El Cerrito City Council
December 2, 2025

November 2025
with those of the Transportation and
Circulation chapter.

Contra Costa County Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan
The Contra Costa County Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan (LHMP) assesses the risk of
hazards and vulnerabilities from natural and
human-caused hazards, including risk to
people and facilities, and identifies short-term
(five-year) mitigation actions to reduce or
eliminate hazard risks. The LHMP includes a
dedicated annex for the City of El Cerrito, which
discusses El Cerrito’s characteristics and
history, development trends, hazard mitigation
capabilities, integration with other hazard
mitigation planning efforts, and vulnerabilities
of specific facilities and infrastructure. Contra
Costa County led the preparation of the Hazard
Mitigation Plan in collaboration with the City
and other local agencies and special districts,
in accordance with the federal Disaster
Mitigation Act of 2000 and the Federal
Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA)
hazard mitigation assistance guidance. The
current LHMP and El Cerrito Annex, as certified
by FEMA, is incorporated into this Safety
Element by reference, as permitted by
California Government Code Section 65302.6.

It is available online at:
https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/6415/LocalHazard-Mitigation-Plan.

City of El Cerrito Climate Action and
Adaptation Plan
On July 16, 2024, the El Cerrito City Council
adopted the City’s Climate Action and
Adaptation Plan (CAAP) to address
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and
community resilience in the face of climate
change-related hazards. The City developed
the CAAP’s focus areas and strategies based
on results from community engagement, the
vulnerability assessment, and GHG analysis.

One of these focus areas is community
resilience and empowerment, which includes
efforts such as establishing climate resilience
hubs, conducting equitable climate
preparedness activities, and offering public
education on climate risks and resources. The
CAAP intends to serve as a roadmap toward
achieving these goals: reaching aggressive
emissions reduction targets, improving El
Cerrito’s resilience to climate change impacts,
and guiding collaboration between the City and
community of El Cerrito. The CAAP aims to
distribute the benefits of climate action and
adaptation equitably by prioritizing vulnerable
communities in planning and implementation.

The Safety Element incorporates the climate
vulnerability assessment in the CAAP, as
discussed in greater detail in the following
section, and contains policies that support the
adaptation and resilience efforts in the CAAP.

The CAAP is available online at: https://elcerrito.org/325/Climate-Action-Plan.

CLIMATE CHANGE VULNERABILITY

ASSESSMENT
Under California law, the Safety Element is
required to include a vulnerability assessment
that looks at how people, buildings,
infrastructure, and other key community assets
may be affected by climate change. In 2024,
the City conducted a vulnerability assessment
to identify current and future climate change
impacts and risks to different sectors and
communities of El Cerrito. The Vulnerability
Assessment includes an overview of climate
trends, projections, and impacts for El Cerrito
and the broader Bay Area region, and evaluates
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the risks and vulnerabilities across four City
sectors:
 Infrastructure and the Built
Environment. El Cerrito’s buildings,
facilities, and transportation systems.
 Natural Systems and Water. El Cerrito’s
open space, tree canopy, water supply,
and water-related (e.g., potable water,
wastewater, stormwater) infrastructure.
 Energy. El Cerrito’s energy delivery
infrastructure, supply, and demand.
 Community Health, Well-Being, and
Public Safety. El Cerrito’s community
mental and physical health and
emergency response services.

El Cerrito faces increasing climate-related risks
that threaten these four sectors. Climate
change is expected to cause El Cerrito to
experience warmer temperatures year-round,
including higher maximum summer
temperatures and more frequent and severe
heat waves; greater precipitation fluctuations
between wet and dry years, with higher risk of
flooding during wet years and higher risk of
drought during dry years; and increasing
chance of wildfire and poor air quality due to
wildfire smoke. El Cerrito’s natural landscapes,
urban forests, and water systems are highly
vulnerable to climate change. Rising
temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns will
stress vegetation, increasing the risk of insect
outbreaks, disease, tree mortality, and fire.

Extreme weather events in the community,
including droughts and floods, will lead to soil
erosion, habitat loss, and biodiversity decline.

Local water management will become more
difficult as intensified rainfall strains aged
stormwater infrastructure, increasing the risk
of flooding, groundwater contamination, and
untreated water entering homes and
waterways. The Bay Area’s alternating wet and
dry years are likely to create economic and
environmental challenges, affecting water
availability, agriculture, recreation, and public
health.

El Cerrito’s energy infrastructure faces growing
risks from climate-driven floods, heavy rain,
and strong winds, which could damage power
lines, substations, and transmission towers,
leading to outages. Wildfires pose an
additional threat, disrupting energy distribution
and impacting residents, businesses, and City
operations. Rising temperatures will increase
electricity demand, heightening the risk of
brownouts and power failures. Climate hazards
will also affect community health and safety.

More frequent landslides, floods, and wildfires
will raise the risk of injury, illness, and mental
health challenges, especially for vulnerable
populations like seniors and low-income
residents. Displacement, property damage, and
disruptions may worsen physical and mental
health issues. Emergency response activities in
the community will also be affected if flooding,
landslides, and wildfires disrupt transportation
routes, and energy blackouts impact
communication systems, delaying critical
services. The Vulnerability Assessment,
included as Appendix F of the CAAP, is
available online at: https://elcerrito.org/325/Climate-Action-Plan.

To increase community resilience and help
lower vulnerability, the Safety Element includes
goals, policies, and implementation measures
to improve the resilience of the populations
and assets identified as highly vulnerable in the
Vulnerability Assessment.

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PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES

SEISMIC AND GEOLOGIC HAZARDS
Seismic and geologic hazards are risks caused
by the movement of different parts of the
earth’s surface, known as the crust. Seismic
hazards include earthquakes and hazardous
events caused by them, such as liquefaction
and tsunamis. Geologic hazards are other
hazards involving land movements that are not
linked to seismic activity, including landslides
caused by heavy rains, and can inflict harm to
people or property.

Seismic Hazards
Seismic activity occurs along boundaries in the
earth’s crust, called faults. Pressure along the
faults builds over time and is ultimately
released, resulting in ground shaking,
commonly referred to as an earthquake.

Earthquakes can also trigger other hazards,
including tsunamis, surface rupture (cracks in
the ground surface), liquefaction (causing
loose soil to lose its strength), landslides, and
subsidence (sinking of the ground surface).

Earthquakes
Though El Cerrito is at risk from many natural
and human-caused hazards, the event with the
greatest potential for loss of life or property
and economic damage is an earthquake. This
risk is true for most of the San Francisco Bay
Area region, which has several active seismic
faults. Earthquake risk is very high in Contra
Costa County, including the City of El Cerrito,
due to the presence of five major active faults
in the region: the Hayward Fault, Calaveras
(North Central) Fault, Concord-Green Valley
Fault, Mount Diablo Fault, and Greenville Fault.

The Hayward fault, which is an approximately
45-mile-long fault that runs through densely
populated areas on the East Bay, passes
through eastern El Cerrito. The Hayward Fault
is increasingly becoming a hazard of concern
throughout the Bay Area because of its
likelihood of activity and its intersection with
highly populated areas and critical
infrastructure. A significant earthquake on the
Hayward Fault is predicted to result in
catastrophic damage to buildings and
infrastructure and substantial loss of life. The
probability of experiencing a Magnitude 6.7 or
greater earthquake along the Hayward Fault in
the next 30 years is 33 percent. An earthquake
of this magnitude could cause widespread
devastation across the Bay Area, with the
potential for thousands of fatalities, mass
displacement, and long-term disruption of
essential services.

The U.S. Geological Survey developed the
HayWired Earthquake Scenario, a scientifically
realistic study of the likely impacts of a
magnitude 7.0 earthquake and its aftershocks
on the Hayward Fault, to evaluate these risks in
greater detail.
i The HayWired Scenario
emphasizes the vulnerabilities and strengths
posed by the Bay Area’s interconnected
infrastructure systems such as utilities, roads,
communications, and the compounded effects
these interdependencies create in
communities and the regional economy.

Because the Hayward Fault runs through
heavily developed areas, the scenario
anticipates widespread impacts, including
injuries, damage to buildings and
infrastructure, and significant displacement of
residents. The Hayward Fault crosses critical
infrastructure, including major highways, Bay
Area Rapid Transit (BART) tracks, and water
and gas pipelines, making the potential
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consequences especially severe for local and
regional transportation, utilities, and
emergency response systems.

In addition to direct ground shaking and
structural damage, large earthquakes can
rupture water and gas mains, down power
lines, and topple trees. These secondary
impacts increase the risk of fires, reduce the
City’s ability to fight fires due to water system
disruption, and can obstruct evacuation routes
and delay first responder access. Such
cascading hazards further illustrate the
interconnected risks facing El Cerrito during a
major seismic event.

The Calaveras (North Central) Fault, a major
branch of the San Andreas Fault, extends
76 miles from Hollister to Danville, east of the
Hayward Fault. The Concord-Green Valley Fault
beneath Concord runs 11 miles from Mount
Diablo to the Carquinez Strait and connects to
the Green Valley Fault. The Mount Diablo thrust
fault lies between the Calaveras, Greenville,
and Concord Faults in Contra Costa County.

The Greenville Fault, also part of the San
Andreas Fault system, runs through Contra
Costa and Alameda Counties, bordering
Livermore Valley and extending northwest
along the Marsh Creek and Clayton faults
toward Clayton Valley. Figure S-1 shows the
location of faults and Alquist-Priolo Fault
Zones in and around El Cerrito, while Figure S2 shows the fault lines in Contra Costa County.

Earthquakes are likely to continue on an
occasional basis. Most are expected to cause
no substantive damage and may not even be
felt by most people. However, a major
earthquake along any of the nearby faults
could result in substantial casualties and
widespread destruction. The greatest risk in El
Cerrito is from the Hayward Fault due to its
proximity and high potential to cause a severe
earthquake.

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Figure S-1 Local Fault Lines
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Figure S-2 Regional Fault Lines
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Other Seismic Hazards
In addition to the direct physical damage that
can result from the shaking of an earthquake,
earthquakes can cause secondary hazards.

Liquefaction occurs where waterlogged soils
near the ground surface lose compaction
during strong ground motion, causing the soil
to lose strength and behave as liquid. This can
cause building foundations to shift and can
result in significant structural damage. Soils
susceptible to liquefaction are typically found
in low-lying current or former floodplains.

Portions of the City near the floodplains in the
southern part of the City, adjacent to I-80, are
likely to face liquefaction during an
earthquake. Figure S-3 shows the areas facing
an elevated liquefaction risk in El Cerrito.

Earthquake-induced landslides pose a
significant risk due to the presence of
landslide-prone areas in the hillsides of eastern
El Cerrito and proximity of earthquake faults.

Ground shaking from seismic activity can
cause rocks, debris, and hillside soils to loosen
and fall downslope, harming people, buildings,
and infrastructure in their path.

A secondary hazard of earthquakes is a
tsunami, which has the potential to affect
areas near the shoreline of the Richmond/El
Cerrito area. Tsunamis are typically caused by
earthquakes in places where ocean plates are
forced down into the mantle by plate tectonic
forces. These areas are known as subduction
zones, although earthquakes in other parts of
the ocean may also cause tsunamis. Tsunami
waves can travel across entire ocean basins
and impact coastal areas that are far from the
earthquake’s epicenter, including places where
the shaking from the earthquake is not felt.

Tsunamis can result in severe property
damage and loss of life to affected areas near
the coast. They can also disrupt emergency
services and transportation routes. Also,
tsunami waves can diffract around land
masses, and because they are not
symmetrical, the wave may be much stronger
in one direction than another, depending on the
source and the surrounding geography.

Earthquakes with magnitudes below 6.5 are
very unlikely to trigger a tsunami. Earthquakes
of magnitudes between 6.5 and 7.5 do not
usually produce destructive tsunamis.

A similar hazard, known as a seiche, may also
occur. A seiche is a standing wave that
oscillates back and forth across an enclosed or
partially-enclosed water body, such as the San
Francisco Bay. Earthquakes, landslides, or
strong storms may create a seiche wave that
repeatedly floods shoreline areas, in a manner
similar to a tsunami.

Figure S-4 illustrates the area that may be
subject to inundation from a tsunami in
El Cerrito.

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Figure S-3 Liquefaction Areas
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Figure S-4 Tsunami Inundation Areas
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Geologic Hazards
Geologic hazards in El Cerrito include
landslides and erosion. Landslides, which can
occur as debris flows or rock falls, are most
common in steep, sloped areas with loose and
fragmented soil. While some landslides
develop gradually, others happen suddenly,
often with severe consequences. Landslides
are a continuous natural process affecting all
slopes with varying degrees of impact.

Landslides are often triggered by other natural
hazards, such as earthquakes, heavy rain,
floods, or wildfires, so landslide frequency is
often related to the frequency of these other
hazards. Landslides have occurred on hillsides
throughout the City, usually in winter during
high rainfall years. Due to the hilly terrain, the
eastern portion of the City is in a very high
landslide susceptibility class, as shown on
Figure S-5.

Localized over-steepened slopes in El Cerrito
present elevated risk of rockfall, particularly
when combined with heavy rainfall or
earthquake shaking. For example, oversteepened slopes such as the quarry face near the City’s Recycling Center pose a heightened
risk of rockfall that could affect nearby
facilities and operations. These site-specific
conditions illustrate the potential severity of
landslide hazards in the city and the
importance of ongoing monitoring and
mitigation where critical facilities are located
near unstable slopes.

Climate change is expected to result in more
precipitation extremes. More frequent periods
of heavy rainfall could cause an increase in the
number of landslides or make landslides larger
than normal. Increased wildfire frequency can
destabilize hillsides due to loss of vegetation
and change soil composition, which can
contribute to greater runoff and erosion.

Climate change will also cause more frequent
and extreme droughts, which dries out soil.

When heavy precipitation does occur (another
expected effect of climate change), the soil
cannot absorb as much water, which creates
higher levels of runoff, potentially leading to
landslides and mudflows. The combination of
more frequent drought and intense rainfall
combined with increased wildfire hazards are
likely to cause more mudslides and landslides.

El Cerrito is also susceptible to hazards related
to erosion, or the geological process in which
rocks and soil are worn away by natural forces
such as water or wind, causing the soil to
deteriorate. The eroded particles can end up in
local creeks and San Francisco Bay, creating
water quality problems. The eastern hillsides
of the City are particularly at risk due to their
steep slopes, making them more vulnerable to
erosion. Erosion can damage roads, bridges,
buildings, and other structures by weakening
the foundations of buildings and structures,
causing washouts during heavy rains, and
increasing the risk of landslides.

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Figure S-5 Landslide Susceptibility Areas
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Goals and Policies
Goal 1: Mitigate risk from geologic and seismic hazards.

Policy 1.1: Geotechnical Review. Require geotechnical studies for development proposals in areas at risk from geologic and seismic hazards (see Figure S-1, Local Fault Lines; Figure S-3, Liquefaction Areas; and Figure S-5, Landslide Susceptibility Areas), in accordance with City procedures. Such studies should evaluate the extent of geotechnical hazards, optimum location for structures, the advisability of special structural requirements, and the feasibility and desirability of a proposed facility in a specified location.

Policy 1.2: Erosion Control. Provide appropriate control measures in conjunction with proposed development in areas susceptible to erosion, including an erosion control plan and revegetation plan as part of grading permits.

Policy 1.3: Seismic Safety of New Development. Require new structures to be designed to contemporary standards for seismic safety. Require that new City-owned critical facilities be constructed to the highest possible standard of seismic safety.

Policy 1.4: Seismic Safety of Existing Development. Assist occupants and owners of existing structures in identifying seismic risks to their structures and provide support in obtaining appropriate seismic retrofit measures. Evaluate all City-owned facilities to determine seismic risks and implement appropriate seismic retrofit measures.

Policy 1.5: Seismic Safety of Utilities. Encourage local gas, water, and sewer providers to review and retrofit their main distribution pipes.

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HAZARDOUS WASTE AND MATERIALS
Hazardous materials are materials that pose a
significant risk to public safety or to human or
environmental health. These include toxic
chemicals, flammable or corrosive materials,
petroleum products, and unstable or
dangerously reactive materials, which may be
stored, transported, or processed at dry
cleaners, gas stations, automotive repair
centers, and similar light industrial facilities in
El Cerrito. The release or spill of bulk
hazardous materials could result in fire,
explosion, toxic clouds, or direct contamination
of water, people, and property. The El Cerrito
Fire Department, Contra Costa Hazardous
Materials Division, and Contra Costa
Environmental Health Division are responsible
for hazardous materials accidents in El Cerrito.

Several State agencies have jurisdiction over
hazardous materials sites and oversee the
monitoring of hazardous materials and waste
facilities. The Regional Water Quality Control
Board (RWQCB) and the California Department
of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) are
responsible for different types of sites.

Facilities that use or store hazardous
materials, such as industrial plants,
laboratories, and storage facilities, must
comply with regulations enforced by the DTSC,
which ensures proper handling, transportation,
and disposal of hazardous substances.

Cleanup sites, which include contaminated
properties and hazardous waste disposal
areas, fall under the oversight of both RWQCB
and DTSC. The RWQCB focuses on preventing
hazardous materials from contaminating water
resources, conducting site inspections, and
enforcing water protection regulations. The
DTSC maintains records of these
contaminated sites, supervises cleanup efforts,
and ensures compliance with hazardous
materials laws. Both agencies coordinate with
local governments, businesses, and other
regulatory bodies to ensure the safe
management of hazardous materials and the
remediation of contaminated sites.

Figure S-6 identifies potential sites with
hazardous materials. DTSC typically acts as
the lead agency for sites involving toxic
substances and remediation, and the RWQCB
leads issues concerning water quality.

Additionally, the Contra Costa Environmental
Health Division serves as the oversight agency
for sites within the City. A review of the leaking
underground storage tank list produced by the
RWQCB and the DTSC EnviroStor databases
indicates 33 cleanup sites (2 open and 31 case
closed sites) and 7 cleanup program sites (5
open and 2 case-closed sites). ii,iiiOpen
cleanup sites for hazardous materials are still
undergoing investigation, remediation, or
monitoring to address contamination; closed
sites have met regulatory cleanup standards
and no longer require active remediation.

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Figure S-6 Hazardous Materials Sites
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Since 1970, there is no recorded history of
roadway or rail hazardous materials incidents
in El Cerrito.
iv While El Cerrito has not
experienced such incidents, the broader region
has seen hazardous materials transportation
incidents in the past, including cities adjacent
to El Cerrito. Notably, Berkeley has recorded
two roadway incidents; Richmond has
recorded 29 roadway and 45 rail incidents; and
San Pablo has recorded 21 roadway incidents.
v
These events, which involve the release of
hazardous materials during transportation by
roadway or rail transit, can pose a threat to
public health and safety, property, and the
environment. Hazardous materials in nearby
communities may affect El Cerrito, including
through indirect impacts such as closing
regional highways. It is possible that these
events may occur in El Cerrito and surrounding
communities in the future.

Climate change is unlikely to substantially
affect hazardous materials transportation
incidents. However, increases in the frequency
and intensity of climate hazards, such as
floods, landslides, and severe storms, may
create a greater risk of hazardous material
releases during these events. Beyond
transportation incidents, climate change
increases the risk of hazardous material
releases from industrial facilities, storage sites,
and other hazardous material locations.

Extreme weather can stress infrastructure,
causing equipment failures, leaks, or corrosion.

Flooding may submerge storage tanks, leading
to spills or contamination. Power outages can
disrupt cooling systems, heightening explosion
risks. Wildfires can ignite hazardous materials,
releasing toxins into the environment.

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Goals and Policies
Goal 2: Minimize potential damage from existing hazardous materials and prevent future hazardous materials contamination.

Policy 2.1: Potential Hazardous Soils Conditions of New Development. Evaluate new development on potentially contaminated sites (such as older fill sites, historical auto service uses, industrial uses, or areas where hazardous materials may have been used, as mapped in Figure S-6, Hazardous Materials Sites), and require that development proposals contain adequate measures to mitigate hazardous material exposure prior to development approvals.

