliverables Required ☐ Section 7: Budget Required ☐
Section 8: Supplemental Documents
a. Project Team Resumes or Curricula Vitae Required ☐
b. Nonprofit Organization Pre-Award Questionnaire Required1 ☐ c. San Francisco Bay Multi-jurisdictional and Single
Jurisdiction Subregional Shoreline Adaptation Plan
Supplemental Questionnaire
Required2 ☐
d. Project Letters Conditional3 ☐
1 Required for nonprofit organizations only.
2 If an applicant is submitting a proposal for a Multi-jurisdictional SF Bay Shoreline Adaptation Plan or Single Jurisdiction SF Bay Subregional Shoreline Adaptation Plan, a Supplemental Questionnaire is required to be submitted with the full proposal package. 3 See Section 8 for further information regarding the requirements of Project Letters. 4 FULL PROPOSAL|CNRA OPC 721
For Sections 3 – 8, provide responses to the prompts below and delete the instruction text to ensure the page limit is maximized. Please format responses in Calibri, size 12 font. When answering these prompts, please refer to the SB 1 SLR Adaptation Criteria and sections II.
Solicitation Priorities and IV. Evaluation, Selection, and Award – Track 1 found within the Solicitation.
5 FULL PROPOSAL|CNRA OPC 721
Section 3: Project Description
Summary
The City of Crescent City, located adjacent to Crescent City Harbor to the south and the Pacific Ocean to the west, is located in Del Norte County and has approximately 3.5 miles of coastline.
The City is susceptible to coastal hazards, including tsunami damage that would be exacerbated by sea level rise (SLR). Through this program, the City will 1)compile existing reports and research to determine the City’s vulnerability to coastal hazards (flooding, tsunami, wave runup and overtopping, tidal inundation, erosion, etc) as a result of SLR; 2) specifically identify vulnerable community resources, infrastructure, environmentally sensitive habitat areas, coastal access, and tribal cultural resources) and; 3) develop resilient adaptation strategies in response. Diverse community engagement will be incorporated throughout the process.
Existing conditions assessment, vulnerability assessment, and adaptation strategies related to SLR, tsunami hazards, and erosion will ultimately result in an update to the City’s local coastal program (LCP) to begin to address SB 272 requirements.
Project Description
Crescent City is seeking $XXX,XXX funds for the following SLR planning phases: Phase 1:
Vulnerability Assessment, Phase 2 Funding: Data Collection, and Phase 3: Outer Coast SLR Adaptation Plan as defined in the SB 1 SLR Criteria.
Past studies indicated that while sea level is rising adjacent to the City, tectonic lift exceeded the SLR rate and Crescent City would not be adversely affected. After reviewing the OPC 2024 report and having witnessed damage from two recent tsunami events, the City desires to assess potential vulnerabilities and develop resilient adaptation strategies that may qualify the City for future funding opportunities to protect its citizenry.
The City of Crescent City Team will consist of both city employees (City) and their Consultant team (made up of its contract City Planners and Engineers from SHN.) The project will meet OPC’s Strategic Plan Objective 1.1: Build resiliency to Sea-level Rise, Coastal Storms, Erosion, and Flooding and Objective 2.2: Enhance engagement in underserved communities.
Phase 2 Funding - Existing Conditions Analysis
Crescent City is requesting Phase 2 funding to support relevant data collection on existing conditions necessary to complete the Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Vulnerability Assessment. The Consultant team will lead the tabulation of key assets, their current conditions, and their approximate elevations and preliminary vulnerabilities using 6 FULL PROPOSAL|CNRA OPC 721
available GIS resources from the City. These existing conditions analysis will group assets into broad categories to organize the future Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan (addressing transportation, wet and dry utilities, environmentally sensitive habitat areas, recreational, residential and commercial developments, etc.), consistent with the core sectors outlined in OPC’s SLR Adaptation Criteria. The City will then qualitatively assign values to represent the asset's importance, which will be vetted by community engagement.
