Agenda — Hemet City Council, September 24, 2024 (part 1 of 17)

MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL:

Joe Males
Mayor (District 4)
Jaculin "Jackie" Peterson
Mayor Pro Tem (District 2)
Carole Kendrick
Council Member (District 1)
Malcolm Lilienthal
Council Member (District 3)
Linda Krupa
Council Member (District 5)

Noah Rau
Acting City Manager
Steven Graham
City Attorney
John P. Maier
City Clerk

CITY COUNCIL AGENDA

CITY OF HEMET, CALIFORNIA
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
City Council Chamber
450 E. Latham Ave., Hemet, California 92543
CLOSED SESSION AT 6:30 P.M.

REGULAR MEETING AT 7:00 P.M.

Council Chamber: In-person participation is limited in the Council Chamber in order to maintain social distancing room capacity.

Live Stream: This meeting will be live streamed on the City's website at hemetca.gov/agenda.

Public Comments: Members of the Public who wish to comment on matters before the Council, in lieu of attending in person, may submit comments on or before 2:00 p.m. the day of the meeting by using the following link: Online Comment Form. Comments will be recorded in the official meeting record.

Teleconference: ***UPDATED PROCEDURES***POTENTIAL USE OF AB 2449’S JUST CAUSE OR EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES PROVISIONS In the event a City Councilmember joins the meeting virtually under AB 2449, then members of the public can utilize the number below to participate via teleconference. If all participating Councilmembers are physically present, then the call-in feature will be unavailable, but the meeting can still be viewed at the link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84632684257
Webinar ID: 846 3268 4257
Passcode: 745765
Telephone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):

US: +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782

Notice Regarding Americans with Disability Act
In compliance with the Americans with Disability Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting or if you need agenda documents provide in an alternate format, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (951) 765-2307 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting to ensure that reasonable arrangements can be made (28CFR 35.102-35.104

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ADA Title II)
Page

1. CLOSED SESSION – 6:30 P.M.

2. CALL TO ORDER

3. ROLL CALL

4. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD - RULES OF DECORUM, RESOLUTION NO. 4545
 At this time, members of the public may only comment on an item appearing on the Closed Session agenda. Please adhere to the following when addressing the Council:
o Comments will be limited to 3 minutes or less.
o Comments should be directed to the Council as a whole and not directed to individual Council Members.
o Please follow the adopted rules of decorum: Resolution No. 4545.

5. DISCUSSION ITEM

5.A CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Government Code Section 54957.6
Agency Designated Representative: City Attorney
Employee Groups: At-Will Employees (Administrative Services Director, Battalion Chief, Chief Building Official/Deputy Fire Marshal, Chief of Police, City Clerk, Community Development Director, Deputy Fire Chief, Deputy Public Works Director/Assistant City Engineer, Fire Chief, and Public Works Director/City Engineer)

6. ADJOURNMENT OF CLOSED SESSION

7. REGULAR MEETING - 7:00 P.M.

8. CALL TO ORDER

9. ROLL CALL

10. INVOCATION

11. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

12. CITY ATTORNEY CLOSED SESSION REPORT

12.A City Attorney’s Report regarding Closed Session
Recommendation: Information Only

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13. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
Welcome to a meeting of the Mayor and City Council of the City of Hemet  Anyone who wishes to speak during public comment or on a particular item will be required to fill out a speaker slip and turn it in to the City Clerk. Each request will cover one speaker.  There is a 3-minute-per-person time limit for all general public comments on non-public hearing items.  All who wish to speak, including Council members and staff, need to be recognized by the Mayor before speaking.
 Members of the public shall comply with the adopted Rules of Decorum, Resolution No. 4545. A copy of which can be requested through the City Clerk’s Office.
 You may also fill out a form and submit your comments online at www.hemetca.gov and it will be read aloud.

Submittal must be done before 2:00 p.m. the day of the meeting.  Please state your name and item you are commenting on before speaking.

13.A Public Comment for Items Listed on the Agenda: Consent and Discussion Items

13.B Public Comment for Items Not Listed on the Agenda, but within Jurisdictional Matter

14. PRESENTATIONS

14.A Proclamation for Hispanic Heritage Month
Proclamation - Hispanic Heritage Month
13 14.B Proclamation for Constitution Week

14.C Presentation for Medals of Valor - Ponderosa Incident

14.D 2024 Hemet Beautification Contest
Staff Report #24-336 - Pdf
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15. PUBLIC HEARINGS
 The City Council’s Procedures for Public Hearing will be as follows:
o Staff will provide a report and clarification of items presented. o The public hearing will be opened for comments for those IN FAVOR of or IN OPPOSITION to the item: followed by rebuttal to any comments made. o The Public Hearing will be closed, and the City Manager may respond to any questions raised by the public (the public will not have an opportunity to respond.). o Discussion will be brought back to the City Council for direction or action.

15.A An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Specific Plan Amendment 24-001 Amending the Downtown Specific Plan (SP 16-001) to allow assembly of small electronics, furniture, equipment, and similar materials with no outdoor storage when the building has been previously constructed for such use, excluding lithium battery storage technology in the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Zone, as an approved use subject to an Administrative Use Permit Environmental: The City has analyzed this proposed project and has determined that it is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, which provides that CEQA only applies to projects that have the potential for 17 - 36

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causing a significant effect on the environment
Staff Report #24-341 - Pdf
Recommendation:

It is respectfully recommended that the City Council:

1. Open a public hearing and take testimony, if any; and

2. Waive full reading, read by title only, and introduce an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Hemet, Amending the Downtown Specific Plan (SP 16-001) to allow assembly of small electronics, furniture, equipment, and similar materials with no outdoor storage when the building has been previously constructed for such use, excluding lithium battery storage technology in the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Zone, as an approved use subject to an Administrative Use Permit.

3. Authorize City Staff to File a Notice of Exemption with the State Clearinghouse and the Riverside County Clerk.

15.B A Resolution of the City Council, of the City of Hemet, California Adopting General Plan Amendment 22-001 Updating General Plan Chapter 6 Public Safety Element and Climate Vulnerability Assessment in accordance with Senate Bill 1035; and adding General Plan Chapter 12 Environmental Justice Element in accordance with Senate Bill 1000.

Environmental: The City has analyzed this proposed project and has determined that it is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, which provides that CEQA only applies to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment
Staff Report #24-320 - Pdf
Recommendation:

It is respectfully recommended that the City Council:

Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Adopting General Plan Amendment 22-001 Updating General Plan Chapter 6 Public Safety Element and Climate Vulnerability Assessment in accordance with Senate Bill 1035; and adding General Plan Chapter 12 Environmental Justice Element in accordance with Senate Bill 1000 and finding that the General Plan Amendment is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, which provides that CEQA only applies to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
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16. RECEIVE AND FILE

16.A The City of Hemet Warrant Register Dated August 22, 2024, in the amount of $4,477,388.67
The Payroll Period of August 5, 2024 – August 18, 2024, in the amount 317 - 399

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of $1,040,076.79
Staff Report #24-321 - Pdf
Recommendation:

It is respectfully recommended that the City Council:

Receive and file the City of Hemet Warrant Register.

17. CONSENT CALENDAR
All Consent Calendar items will be acted upon by a single action of the City Council unless otherwise requested by an individual Council Member for separate consideration.

17.A Approval of the City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of September 10, 2024
Staff Report #24-338 - Pdf
Recommendation:

It is respectfully recommended that the City Council:

Approve the City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of September 10, 2024.
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17.B Investment Reports for April and May 2024
Staff Report #24-333 - Pdf
Recommendation:

It is respectfully recommended that the City Council:

Receive and file the Investment Reports for April and May 2024. 415 - 654

17.C A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Adopting and Promulgating the Conflict of Interest Code and Designated Officials and Employees of the City Required to File a Statement of Economic Interest and Rescinding Resolution No. 2023-037 Staff Report #24-326 - Pdf
Recommendation:

It is respectfully recommended that the City Council:

Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Adopting and Promulgating the Conflict of Interest Code and Designated Officials and Employees of the City Required to File a Statement of Economic Interest and Rescinding Resolution No. 2023-037. 655 - 663

17.D A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Awarding Aneen Construction, Inc. the Accessible Sidewalk and ADA Project, CIP 5768, in the Amount of $477,667, Waiving any Minor Bid Irregularities, Authorizing the City Manager to Execute all Contract Documents; Approving Additional Construction Expenditures Not to Exceed 10% of the Contract Amount or approximately $47,767; 665 - 1216

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Approving Materials Testing in the Amount of $15,000; Authorize the Administrative Services Director to Transfer Appropriations of $374,422 of Measure 'A' from CIP 5709 to Fund the Total Project Cost; and Authorizing the City Clerk to Record the Notice of Completion upon Acceptance of the Work by the City Engineer
Staff Report #24-316 - Pdf
Recommendation:

It is respectfully recommended that the City Council:

Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Awarding Aneen Construction, Inc. the Accessible Sidewalk and ADA Project, CIP 5768, in the Amount of $477,667, Waiving any Minor Bid Irregularities, Authorizing the City Manager to Execute all Contract Documents; Approving Additional Construction Expenditures Not to Exceed 10% of the Contract Amount or approximately $47,767; Approving Materials Testing in the Amount of $15,000; Authorize the Administrative Services Director to Transfer Appropriations of $374,422 of Measure 'A' from CIP 5709 to Fund the Total Project Cost; and Authorizing the City Clerk to Record the Notice of Completion upon Acceptance of the Work by the City Engineer.

17.E A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Awarding Vance Corporation the Fiscal Year 2023/2024 SB1 Pavement Rehabilitation Project, CIP 5765, in the Amount of $2,158,149, Waiving any Minor Bid Irregularities, Authorizing the City Manager to Execute all Contract Documents; Approving Additional Construction Expenditures Not to Exceed 10% of the Contract Amount or Approximately $215,815; Approving Materials Testing in the Amount of $30,000; Authorizing the Administrative Services Director to Appropriate an Additional $293,963 of Fund Balance from Fund 221 Highway Users Tax Account (HUTA) to Fund the Total Project Cost; and Authorizing the City Clerk to Record the Notice of Completion upon Acceptance of the Work by the City Engineer
Staff Report #24-317 - Pdf
Recommendation:

It is respectfully recommended that the City Council:

Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Awarding Vance Corporation the Fiscal Year 2023/2024 SB1 Pavement Rehabilitation Project, CIP 5765, in the Amount of $2,158,149, Waiving any Minor Bid Irregularities, Authorizing the City Manager to Execute all Contract Documents; Approving Additional Construction Expenditures Not to Exceed 10% of the Contract Amount or Approximately $215,815; Approving Materials Testing in the Amount of $30,000; Authorizing the Administrative Services Director to Appropriate an Additional $293,963 of Fund Balance from Fund 221 Highway Users Tax Account (HUTA) to Fund the Total Project Cost; and Authorizing the City Clerk to Record the Notice of Completion upon Acceptance of the Work by the City 1217 -
1418

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Engineer.

17.F A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Awarding Professional Services Agreements to the Three (3) Top Ranked Firms for On-Call, As Needed Professional Traffic Engineering Services and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute All Documents Related to the Agreements as Approved in Final Form by the City Attorney
Staff Report #24-308 - Pdf
Recommendation:

It is respectfully recommended that the City Council:

A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Awarding Professional Services Agreements to the Three (3) Top Ranked Firms for On-Call, As Needed Professional Traffic Engineering Services and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute All Documents Related to the Agreements as Approved in Final Form by the City Attorney.
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1796

17.G A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Approving a Sponsorship Agreement (CCC-96) between the California Conservation Corps (CCC), a State of California Entity, and the City of Hemet to Authorize Work on Projects Benefiting Public Lands and Water, Energy Conservation, and Fire Prevention and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute All Documents Related to the Agreement Staff Report #24-315 - Pdf
Recommendation:

It is respectfully recommended that the City Council:

Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Approving a Sponsorship Agreement (CCC-96) between the California Conservation Corps (CCC), a State of California Entity, and the City of Hemet to Authorize Work on Projects Benefiting Public Lands and Water, Energy Conservation, and Fire Prevention and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute All Documents Related to the Agreement. 1797 -
1812

17.H A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Approving an Agreement with HealthPro EMS Allowing Emergency Medical Technicians to Conduct Ridealongs with the Hemet Fire Department and Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Written Agreement with HealthPro EMS
Staff Report #24-335 - Pdf
Recommendation:

It is respectfully recommended that the City Council:

Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Approving an Agreement with HealthPro EMS Allowing Emergency 1813 -
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Medical Technicians to Conduct Ridealongs with the Hemet Fire Department and Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Written Agreement with HealthPro EMS.

17.I A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Awarding an Agreement for the Purchase and Installation of Sports Lighting for the Gibbel Skate Plaza (CIP 5777) From Musco Sports Lighting, LLC in the Amount of $269,334 Utilizing the Sourcewell Contract #041123-MSL and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute All Documents Related to the Agreement and Authorize a 10%
Contingency in the Amount of $26,933
Staff Report #24-314 - Pdf
Recommendation:

It is respectfully recommended that the City Council:

Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Awarding an Agreement for the Purchase and Installation of Sports Lighting for the Gibbel Skate Plaza (CIP 5777) From Musco Sports Lighting, LLC, in the Amount of $269,334 Utilizing the Sourcewell Contract #041123-MSL and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute All Documents Related to the Agreement and Authorize a 10%
Contingency in the Amount of $26,933.
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1924

17.J A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Awarding Wakeco Inc. the Police Department Facility Improvement Project, CIP 5732, in the Amount of $785,374.59, and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute all Contract Documents; Approving Additional Construction Expenditures Not to Exceed Approximately 10% of the Contract Amount or $78,537; Authorizing the Administrative Services Director to Re-Appropriate $221,800 from 270-7015 to Fund the Total Project Costs; and Authorizing the City Clerk to Record the Notice of Completion Upon Acceptance of the Work by the City Engineer Staff Report #24-306 - Pdf
Recommendation:

It is respectfully recommended that the City Council:

Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Awarding Wakeco Inc. the Police Department Facility Improvement Project, CIP 5732, in the Amount of $785,374.59, and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute all Contract Documents; Approving Additional Construction Expenditures Not to Exceed Approximately 10% of the Contract Amount or $78,537; Authorizing the Administrative Services Director to Re-Appropriate $221,800 from 270-7015 to Fund the Total Project Costs; and Authorizing the City Clerk to Record the Notice of Completion Upon Acceptance of the Work by the City Engineer. 1925 -
2138

17.K A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Rejecting All Bids for the Police Public Safety Facilities Upgrade, CIP 5744, and to Authorize the City Manager to Revise the Request for Bids 2139 -
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and to Solicit New Bids
Staff Report #24-342 - Pdf
Recommendation:

It is respectfully recommended that the City Council:

Adopt A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Rejecting All Bids for the Police Public Safety Facilities Upgrade, CIP 5744, and Authorize the City Manager to Revise the Request for Bids and to Solicit New Bids.

17.L A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Approving Compensation and Benefit Parameters for At-Will Employees Staff Report #24-286 - Pdf
Recommendation:

It is respectfully recommended that the City Council:

Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Approving Compensation and Benefit Parameters for At-Will Employees.
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2300

18. DISCUSSION - ACTION ITEMS

18.A A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Adopting and Recertifying the City of Hemet Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) in Accordance With the California State Water Resources Control Board Statewide Waste Discharge Requirements for Sanitary Sewer Systems
Staff Report #24-272 - Pdf
Recommendation:

It is respectfully recommended that the City Council:

Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Adopting and Recertifying the City of Hemet Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) in Accordance With the California State Water Resources Control Board Statewide Waste Discharge Requirements for Sanitary Sewer Systems.
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2561

18.B Designation of Voting Delegates and Alternates for the League of California Cities Annual Conference and Expo on October 16-18, 2024 Staff Report #24-340 - Pdf
Recommendation:

It respectfully recommended that the City Council:

Consider designations for Voting Delegate and Alternate(s) for the League of California Cities Annual Conference and Expo on October 16- 18, 2024.
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18.C Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Waiving the City of Hemet Permitting Fees and Sponsoring a Portion of the Event Costs for the Planned October 10, 2024, World Homeless Day Outreach Expo Being Held at Weston Park
Staff Report #24-343 - Pdf
Recommendation:

It is respectfully recommended that the City Council:

Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Waiving the City of Hemet temporary use permit fees of $1,288.90 and Public Works fees of $2,075.00 and sponsor event costs of $6,000.00 for Hemet's inaugural World Homeless Outreach Expo Day on National World Homeless Day, October 10, 2024, presented by Sheltered Pathways, a California non-profit organization, in partnership with the City of Hemet.
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19. CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS

COUNCIL MEMBER KRUPA

1. Hemet Housing Authority

2. Hemet Public Library Board of Trustees

3. Riverside County Airport Land Use Commission *

4. League of California Cities

5. Riverside County Transportation Commission *

6. Riverside Transit Agency

7. Western Riverside County Conservation Authority *

8. Hemet San Jacinto Water Master Board *

9. Council Protocols Ad-Hoc Committee

10.Cal Trans Liaison Ad-Hoc Committee

11.Banner Program Ad-Hoc Committee

12.Arts & Culture Ad-Hoc Committee

13.CDBG Ad-Hoc Committee

14.Southern California Association of Governments

COUNCIL MEMBER KENDRICK

1. Investment Oversight Committee

2. Planning Commission

3. Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency

4. Western Riverside County Conservation Authority *

5. League of California Cities

6. Strategic Plan Update Ad-Hoc Committee

7. Hemet Community Land Trust

COUNCIL MEMBER LILIENTHAL

1. Hemet Housing Authority

2. Skate Park Committee

3. Community Action Commission of Riverside County

4. Riverside County Transportation Commission

5. Riverside Transit Agency *

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6. Western Riverside Council of Governments

7. League of California Cities

8. Clean up/Graffiti Ad-Hoc Committee

9. Strategic Plan Update Ad-Hoc Committee

10.Arts & Culture Ad-Hoc Committee

MAYOR PRO TEM PETERSON

1. Investment Oversight Committee

2. Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency

3. Ramona Bowl Board of Directors

4. Hemet San Jacinto Water Master Board *

5. League of California Cities

6. Western Riverside Council of Governments *

7. Council Protocols Ad-Hoc Committee

8. Homeless Outreach Ad-Hoc Committee

9. Business Outreach Ad-Hoc Committee

10.Cal Trans Liaison Ad-Hoc Committee

11.Veterans Memorial Ad-Hoc Committee

12.CDBG Ad-Hoc Committee

MAYOR MALES

1. Skate Park Committee

2. League of California Cities

3. Planning Commission

4. Clean up/Graffiti Ad-Hoc Committee

5. Homeless Outreach Ad-Hoc Committee

6. Business Outreach Ad-Hoc Committee

7. Banner Program Ad-Hoc Committee

8. Veterans Memorial Ad-Hoc Committee

9. Hemet Community Land Trust

ACTING CITY MANAGER RAU

20. ADJOURNMENT

AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING
I, John Paul Maier, MMC, City Clerk for the City of Hemet, declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing agenda was posted at City Hall located at 445 E. Florida Ave., the Council Chamber located at 450 E. Latham Ave., Hemet, CA, and the City Website.

Date & Time: September 18, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.

Meeting Schedule: The City Council of the City of Hemet regularly meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 7:00 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Closed and Special Sessions will be duly noticed as needed.

Council Agendas: Agendas for Regular Meetings are available for public review on the City’s website at hemetca.gov and in the City Clerk’s Office, 445 E. Florida Ave. typically by 4:00 p.m. on the Thursday prior to the meeting, but no later than 72 hours prior to the meeting. Agendas for

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Closed and Special Sessions are made available at least 72 hours prior to the meeting when possible, but no later than 24 hours prior to the meeting.

Livestream: Regular City Council Meetings are available for viewing during the meeting at hemetca.gov.

Use of Equipment: Please contact the City Clerk’s Office if requesting to use the chamber equipment as part of a scheduled presentation 24 hours prior to the meeting at (951) 765-2307

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PRESENTED SEPTEMBER 24, 2024
Joe Males, Mayor
Jackie Peterson, Mayor Pro
Tem
Malcolm Lilienthal, Council
Member
Linda Krupa, Council Member
Carole Kendrick, Council
Member
City of Hemet
California Proclamation
National Hispanic Heritage Month
WHEREAS, Hispanic Americans can trace their roots back centuries to indigenous people and settlers of the New World who were on this continent long before the founding of our nation; and
WHEREAS, Millions of Hispanic people have come to the United States from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba and other Caribbean regions, Central and South America, and Spain, creating and enriching our American culture; and
WHEREAS, Honoring Hispanic heritage nationally began in 1968, when President Johnson proclaimed Hispanic Heritage Week; Twenty years later, President Regan expanded the honor by proclaiming the first Hispanic Heritage Month in 1988, a period which starts on September 15 and ends on October 15; and
WHEREAS, September 15 is the anniversary of the independence of Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18; and WHEREAS, the City of Hemet celebrates the gifts of Hispanic culture and offers a rich heritage, a deep commitment to family and community, a strong work ethic, an entrepreneurial spirit, and an unwavering belief in the American Dream.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Joe Males, Mayor of the City of Hemet, along with the Hemet City Council, do hereby proclaim on this day that we recognize September 15 through October 15, 2024, as:

National Hispanic Heritage Month
We encourage the community to learn by seeing the strength derived from our diversity and honor a shared spirit of self-determination, dignity, and respect for cultural heritage.

14.A

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City of Hemet
City Council Meeting

STAFF REPORT
Meeting: City Council Meeting - Sep 24 2024
Department: Administration
Submitted by: Noah Rau, Acting City Manager
Alan Reyes, Communications and Events Coordinator;
☒ Receive and File ☐ Consent Calendar ☐ Business Item ☐ Public Hearing TITLE:
2024 Hemet Beautification Contest
RECOMMENDED ACTION:

It is respectfully recommended that the City Council:

Receive and file the 2024 Hemet Beautification Contest presentation.

BACKGROUND:

The Hemet Beautification Contest was conceived as part of the City's ongoing efforts to enhance community appearance and increase civic pride. The idea originated from feedback gathered during community meetings and surveys, where residents expressed a desire for increased beautification efforts in the City. City staff researched and modeled the contest after similar initiatives in other California cities, such as Grover Beach and La Mirada, to encourage local participation and community engagement.

ANALYSIS:

The contest's goal was to motivate residents and businesses to enhance the aesthetics of their properties, contributing to Hemet's overall vibrancy and attractiveness. This initiative aligns with the City's broader strategic goals of promoting community improvement, sustainability, and public engagement.

The contest was structured to include seven awards: two citywide prizes (one for residential and one for commercial properties) and five district-level prizes (one for each City Council district), with each winner receiving $1,000. The contest categories—curb appeal, creative landscaping, architectural enhancements, and sustainability—were carefully chosen to promote aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly beautification efforts.

DISCUSSION:

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14.D

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The Hemet Beautification Contest was marketed through a comprehensive outreach strategy, including geofenced social media ads on Meta Platforms (Facebook and Instagram), targeting local residents and businesses to maximize participation. This outreach successfully increased awareness and engagement, resulting in 22 applications across both residential and commercial properties.

The judging process involved City Council members selecting district winners, while citywide judging was conducted by Council Liaisons Malcolm Lilienthal and Carole Kendrick. This announcement of the winners at the City Council meeting provides an opportunity to celebrate the success of this initiative, celebrate property owners and encourage future participation in similar contests.

The following winners were selected:
 Citywide Residential Winner: Octavio Esqueda, 4350 Amber Ridge Ln  Citywide Commercial Winner: Rocking K Ranch/Ken Miskam, 3969 W Florida Avenue  District 1 Winner: Kevin Solis, 186 N. Stanford Street  District 2 Winner: Angeles Hernandez, 1238 Alabaster Avenue  District 3 Winner: Rosa Ramirez, 2830 Cypress St
 District 4 Winner: Octavio Esqueda, 4350 Amber Ridge Ln  District 5 Winner: Daniel Barajas, 494 Magnolia Circle These winners will be recognized at the City Council meeting and awarded $1,000 each for their efforts.

STRATEGIC PLAN INTEGRATION:

GOAL ONE: QUALITY OF LIFE:

To ensure that Hemet is safe, clean, attractive and comfortable for all who live, work, and visit.

Objective 1: Enhance the visual appearance of the community to make it attractive and reduce blight.

Objective 2: Explore and implement homelessness solutions for the City of Hemet.

Objective 3: Increase Public Safety visibility and response.

GOAL THREE: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
To connect and participate in a constant dialogue between members of the community, City staff, and elected officials to promote togetherness and positivity.

Objective 1: Deliver messaging to the Community that connects, is consistent, and relevant.

Objective 2: Increase transparency for the public.

Objective 3: Increase the community's pride within the City.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The total prize for the Hemet Beautification Contest is $7,000, with seven winners receiving $1,000 each. There is sufficient budget in the Community Engagement program 100-1201-2710 to cover this cost.

In addition to the prize money, approximately $300 was incurred for geofenced social media ads on Meta Platforms (Facebook and Instagram).

As all expenses related to the contest are within the approved budget, no additional fiscal impact is anticipated.

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14.D

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City of Hemet
City Council Meeting

STAFF REPORT
Meeting: City Council Meeting - Sep 24 2024
Department: Community Development
Submitted by: Noah Rau, Acting City Manager
Monique Alaniz-Flejter, Community Development Director; ☐ Receive and File ☐ Consent Calendar ☐ Business Item ☒ Public Hearing TITLE:

An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Specific Plan Amendment 24-001 Amending the Downtown Specific Plan (SP 16-001) to allow assembly of small electronics, furniture, equipment, and similar materials with no outdoor storage when the building has been previously constructed for such use, excluding lithium battery storage technology in the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Zone, as an approved use subject to an Administrative Use Permit Environmental: The City has analyzed this proposed project and has determined that it is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, which provides that CEQA only applies to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment
RECOMMENDED ACTION:

It is respectfully recommended that the City Council:

1. Open a public hearing and take testimony, if any; and

3. Authorize City Staff to File a Notice of Exemption with the State Clearinghouse and the Riverside County Clerk.

BACKGROUND:

The City was notified in February that property located at 410 N. State Street was listed for sale. Staff responded to inquiries from both the buyer and the seller's representative on whether certain uses could be permitted. The uses desired by potential buyers were more in line with light industrial uses.

