Hesperia City Council
May 6, 2025

Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Meeting Agenda
Closed Session - 5:00 PM
Regular Meeting - 6:30 PM

HESPERIA CITY COUNCIL

SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY

HOUSING AUTHORITY

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

WATER DISTRICT

HESPERIA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT - SPECIAL MEETING
City Council Chambers
9700 Seventh Ave., Hesperia CA, 92345
City Clerk's Office: (760) 947-1007
City Council Members
Allison Lee, Mayor
Cameron Gregg, Mayor Pro Tem
Brigit Bennington, Council Member
Chris Ochoa, Council Member
Josh Pullen, Council Member
Rachel Molina, City Manager
Pam K. Lee, City Attorney
NOTE: In compliance with the Americans with Disability Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (760) 947-1007 or (760) 947-1026. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility.

To leave a Public Comment by phone, call and leave a recorded message at (760) 947-1026 up to 5:30 pm on the day of the scheduled meeting. City Council meetings may be viewed live or after the event on the City’s website at www.cityofhesperia.us.

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May 6, 2025City Council Meeting Agenda

REGULAR MEETING AGENDA

HESPERIA CITY COUNCIL

SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY

HESPERIA HOUSING AUTHORITY

HESPERIA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

HESPERIA WATER DISTRICT

HESPERIA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT - SPECIAL MEETING
9700 7th Avenue, Council Chambers, Hesperia, CA 92345
As a courtesy, please silence your cell phones and other electronic devices while the meeting is in session. Thank you.

Prior to action of the Council, any member of the audience will have the opportunity to address the legislative body on any item listed on the agenda, including those on the Consent Calendar.

Individuals wishing to speak during General Public Comments or on a particular numbered item must submit a speaker slip to the City Clerk with the agenda item noted. Speaker slips should be turned in prior to the public comment portion of the agenda or before an agenda item is discussed. Comments will be limited to three minutes for General Public Comments, Consent Calendar items and New Business items. Comments are limited to five minutes for Public Hearing items.

In compliance with the Brown Act, the City Council may not discuss or take action on non-agenda items or engage in question and answer sessions with the public. The City Council may ask brief questions for clarification; provide a reference to staff or other resources for factual information and direct staff to add an item to a subsequent meeting.

CLOSED SESSION - 5:00 PM
Roll Call
Mayor Allison Lee
Mayor Pro Tem Cameron Gregg
Council Member Brigit Bennington
Council Member Chris Ochoa
Council Member Josh Pullen
Conference with Legal Counsel - Potential Litigation:

Government Code Section 54956.9(d)2 & (e)(1)

1. One (1) Case
Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)1

1. Sully-Miller Contracting, et al. v. City of Hesperia et al., SBSC Case No.

CIVSB2410614
Personnel Matters - Performance Evaluations
Government Code Section 54957

1. Performance Evaluation - City Attorney

2. Performance Evaluation - City Manager

May 6, 2025City Council Meeting Agenda
CALL TO ORDER - 6:30 PM
A.

Invocation
B. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
C. Roll Call
Mayor Allison Lee
Mayor Pro Tem Cameron Gregg
Council Member Brigit Bennington
Council Member Chris Ochoa
Council Member Josh Pullen
D. Agenda Revisions and Announcements by City Clerk
E. Closed Session Reports by City Attorney

ANNOUNCEMENTS/PRESENTATIONS

1. Presentation by Hesperia High School Career Technical Education Business Class of a donation to the Hesperia Animal Shelter.

GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS (For items and matters not listed on the agenda) Individuals wishing to speak during General Public Comments or on a particular numbered item are requested to submit a speaker slip to the City Clerk with the agenda item noted. Speaker slips should be turned in prior to the public comment portion of the joint agenda or before an agenda item is discussed. Comments will be limited to three minutes for General Public Comments, Consent Calendar items and New Business items. Comments are limited to five minutes for Public Hearing items.

In compliance with the Brown Act, the City Council may not discuss or take action on non-agenda items or engage in question and answer sessions with the public. The City Council may ask brief questions for clarification; provide a reference to staff or other resources for factual information and direct staff to add an item to a subsequent meeting.