Phase 1 - Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Vulnerability Assessment Crescent City is requesting Phase 1 funding to conduct a SLR analysis and vulnerability assessment with the goal of gaining comprehensive insights into the vulnerability of coastal assets and resources to SLR, including their exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity, and to identify consistently threatened community assets, such as habitats and ecosystems, across different SLR scenarios. This information would be used to conduct a vulnerability assessment to determine and prioritize risks related to community resources, infrastructure, critical ecosystems, habitat, coastal access, and tribal cultural resources. The City will develop a coastal hazards assessment, resulting in a set of coastal hazard maps that depict flooding and erosion hazard areas with different SLR scenarios. The coastal hazards assessment will utilize the most recent updates from the Coastal Commission’s 2024 SLR Policy Guidance and Critical Infrastructure Guidance documents, as well as the latest reports and recommendations on SLR science from the State of California.
Phase 3 - Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Adaptation Plan Crescent City is requesting Phase 3 funding to develop a draft and final SLR, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Adaptation Plan. Resiliency concepts and strategies will be based on the vulnerability assessment report and input received by the public, with a focus on nature-based solutions and benefits to community resiliency. The City will develop a catalog of potential adaptation projects, strategies, and pathways, using the vulnerability assessment framework to prioritize projects for future project development. The draft SLR, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Adaptation Plan will evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of various proposed protection, accommodation, and retreat strategies, including nature-based adaptation strategies. The final SLR, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Adaptation Plan will serve as the roadmap for the City’s future SLR, tsunami, and erosion risk adaptation and can be used to support future funding applications for planning, design, and implementation of adaptation projects.
Community Engagement and Outreach
This project will allow the City to continue its regional conversation with a diverse range of community stakeholders and partners through the development of a Community Engagement Plan to inform the Vulnerability Assessment and the Adaptation Plan options and beyond. The 7 FULL PROPOSAL|CNRA OPC 721
City will work with project stakeholders through public outreach ensuring the public and stakeholders have the opportunity to provide early input on the SLR, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Adaptation Plan. Special effort will be made to ensure that disadvantaged communities, including low-income, minority, and other underserved communities, have equitable opportunities to engage with the content and in the process. Multiple opportunities to learn, and provide meaningful input into the process, will include city-wide noticing, an online survey, workshops, presentations at planning commission meetings, website and other social media presence.
The City’s planning effort centers on community engagement and will build upon the existing framework and apply strategies that are outlined in the City’s Economic Development Strategic Action Plan. The City, with their Consultant team, has combined experience to develop a sufficient sea level rise planning engagement strategy. This process will be designed to continue to cultivate existing relationships through community networks. Desired outcomes include 1) an aware citizenry about potential impacts of future SLR and related hazards; 2) an opportunity to provide input for prioritizing alternative strategies for addressing the vulnerabilities and; 3) an understanding that future costs may also be required to address both public and private vulnerabilities.
Relative Need for SLR Planning and Likelihood of Success The southern 1.75 mile portion of Crescent City Harbor is subject to coastal hazards. A tsunami as a result of the 1964 Alaska earthquake, destroyed 30 blocks of Crescent City’s waterfront and downtown area. As a result, much of the debris was deposited along the shoreline creating Beachfront Park and the area where the City’s RV park is located. A tsunami walking tour is provided in town highlighting many of the events of that tsunami. While several other tsunamis have occurred since, damage from two recent tsunamis, one in 2011 and more recently July 2025 highlights that the topography of the Crescent City Harbor results in a tsunami hazard that is greater than the rest of the California coast. Sea level rise would exacerbate this condition. In addition, the 1.75 miles of coastal bluff along the western portion of the City are vulnerable to storm surge coastal erosion; failure of a portion of Pebble Beach Drive in 2023 indicates the ongoing vulnerability of this area. Both public and private infrastructure and other improvements are vulnerable to SLR-related coastal hazards, but these have not been comprehensively assessed, nor has much thought gone into developing adaptations to address changes that may occur as a result of SLR. The City’s 2011 Local Coastal Program does not adequately address needed policy changes, special study requirements or development standards in the Coastal Zone.