After a review of the zoning regulations for the property, staff advised all interested parties that the

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15.A

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proposed uses were not permitted in the Downtown Specific Plan Transit Oriented Development (TOD) zone.

Due to the limitations on allowable uses in the Downtown Specific Plan, offers to purchase the property have fallen out of escrow. The most recent potential buyer that staff is aware of is a Sheet Metal Fabricator. After the property owner expressed concern to staff that it has been difficult selling the property due to zoning limitations and that the construction of the building is suited for industrial end users. It became evident that the permitted uses in the Downtown Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Zone may be in conflict with the current market demands of the property, as well as existing built conditions, which may impact businesses in the Downtown under similar circumstances.

On September 3, 2024, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval to the City Council for Specific Plan Amendment No. 24-001 to the Downtown Specific Plan (SP 16-001), to allow the assembly of small electronics, furniture, equipment, and similar materials with no outdoor storage when the building has been previously constructed for such use in the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) zone, subject to the processing of an Administrative Use Permit. The Commission also discussed prohibiting businesses that incorporate the use of lithium batteries and battery storage, which has been incorporated into the recommendation.

On September 13, 2024 the City gave public notice by publishing notice in the Press Enterprise and by mailing to property owners and tenants within 500 feet (410 N. State Street) of the public hearing at which the amendment to the Downtown Specific Plan would be considered by the City Council.

ANALYSIS:

As provided in the attached Aerial, Zoning, and General Plan Maps, the 360-acre (58 block) Downtown Hemet Specific Plan area is generally located in the central portion of the City between Gilbert Street on the west, and Santa Fe Street on the east, Oakland Avenue on the north, and Acacia Avenue on the south. The Specific Plan area contains the historic commercial core of the City, which was established in the early 1900’s, and also includes the City’s Civic Center, Public Library, historic Hemet Stock Farm, Hemet Museum, Santa Fe Educational Center, and historic residential neighborhoods.

For the purposes of project setting and location relative to the initiation of this amendment, the site encompasses three parcels totaling 1.35 acres in a portion of the City that is designated Transit Oriented Development (TOD) in the Hemet Downtown Specific Plan. The property is located on the east side of North State Street between East Oakland Avenue and Meier Street. Surrounding land uses include the Hemet Stock Farm to the west, B&W Pipe & Supply Co and Hemet Industrial Supply to the north, U-Haul Storage facility to the south, Smitty’s Auto Paint Store to the east, and Warehouse storage yard to the east.

As provided in the illustration below, the existing building on the property is a lawfully constructed tilt up style structure with a dock door at the back of the building, and enclosed gate with security walls.

The original zoning of the property was C-M (Commercial Manufacturing) in 1966 when the Churchill Transportation (Moving/Storage) Agent for United Van Lines was established on the property as new construction. In 2000, the property was rezoned to C-2 Commercial. In 2011, FM Lock was established, providing for lock and safe sales and service.

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Google Image (410 N. State Street)

Adoption of Downtown Specific Plan
In 2017, the Downtown Specific Plan was adopted and changed the zoning of the property to Transit Oriented Development (TOD). The TOD Zone is intended to promote transit supportive development, such as employment uses and higher density residential uses. Development on individual lots need not include both commercial and residential uses, but shall complement uses on surrounding properties. Residential uses should be focused on the east side of the rail tracks to complement the adjacent Franklin Street neighborhood, and nonresidential uses should front State Street, which is commercial in nature. Larger development projects in this zone will provide public gathering spaces in the form of open space, plazas and courtyards, as well as pedestrian linkages to the future transit mobility hub and surrounding zones.

Zoning Conflict
Manufacturing or Industrial type uses are no longer deemed permitted in the Downtown, even when previously built for such use. Under the C-2 zone, in which the property was zoned for 16 years would permit light assembly and fabrication, among other industrial type uses with the processing of an Administrative Use Permit. A wide range of industrial uses would have been permitted by right when the property was originally zoned Commercial Manufacturing (C-M) for over 30 years.

Recommendation:

Allowing the assembly of small electronics and equipment for an existing building that was constructed for industrial type uses would not change the surrounding environment. Rather, this provides the property owner with more leverage and options for their property, as well as an opportunity to expand the services needed to the support the area, and creation of jobs for the community. Processing applications through an Administrative Use Permit would ensure compliance with conditioned City Performance Standards.

The following text amendment to the Downtown Specific Plan (16-001) is recommended.

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STRATEGIC PLAN INTEGRATION:

GOAL TWO: ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
To ensure that Hemet is a hub, with access to quality jobs, shopping options, and a varied and sustained tax base.

Objective 1: Develop business practices that welcome new development by streamlining processes.

Objective 2: Provide resources for new businesses to enhance the customer service experience.

REVIEWED BY LEGAL:
☒ Staff report ☐ Resolution
☒ Ordinance ☐ Agreement
ATTACHMENT(S):

Attachment 1: CC Ordinance
Attachment 2: Aerial Map
Attachment 3: General Plan Land Use Map (Downtown Specific Plan) Attachment 4: Zoning Map ((Downtown Specific Plan)
Attachment 5: Letter of Request

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CITY OF HEMET ORDINANCE NO. 2024-XXX 1

CITY OF HEMET

HEMET, CALIFORNIA
ORDINANCE NO. 2024-XXX

AN ORDINANCE OF CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
HEMET, CALIFORNIA, SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT 24-
001 AMENDING THE DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN (SP
16-001) ZONING FOR INCLUSION OF ASSEMBLY OF

SMALL ELCTRONICS, FURNITURE, EQUIPMENT, AND

SIMILAR MATERIALS WITH NO OUTDOOR STORAGE

WHEN THE BUILDING HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY

CONSTRUCTED FOR SUCH USE, EXCLUDING

ELECTRIC BATTERY STORAGE TECHNOLOGY IN THE

TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT (TOD), AS AN

APPROVED USE SUBJECT TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE
USE PERMIT.

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 90-989 of the Hemet Municipal Code and Government Code sections 65854 and 65855, the Planning Commission has the authority to review and make recommendations to the City Council regarding amendments to the City’s zoning ordinances; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has the authority under Chapter III.6 (Implementation) of the Hemet General Plan to review and make a recommendation to the City Council on Specific Plan Amendment No. 24-001; and WHEREAS, A City initiated amendment Specific Plan Amendment No. 24-001 is proposed in accordance with requirements of Section 90-989 of the Hemet Municipal Code; and

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CITY OF HEMET ORDINANCE NO. 2024-XXX 1
WHEREAS, September 3, 2024 the Planning Commission was presented with a draft of this Ordinance and, after conducting a duly noticed public hearing, voted to recommend that the City Council approve Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, on the September 24, 2024, the City Council considered the Ordinance, the Planning Commission’s findings, and the record of information regarding Specific Plan Amendment No. 24-001 to SP 16-001 of the Downtown Specific Plan as a duly noticed public hearing, at which time interested persons has an opportunity to provide testimony on this matter.

NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Hemet does Resolve, Determine, Find and Order as follows:

SECTION 1: SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT FINDINGS

1. That the Specific Plan or Amendment systematically implements and is consistent with the latest adopted General Plan:

Finding the proposed Specific Plan Amendment as a whole is consistent with the following General Plan Land Use Goals, Policies and Objectives. • LU-1.2 Promote job growth within Hemet by establishing land use patterns that encourage commercial and industrial growth opportunities, improve the City's jobhousing balance, reduce commute distances and time, lower vehicle emissions, and provide economic growth and stability for all segments of the City's population.

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CITY OF HEMET ORDINANCE NO. 2024-XXX 1
• LU-3 Compatible Land Development. Avoid land-use conflicts and provide for compatible development.
• LU-11 Promote a strong and diversified economic base and retain and attract new investment, businesses, industries and employment opportunities to the City. • LU-13 Provide a strategic and proactive economic development program in order to attract, retain and expand businesses, create sustainable jobs for the local work force, and generate revenue to support municipal functions, services, and reinvestment back into the community

2. The Specific Plan Amendment provides for the development of a comprehensively planned project that is superior to development otherwise allowed under the conventional zoning classifications.

Finding: The TOD Zone contains the site of the future transit mobility hub in Downtown Hemet. Land in this zone is largely vacant and/or underutilized. New development in this zone should be a positive addition to the Downtown and be designed to take advantage of the proximity to transit. However, Allowing the assembly of small electronics and equipment for an existing building that was constructed for industrial type uses would not change the surrounding environment.

Rather, this provides the developer or property owner with more leverage and options for their property, as well as an opportunity to expand the services needed to the support the area, and opportunity to support the economic stability within the Downtown Specific Plan area under the current market conditions. Allowing an administrative use permit will provide for staff to review applications for assembly of

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CITY OF HEMET ORDINANCE NO. 2024-XXX 1
small electronics, furniture, equipment, and other similar materials with no outdoor storage to ensure that the proposed project does not change the environment and is compatible with surrounding land uses. Under this amendment, it is important to note that only existing Industrial type buildings that are constructed to support the use would be considered. Processing applications through an administrative use permit would ensure that applications that are submitted to the City of Hemet meet the development standards.

3. The proposed Specific Plan Amendment provides for the construction, improvement, or extension of transportation facilities, public utilities and public services required by the long-term needs of the project and/or other area residents, and complements the orderly development of the city beyond the project boundaries.

Finding: The proposed specific plan amendment involves a text change to the current document and does not involve any physical improvements or provide for the construction, improvement, or extension of transportation facilities. The specific plan amendment would provide review of the projects through the administrative use permit process, which would support orderly development within the Downtown Specific Plan area.

4. The specific plan amendment provides for the appropriate orientation and relationship between land use within and adjacent to the project.

Finding: The structural characteristics of the existing building on the property, includes a lawfully constructed and permitted tilt up style building, doc door at the back of the building, and enclosed gate with security walls. The original zoning of the property

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CITY OF HEMET ORDINANCE NO. 2024-XXX 1
was C-M (Commercial Manufacturing) in 1966 when the Churchill Transportation (Moving/Storage) Agent for United Van Lines was established on the property as new construction. In 2000, the property was rezoned to C-2 Commercial. In 2011, FM Lock was established, providing for lock and safe sales and service. In 2017, the Downtown Specific Plan was adopted and changed the zoning of the property to Transit Oriented Development (TOD).

Surrounding land uses B&W Pipe & Supply Co, U-Haul Storage facility, Smitty’s Auto Paint Store, Hemet Industrial Supply to the north, and Warehouse storage to the east.

Manufacturing or Industrial type uses such as those that exist in the TOD zone are no longer deemed permitted in the Downtown. Under the C-2 zone, in which the property was zoned for 16 years would permit light assembly and fabrication uses with an Administrative Use Permit (Director level approval). The use would have been permitted by right when the property was zoned Commercial Manufacturing (C-M) for over 30 years.

The proposed specific plan amendment provides for greater zoning flexibility for property owners and developers and supports economic stability within the Downtown Specific Plan area under the current market conditions. The specific plan amendment is a text amendment only and does not involve specific siting of a property, but rather provides opportunity to explore additional properties for commercial in the future.

It is important to note that the specific plan amendment is for existing Industrial type buildings that were lawfully permitted and constructed for such use within the TOD zone. The administrative use permit will allow staff to review applications for assembly

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CITY OF HEMET ORDINANCE NO. 2024-XXX 1
of small electronics, furniture, equipment, and other similar materials with no outdoor storage to ensure that the proposed project does not change the environment and is compatible with surrounding land uses.

SECTION 2: AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 3 TABLE 4-1: USE REGULATIONS FOR

MIXED USE AND COMMERCIAL ZONES OF THE HEMET DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN AS FOLLOWS:

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CITY OF HEMET ORDINANCE NO. 2024-XXX 1

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CITY OF HEMET ORDINANCE NO. 2024-XXX 1

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CITY OF HEMET ORDINANCE NO. 2024-XXX 1
SECTION 3. CEQA FINDINGS. The City has analyzed this proposed project and has determined that it is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, which provides that CEQA only applies to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Nothing herein constitutes the City’s approval of any applications, Development Project entitlements and/or permits. Therefore, Specific Plan Amendment to the Downtown Specific Plan in itself will not result in any physical project and will not result in any physical change to the environment and does not affect the land use or density limitations of the General Plan. Therefore, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that this Ordinance may have a significant

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CITY OF HEMET ORDINANCE NO. 2024-XXX 1
adverse effect on the environment, and therefore, the adoption of this Ordinance is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines.

SECTION 4. SEVERABILITY. If any section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this Ordinance is, for any reason, held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such determination shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance, and each section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions thereof be declared invalid or unconstitutional.

SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days from its passage by the City Council of the City of Hemet.

SECTION 6. NOTICE. The City Clerk is authorized and directed to cause this Ordinance to be published within fifteen (15) days after its passage in a newspaper of general circulation and circulated within the City in accordance with Government Code Section 36933(a) or, to cause this Ordinance to be published in the manner required by law using the alternative summary and posting procedure authorized under Government Code Section 39633(c).

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CITY OF HEMET ORDINANCE NO. 2024-XXX 1
INTRODUCED at the regular meeting of Hemet City Council on the 24th day of September 2024.

APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 24th day of September, 2024.
____________________________
Joe Males, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
John Paul Maier, City Clerk

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CITY OF HEMET ORDINANCE NO. 2024-XXX 1
State of California )
County of Riverside )
City of Hemet )
I, John Paul Maier, City Clerk of the City of Hemet, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the Hemet City Council on the 24th day of September, 2024, and was passed by the following vote:

AYES: Council Members:

NOES: Council Members:

ABSTAIN: Council Members:

ABSENT: Council Members:
_____________________________
John Paul Maier, City Clerk

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SPA 24-001
Property Site A Vicinity Map

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SPA 24-001
Downtown Specific Plan Amendment
General Plan Map

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Specific Plan Amendment Area
SPA 24-001 Zoning Map

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RE:SPA24-001
Property Address:410 N State St Hemet,CA92543
To WhomIt May Concern,
I, Steve Koehn, am the owner of the property located at 410 N, State St. lam requesting a Speci?c Plan Amendment for my property to allow for the manufacturing. I have my property for sale and have had multiple prospects, all are requesting this manufacturing user Manufacturing is a highlydesirablezoning use and the change in the speci?c plan willallow me to sell my building at its highest and best use.

Respectfully
Steve Koehn LC/IK/d‘3Q91:22

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City of Hemet
City Council Meeting

A Resolution of the City Council, of the City of Hemet, California Adopting General Plan Amendment 22-001 Updating General Plan Chapter 6 Public Safety Element and Climate Vulnerability Assessment in accordance with Senate Bill 1035; and adding General Plan Chapter 12 Environmental Justice Element in accordance with Senate Bill 1000.

It is respectfully recommended that the City Council:

BACKGROUND:

On November 10, 2020, the City Council authorized staff to apply for the non-competitive Local Early Action Planning (LEAP) Grants Program Funds from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to implement a City-Initiated Housing Element Update, Addendum to the City's Safety Element, and New Environmental Justice Element of the General Plan. On May 19, 2021 the City was awarded the contract for these planning efforts.

The City Council authorized approval of an Agreement with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. to facilitate the project. Since then, Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc. has been working diligently on the

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scope of services assigned since 2021. After a rigorous process, the City received Housing Element certification on June 28, 2024. In the interim, Kimley-Horn has prepared updates to the City's Public Safety Element and New Environmental Justice Element as provide in this report.

On July 16, 2024 the Planning Commission unanimously recommended adoption of General Plan Amendment GPA 22-001 to the City Council for Public Safety Element Update and New Environmental Justice Element (Vote 5-0).

On September 13, 2024, the City gave public notice by publishing a notice in the Press Enterprise and by mailing to stakeholders in accordance with government code section 65352(a)(3) of a public hearing on September 24, 2024 at which the General Plan Amendment would be considered by the City Council.

ANALYSIS:

A. Safety Element Update
In accordance with the Government Code 65302 (g)(3) an update to the Safety Element is required in conjunction with updates to the Housing Element, or upon the update of the next Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Safety Element was last adopted on January 24, 2012 through Resolution No. 4476, which included a comprehensive update to the City of Hemet General Plan. General Plan 2030 was a multiyear process and involved extensive public participation in the form of public workshops, surveys and public hearings.

In 2018, the State passed Senate Bill No. 1035 which requires the Public Safety Element to be reviewed not less than once every eight years and revised as necessary to address climate change and resiliency strategies. The intention is to identify new information relating to flood, fire, and other climate hazards not available during the previous revision of the safety element. Furthermore, the Public Safety Element update includes a review of updated hazard zones in relation to essential public facilities, identification of evacuation routes and emergency procedures in coordination with public agencies, and the addition of climate change considerations.  Environmental issues, such as air quality, water quality, industrial waste and release  Zoning and Code Enforcement
 Housing, including the quality and quantity of affordable and safe housing options.  Transportation
 Fire and Flood Safety
 Effects of Climate Change
 Adaption Strategies
 Resiliency Planning
 Quality of Life
Climate Vulnerability Assessment
State law also requires that Safety Element updates include a climate vulnerability assessment (“CVA”) to consider risks and hazards due to a changing climate. The CVA is informed through current policies such as the City of Hemet’s Climate Action Plan adopted by the City Council on September 11, 2018 and 2017 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. In addition to current data from tools such as CalEnviroScreen 4.0 and Cal-Adapt, the CVA examines existing goals and policies to understand the City’s ability to adapt to a changing climate.

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The updated Safety Element ensures that the City accounts for future risks of climate change, such as severe precipitation, flooding, landslides, expanded wildfire hazard zones, and vulnerable and disadvantaged communities in hazard zones. Proposed Safety Element policies address primary and secondary hazards that impact the City, including:
 Development of an Evacuation Plan
 Development of a Fire Protection Plan
 Updating Emergency Communications
 Retrofit to existing buildings to adapt to climate change hazards Workshops & Public Outreach
On April 29, 2021 the City held a Virtual Public Workshop to provide a presentation on the Housing Element Update, including a brief introduction to the Safety Element Update, and New Environmental Justice Element.

On June 29, 2021, the City held a Joint City Council and Planning Commission workshop at the Hemet Library to discuss updates to the Housing Element, including a brief introduction to the Safety Element Update and New Environmental Justice Element.

On May 11, 2022 the City held a Public Workshop to provide information about the Safety Element Update and Environmental Justice Element to the City of Hemet General Plan. A copy of the meeting video is provided in the link below. The video was recorded in both English and Spanish. https://www.hemetca.gov/1068/Safety-Element-Environmental-Justice-Ele On December 19, 2023, an introductory presentation was provided to the Planning Commission on the Safety Element Update.

City and Agency Review
The Department of Life Safety, the Hemet Police Department, and the California Department of Forestry (CAL FIRE) have been integral to the preparation of the updated statistics, analysis, and content provided in the attached Draft document.

Board of Forestry
Since February 2023, a review of the Draft Safety Element has been ongoing with CAL FIRE. After a series of recommended revisions, on June 19, 2024 CAL FIRE confirmed that their Assessment of the City's Draft Safety Element was ready to be presented to the Board of Forestry on July 23, 2024.

On July 25, 2024 the City received final approval of the Safety Element by the Board of Forestry. A copy of their Assessment has been attached and has been incorporated into the Safety Element Policy Document.

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standard changes or changes to zoning and land use that would increase residential density or nonresidential intensity within the proposed amendments. Therefore, the amendments have no possibility of having an impact on the safety of air navigation within the portions of the Hemet-Ryan Airport Influence Area located within the City of Hemet. The Airport Land Use Commission found the General Plan Amendment to be consistent with the 2017 Hemet-Ryan Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan.

Tribal Consultation
On July 9, 2024 notices were mailed to the Native American Tribes pursuant to California Senate Bill

18. State law under Senate Bill 18 allows California Native American tribes 90 days to request consultation regarding possible significant effects that implementation of a proposed project may have on tribal cultural resources.
 On August 7, 2024, staff met with Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) Joseph Ontiveros with the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians. No concerns were identified in regard to the Safety Element.
 On September 5, 2024 Luz Salazar, Cultural Resources Analyst of the Tribal Historic Preservation Office for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, responded in writing concerning both the Safety Element and Environmental Justice Element. No concerns were identified in regards to the Safety Element.
 On September 6, 2024, Bernadette Ann Brierty, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, responded in writing. It was noted that because the project does not involve development, the tribe has no comments.

B. New Environmental Justice Element
Senate Bill 1000 (SB 1000) - Environmental Justice in Local Land Use Planning (2015-2016), amended California’s Planning and Zoning Law to require local governments to identify disadvantaged communities and incorporate the addition of an Environmental Justice Element to the City's General Plan. Cities and Counties are required, on or after January 1, 2018, to update their General Plan upon the adoption or revision of two or more elements concurrently.

A “Disadvantaged community” means an area identified by the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code or an area that is a lowincome area that is disproportionately affected by environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative health effects, exposure, or environmental degradation. (Gov. Code, § 65302, subd. (h)(4)(A)). Additionally, Gov. Code §65040.12 defines Environmental Justice (EJ) as “the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.” The Environmental Justice Element incorporates existing policies and new policies that address the following nine (9) topics:
 Pollution exposure, including the improvement of air quality;  Promotion of public facilities;
 Food access;
 Safe and sanitary homes;
 Physical activity;
 Encourage civic engagement;

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 Education opportunities
 Economic growth; and
 Preservation of culture.

Workshops & Public Outreach
On April 29, 2021 the City held a Virtual Public Workshop to provide a presentation on the Housing Element Update, including a brief introduction to the Safety Element Update, and New Environmental Justice Element.

Airport Land Use Commission
On December 2, 2021, as authorized by the Riverside County Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) pursuant to its Resolution No. 2011-02, the request to update the City’s Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element was approved. In addition, the City’s existing General Plan stipulates that any development within the airport influence area shall be consistent with the underlying airport land use compatibility criteria. The ALUC found that there are no development standard changes or changes to zoning and land use that would increase residential density or nonresidential intensity within the proposed amendments. Therefore, the amendments have no possibility of having an impact on the safety of air navigation within the portions of the Hemet-Ryan Airport Influence Area located within the City of Hemet. The Airport Land Use Commission found the General Plan Amendment to be consistent with the 2017 Hemet-Ryan Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan.

Tribal Consultation
On July 9, 2024 notices were mailed to the Native American Tribes pursuant to California Senate Bill

On August 7, 2024, staff met with Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) Joseph Ontiveros with the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians. The following comment was provided. To date, no further comments have been provided.
 In the event that Native American cultural resources are discovered, advanced planning of where onsite reburial locations might be located should be considered early on in the planning/design process. This could be added to Preservation of Culture EJ-10.

Furthermore, Luz Salazar, Cultural Resources Analyst of the Tribal Historic Preservation Office for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, responded on September 5, 2024. The response letter

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includes comments made on the public draft document of the Environmental Justice element. The comments include:
 Mentioning and acknowledgment of pre-contact history of Native Americans in the region, especially Luiseno and Cahuilla tribes, to preserve culture  Desire for more awareness of Native American culture and history through Policy EJ-10.3 Historical Education
 Question regarding whether there will be a more detailed plan On September 6, 2024, Bernadette Ann Brierty, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, responded in writing. It was noted that because the project does not involve development, the tribe has no comments.

Staff will incorporate the recommendations into the Environmental Justice Element document after 90 days when the tribal consultation period has closed.

Stakeholder Input
Prior to scheduling of the City Council hearing, members of the public have been provided the opportunity to provide continued feedback on the Draft Environmental Justice Element document available for review on the City's Safety Element and Environmental Justice Website page.

Additionally, a survey questionnaire has been provided in the link below. On multiple occasions, a notice of the Safety Element and Environmental Justice Element was emailed to stakeholders, as well as posted on the City Update Newsletter.
https://forms.office.com/r/FS6QA2Lvwd.

STRATEGIC PLAN INTEGRATION:

GOAL ONE: QUALITY OF LIFE:

To ensure that Hemet is safe, clean, attractive and comfortable for all who live, work, and visit.
-Preserve and celebrate the cultures of the region.
-Expand flexible education opportunities available to community members. -Expand inclusive opportunities to engage in the decision-making process. -Improve physical activity and health through urban design. -Improve access to healthy and nutritional food and education and outreach of health improvement information on nutrition.

GOAL TWO: ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
To ensure that Hemet is a hub, with access to quality jobs, shopping options, and a varied and sustained tax base.
-Foster sustainable economic growth and opportunities.

GOAL THREE: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
To connect and participate in a constant dialogue between members of the community, City staff, and elected officials to promote togetherness and positivity. -Increase the community's pride within the City.
-Create equitable access to public facilities and services. -Expand inclusive opportunities to engage in the decision-making process.

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GOAL FOUR: PARTNERSHIP & COLLABORATION
To pursue partnerships that will increase the opportunities available to the community, including our businesses, unemployed, and youth populations. -Develop concepts and programs to increase opportunities for youth recreation. -Develop concepts and programs to enhance the quality of life services. -Develop programs to offer support to the community's businesses GOAL FIVE: ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS
To identify the work needed inside the City organization to effectively provide services to the community and ensure financial stability.
-Evaluate existing practices to ensure continuity with industry best practices.