JOINT CONSENT CALENDAR

1. Consideration of the Draft Minutes from the Regular Meeting held Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

Recommended Action:

It is
recommended that the City Council approve the Draft Minutes from the Regular Meeting held Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

Staff Person: Deputy City Manager/City Clerk Melinda Sayre Draft CC Min 2025-04-15Attachments:

2. Warrant Run Report (City- Successor Agency- Housing Authority- Community

May 6, 2025City Council Meeting Agenda
Development Commission- Water)
Recommended Action:

It
is recommended that the Council/Board ratify the warrant run and payroll report for the City, Successor Agency to the Hesperia Community Redevelopment Agency, Hesperia Housing Authority, Community Development Commission, and Water District.

Staff Person: Assistant City Manager Casey Brooksher
SR Warrant Run 5-6-2025
Attachment 1 - Warrant Run
Attachments:

3. Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Grant Application to the California Department of Parks and Recreation
Recommended Action:

It is recommended that the City Council approve and adopt Resolution No. 2025-11 authorizing the submission of a California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle (OHV) Grant Application to the California Department of Parks and Recreation for a total of $104,216.00 and authorize the City Manager and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department to execute the Application and any amendments thereto on behalf of the City.

Staff Person: Captain Steve Allen
SR Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Grant Application 5-6-2025 Resolution 2025-11
Attachment 2- Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Grant Application Attachments:

4. Three-Year Service Agreement with Vector Resources, Inc. dba VectorUSA Recommended Action:

It
is recommended that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute a three-year professional services agreement with Vector Resources, Inc. dba VectorUSA for a total not-to-exceed contract amount of $140,376 for the provision and installation of Fortinet firewalls, WiFi access points, and associated licensing.

Staff Person: Assistant City Manager Casey Brooksher
SR Vector Resources Service Agreement 5-6-2025Attachments:

5. Contract with Badger Meter, Inc.

Recommended Action:

It
is recommended that the Board of Directors of the Hesperia Water District authorize the City Manager to approve a contract for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 with Badger Meter, Inc. in the not-to-exceed amount of $900,000. An anticipated $600,000 will be expended for the purchase of cellular endpoints and registers for automated meter reading infrastructure. An additional $300,000 is allocated

May 6, 2025City Council Meeting Agenda
for the purchase of water meters and related water meter parts.

Staff Person: Director of Public Works/City Engineer Cassandra Sanchez SR Contract with Badger Meter, Inc. 5-6-2025Attachments:

6. Ad-Hoc Committee Collaboration Opportunity
Recommended Action:

It
is recommended that the City Council approve the addition of a discussion item for the City / Hesperia Recreation and Park District (HRPD) Ad Hoc Committee, regarding the proposed Hesperia Animal Shelter Play Yard Capital Improvement Project.

Staff Person: Assistant to the City Manager Tammy Pelayes SR Ad-Hoc Committee Collaboration Opportunity 5-6-2025Attachments:

PUBLIC HEARING
Individuals wishing to comment on public hearing items must submit a speaker slip to the City Clerk with the numbered agenda item noted. Speaker slips should be turned in prior to an agenda item being taken up.

Comments will be limited to five minutes for Public Hearing items.

WAIVE READING OF ORDINANCES
Approve the reading by title of all ordinances and declare that said titles which appear on the public agenda shall be determined to have been read by title and further reading waived.

7. Development Code Amendment DCA25-00001; Applicant: City of Hesperia; Area affected: City-wide
Recommended Action:

The Planning Commission recommends that the City Council introduce and place on first reading Ordinance No. 2025-01, approving Development Code Amendment DCA25-00001, which modifies development standards related to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (Junior ADUs).

Staff Person: Principal Planner Ryan Leonard
SR ADU Development Standards Update 5-6-2025
Ordinance 2025-01
Attachment 2 - Exhibit A: HMC Modifications
Attachments:

8. Appeal Hearing for the Revocation of Business License No. BL-50006 held by HSP Hotels, LLC
Recommended Action:

It is recommended that the City Council conduct an appeal hearing regarding the revocation of Business License No. BL-50006, held by HSP Hotels, LLC, doing business as Holiday Inn Express ("Operator"), located at 9750 Key Point Avenue.