Policy 2.2: Hazardous Soil Conditions in Inundation Hazard Areas. Work with Contra Costa Health Services and other regional partners to identify hazardous materials sites where proximity to mapped flood hazard zones, sea level rise inundation areas, and other water-based hazards that may spread hazardous materials. Prioritize remediation of these sites.

Policy 2.3: Hazardous Materials at Municipal Facilities. Ensure that hazardous materials owned or stored by the City are managed and disposed of appropriately to protect human and environmental health and safety.

Policy 2.4: Hazardous Materials Storage and Disposal. Require proper storage and disposal of hazardous materials in accordance with all State, federal, and local laws and regulations to prevent leakage, potential explosions, fires, or the escape of harmful gases, and to prevent individually innocuous materials from combining to form hazardous substances, especially at the time of disposal.

Policy 2.5: Hazardous Materials Usage in Construction. Require and enforce effective mitigation measures to minimize exposure to toxic and hazardous materials during building renovations and demolitions.

Policy 2.6: Hazardous Materials Public Education. Provide information to the community regarding the potential health hazards posed by hazardous materials and possible ways to reduce hazardous materials use and properly dispose of hazardous materials.

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FLOOD AND INUNDATION HAZARDS
Flooding
Flooding is when water covers normally dry
land, often from poor drainage during heavy
precipitation or when a water body overflows
its banks. Floods are one of the most frequent
natural hazards in El Cerrito and among the
costliest natural disasters nationwide in terms
of human hardship and economic loss. Floods
cause substantial damage to structures,
landscapes, and utilities as well as life and
safety issues.

Historically, El Cerrito has been at risk of
flooding primarily during the winter and spring
when stream systems swell with heavy rain.

Occasionally, flash flooding results from
intense rainfall. In urban areas, flash flooding
can be a serious problem due to lack of
vegetation and replacement of groundcover
with impermeable surfaces such as roads,
driveways, and parking lots. These hard
surfaces prevent water from being absorbed
into the soil, leading to rapid runoff that
overwhelms storm drain infrastructure and
natural waterways. Without proper drainage,
excess water accumulates quickly, increasing
the likelihood of localized flooding. Other
impacts connected with flooding and
associated stormwater runoff include erosion,
sedimentation, habitat disruption, and
increased pollution in waterways. These
effects can degrade water quality, harm
aquatic ecosystems, and contribute to longterm environmental degradation.

Areas at an elevated risk of flooding are
divided into 100- and 500-year flood zones. A
100-year flood zone has a 1 percent chance of
experiencing a major flood in any given year,
and a 500-year flood zone has a 0.2 percent
chance of flooding in any given year. The 100-
year floodplain in El Cerrito is west of San
Pablo Avenue and south of Central Avenue in
the southern portion of the City. The City does
not have any areas in the 500-year floodplain.

However, it is important to note that flooding
can still occur outside of these mapped flood
zones, especially in low-lying areas with poor
drainage. Figure S-7 shows the mapped flood
zones in and around El Cerrito.

Scientists expect that climate change will
cause greater shifts in annual rainfall in El
Cerrito. This shift toward more extreme events
is likely to result in increases in flooding from
intense storm systems as well as an increase
in regional drought conditions. These intense
systems can drop substantial volumes of
precipitation over a short period and cause
flooding. Because of this, floods are expected
to happen more often in El Cerrito, and climate
change may expand the parts of the City that
are considered prone to flooding. More
frequent droughts are also likely to dry out soil,
hardening it and increasing the volume of
runoff when rainfall does return.One extreme
flooding scenario developed by scientists is
known as ARkStorm (and its updated
ARkStorm 2.0 model). These scenarios
simulate the impacts of prolonged, highintensity storms comparable to the “Great Flood” of 1862, which inundated much of
California. ARkStorm 2.0 imagines a period of
extreme rainfall lasting up to a month that
would cause extensive flooding across the
state, although particularly in the Central
Valley. Such events would likely overwhelm
flood-protection systems, trigger hundreds of
landslides, disrupt power, water, and
transportation infrastructure, and result in
economic losses estimated at more than $700
billion statewide.vi Rainfall totals in El Cerrito
could be as high as 23 inches over the course
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of the event, with an average rainfall of slightly
less than an inch each day, although some
days are modeled to see as many as four
inches of rainfall in El Cerrito.

The scenario underscores the potential for
extreme precipitation events to impact large
geographic areas simultaneously, thereby
limiting the availability of mutual aid and
compounding recovery challenges. This
research highlights the importance of local
flood preparedness and mitigation, particularly
as climate change increases the frequency and
severity of extreme weather events.

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Figure S-7 Flood Hazard Zones
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Sea Level Rise
Sea level rise is an increase in the ocean’s
surface height relative to the land and a direct
result of climate change. Sea level rise has the
potential to inundate homes, businesses, and
infrastructure near shorelines. Along the
shoreline, sea levels are projected to rise by as
much as 3 feet (36 inches) by 2070 and 6.6
feet (79.2 inches) by 2100.vii However, it is
possible that sea levels could rise faster than
these projections, which has happened
historically. Figure S-8 shows the permanent
flooding that may occur by 2100.

Rising sea levels can cause the shoreline to
flood more frequently and severely during
storms or king tide events. For example, a
storm that has a one in five chance of
occurring in a given year (known as a five-year
storm) can create a temporary increase in sea
levels of approximately two feet. Because sea
level rise will cause ocean levels to be higher
during normal conditions, shoreline floods will
expand and reach further onto land. Figure S-9
shows the additional temporary flooding that
may occur by 2100 from strong storms or high
tides.

Historical records from the San Francisco tidal
gauge show that the sea level in the San
Francisco Bay rose eight inches from 1897 to
2006. Sea levels are expected to continue to
rise over this century, likely faster than they
have historically. Rising sea levels will increase
the impacts of other coastal hazards, such as
shoreline erosion and tsunamis.

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Figure S-8 Sea Level Rise Projections by 2100 for Permanent Flooding Agenda Packet Page 372 of 465
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Figure S-9 Sea Level Rise Projections by 2100 for Permanent and Temporary Flooding Agenda Packet Page 373 of 465
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Goals and Policies
Goal 3: Reduce risks from flooding and sea level rise and provide timely and effective flood response.

Policy 3.1: Flood-responsive Siting of New Critical Facilities. Prohibit the construction of new critical facilities and infrastructure, including hospitals, health care facilities, emergency shelters, fire stations, emergency command centers, and emergency communication facilities in mapped flood hazard and sea level rise inundation zones (see Figures S-7, S-8, and S-9).

Policy 3.2: Flood-Proofing New Construction. Require that new and significantly renovated buildings and structures in the mapped 100-year flood zones be constructed to a higher standard of flood protection to improve resilience, as required by the California Building Code and in accordance with the City’s Floodplain Management ordinance.

Policy 3.3: Flood Hazards from New Construction. Require new development and significant redevelopment projects, greater than 5,000 square feet of conditioned space, to prepare drainage studies to assess stormwater runoff impacts on the local storm drain system, and to develop recommended detention and drainage facilities as needed to ensure that increased risks of flooding on to neighboring properties do not result from development.

Policy 3.4: Flood Hazards to Existing Development. Help property owners identify qualified service providers and obtain financial incentives to floodproof existing buildings. Continue to evaluate new opportunities to help reduce flood hazards to existing development, including development at risk of current or future flooding not in the mapped 100-year floodplain.

Policy 3.5: Maintenance for the City’s Storm Drainage Facilities. Continue to enforce existing laws prohibiting the dumping of debris, fill, or other waste materials, and illicit discharges into storm drains, creeks and channels, and the littering of garbage. Continue to ensure that local storm drainage facilities are sufficiently maintained. Pursue viable funding sources for local and regional drainage improvements for adequate flood control and protection.

Policy 3.6: Creek Maintenance Education. Continue to educate local property owners about their responsibilities to maintain creeks, storm drainpipes, and open channels on private property, including regularly clearing trash and other debris.

Policy 3.7: Natural Stormwater Management Solutions. Continue to identify opportunities and funding sources to expand the City’s green infrastructure network, as defined in the City’s Green Infrastructure Plan. Update Chapter 8.40 of the City’s Municipal Code, Stormwater Management and Discharge Control, to require new development to Agenda Packet Page 374 of 465
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incorporate natural stormwater management solutions on-site as a condition of approval for discretionary projects, as appropriate.

Policy 3.8: Permeable Paving and Green Infrastructure. Continue to require that new development complies with Contra Costa Clean Water Program Stormwater C.3 Guidebook requirements for treatment of stormwater. Encourage new development to reduce impervious areas and use permeable surfaces in paving and landscaping. Promote the use of green infrastructure, such as bioswales, rain gardens, and vegetated swales, to manage stormwater and enhance groundwater infiltration as outlined in the City’s Green Infrastructure Plan. Include permeable surfaces and green infrastructure into City construction and improvement projects.

Policy 3.9: Continuity of public facilities during flooding. Maintain the structural and operational integrity of essential public facilities during flooding through structural retrofits, flood management, operational improvements, and other appropriate actions.

Policy 3.10: Sea Level Rise Coordination. Coordinate with local, regional, State, and federal agencies to plan for the impacts of flooding, sea level rise, and groundwater intrusion in the community.

Policy 3.11: Flood Response. Coordinate with the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District and neighboring jurisdictions to address regional flood hazards.

Policy 3.12: Public Flood Preparedness Information. Improve public access to information about flood risks, preparedness, and response steps. Revise and expand on existing resources, such as those available on the City’s website, to help residents and property owners understand what to do before, during, and after flooding events.

Policy 3.13: Adopt-A-Drain Program. Explore the development and funding of an Adopt-A-Drain program. This initiative would encourage residents, businesses, and community groups to voluntarily adopt storm drains and commit to their regular maintenance by removing debris, leaves, and litter to ensure proper stormwater flow.

Policy 3.14: Central Avenue and I-80 Resilience. Support efforts to improve flood protection and long-term resilience to sea level rise for Central Avenue and the I-80 interchange area.

Ensure flood protection and climate adaptation initiatives prioritize El Cerrito’s transportation needs, including emergency access and evacuation needs.

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FIRE HAZARDS
Fire hazards include wildfires, urban fires, and
structural fires. Historically, the wildfire season
extended from early summer through late fall
of each year, during the hotter, dryer months,
although it is increasingly a hazard that can
occur year-round. Fire conditions arise from a
combination of high temperatures, dry
conditions, plentiful fuel (such as dry plants or
other debris), and high winds.

Wildfires
Wildfires start on hillsides, forest, scrub, and
grassland environments, but may easily spread
into developed areas next to or mixed in with
these ecosystems, and from there may spread
into more developed urban areas. Fuel,
weather, and topography are primary factors
that affect how wildfires spread. In and around
El Cerrito, natural habitats provide highly
flammable fuel that is conducive to wildfires.

Wildfires can occur in areas of natural
vegetation, especially forests, brush and
scrublands, and grasslands. When vegetation
dries out and becomes highly flammable,
especially during hot, dry, and windy
conditions, it creates a wildfire risk.

Historically, wildfires have been most common
in late summer and fall, but they have become
increasingly a year-round event. Wildfires most
often ignite from human activities—such as
sparks from vehicles contacting dry vegetation,
downed power lines, or electrical equipment
failures—or from natural causes like lightning.

They may also be set deliberately. The hilly
areas of eastern El Cerrito and the
undeveloped lands of Wildcat Canyon Regional
Park to the east, outside City limits, face an
elevated wildfire risk.

There are no records of historic fires within the
City or in the immediate vicinity. However, the
surrounding East Bay Hills do have a history of
wildfire events. One of the most destructive
was the Tunnel Fire, also known as the
“Oakland Hills Firestorm,” which occurred on
October 19, 1991. The fire started on private
property near the Caldecott Tunnel, rapidly
spreading and burning 1,520 acres. It resulted
in 25 fatalities, 150 injuries, and the destruction
of approximately 3,000 homes. Other
significant events include the 1970 Fish Fire in
Oakland, which spread through the East Bay
Hills, and the 1923 Berkeley Fire. This fire
destroyed about 640 structures, and
highlighted vulnerabilities such as insufficient
fire breaks and limited water supply in the hills.

Within El Cerrito, the Hillside Natural Area has
experienced numerous smaller fires over the
past two decades, most ignited by human
activity and contained less than two acres.

Examples include a 2010 fire near Tamalpais
Avenue, a 2012 fire at the entrance to the
Recycling Center, and a 2020 lightning-caused
fire south of Moeser Lane. Although these
incidents were small, they demonstrate the
ongoing fire risk within the Hillside Natural
Area, particularly in grassland areas near
heavily traveled access points. More recent
wildfires have also occurred in the region,
including two wildfires along Highway 4 east of
Hercules in August 2022.Changing climate
conditions are expected to increase the wildfire
risk in and around El Cerrito. Warmer
temperatures brought on by climate change
can exacerbate drought conditions. Droughts
can kill or dry out plants, creating more fuel for
wildfires. Increased winds will result in more
erratic fire behavior, making fires harder to
predict and contain. Warmer temperatures are
also expected to occur later in the year,
extending the wildfire season, which is likely to
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begin earlier in the year and extend later than it
has historically.

Fire Hazard Severity Zones
The California Department of Forestry and Fire
Protection (CAL FIRE) establishes Fire Hazard
Severity Zones (FHSZ), designating each as
moderate, high, or very high severity. El Cerrito
has 329 acres (14 percent of the City’s land
area) in the very high severity zone, 147 acres
(6 percent) in the high severity zone, and 146
acres (6 percent) in the moderate severity
zone. Various State requirements apply in
some of these zones, including fire-safe
standards for development or redevelopment
activities, additional review and approval
processes for new development, establishing
and maintaining defensible space around
buildings and facilities, and disclosing the
presence of wildfire hazards during real estate
transactions.

To reflect the threats posed by wildfires, the
City has adopted local ordinances and
programs to reduce wildfire risk. In July 2025,
the City amended Chapter 8.30 of the El Cerrito
Municipal Code to adopt the most recently
available State-recommended FHSZ maps, and
to establish procedures for defensible space
and home hardening inspections within the
high and very high zones. The ordinance can
be accessed here:
https://library.municode.com/ca/el_cerrito/co
des/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT8HESA_C
H8.30FIHASEZODESPHOHARE. Current maps
are available at CAL FIRE’s Fire and Resource
Assessment Program, at
https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/fireresource-assessment-program. Future updates to the Safety Element will incorporate new
mapping data as it becomes available.

State law, established by Assembly Bill (AB) 38
in 2019, requires that properties in high and
very high FHSZs be inspected by the El Cerrito
Fire Department prior to the close of escrow. A
report is issued confirming compliance or
identifying corrective actions. Sellers must
disclose the results of these inspections, along
with any home hardening improvements or
vulnerabilities, to buyers before the close of
escrow.

While the City already had a robust vegetation
management program, this action updated
vegetation management standards (including
"Zone Zero" standards for the areas within five
feet of a building) and repealed outdated
roofing requirements for properties in very high
FHSZs. It also created a local requirement for
owners of real property in high or very high
FHSZs to have a home hardening and
defensible space inspection completed and to
disclose the result of that inspection to buyers
prior to the time of sale per State law. These
efforts better align the City of El Cerrito with
state law, decrease vulnerability to wildfires,
and assist residents in maintaining home
insurance.

CAL FIRE designates these zones for areas
where local agencies have responsibility for
fire protection (known as local responsibility
areas, or LRAs), and areas where the State is
responsible, even if local authorities provide
fire protection (known as state responsibility
areas, or SRAs). El Cerrito is an LRA, and the
unincorporated areas east of the City are a mix
of LRAs and SRAs. Figure S-10 shows the
FHSZs in and around El Cerrito. The City’s
Community View/GIS, available at the
following link:
https://www.elcerrito.gov/154/GIS-Maps,
provides a user-friendly way to view property
information, zoning, and land use patterns, and
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illustrates how development patterns are
aligned with fire safety considerations.

The City’s land use and housing plans,
including the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan
and the Housing Element, intentionally
concentrate new growth and higher-intensity
development outside of the very high FHSZ.

This approach reduces risks to people,
property, and critical infrastructure. This
strategy also helps protect natural hillsides and
provides a buffer between residential areas
and high fire-risk landscapes.

Wildland-Urban Interface Area
In addition to the FHSZ designations by CAL
FIRE, the City contains areas identified as a
Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI). The WUI is an
area where buildings (e.g., housing) and
infrastructure (e.g., cell towers and water
supply facilities) mix with flammable wildland
vegetation, allowing wildland fires to spread to
buildings and structures easily.

There are three distinct zones in the WUI.

1. The intermix zone contains housing
development or improved parcels
interspersed in an area dominated by
wildland vegetation subject to wildfire.

2. The interface zone contains dense housing
next to vegetation that can burn in a
wildfire but is not dominated by wildland
vegetation.

3. The influence zone contains wildfiresusceptible vegetation within 1.5 miles from the WUI or wildland-urban intermix
zones.

In the WUI area, efforts to prevent ignitions and
limit wildfire loss hinge on hardening
structures and creating defensible space
through a multifaceted approach that includes
engineering, enforcement, education,
emergency response, and economic
incentives. As shown in Figure S-11, most of
eastern El Cerrito lies within the WUI zone. The
WUI zones shown in this map are not formally
established by the State or City and are not
associated with any regulatory requirements.

They are included in this Safety Element to
help the City and community understand
wildfire risks in different parts of El Cerrito.

These zones may also inform insurance rates,
evacuation planning, and other associated
factors.

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Figure S-10 Fire Hazard Severity Zones
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Figure S-11 Wildland-Urban Interface Areas
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Structural Fires
El Cerrito is also at risk from structural fires.

Structural fires are often due to faulty wiring,
mechanical equipment, or combustible
construction materials in the built environment.

The absence of fire alarms and fire sprinkler
systems often exacerbates the damage
associated with a structural fire. Structural
fires are largely caused by human accidents,
although deliberate fires (arson) may cause
some events. Older buildings lacking modern
fire safety features may face greater risk of fire
damage.

Building construction standards help reduce
the risk of structural fires. Every proposed
construction project in El Cerrito is reviewed by
the El Cerrito-Kensington Fire Department for
compliance with the most recent version of the
California Fire Code adopted by the City,
including City amendments to the code.

Fire Protection
The El Cerrito-Kensington Fire Department
provides fire protection to all areas of El
Cerrito. There are no areas in the city that lack
fire protection service. The Fire Department
operates two fire stations in the City of El
Cerrito and one in the unincorporated
community of Kensington:
 Station 51 at 10900 San Pablo Avenue
 Station 52 at 1520 Arlington Boulevard,
El Cerrito
 Station 55 at 217 Arlington Avenue,
Kensington
In addition to local fire stations, the El CerritoKensington Fire Department participates in automatic and mutual aid agreements with
neighboring jurisdictions, Contra Costa County
agencies, CAL FIRE, and other regional, State,
and federal partners. These agreements
ensure that personnel and equipment can be
deployed quickly across jurisdictions to
respond to large-scale natural disasters,
including wildfires.

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Goals and Policies
Goal 4: Reduce El Cerrito’s risk of wildfire and provide timely and effective fire response.

Policy 4.1: Fire-Resilient Existing Development. Work with property owners and building occupants to raise awareness about potential building and landscape modifications to improve wildfire resilience and work to obtain funding to help property owners make these improvements, in accordance with applicable State requirements and the City’s local ordinances and Vegetation Management Program.

Policy 4.2: Fire-Retardant Landscaping. Require the use of fire-retardant vegetation for landscaping in new development in high fire hazard areas. Encourage the use of fireretardant vegetation in all development City-wide. Fire-retardant vegetation, also known as fire-resistant plants, refers to plants that do not readily ignite from flames or other ignition sources and, if exposed to fire, their foliage and stems do not significantly contribute to the fire’s fuel or intensity.