The citizenry in Crescent City is well informed of coastal hazards, living daily with earthquake and tsunami risks and winter storm impacts, and have been supportive of the City being 8 FULL PROPOSAL|CNRA OPC 721
responsive to future needs. The City has a grant administrator that has a 100% success rate at efficiently administering grant funds for a variety of programs including low-income housing, recreation, emergencies, street repairs and public infrastructure improvements. The City has also contracted with SHN for the last 6.5 years to primarily provide land use planning and engineering services but has also utilized SHN’s geologic, environmental, and survey services as well. These services augment the City’s ability to complete this project on budget and schedule.
Community Description
The City of Crescent City, located adjacent to Crescent City Harbor to the south and the Pacific Ocean to the west, is located in Del Norte County and has approximately 3.5 miles of coastline.
Crescent City is only approximately 2.5 square miles in size and does not have distinct neighborhoods. The City limits are generally within ½ mile of the coast, within walking distance from all areas of the City and therefore no part of the City is left out of access to public and private services. Most of the City’s subsidized housing developments are in desirable residential areas of the City that are adjacent to or within walking or biking distance of schools, parks, transit facilities, commercial services, and employment opportunities. Crescent City is considered a severely disadvantaged community (SDAC) on the NC Water Board Disadvantaged Community list due primarily to exposure to environmental burdens and low household income. CalEnviroScreen notes challenges like an acute housing crisis, economic disparities, lack of infrastructure, and limited access to essential resources. CA Healthy Places Index rates the City in the 15.6 percentile. Climate Change & Health Vulnerability Indicators for California (CCHVI) notes Del Norte County faces climate change exposures that pose considerable health risks to the population, especially to a number of vulnerable groups. Approximately 10% of the City’s population identify as Native American, 12% Latino, and 6% Asian.
Tribal Partnership (if applicable)
Both the Elk Valley Rancheria and the Tolowa Dee-Ni’ Nation are located near Crescent City on ancestral land of the Tolowa Dee-Ni’ Nation. The City works closely with and has meaningful discussion on City projects and events with both the Elk Valley Rancheria and the Tolowa DeeNi’ Nation, who, while not included as active partners, have been and are considered stakeholders on other City efforts and will continue to be, especially during this project. Most recently the City has worked with local tribes on the design of the Tolowa Interpretive trail currently being constructed along the City’s waterfront.
Project Area Map
The attached Crescent City Project Area Map showing city limits also shows the southeastern area of the City that would be inundated from a 5-foot increase in SLR and a western bluff retreat vulnerability zone. Additionally shown is the current tsunami evacuation zone as a result of a Cascadia event.
9 FULL PROPOSAL|CNRA OPC 721
Section 4: Project Work Plan
Task 1: Project Management,
Task 1.1: The City will effectively manage this project throughout its lifetime with support from the Consultant team. The City’s grant administrator will track progress and schedule and submit quarterly reports, deliverables and invoices to OPC. Task 1.1 Deliverables: Quarterly Reports, Deliverables and Invoices
Task 2: Existing Conditions Analysis, and Technical Memorandum Task 2.1: The Consultant team will conduct an analysis of existing conditions through review of relevant resources to inventory the existing infrastructure, habitat, and other assets potentially within or adjacent to the City at risk from SLR. The City, with their Consultant Team, will closely coordinate data research with Stakeholders (as identified in Task 3.2) throughout the project who have shared/overlapping responsibility for some of the facilities, habitat, or other assets.
This will establish the baseline condition of the Crescent City coastline in its current state. The existing conditions analysis will rely on the following:
● Review of documents (e.g., the 2026 Del Norte County Hazard Mitigation Plan-City Annex, the 2021 City of Crescent City Economic Development Strategic Action Plan, the 2025 CalTrans South Beach Transportation Climate Resiliency Plan, and the 2019 Crescent City Harbor District Sea Level Rise Assessment))
● GIS mapping data for the project area (e.g., topography, tidal elevations, existing infrastructure, habitat and open space areas, parcel information), ● Tribal cultural resources and input through meaningful tribal consultations ● Historical information (e.g., historical imagery and summaries of damaging storm and tsunami events),
● Coastal Hazard and Sea-Level Rise Data will be identified and gathered, including from FEMA, Pacific Institute, USGS CoSMoS, and other relevant sources (additional coastal data will be gathered and analyzed under Task 4).