REVIEWED BY LEGAL:
☒ Staff report ☒ Resolution
☐ Ordinance ☐ Agreement
ATTACHMENT(S):

Attachment 1_ CC Resolution
SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE PowerPoint Presentation
Exhibit A (1) Chapter 6 Public Safety Element (Clean Version) Exhibit A (2) Hemet Climate Vulnerability Assessment
Exhibit A (3) Board of Forestry & CAL FIRE Assessment
Exhibit A (4) Hemet Safety Element_ REDLINED Version for Reference ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ELEMENT PowerPoint Presentation
Exhibit B Chapter 12 New Environmental Justice Element
RESO PC2024-012_Public Safety_signed
RESO PC2024-013_Environmental Justice_signed

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CITY OF HEMET RESOLUTION NO. 2024-XXX 1

CITY OF HEMET

HEMET, CALIFORNIA
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-XXX

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY

OF HEMET, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING GENERAL PLAN
CHAPTER 6 PUBLIC SAFETY ELEMENT AND CLIMATE

VULERNABILITY ASSESSMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SENATE BILL 1035; AND ADDING GENERAL PLAN
CHAPTER 12 ENVRIONMENAL JUSTICE ELEMENT IN
ACCORDANCE WITH SENATE BILL 1000; AND FINDING

THAT THE PROJECT IS CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT IN

ACCORDANCE WITH THE CALIFORNIA

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT GUIDELINES
WHEREAS, on January 24, 2012, the Hemet City Council approved Resolution No. 4476, adopting a comprehensive General Plan update and certified the associated Final Environmental Impact Report (SCH #2010061088); and WHEREAS, the Public Safety Element (Chapter 6) is an element of the Hemet General Plan; and
WHEREAS, California state law allows General Plans to be amended up to four times per year and the proposed amendment is part of 2024 Amendments to the Hemet General Plan; and
WHEREAS, in 2018, the State passed Senate Bill No. 1035 which requires the Public Safety Element to be reviewed not less than once every eight years and revised as necessary to address climate change and resiliency strategies. The intention is to identify new information relating to flood, fire, and other climate hazards

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not available during the previous revision of the safety element. Furthermore, the Public Safety Element update includes a review of updated hazard zones in relation to essential public facilities, identification of evacuation routes and emergency procedures in coordination with public agencies, and the addition of climate change considerations.

WHEREAS, in accordance with the Government Code 65302 (g)(3) an update to the Safety Element is required in conjunction with updates to the Housing Element, or upon the update of the next Hazard Mitigation Plan.

WHEREAS, State law also requires that Safety Element updates include a climate vulnerability assessment (“CVA”) to consider risks and hazards due to a changing climate. The CVA is informed through current policies such as the City of Hemet’s Climate Action Plan adopted by City Council on September 11, 2018 and 2017 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. In addition to current data from tools such as CalEnviroScreen 4.0 and Cal-Adapt, the CVA examines existing goals and policies to understand the City’s ability to adapt to a changing climate.

WHEREAS, the Environmental Justice is a new element (Chapter 12) of the Hemet General Plan; and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill 1000 (SB 1000) - Environmental Justice in Local Land Use Planning (2015-2016), amended California’s Planning and Zoning Law to require local governments to identify disadvantaged communities and incorporate the addition of an Environmental Justice Element to the City's General Plan. Cities and Counties

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CITY OF HEMET RESOLUTION NO. 2024-XXX 1
are required, on or after January 1, 2018, to update their General Plan upon the adoption or revision of two or more elements concurrently.

WHEREAS, a “Disadvantaged community” means an area identified by the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code or an area that is a low-income area that is disproportionately affected by environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative health effects, exposure, or environmental degradation. (Gov. Code, § 65302, subd. (h)(4)(A)).

WHEREAS, Gov. Code §65040.12 defines Environmental Justice (EJ) as “the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.”
WHEREAS, on July 16, 2024, subsequent to a public hearing, the Hemet Planning Commission adopted Resolution No. 2024-012 and 2024-013 recommending that the City Council adopt General Plan Amendment 22-001 updating both General Plan Chapter 6 Public Safety Element and Climate Vulnerability Assessment in accordance with Senate Bill 1035; and adding General Plan Chapter 12 Environmental Justice Element in accordance with Senate Bill 1000; and a finding that the project is Categorically Exempt in accordance with the CEQA Guidelines; and WHEREAS, in accordance with Government Code Sections 65352, 65353, 65355 and 65090, on September 13, 2024 the City placed a notice of public hearing in the Press Enterprise newspaper announcing the holding of a public hearing at which

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CITY OF HEMET RESOLUTION NO. 2024-XXX 1
the General Plan Amendment No. 22-001 would be considered by the City Council; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Government Code Section 65353, on September 24, 2024 the Hemet City Council held the noticed public hearing at which interested persons had an opportunity to testify in support of, or opposition to General Plan Amendment No. 22-001, and at which time the City Council considered General Plan Amendment No. 22-001.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HEMET FINDS, DETERMINES, ORDERS AND RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1: ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS The City Council, in light of the whole record before it, including but not limited to, the City’s Local CEQA Guidelines and the recommendation of the Community Development Director as provided in the Staff Report dated September 24, 2024, hereby finds and determines as follows:

1. CEQA: The City has analyzed this proposed General Plan Amendment and has determined that it is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Section 15061 (b) (3) of the CEQA Guidelines, which provides that CEQA only applies to projects that have a potential for causing a significant impact on the environment. GPA22- 001 in itself does not relate to any physical project and will not result in any physical change to the environment and does not affect the land use or density limitations of the General Plan, except as superseded by State law. Therefore, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that this ordinance text amendment may have a significant

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CITY OF HEMET RESOLUTION NO. 2024-XXX 1
adverse effect on the environment, and therefore, the adoption of this Ordinance is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines.

SECTION 2: GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT The City Council hereby approves of General Plan Amendment No. 22-001, attached as Exhibit A and B to this Resolution on the following grounds:

1. The proposed General Plan Amendment will not cause any internal inconsistencies in the General Plan and serves to implement the policies and programs contained in Chapter 6 (Public Safety Element). The Public Safety Element update includes a review of updated hazard zones in relation to essential public facilities, identification of evacuation routes and emergency procedures in coordination with public agencies, and the addition of climate change considerations. The proposed update provides internal consistency as required by state law. Therefore, the update to General Plan Chapter 6 (Public Safety Element) is appropriate and consistent with the General Plan 2030.

2. Furthermore, the proposed General Plan Amendment will not cause any internal inconsistencies in the General Plan and serves to implement the policies and programs contained in the added Chapter 12 (Environmental Justice Element). State planning law requires the Environmental Justice Element to be consistent with other General Plan elements. The Environmental Justice Element is complimentary to the Land Use; Circulation; Housing; Public Safety; Recreation and Trails; Open Space and Conservation; and Community

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Services and Infrastructure Elements. Therefore, the added General Plan Chapter 12 (Environmental Justice Element) is appropriate and consistent with the General Plan 2030.

SECTION 3: CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS The City Council hereby approves the following:

1. Finding the project Categorically Exempt from CEQA. In compliance with CEQA Guidelines §15061 (b) (3), the Community Development Director shall prepare a Notice of Exemption concerning the findings made in Section 1 of this Resolution, and within five (5) working days of the project approval, file a Notice with the Riverside County Clerk for posting.

2. Approve General Plan Amendment 22-001 Updating General Plan Chapter 6 Public Safety Element and Climate Vulnerability Assessment in accordance with Senate Bill 1035; and adding General Plan Chapter 12 Environmental Justice Element in accordance with Senate Bill 1000.

SECTION 4: EFFECTIVE DATE. This Resolution shall become effective on September 24, 2024.

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CITY OF HEMET RESOLUTION NO. 2024-XXX 1
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 24th day of September, 2024
____________________________
Joe Males, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
John Paul Maier, City Clerk

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CITY OF HEMET RESOLUTION NO. 2024-XXX 1
State of California )
County of Riverside )
City of Hemet )
I, John Paul Maier, City Clerk of the City of Hemet, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the Hemet City Council on the 24th day of September, 2024, and was passed by the following vote:

AYES: Council Members:

NOES: Council Members:

ABSTAIN: Council Members:

ABSENT: Council Members:
_____________________________
John Paul Maier, City Clerk

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CITY OF HEMET RESOLUTION NO. 2024-XXX 1
Exhibit A and B as Attached Herein

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Safety Element Update
City Council
September 24, 2024

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Introductions

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Agenda
• Safety Element Update
• Background and Legislative Updates
• Existing Policies
• Climate Vulnerability Assessment

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Updates to General Plan Elements

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• Establishes General Plan elements
• Cal. Government Code § 65302
• Requires updates to Safety Element upon next revision of the Housing element
• EJ element required upon the adoption or next revision of two or more elements concurrently on or after January 1, 2018 (Senate Bill 1000 – Cal. Gov’t Code §65302(h))
• Triggers update of Land Use and other related elements • Updates must be internally consistent
• Cal. Gov’t Code § 65300.5
Updates to General Plan Elements

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Updates to General Plan Elements
Safety Element
(Update)
• The Safety Element plans for all potential emergency events to minimize risk of injury, loss/ damage of property, and
environmental damage from natural and man-made hazards. • This update will include a review of the Fire/Wildfire section(s) and the addition of a Climate Change considerations.

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Safety Element Background and Purpose
• Required Element of the General Plan to be updated upon next Housing Element revision on or after January 1, 2014 • Last updated in 2012
• Establishes goals, policies, and objectives to guide current and future safety mitigation strategies to reduce risk

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• Addresses natural risks and hazards, such as fires, floods, droughts, earthquakes, and landslides
• Required for areas located in State Responsibility Area or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (Gov. Code, § 65302, subd. (g)(3)) • Assess impacts on community assets to protect from unreasonable risk of wildfire (Gov. Code, § 65302, subd. (g)(3)(B), § 65302.5) • Requires review and certification by State agency CAL Fire for compliance with State laws
• Assessed by Captain Joseph Kennedy of CAL Fire in May 28, 2024 • Board of Forestry July 23rd hearing
• City Council August/September hearing
Safety Element Background and Purpose

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Safety Element Updates
• Updates include: • Hazard zones in relation to
essential public facilities
• Evacuation routes and
emergency procedures in
conversation with public
agencies
• Climate risks and assessment

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Climate Vulnerability Assessment (CVA)
• California law now requires updated Safety Elements to consider risks and hazards due to a changing climate (Senate Bill 379) • CVA is informed through research of current city policies, like the Hemet Climate Action Plan
• CVA relies on tools like CalEnviroScreen 4.0 and Cal-Adapt • Hemet’s CVA will follow Southern California Association of Government’s Climate Adaptation Planning Guide and Western Riverside Council of Government’s CVA

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Climate Vulnerability Assessment, con’t.
• A CVA assesses the vulnerability of the City’s population, structures, and functions to climate change induced effects, both chronic and acute • Acute effects include weather events such as:
• More high heat days
• Extreme storms, leading to downed power lines and road closures • Changes in rain patterns, leading to increased flooding events • Chronic effects include:
• Continued drought, leading to water shortages, air quality degradation, and agricultural decreases and diseases

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Environmental Stressors for Hemet
Primary Hazard Secondary Hazard
Agricultural Pests and Diseases Public health effects, food insecurity Air Quality Public health effects, agricultural distress Precipitation changes Snowpack loss, drought, agricultural pests and disease, subsidence
Flooding (riverine) Flooding, erosion, mud- or land- slides Severe storms and extreme weather Intense rainstorms, severe wind, flood, lightning, hail
Temperature changes - warming Extreme heat/heat waves, agricultural pests and disease
Wildfire Erosion, landslide

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Existing Climate Resilience Policies
• Existing General Plan includes goals and policies that are directly or indirectly related to climate mitigation and adaptation. Below are a few related policies:
• Land Use Element LU-2.9
• Require that new development designed to minimize consumption of water, energy and other resources and provide long-term sustainable site and building design features. • Open Space & Conservation Element OSC-5.4
• Use reclaimed water to irrigate parks, golf courses, public landscaped areas, and from other feasible applications as service becomes available from local water providers. • Community Services and Infrastructure CSI-10.7
• Encourage service providers to provide "green" leadership by incorporating alternative energy products in their facilities and conservation practices in their operations.

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• Current goals/policies meet future risk of:
• Drought
• Energy loss via building retrofit
• Adequate supply of critical infrastructure
• Does not account for future risk of climate changes:
• Severe precipitation, flooding, and landslide
• Expanded very high fire hazard severity zones and flood zones • Vulnerable and disadvantaged communities located in hazard zones
Existing Climate Resilience Policies

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Proposed Safety Element Policies
Emergency Communication
Addresses primary hazards: Flooding, Public Health
•PS-2.8 Evacuation Communication
Consistently update residents of flooding events.

Evacuations & Plans
Addresses primary & secondary hazards: Wildfire, Air
Quality,
•PS-6.5 Wildland Fire Evacuation
Re-evaluate redevelopment after a large fire.
•PS-6.10 Essential Public Facilities
New locations to be outside of Very High Fire
Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ) when feasible.
•PS-6.11 Emergency Operation Plan
City will develop and adopt an Evacuation Plan.
•PS-6.12 Fire Protection Plan
Redevelopment and new development in
VHFHSZ’s require a fire protection plan as
feasible and appropriate.

Redevelopment
Addresses primary hazard: Public health
•PS-10.6 Retrofitting Existing Building and Related
Infrastructure
Ensure that the most critical essential public facilities and related infrastructure are considered when
considering retrofitting or expanding projects to
protect them from climate change hazards.

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Recommended Actions • Recommend adoption of Safety Element and Environmental Justice Element as one
General Plan amendment
• Limited to four amendments per calendar
year (65358(b)) • Excludes mandates by court decision
pursuant to Article 14, Airport land use
compatibility plans, and local coastal
program

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Questions

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Thank you!
Monique Alaniz-Flejter, Community
Development Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (951) 765-2370
For more information, please visit the City’s Safety
and Environmental Justice Element
https://www.hemetca.gov/1068/Safety-ElementEnvironmental-Justice-Ele

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PUBLIC SAFETY
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Quality of life in Hemet is
influenced, in part, by the sense of
security perceived by City residents
and businesses. The Public Safety
Element demonstrates the breadth
of preparations undertaken by the
City to address issues such as
uncontrollable natural hazards;
environment hazards; crime and
violence; and emergency response.

CHAPTER 6 PUBLIC SAFETY
The City of Hemet takes pride in maintaining a safe and comfortable environment for its residents. Protecting the public’s safety from natural and human-made hazards is its most critical function. The Public Safety Element addresses two types of hazards: Public Safety and Noise. Both are required General Plan elements under California state law. The Public Safety section describes potential natural and human-made hazards, outlines measures to reduce the risk of hazards, identifies the resources available to respond when an incident occurs, and establishes proactive goals and policies to ensure the community’s safety. The Public Safety section includes:
❖ geologic hazards including seismically induced fault lines and ground shaking, liquefaction, and unreinforced masonry buildings; ❖ nonseismic ground failure such as slope instability leading to landslides and mudslides, expansive soils, and subsidence;
❖ flooding caused by natural causes or dam/reservoir failure; ❖ hazards related to transportation (ground and air);
❖ hazardous waste (storage, use, and transport);
❖ fire prevention and response;
❖ crime prevention and law enforcement; and
❖ critical facilities and emergency preparedness.

T
In 1918, an earthquake damaged the Bothin Building (also known as the Nevins Building) on Harvard Street at Florida Avenue. The building was restored and is currently in use today.

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The Noise section recognizes the adverse health effects associated with excessive noise, identifies the sources of noise in the community, and establishes goals and policies to address existing and future noise conditions. The Noise section within this element includes:
❖ Major noise sources, including transportation and stationary sources ❖ Existing and projected levels of noise and noise contours for major noise sources
❖ Land use compatibility designations to protect residences and other sensitive receptors from excess noise

6.1 ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Like most Southern California cities, Hemet faces a diverse array of potential natural hazards. The City is located on a portion of the San Jacinto Fault Zone, considered one of the region’s most active fault zones, and could be affected by the San Andreas Fault and the Elsinore Fault. With its flat topography and close proximity to the San Jacinto River and Diamond Valley Lake, flooding, particularly seasonal flooding, is a real concern in Hemet. Additionally, one of Hemet’s greatest assets, the natural hillsides that surround the valley, can provide fuel for wildfires or mudslides in heavy rain.

Human-caused hazards, including noise and crime, are created by the activities of people, businesses, manufacturers, roadways, railways, and airports and must be regulated to enable crucial economic activity and mobility while ensuring the safety of residents and employees. A person’s sense of security directly impacts how a community is perceived.

The City of Hemet recognizes that its vision cannot be fully realized until the health and safety of the community is ensured and is determined to demonstrate its proactive approach and timely response to public safety concerns within the community. To further its image as a desirable place to live and to offer an attractive location for business growth, the City will continue to comprehensively address the public safety needs and concerns of its residents, business, institutions, and visitors.

6.2 RELATED PROGRAMS, PLANS, AND

REGULATIONS
This section describes the salient plans and regulations related to public health and safety.

Seismic Hazards Mapping Act California’s 1990 Seismic Hazards Mapping Act requires the State Geologist to compile maps identifying and describing seismic hazard zones throughout California. Guidelines prepared by the State Mining and Geology Board identify the responsibilities of state and local agencies in the review of development within seismic hazard zones. Development on a site designated as a seismic hazard zone requires a geotechnical report and local agency consideration of the policies and criteria established by the State Mining and Geology Board. Over the years,

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the program has expanded to include mapping of seismic-related hazards such as liquefaction- and landslide-prone areas. The Public Safety Element discusses seismic hazards associated with faults and those identified on state seismic hazard maps.

Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act The 1972 Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act aims to mitigate the effects of surface faulting on structures for human occupancy. The act's main purpose is to prevent the construction of buildings used for human occupancy on the surface trace of active faults. The act only addresses the hazard of surface fault rupture and is not directed toward other earthquake hazards.

Unreinforced Masonry Law The 1986 Unreinforced Masonry Law (Section 8875 et seq. of the California Government Code) requires all cities and counties in Seismic Zone 4 (zones near historically active faults) to identify potentially hazardous unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings in their jurisdictions, establish a URM program to reduce losses, and report their progress to the state. The owners of such buildings are to be notified of the potential earthquake hazard these buildings pose.

National Flood Insurance Program The Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) administers the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Participating jurisdictions must exercise land use controls and purchase flood insurance as a prerequisite for receiving funds to purchase or build a structure in a flood hazard area. The NFIP provides federal flood insurance subsidies and federally financed loans for eligible property owners in flood-prone areas.

Colby-Alquist Floodplain Management Act The Colby-Alquist Floodplain Management Act encourages local governments to plan, adopt, and enforce land use regulations for floodplain management to protect people and property from flooding hazards. The act also identifies requirements that jurisdictions must meet in order to receive state financial assistance for flood control.

Hemet-Ryan Airport Land Use Plan The Hemet-Ryan Airport Land Use Plan guides future development in and around the airport. Last updated in 1992, the Riverside County Airport Land Use Commission (RCALUC) is currently in the process of updating airport land use plans (ALUPs) in the County. The 1992 ALUP maintains four distinct land use compatibility areas within and surrounding the airport. These areas include Area I, II, Transition, and III. The ALUP also contains noise standards and other pertinent standards for development within its compatibility zones.

Legislative projects proposed within these zones must be referred to the RCALUC for review. More details regarding the airport are available in the Land Use and Circulation Elements.

City of Hemet Municipal Codes and Standards The City has adopted the California Building Code, California Mechanical Code, California Fire Code, California Electrical Code, California Residential Code, and other related codes that contain structural requirements for existing and new buildings. The codes are designed to ensure structural integrity during

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seismic and other hazardous events and to prevent personal injury, loss of life, and substantial property damage. The Hemet Municipal Code also incorporates regulations and standards for subdivisions, flood control, stormwater management, and fire hazard reduction.

City of Hemet Measure C On June 7, 1988, Hemet voters approved a measure to require updating the City’s General Plan to incorporate performance measures related to traffic, drainage facilities, water storage and distribution facilities, park and recreational facilities, police services, fire services, and sanitary sewers. These performance standards were incorporated into the 1992 General Plan as a component of the Public Services and Facilities Element. They are incorporated into the various goals, policies and implementation programs within the General Plan 2030 and are attached as Appendix G.

City of Hemet Emergency Operations Plan
Hemet’s emergency operations plan (EOP)
addresses the City’s planned response to
emergencies associated with natural disasters
and technological incidents. The plan
establishes the emergency organization, assigns
tasks, specifies policies and general procedures,
and provides for coordination of planning
efforts of the various emergency staff and
service elements utilizing the Standardized
Emergency Management System. The EOP
sets forth the procedures associated with
preparedness for, response to, recovery from,
and mitigation of a variety of types of emergencies. This EOP is an extension of the State of California Emergency Plan. The City adopted the most recent version of the EOP in 2013. As of 2022, the City of Hemet Office of Emergency Management plans to update the EOP in the coming years in conjunction with the Fire Department’s Emergency Evacuation Routes Plan. Once completed, the EOP and Evacuation Plan will be adopted by the City and identify mitigation measures or improvement plans.

Riverside County Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Hemet is a “Submitting Jurisdiction” within the Riverside Operational Area Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP). Riverside’s LHMP serves as a basis for State Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) to provide technical assistance and to prioritize project funding. The LHMP is a requirement of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. The act requires that local communities enact hazard mitigation measures to reduce losses from disasters. The LHMP includes a risk assessment covering wildfires, floods, earthquakes, nuclear incident, civil unrest, and many other types of hazards. The LHMP calls for yearly review of hazard mitigation activities.

The Action Plan within the LHMP serves as a guide to spending priorities and will be adjusted annually to reflect current needs and financial resources.

California Noise Insulation Standards (Title 24) Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations establishes standards governing interior Hemet Fire Hazardous Materials (HazMat)
Team

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noise levels that apply to all new multi-family residential units in California.

These standards require that acoustical studies be performed before construction at building locations where the existing day-night average noise levels (Ldn) exceeds 60 decibels (dB). The acoustical studies are required to establish mitigation measures that will limit maximum Ldn levels to 45 dB in any habitable room.

6.3 GEOLOGIC HAZARDS
Natural landforms in the Hemet–San Jacinto Valley play an important role in shaping the City. While they provide a dramatic and varied topographical setting for the community, the region’s areas of steep slopes, unstable soils, and seismic hazards also create potential for human safety and property risks. Earthquakes pose the greatest potential for far-reaching loss of life or property. A lesser geologic hazard relates to slope and soil stability. Hillsides located mostly on the periphery of the City can be subject to landslides or dislodged boulders, and portions of the City have expansive soil types with shrink-swell behaviors related to moisture content during rainy periods.

6.3.1 SEISMIC HAZARDS
Hemet lies within a region with several active faults; therefore, Hemet is subject to risks and hazards associated with earthquakes. Most significantly, the City is located on a portion of the San Jacinto Fault Zone, considered one of the state’s most active faults and shown in Figure 6.1.

Fault Lines and Ground Shaking
The City is susceptible to fault rupture and ground shaking caused by multiple nearby earthquake fault zones. The following are the most significant faults affecting Hemet, although damage is possible from earthquakes along other faults, including faults not previously identified. ❖ The San Andreas Fault, which is the largest, most significant fault in California, is at its closest point approximately 15 miles northeast of downtown Hemet, in the San Bernardino Mountains. The San Andreas Fault is capable of producing an 8.0 magnitude (m) earthquake. The San Jacinto and Elsinore Faults are the primary offshoots parallel to the main San Andreas Fault, which continues into the Coachella Valley. ❖ The San Jacinto Fault system underlies the northeast portion of the City. This fault runs more than 125 miles, separating from the San Andreas Fault near Cajon Pass and continuing southeast, passing the communities of San Jacinto and Hemet along the base of the San Jacinto Mountains, to the vicinity of El Centro. In the Hemet vicinity, the fault disperses from a single fault trace into a set of parallel traces called a fault zone, spreading through the eastern side of the planning area between Park Hill and the base of the San Jacinto Mountains. The San Jacinto Fault Zone is a major element of the San Andreas system and is considered one of the most seismically active fault systems in southern California today. Along the mountain front in this area, the fault has dammed groundwater channels, forcing water to the surface as hot springs. This fault is capable of producing up to a 7.5 m earthquake.

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❖ The Elsinore Fault, also a member of the San Andreas system, runs as close as 18 miles from downtown Hemet, west of the planning area.

The fault runs southwest of Lake Matthews, through Corona, and south into Lake Elsinore. Of the three principal branches, including the San Andreas and the San Jacinto Faults, the Elsinore Fault has been considerably less active than the San Andreas and San Jacinto Faults.

The Elsinore Fault is capable of producing up to a 7.5 m earthquake.

Liquefaction
In addition to ground shaking, earthquakes present the potential for ground and slope failure. California law requires identification of liquefaction zones, where the stability of foundation soils must be investigated, and landslide zones, where the stability of hill slopes must be evaluated. Unstable soils on steep slopes may fail under the stress of a tremor. Figure 6.1 shows the liquefaction susceptibility of the Planning Area. Areas along the western border of the City and east of Diamond Valley Lake have the highest potential for liquefaction because high groundwater and sediment rich soils are present. The remainder of the City is moderately susceptible to liquefaction.

Liquefaction has been responsible for damage in historical earthquakes around the world. When liquefaction occurs, the strength of the soil decreases, reducing the ability of a soil deposit to support foundations for buildings and other structures. Liquefaction typically occurs within the upper 50 feet of the surface, when saturated, loose, fine- to medium-grained soils (sand and silt) are present. Earthquake shaking suddenly increases pressure in the water that fills the pores between soil grains, causing the soil to lose strength and behave as a liquid. The type of geologic process that created a soil deposit has a strong influence on its liquefaction susceptibility.

Saturated soils that have been created by sedimentation in rivers and lakes can be very susceptible to liquefaction. Because liquefaction occurs in saturated soil, its effects are most commonly observed in low-lying areas near bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, bays, and oceans. Liquefaction hazards are a significant concern in the City because the City lies close to the San Jacinto River and its numerous
tributary creeks.

Unreinforced Masonry Buildings
URMs are structures that have been built
without steel or other reinforcements to
help them withstand the motions caused by
wind, earthquakes, and machinery. To
reduce the risk to life and property, the
State of California passed legislation
requiring jurisdictions in regions nearest
historically active faults to inventory its
URM buildings and establish programs to
reduce loss. The Hemet–San Jacinto Valley
area lies within Seismic Hazard Zone 4.

Therefore, in compliance with state law, the
City has identified its URMs, notified the
Some of Hemet’s unreinforced masonry buildings
are located on Harvard Street, north of Florida
Avenue, in the City’s historic downtown. The City
encourages the reinforcement and retention of
these historic structures.

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property owners, and adopted standards to ensure that as building permits are sought for tenant improvements or changes within these buildings, retrofitting construction is adequate. As of 2010, eleven URMs remained in the downtown Hemet area: 105, 111, 114, and 122 North Harvard Street; 102, 122, 124, 213, 215, and 190 East Florida Avenue; and 250 Meir Street.