Policy 4.3: Hillside Natural Area. Manage vegetation in the Hillside Natural Area to reduce fire hazards in accordance with the recommendations of the Hillside Natural Area Fire Resilience and Forest Conservation Management Plan. The Fire Department and Public Works Department shall share responsibility for implementation. Pursue viable funding sources to implement measures identified in the Hillside Natural Area Fire Resilience and Forest Conservation Management Plan that promote wildfire resilience.

Policy 4.4: Hazardous Tree Removal on Private Property. Help residents access resources for removing hazardous trees on private property that threaten residential buildings and critical facilities. Distribute information about available programs and facilitate efforts to connect property owners with external funding sources, local organizations, nonprofits, or state agencies that can provide resources or assistance.

Policy 4.5: Urban Forest Management for Wildfire Risk Reduction. Maintain and manage El Cerrito’s urban forest to reduce wildfire risk in accordance with the recommendations of the Hillside Natural Area Wildfire Resilience and Forest Conservation Plan.

Policy 4.6: Fuel Breaks. Require property owners of existing and new development in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones or the Wildland-Urban Interface (as shown on Figure S-10 and Figure S-11) to create and maintain fuel breaks and defensible space around structures and along roadways that is free from dry brush and other flammable materials and to comply with the 100-foot Defensible Space Requirement in the Public Resources Code Section 4291 and Government Code Section 51182 for fuel modification to reduce fire danger.

Policy 4.7: Regional Wildfire Prevention. Continue to collaborate with the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District, Alameda County Resource Conservation District, neighboring Agenda Packet Page 382 of 465
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jurisdictions, the East Bay Wildfire Coalition of Governments, the El Cerrito and Diablo Fire Safe Councils, Hills Emergency Forum, and local community organizations to regularly review regional wildfire hazards and vulnerabilities and develop regional wildfire abatement and response strategies.

Policy 4.8: Wildfire Risk from Energy Infrastructure. Coordinate with PG&E to reduce wildfire risk related to electrical infrastructure, including:
 Maintenance of fire breaks around electrical infrastructure.  Installation of covered conductors to reduce ignition risk from contact with vegetation or debris.
 Use of Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings that automatically shut off power in high-risk conditions.
 Vegetation management beyond minimum clearance requirements in high-risk areas.
 Implementation of Public Safety Power Shutoffs during extreme fire weather events, with coordination to minimize community disruption.
 Undergrounding electricity infrastructure in Very High and High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.

Policy 4.9: Firefighting Infrastructure. Facilitate the timely and effective provision of firefighting services by:

1. Expanding the availability of fire hydrants in Very High and High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. This may include installation of sufficiently sized hydrants in areas identified in the Hillside Natural Area.

2. Coordinating with the East Bay Municipal District to ensure that adequate peak load water supplies are available to fight fires. Redundancies in the water storage and capacity distribution network should be considered and implemented in those areas of the City where ground failure could result in breaks to both the water and gas mains, with the potential for significant conflagrations. Ensure that hydrants remain accessible for fire response.

3. Requiring that development in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones contain visible street signage, such as reflective signs that clearly indicate street names, addresses, and directional arrows for emergency response,

4. Studying and establishing, as appropriate, Red Flag Day parking restrictions to ensure unobstructed access for emergency vehicles.

5. Requiring that new development provide roadways of adequate width to support emergency response vehicles.

6. Requiring that new development provide adequate water pressure for firefighting.

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7. Identifying opportunities to facilitate access of emergency vehicles to existing development.

Policy 4.10: Sufficient Firefighting Services. Regularly review funding, staffing levels, fire station location, equipment availability, water availability, and availability of other key resources of the El Cerrito-Kensington Fire Department to ensure that the Department is keeping pace with changes in local population.

Policy 4.11: Fire Protection for New Development. Ensure new development is located where fire and emergency services have sufficient capacity to meet project needs and that existing development maintains its current level of protection service. In addition to adequate Fire Department staffing and resources, this may include increased requirements for fire protection systems for residential units, such as roof sprinkler systems or other site-specific fire resilience features.

Policy 4.12: Post-Fire Development. Require redevelopment after wildfires to meet current California Building Code, California Fire Code, and California Fire Safe Standards to reduce future vulnerabilities to fire hazards through site preparation, layout design, fireresistant landscaping, and fire-retarding building design and materials. Re-evaluate development standards after a wildfire to ensure consistency with the latest regulations and best practices. In addition, regularly review and update local development standards to ensure consistency with the latest regulations and best practices, independent of local fire events.

Policy 4.13: Post-Fire Displacement. Work with neighboring jurisdictions and local homeless service and emergency support providers to help residents displaced from wildfires to secure housing and other necessary services.

Policy 4.14: Post-Fire Slope Stabilization. Coordinate with local, state, and federal agencies to stabilize and vegetate burned slopes after a wildfire.

Policy 4.15: Wildfire Health Impacts. Work with the Contra Costa County Public Health Division and health service providers to plan for increased levels of illness and injury due to wildfire and to distribute N95 masks during periods of poor air quality.

Policy 4.16: New Development in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Encourage new residential development to occur outside of the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones identified by CAL FIRE (see Figure S-10, Fire Hazard Severity Zones). Where new construction or significant redevelopment is proposed in such areas, require review by the Community Development Department and El Cerrito-Kensington Fire Department prior to the issuance of development permits . Plans for proposed development in such areas shall include, at a minimum:
 Site plan, planting plan, planting palette, and irrigation plan to reduce the risk of fire hazards and with consideration to site conditions, including slope, structures, and adjacencies.

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 Development and maintenance of defensible space and shaded fuel breaks.  Development of fire protection plans that include at a minimum:
 Risk analysis;
 Fire response capabilities;
 Fire safety requirements, including defensible space, infrastructure, and building ignition resistance;
 Mitigation measures and design considerations for non-conforming fuel modification;
 Wildfire education, maintenance, and limitations; and  Evacuation planning.
 Multiple points of ingress and egress to improve evacuation, emergency response, fire equipment access, and adequate water infrastructure for water supply and fire flow that meets or exceeds the standards in the California Fire Safe Regulations.

This specifically includes two sections of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, Division 1.5, Chapter 7: Subchapter 2, Articles 1-5 (commencing with Section 1270, State Responsibility Area Fire Safe Regulations); and Subchapter 3, Article 3, commencing with Section 1299.01, Fire Hazard Reduction Around Buildings and Structures Regulations).
 Class A roof materials for new and replacement roofs.  Location and source of anticipated water supply.

Policy 4.17: Fire Hazards Response Support. Facilitate firefighting in low-visibility conditions by requiring measures such as high-visibility signage for streets and building addresses that meet or exceed the standards in the California Fire Safe Regulations (Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Articles 2 and 3, Sections 1273 and 1274).

Policy 4.18: Access for Fire and Emergency Vehicles and Equipment. Require proposed development to provide adequate access for fire and emergency vehicles and equipment that meets or exceeds the standards in the California Fire Safe Regulations (California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 1.5, Chapter 7): Subchapter 2, Articles 1-5 (commencing with Section 1270, State Responsibility Area Fire Safe Regulations); and Subchapter 3, Article 3 (commencing with Section 1299.01, Fire Hazard Reduction Around Buildings and Structures Regulations).

Policy 4.19: Retrofitting City-Owned Roadways. Identify existing public and private roadways in fire hazard severity zones that are not in compliance with current fire safety regulations, to the extent resources are available. Work at retrofitting and maintaining City-owned roadways as needed to meet current standards and encourage private property owners to do the same, to the extent feasible and given the absence of other site constraints.

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These standards include road standards for evacuation and emergency vehicle access, vegetation clearance, and other requirements of the California Fire Safe Regulations, Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, Division 1.5, Chapter 7): specifically Subchapter 2, Articles 1-5 (commencing with Section 1270, State Responsibility Area Fire Safe Regulations); and Subchapter 3, Article 3 (commencing with Section 1299.01, Fire Hazard Reduction Around Buildings and Structures Regulations).

Policy 4.20: Firewise Communities. Work with the El Cerrito Fire Safe Council to publicize the Firewise USA program to neighborhoods in areas with high fire risks and support neighborhoods in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones and the Wildland-Urban Interface in pursuing designation as Firewise Communities.

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EXTREME HEAT AND SEVERE WEATHER
Extreme Heat
Extreme heat is one of the deadliest climaterelated hazards nationwide; the Center for Disease Control and Prevention noted a rise in
heat-related deaths—from 297 in 2004 to over
2,300 in 2023 .
viii, ix The rising frequency and
intensity of extreme heat events pose
significant public health concerns, especially in
areas such as El Cerrito that have historically
experienced milder temperatures and are
home to residents without access to climatecontrolled environments. Warmer temperatures and the urban heat island effect
can exacerbate extreme heat impacts in
densely populated areas, especially those that
have limited tree canopy. Figure S-12 shows
the relative levels of extreme heat in different
neighborhoods of El Cerrito.

Extreme heat is when temperatures are well
above normal conditions. In El Cerrito, the
extreme heat threshold is 88.7 degrees
Fahrenheit (°F), or hotter than 98 percent of
historic days. Five extreme heat days in a row
is considered a heat wave. When the daily
minimum temperatures remain significantly
above normal, warm nights worsen extreme
heat days because overnight temperatures do
not decrease to provide relief from high
temperatures. A warm night occurs when
temperatures remain above 60°F in El Cerrito.

The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention recognize extreme heat as a
substantial public health concern. Seniors,
persons with chronic illnesses or disabilities,
persons experiencing homelessness, outdoor
workers, low-resourced people of color,
immigrant/linguistically isolated communities,
and households in poverty are among those
most vulnerable to extreme heat.

According to the U.S. Census, approximately
82 percent of all housing in El Cerrito was built
prior to 1980,x which is unlikely to have air
conditioning and may lack effective insulation.

During extreme heat days, temperatures in
poorly insulated homes may reach
uncomfortable or dangerous temperatures.

People living in these homes are at higher risk
for heat-related illnesses from extreme heat
events, especially people who are predisposed
to heat-related illnesses.

Walking, biking, and other modes of active
transportation become more difficult in
extreme heat. These activities carry greater
health risks when temperatures are very hot,
especially for people who are already
vulnerable to extreme heat and in areas with
little or no shade coverage. Extreme heat can
limit active transportation options and
disproportionately affect those who rely on
them.

Extreme heat also stresses infrastructure
networks. Higher air conditioning demand
during extreme heat days risks overloading the
electrical grid and causing power outages.

Very high heat can degrade transportation
systems by softening and buckling asphalt and
warping rail lines. These impacts reduce public
transit capacity, as trains must operate at
lower speeds, resulting in delays and increased
risk of damage. Additionally, rising
temperatures harm local ecosystems by
increasing water temperatures in local lakes
and streams, harming fish and plant species.

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Figure S-12 Extreme Heat in El Cerrito
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The warmer temperatures brought on by
climate change are likely to cause an increase
in extreme heat events locally. In El Cerrito, the
state projects that the number of extreme heat
days is expected to rise from a historical
annual average of 3 to 9 days by the middle of
the century (2035 to 2064), and an average of
17 days by the end of the century (2070 to
2099). Additionally, the number of warm nights
is expected to rise from a historical annual
average of 5 to 47 nights by the middle of the
century (2035 to 2064), and to an average of
119 nights by the end of the century (2070 to
2099).
xi
Severe Weather
Severe weather poses a significant threat to El
Cerrito and the greater region, disrupting daily
life, compromising safety, and affecting
infrastructure and ecosystems. Severe weather
is usually caused by intense storm systems,
although some strong winds can occur without
a storm. The types of dangers posed by severe
weather include injuries or deaths, damage to
buildings and structures, fallen trees, roads
blocked by debris, fires sparked by lightning,
downed power lines, flooding, storm drain
overflows, and infrastructure failure. Heavy rain
can cause widespread flooding, often
overwhelming drainage systems and leading to
significant disruptions in transportation,
emergency response, and access to essential
services. Severe weather often produces high
winds and lightning that can damage
structures and cause power outages. Lightning
from these storms can ignite fires and cause
explosions that damage buildings and
endanger people. High wind events can also
exacerbate the risk of wildfires in El Cerrito and
across the region.

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) and other
electrical utilities have begun to occasionally
“de-energize” or turn off the electricity for
power lines that run through areas with an
elevated fire risk. Public Safety Power Shutoff
(PSPS) events are intended to reduce the risk
of power lines sparking or being damaged and
starting a wildfire. A PSPS event may occur at
any time of the year, usually during high wind
events and dry conditions. While PSPS events
have been smaller and less frequent recently,
these events still pose a risk to PG&E
customers across Contra Costa County,
including El Cerrito. According to records of
PSPS events, the hillside neighborhoods of El
Cerrito experience an average of one PSPS
every two years, and neighborhoods closer to
the bayshore experience a PSPS approximately
once every five years.

People who depend on medical devices, such
as oxygen concentrators or ventilators, are at
greater risk during power outages, as are those
who need electricity for climate control to keep
indoor temperatures safe. The loss of power to
communications and other critical
infrastructure disrupts access to goods and
services.

Climate change is expected to cause an
increase in intense rainfall and strong storm
systems, such as atmospheric rivers. This
increase means that El Cerrito could see more
intense weather resulting from these storms in
the coming years and decades, although such
an increase may not affect all forms of severe
weather. Heavy rainfall can increase the
frequency and severity of other hazards,
including flooding and landslides.

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Goals and Policies
Goal 5: Reduce risk from and provide timely and effective response to extreme heat and severe weather.

Policy 5.1: Urban Tree Canopy. Maintain the health of the urban tree canopy to increase shaded surfaces and reduce risk of downed trees during severe weather. Expand and renew the urban tree canopy to help reduce the impacts of extreme heat.

Policy 5.2: Shading and Heat-Mitigating Materials. Use heat-mitigating materials and install shade structures, both green and built infrastructure, at parks, schools, along public streets and trails, and at other public spaces to reduce ground surface temperatures.

Policy 5.3: Shading and Heat-Mitigating Materials at Transit Stops. Coordinate with local and regional public transportation providers to increase shading and heat-mitigating materials at transit stops.

Policy 5.4: Resilience Hubs. Identify existing facilities that can function as community resilience hubs. Maintain these facilities as needed to serve as resilience hubs, ensuring they are well-equipped, accessible, and situated outside of areas at risk from hazards impacts, and that the public is aware of these resources. Work with neighboring jurisdictions to promote awareness and use of these hubs. Evaluate the feasibility of creating new resilience hubs when new facilities are developed or existing facilities are retrofitted, incorporating renewable energy generation, energy storage, and the ability to offer refuge from extreme heat and poor air quality due to regional wildfire smoke.

Policy 5.5: Resilient Development. Encourage new and existing development to incorporate building and site design features that reduce the effects of extreme heat, improve indoor air quality, and reduce energy demand. These features could include air conditioning, air filtration, energy-efficient duct work improvements, passive cooling design and amenities, cool roofs, reflective or pervious pavement materials, highalbedo surfaces, shade trees, and other green infrastructure. Help residents connect with contractors and financial assistance programs to implement these improvements.

Policy 5.6: Resilient Power Supplies. Work with PG&E, MCE, and local solar energy installers to support resiliency of the local power grid, including distributed generation and microgrids for residents, businesses, and public agencies.

Policy 5.7: Renewable Energy and Energy Storage at City Facilities. Maintain, improve, and where fiscally viable expand distributed renewable generation and energy storage at City facilities. Include provisions for the ongoing maintenance and performance monitoring of these systems to ensure long-term reliability. Prioritize buildings and facilities that provide essential City services during extreme weather events for energy storage systems.

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Policy 5.8: Community Solar and Energy Storage. Work in partnership with MCE, the Bay Area Regional Energy Network, and others to support the development of community solar projects, streamline permitting where possible, and prioritize storage systems to ensure community solar could be used during outages.

Policy 5.9: Planning for Extreme Heat. Participate in regional planning with neighboring jurisdictions to develop an extreme heat response plan that includes establishment of community cooling centers, weatherization of City buildings, temperature triggers for when cooling centers would open, and cooling strategies for persons engaged in outdoor work and persons experiencing homelessness.

Policy 5.10: Community Support and Mutual-Aid Networks. Support residents in developing neighborhood support programs to perform wellness checks on vulnerable neighbors during hazardous events.

Policy 5.11: Urban Greening Plan. Implement the Urban Greening Plan to enhance public places and open spaces throughout the City. Open and green spaces provide cooling from heat and are linked to mental health and quality of life benefits.

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DROUGHT
A drought is an extended period when
precipitation levels are well below normal.

Drought may affect domestic water supply,
energy production, public health, wildlife, and
contribute to wildfire. Like most of California
and the western United States, El Cerrito
chronically experiences drought cycles. The
U.S. Drought Monitor recognizes a five-point
scale for drought events: D0 (abnormally dry),
D1 (moderate drought), D2 (severe drought),
D3 (extreme drought), and D4 (exceptional
drought). According to the U.S. Drought
Monitor, the most intensive drought conditions
in recent years were during most of 2014 and
2021, when all of Contra Costa County was
classified in “extreme” drought. As of March
2025, El Cerrito was not facing drought
conditions, but eastern Contra Costa County
was classified as abnormally dry, and over half
of California was in some level of drought.

During severe drought conditions, water
shortages are common, and water restrictions
may be imposed to meet essential community
needs.

El Cerrito’s water supply comes from imported
water delivered by the East Bay Municipal
Utility District (EBMUD). Approximately 90
percent of EBMUD’s water supply begins at the
Mokelumne River watershed in the Sierra
Nevada and extends 90 miles to the East Bay,
passing through the Central Valley and
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The
Mokelumne Aqueducts convey the Mokelumne
River supply to local storage and treatment
facilities in Contra Costa and Alameda
counties.

Drought in California is cyclical, driven by largescale climate patterns. Although droughts are a regular feature of California’s climate,
climate change is leading to more frequent,
prolonged, and intense droughts statewide.

Overall, long-term precipitation levels are
expected to remain similar to historic levels in
El Cerrito, potentially increasing slightly by the
end of the century.xii However, there are likely
to be more years with extreme levels of rainfall,
both high and low, because of climate change.

This is expected to cause more frequent and
intense droughts, compared to historical
norms, which cause soil to dry out, and
harden, which can trigger landslides in the
subsequent rainy season.

Reduced winter precipitation levels and
warmer temperatures have decreased the size
of the Sierra Nevada snowpack (the volume of
accumulated snow), making less fresh water
available for communities throughout
California, including the imported water supply
for El Cerrito. A continued decline in the
volume of the Sierra Nevada snowpack is
expected, which may lead to lower volumes of
available imported water. More precipitation is
expected to fall as rain instead of snow, and
the snow that does fall will melt earlier,
reducing the Sierra Nevada spring snowpack
by as much as 70 to 90 percent.
xiii How much
snowpack will be lost depends in part on future
precipitation patterns, the projections for which
remain uncertain. However, even under wetter
climate projections, the loss of snowpack
would pose potential water shortage issues
and exacerbate drought conditions.

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Goals and Policies
Goal 6: Secure a resilient water supply and use water supplies sustainably.

Policy 6.1: Drought-Tolerant Landscaping. Require drought-tolerant landscaping in new private and municipal development, in accordance with applicable state and local laws. Ensure that new landscaping does not exacerbate wildfire or flood risks and aligns with vegetation and stormwater management standards.

Policy 6.2: Water-Efficient Development. Require the installation of water efficiency measures in new private development and at municipal facilities. Encourage the installation of water efficiency and graywater measures in existing private development, including by helping residents identify rebates and other financial incentives.

Policy 6.3: Drought Planning. Work with regional water providers to prepare for reduced long-term water supply resulting from more frequent and severe drought events, and implement extensive water conservation measures and ensure sustainable water supplies, including fire suppression needs.