● Local knowledge and experience by team members familiar with the project area, its facilities, and the ongoing and future management challenges and priorities of the City, the County, the Tribes, CalTrans, Coastal Commission and the Harbor District. Task 2.1 Deliverable: Draft Technical Memorandum with Existing Conditions Analysis.
Task 2.2: The City will identify stakeholders to review the Draft Technical Memorandum such as the California Coastal Commission, Del Norte County, Tribes, CalTrans, CDFW Crescent City Harbor District. The City will receive feedback from identified stakeholders and then will share the Draft Technical Memorandum with the public through their website and a regularly scheduled planning commission meeting(s) in order to obtain community feedback. Feedback from stakeholders and the community will be incorporated by the Consultant team into the Final Technical Memorandum. Task 2.2 Deliverables: Final Technical Memorandum.
10 FULL PROPOSAL|CNRA OPC 721
Task 3: Stakeholder Outreach and Community Engagement
Task 3.1: The City and the Consultant will work together to create a Community Engagement Plan that prioritizes equity and ensures that underserved communities have access to engage with the content, contribute to this project, and benefit from its outcomes. The Community Engagement Plan will assess the community’s knowledge of SLR coastal hazards, concerns, needs, and suggestions on potential adaptation strategies and may include:
● Community awareness and participation effort: poster and social media campaign (such as encouraging public to upload pictures of King tides and share experiences with storm surges, bluff erosion and tsunamis).
● One short survey (~10 question, 2–3-minute) available both online and at public workshop to assess the community’s knowledge of SLR coastal hazards, concerns, needs, and suggestions on potential adaptation strategies.
● Presentations with Maps (such as those available on CoSMos) of the coastal hazards for existing and future conditions with sea-level rise consistent with Task 4. These will be used for public education and input and available at public workshops, public meetings, pop-up events, etc.
● An SB1-SLR update on the City’s website, published quarterly Task 3.1 Deliverables: Community Engagement Plan with results of outreach Task 3.2: The City and the Consultant will conduct regular coordination meetings with its stakeholders, including, but not limited to: Del Norte County, CalTrans, CDFW and Crescent City Harbor District, Elk Valley Rancheria, Tolowa Di-Ni’ Nation. Coordination meetings can happen either via phone, email, live or through focused virtual meetings as needed. Task 3.2 Deliverables: meeting notes from coordination meetings
Task 3.3: The City, with its Consultant team, will present the Final Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Vulnerability Assessment from Task 4, along with the conceptual pathways for priority adaptation identified in Task 5.1 to the public through 1 public workshop.
The Consultant team will create outreach materials for this workshop and in partnership with the City will utilize engagement tools such as maps and hands-on activities to receive input from the community on Crescent City’s vulnerability to sea level rise. Findings from the public workshop will be integrated into the drafting of the Draft SLR, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Adaptation Plan. Task 3.3 Deliverables: outreach materials, maps, description of hands-on activity.