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Earthquake Planning and Mitigation
In 1972, the State of California enacted the Alquist-Priolo Fault Zoning Act to mitigate the hazard of fault rupture by prohibiting new construction along all active fault lines. The act requires cities and counties to withhold development permits for sites within an earthquake fault zone until geologic investigations demonstrate that the sites are not threatened by surface displacements from future faulting. In Hemet, the fault zone boundaries shown in Figure 6.1 reflect state-delineated Alquist-Priolo Fault Zone boundaries.

To reduce the hazards associated with seismic activity, the City requires that all new development abide by the most recently adopted City and state seismic and geotechnical requirements, which currently:
❖ prohibit the construction of any structure for human occupancy to be placed across the trace of an active fault,
❖ require a request for development within 50 feet of an active fault to conduct geologic investigations and submit a report by a geologist registered in the state, and
❖ require projects within the special studies zone to provide funding for the City to retain a geologist registered in the state to prepare a geologic report directed to the problem of potential surface fault displacement through the project site.

Bautista Canyon
Evacuation and Emergency Preparedness
The City details links for Emergency Preparedness in the event of an earthquake, wildfire, or flood on the City website. The City of Hemet Office of Emergency Management oversees emergency preparedness resources for the City. According to the City website, the purpose of the Office of Emergency Management is to provide for the preparation and carrying out of plans for the protection of persons and property in the event of an emergency; to provide for the direction of emergency organization; and to provide for the coordination of the emergency functions of the City with all other public agencies, corporations, and affected private persons.

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The City adopted the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) in 2006 and updated the EOP in 2013 to comply with the California Emergency Plan and the National Incident Management System (NIMS). The City Manager, as the Director of Emergency Services, and the City of Hemet Fire Department Office of Emergency Services are authorized to amend the EOP to adapt to current events.1 The Fire Department is currently creating an evacuation plan for the City in accordance with State requirements in the event of a widescale hazardous event.

During the drafting of the Safety Element, the City of Hemet Office of Emergency Management’s Emergency Services Coordinator engages with the community by personally establishing connections with community residents and leaders to encourage community engagement. The Office of Emergency Management plans to reestablish the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), which is designed to increase individual and community preparedness and self-reliance in the event of man-made or natural disasters. FEMA has officially recognized CERT as an important part of a community’s disaster preparedness readiness. The CERT program will provide community classes on how to “light research and rescue” and how to maintain self sufficiency in community neighborhoods. HOAs and community members are expected to stay in collaboration with the Office of Emergency Management and maintain self-sufficient programs, such as evacuation route updates in conjunction with local seismic evacuation routes. For example, the Four Seasons neighborhood community has established a draft neighborhood evacuation plan in the event of a seismic emergency.

In addition, the City has a Reverse 911 notification system that notifies residents via landline and cell phone about emergency events, crime alerts, and public service announcements. Citizens must opt-in to this service and can find this service on the City website.

6.3.2 SLOPE AND SOIL STABILITY HAZARDS
Steep slopes and unstable soils also affect how and where development can occur because of the potential for landslides, expanding “shrink-swell” soils, and ground subsidence.

Landslides
Steep topography fractured and unconsolidated bedrock conditions, and expansive soils make many hillside areas unstable. Landslides are often associated with earthquakes, but other factors may also influence their occurrence, including the slope, the moisture content of the soil, and the composition of the subsurface geology. The potential for landslides increases with vegetation loss from wildfires or drought. The potential for future landslides, mudslides, or rock slides is highest in the planning area east of the City because of the prevalence of steep slopes. Landsliding may result from heavy rain, erosion, removal of vegetation, seismic activity, or combinations of these and other factors. On steeper slopes, building pads 1 City of Hemet, Resolution No. 4552. September 24, 2013.

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that are a combination of grading cuts and fills (where a slope is cut into and the excavated material is placed to create a terrace) may also result in differential building settling unless adequate subexcavation and compaction are achieved. Hillside areas within the City with slopes in excess of 10 percent are shown in Figure 3.7 in the Community Design Element.

Expansive Soils
Shrink-swell potential is a soil condition that influences development practices. The term refers to the change in soil volume that results from a change in moisture content, typically swelling when saturated and shrinking when dried. Shrink-swell is likely to affect building slabs. The condition occurs throughout Hemet, but is somewhat more prevalent in the eastern areas. Effects can be mitigated, or the expansive soil can be replaced with different soil that is not expansive. Soil testing is required by the City as part of building plan submittals for new construction.

Subsidence
Hemet lies within the Hemet and San Jacinto Groundwater Basins.

Groundwater is the preferred water source of the local water agencies because of its high quality. Using groundwater also reduces dependency on imported water supplies. As the groundwater in the aquifer is pumped out, the aquifer cavity may be compacted and the ground may subside.

Groundwater management is a primary concern of the City and other stakeholders. The General Plan includes goals and policies and practices intended to reduce water exaction, ensure groundwater basin recharge, and evaluate the potential for subsidence. These policies are included in the Open Space and Conservation Element, Community Services and Infrastructure Element, and Public Safety Element.

The effects of subsidence can be mitigated if soil testing is completed before development or rehabilitation. Soil testing is required by the City as part of building plan submittals for new construction.

6.4 FLOOD HAZARDS
In the United States, the responsibility for managing flood risks is shared across the federal, State, and local government agencies and the private sector. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) established the National Flood Risk Management Program, which provides current and accurate floodplain information, identifying and assessing flood hazards, improving public awareness and comprehension of flood hazards and risk, and integrating flood damage and flood hazard reduction programs across federal, State, and local agencies. Potential flooding in the Hemet area is attributable to two sources: natural flooding (excess rain and watercourse) and local dam failure. Flooding becomes particularly hazardous when development encroaches onto floodplains, modifying the landscape and altering natural patterns of conveying excess water during floods.

6.4.1 FLOOD ZONES
Hemet’s geographic location within a valley and proximity to several significant bodies of water contribute to the significant flood risk within the City. The greatest flood hazard is present in the southern parts of the City.

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To prepare for and mitigate flood hazards, the City participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP provides federal flood insurance subsidies and federally financed loans for property owners in flood-prone areas. Flood Insurance Rate Maps are an important part of the NFIP and are prepared by FEMA. FEMA maps show potential flood zones for the 100-year and 500-year floods. These are floods that, respectively, have a 1 percent and 0.2 percent chance of occurring every year (in other words, an average of once every 100 and once every 500 years). Flood risk information presented on FEMA maps is based on historic, meteorologic, hydrologic, and hydraulic data, as well as open-space conditions, flood control works, and development. New development is not permitted in a flood zone until properly engineered drainage systems are approved. Figure 6.2, “Flood Zones,” shows the 100-year and 500-year flood zones in the Planning Area.

The Hemet/Stetson Channel is one of
Hemet’s primary stormwater drainage
facilities. It runs southwesterly through the
City, draining into Salt Creek.

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Stormwater Drainage
Hemet’s flat topography and soil types do not allow rain to drain immediately and can cause minor inundation of large areas of the City that can last several hours. The City is constrained in the provision of a conventional storm system because an insufficient “fall,” or downward slope, exists to provide quick drainage. The City has the opportunity to use more recently developed practices and products that can lessen the effect of development on the environment. Refer to the Community Services and Infrastructure Element for further discussion of drainage.

Measure C
Ballot Measure C, approved by voters in the City of Hemet on June 7, 1988, established a set of mandated performance standards for several public services in Hemet, including drainage services. The performance standard for drainage facilities in Hemet is that facilities shall be provided concurrent with development to protect structures for human occupancy and major roadways from the 100-year flood. Policies have been incorporated into this element that meet or exceed the performance standards set forth in Measure C.

Flood Avoidance Actions
Reservoir or dam failure may result in loss of life and damage to structures, roads, and utilities. Several influences can affect the severity of a reservoir or dam failure event: the amount of water impounded, and the density, type, and value of development and infrastructure located downstream of the reservoir or dam. Furthermore, downed tree limbs and other debris can cause localized flooding during heavy rain events. To minimize damage or loss of life within FEMA-delineated special flood zones, Hemet has enacted the following provisions within the municipal code (Chapter 14, Article V):
❖ Restrict or prohibit uses which are dangerous to health, safety, and property due to water or erosion hazards, or which result in damaging increases in erosion or flood heights or velocities.
❖ Require that uses vulnerable to floods, including facilities which serve such uses, be protected against flood damage at the time of initial construction.
❖ Control the alteration of natural floodplains, stream channels, and natural protective barriers, which help accommodate or channel flood waters.
❖ Control filling, grading, dredging, and other development which may increase flood damage.
❖ Prevent or regulate the construction of flood barriers which will unnaturally divert flood waters or which may increase flood hazards in other areas.

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❖ The municipal code also includes standards to reduce flood hazards for construction, subdivisions, manufactured homes, utilities, and recreational vehicles.

6.4.2 DAM INUNDATION
Dam inundation occurs when structural damage to a dam results in a flood.

Earthquakes, erosion, design flaws, or water overflow during storms can cause dam failure. Dam inundation maps represent the best estimate of where water would flow in the unlikely event that a dam with a full reservoir suddenly failed. Dam owners are required to submit inundation maps to the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) for review and approval. Based upon approved inundation maps, or the delineated areas, cities and counties with territory in the mapped areas are required to adopt emergency procedures for the evacuation and control of populated areas below the dams. Figure 6.3, “Dam Inundation Map” shows areas that would be affected in the unlikely event of dam or reservoir failure.

The remote event that a catastrophic earthquake causes the collapse of the East Dam of Diamond Valley Lake, which is located within the City limits, would be the most devastating of the possible dam failures for Hemet.

Maps from OES indicate the inundation area extends north across Domenigoni Parkway and quickly spreads over most of western Hemet. At Florida Avenue, the flow would cover the area between approximately California Avenue and Lyon Avenue. The inundation would flow out of the City in two directions: north past Tres Cerritos Hills into San Jacinto and southwest into the community of Winchester.

Several other dams pose potential dangers to the Planning Area. The Saddle Dam of Diamond Valley Lake is a smaller dam on the north side of the reservoir, located south of the intersection of California Avenue and Domenigoni Parkway. The inundation zone for this dam covers parts of the southwestern Hemet Planning Area, but does not reach as far north as Stetson Avenue, nor as far east as Warren Road. After spreading around that area, the flow would take water downstream to the west, through the community of Winchester. The inundation area for the West Dam of Diamond Valley Lake includes only a small portion of the Planning Area, within approximately 1 mile of the intersection of Domenigoni Parkway and Winchester Road. The remainder of the inundation area for the West Dam is located south and west of the planning area.

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The dam creating Lake Hemet is located in the mountains southeast of Hemet. In the unlikely case that the Lake Hemet dam fails, water would flow downstream along the San Jacinto River as shown on Figure 6.3.

The potential inundation area includes small portions of the eastern and northeastern edges of the Planning Area, within the banks of the San Jacinto River, where few structures exist or are planned. The inundation area does not extend beyond the banks of the river until it reaches San Jacinto.

If the dam creating Little Lake, located in the planning area near the intersection of Stetson Avenue and Soboba Street, were to fail, water would flow north toward Park Hill as shown in Figure 6.3. The San Jacinto Reservoir in the City of San Jacinto is no longer being used as a reservoir; rather it is used by the Eastern Municipal Water District as a recharge basin.

As such, it keeps only a low level of water and does not maintain an official inundation map.

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6.5 TRANSPORTATION-RELATED HAZARDS
Hemet has a multifaceted transportation network that includes streets, railways, bike paths, equestrian paths, pedestrian walkways, and air transport. This network provides necessary mobility for persons and goods, but also poses safety risks to users and others in the vicinity.

6.5.1 GROUND TRANSPORTATION
Traffic Hazards
Traffic accidents typically occur when streets become wet and when roads have curves, sight distances, or other design attributes that result in motorist errors. To combat this, the City adopted accepted standards for road construction and reconstruction and provides traffic control devices and regulations to promote orderly driving. The Circulation Element provides street classifications and typical cross-sections for the primary street and road network. The Circulation Element also provides guidance for incorporating bicycle and pedestrian traffic and for relieving through trips by freight trucks in residential and constrained areas.

Railway Operations
One railroad line exists in the City of Hemet, the Burlington North Santa Fe spur line running from Riverside to San Jacinto. Currently, the line is not in service and the tracks are non-operable in several areas of the city.

Metrolink commuter trains are envisioned to provide service to Hemet in the future for areas of significant vehicle traffic. At that time, measures for crossing safety must be evaluated relative to increased numbers of operations, train speed, and passenger train safety. Automatic audible warnings (instead of train whistles) installed at crossings should also be evaluated as both a noise and safety measure. Refer to the Circulation Element for further discussion.

Pedestrian, Bicyclist, and Equestrian Safety
As part of its sustainability efforts, the City is encouraging increased pedestrian and bicycling activity. The success of this effort heavily depends on the provision of a safe and well-connected transportation network.

Safety practices and programs include off-road trail systems, better signage, better lighting, traffic calming devices, more crossing guards, more police patrols, and the Safe Routes to Schools Program. Additional discussion is provided in the Recreation Element, Art and Culture Element, and the Circulation Element.

6.5.2 AIR TRANSPORTATION
Air crash incidents are rare, but when they do occur, the results can be devastating. Such incidents concern residents of Hemet because HemetRyan Airport, a County-operated airport, is located on the western edge of the City within the Planning Area. The airport serves small private aircrafts, helicopters, and fire suppression aircraft. Since 1957, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has based its regional air attack base at Hemet-Ryan Airport.

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The variety of air services and separate flight
paths within the region require regional
coordination to prevent confusion in flight
patterns and to maintain safety. Potential
damage to aircraft may also result in loss of life
and property along flight paths. To avoid such
outcomes, the Federal Aviation Administration
has established land use restrictions for areas
surrounding airports and flight paths. The
Hemet-Ryan Airport Comprehensive Airport Land Use
Plan was prepared by the Hemet-Ryan SubCommittee, comprised of members from various departments and commissions within
the City of Hemet and Riverside County. This
plan responds to concerns about residential encroachment near the airport.

Land use policies in the airport land use plan were structured around four distinct areas for land use compatibility within and surrounding the airport.

Airport and land use compatibility is discussed in greater detail in the Land Use Element.

The Riverside County Airport Land Use Commission is in the process of updating the airport land use compatibility plans and corresponding safety zones for all airports under their jurisdiction, including Hemet-Ryan Airport. Until adoption of an updated master plan and airport land use compatibility plan, the 1992 plan and corresponding safety zones will be used to guide future development in and around the airport. The Land Use Element contains additional discussion on development issues and opportunities in the airport area.

To ensure the highest level of safety at the airport, personnel at the airport have extensive, ongoing safety training. Safety programs for private pilots are also offered through the Federal Aviation Administration. In the event of airport-related emergencies, the fire department uses the Hemet-Ryan Airport Response Plan. The plan delineates fire and police department responsibilities, offers response plans to address a range of aircraft emergencies, and identifies the location of fire hydrants. According to the response plan, the fire department has primary control over all fire suppression and rescue activities and the police department is assigned to control access to the location and obtain additional assistance if needed.

6.6 HAZARDOUS WASTE
The California Health and Safety Code defines a hazardous material as any material that, based on quantity, concentration, and physical or chemical characteristics, poses a significant potential hazard to public health and safety or to the environment. The manufacturing, use, and transport of hazardous materials are considered potential hazards to human activity.

6.6.1 USE AND STORAGE OF HAZARDOUS WASTE
Commercial and industrial businesses located in Hemet and nearby communities use hazardous materials, including such businesses as dry cleaners, film processors, auto service providers, landscape contractors, and Hemet-Ryan Airport with surrounding land
uses and Diamond Valley Lake in the
background

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paint shops. Larger businesses, primarily in industrial areas, can generate, use, and/or store large quantities of hazardous products. The current regulatory environment provides a high level of protection from the hazardous materials manufactured, transported to businesses, and stored within the City. Federal, state, and county agencies enforce regulations for hazardous waste generators and users. Residents also use a range of household hazardous products. To address household hazardous wastes, the City cooperates with the Riverside County to sponsor programs that raise awareness of proper use, storage, and disposal of household hazardous wastes.

The Hemet Fire Department is the first responder for hazardous materials incidents within the City. In 1996, the Hemet Fire Department established a Hazardous Materials Response Team. This team handles all types of hazardous materials incidents.

6.6.2 TRANSPORT OF HAZARDOUS WASTE
There are no hazardous waste landfills or collection centers in the City or Planning Area. Hazardous materials pass through the Hemet area on local streets or railways. The City has no direct authority to regulate their transport.

The Riverside County Department of Environmental Health (DEH) is responsible for tracking hazardous materials handlers to ensure appropriate reporting and compliance. DEH regulates facilities that handle and store on-site specified types and quantities of hazardous and acutely/extremely hazardous materials through permitting, routine facility inspections, and development of detailed site plans indicating where hazardous materials are stored.

6.7 FIRE PREVENTION AND RESPONSE
The Hemet Fire Department is responsible for fire suppression, rescue activities, and hazardous materials incidents within the City. In the Planning Area, Riverside County contracts with CAL FIRE for fire suppression and rescue activities. The City has entered into reciprocal mutual aid agreements with CAL FIRE as well as the the surrounding tribal and municipal departments to expedite service delivery and ensure the best possible care for the community.

6.7.1 FIRE HAZARDS
Fire hazards generally fall into two categories: urban and wildland fires.

Urban Fire Hazard
Fires may ignite in urbanized areas of the City due to wildfire, earthquake, or some other phenomena. Structural and automobile fires are the most common types of urban fires, and they can be caused by a variety of human, mechanical, and natural factors. According to the Fire Department, one of the largest urban fire sources for small to medium fires within the City are typically in vacant buildings that are occupied by the homeless.

The City of Hemet maintains fire prevention and suppression plans and programs to prepare for and mitigate potential fire hazards. Partnerships

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with the County have allowed for increased equipment and staffing in emergencies. In addition, the City’s Municipal Code includes standards for building construction, renovations, additions, and roadway improvements to allow for safe and rapid passage of fire equipment and private vehicles.

Urban fires can spread to other structures or areas, particularly if not extinguished promptly. Proactive efforts, such as fire sprinkler systems, fire alarms, fire resistant roofing and construction methods, can help reduce the frequency and severity of urban fires. Article IX of the Hemet Municipal Code (HMC) lists fire hazard reduction strategies through development standards.

Wildland Fire Hazard
The wildland fire threat is high in the area
surrounding Hemet because of the region’s
weather, topography, and native vegetation.

Mild and wet winters result in an annual growth
of grasses and plants that dry out during the hot
summer months and provide fuel for wildfires
in the autumn, when the Santa Ana winds blow
through the area., The Santa Ana winds are hot,
dry winds that blow across the region in the late
fall and often fan and help spread wildfires.

Wildland fire threat is determined by CAL
FIRE, which classifies areas by fire hazard
severity zones labeled Moderate, High, or Very
High. Figure 6.4, “Wildland Fire Hazard
Severity Zones,” shows how CAL FIRE rates
the potential for wildland fires in the Planning Area. Due to changing climates and long-term trends, such as changes in warming temperature, decreasing precipitation, and increased extreme weather, wildland fires may occur more frequently and intensely. The impact of climate change on future fire hazards is further detailed in the Climate Vulnerability Assessment.

The City of Hemet adopted the 2022 California Building Code and adds amendments to the California Building Code in Article II of the Hemet Municipal Code. The California Building Code Chapter 7A requires that buildings constructed in areas identified as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ) must be built using fire-resistive features. Additionally, the City includes fire preventative measures in its Municipal Code. Article IX – Fire Hazard Reduction of the Municipal Code discusses provisions that new development shall comply with to prevent the spread of fire hazards. Requirements discussed in the code include adequate ingress and egress necessary to allow safe and rapid passage of both fire equipment and private vehicles, adequate water supply for both normal daily consumption and emergency fire needs, fire safe design standards, and fuel modification practices.

There are several areas within the City that are located in designated VHFHSZ. In the southern half of the City, below Stetson Avenue, areas designated as VHFHSZ are south of Domenigoni Parkway, east of S State Street, west of California Avenue in the Four Seasons neighborhood, and Simpson Park Hiking Trail in the Santa
Rosa Hills.

Native vegetation becomes a fire hazard
during the hot summer months.

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north of E Florida Avenue/Route 74 along the northeastern region of the City. Figure 6.4 displays the VHFHSZ in the City. Each VHFHSZ in Hemet is classified as a Local Responsibility Area (LRA). LRAs are incorporated cities, urban regions, agriculture lands, and portions of the desert where the local government is responsible for wildfire protection.

According to the Fire Chief, there is no new development within boundaries of VHFHSZ. However, the highest density of homes is likely to be in the Four Seasons area, which is located along the eastern boundary of the City above Route 74. Approximately 1,500 parcels with an estimated valuation of $900,000,000 are located in a VHFHSZ.

The areas with the highest threat are generally the undeveloped, mountainous, and hilly sections of the Santa Rosa Hills, the Lakeview Mountains, Bautista Canyon, and Diamond Valley Lake. Simpson Park, a city-owned wilderness park located in the Santa Rosa Hills, is within a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone and becomes a wildland fire hazard from approximately June through November. The park contains numerous hiking and off-road biking trails in an unspoiled natural environment. The City is pursuing opportunities to reduce the threat of fire in the park and enable it to be opened for recreational activity for a longer period of time annually.

The City has incorporated into Chapter 14 of the municipal code mechanisms and techniques to reduce the fire hazards to the development that is encroaching into the hillsides and interface areas. Provisions include ensuring adequate ingress and egress to enable safe and rapid passage of both fire equipment and private vehicles; requiring all development to provide a dependable supply of water for both normal daily consumption and emergency fire needs; adopting building codes that establish structural design and construction codes that reduce vulnerability to fire hazards such as those regarding roofing materials, vents, setbacks, exterior siding, overhangs, and glass; and requiring perimeter protection from native vegetation. Additionally, the City has adopted an Urban Water Management Plan to maintain and support the long-term integrity of water supplies. The Urban Water Management Plan is updated every 5 years and details how and who the maintenance and long-term integrity of water supplies will be provided.

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6.7.2 Fire Department Resources
In 1908, the Hemet Fire Department consisted of 12 volunteers, a twowheel hose cart, nozzles, buckets, axes, two fire extinguishers, and a 30-foot extension ladder. In 2021 equipment included four engines, aerial truck company, a hazardous materials response unit, three reserve units, and various staff vehicles. Despite budget constraints that have hindered the City’s ability to expand operations, the department still manages to be very effective. In 2021, the department responded to over 17,000 calls, which is twice the activity level of comparable communities with a minor increase in response time and no fire-related deaths.

As the City has grown in population, the need for adequate fire protection has greatly increased. The City of Hemet currently has multiple programs to mitigate the dangers of fire hazards. The Hemet Fire Department, currently led by Fire Chief Eddie Sell and his command staff operate the City’s five fire stations:
❖ Fire Training Center: 319 East Latham Avenue
❖ Administrative Facility: 510 East Florida Avenue
❖ Station #1/220 N. Juanita Street – Includes three double bays capable of housing six fire apparatus.
❖ Station #2/895 W. Stetson Avenue – Includes two double bays capable of housing four fire apparatus.
❖ Station #3/4110 W. Devonshire Avenue – Includes two double bays capable of housing four fire apparatus.
❖ Station #4/1035 S. Cawston Avenue – Includes three double bays capable of housing six fire apparatus.
❖ Station #5/120 N. Hemet Street – a single bay capable of housing one fire apparatus.

The City is in a master mutual aid agreement with all agencies within Riverside County for all hazard responses. Under this agreement, the Hemet Fire Department takes main responsibility for hazard mitigation and fire protection for parcels located in the LRA of the VHFHSZ. Thus, the Hemet Fire Department has primary responsibility for fire protection, while the County, CALFire, and all other agencies under the master mutual aid agreement act as cooperating agencies that provide emergency services if needed.

CAL FIRE bases firefighting aircraft at the Hemet-Ryan Airport to provide rapid response to wildfires throughout Riverside County, northern San Diego County, and parts of Orange, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles Counties.

Riverside County/CAL FIRE facilities currently include:
❖ Little Lake Station #26: 25954 Stanford Street;

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❖ Valle Vista Station #72: 25175 Fairview Street; and
❖ Air Tanker Base —Helitack: Air Tactical Group Supervisor, and two Air Tankers at Hemet-Ryan Airport.

The locations of existing facilities and potential facilities are shown in Figure 6.5, “Fire Facilities Map.” The actual locations of future stations will be determined based upon potential annexations and service demands.

Annexation of areas into the City would require an evaluation of CAL FIRE facilities to determine whether annexed areas could be served by existing facilities or would require additional facilities. Figure 6.5-A shows existing and future fire station facilities in wildfire hazard severity zones.

With the exception of Fire Station #4, the City’s fire stations are aging and have obsolete designs for the current
personnel and equipment. Additionally, as the community grows and the demographics change, the location, size, and structure of the fire stations will need to evolve accordingly.

Fire Protection
Effective fire protection cannot be accomplished solely through the acquisition of equipment, personnel, and
training. The area’s infrastructure also must be considered, including adequacy of nearby water supplies, transport
routes and access for fire equipment, addresses and street signs, and maintenance. The City of Hemet has adopted the California Fire Code with City amendments. The City’s fire chief is authorized and directed to enforce the provisions of the California Fire Code throughout the City. A fire facilities plan was prepared in 2009 to ensure adequate current and future coverage in the City. The City has entered into mutual and reciprocal agreements with Riverside County/CAL
FIRE and the surrounding municipalities to ensure expedited service delivery to residents of the Hemet community.

Additionally, the fire department evaluated its emergency medical response and concluded that it should incorporate a fire-based paramedic program to better serve the residents of Hemet. Hemet Fire Department has been delivering full paramedic services to its residents since 2017.

The Insurance Services Office (ISO) provides rating and statistical information for the insurance industry in the United States. To do so, ISO evaluates a community’s fire protection needs and services and assigns each community a Public Protection Classification rating. The rating is developed as a cumulative point system, based on the community’s firesuppression delivery system, including fire dispatch (operators, alarm dispatch circuits, and telephone lines available), fire department (equipment available, personnel, training, and distribution of companies), and water supply (adequacy, condition, number, and installation of fire hydrants).

Insurance rates are based on this rating, with the best rating being a Class 1 and the worst being a Class 10. In 2008, the City of Hemet had a Class 4 ISO rating.