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HUMAN HEALTH HAZARDS
Human health hazards, including bacteria,
viruses, parasites, and other pathogens, pose
significant concerns in El Cerrito. These
conditions can result in physical injuries,
fatalities, and mental health issues and
exacerbate pre-existing conditions like asthma
and allergies. Rats, mice, ticks, and mosquitos
are common vectors, meaning they often
spread the pathogens that can cause illness.

Rising temperatures and changing
precipitation patterns due to climate change
promote the proliferation of disease-carrying
vectors. Many of these pathogens also
reproduce more rapidly in warmer conditions,
compounding the risk of transmission. Warmer
conditions and wetter years allow for increased
populations of mosquitoes and ticks,
extending their geographic range and
spreading diseases like West Nile virus,
dengue fever, and Lyme disease.xiv As
temperatures rise and extreme weather events,
such as heavy rainfall, become more frequent,
these vectors can spread more broadly,
transmitting diseases that threaten public
health.xv
Populations most vulnerable to human health
hazards are those who spend a significant
amount of time outdoors (such as outdoor
workers or persons experiencing
homelessness), those with fragile immune
systems or existing illnesses (which may
include persons with chronic illnesses and
seniors), those who may live in substandard
housing, or who do not have access to health
insurance and medical care.

Heatwaves, another increasing hazard due to
climate change, can directly impact human
health by causing heat-related illnesses and
deaths while worsening respiratory conditions
due to increased air pollution. The combination
of these factors suggests that human health
hazards will become more widespread and
severe as climate change progresses, making
proactive public health measures even more
critical. The impacts of these health hazards
extend beyond individual well-being.

Widespread disease outbreaks can place strain
on healthcare systems, increase economic
burdens, and affect community-wide mental
health.

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Goals and Policies
Goal 7: Protect the health of El Cerrito residents.

Policy 7.1: Regional Health. Support Contra Costa County in disseminating information on disease conditions that may affect El Cerrito residents.

Policy 7.2: Pandemic Planning. Support Contra Costa County to plan for future pandemic events, including securing necessary public health supplies, preparing effective messaging for preventative actions and treatments, and identifying and evaluating potential public health measures.

Policy 7.3: Vector-Borne Diseases. Support the County and the Mosquito and Vector Control District in working with healthcare providers to support free or reduced-cost vaccinations for vector-borne diseases for El Cerrito residents.

Policy 7.4: Medical Providers. Support Contra Costa County to coordinate with local medical providers to ensure low-cost medical and emergency medical services are available to all residents in the City.

Policy 7.5: Outdoor Workers. Support opportunities to ensure that workers in outdoor industries have the training and resources to be adequately protected from environmental hazards, including extreme heat, poor air quality, pests, and diseases, in alignment with applicable OSHA and Cal/OSHA regulations and standards.

Policy 7.6: Public Awareness. Work with local community groups, providers of senior services, and childcare workers to raise awareness about disease prevention and response.

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EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND

RESPONSE
Local Emergency Response
Emergency preparedness and response in El
Cerrito is a coordinated effort involving all City
departments, which together constitute the
City’s emergency organization during an
emergency, under the leadership of the City
Manager, who serves as the Director of
Emergency Services, as established in El
Cerrito Municipal Code (ECMC) Chapter 2.28
and the City’s adopted emergency plan.

The El Cerrito Police Department provides law
enforcement services and the El CerritoKensington Fire Department delivers fire prevention and suppression services. Other
departments such as Public Works also play
key roles and have important responsibilities
during emergency response efforts.

The City’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)
guides these efforts by outlining roles,
responsibilities, and coordination among
departments, stakeholder agencies,
community-based organizations, the business
community, and residents. The EOP is regularly
updated by staff and approved by the City
Council, and it identifies operational strategies
and plans for managing inherently complex
and potentially catastrophic events. The EOP is
available online at:
https://www.elcerrito.gov/DocumentCenter/Vi
ew/20415/Emergency-Operations-Plan
During emergency events, or in anticipation of
one, the City will activate its Emergency
Operations Center (EOC) to coordinate
response and recovery efforts across
departments and with regional, State, and
federal partners. The EOC’s organizational
structure, as outlined in the City’s EOP, serve
as a clear hierarchy and system for situational
awareness, resource management, and
providing public information. The City is
committed to maintaining EOC readiness
through regular training and drills for City staff,
testing communication linkages with external
agencies, and reporting on EOC preparedness
activities to the community.

The Fire Department also conducts regular
training exercises with residents, including the
Community Emergency Response Team
(CERT) program. El Cerrito's CERT program is
run by a partnership between the City and the
Fire Department to provide residents with
hands-on training in disaster first aid, disaster
preparedness, basic firefighting, light search
and rescue, damage assessment, and how to
turn off utilities. Through CERT and other
preparedness activities, the City equips
community members with the skills and
knowledge needed to assist themselves, their
families, and their neighbors during
emergencies.

Emergency planning
The State of California requires all State,
regional, and local agencies, including PG&E
and EBMUD, to maintain their own emergency
plan relating to the infrastructure that they
install and maintain. In the event of an
emergency, the City relies on PG&E to
implement its emergency plan, with City
support as needed. When an incident occurs
anywhere in El Cerrito, the Police Department
and/or the Fire Department is typically the first
to arrive at the scene, where they secure the
area and then determine which other agencies
need to be involved.

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The City of El Cerrito website’s Alert Center,
allows residents to view all issued alerts and
emergencies in the area and can be accessed
at https://www.el-cerrito.org/AlertCenter.aspx.

The City also provides various emergency
alerts through posts on social media platforms
and the City’s Nixle system. El Cerrito residents
may register with Contra Costa County’s
Community Warning System, an emergency
notification system maintained by Contra
Costa County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency
Services. This system provides alerts and
critical information during emergencies or
disasters, including instructions on protective
actions such as sheltering in place, lockdowns,
evacuations, or avoiding certain areas.

Residents receive CWS alerts via phone calls,
text messages, emails, sirens, and social
media to stay informed about life-threatening
hazards.

Emergency Evacuation
With advanced warning, evacuation can
effectively reduce injury and loss of life during
a catastrophic event. Primary potential
emergency access and evacuation routes
include San Pablo Avenue, which runs northsouth along the western portion of the City, and Arlington Boulevard, runs north-south along the
eastern portion of the City. Other potential
evacuation routes include Cutting Boulevard,
Potrero Avenue, and Moeser Lane, which run
east-west and connect Arlington Boulevard to
San Pablo Avenue. Figure S-13 shows the
potential evacuation routes throughout the
City, although the recommended evacuation
routes in any given situation will depend on the
specifics of the emergency. These evacuation
routes face potential disruption from flooding,
wildfire, landslides, or an earthquake, which
may block roadways, damage the roadway
surface, or collapse bridges and overpasses.

Figure S-14 shows residential parcels with
evacuation constraints. All of these parcels are
at least a half mile from a major roadway and
have access to only one emergency evacuation
route. The lack of multiple emergency access
points limits roadway access for these
properties, which may create difficulties if
there is a need to evacuate.

As part of the Safety Element Update, the
project team assessed emergency evacuation
times, consistent with California AB 747, which
requires that all general plan safety elements
identify evacuation routes and their capacity,
safety, and viability under a range of
emergency scenarios. The study assesses
evacuation under different scenarios,
evaluating roadway capacity and the time
needed to evacuate. The evacuation study is
included as an appendix to this Safety Element
(Appendix A).

This study focused on the use of private
vehicles for evacuations, consistent with the
focus on roadways under State law. While
private vehicles are likely to be the primary
means of evacuation in most scenarios, some
El Cerrito residents may lack access to private
vehicles. People may evacuate on foot, by
bicycle, using public transit or school buses, or
other means, depending on their specific
circumstances and the nature of the
emergency. Additionally, some residents who
initially evacuate by car may have to leave their
vehicles and evacuate on foot due to roadway
congestion or the speed of the hazardous
conditions, as has happened in some recent
wildfires across California.

The evacuation study modeled an evacuation
from three different scenarios: 1) an earlymorning hazardous material spill on San Pablo Avenue, 2) a midday wildfire originating near
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the Rifle Range Road trailhead, and 3) a midday
wildfire in Wildcat Canyon Regional Park that
prompts widespread evacuations. This study
found that fully evacuating the affected areas
may take up to 60 to 140 minutes for the
hazardous material spill, up to 70 to 80
minutes for the Rifle Range Road wildfire, and
up to 110 to 160 minutes for the Wildcat
Canyon wildfire. These are general estimates
that may be affected by numerous factors in
an actual emergency, and that most persons in
affected areas would likely be able to evacuate
sooner.

The report provides a set of recommendations
based on the results of the analysis, such as
identifying multiple evacuation destinations in
different locations to allow for more
evacuation routes and shorter evacuation
times; coordinating with other jurisdictions to
maintain the designated evacuation routes that
serve the City; prioritizing undergrounding
utilities and upgrading power poles on main
evacuation routes to minimize downed wires
on these routes; and conducting communitywide evacuation exercises to test the recommendations and plans associated with
scenarios in the evacuation study. This Safety
Element incorporates many of these
recommendations into the goals and policies
discussed in this section.

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Figure S-13 Potential Evacuation Routes
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Figure S-14 Evacuation-Constrained Parcels
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Goals and Policies
Goal 8: A community prepared for an effective response and recovery in the event of emergencies or natural and human-caused disasters.

Policy 8.1: Hazard Awareness. Publicize areas at risk of local hazards, emergency preparedness programs, evacuation planning resources, and other efforts to promote resident awareness and caution regarding hazards, including soil instability, earthquakes, flooding, and fire.

Policy 8.2: Public Facilities. Avoid construction of new emergency buildings (police, fire, hospital, etc.) and vital utilities, communication systems and other public facilities in identified fire, flood, and geologic hazard zones (see Figure S-5, Landslide Susceptibility Areas; Figure S-7, Flood Hazard Zones; and Figure S-10, Fire Hazard Severity Zones) to the extent feasible. Design such buildings and infrastructure to remain operational during and after an emergency or disaster and ensure that existing critical facilities and infrastructure remain operational during and after an emergency or disaster.

Policy 8.3: Emergency Notification and Communication. Promote participation in the City’s Emergency Alert E-Notifications program, PG&E’s emergency alert system, emergency HAM radio operators’ network, and other networks that can reach residents in the event of an emergency. Continue to support the County’s Community Warning System sirens and explore opportunities to expand emergency warning siren systems in El Cerrito.

Use all City social media channels, both citywide accounts and departmental accounts to share timely and accurate emergency information. Ensure that the City can issue emergency warnings and ensure communication between emergency responders even in the absence of electrical and cellular service and update the Emergency Operations Plan to specify these alternatives. Ensure that all official City communications are provided in formats and languages that are reflective of the demographics of El Cerrito.

Conduct regular outreach and education so that residents understand how notifications and alerts will be shared during an emergency, what emergency sirens mean, and what protective actions should be taken when they are activated.

Policy 8.4: Power Outages. Identify residents whose health and safety may be most severely impacted by power outages and provide support and assistance in obtaining backup power supplies and other safety resources.

Policy 8.5: Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. After update and certification by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, incorporate the current Contra Costa County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and the City’s Annex into this Safety Element by reference, as permitted by California Government Code Section 65302.6.

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Policy 8.6: Community Emergency Preparedness. In partnership with neighboring jurisdictions, conduct community emergency response and evacuation drills to increase awareness and support improved community preparedness for future emergencies.

Policy 8.7: Community Emergency Response Team Training. Support, encourage, and continue to offer Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training to residents and members of the business community to increase disaster awareness and emergency response capability.

Policy 8.8: Hazard Insurance. Work with property and rental insurance providers to raise awareness about the latest safety requirements related to seismic, flood, and fire hazards and regularly incorporate these requirements into development codes as necessary, referencing related local ordinances and programs, such as the City’s 2025 amendments to Chapter 8.30 of the El Cerrito Municipal Code. Work with other jurisdictions and local community-based organizations to evaluate opportunities to preserve and improve the cost and quality of property insurance for El Cerrito community members.

Policy 8.9: Regional Emergency Response and Mutual Aid. Coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions, the Contra Costa County Office of Emergency Services, Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, and Caltrans in emergency response and evacuation planning.

Maintain and participate in mutual aid agreements with these agencies to ensure coordinated response capabilities, adequate medical and emergency services, and effective inter-agency communication. Cooperate with partners to assess and project future emergency service needs and to conduct joint preparedness, training, and exercises.

Policy 8.10: Multi-Destination Evacuation Planning. Identify and maintain a list of multiple evacuation destinations in different locations in the vicinity of the city to provide diverse points of refuge and reduce evacuation times. The City should select these sites based on their capacity to accommodate the estimated number of people evacuating from El Cerrito and unincorporated Kensington.

Policy 8.11: Inter-Jurisdictional Coordination for Evacuation Route Maintenance. Collaborate and plan with the City of Richmond, Contra Costa County, Contra Costa Transportation Authority, and Caltrans to ensure the ongoing maintenance and readiness of potential evacuation routes serving El Cerrito and unincorporated Kensington, including making improvements to existing roads to support safe evacuations, as needed. Continue to implement and expand existing agreements where feasible along evacuation routes.

These agreements shall include provisions for:
a. Regular assessment and improvement of existing roads to support safe evacuations.
b. Coordinated planning and implementation of traffic management strategies during evacuations.

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These efforts will help to ensure adequate capacity, safety, and viability of evacuation routes in the event of an emergency.

Policy 8.12: Evacuation Route Infrastructure Preparedness. To enhance evacuation efficiency and safety, the City will:
a. Continue to evaluate and to the extent feasible provide back-up power systems for all City-owned traffic signals on potential evacuation routes. b. Evaluate and as appropriate develop or update emergency evacuation traffic signal timing plans for all signals on potential evacuation routes, prioritizing outbound traffic flow while maintaining access for emergency vehicles through traffic signal pre-emption.
c. Identify and designate routes where temporary evacuation capacity can be created through manual traffic direction to optimize traffic flow, including use of available parking lanes, shoulders, and bikeways for traffic while ensuring emergency responder access is maintained. This will include pre-identifying bottleneck intersections and positioning law enforcement personnel to maintain traffic movement during evacuations.
d. Identify additional opportunities to preserve and enhance evacuation route infrastructure preparedness as part of regular maintenance activities, including evaluating the expansion of temporary parking restrictions (such as the red flag day pilot program) to enhance public safety during evacuations, as appropriate.

Policy 8.13: Evacuation Route Clearance and Capacity Enhancement. To maximize evacuation route effectiveness:
a. The City will implement a permanent program that allows restriction of on-street parking on designated evacuation routes during high-risk periods for various hazards based on evaluation of pilot program.
b. El Cerrito will support efforts by PG&E to prioritize the undergrounding of utilities and the upgrading of power poles with current isolating/shutdown technologies along main evacuation routes to minimize the risk of downed wires during evacuations. The City will also support tree trimming and other regular maintenance conducted by PG&E along utility corridors.

Policy 8.14: Community Evacuation Education and Preparedness. El Cerrito will implement a comprehensive community evacuation education and preparedness program, including:
a. Regular updates and dissemination of information about how to plan for safe and effective evacuations, in multiple languages and formats accessible to all community members.

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b. Coordination with West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) and private schools to develop and regularly update evacuation plans that address both safe on-campus procedures and coordinated off-site transport to predetermined refuge locations beyond the disaster area.
c. Targeted outreach and planning for areas with high concentrations of physically and socially vulnerable residents, including those with age-related, disability-related, or other mobility challenges.
d. Conducting periodic community-wide evacuation exercises to test and refine evacuation plans and procedures.
e. Encouraging residents and employees to sign up with the Contra Costa County Community Warning System and Genasys Protect to receive emergency alerts and ensure effective distribution of evacuation notifications (New policy). f. Identifying pedestrian paths, including stairs and trails, on evacuation maps.

Policy 8.15: Evacuation Assistance Program. Support and coordinate an evacuation assistance program with Contra Costa Transportation Authority, AC Transit, paratransit, dial-a-ride agencies, and care homes to help those with limited mobility, lack of access to a vehicle, and other at-risk populations evacuate safely. Consider training for emergency responders and volunteers in assisting vulnerable populations during evacuations.

Policy 8.16: Hazard Planning in Capital Improvements. As part of the Capital Improvements Program, CIP Budget, and related planning and funding processes for capital improvements, include a forward-looking assessment of how the proposed improvements may be affected by current and anticipated future hazards, including those subject to climate change. Highlight how the project supports community-wide safety, equity, and climate readiness now and in the future. All projects shall incorporate at a minimum standard resilience practices, materials, and other elements to minimize future maintenance. Larger or more complex projects shall include a thorough resilience analysis that describes specific design, material, and construction strategies to ensure long-term durability and adaptability.

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IMPLEMENTATION
The implementation matrix identifies
information to support the implementation of
the Safety Element policies. For each policy,
the implementation matrix includes
information on the Department responsible,
time frame, and the relative cost to implement
the measure (ranging from low to high). The
City Manager’s Office oversees all
departments and leads community outreach
and engagement efforts to support these
measures.

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Table 1: Safety Element Policy Matrix
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources
Goal 1: Mitigate risk from geologic and seismic hazards.

1.1: Geotechnical Review. Require geotechnical
studies for development proposals in areas at risk
from geologic and seismic hazards (see Figure S-1,
Local Fault Lines; Figure S-3, Liquefaction Areas; and
Figure S-5, Landslide Susceptibility Areas), in
accordance with City procedures. Such studies
should evaluate the extent of geotechnical hazards,
optimum location for structures, the advisability of
special structural requirements, and the feasibility
and desirability of a proposed facility in a specified
location.

Community
Development
Department,
Building
Division
Ongoing Low Permit fees

1.2: Erosion Control. Provide appropriate control
measures in conjunction with proposed development
in areas susceptible to erosion, including an erosion
control plan and revegetation plan as part of grading
permits.

Community
Development
Department,
Building
Division
Ongoing Public Works Medium Permit fees

1.3: Seismic Safety of New Development. Require
new structures to be designed to contemporary
standards for seismic safety. Require that new Cityowned critical facilities be constructed to the highest possible standard of seismic safety.

Community
Development
Department,
Building
Division
Ongoing Low Permit fees

1.4: Seismic Safety of Existing Development. Assist
occupants and owners of existing structures in
identifying seismic risks to their structures and
provide support in obtaining appropriate seismic
retrofit measures. Evaluate all City-owned facilities to determine seismic risks and implement appropriate
seismic retrofit measures.

Community
Development
Department,
Building
Division
MidtermHigh Bonds, General
Fund, grants,
permit fees
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Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources

1.5: Seismic Safety of Utilities. Encourage local gas,
water, and sewer providers to review and retrofit their main distribution pipes.

Public Works
Department,
LongtermEBMUD, PG&E Low General Fund,
grants
Goal 2: Minimize potential damage from existing hazardous materials and prevent future hazardous materials contamination.

2.1: Potential Hazardous Soils Conditions of New
Development. Evaluate new development on
potentially contaminated sites (such as older fill sites, historical auto service uses, industrial uses, or areas where hazardous materials may have been used, as
mapped in Figure S-6, Hazardous Materials Sites) and
require that development proposals contain adequate
measures to mitigate hazardous material exposure
prior to development approvals.

Community
Development
Department
Ongoing Low Permit fees

2.2: Hazardous Soil Conditions in Inundation Hazard
Areas. Work with Contra Costa Health Services and
other regional partners to identify hazardous
materials sites where proximity to mapped flood
hazard zones, sea level rise inundation areas, and
other water-based hazards that may spread
hazardous materials. Prioritize remediation of these
sites.

Community
Development
Department,
Public Works
Department
MidtermContra Costa
Health Services
Medium General Fund,
grants

2.3: Hazardous Materials at Municipal Facilities.

Ensure that hazardous materials owned or stored by
the City are managed and disposed of appropriately
to protect human and environmental health and
safety.

Public Works
Department
NeartermContra Costa
Health Services,
Contra Costa
Clean Water
Program
Medium General Fund
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Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources

2.4: Hazardous Materials Storage and Disposal.

