CITY OF GROVER BEACH
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item No. 6
Placement: Business
Meeting Date: October 13, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Matthew Bronson, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Jeff Lee, Public Works Director/City Engineer SUBJECT: 2026 El Niño / Storm Preparation Update
RECOMMENDATION
Receive an update on the status of storm preparation for the anticipated 2026 El Niño winter storms from the Public Works Department and the County Office of Emergency Services and provide input and direction to staff.
BACKGROUND
Based on information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the weather pattern for the upcoming fall and winter is expected to be a historically strong El Niño event. El Niño is a warming of water in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator that can impact weather patterns, including by increasing the chance of storms. These events typically occur every three to four years, however, the upcoming event for the 2026-2027 winter storm season is forecast by the National Weather Service to be one of the strongest El Niño events on record.
It should be noted that El Niño provides the climate backdrop, but it does not guarantee storms will impact the Central Coast. Rather than an actual weather event, El Niño should be considered as a seasonal climate condition that influences weather patterns but does not control when, where or how strong individual storms will be. This means that while a very strong El Niño might suggest a higher probability toward a wetter season, the likelihood of severe impacts in specific locations is not guaranteed. If heavier than normal rainfall does occur, impacts could include heightened flood risk, coastal impacts and increased strain on local infrastructure.
The City has been tracking and following the forecasted El Niño conditions and actively preparing for anticipated impacts to public property and facilities. It is equally important that the public take steps to prepare and there are numerous resources available to assist in doing so as further described in this report. The City has set up a new page on the City’s website as shown below along with other websites with useful information:
• City of Grover Beach: www.groverbeach.org/elninoingroverbeach • County Office of Emergency Services (OES): https://www.readyslo.org/elnino and https://www.readyslo.org/prepare/storms/
• National Weather Service and NOAA: https://www.weather.gov/twc/enso Staff Report: 2026 El Niño / Storm Preparation Update Page 2 October 13, 2026
On September 21, 2026, Governor Newsom issued a “Proclamation of a State of Emergency” for the State of California. In part, the Proclamation, included as Attachment “A”, authorized appropriate State agencies to prioritize work to help local agencies prepare for anticipated impacts from the El Niño event. This assistance could provide resources more quickly and fast track permitting for flood management infrastructure repairs, vegetation management, debris removal, sediment management, bridge scour protection, and channel-capacity improvements. While this Proclamation does not affect federal agencies such as the Army Corps of Engineers or US Fish & Wildlife Services, it does provide an opportunity for Grover Beach to work with State agencies in areas within State jurisdiction boundaries to complete necessary storm preparations in floodprone areas in the city which will be discussed later in this report.
City Winter Storm Preparations
Below are examples of the winter storm preparations that the City is currently undertaking on public properties and facilities:
• Storm drain inlets/culvert cleaning: Maintenance crews are working with Mainline Utility Company to perform cleaning, debris and sediment removal along with inspecting and reporting on the 278 City-owned drain inlet locations;
• Emergency generators: Inspecting and servicing City-owned generators including the Police Department generator, which also serves the adjacent Five Cities Fire Authority station, to ensure they are available and ready for deployment; • Sand: Re-stocking the sand at the Mentone Basin Park sandbag station at the intersection of 14th Street and Mentone Avenue so residents and business owners can prepare and protect private property; and
• Tree trimming/vegetation management: Procuring contracts for routine and emergency response needs in the following areas:
o West Grand Avenue (palm trees)
o El Camino Real and nearby area adjacent to the Nacimiento sewer lift station and stormwater outfalls
o Grover Heights Park – tree removal and future replacement Individuals, Homeowners, and Business Owners Winter Storm Preparations While the City is undertaking citywide activities to prepare for the upcoming El Niño focusing on public property and facilities, there are several activities that individuals, homeowners and business owners can do to prepare their properties including:
• Emergency supplies: Prepare by gathering emergency supplies, making a family plan, and discussing emergency notifications and expectations with your workplace and/or your children's school.
• Batteries and back-up power:
o Install and/or check the batteries on your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors
o Keep a battery powered radio and flashlight in an accessible location. Get extra batteries
o If you have access to an outside generator, have an electric cord long enough to keep the generator at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents Staff Report: 2026 El Niño / Storm Preparation Update Page 3 October 13, 2026
• Travel: Make plans for how you can avoid driving in extreme weather • Home preparation: Prepare your home and your property for the upcoming storm season:
o Clean out gutters
o Maintain trees
o Inspect and/or repair your roof and windows
• Sandbags: Utilize the City’s sandbag station at Mentone Basin Park:
o Sand is free and provided by the city
o Bring your own sandbag(s) and shovel
o Community members may fill up to 20 sandbags per household or business Additionally, some areas of the city, including adjacent to Meadow Creek such as Nacimiento Avenue, Owens Court, Mono Court and El Camino Real, are subject to flooding and are included in the FEMA Flood Map zones and Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) program. Residents can know the types of flood risk for their specific area by visiting the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and FEMA Flood Map Service Center | Search By Address. Residents of these areas should also find out if they have flood insurance and identify an evacuation route and safe location.