May 6, 2025City Council Meeting Agenda
Following the hearing, it is further recommended that the City Council determine that
the Operator is in violation of Hesperia Municipal Code Section 3.10.050 due to its failure to remit Transient Occupancy Tax (“TOT”), thereby causing financial harm to the City and its taxpayers. Based on this finding, the City Council should uphold the revocation of Business License No. BL-50006 in accordance with Hesperia Municipal Code Section 5.04.140(A)(4).

Staff Person: Director of Development Services Nathan Freeman SR Appeal Hearing for Revocation of Business License 5-6-2025 Attachment 1- April 25, 2024 Demand Letter
Attachment 2a - November 14, 2024 Letter from City to Operator Attachment 2b - Returned Certified Mail Receipt
Attachment 3 - January 27, 2025 Notice of Intent to Revoke BL-50006 Attachment 4 - February 6, 2025 Revocation Letter 15 day Appeal Attachment 5 - February 18, 2025 Appeal Letter
Attachment 6 - City's Response to Appeal Letter
Attachment 7 - Hesperia Municipal Code Chapters 3.10 and 5.04 Attachment 8 - Estimated Unpaid TOT Amounts of Operator Attachments:

9. Resolution to consider approving the issuance of Tax-Exempt Bonds for the benefit of La Verne Elementary Preparatory Academy, and/or Related Entity Recommended Action:

It is recommended that the City Council:

1. Conduct a public hearing regarding the proposed issuance of tax-exempt financing, in an amount not to exceed $22,000,000, for the benefit of 9966 I Ave, LLC, a California limited liability company whose sole member is LaVerne Elementary Preparatory Academy Foundation, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation, and/or a related entity (the “Borrower”).

The financing would be used to (a) finance and/or refinance the costs of acquiring, constructing, installing, improving, furnishing, and equipping charter school facilities located at 16955 Lemon Street, Hesperia, California 92345, in the amount of $21,000,000, and 9966 I Avenue, Hesperia, California 92345, in the amount of $1,000,000; (b) fund a debt service reserve and related working capital; (c) paying capitalized interest on the bonds; and (d) pay issuance and other related costs associated with the project; and

2. Adopt a resolution approving the issuance of tax-exempt bonds in an amount not to exceed $22,000,000 by the California Public Finance Authority (CalPFA).

Staff Person: Director of Development Services Nathan Freeman SR La Verne Elementary Preparatory Bond Approval 5-6-2025 Resolution 2025-13
Attachments:

NEW BUSINESS

May 6, 2025City Council Meeting Agenda

10. FY 2025-26 Budget Workshop #1- Operating Budget
Recommended Action:

It
is recommended that the City Council/Board receive and file this staff report, which provides information about the current status of the City of Hesperia’s proposed operating budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26.

Staff Person: Assistant City Manager Casey Brooksher
SR FY 2025-26 Budget Workshop #1 5-6-2025Attachments:

11. Reestablishing Healthy Hesperia
Recommended Action:

It
is recommended that the City Council provide direction to staff on opportunities to reestablish the previously adopted Healthy Hesperia initiative.

Staff Person: Public Relations Analyst Kelly Brady
SR Reestablishing Healthy Hesperia 5-6-2025Attachments:

12. 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
Recommended Action:

It
is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2025-12, approving the 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) Update, and authorize staff to make future non-substantive revisions to the plan as needed.

Staff Person: Management Analyst Jacquelyn Castillo
SR 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan 5-6-2025
Resolution 2025-12
Attachment 2 - FEMA Review Letter
Attachment 3 - 2024 Mitigation Plan (Available on the City's website) Attachments:

COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS AND COMMENTS
The Council may report on their activities as appointed representatives of the City on various Boards and Committees and/or may make comments of general interest or report on their activities as a representative of the City.

CITY MANAGER/CITY ATTORNEY/STAFF REPORTS
The City Manager, City Attorney or staff may make announcements or reports concerning items of interest to the Council and the public.

ADJOURNMENT

May 6, 2025City Council Meeting Agenda
I, Jessica Giber, Assistant City Clerk of the City of Hesperia, California do hereby certify that I caused to be posted the foregoing agenda on Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. pursuant to California Government Code §54954.2.
_____________________________
Jessica Giber,
Assistant City Clerk
Documents produced by the City and distributed less than 72 hours prior to the meeting regarding items on the agenda will be made available in the City Clerk's Office during normal business hours.

