City of Gonzales
FIRE DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: August 1, 2022
FROM: Jason Muscio, Fire Chief
THROUGH: Carmen Gil, Interim City Manager
SUBJECT: Resolution No. 2022-57 Adopting Hazard Mitigation Plan
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Council adopt Resolution No. 2022-57, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Adopting the 2022 Monterey County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan.
BACKGROUND
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the California Governors’ Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) have completed a preliminary review of the 2022 Monterey County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP). FEMA and Cal OES have given tentative approval of the plan, pending local adoption. The approval of the plan ensures the City of Gonzales eligibility and pre-qualification for potential federal pre-and post-disaster funding. The plan includes hazard identification, risk and vulnerability assessments, and mitigation strategies to reduce vulnerability and risk from hazards and reduce the severity of the effects of hazards on people, property, and the environment.
Monterey County and The City of Gonzales are potentially vulnerable to a wide range of natural and man-made hazards. These hazards can threaten the life and safety of residents and visitors and have the potential to damage or destroy both public and private property and disrupt the local economy and overall quality of life. While the threats from hazard events may never be fully eliminated, there is much that can be done to lessen their potential impact. The purpose of hazard mitigation is to implement and sustain actions that reduce vulnerability and risk from hazards or reduce the severity of the effects of hazards on people, property, and the environment.
The Disaster Mitigation Act (DMA) of 2000 (Public Law 106-390) requires state and local government agencies to prepare comprehensive Hazard Mitigation Plans in order to be eligible to receive pre-and AGENDA
ITEM
11 post-disaster mitigation funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The DMA also requires the Hazard Mitigation Plan to be monitored, evaluated, and updated within a five-year cycle to remain eligible for disaster related benefits under the DMA.
The 2022 Monterey County Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP) is a comprehensive update to the 2016 Monterey County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan and represents the third iteration of the Monterey County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, which was initially adopted in 2007.The planning area for the MJHMP encompasses the entire geographic area of Monterey County and includes the following Participating Jurisdictions: Monterey County, the cities of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Del Rey Oaks, Gonzales, Greenfield, King, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Salinas, Sand City, Seaside, and Soledad, as well as the Monterey County Water Resources Agency, the Carmel Area Wastewater District, Monterey One Water, the Monterey Regional Waste Management District, and the Moss Landing Harbor District.
The 2022 update to the MJHMP was developed by the MJHMP Steering Committee, made up of participants from the County and Participating Jurisdictions. The Steering Committee served as an advisory body on hazard and mitigation action priorities both for the County as a whole and each jurisdiction individually, with Monterey County Office of Emergency Services as the Planning Lead.
The Monterey County MJHMP:
• Provides an explanation of prevalent hazards within the County and describes how hazards may affect the County and participating jurisdictions differently based upon various relationships to natural hazards.
• Includes a discussion of hazard location, size of a typical event, historical occurrences, and the probability of future occurrences for each identified hazard. • Identifies risks to vulnerable assets, both people and property. • Provides a mitigation strategy that responds to the identified vulnerabilities within each community and provides prescriptions or actions to achieve the greatest risk reduction based upon available resources.
• Pools resources from throughout the County and creates a uniform local hazard mitigation plan that can be consistently implemented.
• Ensures eligibility for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Cal OES grants The City of Gonzales Annex provides specific details on the planning process, a City specific risk and vulnerability assessment, and a mitigation strategy that responds to the identified vulnerabilities within to achieve the greatest risk reduction based upon available resources.
The plan underwent review by the County and Participating Jurisdictions, the general public (Review period occurred from December 2021 to March 2022) and received Approval Pending Adoption from FEMA on June 14, 2022.
REVIEW AND ANALYSIS
Explain Recommendation and How it Supports the Vision
Gonzales will continue to be a safe, clean, family-friendly community, diverse in its heritage, and committed to working collaboratively to preserve and retain its small-town charm.
Explain: A comprehensive Hazard Mitigation Plan is vital for maintaining the health and safety of our residents during times of emergency and makes it possible for our City and residents to receiving funding for recovery.
Explain how the Recommendation Directly Implements the Mission The City Council and Staff of the City of Gonzales will realize our Vision by providing the leadership, commitment, and resources necessary to provide excellent services that enhance the quality of life of our diverse community.
Explain: The Hazard Mitigation Plan provides guidance for coordination with other government agencies that can assist the City by providing resources for response and recovery from a disaster.
City staff including the Police and Fire Chiefs, the Deputy City Manager, the Director of Public Works, and the Direction of planning and Community Development worked with County staff to update the plan to address hazards not present during the time of the previous version of the plan’s adoption, and customize the plan to fit the needs of Gonzales.
City services will be delivered in a cost-effective, respectful, and friendly manner to insure the safety and well being of the residents and the promotion of business, recreational, housing and employment opportunities in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Explain: There is no fiscal impact for the approval of the MJHMP. However, implementation of the MJHMP will require funding and staff resources. Any future funding requests will come before the Council for consideration as part of the budget process or on a case-by-case basis.
Strong fiscal policies allow us to provide appropriate infrastructure for:
• Public Safety X Yes ___ No NA
• Housing Yes ___ No X NA
• Recreation Yes ___ No X NA
• Environment Yes ___ No X NA
• Education Yes ___ No X NA
ALTERNATIVES
The Council could direct staff to make further additions or revisions to the plan and bring it back for adoption at a later date. This is not recommended as the plan as presented represents the best efforts of both City and County staff, and any delay could cause issues with the approval of the plan by FEMA.
BUDGET IMPACT
There is no immediate budget impact involved with the adoption of the MJHMP.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends the Council adopt Resolution No. 2022-57, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Adopting the 2022 Monterey County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Attachments:
1. Resolution No. 2022-57
2. Monterey County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, Volume 1
3. City of Gonzales Annex, Volume 2