Hemet Fire training exercise

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Fire Incidents
Table 6.1 lists the type of incidents the fire department responded to in calendar year 2021. The majority of calls were for emergency medical services. The overwhelming amount of medical aid call is largely due to the significant senior population that resides in the City.

Table 6.1
Fire Department Incidents by Type (January 2021 – December 2021)
Type of Incident Number of Incidents
Emergency medical service/rescue 12,716
Service call 1,270
Good intent 2,479
Fire 484
False call 372
Hazardous condition 140
Rupture/explosion 1
Severe weather 4
Other 11
Blank or invalid 2
Total 17,479
Source: City of Hemet Fire Department, September 2022.

Table 6.2 lists historic major wildfire events that occurred within or near the City of Hemet since 1998. The wildfire events burned more than 1,000 acres and impacted air quality in the City.

Table 6.2
Historic Wildfire Events
Wildfire Event Area Acreage Year
Rabbit San Jacinto 8,283 2023
Fairview
Hemet
(Unincorporated
County) 28,307 2022
Apple Beaumont 33,424 2020
Sandalwood Calimesa 1,011 2019
Cranston Idyllwild 13,139 2018
Palmer Beaumont 3,874 2017
Manzanita Beaumont 6,309 2017
Bogart Cherry Valley 1,470 2016
Summit Banning 3,161 2013
Silver San Jacinto 20,292 2013
Mountain Mountain Center 27,531 2013
Juniper Springs 1998
Source: City of Hemet Fire Department, 2024; CalFire, 2024; Riskfactor.com, 2024.

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Measure C
Ballot Measure C, approved by voters in the City of Hemet on June 7, 1988, established a set of mandated performance standards for several public services in Hemet, including fire protection. The performance standard for fire protection in Hemet is a response time of 5 minutes or less, for 80 percent of fire and emergency medical calls, provided on both a citywide and response area basis. In 2010, the average first unit response time was just under 7 minutes.

Measure U Support
Ballot Measure U, approved by voters in the City of Hemet on November 8, 2016, established the authorization for the City to impose a sales tax of one percent for 10 years to fund general city services, including fire protection. According to the Riverside County Elections Office, Measure U had a 61.02 percent approval rate. Measure U requires the creation of a “Citizen’s Oversight Committee” to “furnish an independent advisory review of the expenditure of tax revenues” (Hemet City Attorney). Measure U has allowed for additional dispatchers to handle over 150,000 calls received by the Police and Fire departments. On June 13, 2022, Fire Station #4 in Hemet hosted a Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Hemet Fire Department Training, allowing for increased personnel capacity and training facilities for future emergency preparation.

Fire Prevention and Emergency Preparation Programs
The Hemet Fire Department offers various programs to help residents and businesses be better prepared for emergencies. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and first-aid classes are offered on a regular basis at the department’s Fire Training Center. The Hemet Fire Department partners with the community for a number of resources and services for fire protection. As discussed in Section 6.3, the Fire Department works with the Office of Emergency Services to implement the CERT Program. The CERT Program prepares communities for disaster preparedness, including in times of fire emergency events. In 2010, the department sponsored the City of Hemet Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES). This is a currently active program that authorizes licensed volunteers to utilize the amateur radio system during drills, exercises, and emergencies. The RACES organization consists of approximately 90 federally licensed amateur radio operators specifically trained to handle emergency disaster communications.

All members of RACES are registered through the City of Hemet as State of California Volunteer Disaster Workers. It conducts public education activities including the distribution of educational materials relating to rural, urban, flood-related, and lightning-related fires, as well as fire safety information for families, children, the elderly, and the disabled. The RACES group would be activated during a major disaster or emergency to provide an additional means of communications and support for first responders and City officials. Community members are encouraged to play an active role in emergency notification and response. The Community Alert System brought by the City and Cassidian Communications sends telephone notifications to residents and businesses within the City of Hemet. This system is an upgrade to the former Reverse911 (R911) system and is used by emergency response personnel to notify homes and businesses with

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information on emergency events and/or actions, such as evacuation, by way of voice message, text, and email. On the City website, the Fire Department also offers Public Education Requests for fire station tours, student career fairs, safety talks, and other educational opportunities. This includes Fire Explorer Post #620, which is a program that is open to all young men and women ages 15 to 21 interested in future careers in the fire service.

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6.8 CRIME PREVENTION AND LAW

ENFORCEMENT
The Hemet Police Department exists to provide superior service and protection to the residents, merchants, and visitors to the City. The Department is responsible for law enforcement and public safety activities within the City. In the Planning Area, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department provides that function.

6.8.1 LAW ENFORCEMENT CONSIDERATIONS
The City of Hemet is one of the oldest incorporated cities in the San Jacinto Valley and in Riverside County. As is the case with long-established cities, Hemet neighborhoods range from new to older neighborhoods. Generally, housing within the City is more affordable than elsewhere in southern California, especially because of the number of senior developments and mobile home parks. This affordability has attracted a large rental base. Some neighborhoods have experienced deterioration or absentee or nonengaged landlords. Many of the deteriorated areas and areas with nonengaged landlords have higher crime rates than other neighborhoods.

Although the population of the City has grown significantly over the past decades, and the demographics are evolving from a senior community to a family community, the crime rate has shown a decrease. The Hemet Police Department has continued to be an industry leader with its use of technology to provide efficient service to this growing and diverse community.

6.8.2 POLICE DEPARTMENT RESOURCES
The Hemet Police Department consists of sworn officers, support staff, and a large contingent of part-time volunteers. Police department facilities include:
❖ Headquarters: 450 E. Latham Street;
❖ Mall Sub Station: 220 W. Florida Ave., Ste 110, Hemet, CA 92545 ❖ East End Sub Station: 2047 E. Florida Ave.

The substations are staffed exclusively by volunteers and are generally open weekdays and sometimes during special events. The department comprises operations and support functions as summarized below:
❖ The Patrol Division provides the most visible and largest function of the department. Patrol officers are the first responders to all lifethreatening and emergency calls. In addition, they provide service, crime deterrence, and investigative support.
❖ The Investigative Unit consists of the Detective Bureau, Gang Task Force, and the Property and Evidence Bureau. In additional to solving crimes and suppressing gangs, the Gang Task Force works with federal, Hemet Police Department Headquarters on
Latham Street

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state, county, and local officials and participates in the Riverside/San Bernardino Counties Terrorist Early Warning Group and the Riverside County Gang Task Force.
❖ The Traffic Bureau is tasked with keeping the streets safe by enforcing traffic laws, responding to vehicular accidents, and investigating and reconstructing major automobile collisions.
❖ The Community Services Bureau comprises officers and civilians dedicated to community policing and education and includes school resource officers, volunteers, and Police Explorers. This includes the Restoring Our Community Strategy (R.O.C.S.) team which address issues related to homelessness and blight along with the Post-release Accountability and Compliance Team (PACT) to monitor people under supervised release.
❖ The Communications Center is staffed 7 days a week, 24 hours a day by certified public safety 911 dispatchers. The center receives nearly 69,000 911 calls every year in addition to over 163,000 calls on the regular business lines. In addition, the police department’s mobile command center enables the department to set up an incident command post in the field to control and coordinate major crime scenes, civil disturbances, and disaster response.

Police Incidents
In 2021, the Hemet Police Department received 80,000 calls for service.

Response times to calls vary by incident. For urgent, high-priority calls, the response time was about 5 minutes. For routine, nonurgent calls, the response time averaged about 16 minutes. Table 6.3 shows incidents in 2021 and serves as an example of the numbers and types of incidents handled by the police department.

Table 6.3
Police Department Incidents by Type January 2021—
December 2021
Type of Incident Number of Incidents
Total violent crime 603
Simple assault 283
Other violent crime 320
Total property crime 1,738
Theft (not burglary or vehicle) 1,286
Burglary & vehicle, arson 452
Juvenile arrests 10
Adult arrests 1,855
Traffic citations 2,501
Source: City of Hemet Police Department

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Measure C
Ballot Measure C, approved by voters in the City of Hemet on June 7, 1988, established a set of mandated performance standards for several public services in Hemet, including police services. The performance standard for police services in Hemet is a 7-minute average response time for emergency calls maintained within urban areas, and a 9-minute average response time for emergency calls maintained within rural areas. The police department has met this standard.

Police Department Programs
Community involvement is an integral part of crime prevention. The Hemet Police Department offers many safety and security programs to residents and local businesses through the Community Services Bureau, which is geared toward educating the public. Programs range from an Alzheimer’s/Dementia registry to programs to reduce retail crime.

Police department officials and community members have expressed the importance of youth-oriented activities to decrease or prevent criminal activity. The Support Services Division of the Hemet Police Department is actively involved in the community and runs several youth programs:
❖ The Hemet Police Department work with My City Youth Center to offer a 5
th Grade Leadership Camp, where Hemet youth are taught
life skills such as discipline, integrity, and leadership. Although this leadership camp is put on by the Hemet Police Department’s Community Services Division, students attend classes taught by multiple teams at Hemet PD, such as the Crisis Intervention Team, Drone Team, K-9 Team, Patrol, and many more.
❖ The Hemet Police Department Explorer Program is geared toward guiding young people interested in careers in law enforcement. Young men and women between the ages of 14 and 20 learn the importance of teamwork, developing leadership skills, and ethical methods of problem solving while having fun in a law enforcement environment. ❖ The Hemet Police Department and the Hemet Unified School District have also partnered in the support and funding of a School Resource Officer (SRO) Program with five SROs. An SRO is a fully-trained police officer assigned to work in district middle schools and high schools. The SRO receives additional in-depth training to promote an effective school-based policing program.

6.8.3 CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL
DESIGN
The City of Hemet has a tradition of reviewing development projects by including the City departments responsible for public safety. This tradition results in development designs that better promote natural surveillance, reduce hiding places, and otherwise promote defensible space, thereby minimizing criminal activity. This is referred to as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design.

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A key feature of this approach is the incorporation of defensible space by providing ease of surveillance by neighbors, fostering a sense of territoriality, achieving natural access control, and increasing physical security of areas. Surveillance is the principal weapon in the protection of defensible space by keeping intruders easily observable. This is likely to mean locating doors in highly visible locations and providing windows from which residents can watch public spaces. Fostering a sense of territoriality is also important to support defensible space because territoriality encourages individuals to take control of their environment and defend it against attack.

Potential offenders recognize this sense of territory. Natural access control can be achieved by clearly distinguishing public areas and private areas. The concept of increasing physical security of areas is not to create an impenetrable fortress, but rather to make it more difficult and time consuming to enter a location. The design of a development can have a major impact on the future potential for crime to occur in the vicinity.

6.8.4 RENTAL PROPERTY REPAIR PROGRAM (RPRP)
The City of Hemet also conducts the Rental Property Repair Program, which is designed to promote the health, safety, and welfare of residents; and to preserve the rental housing stock within the City of Hemet. Rental property owners who rent to very low- to low-income are typically struggling with resources to repair or replace vital home systems and, as a consequence, may experience a lower standard of living with inoperable or substandard vital systems.

6.8.5 SENIOR AND DISABLED OWNER-OCCUPIED HOME REPAIR

PROGRAM
The Senior and Disabled Owner-Occupied Home Repair Program established in 2022 offers grant-funded home repairs for very low- to lowincome senior or disabled homeowners. Eligible home repair or replacement includes air conditioning, plumbing, heating systems, roof, swamp cooler, water heater, electrical, door and window locks, floor and unsafe conditions, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, handrail and steps, disabled items installs (grab bars, ramps, lifts, handicap toilets), broken windows, and piers and pads for mobile homes.

6.9 CRITICAL FACILITIES AND EMERGENCY

PREPAREDNESS
Although the Hemet Fire and Police Departments are tasked with the responsibility of fire prevention/suppression and protecting residents and businesses, public safety agencies team up during emergencies. These teaming arrangements are handled through mutual aid agreements, which obligate fire and/or police departments to help each other under predefined circumstances. Mutual aid agreements obligate fire departments to respond outside of their district upon request for assistance. The Hemet Fire and Police Departments have mutual aid agreements with all Riverside County law enforcement and fire protection agencies to help each other at times of

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emergencies and planned law enforcement events in each other's jurisdiction.

6.9.1 CRITICAL FACILITIES
If a disaster or an emergency of a larger scale should occur, certain types of facilities and infrastructure are critical. Most notably, this consists of police and fire facilities and vehicles, emergency health and urgent care facilities and service vehicles, communication facilities, fire and police facilities, electric substations, access capability for both emergency responders and for evacuation, capability to respond to incidents related to hazardous materials, water supply facilities, sewage treatment plants, and evacuation destinations.

Figure 6.5-B shows the location of existing fire department facilities, critical facilities, and zoning within wildfire hazard severity zones. There are no City-owned or -maintained structures or planned uses located within the very high fire hazard severity zones (VHFSZs) and State Responsibility Areas (SRAs). However, there are City parcels located within the VHFSZ and Local Responsibility Area (LRA). The parcels are located along the western, southern, and eastern boundaries of the City and are zoned for residential uses and open space.

At the time of an emergency, various other facilities and entities that are not usually considered critical will play an important role:
❖ animal control services (handled by the Ramona Humane Society); ❖ grocery stores;
❖ gasoline stations;
❖ equipment rental stores, hardware stores, and home improvement stores; ❖ hotels, motels, and shelters;
❖ meal distribution services;
❖ mortuaries;
❖ schools and other large buildings;
❖ taxis and fleet maintenance facilities;
❖ towing and impound services; and
❖ transportation services.

6.9.2 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Hemet sets emergency preparedness as one of
its top priorities, recognizing that proper
planning at all levels in the community—from
response agencies to businesses and
residents—will minimize the adverse effects of
natural and human-caused disasters.

Hemet Police vehicles are outfitted with
computers to ensure expeditious
communication and data analysis

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To provide basic training in disaster survival and rescue skills and improve the ability of Hemet residents and businesses to survive until professional responders or other assistance arrives, the City has implemented a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program. Training for the CERT Program is provided by City of Hemet employees who are certified by FEMA as lead instructors. As discussed above, the Office of Emergency Management plans to reestablish the CERT program and to encourage HOAs and community leaders to partake in emergency preparedness classes.

In case of emergencies, principal responsibility for evacuations lies with the police department. The City coordinates with Red Cross when shelter locations are needed. The City also uses an Emergency Advisory System that televises emergency information to residents and businesses. In addition, the City has a Reverse 911 notification system that notifies residents via landline and cell phone about emergency events, crime alerts, and public service announcements. Citizens must opt-in to this service and can find this service on the City website.

The City updated its EOP in 2007 and in 2013. The EOP was last updated in 2013 and was adopted through Resolution No. 4552 by City Council.

The City is planning another update to the EOP in the near future. The plan is described above in Section 6.2. The City also joined with Riverside County to submit a Riverside Operational Area Multi-Jurisdictional LHMP, as described above in Section 6.2.

Emergency preparedness is also closely associated with the risk of terrorist activity. The police department is a member of and participant in the Riverside/San Bernardino Counties Terrorist Early Warning Group and works with state, County, and local officials to identify sites vulnerable to terrorist activity. Upon receipt of a warning or the observation that an emergency situation is imminent or likely to occur, the City of Hemet initiates actions to prepare for the incident. As of 2022, the City has instituted a Community Alert System at www.alerthemet.com.The City of Hemet and Cassidian Communications have instituted an improved notification system that will be able to send telephone notifications to residents and businesses within the City. This service, as discussed in Section 6.3, requires self-registration to receive emergency notifications. For emergency alerts targeted towards appropriate departments and agencies, the City has partnered with the County Sheriff and County Emergency Management for emergency service notification and action. The County agencies would initiate notification and then work with the City to designate emergency shelters and procedures.

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6.10 NOISE
In recognition of the adverse health effects associated with excessive noise, the California Government Code (Section 65302[f]) identifies the types of community noise to be addressed in the General Plan. The General Plan must identify noise sources from:
❖ highways and freeways;
❖ primary arterials and major local streets;
❖ passenger and freight on-line railroad operations and ground rapid transit systems;
❖ ground facilities and maintenance functions related to airport operations (commercial, general aviation, heliport, and military airport operations; aircraft overflights; jet engine test stands); ❖ local industrial plants, including, but not limited to, railroad classification yards; and
❖ other stationary ground noise sources identified by local agencies as contributing to the community noise environment.

The General Plan must then identify existing and future noise contours for these sources. Noise considerations inform the land use plan for the community. To protect noise-sensitive uses the General Plan sets goals, policies, and implementation programs to address existing and future noise conditions. For the purposes of the General Plan, noise-sensitive land uses include schools, hospitals, rest homes, long-term care facilities, mental health care facilities, and residences.

6.10.1 NOISE CHARACTERISTICS AND MEASUREMENT
Noise is commonly defined as unwanted sound. At high enough levels, noise can become a community health problem. As a form of environmental stress, noise can interfere with human activities such as sleep, conversation, recreation, and tasks demanding concentration.

Sound is a change in air pressure. Sound pressure levels are expressed in decibels. Although the human ear is able to detect a wide range of sound pressure changes, the ear is not equally sensitive to all sound frequencies.

To account for this variation in sensitivity, the dB scale is typically adjusted.

The adjusted scale (dBA) is weighted based on the sensitivity of the human ear to noise of particular frequencies. Most jurisdictions use the dBA scale to measure noise levels and regulate environmental noise.

Health considerations associated with excessive noise exposure include hearing loss or damage, interference with oral communication, and interference with sleep. Prolonged exposure of a person to sound levels over 85 dBA causes hearing loss. At 60 dBA, noise makes understanding speech difficult. Sound levels over 40 to 45 dBA can disturb sleep.

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6.10.2 CURRENT NOISE CONDITIONS
Figure 6.6, “Existing Noise Contours,” shows noise contours in the planning area from 2006. The contours generally represent average noise levels based on major noise sources in the community. The contours assist in setting land use policy and development standards. Given the topographic complexity of the Hemet/San Jacinto Valley, these contours are not absolute lines of demarcation, but should be considered conservative estimates of noise exposure, to be supplemented by detailed and project-specific study as needed. Appendix E contains noise contour data tables.

The noise level measurements were collected at 18 locations throughout Hemet, including 15 short-term measurements, and three long-term measurements. Vehicle axle counts were conducted at three locations.

Criteria for site selection included geographical distribution, land uses likely to include noisy activities, and proximity to transportation facilities and sensitive receptors (such as schools and hospitals). The primary purpose of noise monitoring was to establish a noise profile for the community that could be used to determine areas of concern.

6.10.3 NOISE SOURCES
Traffic and Roadways
Traffic noise is a major contributor to the noise environment in the community. Major roadways, including Florida Avenue, State Street, Stetson Avenue, Sanderson Avenue, Warren Road, Devonshire Avenue, and San Jacinto Street, carry high volumes of traffic at relatively high speeds, generating noise that affects surrounding neighborhoods. Those streets that carry a higher proportion of truck traffic also have higher levels of noise and vibration.

As development continues to occur in Hemet, increased traffic volumes on an expanded roadway network will extend and expand the noise contours, as shown in Figure 6.7, “Future Noise Contours.” Construction of the State Route (SR) 79 freeway will introduce a new noise source in the western part of the planning area, but the final configuration of this roadway has not been determined, and the noise contours could vary depending on the profile of the road, the travel speeds, and the type of site improvements that are made. General Plan policies and programs consider a changing noise environment and address potential future land use incompatibilities in areas adjacent to major roadways.

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Hemet-Ryan Airport
Hemet-Ryan Airport is used primarily by private single- and twin-engine aircraft, turboprops, business jets, helicopters, sailplanes and tow planes. A California Department of Forestry and Firefighting’s fire attack base is also located at the airport. A total of 70,000 aircraft were estimated to be operated during 2011 including sailplane operations, and could increase to 87,150 aircraft operations by 2031. Noise contours for the airport (Figure 6.8, “Airport Noise Contours”) identify areas most affected by aircraft noise under typical air traffic patterns. General Plan policies and programs consider the importance of the airport and seek to protect airport operations from incompatible land uses. A new Airport Master Plan is currently under preparation which proposes no near-term expansion of the runway based on the low projected volume of flights and the absence of the larger firefighting tankers at the airport. This change in the master plan may also result in modifications to the noise contours for the airport, and will need to be updated in the General Plan once the new Airport master Plan is adopted.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Corridor
A Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway line runs through the planning area, connecting Hemet’s industrial areas to San Bernardino, Riverside, and points beyond. The line currently carries limited freight traffic; rail traffic is not a major contributor to the current community noise environment. However, as future growth occurs next to the railroad corridor and when Metrolink extends passenger service to Hemet along this line, potential for land use incompatibility may increase. To protect railroad operations, noise contours guide land use decisions in the immediate area.

General Plan policies and programs anticipate the changing noise environment that will result with future growth and direct incompatible uses away from the railroad corridor.

Other Noise Sources
Other noise sources include both stationary sources (ongoing operations that generate noise) and temporary noise sources such as emergency vehicles and special events. Stationary noise sources in Hemet include primarily commercial and industrial activities. Because most business activities are low intensity and conducted indoors, noise generally is limited to loading dock operations, frequent truck uses, mechanical equipment, and outdoor paging systems. The City regulates maximum noise levels from commercial and industrial properties and also regulates construction activity to prevent disturbances at night.

Noisy activities at industrial, commercial, recreational, and some public facilities (such as the outdoor play areas of schools) can also adversely affect adjacent sensitive land uses. Strategies for controlling stationary noise sources focus on two objectives: (1) preventing the introduction of new stationary noise sources near noise-sensitive uses and (2) preventing encroachment of noise-sensitive uses on stationary noise sources. The first objective can be achieved by applying noise performance standards to proposed stationary noise sources. The second objective can be met by requiring that new noisesensitive uses near existing stationary noise sources include project features that enable compliance with noise performance standards.

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6.10.4 NOISE AND LAND USE COMPATIBILITY
Noise Standards
The City has developed the following noise and land use compatibility designations: normally acceptable, conditionally acceptable, normally unacceptable, and clearly unacceptable. Using these designations, the City has established both interior and exterior noise standards.

Community noise is commonly described in terms of the ambient, or allencompassing, noise level associated with a given environment. Numerous metrics have been developed to account for the way people perceive sound.

The most common of these descriptors are the average equivalent noise level (Leq), the maximum noise level (Lmax), and the community noise equivalent level (CNEL). Leq represents a measure of the average noise level at a given location over a specified period of time. CNEL is based on a 24- hour Leq, which weights evening and nighttime noise levels to account for increased sensitivity of people to noise occurring during these periods.

Hemet’s Land Use Compatibility Standards are presented in Table 6.4.

These standards, which use the CNEL noise descriptor, apply to land uses exposed to noise levels generated by transportation-related sources.

Residential uses and hotels or overnight lodgings are most sensitive to their noise environment and thus have the lowest range of normally acceptable noise exposure levels. Other uses, such as fairgrounds, are less sensitive and can occur in areas with higher existing noise levels.

Land use compatibility standards for exterior and interior noise are shown in Table 6.5. These standards are maximum interior noise levels for new residential development. Insulation and design features must be employed to reduce interior ambient noise levels to these levels.

The City applies a second set of standards when planning and making development decisions to ensure that stationary noise sources (e.g., HVAC units, industrial operations) do not adversely affect noise-sensitive land uses. These hourly and maximum levels (expressed in Leq and Lmax) for stationary noise sources are designed to protect noise-sensitive land uses adjacent to stationary sources from excessive and continuous noise. Table

6.6 summarizes stationary source noise standards. These standards represent the acceptable exterior noise levels at the sensitive receptor’s property line.

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Table 6.4
Land Use Compatibility for Community Noise Environments Community Noise Exposure
CNEL, dBA
55 60 65 70 75 80
Land Use Category
Residential
Transient lodging: hotels, motels
Schools, libraries, churches,
hospitals, nursing homes
Auditoriums, concert halls,
amphitheaters
Sports arena, outdoor spectator
sports
Playgrounds, neighborhood parks
Golf courses, riding stables,
Water Recreation, Cemeteries
Office buildings, business
commercial and professional
Industrial, manufacturing,
utilities, agriculture
Notes: CNEL = community noise equivalent level; dBA = A-weighted decibel.

Normally Acceptable—Specified land use is satisfactory, based on the assumption that any buildings involved are of normal conventional construction, without any special noise requirements Conditionally Acceptable—New construction or development should be undertaken only after a detailed analysis of the noise reduction requirements is made and needed noise insulation features are included in the design.

Normally Unacceptable—New construction or development should be discouraged. If new construction or development does proceed, a detailed analysis of the noise reduction requirement must be made and needed noise insulation features included in the design.

Clearly Unacceptable—New construction or development clearly should not be undertaken.

Source: Adapted from the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research in 2003

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Table 6.5
Land Use Compatibility Standards for
Exterior and Interior Noise
Maximum Allowable Noise
(CNEL)
Land Use Exterior (dBA) Interior (dBA)
Residential and mixed use with residential
component
65 45
School classrooms 65 45
School playgrounds 70 --
Libraries – 50
Hospitals, convalescent homes—sleeping
areas
– 40
Hospitals, convalescent homes—living areas – 50
Passive recreation areas 65 –
Active recreation areas 70 –
Commercial and industrial areas 70 –
Office areas – 50
Notes: CNEL = community noise equivalent level; dBA = A-weighted decibel; – = not applicable/not available.

The acceptable interior noise level for other uses depends upon the specific nature of the indoor activity.

Table 6.6
Noise Level Performance Standards for
Nontransportation Noise Sources
Noise Level Descriptor
Daytime
(7 a.m.–10 p.m.)
Nighttime
(10 p.m.–7 a.m.)
Hourly average level (Leq) 60 dBA 45 dBA
Maximum equivalent levels (Lmax) 75 dBA 65 dBA
Notes: Each of the noise levels specified shall be lowered by 5 decibels for simple tone noises, noises consisting primarily of speech or music, or for recurring impulsive noises. These noise level standards do not apply to residential units established in conjunction with industrial or commercial uses (e.g., caretaker dwellings). The noise standard is to be applied at the property lines of the affected land use.

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GOALS AND POLICIES

PUBLIC SAFETY
GOAL
PS-1
Reduce risks to the community from seismic activity
and geologic conditions, including ground shaking,
fault rupture, liquefaction, and landslides.