Task 3.4: City and Consultant team will meet quarterly with California Coastal Commission (CCC) North Coast staff as part of stakeholder outreach and for development of Task 6- LCP Policy and Implementation Document. Task 3.4 Deliverables: meeting notes from CCC meetings. 11 FULL PROPOSAL|CNRA OPC 721
Task 3.5: The City will present the Draft Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Adaptation Plan, outlined in Task 5.2, to the City Council during a public meeting. Outreach efforts will be made by the City and the Consultant team to ensure the community is aware of this presentation. Comments on the draft will be added to the deliverables. Task 3.5 Deliverables: City Council staff report, presentation slides, and outreach materials Task 4: Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Vulnerability Assessment Task 4.1: The Consultant team will conduct a SLR analysis and vulnerability assessment with the goal of gaining comprehensive insights into the vulnerability of coastal assets and resources to SLR, including their exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity, and identify consistently threatened community assets, such as public and private infrastructure, environmentally sensitive habitat areas, and vulnerable bluffs, across different SLR scenarios. All core sectors included in the SLR Adaptation Criteria will be assessed in this vulnerability assessment. The Consultant team will first develop a coastal hazards assessment, through which a set of Coastal Hazard Maps will be generated depicting flooding and erosion hazard areas with different SLR scenarios. The OPC SLR Adaptation Criteria will be utilized for addressing physical impacts from Coastal Hazards. The coastal hazards assessment will also utilize the Coastal Commission’s 2024 SLR Policy Guidance and Critical Infrastructure Guidance documents, as well as the latest reports and recommendations on SLR science from other sources. Task 4.1 Deliverables: Coastal Hazards Maps
Task 4.2: The Consultant team will use the Coastal Hazard Maps to inform the Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Vulnerability Assessment. The Consultant will create a Draft Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Vulnerability Assessment that will include:
● Prioritization of risks to community resources, infrastructure, critical ecosystems, and habitat.
● Consideration of coastal access and tribal cultural resources, ● Evaluation of vulnerability using numeric scores that will be assigned to exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity of assets.
● Identifying a preliminary prioritization of assets at risk from SLR that will identify triggers and guide adaptation efforts.
Task 4.2 Deliverables: Draft Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Vulnerability Assessment
Task 4.3: The City will share the Draft Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Vulnerability Assessment with the identified stakeholders from Task 2. The City will also share the Draft Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Vulnerability Assessment with the California Coastal Commission for feedback. Feedback will be incorporated by the Consultant team resulting in a Final Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Vulnerability Assessment.
Task 4.3 Deliverables: Draft Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Vulnerability Assessment with CCC and stakeholder comments; Final Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Vulnerability Assessment.
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Task 5: Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Adaptation Plan Task 5.1: The Consultant team, with input from the City, will develop conceptual pathways for priority adaptation actions based on the vulnerabilities found in the Final Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Vulnerability Assessment. The City will then qualitatively assign values to represent the asset's importance, which will be vetted by community engagement The Consultant will create a presentation to share these conceptual pathways with the community in Task 2. This will help inform the development of Task 5.2 deliverable.
Task 5.1 Deliverables: Conceptual Pathways for Priority Adaptation Actions Document Task 5.2: The Consultant will use the Final Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Vulnerability Assessment, input from the City, identified stakeholders, and the public workshop to create the Draft Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Adaptation Plan. This Draft Plan will focus on nature-based solutions and benefits to long-term community resilience. It will describe baseline and existing conditions of the Harbor, including existing critical infrastructure, recreational assets, and other assets at risk of impact from SLR. The Draft Plan will evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of various proposed protection, accommodation, and retreat strategies, including nature-based adaptation strategies. The Consultant will develop a catalog of potential adaptation projects and strategies to include in the Draft Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Adaptation Plan. The plan will also outline a preliminary monitoring strategy to inform adaptation pathways, and a financing strategy for funding future adaptation costs. Input from the community on preferred adaptation strategies will be incorporated. Task
5.2 Deliverables: Draft Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Adaptation Plan Task 5.3: The City will share the Draft Plan with the California Coastal Commission for feedback.
Coastal Commission feedback, along with City Council and community-defined adaptation strategies on the Draft Plan from Task 2, will be incorporated by the Consultant into a Final Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Adaptation Plan. The Final Plan will serve as the roadmap for the City’s future SLR, tsunami, and erosion risk adaptation and can be used to support future funding applications for planning, design, and implementation of adaptation projects. Task 5.3 Deliverables: Draft Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Adaptation Plan with CCC and public feedback comments, Final Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Adaptation Plan.
Task 6: Administrative Draft LCP Policy and Implementation Document Task 6.1: The work completed during this project will ultimately result in preparation for an update to the City's Local Coastal Program (LCP) to begin to address requirements of SB 272.