Require proper storage and disposal of hazardous
materials in accordance with all State, federal, and
local laws and regulations to prevent leakage,
potential explosions, fires, or the escape of harmful
gases, and to prevent individually innocuous
materials from combining to form hazardous
substances, especially at the time of disposal.

Fire
Department
Ongoing Contra Costa
Health Services
Low General Fund,
permit fees

2.5: Hazardous Materials Usage in Construction.

Require and enforce effective mitigation measures to
minimize exposure to toxic and hazardous materials
during building renovations and demolitions.

Community
Development
Department,
Building
Division
Ongoing Bay Area Air
District
Low Permit fees

2.6: Hazardous Materials Public Education. Provide
information to the community regarding the potential
health hazards posed by hazardous materials and
possible ways to reduce hazardous materials use and
properly dispose of hazardous materials.

Public Works Nearterm
Contra Costa
Health Services,
Recyclemore
Low General Fund,
grants, permit
fees
Goal 3: Reduce risks from flooding and sea level rise and provide timely and effective flood response.

3.1: Flood-responsive Siting of New Critical
Facilities. Prohibit the construction of new critical
facilities and infrastructure, including hospitals,
health care facilities, emergency shelters, fire
stations, emergency command centers, and
emergency communication facilities in mapped flood
hazard and sea level rise inundation zones (see
Figures S-7, S-8, and S-9).

Community
Development
Department,
Planning and
Building
Divisions,
Public Works
Department
Ongoing Low General Fund
Agenda Packet Page 408 of 465
Implementation
Hearing Draft Page 59
November 2025
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources

3.2: Flood-proofing New Construction. Require that
new and significantly renovated buildings and
structures in the mapped 100-year flood zones be
constructed to a higher standard of flood protection
to improve resilience, as required by the California
Building Code and in accordance with the City’s
Floodplain Management ordinance.

Community
Development
Department,
Building
Division
Ongoing Public Works Medium Permit fees

3.3: Flood Hazards from New Construction. Require
new development and significant redevelopment
projects, greater than 50,000 square feet of
conditioned space, to prepare drainage studies to
assess stormwater runoff impacts on the local storm
drain system, and to develop recommended detention
and drainage facilities as needed to ensure that
increased risks of flooding on to neighboring
properties do not result from development.

Community
Development
Department,
Planning and
Building
Divisions,
Public Works
Department
Ongoing Medium Permit fees,
developer
impact fees

3.4: Flood Hazards to Existing Development. Help
property owners identify qualified service providers
and obtain financial incentives to floodproof existing
buildings. Continue to evaluate new opportunities to
help reduce flood hazards to existing development,
including development at risk of current or future
flooding not in the mapped 100-year floodplain.

Community
Development
Department,
Planning and
Building
Divisions,
Public Works
Department
MidtermContra Costa
County Flood
Control District,
FEMA
Medium FEMA grants,
General Fund,
Community
Development
Block Grants
Agenda Packet Page 409 of 465
City of El Cerrito Safety Element

November 2025
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources

3.5: Maintenance for the City’s Storm Drainage
Facilities. Continue to enforce existing laws
prohibiting the dumping of debris, fill or other waste
materials, and illicit discharges into storm drains,
creeks and channels, and the littering of garbage.

Continue to ensure that local storm drainage facilities are sufficiently maintained. Pursue viable funding
sources for local and regional drainage improvements
for adequate flood control and protection.

Public Works
Department
Ongoing Contra Costa
County Flood
Control District
High Stormwater
utility fees,
General Fund

3.6: Creek Maintenance Education. Continue to
educate local property owners about their
responsibilities to maintain creeks, storm drain-pipes, and open channels on private property, including
regularly clearing trash and other debris.

Public Works
Department
NeartermFriends of Five
Creeks, Contra
Costa Clean
Water Program
Low General Fund

3.7: Natural Stormwater Management Solutions.

Continue to identify opportunities and funding
sources to expand the City’s green infrastructure
network, as defined in the City’s Green Infrastructure
Plan. Update Chapter 8.40 of the City’s Municipal
Code, Stormwater Management and Discharge
Control, to require new development to incorporate
natural stormwater management solutions on-site as
a condition of approval for discretionary projects, as
appropriate.

Community
Development
Department,
Planning and
Building
Divisions,
Public Works
Department
MidtermSan Francisco
Estuary
Partnership,
State Water
Resources
Control Board
Medium Green
Infrastructure
grants, Prop
84/1
Stormwater
Grant Program
Agenda Packet Page 410 of 465
Implementation
Hearing Draft Page 61
November 2025
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources

3.8: Permeable Paving and Green Infrastructure.

Continue to require that new development complies
with Contra Costa Clean Water Program Stormwater
C.3 Guidebook Requirements for treatment of
stormwater. Encourage new development to reduce
impervious areas and use permeable surfaces in
paving and landscaping. Promote the use of green
infrastructure, such as bioswales, rain gardens, and
vegetated swales, to manage stormwater and
enhance groundwater infiltration as outlined in the
City’s Green Infrastructure Plan. Include permeable
surfaces and green infrastructure into City
construction and improvement projects.

Community
Development
Department,
Public Works
Department
NeartermLow Development
impact fees,
General Fund

3.9: Continuity of public facilities during flooding.

Maintain the structural and operational integrity of
essential public facilities during flooding through
structural retrofits, flood management, operational
improvements, and other appropriate actions.

Community
Development
Department,
Public Works
Department
Midterm
Cal OES, FEMA High FEMA Hazard
Mitigation Grant
Program,
General Fund,
infrastructure
resilience bonds

3.10: Sea Level Rise Coordination. Coordinate with
local, regional, State, and federal agencies to plan for the impacts of flooding, sea level rise, and
groundwater intrusion in the community.

Community
Development
Department,
Public Works
Department
LongtermBCDC, State
Coastal
Conservancy
Medium State Coastal
Conservancy
grants, regional
adaptation
funds
Agenda Packet Page 411 of 465
City of El Cerrito Safety Element

November 2025
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources

3.11: Flood Response. Coordinate with the Contra
Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation
District and neighboring jurisdictions to address
regional flood hazards.

Public Works
Department
NeartermContra Costa
County Flood
Control, Water
Conservation
District
Medium FEMA Hazard
Mitigation Grant
Program,
General Fund

3.12: Public Flood Preparedness Information.

Improve public access to information about flood
risks, preparedness, and response steps. Revise and
expand on existing resources, such as those available
on the City’s website, to help residents and property
owners understand what to do before, during, and
after flooding events.

Public Works
Department
NeartermContra Costa
County Flood
Control, Water
Conservation
District
Low General Fund

3.13: Adopt-A-Drain Program. Explore the
development and funding of an Adopt-A-Drain
program. This initiative would encourage residents,
businesses, and community groups to voluntarily
adopt storm drains and commit to their regular
maintenance by removing debris, leaves, and litter to
ensure proper stormwater flow.

Public Works
Department
NeartermLocal schools,
communitybased
organizations
Low Volunteer
services,
General Fund

3.14: Central Avenue and I-80 Resilience. Support
efforts to improve flood protection and long-term
resilience to sea level rise for Central Avenue and the I-80 interchange area. Ensure flood protection and
climate adaptation initiatives to prioritize El Cerrito’s transportation needs, including evacuation needs.

Public Works
Department
LongtermCaltrans, Contra
Costa County
Flood Control,
Water
Conservation
District
High FEMA Hazard
Mitigation Grant
Program,
infrastructure
resilience bonds
Agenda Packet Page 412 of 465
Implementation
Hearing Draft Page 63
November 2025
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources
Goal 4: Reduce El Cerrito’s risk of wildfire and provide timely and effective fire response.

4.1: Fire-Resilient Existing Development. Work with
property owners and building occupants to raise
awareness about potential building and landscape
modifications to improve wildfire resilience and work
to obtain funding to help property owners make these
improvements, in accordance with applicable State
requirements and the City’s local ordinances and
Vegetation Management Program.

Fire
Department,
Community
Development
Department,
Planning and
Building
Divisions
Midterm
Medium General Fund,
FEMA PreDisaster
Mitigation
Grants, State
Fire Marshal
grants

4.2: Fire-Retardant Landscaping. Require the use of
fire-retardant vegetation for landscaping in new
development in high fire hazard areas. Encourage the
use of fire-retardant vegetation in all development
City-wide. Fire- retardant vegetation, also known as
fire-resistant plants, refers to plants that do not
readily ignite from flames or other ignition sources
and, if exposed to fire, their foliage and stems do not significantly contribute to the fire’s fuel or intensity.

Fire
Department,
Community
Development
Department,
Planning
Division
Nearterm
Low Permit fees,
development
impact fees

4.3: Hillside Natural Area. Manage vegetation in the
Hillside Natural Area to reduce fire hazards in
accordance with the recommendations of the Hillside
Natural Area Fire Resilience and Forest Conservation
Management Plan. The Fire Department and Public
Works Department shall share responsibility for
implementation. Pursue viable funding sources to
implement measures identified in the Hillside Natural
Area Fire Resilience and Forest Conservation
Management Plan that promote wildfire resilience.

Public Works
Department,
Fire
Department
Ongoing Friends of the
HNA, Friends of
Five Creeks, El
Cerrito Fire Safe
Council, El
Cerrito Trail
Trekkers
High General Fund,

CAL FIRE
Wildfire
Prevention
Grants
Agenda Packet Page 413 of 465
City of El Cerrito Safety Element

November 2025
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources

4.4: Hazardous Tree Removal on Private Property.

Help residents access resources for removing
hazardous trees on private property that threaten
residential buildings and critical facilities. Distribute information about available programs and facilitate
efforts to connect property owners with external
funding sources, local organizations, nonprofits, or
state agencies that can provide resources or
assistance.

Community
Development
Department,
Planning
Division
MidtermMedium CAL FIRE
Wildfire
Prevention
Grants

4.5: Urban Forest Management for Wildfire Risk
Reduction. Maintain and manage El Cerrito’s urban
forest to reduce wildfire risk in accordance with the
recommendations of the Hillside Natural Area Wildfire
Resilience and Forest Conservation Plan.

Fire
Department,
Public Works
Department
Ongoing Medium General Fund,

CAL FIRE
Wildfire
Prevention
Grants

4.6: Fuel Breaks. Require property owners of existing
and new development in Very High Fire Hazard
Severity Zones or the Wildland-Urban Interface (as
shown on Figure S-10 and Figure S-11) to create and
maintain fuel breaks and defensible space around
structures and along roadways that is free from dry
brush and other flammable materials and to comply
with the 100-foot Defensible Space Requirement in
Public Resources Code Section 4291 and
Government Code Section 51182 for fuel modification
to reduce fire danger.

Fire
Department
Ongoing Community
Development
Department,
Planning
Division
Medium
Agenda Packet Page 414 of 465
Implementation
Hearing Draft Page 65
November 2025
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources

4.7: Regional Wildfire Prevention. Continue to
collaborate with the Contra Costa Resource
Conservation District, Alameda County Resource
Conservation District, neighboring jurisdictions, the
East Bay Wildfire Coalition of Governments, the El
Cerrito and Diablo Fire Safe Councils, Hills Emergency
Forum, and local community organizations to
regularly review regional wildfire hazards and
vulnerabilities and develop regional wildfire
abatement and response strategies.

Fire
Department
Ongoing Contra Costa
RCD, Alameda
County RCD,
neighboring
jurisdictions,
East Bay Wildfire
Coalition of
Governments,
and local
communitybased
organizations
Low General Fund,
interagency
agreements,
regional
resilience grants

4.8: Wildfire Risk from Energy Infrastructure.

Coordinate with PG&E to reduce wildfire risk related
to electrical infrastructure, including:
 Maintenance of fire breaks around electrical
infrastructure.
 Installation of covered conductors to reduce
ignition risk from contact with vegetation or
debris.
 Use of Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings
that automatically shut off power in high-risk
conditions.
 Vegetation management beyond minimum
clearance requirements in high-risk areas.
 Implementation of Public Safety Power
Shutoffs during extreme fire weather events,
with coordination to help minimize community
disruption.
 Undergrounding electricity infrastructure in
Very High and High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.

Fire
Department,
Public Works
Department
Midterm
PG&E Medium PG&E
infrastructure
hardening funds,

CAL FIRE
mitigation
grants
Agenda Packet Page 415 of 465
City of El Cerrito Safety Element

November 2025
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources

4.9: Firefighting Infrastructure. Facilitate the timely and effective provision of firefighting services by:

1. Expanding the availability of fire hydrants in
Very High and High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.

This may include installation of sufficiently
sized hydrants in areas identified in the Hillside
Natural Area.

2. Coordinating with the East Bay Municipal Utility
District to ensure that adequate peak load water
supplies are available to fight fires.

Redundancies in the water storage and capacity
distribution network should be considered and
implemented in those areas of the City where
ground failure could result in breaks to both the
water and gas mains, with the potential for
significant conflagrations. Ensure that hydrants
remain accessible for fire response.

3. Requiring that development in Very High Fire
Hazard Severity Zones contain visible street
signage, such as reflective signs that clearly
indicate street names, addresses, and
directional arrows for emergency response,

4. Studying and establishing, as appropriate, Red
Flag Day parking restrictions to ensure
unobstructed access for emergency vehicles.

5. Requiring that new development provide
adequate water pressure for firefighting.

6. Identifying opportunities to facilitate access of
emergency vehicles to existing development in
Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.

7. Identifying opportunities to facilitate access of
emergency vehicles to existing development.

Fire
Department,
Public Works
Department
MidtermEBMUD, PG&E High EBMUD
partnership
funds, CAL FIRE
grants, General
Fund
Agenda Packet Page 416 of 465
Implementation
Hearing Draft Page 67
November 2025
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources

4.10: Sufficient Firefighting Services. Regularly
review funding, staffing levels, fire station location, equipment availability, water availability, and
availability of other key resources of the El CerritoKensington Fire Department to ensure that the department is keeping pace with changes in local
population.

Fire
Department
Ongoing City Manager's
Office
High General Fund,
equipment
replacement
reserves

4.11: Fire Protection for New Development. Ensure
new development is located where fire and
emergency services have sufficient capacity to meet
project needs and that existing development
maintains its current level of protection service. In
addition to adequate fire department staffing and
resources, this may include increased requirements
for fire protection systems for residential units, such as roof sprinkler systems or other site-specific fire
resilience features.

Fire
Department,
Community
Development
Department,
Planning and
Building
Divisions
Ongoing Medium Development
impact fees,
General Fund

4.12: Post-Fire Development. Require redevelopment
after wildfires to meet current California Building
Code, California Fire Code, and California Fire Safe
Standards to reduce future vulnerabilities to fire
hazards through site preparation, layout design, fireresistant landscaping, and fire-retarding building design and materials. Re-evaluate development
standards after a wildfire to ensure consistency with
the latest regulations and best practices. In addition, regularly review and update local development
standards to ensure consistency with the latest
regulations and best practices, independent of local
fire events.

Fire
Department,
Community
Development
Department,
Planning and
Building
Divisions
NeartermCalifornia Office
of Emergency
Services
Medium Permit fees,
General Fund,

CAL FIRE
resilience grants
Agenda Packet Page 417 of 465
City of El Cerrito Safety Element

November 2025
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources

4.13: Post-Fire Displacement. Work with neighboring
jurisdictions and local homeless service and
emergency support providers to help residents
displaced from wildfires to secure housing and other
necessary services.

Community
Development
Department,
Housing
Division
NeartermContra Costa
Health Services,
local housing,
and emergency
assistance
nonprofits
Medium General Fund,
Emergency
Solutions
Grants,
Community
Services Block
Grant

4.14: Post-Fire Slope Stabilization. Coordinate with
local, state, and federal agencies to stabilize and
vegetate burned slopes after a wildfire.

Public Works,
Fire
Department
NeartermCAL FIRE, Cal

OES, FEMA
High FEMA Hazard
Mitigation Grant
Program, Cal
OES grants,
General Fund

4.15: Wildfire Health Impacts. Work with the Contra
Costa County Public Health Division and health
service providers to plan for increased levels of
illness and injury due to wildfire and to distribute N95 masks during periods of poor air quality.

Fire
Department,
City
Manager's
Office
MidtermContra Costa
County Public
Health Division,
local healthcare
providers
Medium General Fund,
public health
grants
Agenda Packet Page 418 of 465
Implementation
Hearing Draft Page 69
November 2025

4.16: New Development in Very High Fire Hazard
Severity Zones. Encourage new residential
development to occur outside of the Very High Fire
Hazard Severity Zones identified by CAL FIRE (see
Figure S-10, Fire Hazard Severity Zones). Where new
construction or significant redevelopment is
proposed in such areas, require review by the
Community Development Department and El CerritoKensington Fire Department prior to the issuance of development permits. Plans for proposed
development in such areas shall include, at a
minimum:
 Site plan, planting plan, planting palette, and
irrigation plan to reduce the risk of fire hazards
and with consideration to site conditions,
including slope, structures, and adjacencies.
 Development and maintenance of defensible
space and shaded fuel breaks.
 Development of fire protection plans that
include at a minimum:
o Risk analysis;
o Fire response capabilities;
o Fire safety requirements, including
defensible space, infrastructure, and
building ignition resistance;
o Mitigation measures and design
considerations for non-conforming
fuel modification;
o Wildfire education, maintenance, and
limitations; and
o Evacuation planning.
 Multiple points of ingress and egress to
improve evacuation, emergency response, fire
equipment access and adequate water
infrastructure for water supply and fire flow
that meets or exceeds the standards in the
Community
Development
Department,
Planning and
Building
Divisions, Fire
Department
Ongoing CAL FIRE Medium Permit fees,
developerfunded
improvements,
fire resilience
grants
Agenda Packet Page 419 of 465
City of El Cerrito Safety Element

November 2025
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources
California Fire Safe Regulations. This
specifically includes two sections of Title 14 of
the California Code of Regulations, Division 1.5,
Chapter 7: Subchapter 2, Articles 1-5
(commencing with Section 1270, State
Responsibility Area Fire Safe Regulations); and
Subchapter 3, Article 3 commencing with
Section 1299.01, Fire Hazard Reduction Around
Buildings and Structures Regulations).
 Class A roof materials for new and
replacement roofs.
 Location and source of anticipated water
supply.

4.17: Fire Hazards Response Support. Facilitate
firefighting in low-visibility conditions by requiring
measures such as high-visibility signage for streets
and building addresses that meet or exceed the
standards in the California Fire Safe Regulations (Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Articles 2 and 3, Sections 1273 and 1274).

Fire
Department
Nearterm
Medium General Fund

4.18: Access for Fire and Emergency Vehicles and
Equipment. Require proposed development to provide
adequate access for fire and emergency vehicles and
equipment that meets or exceeds the standards in
the California Fire Safe Regulations (California Code
of Regulations, Title 14, Division 1.5, Chapter 7):

Subchapter 2, Articles 1-5 (commencing with Section
1270, State Responsibility Area Fire Safe
Regulations); and Subchapter 3, Article 3
(commencing with Section 1299.01, Fire Hazard
Reduction Around Buildings and Structures
Regulations).

Fire
Department,
Public Works
Department,
Community
Development
Department
Ongoing CAL FIRE Medium Development
impact fees
Agenda Packet Page 420 of 465
Implementation
Hearing Draft Page 71
November 2025
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources

4.19: Retrofitting City-Owned Roadways. Identify
existing public and private roadways in fire hazard
severity zones that are not in compliance with current
fire safety regulations, to the extent resources are
available. Work at retrofitting and maintaining Cityowned roadways as needed to meet current standards and encourage private property owners to
do the same, to the extent feasible and given the
absence of other site constraints. These standards
include road standards for evacuation and emergency
vehicle access, vegetation clearance, and other
requirements of the California Fire Safe Regulations,
Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, Division

1.5, Chapter 7): specifically Subchapter 2, Articles 1-5 (commencing with Section 1270, State Responsibility
Area Fire Safe Regulations); and Subchapter 3, Article
3 (commencing with Section 1299.01, Fire Hazard
Reduction Around Buildings and Structures
Regulations).