POLICIES
PS-1.1 Seismic Standards Strictly enforce the most recent state regulations governing seismic safety and structural design to minimize damage to structures from seismic or geologic hazards.

PS-1.2 Risk Reduction Reduce the risk associated with
structures that would likely be seriously damaged during a major earthquake, such as those located in high-risk
seismic areas, critical or emergency facilities, and buildings that do not meet current seismic codes through on-site
building placement, seismic retrofitting, development
outside of geologically hazardous zones, and other means.

PS-1.3 Slope Stability Require adequate mitigation of potential impacts from erosion, slope instability, or other hazardous slope conditions for development occurring on slope and hillside areas.

PS-1.4 Subsidence Encourage and support efforts for long-term, permanent monitoring of topographic subsidence in all
producing groundwater basins, irrespective of past
subsidence.

PS-1.5 Dedicated Open Space Encourage that areas be
dedicated as open space when necessary and appropriate
to protect property, public health, and safety from hazards such as earthquake fault zones or floodplains.

PS-1.6 Alquist-Priolo Require that all new development comply with the Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act.

PS-1.7 Emergency Access Seek to maintain emergency access in the event of an earthquake by siting arterial roadways to avoid fault zones and designing roadways to mitigate
damage.

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GOAL
PS-2
Reduce risk of property damage and human injury
from flood hazards.

POLICIES
PS-2.1 Clear Floodways Ensure that waterways used for flood control are kept clear of obstructions and are regularly maintained.

PS-2.2 Flood Area Preservation Encourage flood control
infrastructure that does not reduce the natural character or limit use of the site.

PS-2.3 New Development Minimize flood risk exposure in
developing areas. Ensure evacuation routes account for
flood risk.

PS-2.4 System Evaluation Cooperate with Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District to evaluate the effectiveness of existing flood control systems and improve those systems as necessary to meet capacity
demands.

PS-2.5 Master Planning Promote the timely completion of master drainage plans and improvement projects that
affect the City.

PS-2.6 100-Year Flood Zone Require new construction within the 100-year flood zone to meet National Flood Insurance Program standards.

PS-2.7 Evacuation Plans Develop and maintain flood zone inundation evacuation plans in cooperation with the
Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation
District and the Hemet Fire Department.

PS-2.8 Evacuation Communication Develop and maintain
consistent outreach to notify the community of flooding events.

GOAL
PS-3
Protect lives and property from the potential dangers
associated with ground transportation.

POLICIES
PS-3.1 Safe Pedestrian Design Enhance and maintain
pedestrian safety through the inclusion of well-designed streets, sidewalks, crosswalks, traffic control devices, and school routes throughout the City.

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PS-3.2 Traffic Safety Minimize the potential for accidents involving railways, automobiles, pedestrians, and bicyclists by implementing roadway improvements identified in the
Circulation Element, working closely with the Hemet
Police Department, and encouraging proactive programs
aimed at improving drivers’ behavior.

GOAL
PS-4
Protect lives and property from the potential dangers
associated with the use of Hemet-Ryan Airport while
recognizing and maintaining its function as a part of
Hemet’s transportation system.

POLICIES
PS-4.1 Land Use Compatibility Minimize the risk of potential hazards associated with aircraft operations at the HemetRyan Airport through the implementation of the HemetRyan Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan, and review of legislative land use changes and ordinances located within the Airport Influence Area by the Airport land Use
Commission (ALUC).

PS-4.2 Airport Safety Zones Consult with Riverside County to maintain adequate open space or compatible development
adjoining the Hemet-Ryan Airport as required for safety as identified in the updated and adopted Hemet-Ryan Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan and the Hemet-Ryan Airport
Master Plan.

PS-4.3 Accommodate Regional Needs Support efforts of
Hemet-Ryan Airport to accommodate the present and
future needs of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s regional air-attack base provided that the safety of surrounding residents and businesses is
maintained, and ongoing traffic circulation is not impacted.

PS-4.4 Project Compatibility Review As part of the City’s development review process, applications for the
development of land located within the Hemet-Ryan
Airport’s areas of potential risk shall be reviewed for compatibility with both the City of Hemet’s General Plan and the Hemet-Ryan Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan, and the Airport Land Use Planning Handbook issued by
the California Department of Transportation Division of Aeronautics, as may be amended from time to time.

PS-4.5 Project Suitability Review Each development application shall be reviewed in light of the best and most current evidence regarding airport use, noise, potential risks, and safety practices, to ensure that each development is
suitable for its proposed location.

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PS-4.6 Project Noise Mitigation Each development application shall be required to demonstrate that the project will utilize construction technologies that are designed to reduce
interior noise in airport adjacent uses.

PS-4.7 Avigation Easements Avigation easements shall be required for all land uses in Safety Areas I, II, and III as part of the development review process. .As appropriate, based on location, avigation easements may be required in other areas of the City or Planning Area.

PS-4.8 Project Operating Compatibility Development
applications shall be required to demonstrate that the
project is compatible with the following airport land use restrictions:
a. Any use that would direct a steady light of red, white, green, or amber colors associated with airport
operations toward an aircraft engaged in an initial
straight climb following takeoff or toward an aircraft
engaged in a straight final approach toward a landing
at the Hemet-Ryan Airport, other than a navigational
signal light or visual approach slope indicator
approved by the Federal Aviation Administration,
shall be prohibited.
b. Any use that would cause sunlight to be reflected
toward an aircraft engaged in initial straight climb
following takeoff or toward an aircraft engaged in a
straight final approach toward a landing at the HemetRyan Airport shall be prohibited. c. Any use that would generate smoke or vapor, that
could attract large concentrations of birds, or that may otherwise affect safe air navigation within the area
shall be prohibited.
d. Any use that would generate electrical interference that may be detrimental to the operation of aircraft and/or
aircraft instrumentation shall be prohibited.
e. Any proposed use within the City that is 200 feet or more in height shall be reviewed by the Airport Land
Use Commission and the FAA in regard to airport
safety and operational considerations.

PS-4.9 Aviation Wildlife Hazards Projects that would create a potential to attract hazardous wildlife to, or in the vicinity of, the Hemet-Ryan Airport shall be reviewed for
consistency with the standards, practices, and suggestions recommended by the U.S. Department of Transportation,
Federal Aviation Administration.

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PS-4.10 Airport Expansion Consult with Riverside County to insure that any updates to the Airport Master Plan,
including proposed expansion of the airport land uses or the runways, will not create noise and safety impacts to surrounding land uses or disrupt the existing and planned circulation system surrounding the airport.

GOAL
PS-5
Protect lives and property from dangers associated
with the storage, use, and transport of hazardous
materials.

POLICIES
PS-5.1 Enforce Regulations Implement and enforce regulations from federal and state authorities on the use, storage, disposal, and transportation of hazardous materials.

PS-5.2 Maintain Response Programs Maintain effective
programs for responding to hazardous material
emergencies.

PS-5.3 Interagency Cooperation Continue to cooperate with state, county, and other local agencies in the coordination of hazardous material control, cleanup, disposal, and
emergency response policies and operations.

PS-5.4 Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Implement goals and objectives contained in the Riverside County Operational Area Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan to reduce risks from natural and other
hazards and to serve as a guide for decision makers as they commit resources to reducing the effect of natural and
other hazards.

PS-5.5 Hazardous Material Locations Require that uses that treat hazardous wastes generated off-site and that may
pose a significant risk to public health by using, storing, transporting, or disposing of hazardous materials and
wastes be located in areas planned and zoned for industrial use and not in proximity to residential, school, or other sensitive land uses.

PS-5.6 Development Standards Ensure that new development sites have been sufficiently surveyed for contamination, particularly if near existing or former toxic or industrial sites; adequately remediated, if necessary, to meet all applicable laws and regulations; suitable for human
occupation; and protected from known hazardous and
toxic materials.

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PS-5-7 Public Awareness Raise public awareness of the
appropriate manner to dispose of household hazardous
waste through education and/or collection events.

GOAL
PS-6
Protect lives, property, and natural resources from
the potentially disastrous effects of fire hazards.

POLICIES
PS-6.1 Fire Protection Standards Adopt and enforce federal, state, and local construction and design standards
regarding fire prevention and protection, particularly for high-occupancy, dependent-care, or essential facilities.

PS-6.2 Individual Fire Protection Systems Require all new commercial, industrial, institutional, multiple-family
residential, and mixed-use developments to install fire protection systems and encourage the use of automatic
sprinkler systems where not otherwise required by existing codes and ordinances.

PS-6.3 Safe Structures Continue to conduct building and fire code inspections and enforcement to ensure safe
structures and the protection of land and property.

PS-6.4 Safety Exits Require all new development projects to incorporate adequate egress systems in their design and encourage existing structures to upgrade their egress
systems.

PS-6.5 Wildland Fire Evaluation Require an evaluation of all new development and redevelopment after a large fire that will be located in or adjacent to wildland areas to assess the development’s vulnerability to fire and its potential as a source of fire. New development and redevelopments shall adhere to the State’s minimum Fire Safe Regulations.

PS-6.6 Roadway Fire Buffer Coordination Coordinate with Riverside County to evaluate and establish a fire buffer program along heavily traveled roadways to prevent fuel buildup.

PS-6.7 Wildland Fire Protection Implement and enforce brush clearing, fuel modification plans, and other fire prevention programs on open space lands and landscape buffers that balances reducing the possibility for the encroachment of wildland fires onto inhabited areas with maintaining
accessibility for recreational purposes.

PS-6.8 Fire Hazard Mitigation Mitigate existing fire hazards related to urban development or patterns of urban
development as they are identified and as resources permit.

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PS-6.9 Fire Prevention Education Continue education
programs on preventing fires, defensible space, and
evacuation routes, monitor their effectiveness, and expand or alter the programs, as necessary. Develop and maintain consistent outreach with vulnerable communities to
inform education programs.

PS-6.10 Essential Public Facilities New locations of all new essential public facilities shall be located outside of the VHFHSZs when feasible.

PS-6.11 Emergency Operation Plan The City shall adopt the Evacuation Plan, once complete, which addresses
mitigation measures or improvement plans.

PS-6.12 Fire Protection Plan New development and
redevelopment located in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones shall submit and implement a fire protection plan as feasible and appropriate.

GOAL
PS-7
Ensure that an adequate service level of fire
protection is provided for all residents, visitors, and businesses throughout the City of Hemet.

POLICIES
PS-7.1 Fire Service Response Assess the impacts of incremental increases in community development density and intensity and subsequent impacts on traffic congestion, municipal infrastructure capacity, fire hazards, and emergency
response times. Ensure through the development review
process that new development and redevelopment will not result in a reducing fire protection services below
acceptable, safe levels with adequate fire flows and
response time of five minutes or less for 80 percent of fire and emergency calls on both a citywide and response area basis.

PS-7.2 Strategic Plan Maintain and implement a fire department strategic plan to address staffing and facility needs, service goals, deployment strategies, and other departmental
issues.

PS-7.3 Development Impacts Require development projects to contribute development impact fees, form public safety
districts, or other financing mechanisms based on their proportional impact and on-going demand for fire
services.

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PS-7.4 Emergency Access Require adequate access for
emergency vehicles, including adequate street widths,
vertical clearance on new streets, and multiple points of access.

PS-7.5 Fire Protection Adequacy Maintain adequate and
appropriate personnel, emergency vehicles, and other
firefighting equipment and technology to respond to fires and other disasters or emergencies.

PS-7.6 Protect Insurance Services Office Rating Pursue
strategies that maintain and improve the City's Insurance Services Office rating.

PS-7.7 Mutual Aid Agreements Continue to coordinate fire protection services with Riverside County, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Idyllwild Fire Protection District, and all other agencies and districts with fire protection powers. Continue to coordinate with the California Office of Emergency Services under the
California Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System and
California Fire Assistance Program (CFAA).

GOAL
PS-8
Ensure a secure environment with minimized risk of
crime for residents, visitors, and businesses
throughout the City of Hemet.

POLICIES
PS-8.1 Police Services Ensure through the development review process that new development and redevelopment will not result in a reduction of law enforcement services below acceptable, safe levels with a seven-minute average
response time for emergency calls within urban areas, and a nine minute average response time for emergency calls in rural areas. Maintain sufficient and adequate facilities, personnel, and services to meet the community’s needs.

PS-8.2 Strategic Plan Maintain and implement a police
department strategic plan to address staffing and facilities needs, service goals, deployment strategies, and other
departmental issues.

PS-8.3 Development Impacts Require development projects to contribute development impact fees, form public safety
districts, or other funding mechanisms based on their
proportional impact and ongoing demand for police
services.

PS-8.4 Emergency Communication Ensure that outlying areas and newly annexed areas can be served by emergency
communication systems as new development occurs.

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PS-8.5 Grants Pursue the availability of federal or state grants to offset required additions to law enforcement staffing
and/or equipment.

PS-8.6 Neighborhood Watch Continue to promote the
establishment of neighborhood and business watch
programs to encourage community participation in crime
prevention and increased awareness of any suspicious
activity.

PS-8.7 Youth Programs Maintain and expand, as necessary, youth programs aimed at crime prevention and gang and
drug diversion.

PS-8.8 Partnerships Continue to work with other law
enforcement agencies, the school districts, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community residents to
enhance safety throughout the City.

GOAL
PS-9
Improve community safety and reduce opportunities
for criminal activity through appropriate physical
design.

POLICIES
PS-9.1 Defensible Space Require new developments to
incorporate site design that help ensure maximum visibility and security for entrances, pathways, streets, sidewalks, corridors, public and private open space, and parking lots and structures.

PS-9.2 Adequate Project Lighting Require appropriate lighting to be incorporated that provides adequate exterior
illumination around commercial, business-park, public,
parking, and multiple-family structures.

PS-9.3 Safety in Land Use and Design Promote land use and design policies and regulations that encourage a mixture of compatible land uses to promote and increase the safety of public use areas and of pedestrian travel.

PS-9.4 Rental Property Repair Programs Continue to
encourage residents, apartment managers, and landlords to become involved in the Rental Property Repair Programs
to promote the health, safety, and welfare of residents and to preserve the rental housing stock within the City.

GOAL
PS-10
Reduce impacts related to safety hazards through a
high level of emergency preparedness.

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POLICIES
PS-10.1 Outreach Programs Support community participation in safety and crime prevention through public outreach
programs under the police, fire, and emergencies services departments, including vulnerable communities and
accommodating their linguistic needs.

PS-10.2 Disaster Vulnerability Review Work with and encourage essential service providers (water, sewage, electrical power, communication, transportation, natural gas, and liquid fuel systems) and transportation agencies to periodically
evaluate the vulnerability of their systems in the event of a disaster.

PS-10.3 Disaster Plans Review and consistently update the City’s disaster contingency plans. Recommend that plans for
critical facilities and service providers cover the adequate provision of emergency supplies and power supplies to
provide essential services.

PS-10.4 Mutual Aid Agreements Maintain mutual aid agreements and communication links with federal, state, county, and other local agencies to respond to emergencies.

PS-10.5 Protect Critical Facilities Continue to prepare and implement measures to protect critical facilities from
criminal or terrorist attacks.

PS-10.6 Retrofit Existing Building and Related Infrastructure Ensure that the needs to protect the most critical essential public facilities and related infrastructure from climate change hazards such as temporary inundation due to dam
failure related to extreme weather events, increased
wind/storm events, an increase in high heat days, and/or wildfire are considered at the time at which retrofitting or expansion projects are undertaken.

GOAL
PS-11
Manage noise levels through land use planning and
development review.

POLICIES
PS-11.1 Noise Standards Enforce noise standards to maintain acceptable noise limits and protect existing areas with acceptable noise environments.

PS-11.2 Design to Minimize Noise Encourage the use of siting and building design techniques as a means to minimize
noise.

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PS-11.3 Evaluate Noise Evaluate potential noise conflicts for individual sites and projects, and require mitigation of all significant noise impacts (including construction and
short-term noise impacts) as a condition of project
approval.

PS-11.4 Protect Noise-Sensitive Uses Protect noise-sensitive uses from new noise sources.

GOAL
PS-12
Minimize noise conflicts from transportation sources
and airports.

POLICIES
PS-12.1 Traffic Noise Minimize noise conflicts between current and proposed land uses and the circulation network by
encouraging compatible land uses around critical roadway segments with higher noise potential.

PS-12.2 Railroad Noise Minimize noise conflicts between current and proposed land uses and railroad corridors by
protecting railroad corridors from encroachment of
incompatible land uses and by adhering to the City’s noise standards presented in Table 6.5.

PS-12.3 Airport Noise Ensure that future development in the vicinity of Hemet-Ryan Airport is compatible with current and projected airport noise levels in accordance with the noise standards presented in Table 6.5.

PS-12.4 Airport Conflicts Review and respond to proposals involving new flight patterns, more intense flight
operations over the planning area, or relocation or
extension of runways at the Hemet-Ryan Airport, which
would create the potential for noise conflicts with sensitive land uses.

GOAL
PS-13
Minimize noise conflicts with stationary noise
generators.

POLICIES
PS-13.1 Protect Valuable Noise Sources Protect the continued viability of economically valuable noise sources such as commercial and industrial facilities and the Hemet-Ryan Airport.

PS-13.2 New Sensitive Uses Restrict the location of sensitive land uses near major noise sources to achieve the standards
presented in Table 6.5.

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PS-13.3 Prevent Encroachment. Prevent the encroachment of noise sensitive land uses into areas designated for use by existing or future noise generators.

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Climate Vulnerability
Assessment
Climate change is a global phenomenon that may affect each community differently. In recognition of this, Senate Bill 379, Land Use: General Plan: Safety Element (Jackson, 2015) requires that “a city or county to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan that includes various elements, including, among others, a safety element for the protection of the community from unreasonable risks associated with the effects of various geologic hazards, flooding, and wildland and urban fires.”1 Thus, a city or county’s safety element is therefore to be reviewed and updated as necessary to address applicable climate adaptation and resiliency strategies, including a set of goals, policies, and objectives based on a vulnerability assessment. A Climate Vulnerability Assessment (CVA) serves as the foundation for the Safety Element’s Update and Climate Change section, as described in the State of California General Plan Guidelines (2017).2 This CVA is also designed to meet the requirements set forth in the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection’s June 2020 General Plan Safety Element Assessment.

Based on guidance from the California Adaptation Planning Guide (APG)3 and the Southern California Climate Adaptation Planning Guide4 the following five steps must be completed to assess the vulnerability of the City of Hemet to the effects of climate change:

1. Exposure – Identify the climate change effects a community will experience.

2. Sensitivity – Identify the key community structures, functions, and populations that are potentially susceptible to each climate change exposure.

3. Potential Impacts – Analyze how climate change exposure will affect the community structures, functions, and populations (impacts). Adjust the impact assessment to account for uncertainty, timing, and adaptive capacity.

4. Adaptive Capacity – Evaluate the community’s current ability to address the projected impacts.

5. Vulnerability Scoring – Determine and rank potential impacts and adaptive capacity 1 Preamble of Senate Bill No. 379, as approved by Governor October 08, 2015. 2 Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, State of California General Plan Guidelines (2017); URL:https://opr.ca.gov/docs/OPR_COMPLETE_7.31.17.pdf; Accessed April 18, 2022 3 URL: https://www.caloes.ca.gov/HazardMitigationSite/Documents/APG2-FINAL-PR-DRAFTAccessible.pdf ; Accessed April 18, 2022
4 Southern California Association of Government, Southern California Climate Adaptation Planning Guide, October 2020.

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Each of these steps is described in detail below. Data for this CVA was collected from sources including the following:
• CalAdapt,
• California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, 2018,
• Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG) Subregional Climate Action Plan (CAP), 2014, Subregional Climate Action Plan Adaption and Resiliency Strategy, and Implementation Model Book,
• City of Hemet Climate Action Plan, 2018
• Western Riverside Adaptation and Resiliency Strategy: Part 1, Vulnerability Assessment, and • Riverside County Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.

1. EXPOSURE – WHAT CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS WILL
THE COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE?
Climate change affects communities all around the world regardless of their contribution to this phenomenon. Jurisdictions across California are expected to experience different climate change effects to varying degrees based on geography, density of urban development, and environmental factors.

Table 1 below, based on guidance from the California Adaptation Planning Guide, identifies the direct effects of climate change and the associated secondary effects potentially applicable to Hemet. Each of the six is discussed in detail below.

TABLE 1. CLIMATE-RELATED EFFECTS AND HAZARDS POTENTIALLY Applicable to Hemet Primary Hazard Secondary Hazard
Air Quality Public health effects, agricultural distress Precipitation changes Snowpack loss, drought, agricultural pests and disease, subsidence
Flooding (riverine) Flooding, erosion, mud- or land- slides Severe storms and extreme weather Intense rainstorms, severe wind, flood, lightning, hail
Temperature changes - warming Extreme heat/heat waves, agricultural pests and disease
Wildfire Erosion, landslide
Source: Adapted from OPR’s CALIFORNIA ADAPTATION PLANNING GUIDE, June 2020 Notes: Due to Hemet’s inland location, potential hazards such as sea level rise, storm surge, hurricane, ocean acidification, hypoxia, and warming are not listed as potentially applicable climate related effects and hazards. Due to the relatively low topography of Hemet, avalanche is also not considered a potential hazard.

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The projection of the likelihood, timing, and severity of these primary and secondary hazards to impact Hemet is based on the trajectory of Green House Gas (GHG) concentrations in the Earth’s atmosphere, commonly referred to as Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs). RCPs represent a combination of the historical data and estimates of concentrations through 2100, based on a set of formulated human behaviors. The pathways describe different climate futures, all of which are considered possible depending on the volume of GHGs emitted in the years to come. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) adopted a number of RCPs in its latest assessment, and SCAG, in its recent guidance5, chose to focus on three RCPs representing a reasonable range of outcomes, as follows:

1. A low emissions scenario (RCP2.6) – this represents an aggressive emissions reduction scenario that assumes global greenhouse gas emissions will be significantly curtailed. RCP 2.6 most closely corresponds to the aspirational goals of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 2015 Paris Agreement.

2. A medium emissions scenario (RCP4.5) – this represents a mitigation scenario where global greenhouse gas emissions peak by 2040 and then decrease for the rest of the century.

3. A high emissions scenario (RCP8.5) – this represents a “business-as-usual” scenario where global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise throughout the 21st century.

Because the RCP2.6 scenario depends on substantive changes in the current set of world-wide policies, regulations, and behaviors it is considered unlikely, and therefore not especially helpful in a climate vulnerability assessment. This VCA will rely primarily on RCP8.5, the high emissions scenario, in alignment with OPR’s recommendation that agencies use RCP8.5 when considering impacts through 2050 because there are minimal differences between the low and high emissions scenarios through the first half of the century.6 When available and illustrative, the RCP4.5 scenario may be shown for additional context.

AIR QUALITY
Hemet is located in Western Riverside County, which lies at the south-eastern boundary of the South Coast Air Basin (SoCAB, or “Basin”). As such the air quality of the region is under the jurisdiction of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), tasked with setting regulations to ensure that the SoCAB obtain and maintain the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and continue progress towards meeting the more stringent California Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS). 5 SCAG, Southern California Climate Adaptation Planning Guide, October 2020; https://scag.ca.gov/sites/main/files/file-attachments/socaladaptationplanningguide_oct2020_0.pdf 6 Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, Planning and Investing for a Resilient California, 2019, page 19. accessed April 2022 http://opr.ca.gov/planning/icarp/resilient-ca.html

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Despite considerable progress in reducing ground level concentrations in the Basin, Western Riverside County continues to experience high levels of ozone and particulate matter (PM). According to the California Air Resources Board (CARB)7 8:

Ozone can damage the tissues of the respiratory tract, causing inflammation and irritation, and result in symptoms such as coughing, chest tightness and worsening of asthma symptoms.

Specifically, inhalation of ozone causes inflammation and irritation of the tissues lining human airways, causing and worsening a variety of symptoms. Exposure to ozone can reduce the volume of air that the lungs breathe in and cause shortness of breath. Ozone in sufficient doses increases the permeability of lung cells, rendering them more susceptible to toxins and microorganisms.

The occurrence and severity of health effects from ozone exposure vary widely among individuals, even when the dose and the duration of exposure are the same.

Ozone exposure reduces the overall productivity of plants, damaging cells and causing destruction of leaf tissue. As a result, ozone exposure reduces the plants’ ability to photosynthesize and produce their own food. Plants respond by growing more leaves thereby reducing the amounts of stored carbohydrates in roots and stems. This weakens plants, making them susceptible to disease, pests, cold and drought. Ozone also reduces crop and timber yields, resulting in millions of dollars in economic losses. Additionally, ozone disturbs the stability of ecosystems, leading to sensitive species dying out. Furthermore, ozone exposure reduces the production of roots, seeds, fruit and other plant constituents, reducing the amount of food available for wildlife.

A number of adverse health impacts have been associated with exposure to both PM2.5 and PM10. 9 For PM2.5, short-term exposures (up to 24-hours duration), have been associated with premature mortality, increased hospital admissions for heart or lung causes, acute and chronic bronchitis, asthma attacks, emergency room visits, respiratory symptoms, and restricted activity days. These adverse health effects have been reported primarily in infants, children, and older adults with preexisting heart or lung diseases. In addition, of all of the common air pollutants, PM2.5 is associated with the greatest proportion of adverse health effects related to air pollution, both in the United States and world-wide based on the World Health Organization’s Global Burden of Disease Project.

Short-term exposures to PM10 have been associated primarily with worsening of respiratory diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), leading to hospitalization and emergency department visits. Long-term (months to years) exposure to 7 California Air Resources Board, https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/fact-sheets/health-effects-ozone; accessed April 25, 2022
8 CARB, https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/inhalable-particulate-matter-and-health ; accessed April 25, 2022 9 PM with a diameter of 10 microns or less (PM10) are inhalable into the lungs and can induce adverse health effects. Fine particulate matter is defined as particles that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM2.5). Therefore, PM2.5 comprises a portion of PM10.

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PM2.5 has been linked to premature death, particularly in people who have chronic heart or lung diseases, and reduced lung function growth in children. The effects of long-term exposure to PM10 are less clear, although several studies suggest a link between long-term PM10 exposure and respiratory mortality. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) published a review in 2015 that concluded that particulate matter in outdoor air pollution causes lung cancer.