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City of Hesperia
City of Hesperia
Meeting Minutes – Draft
City Council
Tuesday, April 15, 2025 6:30 PM

REGULAR MEETING AGENDA

HESPERIA CITY COUNCIL

SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY

HESPERIA HOUSING AUTHORITY

HESPERIA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

HESPERIA WATER DISTRICT
CLOSED SESSION - 4:30 PM
Roll Call

Present: 5 - Mayor Lee, Mayor Pro Tem Gregg, Council Member Bennington, Council Member Ochoa and Counci
l Member Pullen
Conference with Legal Counsel - Potential Litigation: Government Code Section 54956.9(d)2

1.Two (2) Cases
Personnel Mat
ters - Performance Evaluations
Government Code Section 54957

1. Performance Evaluation - City Attorney

2. Perform
ance Evaluation - City Manager
CALL TO ORDER - 6:36 PM
A. Invocation
B. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
C. Roll Call

Present: 5 - Mayor Lee, Mayor Pro Tem Gregg, Council Member Bennington, Council Member Ochoa and Counci
l Member Pullen
D. A genda Revisions and Announcements by City Clerk – None City Council Chambers
9700 Seventh Ave.

Hesperia CA, 92345

City of Hesperia
E. Closed Session Reports by City Attorney
Closed session was recessed at 6:32 pm, to be reconvened at the close of the regular meeting.

ANNOUNCEMENTS/PRESENTATIONS

1. Presentation of Proclamation to The San Bernardino County Children’s Network declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

2. City Hall Employee of the Quarter to Yvonne Kliewer, Administrative Secretary by Nathan Freeman, Director of Development Services.

3. Recognition of former City Council Advisory Committee members by the City Council.

GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS (For items and matters not listed on the agenda) The following people commented:

Bob Nelson
Ramon Franco
Joe Giammona

JOINT CONSENT CALENDAR
A motion was made by Gregg, seconded by Ochoa that the Joint Consent Calendar be approved.

The motion carried by the following vote:

Aye: 5 - Gregg, Bennington, Lee, Ochoa, and Pullen
Nay: 0

1. Consideration of the Draft Minutes from the Regular Meeting held Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

Recommended Action:

It is recommended that the City Council approve the Draft Minutes from the Regular Meeting held Tuesda
y, April 1, 2025.

Sponsors: Deputy City Manager/City Clerk Melinda Sayre

2. Warrant Run Report (City - Successor Agency - Housing Authority - Community Development Comm
ission - Water)
Recommended Action:

It is recommended that the Council/Board ratify the warrant run and payroll report for the City, Successor Agency to the Hes
peria Community Redevelopment Agency, Hesperia Housing Authority, Community Development Commission, and Water District.

Sponsors: Assistant City Manager Casey Brooksher

3. Treasurer’s Cash Report for the unaudited period ended February 28, 2025 Recommended Action:

It is recommended that the Council/Board accept the Treasurer’s Cash Report for the City, Successor Agency to the Hes
peria Community Redevelopment Agency, Hesperia Housing Authority, Community Development Commission, and Water District.

City of Hesperia
Sponsors: Assistant City Manager Casey Brooksher

4. Leasing Program for Wireless Communication Facilities on City- and Water Fund-Owned Proper ty Recommend
ed Action:

It is recommended that the City Council and Board of Directors of Hesperia Water District approve the proposed Leasing
Program for Wireless Communication Facilities on City- and Water District-owned property.

Sponsors: Director of Development Services Nathan Freeman

5. Award Profes sional Service Agreements for Engineering and Public Works Plan Check Services Recommended Action:

It is recommended that the City Council and Board of Directors of the Hesperia Water District approve the award of
a Professional Services Agreement (PSA) to three (3) professional consultants to provide On-Call Engineering and Public Works Plan Check Services for an initial term of three (3) years and eac h contract in an am
ount not to exceed $200,000 for each consultant as follows:

Plan Check Consultant Firm
Transtech Engineers, Inc. $200,000
Engineering Resources of Southern California, Inc. $200,000 WestLAND Group, Inc. $200,000
Sponsors: Director of Public Works/City Engineer Cassandra Sanchez

6. Consideration of the US-395 Utility Agreement with San Bernardino County Transportation Authority Recommended Action:

It is recommended that the City Council and Board of Directors of the Hesperia Water District approve a utility agreem
ent with the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) for the reimburs
ement associated with the relocation of a portion of waterline within the City of Hesperia on US-395 High
way.