Public Works
Department,
Fire
Department,
Police
Department
LongtermHigh General Fund,
state
transportation
grants,
infrastructure
resilience grants

4.20: Firewise Communities. Work with the El Cerrito
Fire Safe Council to publicize the Firewise USA
program to neighborhoods in areas with high fire risks
and support neighborhoods in Very High Fire Hazard
Severity Zones and the Wildland-Urban Interface in
pursuing designation as Firewise Communities.

Fire
Department
NeartermNational Fire
Protection
Association,
neighborhood
associations
Low General Fund,
Firewise USA
program support
Goal 5: Reduce risk from and provide timely and effective response to extreme heat and severe weather.

5.1: Urban Tree Canopy. Maintain the health of the
urban tree canopy to increase shaded surfaces and
reduce risk of downed trees during severe weather.

Expand and renew the urban tree canopy to help
reduce the impacts of extreme heat.

Public Works
Department
MidtermMedium Urban Greening
Grants, CAL FIRE
Urban &
Community
Forestry
Program,
General Fund
Agenda Packet Page 421 of 465
City of El Cerrito Safety Element

November 2025
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources

5.2: Shading and Heat-Mitigating Materials. Use
heat-mitigating materials and install shade structures, both green and built infrastructure, at parks,, along
public streets and trails, and at other public spaces
under City control. Coordinate with school districts
and private schools to encourage similar
improvements at school sites to to reduce ground
surface temperatures.

Public Works
Department
MidtermWest Contra
Costa Unified
School District,
California
Department of
Education,
private school
operators
Medium Prop 68 funds,
General Fund,
California
Natural
Resources
Agency grants

5.3: Shading and Heat-Mitigating Materials at Transit
Stops. Coordinate with local and regional public
transportation providers to increase shading and
heat-mitigating materials at transit stops.

Public Works
Department
MidtermAlameda-Contra
Costa Transit
District, Bay
Area Rapid
Transit District,
Western Contra
Costa Transit
Authority, Contra
Costa
Transportation
Authority
Medium Transportation
grants, Green
Infrastructure
funds, Caltrans
Active
Transportation
Program
Agenda Packet Page 422 of 465
Implementation
Hearing Draft Page 73
November 2025
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources

5.4: Resilience Hubs. Identify existing facilities that can function as community resilience hubs. Maintain
these facilities as needed to serve as resilience hubs, ensuring that they are well-equipped, accessible, and
are situated outside of areas at risk from hazards
impacts, and that the public is aware of these
resources. Work with neighboring jurisdictions to
promote awareness and use of these hubs. Evaluate
the feasibility of creating new resilience hubs when
new facilities are developed or existing facilities are retrofitted, incorporating renewable energy
generation, energy storage, and the ability to offer
refuge from extreme heat and poor air quality due to
regional wildfire smoke.

Public Works
Department,
Operations &
Environmental
Services
Division
MidtermContra Costa
County, PG&E,
local
communitybased
organizations
High Community
Resilience
Centers
Program,
Resilience Hubs
Grant Program,
General Fund

5.5: Resilient Development. Encourage new and
existing development to incorporate building and site
design features that reduce the effects of extreme
heat, improve indoor air quality, and reduce energy
demand. These features could include air
conditioning, air filtration, energy-efficient duct work improvements, passive cooling design and amenities,
cool roofs, reflective or pervious paving materials,
high-albedo surfaces, shade trees, and other green
infrastructure. Help residents connect with
contractors and financial assistance programs to
implement these improvements.

Community
Development
Department,
Planning and
Building
Divisions
Midterm
Medium BayREN
incentives,
Green Building
grants, EnergyEfficiency
Financing
programs

5.6: Resilient Power Supplies. Work with PG&E, MCE,
and local solar energy installers to support resiliency of the local power grid, including distributed
generation and microgrids for residents, businesses,
and public agencies.

Public Works
Department
MidtermPG&E, MCE,
local solar
energy providers
High California
Energy
Commission
programs,
federal energy
resilience
funding, General
Fund
Agenda Packet Page 423 of 465
City of El Cerrito Safety Element

November 2025
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources

5.7: Renewable Energy and Energy Storage at City
Facilities. Maintain, improve, and where fiscally viable expand distributed renewable generation and energy
storage at City facilities. Include provisions for the
ongoing maintenance and performance monitoring of
these systems to ensure long-term reliability.

Prioritize buildings and facilities that provide
essential City services during extreme weather events
for energy storage systems.

Public Works
Department
MidtermBayREN,
California
Energy
Commission
High BayREN
incentives,
state/local
infrastructure
funds,
renewable
energy rebates

5.8: Community Solar and Energy Storage. Work in
partnership with MCE, the Bay Area Regional Energy
Network, and others to support the development of
community solar projects, streamline permitting
where possible, and prioritize storage systems to
ensure community solar could be used during
outages.

Community
Development
Department,
Planning and
Building
Divisions
Longterm
MCE, BayREN Medium BayREN
incentives, MCE
incentives, state
energy grants,
infrastructure
investment
funds

5.9: Planning for Extreme Heat. Participate in
regional planning with neighboring jurisdictions to
develop an extreme heat response plan that includes
establishment of community cooling centers,
weatherization of city buildings, temperature triggers
for when cooling centers would open, and cooling
strategies for persons engaged in outdoor work and
persons experiencing homelessness.

Fire
Department
NeartermContra Costa
Health Services,
neighboring
jurisdictions
Medium Public Health
Emergency
Preparedness
grants, General
Fund

5.10: Community Support and Mutual-Aid Networks.

Support residents in developing neighborhood
support programs to perform wellness checks on
vulnerable neighbors during hazardous events.

Fire
Department,
Police
Department,
NeartermNeighborhood
groups, senior
service
providers
Low General Fund
Agenda Packet Page 424 of 465
Implementation
Hearing Draft Page 75
November 2025
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources

5.11: Urban Greening Plan. Implement the Urban
Greening Plan to enhance public places and open
spaces throughout the city. Open and green spaces
provide cooling from heat and are linked to mental
health and quality of life benefits.

Community
Development
Department,
Planning and
Building
Divisions,
Public Works
Department
MidtermRecreation
Department
Medium Urban Greening
Program (Prop
84), General
Fund
Goal 6: Secure a resilient water supply and use water supplies sustainably.

6.1: Drought-Tolerant Landscaping. Require droughttolerant landscaping in new private and municipal development, in accordance with applicable state and
local laws. Ensure that new landscaping does not
exacerbate wildfire or flood risks, and aligns with
vegetation and stormwater management standards.

Community
Development
Department,
Planning
Division,
Public Works
Department
Nearterm
Low EBMUD rebates,
General Fund

6.2: Water-Efficient Development. Require the
installation of water-efficiency measures in new
private development at municipal facilities.

Encourage the installation of water-efficiency and
graywater measures in existing private development,
including by helping residents identify rebates and
other financial incentives.

Community
Development
Department,
Building
Division
NeartermMedium EBMUD rebates,
BayREN waterefficiency
programs,
General Fund

6.3: Drought Planning. Work with regional water
providers to prepare for reduced long-term water
supply resulting from more frequent and severe
drought events, and implement extensive water
conservation measures and ensure sustainable water
supplies, including fire suppression needs.

City
Manager's
Office, Public
Works
Department
MidtermEBMUD Medium Integrated
Regional Water
Management
funds, General
Fund, Cal OES
drought
resilience funds
Agenda Packet Page 425 of 465
City of El Cerrito Safety Element

November 2025
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources
Goal 7: Protect the health of El Cerrito residents.

7.1: Regional Health. Support Contra Costa County in
disseminating information on disease conditions that
may affect El Cerrito residents.

Contra Costa
County, Public
Health
Division
Ongoing City Manager's
Office
Low General Fund,
public health
grants

7.2: Pandemic Planning. Support Contra Costa
County to plan for future pandemic events, including
securing necessary public health supplies, preparing
effective messaging for preventative actions and
treatments, and identifying and evaluating potential
public health measures.

Contra Costa
County, Public
Health
Division
NeartermCity Manager's
Office
Medium General Fund,
public health
grants

7.3: Vector-Borne Diseases. Support the County and
the Mosquito Vector and Control District in working
with healthcare providers to support free or reducedcost vaccinations for vector-borne diseases for El Cerrito residents.

Contra Costa
County, Public
Health
Division
MidtermCity Manager's
Office
Low General Fund

7.4: Medical Providers. Support Contra Costa County
to coordinate with local medical providers to ensure
low-cost medical and emergency medical services
are available to all residents in the city.

Contra Costa
County, Public
Health
Division
MidtermCity Manager's
Office
Low General Fund,
community
health
partnerships

7.5: Outdoor Workers. Support opportunities to
ensure that workers in outdoor industries have the
training and resources to be adequately protected
from environmental hazards, including extreme heat,
poor air quality, pests, and diseases, in alignment with applicable OSHA and Cal/OSHA regulations and
standards.

City
Manager's
Office, Public
Works
Department
NeartermCal/OSHA, labor
unions, Public
Works
contractors
Low General Fund

7.6: Public Awareness. Work with local community
groups, providers of senior services, and childcare
workers to raise awareness about disease prevention
and response.

City
Manager's
Office
NeartermSenior service
providers,
childcare
organizations,
local nonprofits
Low General Fund
Agenda Packet Page 426 of 465
Implementation
Hearing Draft Page 77
November 2025
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources
Goal 8: A community prepared for an effective response and recovery in the event of emergencies or natural and human-caused disasters.

8.1: Hazard Awareness. Publicize areas at risk of
local hazards, emergency preparedness programs,
evacuation planning resources, and other efforts to
promote resident awareness and caution regarding
hazards, including soil instability, earthquakes,
flooding, and fire.

City
Manager's
Office, Fire
Department
NeartermContra Costa
County
Low General Fund

8.2: Public Facilities. Avoid construction of new
emergency buildings (police, fire, hospital, etc.) and
vital utilities, communication systems, and other
public facilities in identified fire, flood, and geologic hazard zones (see Figure S-5, Landslide Susceptibility
Areas; Figure S-7, Flood Hazard Zones; and Figure S10, Fire Hazard Severity Zones) to the extent feasible.

Design such buildings and infrastructure to remain
operational during and after an emergency or disaster
and ensure that existing critical facilities and
infrastructure remain operational during and after an
emergency or disaster.

Community
Development,
Planning and
Building
Divisions,
Public Works
Department
Longterm
High General Fund,
grants
Agenda Packet Page 427 of 465
City of El Cerrito Safety Element

November 2025
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources

8.3: Emergency Notification and Communication.

Promote participation in the City’s Emergency Alert ENotifications program, PG&E’s emergency alert system, emergency HAM radio operators’ network,
and other networks that can reach residents in the
event of an emergency. Continue to support the
County’s Community Warning System sirens and
explore opportunities to expand emergency warning
siren systems in El Cerrito. Use all City social media
channels, both citywide accounts and departmental
accounts, to share timely and accurate emergency
information. Ensure that the City can issue
emergency warnings and ensure communication
between emergency responders even in the absence
of electrical and cellular service, and update the
Emergency Operations Plan to specify these
alternatives. Ensure that all official City
communications are provided in formats and
languages that are reflective of the demographics of
El Cerrito. Conduct regular outreach and education so
that residents understand how notifications and
alerts will be shared during an emergency, what
emergency sirens mean, and what protective actions
should be taken when they are activated.

City
Manager's
Office, Fire
Department,
Police
Department
NeartermContra Costa
County, PG&E
Medium General Fund

8.4: Power Outages. Identify residents whose health
and safety may be most severely impacted by power
outages and provide support and assistance in
obtaining backup power supplies and other safety
resources.

Fire
Department,
Community
Development
Department,
Building
Division
NeartermCity Manager's
Office
Medium General Fund
Agenda Packet Page 428 of 465
Implementation
Hearing Draft Page 79
November 2025
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources

8.5: Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. After update and
certification by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency, incorporate the current Contra Costa County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and the City’s Annex
into this Safety Element by reference, as permitted by
California Government Code Section 65302.6.

Community
Development
Department,
Planning
Division
NeartermFire Department Low General Fund

8.6: Community Emergency Preparedness. In
partnership with neighboring jurisdictions, conduct
community emergency response and evacuation
drills to increase awareness and support improved
community preparedness for future emergencies.

Fire
Department,
Police
Department
Nearterm0Neighboring
jurisdictions
Medium General Fund

8.7: Community Emergency Response Team
Training. Support, encourage, and continue to offer
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
training to residents and members of the business
community to increase disaster awareness and
emergency response capability.

Fire
Department
Ongoing Low General Fund

8.8: Hazard Insurance. Work with property and rental
insurance providers to raise awareness about the
latest safety requirements related to seismic, flood,
and fire hazards and regularly incorporate these
requirements into development codes as necessary,
referencing related local ordinances and programs,
such as the City’s 2025 amendments to Chapter 8.30
of the El Cerrito Municipal Code. Work with other
jurisdictions and local community-based
organizations to evaluate opportunities to preserve
and improve the cost and quality of property
insurance for El Cerrito community members.

Community
Development
Department,
Building
Division
MidtermLow General Fund
Agenda Packet Page 429 of 465
City of El Cerrito Safety Element

November 2025
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources

8.9: Regional Emergency Response and Mutual Aid.

Coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions, the Contra
Costa County Office of Emergency Services, Contra
Costa County Sheriff’s Office, and Caltrans in
emergency response and evacuation planning.

Maintain and participate in mutual aid agreements
with these agencies to ensure coordinated response
capabilities, adequate medical and emergency
services, and effective inter-agency communication.

Cooperate with partners to assess and project future
emergency service needs and to conduct joint
preparedness, training, and exercises.

Fire
Department,
Police
Department
Ongoing Caltrans Low Mutual-aid
agreements,
General Fund

8.10: Multi-Destination Evacuation Planning. Identify
and maintain a list of multiple evacuation
destinations in different locations in the vicinity of the City to provide diverse points of refuge and reduce
evacuation times. The City should select these sites
based on their capacity to accommodate the
estimated number of people evacuating from El
Cerrito and unincorporated Kensington.

Fire
Department,
Police
Department
Nearterm
Medium General Fund
Agenda Packet Page 430 of 465
Implementation
Hearing Draft Page 81
November 2025
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources

8.11: Inter-Jurisdictional Coordination for
Evacuation Route Maintenance. Collaborate and plan
with the City of Albany, City of Richmond,, Contra
Costa County, Contra Costa Transportation Authority,
and Caltrans to ensure the ongoing maintenance and
readiness of potential evacuation routes serving El
Cerrito and unincorporated Kensington, including
making improvements to existing roads to support
safe evacuations, as needed. Continue to implement
and expand existing agreements where feasible along
evacuation routes. These agreements shall include
provisions for:
a. Regular assessment and improvement of
existing roads to support safe evacuations.
b. Coordinated planning and implementation of
traffic management strategies during
evacuations.

These efforts will help to ensure adequate capacity,
safety, and viability of evacuation routes in the event of an emergency.

Public Works
Department,
Fire
Department,
Police
Department
MidtermCity of
Richmond,
Contra Costa
County, Contra
Costa
Transportation
Authority, and
Caltrans
Medium Transportation
planning funds,
infrastructure
grants
Agenda Packet Page 431 of 465
City of El Cerrito Safety Element

November 2025
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources

8.12: Evacuation Route Infrastructure Preparedness.

To enhance evacuation efficiency and safety, the City
will:
a. Continue to evaluate and to the extent feasible
provide back-up power systems for all Cityowned traffic signals on potential evacuation routes.
b. Evaluate and as appropriate develop or update
emergency evacuation traffic signal timing
plans for all signals on potential evacuation
routes, prioritizing outbound traffic flow while
maintaining access for emergency vehicles
through traffic signal pre-emption.
c. Identify and designate routes where temporary
evacuation capacity can be created through
manual traffic direction to optimize traffic flow,
including use of available parking lanes,
shoulders, and bikeways for traffic while
ensuring emergency responder access is
maintained. This will include pre-identifying
bottleneck intersections and positioning law
enforcement personnel to maintain traffic
movement during evacuations.
d. Identify additional opportunities to preserve
and enhance evacuation route infrastructure
preparedness as part of regular maintenance
activities, including evaluating the expansion of
temporary parking restrictions (such as the red
flag day pilot program) to enhance public
safety during evacuations, as appropriate.

Public Works
Department,
Fire
Department,
Police
Department
MidtermHigh General Fund
Agenda Packet Page 432 of 465
Implementation
Hearing Draft Page 83
November 2025
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources

8.13: Evacuation Route Clearance and Capacity
Enhancement. To maximize evacuation route
effectiveness:
a. The City will implement a permanent program
that allows restriction of on-street parking on
designated evacuation routes during high-risk
periods for various hazards based on
evaluation of pilot program.
b. El Cerrito will support efforts by PG&E to
prioritize the undergrounding of utilities and the
upgrading of power poles with current
isolating/shutdown technologies along main
evacuation routes to minimize the risk of
downed wires during evacuations. The City will
also support tree trimming and other regular
maintenance conducted by PG&E along utility
corridors.

Public Works
Department,
Fire
Department,
Police
Department
MidtermPG&E Medium General Fund,
PG&E
infrastructure
hardening funds
Agenda Packet Page 433 of 465
City of El Cerrito Safety Element

November 2025
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources

8.14: Community Evacuation Education and
Preparedness. El Cerrito will implement a
comprehensive community evacuation education and
preparedness program, including:
a. Regular updates and dissemination of
information about how to plan for safe and
effective evacuations, in multiple languages
and formats accessible to all community
members.
b. Coordination with West Contra Costa Unified
School District (WCCUSD) and private schools
to develop and regularly update evacuation
plans that address both safe on-campus
procedures and coordinated off-site transport
to predetermined refuge locations beyond the
disaster areas.
c. Targeted outreach and planning for areas with
high concentrations of physically and socially
vulnerable residents, including those with agerelated, disability-related, or other mobility challenges.
d. Conducting periodic community-wide
evacuation exercises to test and refine
evacuation plans and procedures.
e. Encouraging residents and employees to sign
up with the Contra Costa County Community
Warning System and Genasys Protect to
receive emergency alerts and ensure effective
distribution of evacuation notifications.
f. Identifying pedestrian paths, including stairs
and trails, on evacuation maps.

Police
Department
NeartermFire
Department, City
Manager's Office
West Contra
Costa Unified
School District
Medium General Fund
Agenda Packet Page 434 of 465
Implementation
Hearing Draft Page 85
November 2025
Policy Responsible
Department Timing
Supporting
Department(s) Supporting
Agencies
Relative
Cost
Potential
Funding
Sources

8.15: Evacuation Assistance Program. Support and
coordinate an evacuation assistance program with
Contra Costa Transportation Authority, AC Transit,
paratransit, dial-a-ride agencies, and care homes to
help those with limited mobility, lack of access to a
vehicle, and other at-risk populations evacuate safely.

Consider training for emergency responders and
volunteers in assisting vulnerable populations during
evacuation.

City
Manager's
Office
MidtermPublic Works
Department,
Recreation
Department
Contra Costa
Transportation
Authority,
Alameda-Contra
Costa County
Transit District,
paratransit, diala-ride agencies
Medium General Fund

8.16: Hazard Planning in Capital Improvements. As
part of the Capital Improvements Program, CIP
Budget, and related planning and funding processes
for capital improvements, include a forward-looking
assessment of how the proposed improvements may
be affected by current and anticipated future hazards,
including those subject to climate change. Highlight
how the project supports community-wide safety,
equity, and climate readiness now and in the future.

All projects shall incorporate at a minimum standard
resilience practices, materials, and other elements to
minimize future maintenance. Larger or more
complex projects shall include a thorough resilience
analysis that describes specific design, material, and
construction strategies to ensure long-term durability
and adaptability.