PM can adversely affect ecosystems, including plants, soil and water through deposition of PM and its subsequent uptake by plants or its deposition into water where it can affect water quality and clarity. The metal and organic compounds in PM have the greatest potential to alter plant growth and yield. PM deposition on surfaces leads to soiling of materials. Particulate matter has been shown in many scientific studies to reduce visibility, and also to adversely affect climate, ecosystems and materials. PM, primarily PM2.5, affects visibility by altering the way light is absorbed and scattered in the atmosphere. With reference to climate change, some constituents of the ambient PM mixture promote climate warming (e.g., black carbon), while others have a cooling influence (e.g., nitrate and sulfate), and so ambient PM has both climate warming and cooling properties.

Changes in climate can result in impacts to local air quality. Ozone is not emitted directly, rather it is formed when emissions of oxides of nitrogen (primarily from the combustion of fossil fuels) and reactive organic gases (from evaporative sources such as gasoline, solvents, paints, and other consumer and industrial products and processes) react in the presence of sunlight. Thus, it is widely recognized that atmospheric warming associated with climate change has the potential to increase ground-level ozone formation. According to CalEnviroScreen 4.0, all census tracts within the City limits has a summed concentration of 0.065 parts per million and this concentration is higher than 94% of all census tracts in California.10 Locally, this threatens the ability of the Basin to obtain the applicable ozone NAAQS and CAAQS under the BAU (RCP8.5) scenario.

PM is caused both by natural and anthropomorphic activities; it is emitted directly from sources (such as earth moving, smokestacks, and fires) and also forms secondarily in the atmosphere when gases and aerosols combine (from sources such as power plants, industries and automobiles). According to the USEPA, the impact of climate change on PM is less certain, but research is underway to address these uncertainties. Climate change, such as decreasing precipitation and increasing wildfires, can result in higher emission of PM into the atmosphere.
10 https://oehha.ca.gov/calenviroscreen/report/calenviroscreen-40, Accessed May 9, 2022

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Figure 1 – CalEnviroScreen 4.0, Hemet Pollution Burden Results Figure 2 – CalEnviroScreen 4.0, Hemet Population Burden Results

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PRECIPITATION CHANGES
Hemet, like the Western Riverside subregion, is a combination of Mediterranean and semi-arid climates, characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The average precipitation observed in Hemet between 1950 and 2004 was 11.8 inches with a high of 26.9 inches and low of 4.8 inches.11 As presented in Figure 3, local annual levels of precipitation are not anticipated to change drastically for the Hemet area. It is projected that the average precipitation in Hemet from 2035-to-2064 will increase slightly to 12.1 inches and increase slightly further to 13.0 inches in the 2051-to-2099 time frame under the RCP8.5 scenario.12 Changes in annual precipitation of these minimal ranges alone are not expected to pose much risk to the built or human environment. The role of changing precipitation amounts and patterns in expanding the extent or geographic distribution of vector-born disease is not clearly understood at this time.13
11 https://cal-adapt.org/tools/annual-averages/ , Accessed April 15, 2022 12 Ibid
13 OEHHA, https://oehha.ca.gov/media/downloads/climate-change/document-presentation/13humankramer.pdf

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Figure 3 – CaAdapt, Hemet Average Annual Precipitation
Though much of the subregion’s potable water supply is provided by importing water originating from the northern Sierra Nevada or from the Colorado River, the city of Hemet’s primary potable water source is groundwater. In 2016, the City received approval for a Self-Certification of Supply Reliability; indicating that the City’s groundwater supply exceeds projected demand for several years. Thus, the City of Hemet’s vulnerability to changes in snowpack is small. However, since Lake Hemet Municipal District serves as an emergency connection to the City and has its own customers in the subregion, a discussion of worsened drought as a consequence of precipitation changes is warranted.

According to Cal-Adapt, a climate change induced decline in the northern Sierra Nevada of 32% in snow water equivalence by 2050 and 77% by 2099 is anticipated and declines in the southern Sierra Nevada of up to 10% and up to 40% by 2050 and 2099, respectively. Precipitation levels are not expected to change significantly for the Colorado River Basin. However, as temperatures rise and precipitation levels decrease

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on a larger geographic scale, the snowpack volume is expected to drop, potentially resulting in a 9 percent decline in the total flow of the Colorado River.

Droughts are common in California, and it is widely recognized that dry conditions may be experienced more regularly in the future given the impact of climate change on California’s snowpack. Currently the southwestern Riverside County region is classified within the -3 to -5 range of the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI)14, where a value of -4 and beyond represents “extreme drought.” Drought can lead to reductions in the quality and quantity of water, degradation of air quality, increase in agricultural vectors and disease, and decreases in crop yield.15 According to the California Department of Public Health, health consequences of drought may impact the following vulnerable/sensitive populations most:
“the elderly, children, individuals of low socioeconomic status, rural communities, populations living in nursing homes, hospitalized patients, those who rely on electrical equipment to survive, farmers, and agricultural workers.”16

AGRICULTURAL PESTS AND DISEASE
The Western Riverside subregion contains thousands of acres of agricultural land that contributes roughly $1.42 billion to the regional economy, and 27,442 agricultural jobs in Riverside County (County of Riverside 2020). The city of Hemet has a district valuation or $165,415,000. The majority of the agricultural products grown within city limits include lettuce leaf, oranges, trees, and grapefruit (County of Riverside 2020).

These pests and diseases can cause plants and animals to grow slower, to be damaged making them less appealing and harder to sell, or even die. While there are treatment options for a number of agriculture diseases, some have no cure – such as the devastating citrus disease Huanglongbing (HLB), which is already in the region (CCPDPC 2018).

Though not considered a Primary Environmental Hazard, agricultural pests and diseases and general agricultural distress, are persistent secondary hazards and their potential impacts and risks are discussed separate from their primary hazards. According to the 2010 City of Hemet General Plan, there are a total of 17,503 acres of farmland within City limits.17 Temperature increases play a key role in agricultural pests and diseases, as higher temperatures can increase the rate of reproduction for insects and mites (Hall 2018). High temperatures earlier and later into the year also create a wider window for pests and diseases to be active (IPCC 2013). Many crop plants, trees, and livestock may also be harmed and consequently weakened by warmer temperatures and changes in precipitation. The weaker plants and animals may not be able to fend off infestations or infections as well as a stronger plants and animals, causing pests and diseases to affect more of the population.
14 https://wrcc.dri.edu/wwdt/index.php?region=ca , accessed April 22, 2022. 15 https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OHE/CDPH%20Document%20Library/CHVIs/Drought_802_Narrative_11-8- 2016.pdf ; accessed March 22, 2022
16 Ibid, page 1.
17 Ramona Creek Specific Plan, Draft Environmental Impact Report IV.C Agricultural Resources, Table IV.C-1

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FLOODING
The accumulation of excess water due to increased precipitation or natural water flows can lead to the flooding of nearby floodplains or low-lying valleys. Floodplains, or areas adjacent to water bodies, are especially susceptible to flooding hazards. The severity of flooding within a floodplain is directly related to the capacity and volume of the neighboring body of water or waterway. Flooding within larger, flatter floodplains occurs more predictably for longer durations. Flooding can occur more quickly and with minimal warning in steep, mountainous areas.18 Although Cal Adapt does not provide emissions-based flooding projections, the City of Hemet (City) has worked in conjunction with the County of Riverside (COR) to produce the COR Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) which outlines the existing flooding risks present in the City.

According to the City’s LHMP, the City is not considered to be significantly affected by flooding within the Riverside Operational Area. 19 However as can be seen in Figure 4 much of the City sits within 100 and 500-year flood zones. Dark purple represents 100-year storm zones and light purple represents 500-year storm zones.
18 City of Hemet. (2018). County of Riverside, Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. Page 252. Hemet, CA: City of Hemet.
19 Ibid, page 250

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Figure 4 – FEMA Natural Flood Hazards, Hemet 100- and 500-Year storm zones

SEVERE STORMS AND EXTREME WEATHER
California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment explains that, despite model predictions of only small changes in average precipitation in the Los Angeles region (of which Hemet is included), extreme dry and wet patterns are both expected to increase in the future. Please refer to the discussion of precipitation changes and droughts in Section 1.2 above. This section also addresses land and mudslides that may result from sever rain events.

SEVERE RAINSTORMS
In southern California, extreme precipitation often arrives via so called “atmospheric rivers,” which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines as “a flowing column of condensed water vapor in the atmosphere responsible for producing significant levels of rain and snow, especially in the Western United States.”20 Further NOAA recognizes that atmospheric rivers “that contain the largest 20 NOAA, https://www.noaa.gov/stories/what-are-atmospheric-rivers; accessed March 22, 2022.

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amounts of water vapor and the strongest winds can create extreme rainfall and floods.”21 Data presented in the Fourth Climate Change Assessment suggests “the frequency of atmospheric river events may increase in the future, and that the storms themselves will be associated with higher water vapor transport rates compared to historical conditions.”22 Please refer to Section 1.3 for discussion of the change in potential flooding impacts.

EXTREME WEATHER
In addition to extreme rain events, other severe weather phenomena include strong winds (see discussion under Section 1.4.3), hail, and lightning. Severe weather can pose hazards resulting in injury or death, damage to buildings, structures, infrastructure, and trees, fires, and diminished or blocked transportation access. Hail events are considered rare in the sub-region, and lightning occurs only occasionally. 23 SANTA ANA WINDS
Between October and April, southern California is susceptible to the unique phenomenon of so called “Santa Ana Winds.” These dry, hot, offshore winds originate when high pressure sets up over the Great Basin, combined with low pressure off the southern California coast. As the winds sweep across the deserts of eastern California and encounter the Transverse Ranges, winds flow down slope and channel through the mountain passes. Santa Ana winds frequently exceed 40 miles per hour. The Fourth Climate Change Assessment recognizes the uncertainty in predicted changes to the patterns of Santa Ana winds due to global climate change, with some models predicting increases and others decreases in the number of annual events. Theories hypothesize that “warming of interior land masses may weaken the ocean-todesert temperature gradient that partly drives Santa Ana winds.”24

LAND SLIDES
Weather induced landslides occur when a hillside becomes unstable, caused by severe or persistent rain events, causing soil and rocks to slide downslope. In some cases, the hillsides can become so saturated that slope failures result in a mudslide, a mixture of soil and water moving downslope. Unstable hillsides, such as those denuded of vegetation by wildfires, drought, or pests, are at greater risk of land- and mudslides. The climate change induced increase in rainfall, especially severe rain events, may result in an increase in landslides and mudslides.
21 Ibid.
22 California Office of Planning and Research, California Energy Commission, and California Natural Resources Agency, California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, Los Angeles Region Report, September 28, 2018; https://www.energy.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2019-11/Reg%20Report-%20SUM-CCCA4-2018- 007%20LosAngeles_ADA.pdf, Accessed May 10, 2021; page 14. 23 WRCOG, p. A-17.
24 California Office of Planning and Research, California Energy Commission, and California Natural Resources Agency, California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, Los Angeles Region Report, September 28, 2018; https://www.energy.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2019-11/Reg%20Report-%20SUM-CCCA4-2018- 007%20LosAngeles_ADA.pdf, Accessed May 10, 2021; page 14.

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Figure 5 – California Department of Conservation, Hemet Landslide Susceptibility The California Department of Conservation provides a map of existing Landslide Susceptibility, see Figure 5. Unfortunately, this map does not take into account or predict future risks of landslides accounting for the effects of climate change.

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TEMPERATURE CHANGES
A rise in temperature has been observed in many Southern California communities including those in southwestern Riverside County. According to long-term data (the approximately 12 decades from 1896 to 2015) presented in California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, trends in annual average, maximum, and minimum temperatures show an increase of 0.16 degree Celsius (equal to 0.29 oF) per decade.25 Warming is expected to increase across the region in the coming decades, with interior regions “expected to experience the highest amounts of warming, up to 10°F in the late-21st century under RCP8.5.”26 According to Cal-Adapt, the average maximum temperature observed for Hemet in the years 1950 through 2004 was 80.4 degrees Fahrenheit (oF). The maximum and minimum day-time maximum temperatures observed during this period were 82.9 and 77.3 oF, respectively. 25 California Office of Planning and Research, California Energy Commission, and California Natural Resources Agency, California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, Los Angeles Region Report, September 28, 2018; https://www.energy.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2019-11/Reg%20Report-%20SUM-CCCA4-2018- 007%20LosAngeles_ADA.pdf, Accessed March 22, 2022; page 9. 26 Ibid, page 11.

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In the projections based on the RCP 8.5 scenario, Hemet could experience an average maximum temperature of 86.2 oF during the years 2035-2064. For the same time-period, the maximum and minimum daily maximum temperatures could reach 91.2 and 82.8 oF, respectively. During the years 2064 through 2099 the projections for Hemet includes an average maximum temperature of 89.3 oF, with maximum and minimum day-time maximum temperatures of 94.8 and 84.3 oF, respectively. By 2099, the annual average temperature is projected to further increase 2.9 degrees to 93.3 oF. Figure 3 provides the estimated annual average maximum temperatures for Hemet in an RCP 8.5 scenario. According to the California Office of Environmental health hazard Assessment (OEHHA) and California Department of Public Health disruptions in weather patterns due to global climate change, such as warmer spring temperatures and overall increases in temperatures will “likely alter the distribution and occurrence of West Nile virus, Lyme disease, hantavirus, and other insect or animal transmitted diseases in California.”27 27 California Office of Environmental health hazard Assessment (OEHHA), https://oehha.ca.gov/media/downloads/climate-change/document-presentation/13humankramer.pdf; accessed March 22,2022.

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Figure 6 – CalAdapt, Hemet Annual Average Maximum Temperature

EXTREME HEAT DAYS
According to the Fourth Climate Change Assessment, “[t]he intensity and frequency of extreme heat are also projected to increase over the LA region”.28 Extreme heat days are defined as a day when the maximum temperature on any day in April through October exceeds the 98th historical percentile of maximum temperatures between 1961 and 1997. According to Cal-Adapt, for Hemet the extreme heat temperature threshold is 107.4 degrees Fahrenheit (oF).29 In the RCP 8.5 high emissions scenario Hemet is projected to experience 30 extreme heat days per year between the years 2035 and 2064. Figure 7 provides the estimated number of extreme heat days for Hemet in an RCP 8.5 scenario. This is a 26-day increase from the annual extreme heat days observed during the years 1950 to 2004 – a 6 to 7-fold increase from historical levels. Models predict the number of extreme heat days in Hemet may rise to 48 per year in the 2064 – 2099 timeframe.
28 Ibid, page 11.
29 Cal-Adapt https://cal-adapt.org/tools/extreme-heat/ ; Accessed May 7, 2022.

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Figure 7 – CalAdapt, Hemet Number of Extreme Heat Days per Year An increase in extreme heat days can correlate with an overall increase in temperature. Further, the heightened frequency of extreme heat days can pose a risk to sensitive communities such as homeless residents, senior citizens, and people with disabilities. This would create a greater reliance on climate modifying appliances such as air conditioning and refrigerants. The increased use of these utilities would increase the risk of blackouts to the area’s power grid due to overconsumption.

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COOLING DEGREE DAYS
As WRCOG recognizes30, most of the built environment of the sub-region was designed to withstand heat.

Nonetheless, even small increases in average temperatures and in the number of extreme heat days can lead to sharp increases in utility demand to cool buildings. A helpful measure of this demand is the Cooling Degree Day (CDD), which, according to Cal-adapt, is defined as the number of degrees by which a daily average temperature exceeds a reference temperature (typically 65 degrees Fahrenheit).31 Figure 8 presents the CDD for Hemet, showing an increase from 1,577 CDDs from 1950 – 2004, to 2,738 CDDs projected for 2035 to 2064, and up to 3,521 CDDS in the 2064 to 2099 period under the RCP 8.5 scenario. 30 WRCOG, Western-Riverside-Adaptation-and-Resiliency-Strategy_Vulnerability-Assessment page 3 31 The reference temperature loosely represents an average daily temperature below which space cooling (e.g., air conditioning) is not needed.

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Figure 8 – CalAdapt, Hemet Annual Cooling Degree Days
For additional context, under the RCP4.5 scenario, these would range from 2,485 (for the years 2021 to 2050) to 2,797 (for 2051 to 2099).

WILDFIRE
Across California, wildfire season typically runs between late summer to early spring, but CalFire reports that fires are starting earlier and ending later with each passing year. Intense dry seasons, warmer spring and summer temperatures, reduced snowpack, and earlier snowmelt make forests and vegetation more susceptible to wildfires. Natural events such as warm and dry Santa Ana winds, which typically occur in early fall, further increase the growth of fires and threat to urban areas. CalFire estimates the length of fire

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season had increased by 75 days in 2020. In 2015, wildfires in Riverside County and nearby municipalities resulted in approximately $42 million worth of losses in residential and commercial properties.32 Hemet’s projected burn area associated with wildfire risks is estimated to decrease over time as shown in Figure 6 below. The burn area is estimated to decrease its average size from 16.9 hectares (41.76 acres) between the years 1953 through 2004 to 10.5 hectares (25.95 acres) in the years 2035 through 2064. This decrease in area burned differs from the overall County of Riverside since the burn area for the county is expected to gradually increase.

Figure 7 shows that a small portion of the City falls within the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ) within both the Local Responsibility Area (LRA) and within State Responsibility Area (SRA). As structures are built within the FHSZ’s adjacent the wildland urban interface (WUI) areas, which is the transition area between unoccupied land and human development, fires will become an increasing problem for fire departments, per the U.S. Fire Administration. 33 Additionally, according to CalFire,
Wildland Urban Interface is a condition when structures abut wildland areas and therefore have a greater potential for house-to-house ignition.

Land located within the VHFHSZ mostly includes the area in the northwest area of the City and includes the area of Sunwest Village Specific plan, Low-medium Density residential, Rural Residential, and Mixeduse development. The VHFHSZ also includes the area along the southwest including Diamond Velley Lake Park Specific Plan, Rural Residential development, quasi-public/cultural development, and single-family zoned properties with densities ranging from Rural Residential to Low Density Residential.

Additionally, land located in the northeast along the northern boundary of the City is also within the VHFHSZ and zoned Rural Residential and Low Density Residential.34 32 Desert Sun. (2015). Local Wildfires Rack up $42 million bill in 2015. Retrieved from:
https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2015/11/16/local-wildfires-rack-up-42-million-bill2015/75544134/ 33 U.S. Fire Administration. What is the WUI? https://www.usfa.fema.gov/wui/what-is-the-wui.html, Accessed March 23, 2022.
34 City of Hemet, Specific Plan/Planned Unit Development/Planned Community Development Map, https://www.hemetca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3210/specificplan?bidId=

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Figure 9 – CalAdapt, Hemet Annual Area (hectare) Burned

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Figure 6 – Cal FIRE, Hemet Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones

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2. SENSITIVITY – WHAT ASPECTS OF THE COMMUNITY
WILL BE AFFECTED?
Sensitivity refers to the risk certain structures, functions, and populations may face from climate changeimpacts. In alignment with the California Adaptation Planning Guide35, this step simply identifies resources in each category that could be affected by climate-related events. The next step in the process evaluates how the impacts may occur and severe they may be.

STRUCTURES
Climate change-related impacts may affect the integrity of structures or buildings depending on, but not limited to the age, location, and materials used in the resource. The structures at risk include those which may pose a direct threat to the community, as well as those which may threaten the environment, economy, and current livelihood of Hemet. The California Adaptation Planning Guide recommends evaluating the potential for non-traditional “structures” such as parks and open spaces, and historic, cultural, and natural resource areas as part of this category.

Residential Parks and Open Space Dikes, Dams, and Levees Commercial
Recreational Facilities and
Infrastructure
Water Treatment Plan and
Delivery Infrastructure
Industrial
Transportation Facilities and
Infrastructure
Wastewater Treatment
Plant and Collection
Infrastructure
Government Marine Facilities
Institutional (schools,
churches, hospitals, prisons,
etc.)
Communication
Infrastructure
The following is an example of the type of structures that are considered sensitive to climate change36:
• Residential neighborhoods and communities, especially those near Sunwest Village and sensitive communities adjacent to West Florida Ave.
• City of Hemet City Hall, Fire Station, Police Station, and other municipal structures. • Hemet Valley Medical Center, Hemet Dialysis Center and other healthcare facilities. • Mary Henley Park and other recreational facilities.
35 California Emergency Management Agency and California Natural Resources Agency, Adaptation Planning Guide, Planning for Adaptive Communities, July 2012. Page 20.
36 Community Vulnerability Profiles, Western Riverside County, February 2020. Page 26

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• State Road 74, State Road 79, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Corridor and the City’s main access roads and arterial roadways.
• Diamond Valley Lake Dams
• EMWD San Jacinto Water Reclamation Facility and other water and wastewater facilities.

Transportation Systems
Transportation system functions serve to move residents and visitors through the City as efficiently as possible and are critical in the event of a climate emergency for evacuation purposes. Roads, highways, railways, public transportation, and overpasses may be affected by climate change. State Routes 79 and 74 runs through the City and serves as major corridors for the region. Vehicular impacts may inhibit residents and visitors from accessing safety and resources. Transportation infrastructure in the subregion is vulnerable to extreme heat, flooding, and wildfire. State Routes 79 and 74 are critical evacuation routes that run through large areas of 100-year flood zones (WRCOG 2014c). The Hemet General Plan Circulation Element identifies three bicycle facility classifications found throughout the City and their locations.

Bikeways provide local opportunities for cyclists and regional connections which may be affected by climate change such as, but not limited to, precipitation, extreme heat days, and/or wildfires.

Utility Systems
The City of Hemet is served by water, wastewater, energy, and communication services which may be overwhelmed or damaged during a climate change event. The Hemet Open Space and Conservation Element of the General Plan identify energy resources available to the City, which include natural gas supplied by Southern California Gas Company and electricity supplied by Southern California Edison (SCE).

Extreme heat days or wildfire risks may result in temporary energy blackouts which may prevent the community from accessing air conditioning and cooling services.

FUNCTIONS
The climate change effects expected to impact Hemet have the potential to affect the function types indicated below. Critical emergency response functions, which may include, but are not limited to, emergency services, medical care, firefighting, property protection, public safety, and government functions, must be able to operate quickly and effectively in the event of a climate-related hazard or disaster. As with sensitive structures, impacts of varying severity on certain functions may cause damage to the economy, the environment, and public safety.

Government Continuity Business Continuity Social Services Potable Water Housing Access Ecological Function
Energy Delivery Employment and Job Access Tourism
Emergency Services Food security Recreation
Public Safety
Mobility/transportation/
access
Agriculture, Forest, and
Fishery Productivity
Public Health Quality of Life Industrial Operations
Emotional and Mental Wastewater/Sewer Solid Waste

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Health

POPULATIONS
The population of Hemet may be affected differently by climate hazards depending on income, age, employment, housing type and location, health and disabilities, gender, language, race/ethnicity, and access (to medical services, technology, transportation, etc.). Populations within Hemet that may be additionally affected by climate hazards include the following:

Seniors
Individuals without access
lifelines (e.g. car or transit,
telephones)
Renters
Children Non-White communities Students1
Individuals with disabilities
Low-Income, unemployed,
or underemployed communities
Seasonal residents2
Individuals with
compromised immune systems
Individuals with limited
English skills
Individuals uncertain about
available resources because of
citizenship status
Individuals who are
chronically ill
Unsheltered Individuals37
Notes:

1. Includes non-adult students in K-12 schools

2. Includes “Snowbirds,” those seasonal residents who move from northern to southern, warmer, locales during the winter season
A person may experience greater threats to their livelihood from climate change depending on, but not limited to, their income, access to transportation, language, physical ability, and/or age. For example, Seniors may be at higher risks of injury or heat-related sickness during extreme heat events. During wildfire season, seniors, children, and those with chronic respiratory illnesses may be more sensitive to the effects of poor air quality.

The City of Hemet was estimated to have a population of 89,83338 persons in the year 2020. From 2020 to 2045, Hemet is forecasted a population growth of 52.1 percent39 that is a faster population growth than the County of Riverside’s forecasted growth of 31.3 percent. Hemet’s population is comprised mostly of individuals in between 18 to 65 years of age (47.8 percent). The population above the age of 45 years makes up 22.5 percent of the population, with 21.8 percent being aged 65 and over. The median age of Hemet’s population is 37.9 years. The City of Hemet is made up approximately 69 percent white persons,

9.3 percent black persons, and 2.6 percent Asian persons. 37 WRCOG, Western-Riverside-Adaptation-and-Resiliency-Strategy_Vulnerability-Assessment, page A-20 38 United States Census Bureau, Quick Facts for City of Hemet and Riverside County, https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/hemetcitycalifornia,US/PST045221, Accessed July 7th, 2022 39 SCAG SoCal Demographics and Growth Forecast Adopted September, 2020, Accessed March 22, 2022

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Employment characteristics may point toward a population’s ability to recover from a climate change event. Persons with lower incomes may be disproportionately affected by climate change events and may therefore benefit from community services. Those who are unemployed, for example, may not have the means to prepare emergency resources or alternative temporary shelter. Hemet has an unemployment rate of 10.8 percent. The City of Hemet also has a much lower (63.9% lower) median household income than the County of Riverside. 40

3. POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND RISK – HOW WILL

CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECT THE POINTS OF
SENSITIVITY? HOW LIKELY ARE THE IMPACTS AND
HOW QUICKLY WILL THEY OCCUR?
In this step, we address how climate change exposure may affect the community structures, functions, and populations.

For infrastructure components or functions/services, this evaluation may include consideration of the following:
• Asset value and intangible importance
• Location of asset (current or future hazard zone)
• Extent of community reliance
• Potential for partial or total loss of service
• Consequence of loss or interruption
• Ease of restoration of service
For populations, this evaluation may include answering the following:
• What sort of hardships would be felt by the population as a result of exposure to the hazard? Would it result in a decrease in quality of life or threaten to damage and/or destroy property? • Is there a risk of mortality or morbidity to the population as a result of the hazard? • How many people are affected by the hazard? Is it a relatively small group within the community, or is it most or all of the residents?
• In the event that hardships occur, how long would the population be affected? Would hardships diminish in severity over time or remain at the same level of severity during the course of the impact?
Each potential point of sensitivity identified above is given an impact score from IM0 (minimal impact) to IM4 (severe impact) for each hazard, in accordance with the approach used in WRCOG’s Vulnerability Assessment.41 Table A-4 of WRCOG’s Vulnerability Assessment is provided below. 40 United States Census Bureau, Quick Facts for City of Hemet and Riverside County, https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/hemetcitycalifornia,US/PST045221, Accessed July 7th, 2022 41WRCOG; https://wrcog.us/DocumentCenter/View/7478/Western-Riverside-Adaptation-and-ResiliencyStrategy_Vulnerability-Assessment; page A-27; Accessed May 9, 2022.

