Planning Commission Resolution 25-02
LHMP Adoption
HERCULES PLANNING COMMISSION
RESOLUTION NO. 25-02
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL ADOPT AN UPDATED LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN (LHMP) TO
REPLACE THE EXISTING LHMP ATTACHMENT TO THE GENERAL PLAN SAFETY
ELEMENT, MAKE MINOR TEXT MODIFICATIONS TO THE SAFETY ELEMENT FOR
CONSISTENCY PURPOSES , AND FIND THE ACTION EXEMPT FROM CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) PURSUANT TO CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15061(B)(3).
WHEREAS, the Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires all cities to adopt a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan to receive disaster mitigation funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Assembly Bill No. 2140, passed in 2006, California cities may qualify to be considered for additional State cost -share on eligible p ublic assistance projects by adopting a FEMA-approved Local Hazard Mitigation Plan as part of their General Plan Safety Element; and
WHEREAS, the City of Hercules ’ Local Hazard Mitigation Plan was prepared in conjunction with the countywide Hazard Mitigation Plan update led by Contra Costa County as the lead agency; and
WHEREAS, the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan has been prepared in accordance with the Disaster Mitigation Action of 2000, and the City of Hercules affirms that the Plan will be reviewed and updated as necessary no less than every five (5) years; and
WHEREAS, the proposed LHMP and consistency modifications to the Safety Element are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) – Common Sense Exemption, in that the LHMP is a data collection, assembly and assessment document that does not allow or require any action that might have a physical effect on the environment. Further, none of the circumstances described in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 applies; and
WHEREAS, the City completed the Senate Bill 18 Tribal Notification process, with two (2) tribes,
Confederated Villages of Lisjan Nation and the Indian Canyon Band of Costanoan Ohlone People, requesting consultation within the 90-day consultation timeframe, both of which have been concluded; and
WHEREAS, minor revisions to the Safety Element are being made to replace the existing Local Hazard Mitigation Plan with the newly adopted version, to update the description and to revise the references to the adoption date, as shown in Exhibit A; and
Docusign Envelope ID: D2574459-0B9A-4144-A801-7045B54FFF3C Planning Commission Resolution 25-02
LHMP Adoption
WHEREAS, on April 21, 2025, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing to consider these amendments and did hear and use its independent judgment to consider all said reports, recommendations, and testimony hereinabove set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Planning Commission of the City of Hercules recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan as a replacement of the existing attachment to the Safety Element.
2. Approve minor text modifications to the Safety Element for consistency purposes , attached as Exhibit A.
3. Find the action exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Planning Commission of the City of Hercules on this 21st day of April, 2025 by the following vote:
AYES: Rubio, Most-Walker, Schaufenbil, Morrison, and Jimenez
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Hector Rubio, Chair
ATTEST:
Timothy Rood, AICP
Community Development Director
Exhibit A – Minor Text Modifications to Hercules Safety Element
Docusign Envelope ID: D2574459-0B9A-4144-A801-7045B54FFF3C
Exhibit A – Hercules Safety Element – Text Amendments
HERCULES SAFETY ELEMENT – PAGE VI-3
RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER CITY PLANS .................................................................................................... 21 REFUGIO CREEK WATERSHED VISION PLAN ............................................................................................ 21 CITY OF HERCULES EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN (2014) .................................................................... 21 CITY OF HERCULES THREAT ASSESSMENT / EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN (2008) ........................................ 21 CITY OF HERCULES LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN (20202025) ......................................................... 22 WATERFRONT DISTRICT MASTER PLAN (2012) ......................................................................................... 22 CITY OF HERCULES CLIMATE ACTION PLAN ............................................................................................ 22
HERCULES SAFETY ELEMENT - Page VI-22
CITY OF HERCULES LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN (20202025) A Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) is a five -year plan that identifies hazards, assesses vulnerabilities, and outlines strategies to reduce disaster damage. The goal is to reduce loss of life, injury, and property damage.
LHMP Key Components:
• Community profile: Describes the community
• Hazards assessment: Identifies natural hazards that the community faces • Risk assessment: Assesses the community's vulnerabilities to those hazards • Mitigation actions: Outlines strategies to reduce the impact of disasters • Implementation and maintenance programs: Describes how the mitigation actions will be carried out and maintained
The Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires all cities, counties, and special districts to adopt an LHMP to receive disaster mitigation funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This plan must be adopted by local governments every five (5) years.
Pursuant to Assembly Bill No. 2140, passed in 2006, California counties and cities can be considered for additional state cost-share on eligible Public Assistance projects by adopting a FEMA-approved Local Hazard Mitigation Plan as part of their Safety Elements.
In conjunction with the update to the Safety Element, the City of Hercules authored a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. The purpose of the plan is hazard identification, risk assessment, and mitigation strategies for protecting people, property and the environment in the City of Hercules. The Plan focused on four hazards that could have the greatest impact on the city. The hazard ranking process involves an assessment of the likelihood of occurrence for each hazard, along with its potential impacts on people, property, and the economy. Hercules aligned their Goals and Objectives with Contra Costa County’s Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan for consistency. The plan complies with federal and state hazard mitigation planning requirements to establish eligibility for funding under the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and fulfills requirements for climate change adaptation and resilience under Gov. Code 65302(g)(4).
Docusign Envelope ID: D2574459-0B9A-4144-A801-7045B54FFF3C