Based on work done in Tasks 1-5, the Consultant team, with support from the City, will develop and prepare an Administrative Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Policy and Implementation Document to identify the City’s subsequent LCP update needs, which includes the Coastal General Plan and Chapters 17.6-18.86: Coastal Zoning Code. The City will use the latest versions [2024] of California Coastal Commission guidance documents, in addition to best practices and examples from other California coastal jurisdictions and information from public outreach to inform the draft policies and development standards. This task will be done in close coordination with Coastal Commission staff. Task does not include public hearing or CEQA. Task 6.1 Deliverables: Administrative Draft Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Policy and Implementation Document
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Section 5: SLR Adaptation Criteria Justification
Missing Criteria Justification
Crescent City is prepared to meet the SLR Adaptation Criteria describing the minimum criteria that projects must meet to be eligible for SB 1 Grant Program funding. Each criterion has been incorporated into the project’s work plan. The one criterion not included because it has already been accomplished by previous planning efforts is Community Visioning.
Community Visioning - While community engagement is an important part of the City’s Work Plan, we are not proposing a distinct community visioning process. For a small and engaged rural community such as Crescent City, there are high levels of participation. From the City’s Economic Development Strategic Action Plan (2021), to approval of the City’s Housing Element (2023) leading to almost 300 units of low income and senior housing under construction, to major Beachfront Park improvements (2025) including a Tolowa Interpretive trail, update of the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (2025), and initiation of a Downtown Specific Plan (2025), the City has already been provided direction from all segments of its citizenry and continues to receive this input through these current projects. Recent and ongoing coastal-related emergencies in the City (bluff collapse, tsunamis, storm surges) keep its citizenry aware of the risks of living in this rural, isolated city. Through the City’s community outreach (Task 3), dissemination of information and receipt of input will continue throughout the process to assure maximum community engagement.
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Section 6: Project Schedule and Major Deliverables
Project Schedule
While the schedule shown has the start date beginning in January of Year 1, the schedule will be adjusted to reflect the two-year period after receiving a notice to proceed (NTP). Green indicates duration of task; deliverable dates for each task are indicated by task number.
Year 1
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Task 1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1
Task 2 2.1 2.2
Task 3 3.1,
3.2 3.4 3.2 3.4 3.2
Task 4 4.1 4.2
Task 5
Task 6
Year 2
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Task 1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1
Task 2
Task 3 3.4 3.2 3.4 3.2 3.4
3.5 3.2
3.3 3.4 3.4 3.4
Task 4 4.3
Task 5 5.1 5.2 5.3
Task 6 6.1
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Major Deliverable Milestones
Task Deliverable Name Estimated Due
Date from NTP
Task 1: Administration
Coordination and
Reporting
1.1 Quarterly Reports and Invoicing 1.1- Quarterly for two years
Task 2: Existing Baseline
Conditions
2.1 Draft Technical Memorandums on Existing
Baseline Conditions
2.2 Final Technical Memorandums on Existing
Baseline Conditions
2.1- month 5
2.2- month 6
Task 3: Stakeholder
Outreach and Community
Engagement Plan
3.1 Stakeholder/ Community Engagement Plan
3.2 Stakeholder Coordination Meeting Notes
3.3 public workshop outreach materials, maps,
description of hands-on activity
3.4 - meeting notes from CCC meetings