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Table 1: WRCOG Impact Scores
Impact
Score
Summary (Buildings and
Infrastructure, Economic
Assets, Community Services)
Summary (Populations and
Biological Resources)
IM0
Impacts are minimal. There are no
service disruptions that community
members are aware of.

All impacts are minimal. Community
members may not notice effects.

IM1
Performance or services may be
somewhat degraded on occasion.

Community members notice minor impacts.

There may be mild disruptions to some
behaviors or actions.

IM2
The asset is likely to experience chronic
stress, limiting the ability to reliably
function. Effectiveness may be entirely
disrupted on occasion.

There is a marked decline in overall
quality of life. Reductions to health,
public safety, and/or community viability
are likely.

IM3
The asset may only function in a limited
way. It may frequently or always be
unable to meet community needs.

There is a substantial drop in the wellbeing of the affected communities.

Current lifestyles/habitat may no longer be
viable.

IM4
The ability of the asset to provide
beneficial service is destroyed.

There is a severe risk of injury or death in
human populations and of major habitat
shifts or degradation for biological
communities.

Source: Western Riverside Council of Governments. (2019). Western Riverside Adaptation and Resiliency Strategy: Part 1, Vulnerability Assessment. Table A-3: Impact Scores. Page A-27. Available at: https://wrcog.us/DocumentCenter/View/7478/WesternRiverside-Adaptation-and-Resiliency-Strategy_Vulnerability-Assessment (Accessed March 22, 2022)

AGRICULTURAL PESTS AND DISEASES
One of the most direct effects of climate change is that average temperatures are increasing, which has a bearing on pests and diseases. Higher temperatures can increase the rate of reproduction for insects and mites, which can result in increased pesticide use and damage to crops (Hall 2018). Temperatures are expected to get warmer earlier in the year and remain warmer until later in the year due to climate change, creating a wider window for pests and diseases to be active (IPCC 2013).

Climate change can also indirectly create a greater risk of agriculture and forestry pests and diseases.

Many crop plants, trees, and livestock may be harmed and consequently weakened by warmer temperatures and changes in precipitation. The weaker plants and animals may not be able to fend off infestations or infections as well as a stronger plants or animal, causing pests and diseases to affect more of the population. Increased temperatures may also increase evapotranspiration rates and water demand, which can increase production costs, salinity buildup in topsoil, and adversely impact yield and quantity of crops and livestock (Hall 2018). These could create secondary issues for increasing food insecurity and outdoor worker health. These impacts would be considered an IM0 for structures, and IM2 for functions and sensitive populations.

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AIR QUALITY
As discussed above, Hemet is predicted to experience slowly increasing temperatures and slightly increasing rates of precipitation by the end of the century, both of which could pose a threat to the ability of the region to meet and maintain the NAAQSs for ozone and PM. Air pollution is considered a risk factor for serious and sometime fatal public health outcomes, such as heart attacks, asthma, and cardiovascular and lung disease. In addition to Public Health, other functions such as Quality of Life, Ecological Function, and Agricultural Productivity may be directly impacted while Recreation and Tourism may be indirectly impacted. Elevated ground level pollutant levels pose no threat to structures.

The elderly, children, and the chronically ill are most at risk, and the NAAQS are designed to be health protective of these sensitive populations. The SCAQMD issues periodic Air Quality Advisories42 (for specific events such as fires, windblown dust, and ash) and produces next-day air quality forecasts43 that residents, public administrators, employers, and workers can consult regarding decisions to minimize exposure or curtail activities for sensitive populations, or in extreme cases, all populations. SCAQMD offers predictions of both the pollutant concentrations and the Air Quality Index (AQI) score for 44 distinct areas, including the Temecula Valley station near Hemet. The AQI rating system,44 where a pollutantspecific score of 100 equates to meeting the applicable NAAQS, is a relatively new tool easily understood by the public. The SCAQMD offers a mobile app in English and Spanish. The greatest limitation may be accessibility to the internet for people of low economic means. Those engaged in physical labor outdoors are also at elevated risk.

Tourism and recreation functions in Hemet may be indirectly impacted by increasing pollutant levels if the AQI were to become consistently elevated and results in a perceived decrease in the value of the recreational or tourism activity. This outcome is considered minimal and not likely to occur. Because climate-induced changes in temperature and precipitation predicted for Hemet are moderate though relatively slow to occur, impacts to agricultural interests would be moderate. Given the availability of data regarding daily predictions of potentially elevated pollutant levels, that the majority (approximately 49%) of Hemet’s residents are between ages 18 and 65, and Hemet has lower-than-County-average income, the impact from air quality to most populations, and to public health and quality of life is considered moderate. In alignment with suggested summary language in Table A-3 of WRCOG’s Vulnerability Assessment, community members may notice moderate impacts from air quality hazards, and there may be mild disruptions to some behaviors or actions, garnering an impact score of IM2.

PRECIPITATION CHANGES
The IPCC reports the probability of precipitation changing is over 90 percent. As discussed in Section 1.2 above, changes in annual average precipitation for Hemet due to climate change are expected to be minimal, increasing 0.3 to 1.2 inches, a range of 2.5 to 10.2 percent. See discussion regarding the potential for secondary flooding impacts in Section 3.3 below. Of greater concern is how the potential for 42 https://www.aqmd.gov/home/air-quality/air-quality-advisories ; Accessed March 22, 2022 43 https://www.aqmd.gov/home/air-quality/air-quality-forecasts ; Accessed March 22, 2022 44 https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics/ ; Accessed March 22, 2022

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loss of snowpack in the Sierras or Colorado River Basin or prolonged and more extreme droughts regionally may impact emergency water supplies for Hemet.

Most structures in Hemet are predicted to withstand the minimal increase in annual precipitation, including the sewage and water supply systems. The routine functions of the City, including water and sewer service, are expected to remain unchallenged by the increases in annual rainfall; agricultural productivity and groundwater supplies will likely benefit from the increases. With no service disruptions expected related to the increase in annual average local rainfall amounts, the potential for impacts to structures and functions would garner a score of IM0.

Threats to the quantity and quality of the water supply due to decreases in the snowpack that provide the majority of Hemet’s potable water and local drought conditions are not likely to impact the City’s water supply infrastructure and functions, parks, ecological function, and agricultural productivity. These would be considered an impact score of IM1.

FLOODING
The City’s LHMP acknowledges that existing flood risks are low within the City, likely to occur in the next year, and that the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE) stated in their LHMP that “There are no major areas of concern for our jurisdiction as all of our critical facilities are located in areas of low hazard flooding..”45
Because the increase in frequency and intensity of severe rainstorms predicted to occur in the future will result in increases in flooding, the risk to structures, transportation and mobility, energy delivery, public safety, and public health are expected to increase. The effects are not expected to impact sensitive receptors more than the general population. The performance of these assets and services may be somewhat degraded on occasion, resulting in an impact score of IM1.

SEVERE STORMS AND EXTREME WEATHER
As discussed in Sections 1.4.1 above, despite predictions of minimal changes in annual precipitation, Hemet is precited to experience an increase in the frequency of and water vapor transport rates associated with severe rainstorms, or so called “atmospheric rivers.” The ability of structures, functions, and sensitive populations to withstand extreme events may be different than impacts discussed for precipitation changes in Section 3.2 above.

The capacity of structures such as the storm sewer, sewage treatment system, and water supply system, to withstand more intense single-event rainstorms, or more frequent large storms, should be further studied, but is generally thought to be at some risk of increase stress to reliability. Secondary impacts, such as falling trees resulting in disruption to energy delivery and mobility, combined with stressed emergency and social services, could occasionally degrade public safety functions noticeably. These impacts would be experienced more by the elderly, individuals with disabilities, individuals without access lifelines, low45 Riverside County Office of Education, Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. Page 38. June 2017

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income communities, renters (not responsible for maintenance or repair of housing, for example), individuals with limited English skills, seasonal residents, and individuals uncertain about available resources because of citizenship status, than the general population of Hemet. This is primarily because temporarily moving out of storm-impacted housing to shelters is difficult to accomplish without access to reliable transportation, emergency communications in people’s primary language, paid time off, or trust in government assistance. These would be considered an impact score of IM1 (water infrastructure) to IM2 (functions and sensitive populations).

Extreme weather (e.g., hail, fog, lightening) is rare in Hemet, and as such, impacts to structures, functions, and sensitive populations from extreme weather are minimal. Santa Ana winds threaten to topple trees, interrupt energy delivery, and damage structures, creating temporary public safety and possible mobility/access issues. According to the LHMP, areas within the City of Hemet have been identified as a zone of high wind erosion susceptibility.46 Santa Ana windstorms may decrease as the effects of climate change increase through the end of the century, and the impact score for assets in Hemet would be IM1.

All populations share the potential to experience impacts from Santa Ana winds.

Land- or mudslides could result in the loss of structures, communication infrastructure, energy delivery, or transportation infrastructure (i.e., roadways), on a temporary or more substantive basis. There could be injuries and/or deaths, and damage to structures and personal property from landslides due to debris flow and/or flooding. This could create issues related to access, mobility, emergency services, and public safety. However, due in part to the low probability rating (as discussed in the Riverside MultiJurisdictional LHMP)47 and minimal areas of the city susceptible to land- or mudslides, these would be considered an impact score of IM1.

TEMPERATURE CHANGES
The southwestern Riverside communities are especially susceptible to changes in temperature, especially increased temperature maximums. This is due to their proximity to hotter desert climates and distance from temperate climates like coastal areas. As discussed in Section 1.5, the average maximum daytime temperature in Hemet is expected to rise noticeably (6.2 oF to 86.2 oF), in the 2035-to-2064-time frame, as compared to historic averages, and another 3 oF in the latter half of this century. Additionally, the number of extreme heat days per year (when maximum temperatures climb above 107.4 oF) in Hemet is predicted to rise appreciably, as are the cooling degree days.

As Hemet is accustomed to hot, dry temperatures, the integrity of the built environment, including structures and roadways, is not expected to be compromised by these rising temperatures. However, parks and recreational amenities may be negatively impacted. Energy delivery is most threatened as the demand for power to cool buildings increases when people seek shelter indoors from the heat. Hot temperatures can threaten water supply also. Agricultural productivity could decrease, and pest populations increase, increasing food insecurity. Employment and job access can be impacted, especially 46 Ibid. Page 33.
47 City of Hemet. (2018). County of Riverside, Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. Page 349. Hemet, CA: City of Hemet.

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for populations reliant upon mass transit due to the hardship of accessing public transportation (e.g., lack of adequate bus shelters, distance to nearest transit stop traversed by walking). Heat sensitivity (or heat intolerance) and heat stroke could increase, mosquito borne diseases would increase, air quality would degrade, and the desirability of recreating outdoors could decrease, threatening public health and quality of life. Seniors, children, individuals with disabilities, compromised immune systems, or chronic illnesses, individuals without access to lifelines, low-income communities, renters, seasonal residents, and the unhoused are most at risk from impacts due to rising temperatures. These impacts would be considered an IM3 for buildings, functions, and sensitive populations.

WILDFIRE
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) has recommended that the urban, low-lying areas in Hemet be classified as having a Moderate Fire Hazard, whereas the hillside and mountainous areas are generally classified as having a Very High Fire Hazard. The areas between the flatlands and the hillsides are classified as High Fire Hazard.

The State of California has seen increased wildfire activity and greater burn areas with each passing year and experts anticipate the trend to continue if climate change is not immediately addressed. Hemet contains multiple areas noted as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones which puts it in greater danger of experiencing potentially devastating wildfires. Wildfires pose immediate risks to structures and populations, but they also create additional indirect impacts to the health and safety of a community such as destruction of communication infrastructure, destruction or damage to recreational facilities, parks, and open spaces (such as environmental and ecological preserves), damage to power distribution infrastructure, and blocked evacuation routes, and stressed emergency services. Secondary impacts can include erosion, loss of vegetation leading to landslides, poor air quality, and public health issues.

Extreme heat can exacerbate wildfire risks. All populations can experience threats and effects of wildfires, but some are more pronounced in those with chronic illnesses and from lower economic means. Given the extent of the VHFHSZs in Hemet and the potential for increased stress, the impact score for wildfires would be IM2.

4.ADAPTIVE CAPACITY – WHAT IS OR CAN BE
CURRENTLY DONE TO ADDRESS THE IMPACTS?
Adaptive Capacity is defined as “the ability of the sensitivity to respond to impacts using existing resources”48. Although the process of evaluating the ability of a community, function, or asset to address the projected impacts relies on a combination of quantitative and qualitative data, an adaptive capacity assessment is primarily a qualitative effort.

For structures and functions the following topics are considered:
• Extent of existing policies, plans, or programs in place or being considered to guide the response • Availability and capacity of temporary alternatives while service is being restored 48 WRCOG, page A-27.

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• Fiscal impact and ability to respond or repair
• Whether recovery would be voluntary or mandatory
• Significant or insurmountable barriers to a full or timely response (i.e. requiring solutions that are technologically and/or politically infeasible)
To evaluate the adaptive capacity of populations, consider:
• Whether existing or planned policies or programs exist to assist individuals with the response, and whether community members have easy (and equitable) access to such services • The ability of the different populations to respond to an impact, including overcoming barriers such as fiscal, language, immigration status, access to lifelines (transportation, internet, cell phone, etc.), physical limitations, etc.
• Access to alternatives that may reduce or eliminate the hardships caused by the hazard • Significant or insurmountable barriers to adaptation (i.e. requiring solutions that are expensive of technologically difficult, require widespread lifestyle changes, and/or politically unpopular) Following the approach used by the WRCOG, scores ranging from AC0 (no feasible adaptation method available) to AC4 (adaptation easily implementable) will be assessed, based on the following definitions as shown in Table 2: WRCOG Adaptive Capacity Scores:

Table 2: WRCOG Adaptive Capacity Scores
Impact
Score
Summary
AC4 Assets and populations can adapt with little or no effort. Overall quality of life may improve as a result.

AC3 Adaptive solutions are feasible for most or all sensitivities. Some sensitivities may face limited challenges.

AC2 Threats can be reduced or mitigated, but solutions are only feasible for some assets. Many assets are likely to face substantive difficulties in adapting.

AC1 Adaptive solutions are expensive and/or technologically difficult, but feasible.

Approach may require politically unpopular actions or widespread lifestyle changes.

AC0 No method of adapting is currently feasible, although solutions may be possible in the future.

Source: Western Riverside Council of Governments. (2019). Western Riverside Adaptation and Resiliency Strategy: Part 1, Vulnerability Assessment. Table A-4: Adaptive Capacity Scores. Page A-28. Available at:
https://wrcog.us/DocumentCenter/View/7478/Western-Riverside-Adaptation-and-Resiliency-Strategy_Vulnerability-Assessment (Accessed March 22, 2022)
The City of Hemet and Riverside County both have a variety of plans adopted which each address various aspects of the potential threats outlined in this Climate Vulnerability Assessment. Both jurisdictions recognize the importance of public and private partnerships and planning for potential issues the

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community may face in the coming years. Table 3 identifies plans, programs, and reports that participate in ensuring Hemet’s preparedness during future potential climate change events.

Table 3: Planning Documents
Document Adoption Date
Hemet
General Plan 2012
Climate Action Plan 2018
Riverside County
Climate Action Plan 2019
WRCOG Subregional Climate Action Plan 2014
WRCOG Adaption and Resiliency Strategy 2014
WRCOG Model Book 2014
Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan 2018

AIR QUALITY
Local ground level air pollutant levels are created by emissions generated within Hemet, in the surrounding vicinity and communities, and, for some pollutants, emissions released upwind “can travel great distances (i.e., hundreds of miles), affecting air quality and public health regionally.”49 The good news is, the SCAQMD, CARB, and USEPA are regulatorily mandated to make progress towards meeting and maintaining the NAAQS, and substantial progress has been made within the Basin to reduce emissions. Feasible adaptive solutions, such as reducing reliance on fossil-fuels in personal and commercial vehicles, and requiring enhanced filtration in residences, exist. However, they are expensive, technologically difficult, and/or politically unpopular. Locally, the City has established a number of policies in the Safety Element, Circulation Element, and Open Space & Conservation Element to the General Plan that would help to reduce GHG emissions, and provide the co-benefit of reducing emissions of harmful criteria air pollutants, including:

C-1.3: Maintain Level of Service (LOS) C or better for roadway segment operations, and LOS D or better for peak-hour intersection movements. Portions of Florida Avenue and Sanderson Avenue may operate at or below LOS D on a case-by-case basis.

C-2.6: Promote the extension of Metrolink service on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway line from Riverside to stations located near the realigned SR 79 and downtown Hemet.

C-2.7: Coordinate with Western Riverside Council of Governments, Riverside County, and 49 United States Environmental Protection Agency, “What is Interstate Air Pollutant Transport?”, https://www.epa.gov/interstate-air-pollution-transport/what-interstate-air-pollution-transport; accessed March 22, 2022.

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Riverside County Transportation Commission to identify, protect, and pursue opportunities for public transit along major transportation corridors and future rail service that connect the City with other population and employment centers.

C-3.6: Work with HUSD, local private schools, parent teacher associations, homeowner associations, and other interested parties to establish safe drop-off and pick-up zones, create “walking school buses” and “bike trains”, encourage carpooling, and facilitate expanded use of crossing guards.

C-4.1: Promote urban design measures that encourage alternatives to single-occupancy vehicle transportation and direct new growth along transportation corridors as a means of reducing roadway congestion, air pollution, and non-point source water pollution.

C-4.2: Support a variety of transit vehicle types and technologies and encourage alternatives to single-occupancy automobile use such as rail, public transit, paratransit, walking, cycling, and ridesharing.

C-4.3: Identify opportunities to implement the Western Riverside County Non-Motorized Transportation Plan within key activity centers of the City through the development nonmotorized transportation corridors and facilities.

C-4.4: Promote the use of neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) by using low-speed streets within projects and by ensuring connectivity with adjacent supporting uses such as neighborhood commercial uses.

C-4.5: Require new development to include opportunities for alternative transportation, such as bicycle paths, pedestrian connections, bicycle storage, and other facilities such as NEV paths, and charging stations.

C-4.6: Encourage and promote the reduction of vehicle miles traveled for all vehicles and for carbon-based fueled vehicles, and reduce the use of gasoline and diesel fuel for onroad vehicles in accordance with Senate Bill 375 regional and/or subregional targets established by the California Air Resources Board. Create and implement programs that will aid in improving air quality by reducing motor vehicle trips, such as those programs recommended by the Regional Transportation Plan, Riverside County Integrated Project, and the Southern California Air Quality Management Board.

C-4.7 Encourage all employers, especially employers of 100 or more persons to support

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alternative forms of transportation by providing appropriate facilities, including parking for vanpools, bicycle parking, and passenger loading areas.

C-4.9: Promote public transportation systems that use alternative fuels or promote energy conservation.

C-4.11: Encourage new senior citizen and multiple-family housing projects of greater than 100 units to provide transportation services as a project amenity.

C-4.12: Coordinate the development of new public facilities with mass transit service and other alternative transportation services and facilities including the consideration of light rail/monorail within the City.

C-4.13: Require the provision of park-and-ride facilities at transit centers and stations and potential carpool origination points.

C-7.2: Ensure that environmental impacts such as noise, air quality, pollution, traffic congestion, and public safety hazards associated with continued operation of Hemet-Ryan Airport are mitigated to the extent practical.

CSI-5.10: Explore the use of grant funds and programs with SCE and non-profit agencies to establish programs for energy conservation (e.g., home weatherization, Energy Star applicants) and transition to the use of clean and renewable energy (e.g., photovoltaic retrofits, solar hot water heaters and pumps)
PS-7.5.5: a leadership position in the development and use of renewable energy resources such as wind, geothermal, solar, biomass, and hydro.

OS-6.1: Encourage the efficient use of energy resources by residential, commercial, and industrial users by requiring project proposals to incorporate energy-efficient products and techniques into their designs in accordance with adopted California Green Building Standards Code standards and other development standards.

OS-6.2: Encourage the efficient use of energy resources by residential, commercial, and industrial users by requiring project proposals to incorporate energy-efficient products and techniques into their designs in accordance with adopted California Green Building Standards Code standards and other development standards.

OS-6.3: Encourage homeowners, business owners, and other energy users to use incentives offered by federal, state, and utility companies; to identify voluntary retrofit

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opportunities and funding options that increase building energy performance; and to reduce energy consumption.

OS-6.4: Require Redevelopment Agency–funded projects, public sector projects, and publicly owned institutions and facilities to use systems, methods, and practices that promote energy conservation.

OS-6.5: Support the use and production of clean energy resources through green technology and programs that promote wind, solar, renewable, biomass, and cogenerating energy resources, where compatible with adjacent land uses.

OS-6.6: Encourage existing or new structures to maximize solar access by promoting passive solar energy design, natural ventilation, effective use of daylight, an onsite solar generation.

OS-7.1: Reduce the amount of air pollution emissions from mobile and stationary sources, and enhance the South Coast Air Basin by using best management practices in development proposals and project implementation.

OS-7.2: Pursue expansion of the public transportation system, as well as bicycle and pedestrian trails, that are linked to the regional transit network, to reduce vehicle trips.

OS-7.3: Promote the use of fuel-efficient and low-emissions vehicles, including neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs).

OS-7.4: Manage the municipal fleet to achieve the highest possible number of fuel-efficient and low emissions vehicles commercially available.

OS-7.5: Encourage a mix of housing types that are affordable to all segments of the population and are near job opportunities to further reduce vehicle trips.

OS-7.6: Encourage employers to implement transportation demand management (TDM) measures to reduce trips and vehicle miles traveled.

OS-7.7: Encourage businesses to use clean, innovative technologies and promote the use of alternative clean-fueled vehicles, new transportation technologies, and other alternatives to the combustion engine for City vehicles and individual use.

OS-7.8: Encourage green building techniques that improve indoor air quality, energy efficiency and conservation in buildings, and utilization of renewable energy sources.

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OS-7.9: Continue to minimize stationary source pollution through the following:
▪ Ensure that industrial and commercial land uses are meeting existing South Coast Air Quality Management air thresholds by adhering to established rules and regulations.
▪ Encourage the use of new technology to neutralize harmful criteria pollutants from stationary sources.
▪ Reduce exposure of the City’s sensitive receptor s to poor air quality nodes through smart land use decisions.

OS-7.11: Reduce the amount of fugitive dust released into the atmosphere by construction and demolition, materials handling, paved roads, unpaved roads, and stock piles through development standards and compliance with CEQA regulations.

This study recommends adding the following policies:

PS-14.7: The City shall maintain consistent outreach to notify the community of extreme air quality and hazards.

PS-14.8: Continue to require environmental analysis for proposed projects which may produce harmful levels of greenhouse gas.

CSI-7.3: Promote alternative forms of energy production such as solar or wind power.

Overall, the adaptive capacity of the potentially impacted functions and sensitive populations would be rated as AC1, in accordance with Table A-4 of WRCOG’s Vulnerability Assessment and Table 6, above.

PRECIPITATION CHANGES
This section will focus on the functions, structures, and places which were identified in Section 3.4 as susceptible to reliability and effectiveness issues arising from the chronic stress of decreased or threatened water supply, and sensitive populations negatively impacted by food insecurity, employment challenges, and declines in emotional and mental health, recreation, and overall quality of life. Drought conditions are becoming increasingly common in California and are best managed at the State level.

Water supply in Hemet is primarily sourced from local groundwater, however there are also connections served by the Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) and Lake Hemet Municipal Water District (LHWMD); the former which obtains water from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD). Threats to water supply can be somewhat mitigated by reducing demand but not fully alleviated. Some functions, such as agriculture and open space/recreation facilities may face substantial difficulties in adapting. EMWD maintains Water Use Efficiency Requirements, found in Article 6 – Water Conservation section of the

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Administrative Code,50 and periodically updates these policies, including but not limited to use restrictions, tiered rates, and water efficient landscaping requirements, to provide long-term water reliability for existing and future customers.

The City’s Safety Element, Community Services and Infrastructure Element, and Open Space & Conservation Element contains goals and policies aimed at increasing the resiliency of water and wastewater infrastructure and systems, including the following:

CSI-2.1: Coordinate with the Eastern Municipal Water District and Lake Hemet Municipal Water District to meet the projected water demand and to ensure reduction of existing and projected water supply impacts.

CSI-2.2: Require evidence of adequate water supply, or a water supply assessment when appropriate pursuant to state law, to support proposed development.

CSI-2.3: Developments shall be required to install water facilities sufficient to meet performance standards established by the water agency serving the project. All facilities must be operational prior to issuance of building permits.

CSI-2.7: Ensure that adequate aquifer water recharge areas are preserved and protected through a comprehensive water management strategy.

CSI-3.1: New development shall install sufficient sewer facilities needed to meet performance standards established by the site’s wastewater collection agency.

CSI-3.4: Promote the extension of sanitary sewers to serve all new and existing land uses and densities, as feasible, to protect groundwater quality. Require new development, and existing development where feasible, to connect to the sanitary sewer system.

Exceptions may be considered for properties with a minimum lot size of ½ acre and that are located more than 660 feet from a sewer line.

CSI-4.3: Prevent pollutant discharge into storm drain systems and natural drainages and aquifers by cooperating in regional programs with stakeholders and the Regional Water Quality Control Board to implement the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program, Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans, Water Quality Master Plans, , comply with the requirements of the Lake Elsinore Canyon Lake TMDL to reduce 50EMWD Administrative Code, Adopted May 15, 2013; https://www.emwd.org/sites/main/files/fileattachments/admincode.em_._6.19.19_full_pkt_rev_070219_0.pdf?1619022636 ; accessed May 10, 2022.

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Hemet City CouncilSeptember 24, 2024

Hemet City Council
September 24, 2024