Sponsors: Director of Public Works/City Engineer Cassandra Sanchez

7. Purchase of Audio / Video System for Interview and Observation Rooms Recommended Action:

It is recommended that the City Council approve the purchase of a new Genetec Audio / Video system to replace the video r
ecording system in the two interview rooms and two observation rooms at the Hesperi a Police Department.

Sponsors: Captain Stev
e Allen

PUBLIC HEARING

8. Public Hearing and Adoption of the Community Development Block Grant 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and the 2025-2026 Actio
n Plan

City of Hesperia
Recommended Action:

It is recommended that the City Council conduct a public hearing and, upon accepting public testimony:

1.Adopt
Resolution No. 2025-09, approving a) the City’s Five Year 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan; and b) the 2025-2026 Action Plan, including any modifications or amendments as directed by the City Council;

2.Authorize staff to modify the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and 2025-2026 Action Plan based on City Council’s direction; and

3.Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute and transmit all necessary documents, ensuring the City’s timely receipt of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding Sponsors: Director of Development Services Nathan Freeman and Economic Development Supervisor Eydee Jimenez
Dr. Cisneros commented.

A motion was made by Gregg, seconded by Ochoa, that this item be approved. The motion carried by the follow
ing vote:

Aye: 5 - Lee, Gregg, Bennington, Ochoa and Pullen
Nay: 0

9. Substantial Amendment to the 2021-2022, 2023-2024, and 2024-2025 Community Development Block Grant Annual
Action Plans
Recommended Action:

It is recommended that the City Council:

1.Conduct
a public hearing and adopt Resolution No. 2025-010, including any necessary modifications, following public testimony;

2.Approve a substantial amendment to the 2021-2022, 2023-2024, and 2024-2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Annual Action Plans by reallocating a total of $1,063,171 from unprogrammed prior-year (2019-2024) CDBG funds to the Program Year (PY) 2023 and PY 2024 Street Improvement projects; and

3.Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute and transmit all necessary documents, including the substantial amendment to the annual Action Plans and any additional amendments, to ensure the timely expenditure of CDBG funds.

Sponsors: Director of Development Services Nathan Freeman and Economic Development Supervisor Eydee Jimenez
Dr. Cisneros commented.

A motion was made by Bennington, seconded by Gregg, that this item be approved. The motion carried by th
e following vote:

Aye: 5 - Lee, Gregg, Bennington, Ochoa and Pullen
Nay: 0

NEW BUSINESS

City of Hesperia

10. Consideration of the plans for the Animal Shelter Play Yard Recommended Action:

It is recommended that the City Council receive and file a presentation on the upcoming Animal Shelter Play Yard.

Sponsors:

Director of Public Works/City Engineer Cassandra Sanchez Dr. Cisneros commented.

Kim Koones commented.

Gina Whelan commented.

Receive and file item.

11. Amend the Professional Services Agreements for On-Call Engineering Services Recommend
ed Action:

It is recommended that the City Council and Board of the Hesperia W ater District 1) Approve
an amendment to each of the three existing contracts to provide on-call engineering services in the amount
of $300,000 each, for a revised not-to-exceed contract amount of $650,000 each 2) Approve a two-
year contract extension and
3)
Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the amendment to the Agreement and any other necessary documents related thereto.

Sponsors: Director of Publ
ic Works/City Engineer Cassandra Sanchez
A motion was made by Gregg, seconded by Bennington, that this item be approved. The motion carried by the following vote:

Aye: 5 - Lee, Gregg, Bennington, Ochoa and Pullen
Nay: 0

12. Amend the Professional Services Agreements for On-Call Engineering Design Services for Roadwa y Projects Funded by the CD
BG Program
Recommended Action:

It is recommended that the City Council:
1) Approve
an amendment to each of the three existing on-call contracts for On-Call Engineering Services
for roadway improvement projects funded by the City’s annual Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG) in the amount of $350,000 each, for a revised not-to-exceed contract amount of $700,000 each;
2) Approve a
two-year contract extension; and
3)
Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the amendment to the Agreement and any other necessary documents related thereto.