3.5 - City Council presentation slides and
outreach materials
3.1 - 5 month 5
3.2 – quarterly
3.3 – month 21
3.4 - quarterly from
Month 7
3.5 - month 19
Task 4: Vulnerability
Assessment
4.1 Coastal Hazard Maps
4.2 Draft Vulnerability Assessment
4.3 Draft Vulnerability Assessment with CCC
and stakeholder comments & Final
Vulnerability Assessment
4.1 - month 7
4.2 - month 12
4.3 - month 13
Task 5: Adaptation Plan 5.1 Conceptual Pathways for Priority Adaptation Actions Document
5.2 Draft Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and
Erosion Adaptation Plan
5.3 Draft Sea Level Rise, Tsunami Hazards, and
Erosion Adaptation Plan with CCC and public
feedback comments & Final Sea Level Rise,
Tsunami Hazards, and Erosion Adaptation Plan
5.1 - month 15
5.2 - month 18
5.3 - month 21
Task 6: LCP Policy and
Implementation
Document
6.1 Admin. LCP Policy and Implementation
Document
6.1 - month 24
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Section 7: Budget+
Budget Template
Task 1 Task 2 Task 3 Task 4 Task 5 Task 6 Total
Personnel $7,080 $6,420 $11,160 $7,080 $8,740 $7,480 $60,812 Travel $0 $375 $750 $500 $500 $0 $2,125
Subcontract
or(s) $9,600 $46,080 $46,080 $49,300 $70,640 $32,560 $260,300 Materials $100 $1,200 $4,200 $1000 $1000 $200 $7,700
Overhead $1,070 $1,053 $1,944 $1,122 $1,371 $1,152 $7,712 Task Total $17,857 $55,128 $64,134 $59,002 $80,751 $41,392 319,764 Agreement Total: 319,764
Budget Justification
The total cost for the scope of this project is $XXX,XXX. The personnel and overhead costs associated with the project is Crescent City staff time and facilities. Subcontractor is SHN. All estimated costs are based on past project experience and budgets allocated for similar projects; a detailed breakdown is available upon request. The project will be overseen and managed by Crescent City staff, with SHN’s support. SHN will support all tasks and lead the creation of the Vulnerability Assessment and the SLR Adaptation Plan.
TASK 1: Project Management. An estimated $19,070 is needed to support administration, coordination, budgeting and reporting activities. Bridget Lacey (City) will lead grant management, reporting activities, and deliverables supported by other staff. She will be responsible for project closeout and invoicing. SHN will be responsible for tracking progress and providing deliverables to the City.
• City |Hours: 96 | Blended Rate $73.75 | Overhead: $1,170| Total: $8,250 • SHN| Hours: 48 | Blended Rate $200.00 | Total: $9,600 • Materials: $ 1,220 for copying, large format printing, deliverables, and other incidental items TASK 2: Existing Conditions Analysis, and Technical Memorandum. An estimated $55,253 is needed to support the creation of a Draft Technical Memorandum (informed by the Existing Conditions Analysis). SHN will lead this task with researching available data, generating GIS mapping of coastal hazards and closely coordinating with City Staff and stakeholders who will support by providing data, previous reports, and other necessary information for inclusion in the Technical memorandum.
• City |Hours: 96 | Blended Rate $73.75 | Overhead: $1,170| Total: $8,250 • SHN| Hours: 48 | Blended Rate $200.00 | Total: $9,600 • Materials: $ 1,220 for copying, large format printing, deliverables, and other incidental items TASK 3: Stakeholder Outreach and Community Engagement. An estimated $XX,XXX is needed throughout the term of the Project, to create a Community Engagement Plan that ensures that all portions of the community have access to engage with the content, contribute to this 17 FULL PROPOSAL|CNRA OPC 721
project, and benefit from its outcomes. The Community Engagement Plan will assess the community’s knowledge of SLR coastal hazards, concerns, needs, and suggestions on potential adaptation strategies. Materials will be developed and displayed at public workshops, events, and online presence. Quarterly meetings will be held throughout the Project with both the stakeholders and Coastal Commission staff. A final presentation will be provided to the public at a city council meeting.