Public Works
Department
MidtermCity Manager's
Office
Medium General Fund
Agenda Packet Page 435 of 465
City of El Cerrito Safety Element

November 2025

IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES GLOSSARY
Capital Improvement Program - https://www.elcerrito.org/475/Capital-Improvement-Program El Cerrito's multi-year plan for funding and implementing major infrastructure projects, including those that enhance community safety, hazard mitigation, and climate resilience.

Climate Action and Adaptation Plan - https://www.elcerrito.org/325/Climate-Action-Plan El Cerrito's comprehensive strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for climate change impacts,
including measures that overlap with hazard mitigation such as urban forestry, green infrastructure, and wildfire
prevention.

Community Collaborations
Partnerships between the City of El Cerrito and local
organizations, neighborhood groups, businesses, and
service providers to implement safety policies, conduct outreach, and enhance emergency preparedness.

Development Regulations
El Cerrito's set of zoning ordinances, subdivision
regulations, building codes, design guidelines, and other land use controls that govern how property can be
developed, including requirements related to hazard
mitigation and safety.

Development Review - https://www.elcerrito.org/DocumentCenter/View/4760/2017- Development-Review-Application?bidId=
The City of El Cerrito's comprehensive process for
evaluating proposals for new construction and significant renovations. This process ensures compliance with
applicable zoning regulations, subdivision standards,
building codes, design guidelines, environmental
requirements, and other municipal policies.

Emergency Preparedness Planning - https://www.elcerrito.org/572/Get-Ready---Emergency-Preparedness El Cerrito's comprehensive approach to planning for
disasters. This covers a wide range of City activities, including maintaining and updating the Emergency
Operations Plan that directs the City’s emergency response and recovery procedures, evacuation plans and protocols, and coordination with the Contra Costa County Emergency Services.

Geologic, Fire, Flooding, and Other Hazard Maps
Official maps maintained by El Cerrito that identify areas subject to specific hazards, including fault zones, landslideprone areas, Fire Hazard Severity Zones, and flood zones.

Green Infrastructure Plan - https://www.elcerrito.org/1335/Green-Infrastructure-Plan El Cerrito's strategy for implementing natural systems to manage stormwater, reduce flooding, and provide multiple environmental benefits, including specific projects and maintenance protocols.

Hazardous Soils Remediation
The process of identifying and cleaning up sites with soils that have been contaminated with hazardous materials or other pollutants in El Cerrito, particularly in areas with historical industrial use or other potential sources of contamination.

Hillside Natural Area Fire Resilience and Forest
Conservation Management Plan – https://www.elcerrito.org/DocumentCenter/View/21576/HNA-Draft-FinalPlan-020625?bidId= A specific plan for El Cerrito's 102-acre Hillside Natural Area that balances fire risk reduction through vegetation
management with conservation of native plant communities and wildlife habitat.

Intergovernmental Coordination
El Cerrito's formal and informal relationships with other governmental entities, including Contra Costa County,
neighboring cities, special districts, and state agencies to address hazards and emergency planning.

Local Hazard Mitigation Plan –
https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/82
601/City-of-El-Cerrito-Annex-2024-HMP
The Contra Costa County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard
Mitigation Plan and El Cerrito's Annex (a locally specific appendix), which identify risks from natural and humancaused hazards and outline short-term, detailed strategies to reduce these risks.

Municipal Code –
https://library.municode.com/ca/el_cerrito/codes/code_of_ ordinances?nodeId=TIT1GEPR
The codified ordinances of El Cerrito that establish legal requirements for various activities, including those related to public safety, building standards, and emergency
management.

Release of Hazardous Materials -
https://www.cchealth.org/health-and-safetyinformation/hazmat-programs El Cerrito's protocols for responding to and providing public information about hazardous materials incidents, including Agenda Packet Page 436 of 465
Implementation
Public Review Draft Page 87
November 2025
coordination with Contra Costa County Hazardous Materials Programs.

Urban Forest Management Plan – https://www.elcerrito.org/463/Urban-Forest-Management-Plan El Cerrito's comprehensive approach to maintaining and
expanding the city's tree canopy, including street trees and trees in parks and other public spaces. The tree canopy helps to reduce urban heat island effects and manage
stormwater.

Agenda Packet Page 437 of 465
City of El Cerrito Safety Element

November 2025

ENDNOTES
i U.S. Geological Survey. 2025, September 22 (accessed). HayWired Scenario: Science Applica�on for Risk Reduc�on. htps://www.usgs.gov/programs/science-applica�on-for-risk-reduc�on/science/haywired-scenario ii California State Water Resources Control Board. 2024, August 23 (accessed). GeoTracker Database. htps://geotracker.waterboards.ca.gov/map/?CMD=runreport&myaddress. iii California Department of Toxic Substances Control. 2024, August 23 (accessed). EnviroStor Database. htps://www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/public/map/?myaddress. iv U.S. Department of Transporta�on. 2025, February 14 (accessed). Incident Sta�s�cs. htps://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmatprogram-management-data-and-sta�s�cs/data-opera�ons/ incident-sta�s�cs. v U.S. Department of Transporta�on. 2025, February 14 (accessed). Incident Sta�s�cs. htps://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmatprogram-management-data-and-sta�s�cs/data-opera�ons/ incident-sta�s�cs. vi U.S. Geological Survey. 2018, January 23. ARkStorm Scenario. htps://www.usgs.gov/programs/science-applica�on-forrisk-reduc�on/science/arkstorm-scenario vii California Ocean Protec�on Council. 2024. State of California Sea Level Rise Guidance: 2024 Science & Policy Update. htps://opc.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/California-Sea-Level-Rise-Guidance-2024-508.pdf. viii Center for Disease Control and Preven�on. 2022. QuickStats: Deaths Involving Exposure to Excessive Heat, by Sex. Na�onal Vital Sta�s�cs System, United States, 1999–2020.
htps://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7134a5.htm#:~:text=During%201999%E2%80%932020%2C%20the %20annual,than%20among%20females%20each%20year. ix U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2024. Extreme Heat. htps://web.archive.org/web/20250116035618/htps://www.hhs.gov/climate-change-health-equity -environmental-jus�ce/climate-change-health-equity/climate-health-outlook/extreme-heat/index.html. x United States Census Bureau, 2020, “Year Structure Built,” in 2016–2020 American Community Survey 5-Year Es�mates. xi Cal-Adapt. 2025, March 18 (accessed). Extreme Heat Days and Warm Nights. htps://cal-adapt.org/tools/extreme-heat xii Cal-Adapt. 2025, June 18 (accessed). Annual Averages. htps://cal-adapt.org/tools/annual-averages xiii Cal-Adapt. 2025, June 18 (accessed). Snowpack. htps://cal-adapt.org/tools/snowpack/ xiv California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. 2024. Vector-borne diseases. htps://oehha.ca.gov/climatechange/epic-2022/impacts-human-health/vector-borne-diseases# :~:text=Warming%20temperatures%20and%20changes%20in,the%20blood%20of%20infected%20birds. xv California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. 2024. Vector-borne diseases. htps://oehha.ca.gov/climatechange/epic-2022/impacts-human-health/vector-borne-diseases# :~:text=Warming%20temperatures%20and%20changes%20in,the%20blood%20of%20infected%20birds.

Agenda Packet Page 438 of 465

APPENDIX A
Evacuation Study
Agenda Packet Page 439 of 465
2201 Broadway | Suite 602 | Oakland, CA 94612 | (510) 834-3200 www.fehrandpeers.com
Memorandum
Date: October 29, 2024
To: Eli Krispi, PlaceWorks
Sean Moss, City of El Cerrito
From: Sam Tabibnia and Amy Deng
Subject: City of El Cerrito 2024 Safety Element Update – Emergency Evacuation Time Assessment
OK24-0539
Fehr & Peers has prepared an assessment of emergency evacuation times for the City of El Cerrito’s 2024 Safety Element Update, consistent with the requirements of California Assembly Bill (AB 747). This analysis provides an assessment of the evacuation capacity under different scenarios.

This memorandum consists of the following sections:

1. Background (page 1) – discusses the purpose of the analysis, the legislative background, and some of the limitations of the analysis.

2. Evacuation Capacity Analysis Overview (page 2) – presents the methodology and assumptions used in the analysis, including the designated evacuation routes, identified evacuation zones, and the evacuation scenarios analyzed in this memorandum.

3. Evacuation Capacity Assessment (page 7) – describes the results of the analysis under the three analyzed evacuation scenarios.

4. Recommendations (page 11) – presents potential recommendations that could improve emergency evacuation times.

1. Background
This assessment is intended to provide information to comply with the requirements of AB 747, signed in October 2019, which requires that all General Plan Safety Elements be reviewed and updated to identify evacuation routes and their capacity, safety, and viability under a range of Agenda Packet Page 440 of 465
City of El Cerrito 2024 Safety Element Update – Emergency Evacuation Time Assessment October 29, 2024

emergency scenarios. This is a requirement for all Safety Elements or updates to a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) completed after January 2022.

As the AB 747 requirement is new, there is no standard methodology or standard of care for this analysis. We have adapted available traffic analysis methodologies and resources that, in our knowledge and experience, we believe meet the intent of the AB 747 requirement. Nevertheless, these methodologies are necessarily limited by the parameters for our work for this project and the current state of our knowledge, as described in this and next section of this memorandum.

This document is intended to provide an assessment of roadway capacity and time needed to evacuate under the described evacuation scenarios and should not be considered an evacuation plan. Emergency evacuation can occur due to any number of events. Additionally, any emergencycaused movement is unpredictable because it has an element of individual behavior related to personal risk assessment for each hazard event as the associated evacuation instructions are provided. As such, this assessment is intended to provide the City of El Cerrito with a broad understanding of the capacity of the transportation system during a hypothetical evacuation scenario; it does not provide a guarantee that evacuations will follow modeling that is used for analysis purposes, nor does it guarantee that the findings are applicable to any or all situations.

This memorandum was prepared for the specific and limited purpose of this project. It is not intended to be an exhaustive analysis of evacuation planning in the City of El Cerrito or to be used as a specific evacuation plan.

While this assessment should help the City of El Cerrito better prepare for hazard related events and associated evacuations, the City should take care in planning and implementing any potential evacuation scenario.

2. Evacuation Capacity Analysis Overview
Various aspects of the evacuation capacity analysis, including the designated evacuation routes, the evacuation zones, the evacuation scenarios, and the various assumptions used in completing this analysis are described below.

Evacuation Routes
The El Cerrito & Kensington Residents Guide to Wildfire Preparedness & Evacuation (2019)1 identifies evacuation routes for the City of El Cerrito and the unincorporated community of Kensington. The City of El Cerrito provides emergency services to the community of Kensington on a contract basis. These routes normally consist of the following corridors, which are shown on Figure 1.
1 https://www.kppcsd.org/files/9227af8b3/Fire+Pamphlet+7-24-2019.pdf Agenda Packet Page 441 of 465
City of El Cerrito 2024 Safety Element Update – Emergency Evacuation Time Assessment October 29, 2024

• San Pablo Avenue
• Key Boulevard-Elm Street-Richmond
Street
• Ashbury Avenue
• Colusa Avenue
• Arlington Boulevard
• Barrett Avenue
• Cutting Boulevard
• Potrero Avenue
• Moeser Lane
• Central Avenue
• Fairmount Avenue-Carlson Boulevard
• Berkeley Park Boulevard-Stratford
Road-Coventry Road
• Westminster Avenue/Wellesley
Avenue-Kenyon Avenue-Beloit AvenueGrizzly Peak Boulevard-Spruce Street These corridors are the primary routes that vehicles would likely use to evacuate the evacuation zones, depending on the specific emergency event. Considering that most of the evacuating population are local residents who are familiar with the local street network, the modeled evacuation scenarios assume that some of the evacuating vehicles would use other routes depending on their proximity to these routes, the level of congestion on the primary routes, and other factors.

Evacuation Zones
Evacuation areas are defined by the Genasys Protect (formerly known as Zonehaven) emergency response zones as directed by emergency responders. Figure 1 also shows the 16 Genasys Protect zones in the City of El Cerrito, unincorporated Kensington, and the City of Richmond that may be evacuated at the same time and may use the same evacuation routes.

Evacuation Scenarios
As part of the preparation for this work, Fehr & Peers prepared hazard zone maps and reviewed potential emergency events with City staff, including representatives from the El CerritoKensington Fire Department and the El Cerrito Police Department. Maps showing high fire risk areas and landslide risk zones are shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The following three events requiring evacuation were chosen based on emergency responder staff input and evaluated in this memorandum:
• Scenario 1: Hazardous Material Spill on San Pablo Avenue – A hazardous material spill occurs on San Pablo Avenue at Blake Street in El Cerrito at 4:00 AM on a Monday morning, necessitating the evacuation of nearby residents. Affected residents in the City of El Cerrito are directed to evacuate to the Golden Gate Fields Parking Lot near the west end of Buchanan Street in the City of Albany or other destinations outside the evacuation zones. Figure 4 shows the evacuated zones and the primary evacuation routes. The evacuation zones consist of Zones ECK-E016 and ECK-E001 in El Cerrito and Zone RCH-E047 in the City of Richmond. The primary evacuation routes Agenda Packet Page 442 of 465
City of El Cerrito 2024 Safety Element Update – Emergency Evacuation Time Assessment October 29, 2024

for the El Cerrito zones consist of Cutting Boulevard to I-80 freeway, Richmond Street south to Moeser Lane and to San Pablo Avenue, San Pablo Avenue south to Buchanan Street or to Central Avenue to either I-80 or I-580 to the south, Jacuzzi Street/Cleveland Avenue, or Pierce Street to Buchanan Street. Affected areas in the City of Richmond are directed to evacuate to the west.
• Scenario 2: Wildfire Originating Near Rifle Range Road Trailhead (Local Evacuation) – A brush fire originates in the grassy area near the Rifle Range Road Trailhead at 11:00 AM on a weekday in late September with schools in normal session. Fire spreads in a southwest direction. An evacuation is ordered at noon for portions of El Cerrito and Richmond.2 Affected residents are directed to evacuate to the Golden Gate Fields Parking Lot near the west end of Buchanan Street in the City of Albany or other destinations outside the evacuation zones. The fire is contained by 3:00 PM and no further evacuation is necessary. Figure 5 shows the evacuated zones and the evacuation routes. The evacuation zones consist of Zones ECK-E011 and ECK012 in El Cerrito. The primary evacuation routes consist of using Arlington Boulevard to Cutting Boulevard, Potrero Avenue, and Moeser Lane to access San Pablo Avenue and the freeways, and using either I-580 South, Jacuzzi Street/Cleveland Avenue, Pierce Street, or San Pablo Avenue to reach Buchannan Street and then the Golden Gate Fields Parking Lot.
• Scenario 3: Wildfire Originating in Wildcat Canyon Regional Park (Large Area Evacuation) – A brush fire originates in Wildcat Canyon Regional Park east of El Cerrito at 11:00 AM on a weekday in late September with schools in normal session.

Fire spreads in a west direction. An evacuation is ordered at noon for the very high fire severity zones in El Cerrito, Kensington, and Richmond. Figure 6 shows the evacuated zones and the evacuation routes. The evacuation zones consist of El Cerrito and Kensington Zones ECK-E001, ECK-E004 through ECK-E012, ECK-E014, ECK-E015, and ECK-E017. The primary evacuation routes consist of the designated evacuation routes in the City of El Cerrito and Kensington that generally evacuate out of the area to the north, west, and south, although additional routes may also be used.

These scenarios were chosen in discussions with City staff based on the likelihood of occurrence, availability of evacuation routes, and the judgment of the project team, including the emergency responder representatives.
2 Consisting of residents of Vista Heights Road with only access through Rifle Range Road, which are accounted for in Zone ECK-E012.

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Analysis Assumptions
Emergency events and corresponding evacuations can occur in myriad ways, some allowing for a range of advanced logistical planning, and others requiring more immediate responses such as shelter-in-place for certain sites (such as schools). Given the infinite range of potential timelines and event and evacuation characteristics, the following baseline assumptions are used in this analysis:

A. Evacuation Capacity

1. Although the evacuation orders for large area evacuations (such as Scenario 3) are expected to be staggered for different zones, this analysis assumes that the entire evacuation area is directed to evacuate at the same time.

2. The City of El Cerrito and the surrounding areas, including unincorporated Kensington and the City of Richmond, provide multiuse and footpaths that provide non-motorized connectivity between various parts of the area. Although some residents could use these paths during an evacuation, this analysis assumes that all evacuations would be by personal vehicle.

3. Conceptually, the time it takes to evacuate is fundamentally constrained by capacity constraints along the roadway system, otherwise known as “bottlenecks.” Thus, the evacuation times for each route and scenario are assessed on a bottleneck basis, whereby key collection points along each evacuation route are evaluated relative to the capacity and the estimated evacuating vehicles. The capacities incorporate operational assumptions as defined in the Transportation Research Board’s Highway Capacity Manual (HCM, 6th Edition), including the following range of per-lane flow rates by lane type and capacity limits based on opposing flows. The HCM-based capacity assumptions were reduced to account for some of the potential capacity reductions during an evacuation due to reduced visibility, traffic signals not working properly, or other causes. The analysis assumes that during the evacuation events, the evacuation roadways would continue to have the same lane designations and intersection controls as during normal operations (i.e., no contra-flow lanes or special lane designations). The bottleneck capacities are presented as a range to account for these potential reductions. Evacuation times for each route include the following range of bottleneck-based time (measured as a flow rate of vehicles per hour) required to serve the entire evacuating flow to reach the designated evacuation destination:
• Through lane: 750-850 vehicles/hour
• Channelized right turn lane: 750-850 vehicles/hour.
• Right turn lane: 450-500 vehicles/hour
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City of El Cerrito 2024 Safety Element Update – Emergency Evacuation Time Assessment October 29, 2024

• Left turn lane: 450-500 vehicles/hour.
• Shared lane (left-through-right, left-through, through-right, left-right): 450-500 vehicles/hour.
• Freeway on-ramps: 800-900 vehicles/hour
The analysis assumes that the background traffic on major evacuation routes, such as San Pablo Avenue, would be diverted to other routes upstream of the evacuation zones to ensure adequate capacity for the evacuating traffic.

B. Evacuating Population

4. For scenarios that require evacuation of schools, parents/guardians will pick-up students at the schools before evacuating.

5. Evacuating public school students are based on 2022-2023 enrollment numbers and evacuating private school students are based on 2018-2019 enrollment numbers as published by the California Department of Education.

6. The analysis also accounts for the adjacent areas in Kensington and the City of Richmond that would likely need to be evacuated at the same time and would likely use the same evacuation routes. The affected zones in unincorporated Kensington and the City of Richmond for each scenario are described in the previous section of this memorandum.

7. The number of existing residents and employees that would evacuate are based on the 2018-2022 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates data by census tract.

Correspondence between the census tracts and the Genasys Protect zones, and determination of best available evacuation routes, is estimated by Fehr & Peers; in many cases, the estimated evacuating vehicles are distributed to multiple evacuation routes.

8. Based on US Census data, the average vehicle ownership in El Cerrito and the neighboring areas of Kensington and Richmond is about 1.8 vehicles per household. Therefore, this analysis assumes an average of 1.8 vehicles per household for all evacuating households.

This is a conservative assumption.

9. For scenarios that include evacuation of employment uses, it is assumed that every employee has their own vehicle and will generate a trip during an evacuation.

10. This analysis adjusts the US Census employment numbers to not include residents that work from home.

11. To ensure a conservative analysis, and because reliable data on the number of adult residents who would be at work during daytime evacuation scenarios is not available, this analysis assumed that all adult residents would be at home during an evacuation and Agenda Packet Page 445 of 465
City of El Cerrito 2024 Safety Element Update – Emergency Evacuation Time Assessment October 29, 2024

therefore no reduction in residential evacuating vehicles is made for the daytime scenarios (Scenarios 2 and 3).