Meadow Creek Vegetation Management Work
As mentioned above, the areas along Meadow Creek on the northern edge of the city are particularly prone to flooding given the creek proximity and topography. Meadow Creek flows along El Camino Real and to the west of Nacimiento Drive towards the Pismo Lakes area in Pismo Beach. As noted in the following image, the areas in light blue are within FEMA Flood Zone AE defined as a “Special Flood Hazard Area” with a 1% annual chance of flooding and the blue/brown cross-hatched area is a Special Flood Hazard Area along a Regulatory Floodway:
Staff Report: 2026 El Niño / Storm Preparation Update Page 4 October 13, 2026
While there are numerous environmental and jurisdictional challenges that would need to be addressed prior to improving flows in Meadow Creek, the Governor’s Proclamation provides a window of opportunity to perform vegetation management and debris removal in an effort to reduce the threat of flooding in that area. Based on the Proclamation and consistent with the Council Goals of Public Safety and Community Services and Community Infrastructure, staff have initiated a maintenance effort to conduct vegetation management and debris removal in that area.
These efforts include working to obtain environmental clearance and monitoring, property owner authorization and scheduling of a tree crew to perform work. The primary focus of this work is to protect public facilities with an ancillary benefit of increased protection to adjacent private property.
The public facilities and infrastructure being protected would include El Camino Real, 12th Street, Meadow Creek bridge crossing 12th Street, waterline that traverses the creek, and the Nacimiento Avenue sewer lift station. The City is working with a local environmental biologist to coordinate this work and obtain needed regulatory clearances and this work is expected to begin in the next several weeks.
In addition to the City’s efforts, staff has also communicated with California State Parks which is considering a project in another section of Meadow Creek west of the city from the Pismo Lake Ecological Reserve to the North Beach Campground and adjacent to the Pismo Beach Golf Course along State Route 1 to Grand Avenue and south into Oceano. That project is intended to increase habitat for several species using vegetation management while generally enhancing and protecting wildlife and fisheries habitat in the lower Meadow Creek and Arroyo Grande lagoons.
While these areas are outside the City limits, it is anticipated that the State Parks project, in conjunction with the City efforts, may provide additional flow capacity and flood protection along Meadow Creek.
County Office of Emergency Services Coordination
Lastly, the City is working closely with the County Office of Emergency Services (OES) which is coordinating countywide response to the upcoming El Niño. County OES ensures that the cities and unincorporated areas stay connected and coordinated on resource needs within the county and from the State. The County OES Director will attend the Council meeting and can provide additional information to the Council about the County’s response.
FISCAL IMPACT
The upcoming El Niño has the potential to cause increasingly severe and destructive storms. To prepare for these potential impacts, Public Works is planning to utilize $70,000 of existing funding in the General Fund and the Stormwater Fund to implement this maintenance effort. Staff will monitor budget needs and will return to the Council if adjustments are necessary.
ALTERNATIVES
The Council has the following alternatives to consider:
1. Receive an update on the status of storm preparation for the anticipated 2026 El Niño winter storms from the Public Works Department and the County Office of Emergency Services and provide input and direction to staff; or
2. Provide alternative direction to staff.
Staff Report: 2026 El Niño / Storm Preparation Update Page 5 October 13, 2026
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
The agenda was posted in accordance with the Brown Act.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Governor Newsom – El Niño “Proclamation of a State of Emergency” Multi-Year Goals
☒ Public Safety and Community Services ☐ Economic Development and Housing ☒ Community Infrastructure ☐ Financial and Organization Sustainability Council Priorities
☒ Water & Wastewater Infrastructure ☐ Community Engagement ☐ Street Improvements and Maintenance
September 9, 2026
The Honorable Gavin Newsom
Governor of California
1021 O Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, CA 95814
Director Caroline Thomas Jacobs
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
3650 Schriever Avenue
Mather, CA 95655
Subject: Request for Immediate State Action (Executive Order) to Protect California Communities Before the 2026–27 Winter Season Dear Governor Newsom and Director Thomas Jacobs:
On behalf of the below signatories, we respectively request immediate state action to help local agencies prepare for the impending 2026-27 winter storm season. As of August 24, 2026, NOAA is predicting a 69% chance of a historic El Nino that would exceed the strength of previous El Nino events dating back to 1950. Further, NOAA and the European Climate Centers are also predicting increasing likelihoods of wet winter seasons across California.
The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts is predicting a greater than Attachment 1
50% chance that rainfall totals in most of California will be in the highest 20% of the climatological record for the December through February 2027 period (exhibit attached).
The model also predicts a greater than 70% chance of extreme rainfall for much of coastal California. It is now very likely that California will experience stronger and more persistent storms, including repeated atmospheric river events across California.
We are aware of the letter submitted by the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency and its member agencies requesting an Executive Order to expedite urgent vegetation management, debris removal, sediment management, bridge scour protection and related flood-risk reduction activities within vulnerable river channels, tributaries, and floodcontrol corridors. We support Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency’s request and additionally request that such an Executive Order be extended to the entire state.