Sponsors: Director of Publ
ic Works/City Engineer Cassandra Sanchez
A motion was made by Ochoa, seconded by Pullen, that this item be approved. The motion carried by the following vote:

City of Hesperia

Aye: 5 - Lee, Gregg, Bennington, Ochoa and Pullen
Nay: 0

13. Consideration of the In-House Striping Program and the Purchase of Striping Equipment Recommended Action:

It is recommended that the City Council:

1.Approve the
implementation of an in-house roadway striping program;

2.Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Victorville Chevrolet for the purchase of one (1) 2024 Chevrolet 3500 flatbed truck in an amount not to exceed $65,000; and

3.Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Dispensing Technology Corporation for the purchase of one (1) Graco RoadLazer RoadPak Striping System in an amount not to exceed $89,985.

Sponsors: Director of Public Works/City Engineer Cassandra Sanchez A motion was made by Gregg, seconded by Pullen, that this item be approved. The motion carried by the following vote:

Aye: 5 - Lee, Gregg, Bennington, Ochoa and Pullen
Nay: 0

COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS AND COMMENTS
The Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem and Council Members reported on various events and Committees.

Council Member Ochoa commented on Spanish translation services and Healthy Hesperia.

CITY MANAGER/CITY ATTORNEY/STAFF REPORTS
City Attorney provided information to City Council regarding the increase of fines or fees relating to firework violations.

ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned in memory of Deputy Hector Cuevas and Firefighter Ryan Spandrio at 8:41p.m.

CLOSED SESSION
Closed session resumed at 8:53 pm and was adjourned at 10:03 pm, with no reportable action. _____________________________
Jessica Giber,
Assistant City Clerk

City of Hesperia

STAFF REPORT
DATE: May 6, 2025
TO: Mayor and Council Members
City Council, as Successor Agency to the Hesperia Community Redevelopment Agency
Chair and Commissioners, Hesperia Housing Authority
Chair and Commissioners, Community Development Commission Chair and Board Members, Hesperia Water District
FROM: Rachel Molina, City Manager
BY: Casey Brooksher, Assistant City Manager
Anne Duke, Deputy Finance Director
Verenise Fierros, Accountant
SUBJECT: Warrant Run Report (City – Successor Agency – Housing Authority – Community Development Commission – Water)

RECOMMENDED ACTION
It is recommended that the Council/Board ratify the warrant run and payroll report for the City, Successor Agency to the Hesperia Community Redevelopment Agency, Hesperia Housing Authority, Community Development Commission, and Water District.

BACKGROUND
The Warrant Run totals represented below are for th e period March 22, 2025 through April 4, 2025.

CITY GOAL SUPPORTED BY THIS ITEM
Financial Health – Maintain a balanced budget and adequate reserves.

ATTACHMENT(S)

1. Warrant Runs
Agency/District Accounts Payable Payroll Wires Totals
City of Hesperia $1,254,567.13 $303,579.10 $0.00 $1,558,146.23 Successor Agency 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Housing Authority 1,855.90 158.21 0.00 2,014.11
Community Development Commission 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Water 771,418.58 143,700.08 0.00 915,118.66
Totals $2,027,841.61 $447,437.39 $0.00 $2,475,279.00
* Includes debt service payments made via Automated Clearing House (ACH) electronic deposit of funds.