• City |Hours: 96 | Blended Rate $73.75 | Overhead: $1,170| Total: $8,250 • SHN| Hours: 48 | Blended Rate $200.00 | Total: $9,600 • Materials: $ 1,220 for copying, large format printing, deliverables, and other incidental item • Travel is estimated at $500 to support SHN travel to community engagement events and in person meetings with the City. (4 trips x 170 miles RT x $0.75) TASK 4: SLR Vulnerability Assessment. An estimated $XXX,XXX is needed to support the creation of a SLR analysis and vulnerability assessment, which includes development of coastal hazard mapping, utilizing the OPC SLR Adaptation Criteria for addressing physical impacts from Coastal Hazards. Task also includes a Final SLR Vulnerability Assessment after public/agency review. The Consultant team will lead this task and closely coordinate with City Staff to ensure the SLR Adaptation Plan meets the needs of the jurisdiction and reflects community priorities. • City |Hours: 96 | Blended Rate $73.75 | Overhead: $1,170| Total: $8,250 • SHN| Hours: 48 | Blended Rate $200.00 | Total: $9,600 • Materials: $ 1,220 for copying, large format printing, deliverables, and other incidental items TASK 5: SLR Adaptation Plan. An estimated $XX,XXX is needed to support the creation of a SLR Adaptation Plan, which includes developing conceptual pathways for priority adaptation actions based on the vulnerabilities found in the Final Vulnerability Assessment and vetted by community engagement. This task includes identifying existing critical infrastructure, recreational assets, and other assets at risk of impact from SLR. Task also includes a Final SLR Adaptation Plan after a public workshop and public/agency review. The Consultant team will lead this task and closely coordinate with City Staff to ensure the SLR Adaptation Plan meets the needs of the jurisdiction and reflects community priorities. Task includes incorporating feedback into a Final SLR Adaptation Plan.
• City |Hours: 96 | Blended Rate $73.75 | Overhead: $1,170| Total: $8,250 • SHN| Hours: 48 | Blended Rate $200.00 | Total: $9,600 • Materials: $ 1,220 for copying, large format printing, deliverables, and other incidental items TASK 6: LCP Policy and Implementation Document. An estimated $XX,XXX is needed to develop a Policy and Implementation Document to identify the City’s subsequent LCP update needs, which may include the Coastal General Plan and Chapters 17.6-18.86: Coastal Zoning Code. The City will use the latest versions [2024] of California Coastal Commission guidance documents, in addition to best practices and examples from other California coastal jurisdictions and information from public outreach to inform the draft policies and development standards. This task will be done in close coordination with Coastal Commission staff and begin to address requirements of SB 272.
• City |Hours: 96 | Blended Rate $73.75 | Overhead: $1,170| Total: $8,250 • SHN| Hours: 48 | Blended Rate $200.00 | Total: $9,600 • Materials: $ 1,220 for copying, large format printing, deliverables, and other incidental items 18 FULL PROPOSAL|CNRA OPC 721
Section 8: Supplementary Documents
a. Project Team Resumes or Curricula Vitae: Provide for all key team members. b. Project Letters:
Letters of Commitment are those that demonstrate a firm commitment from a government entity/organization/person providing specific resources, funding, or services if the proposal is approved, and a commitment to carrying out the project and its deliverables as described in the proposal. These are required for the following scenarios:
● Entities applying on behalf of a government (local, regional, or tribal):
o If the applicant is an organization or consultant applying on a government’s behalf, a Letter of Commitment is required from the government entity. This letter should demonstrate effective support and collaboration between the two entities. The letter must come from an official with authority (e.g., planning department, sustainability department, mayor’s office, county supervisor’s office, etc.), and it should explain how the project outcomes will be utilized in the government’s planning efforts, particularly for land use plans (LCPs) or SB 272 (Laird, 2023) compliance.
o If an organization has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the government that specifically addresses collaborative efforts related to the project (e.g., fundraise, write grants, and serve as the grant administrator for resilience and adaptation projects), that would also be acceptable to take the place of a Letter of Commitment from the government.
A Letter of Commitment from pre-identified subcontractor(s) is optional. These Letters of Commitment should demonstrate subcontractor engagement, readiness to support the project, and provide evidence of feasibility and commitment from key partners.
Letters of Support are strongly encouraged for all projects to demonstrate broad engagement and community support for the project. These are optional.
Additional letters of support, commitment, or tribal resolution(s), not described above, may be included as supplementary documentation.