Despite local agencies’ best attempts with maintenance, waterways throughout California are grappling with persistent issues such as excess vegetation growth, sediment buildup, and debris emanating from devastating wildlands fires across California, heavy rains from the winters of 2022-23 and 2023-24, abnormally strong monsoonal rainfall in the deserts and Tropical Storms Kay and Hilary.
Order N-10-23, referenced in the Pajaro letter, underscored the importance of completing vegetation management, sediment removal, and debris clearing ahead of the rainy season, with the intent to minimize risks associated with subsequent high-flow events. At the same time, it ensured that appropriate environmental protections remained in place throughout these urgent activities.
Accordingly, we respectfully join and expand Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency’s request that your Administration take statewide action to:
1. Issue an Executive Order authorizing expedited vegetation management, debris removal, sediment management, bridge scour protection, channel-capacity improvements, and related flood-protection activities in waterways presenting significant flood risks;
2. Provide statewide regulatory streamlining consistent with the emergency authorities exercised under Executive Order N-10-23, while maintaining appropriate environmental protections;
3. Temporarily suspend applicable requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and its implementing regulations for specifically identified emergency and preventive flood-risk reduction projects, to the extent permitted by law, where compliance would delay the timely completion of essential work before the winter storm season. Any such suspension should be narrowly tailored to urgent activities necessary to protect life, property, critical infrastructure, agricultural lands, and public safety;
4. Include preventive and response provisions for California Coastal Act and California Endangered Species Act, which were absent from N-10-23;
5. Direct state agencies to prioritize and expedite permitting, consultation, and technical assistance necessary to complete these projects before the winter rainy season; and
6. Direct the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and other appropriate state agencies to provide all available funding, equipment, personnel, technical support, emergency-planning assistance, and other resources to help local communities prepare for a worst-case flooding scenario this winter.
We further request that Cal OES work directly with local jurisdictions to identify funding and resource gaps, strengthen evacuation and emergency-response planning, support community preparedness and public outreach, and pre-position critical state resources wherever feasible. Our most vulnerable communities, including low-income neighborhoods, farmworker families, rural residents, seniors, and individuals with limited transportation, must not be left unprepared.
The window for preventive action is rapidly closing. Taking decisive action now will help safeguard California communities, agricultural resources, transportation networks, and public infrastructure from potentially catastrophic flooding. Early intervention is far less costly, and far less disruptive to families, than emergency response and disaster recovery after flooding occurs.
We appreciate your continued leadership in advancing California’s resilience to extreme weather. We stand ready to work collaboratively with your Administration, Cal OES, and other state and federal partners to reduce flood risks and protect California communities before the approaching winter season.
Sincerely,
Charles Delgado
Legislative Advocate
California State
Association of Counties
Adam Borchard
Executive Director
California Central Valley
Flood Control
Association
Amanda Bloom
Executive Director
California Association of
Environmental Health
Administrators
Supervisor Bill Connelly
Chair, Butte County
Board of Supervisors
Brian Tisdale
Councilmember, City of
Lake Elsinore
Advocacy Committee
Chair, Western Riverside
County of Governments
Supervisor Doug Chaffee
Chair, Orange County
Board of Supervisors
Chris Sneddon
Director, County of Santa
Barbara Public Works
Department
Supervisor Diane Burgis
Chair, Contra Costa
Board of Supervisors
Supervisor Daron
McDaniel
Chair, Merced County
Board of Supervisors
Dina Purvis
Public Works Director,
City of Indian Wells
Elisia De Board
Governmental Relations
and Legislative Officer
County of Sacramento
Elizabeth Espinosa
Legislative Advocate
County of Santa Barbara
Erica Evans-Fudem
Legislative Deputy
County Counsel
County of Santa Clara
Supervisor Eric Lucan
President, Marin County
Board of Supervisors
J.M. Barrett
General Manager
Coachella Valley Water
District
Jason Uhley
General Manager-Chief
Engineer
Riverside County Flood
Control and Water
Conservation District
Joseph DeConinck
Chair, CVAG
Josh Gauger
Legislative Advocate
Ventura County
Joshua Golka
Head of State
Government Relations
Valley Water
Karla Nemeth
Executive Director
Association of California
Water Agencies
Len Materman
Chief Executive Officer
San Mateo County Flood
and Sea Level Rise
Resiliency District
Mark Strudley
Executive Director
Pajaro Regional Flood
Management District
Matthew Parr
Director of Economic
Development and
Government Affairs
County of San Diego
Mayor Daniel Lurie
City and County of San
Fancisco
Mayor Ulises Cabrera
City of Moreno Valley
Mohsen Maali
Acting Director of Public
Works / City Engineer
City of Temecula
Supervisor Monica
Martinez
Chair, Santa Cruz County
Board of Supervisors
Noel Castillo
Chief Flood Control
Engineer
San Bernardino County
Flood Control District
Supervisor Amy Shuklian
Chair, Tulare County
Board of Supervisors
Kam Bezdek
Legislative Affairs
Director
Northern California
Water
Exhibit: European Center For Medium Range Forecasts Season Forecast for Dec 2026 through February 2027 chance of rainfall totals in the highest 20% of climatology.