Agenda Item B.3
CPMS CONSENT CALENDAR
Meeting Date: March 7, 2023
TO: Mayor and Councilmembers
FROM: Charles W. Ebeling, Public Works Director
CONTACT: Daniel Virgen, Assistant Engineer
SUBJECT: January 2023 Winter Storm Update Report
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive and file this status report on the January 2023 Winter Storm.
BACKGROUND:
In early January 2023, City of Goleta (City) staff began monitoring the potential for heavy rains to impact Santa Barbara County, particularly portions of the more densely populated areas of South County. The recent history of sizable wildfires and subsequent burn scars prompted further concern for major impacts from Gaviota to Carpinteria, including Goleta.
City staff began attending briefings and preparing in case the first set of storms just after the New Year might result in more pervasive and large -scale flooding and other associated heavy rain activity in Goleta.
On January 9, 2023, an atmospheric river storm struck the County of Santa Barbara. The significant rainfall caused flooding on public streets, watersheds, creeks, open spaces, wetlands, and on other property in the City; damage to public rights-of-way; downed trees that blocked sidewalks and streets; road closures; and disruption of public services. The storm prompted the County of Santa Barbara and the City of Goleta to declare a local emergency on January 9, 2023. On January 18, 2023, the White House added the County of Santa Barbara to the Presidential Major Disaster Declaration, issued to support the State’s storm response and recovery efforts.
DISCUSSION:
On January 9, 2023, the City activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to monitor the storm that was forecasted to bring heavy rainfall in a short period of time. City staff liaised with the County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and allied partners to gather intelligence and relay information to City leadership o n potential for dangers, warnings, evacuations, and roadway closures. City staff monitored the City’s roadways, creeks, channels, drainage systems and bridge structures throughout the event. As a result of the storm, a wide range of damages occurred throughout the City , including 1 Meeting Date: March 7, 2023
roadway flooding; downed trees; creek, bluff, and beach erosion; sinkholes; landslides; and drainage issues.
On January 17, 2023, City staff toured several of the damaged sites with representatives from the County of Santa Barbara (County), California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Public Works staff has compiled a list of locations and descriptions of the damages and continues to assess the level of damage and develop cost estimates. As Public Works staff continues with th e damage assessment and the process of repairing our infrastructure, we will provide update s to the City Council in the near future. The preliminary damage cost estimate is approximately $9,869,950. The City may be eligible for a percentage of federal and/or state financial reimbursements. Public Works staff is currently establishing agreements with consultants and contractors to assist with the various storm related projects and reimbursement process. As Public Works determines the extent of the damage from the storm , staff will bring agreements for City Council approval to repair City infrastructure. Staff will be working with FEMA to determine what costs are eligible for reimbursement.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
Public Works staff is still in the process of determining a comprehensive cost estimate.
The Initial Damage Estimate submitted to the County Office of Emergency Management was $9,869,950. Public Works anticipates a better understanding of the full impacts and damages of the storm throughout the City in the coming weeks.
Reviewed By: Legal Review By: Approved By:
___________________ ___________________ _________________ Kristine Schmidt Megan Garibaldi Robert Nisbet
Assistant City Manager City Attorney City Manager
ATTACHMENT:
1. 2023 Winter Storm Damage List
2 ATTACHMENT 1
2023 Winter Storm Damage List
3 # Project Name Location Description
1 Emergency Tree Removals and Clean Up
Various public rights-of-way and Parks
and Open Spaces Trim and/or removed and clean up hazardous trees and limbs 2 Ellwood Mesa Maintenance Access Road
and Devereux Creek Culvert Repair
End of Santa Barbara Shores/ over
Deveraux Creek
Service roadway to Ellwood Mesa and Devereux Creek culvert damaged
3 San Pedro Creek Storm Drain Repair
San Pedro Creek at Westmorland Pl.
(upstream of Stow Canyon Rd.) Repair of 64" storm drain 4 Ellwood Beach Dr. Drain Repair
Ellwood Beach Drive (closest to 447
Ellwood Beach Dr.) Erosion and compromised storm drain
5 San Rossano Dr. and Padova Dr. Drain
Replacement San Rossano Dr. and Padova Dr. Sink hole appeared during January storm event 6 Jonny D. Wallis Park Sinkhole 170 S Kellogg Ave. Sink hole appeared during January storm event 7 Cathedral Oaks Cribwall
Cathedral Oaks Rd. north of Calle
Real Sink hole created during the storm event.
8 Ellwood Mesa Bluff and Beach Access
Erosion Ellwood Mesa and Ellwood Beach Coastal bluff erosion at two locations with beach access trail eroded 9 Maria Ygnacio Bike Path
San Jose Creek by Hollister Ave. east
of South Patterson Ave. Flooding and erosion to bike path; bike path currently closed 10 Creek Embankments Various creek locations within the City Review for any damages to the embankments 11 Structures: Bridges, foot bridges Various locations within the City Review for any damages due to the storm 12 Storm Drain Culverts, Box Culverts Various locations within the City Review for any damages due to the storm 13 Ellwood Beach Debris Ellwood Beach D ebris clean-up on beach Date prepared: 2/2/2023
2023 Winter Storm Damages List
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