3. Evacuation Capacity Assessment
This section discusses the results of the evacuation analysis for Scenarios 1, 2, and 3 based on the methodology and assumptions presented in the previous section.

Scenario 1: Hazardous Material Spill on San Pablo Avenue Table 1 summarizes the land uses and estimated number of vehicles that would be evacuating under Scenario 1 based on the assumptions and sources described above.

Table 2 shows the estimated evacuation times for Scenario 1. This analysis assumes that all El Cerrito evacuating vehicles would leave the evacuation zones and either evacuate to the designated evacuation area at the Golden Gate Fields Parking Lot or to other destinations to the south, west, and north of the evacuation zones.

It is assumed that the evacuation zone in Richmond would evacuate to the west, primarily through streets such as Carlson Boulevard and Potrero Avenue, and the El Cerrito evacuees would have minimal use of these evacuation routes to the west. Since the El Cerrito evacuees would not meaningfully affect the evacuation times for the Richmond evacuees, Table 2 does not report the evacuation times for the Richmond residents. It is estimated that it would take about 2.1 to 2.4 hours for all evacuating vehicles to leave the evacuation zones in El Cerrito.

Table 1: Land Uses and Evacuating Vehicles – Scenario 1 Land Use Amount Vehicles1
Households 2,770 2 4,986
Employment3 0 0
School Students3 0 0
Total Vehicles 4,986
Note:

1. Assume 1.8 vehicles per household.

2. Consists of the evacuation zones in El Cerrito only (Zones ECK-E016 and ECK-E001).

3. No employment or school students included in this scenario because evacuation is at 4:00 AM when most employment locations and schools are closed.

Source: US Census, 2018-2022 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates; Fehr & Peers, 2024.

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City of El Cerrito 2024 Safety Element Update – Emergency Evacuation Time Assessment October 29, 2024

Table 2: Estimated Evacuation Times by Route – Scenario 1 Evacuation Route Total Time to Evacuate (Hours)1
Cutting Boulevard to I-80 1.6-1.8
San Pablo Avenue south to either Central Avenue or
Buchanan Street 2.1-2.4
Note:

1. The reported range of times represents the estimated time for all the evacuating vehicles to leave the evacuation area based on the estimated capacity range of the evacuation routes (it is not the travel time between the evacuation zone and destination).

Source: Fehr & Peers, 2024.

Scenario 2: Wildfire Originating Near Rifle Range Road Trailhead (Local Evacuation)
Table 3 summarizes the land uses and estimated number of vehicles that would be evacuating under Scenario 2 based on the assumptions and sources described above.

Table 4 shows the estimated evacuation times for Scenario 2. This analysis assumes that all evacuating vehicles would primarily use Arlington Boulevard to the north and south and Cutting Boulevard, Potrero Avenue, and Moeser Lane to the west to leave the evacuation zones (in addition to taking other routes if those are more feasible) and either evacuate to the Golden Gate Fields Parking Lot or to other destinations to the south, west, and north of the evacuation zones.

It is estimated that it would take about 1.1 to 1.3 hours for all evacuating vehicles to leave the evacuation zones.

Table 3: Land Uses and Evacuating Vehicles – Scenario 2 Land Use Amount Vehicles1
Households 873 1,572
Employment 136 136
School Students2 0 0
Total Vehicles 1,707
Note:

1. Assume 1.8 vehicles per household and 1.0 vehicle per employment.

2. No school students included in this scenario because no schools are in the evacuation zones.

Source: US Census, 2018-2022 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates; Fehr & Peers, 2024.

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City of El Cerrito 2024 Safety Element Update – Emergency Evacuation Time Assessment October 29, 2024

Table 4: Estimated Evacuation Times by Route – Scenario 2 Evacuation Route Total Time to Evacuate (Hours) 1
Arlington Boulevard to Cutting Boulevard, Potrero
Avenue, or Moeser Lane

1.1-1.3
Note:

1. The reported range of times represents the estimated time for all the evacuating vehicles to leave the evacuation area based on the estimated capacity range of the evacuation route (it is not the travel time between the evacuation zone and destination).

2. Source: Fehr & Peers, 2024.

Source: Fehr & Peers, 2024.

Scenario 3: Wildfire Originating in Wildcat Canyon Regional Park (Large Area Evacuation)
Table 5 summarizes the land uses and estimated number of vehicles that would be evacuating under Scenario 3 based on the assumptions and sources described above. The totals include both the City of El Cerrito and unincorporated Kensington that would evacuate at the same time and use the same evacuation routes.

Table 6 shows the estimated evacuation times for Scenario 3. This analysis assumes that all evacuating vehicles would primarily use the designated evacuation routes along with other side routes as appropriate, and evacuate either to I-80 in the west, north to Richmond along San Pablo Avenue, Barrett Avenue or Arlington Boulevard, or south to Berkeley and Albany along San Pablo Avenue, Ashbury Avenue, Colusa Avenue, Arlington Boulevard, or Grizzly Peak Boulevard. It is estimated that it would take about 2.3 to 2.6 hours for all evacuating vehicles to leave the evacuation zones.

Table 5: Land Uses and Evacuating Vehicles – Scenario 3 Land Use Amount Vehicles1
Households 8,751 17,752
Employment 3,440 3,440
School Students2 4,828 0
Total Vehicles 19,192
Note:

1. Assume 1.8 vehicles per household and 1.0 vehicle per employment.

2. Since students would be picked up by parents/guardians first and parent/guardian trips are included in the household numbers, no additional vehicle trips assumed for the school students to avoid double-counting vehicles at bottlenecks.

Source: US Census, 2018-2022 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates; Fehr & Peers, 2024.

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City of El Cerrito 2024 Safety Element Update – Emergency Evacuation Time Assessment October 29, 2024

Table 6: Estimated Evacuation Times by Route – Scenario 3 Evacuation Route Total Time to Evacuate (Hours)1
Arlington Avenue to Unincorporated Contra Costa
County

2.2-2.5
Barrett Avenue to City of Richmond 2.2-2.5
Cutting Boulevard to I-80 2.1-2.4
Potrero Avenue to I-80 2.2-2.5
Moeser Lane to San Pablo Avenue 2.3-2.6
Central Avenue to I-80 2.3-2.6
Ashbury Avenue to City of Albany 2.1-2.4
Colusa Avenue to City of Berkeley 2.0-2.2
Arlington Avenue to City of Berkeley 1.9-2.2
Grizzly Peak Boulevard to City of Berkeley 1.9-2.2
Note:

1. The reported range of times represents the estimated time for all the evacuating vehicles to leave the evacuation area based on the estimated capacity range of the evacuation routes (it is not the travel time between the evacuation zone and destination).

2. Source: Fehr & Peers, 2024.

3. .

Source: Fehr & Peers, 2024.

Analysis Limitations
Note that the evacuation time estimates presented above may not capture the following conditions:
• Evacuation times would vary depending on directions residents and employees may receive from emergency responders and individual decisions regarding which route to take or which destination to evacuate to, which may include primary evacuation routes or other feasible routes.
• Emergency scenarios are unpredictable and driver behavior can be disorderly.

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City of El Cerrito 2024 Safety Element Update – Emergency Evacuation Time Assessment October 29, 2024

• There is also general unpredictability in operational issues such as traffic signal timing coordination issues, or power issues that could trigger traffic signals to operate in “red flash.”
• Smoke generated by wildfires could limit visibility and result in slower travel speeds by evacuees.

12. Evacuation events are not linear in nature (that is, having an even distribution during the evacuation time period) and it is anticipated that evacuees would vacate at a rate that more closely resembles a bell curve from the time that the evacuation order is issued.

These are conditions which would affect the total evacuation time estimated in our assessment that are not captured in the methodology used in this assessment since this analysis assumes that all evacuees would evacuate at once when the evacuation order is issued.

4. Recommendations
The City of El Cerrito maintains resources to inform residents and employees about emergency preparedness and evacuation procedures. These resources should be updated as technologies and best practices evolve. The results of the above analysis indicate the following potential improvements and enhancements to existing resources could reduce evacuation times:

1. Identify multiple evacuation destinations in different locations to allow for more evacuation routes and shorter evacuation times. Ensure each evacuation destination can accommodate the estimated evacuating traffic.

2. Coordinate with other jurisdictions including City of Richmond, Contra Costa County, City of Albany, City of Berkeley, and Caltrans to maintain the designated evacuation routes that serve the City of El Cerrito and unincorporated Kensington.

3. Ensure traffic signals on evacuation routes have back-up power, and develop emergency evacuation traffic signal timing plans for traffic signals on evacuation routes, prioritizing evacuation flows and minimizing opposing traffic flows. Emergency response vehicle access into evacuation areas can be maintained through traffic signal pre-emption.

Coordinate with Caltrans to develop corridor evacuation timing plans for San Pablo Avenue.

4. Identify corridors where temporary evacuation capacity, such as reversible (contra-flow) traffic lanes, temporary use of parking lanes, shoulders, two-way-left-turn lanes, transitonly lanes or bikeways could be provided while maintaining emergency responder access in the opposite direction.

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City of El Cerrito 2024 Safety Element Update – Emergency Evacuation Time Assessment October 29, 2024

5. Continue the recently implemented pilot program and if necessary, adjust the program limiting on-street parking on designated evacuation routes either permanently or during high fire risk periods to reduce potential conflicts with evacuating vehicles.

6. Prioritize undergrounding utilities and upgrading power poles with current isolating/shut down technologies on main evacuation corridors to minimize downed wires on these corridors.

7. As part of evacuation messaging, ensure evacuees are informed of the availability of multiple evacuation routes, to allow effective use of all available capacity.

8. Work with West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) and private schools to coordinate evacuation plans for the schools in El Cerrito and Kensington.

9. Consider staggering the evacuation orders for citywide or large area evacuations for different zones and account for the impact on potential bottleneck locations when determining the timing for evacuation of different zones.

10. When considering roadway or intersection design modifications, especially in areas that have less accessibility and on key evacuation routes, consider evacuation capacity and consider design treatments that could allow reversible lanes or temporary use of parking lanes, shoulders, transit-only lanes, and/or bikeways as auxiliary lanes to provide additional capacity during an evacuation event.

11. Close major routes upstream from the evacuation zones and divert traffic to other routes to decrease demand on the primary evacuation routes. If necessary, coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions and Caltrans to plan and implement potential roadway closures.

12. Educate residents and employees about the importance of carpooling in evacuations to reduce the number of evacuating vehicles and minimize evacuation times.

13. Examine areas that have a high concentration of residents with social vulnerability indicators such as age, disability, and other mobility factors to determine other potential barriers to evacuation besides distance to and capacity of evacuation routes. Advanced coordination between first responders to ensure an efficient and well-communicated process for evacuation may be needed in response to various hazard scenarios.

14. Conduct community-wide evacuation exercises to test the recommendations and plans associated with these scenarios.

Please contact us if you have questions about this analysis.

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City of El Cerrito 2024 Safety Element Update – Emergency Evacuation Time Assessment October 29, 2024

Attachments:

Figure 1: Evacuation Zones and Evacuation Routes
Figure 2: Very High Fire Severity Zones
Figure 3: High Landslide Susceptibility Classes
Figure 4: Scenario 1 (Hazardous Material Spill on San Pablo Avenue) Figure 5: Scenario 2 (Wildfire Originating Near Rifle Range Road Trailhead, Local Evacuation) Figure 6: Scenario 3 (Wildfire Originating in Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, Large Area Evacuation) Agenda Packet Page 452 of 465
·123
"!80
&%580
&%580

EL CERRITO

KENSINGTON
ECK-E003
ECK-E002
ECK-E005
ECK-E007
ECK-E008
ECK-E004
ECK-E006
ECK-E009
ECK-E011
ECK-E010
ECK-E001
ECK-E016
ECK-E017
ECK-E012
ECK-E015
ECK-E014
RCH-E047
Potrero Ave
Fairmount
Ave
Richmond St
Cutting Blvd
Elm St
C
o
l
u
sa Ave
S
p
r
u
ce St
Westm inster
Ave
Stockton Ave
Central Ave
Ashbury
Ave
StratfordRd
BuchananSt
Barret tAve
Arlington
Blvd
Arlington
Ave
San
Pablo
Ave

0.5 Miles
City of El Cerrito
BART Stations
BART Line
Primary Evacuation Routes
Evacuation Zones
Source: El Cerrito and Kensington Residents Guide to Wildfire Preparedness and Evacuation, https://www.el-cerrito.org/DocumentCenter/View/12931/ Fire-Pamphlet-FINAL, 2019. Genasys Protect, 2023.

City of El Cerrito Safety Element Evacuation Study, Fehr & Peers Figure 1 – Evacuation Zones and Evacuation Routes
Agenda Packet Page 453 of 465
·123
"!80
&%580
&%580

EL CERRITO

KENSINGTON
ECK-E003
ECK-E002
ECK-E005
ECK-E007
ECK-E004 ECK-E008
ECK-E006
ECK-E009
ECK-E011
ECK-E010
ECK-E001
ECK-E016
ECK-E017
ECK-E012
ECK-E015
ECK-E014
City of El Cerrito
BART Stations
BART Line
Evacuation Zones
Fire Severity Zones
Very High (Local Responsibility Area)
Very High (State Responsibility Area)
Source: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/
03beab8511814e79a0e4eabf0d3e7247, 2024. Genasys Protect, 2023.

City of El Cerrito Safety Element Evacuation Study, Fehr & Peers Figure 2 – Very High Fire Severity Zones

0.5 Miles
Agenda Packet Page 454 of 465
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"!80
&%580
&%580

EL CERRITO

KENSINGTON
ECK-E003
ECK-E002
ECK-E005
ECK-E007
ECK-E004 ECK-E008
ECK-E006
ECK-E009
ECK-E011
ECK-E010
ECK-E001
ECK-E016
ECK-E017
ECK-E012
ECK-E015
ECK-E014
City of El Cerrito
BART Stations
BART Line
Evacuation Zones
High Landslide Susceptibility Classes
Class 9
Class 10
Source: California Department of Conservation, https://maps-cnracadoc.opendata.arcgis.com/maps/cadoc::cgs-map-sheet-58-deepseated-landslide-susceptibility, 2010. Genasys Protect, 2023.

City of El Cerrito Safety Element Evacuation Study, Fehr & Peers Figure 3 – High Landslide Susceptibility Classes
Only the highest landslide susceptibility
classes shown.

0.5 Miles
Agenda Packet Page 455 of 465
ECK-E001 ECK-E016
RCH-E047
·123
"!80
&%580
&%580
Cutting Blvd
Elm St
Moeser Ln
Central Ave
Buchanan St
San
Pablo
Ave
Richmond
St

EL CERRITO

KENSINGTON
City of El Cerrito
BART Stations
BART Line
Primary Evacuation Routes
Hazardous Material Spill
Golden Gate Fields Parking Lot
Evacuation Zones
Source: El Cerrito and Kensington Residents Guide to Wildfire Preparedness and Evacuation, https://www.el-cerrito.org/DocumentCenter/View/12931/ Fire-Pamphlet-FINAL, 2019. Genasys Protect, 2023.

City of El Cerrito Safety Element Evacuation Study, Fehr & Peers Figure 4 – Scenario 1 (Hazardous Material Spill on San Pablo Avenue)

0.5 Miles
Agenda Packet Page 456 of 465
·123
"!80
&%580
&%580
Buchanan St
Ashbury Ave
Moeser Ln
Arlington Blvd

EL CERRITO

KENSINGTON
City of El Cerrito
BART Stations
BART Line
Primary Evacuation Routes
Origin of Fire
Golden Gate Fields Parking Lot
Evacuation Zones
Source: El Cerrito and Kensington Residents Guide to Wildfire Preparedness and Evacuation, https://www.el-cerrito.org/DocumentCenter/View/12931/ Fire-Pamphlet-FINAL, 2019. Genasys Protect, 2023.

City of El Cerrito Safety Element Evacuation Study, Fehr & Peers Figure 5 – Scenario 2 (Wildfire Originating Near
Rifle Range Road Trailhead, Local Evacuation)

0.5 Miles
Agenda Packet Page 457 of 465
·123
"!80
&%580
&%580
ECK-E005
ECK-E007
ECK-E004 ECK-E008
ECK-E006
ECK-E009
ECK-E011
ECK-E010
ECK-E001
ECK-E017
ECK-E012
ECK-E015
ECK-E014
Potrero Ave
Cutting Blvd
Colusa
Ave
S
p
r
uc
e
St
Stockton Ave
Fairmount Ave
Arlington Blvd
Central Ave
StratfordRd
Moeser Ln
Ashb
u
ry Av
e
San Pablo Ave
Richmond St
Barre ttAve
Arli
ngton
Ave

EL CERRITO

KENSINGTON
City of El Cerrito
BART Stations
BART Line
Primary Evacuation Routes
Origin of Fire
Evacuation Zones
Source: El Cerrito and Kensington Residents Guide to Wildfire Preparedness and Evacuation, https://www.el-cerrito.org/DocumentCenter/View/12931/ Fire-Pamphlet-FINAL, 2019. Genasys Protect, 2023.

City of El Cerrito Safety Element Evacuation Study, Fehr & Peers Figure 6 – Scenario 3 (Wildfire Originating in Wildcat
Canyon Regional Park, Large Area Evacuation)

0.5 Miles
Agenda Packet Page 458 of 465
Construction Contract Award for
Swim Center Lap Pool Replastering,
City Project No. C3050.9
El Cerrito City Council
December 2, 2025
Agenda Item No. 9.A.

Agenda Packet Page 459 of 465
Proposed Actions
2 Award the construction contract for the Swim Center Lap Pool Replastering Project to Burkett's Pool Plastering Inc. Award Authorize the City Manager to execute a contract in the amount of $228,103 and to approve potential change orders in an amount not to exceed $34,215
Authorize
Appropriate a one-time allocation from the General Fund in the amount of $183,300 Appropriate
Agenda Packet Page 460 of 465
Background Swim Center Improvements
City Council Overview
• To address failures and required upgrades
• Presented on August 19 and October 21, 2025
• Approved Emery G. Weed III Lap Pool Replaster and
Parking Lot ADA & Related Items ($2,311,000)
Phased Implementation of Approved Projects
• Replastering (Current Project)
• December 2, 2025: Award
• Anticipated Construction: January to March
• Parking Lot ADA & Related Improvements
• December-February: Bid & Award
• Anticipated Construction: February to June
3 Agenda Packet Page 461 of 465
 Demolition of the existing plaster
and tiles
 Retiling & Replastering
 Additive Alternative No. 1:

Waterproofing of Pool Surge Tank
4 Replastering Project Scope
Agenda Packet Page 462 of 465
Name and Location of Bidder Base Bid Additive Alternate 1 Engineer’s Estimate $540,000.00 $35,000.00
Burkett's Pool Plastering Inc.

Ripon, CA $224,133.00 $3,970.00
Adams Pool Solutions
Pleasanton, CA $249,216.00 Non-Responsive
Dave Gros Enterprise Inc.

Sacramento, CA $462,677.00 Non-Responsive
USA Construction LLC
San Francisco, CA $528,460.00 Non-Responsive
5 Bid Summary
Burkett’s
 Apparent Low Bidder at
time of Bid Opening
 Sole Responsive Bid
 Well below Engineer’s
Estimate
 Pool Specialty Contractor
 Lowest Responsive and
Responsible Bidder
Agenda Packet Page 463 of 465
Funding for
Swim Center
Improvements:

Replaster plus Parking
Lot ADA & Path of
Travel, Stormwater
Bioretention & Electric
Vehicle Charging
6 Cost Estimate
Original Estimate (August 2025) $2,311,131
Current Estimate (November 2025) $1,994,851
Difference -$316,280
Requested Budget Appropriation
Expenditures for Construction of Replastering Project plus Continued Design & Bid $883,264
Previously Approved Funding $700,000
Funding Currently Needed $183,264
Agenda Packet Page 464 of 465
Questions?
Agenda Packet Page 465 of 465