YEAR-TO PRIOR FY YTD

W/E W/E WARRANT DATE DATE
FUND # FUND NAME 3/28/2025 4/4/2025 TOTALS Wires TOTALS * TOTALS Accounts Payable
100 GENERAL 114,249.68 $ 165,718.60$ 279,968.28$ -$ 28,710,078.54$ 26,990,988.02$ 105 PENSION OBLIGATION TRUST -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
106 OPEB TRUST -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
110 SILVERWOOD 14,415.19$ 28,448.57$ 42,863.76$ -$ 123,707.24$ -$ 200 HESPERIA FIRE DISTRICT -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
204 MEASURE I - RENEWAL -$ 744.14$ 744.14$ -$ 37,975.90$ 509,371.09$ 207 LOCAL TRANSPORT-SB 325 -$ -$ -$ -$ 1.64$ 967,882.81$ 209 GAS TAX-RMRA -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
210 HFPD (PERS) -$ -$ -$ -$ 1,755,819.00$ 907,316.00$ 241 CFD 2021-1 Resid Maint. & Serv -$ -$ -$ -$ 1,280.00$ -$ 242 CFD 2022-1 Non-Resd Maint & Serv -$ -$ -$ -$ 1,280.00$ -$ 243 CFD 2023-1 Silverwood Maint -$ -$ -$ -$ 1,280.00$ -$ 251 CDBG -$ 190,450.30$ 190,450.30$ -$ 3,099,455.95$ 346,484.11$ 254 AB2766 - TRANSIT -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
255
AB3229 SUPPLEMENTAL LAW -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
256 ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS GRANT 1.50$ -$ 1.50$ -$ 36,804.87$ 21,631.25$ 262 SB 1383 LOCAL ASSISTANCE GRANT -$ -$ -$ -$ 104,497.49$ -$ 263 STREETS MAINTENANCE 72,744.90$ 5,361.90$ 78,106.80$ -$ 2,189,482.57$ 1,701,038.02$ 300 DEV. IMPACT FEES - STREET -$ 11,181.44$ 11,181.44$ -$ 182,329.26$ 82,056.38$ 301 DEV. IMPACT FEES - STORM DRAIN 19,571.28$ -$ 19,571.28$ -$ 149,218.71$ -$ 306 DEV. IMPACT FEES - 2018-STREETS -$ 77,121.22$ 77,121.22$ -$ 1,307,740.77$ 1,640,006.95$ 307 DIF 2018-DRAINAGE FACILITIES -$ 7,100.00$ 7,100.00$ -$ 175,199.30$ -$ 309 DIF 2018-CITY HALL FACILITIES -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ 312 DIF 2018-POLICE FACILITIES -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
313 DIF A-04 DRAINAGE -$ -$ -$ -$ 1,154,638.51$ 320,448.35$ 402 WATER RIGHTS ACQUISITION 246,088.44$ -$ 246,088.44$ -$ 1,912,552.24$ 1,493,015.59$ 403 2013 REFUNDING LEASE REV BONDS -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ 571,151.39$ 404 2023 REFUNDING LEASE REV BONDS -$ -$ -$ -$ 2,500.00$ -$ 504 CITY WIDE STREETS - CIP -$ 1,310.07$ 1,310.07$ -$ 2,786,664.54$ 10,218,149.68$
509 CITY FACILITIES CIP -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
800 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS 154,451.37$ 132,114.56$ 286,565.93$ -$ 7,397,323.79$ 6,672,260.96$ 801 TRUST/AGENCY 9,240.78$ 3,963.09$ 13,203.87$ -$ 1,310,126.56$ 1,639,454.12$ 802 AD 91-1 AGENCY -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
804 TRUST-INTEREST BEARING -$ 290.10$ 290.10$ -$ 42,669.21$ 268,407.60$ 807 CFD 2005-1 -$ -$ -$ -$ 1,186,302.97$ 1,266,529.66$ 808 HFPD (TRANSITION) -$ -$ -$ -$ 317,435.02$ 347,796.19$ 815 PLAN REVIEW TRUST - FRONTIER -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ CITY 630,763.14$ 623,803.99$ 1,254,567.13$ -$ 53,986,364.08$ 55,963,988.17$ 163 REDEVELOP OBLIG RETIREMENT-2018 -$ -$ -$ -$ 9,690,950.62$ 9,949,902.79$ SUCCESSOR AGENCY -$ -$ -$ -$ 9,690,950.62$ 9,949,902.79$ 370 HOUSING AUTHORITY 937.50$ 918.40$ 1,855.90$ -$ 44,945.93$ 36,055.75$ HOUSING AUTHORITY 937.50$ 918.40$ 1,855.90$ -$ 44,945.93$ 36,055.75$ 170 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ 700
WATER OPERATING 33,882.86$ 18,768.05$ 52,650.91$ -$ 11,128,039.33$ 8,384,518.58$ 705 WATER PENSION OBLIGATION TRUST -$ -$ -$ -$ 1,250,000.00$ -$ 706 WATER OPEB TRUST -$ -$ -$ -$ 250,000.00$ -$ 701 WATER CAPITAL -$ -$ -$ -$ 16,473.00$ 320,389.00$ 710 SEWER OPERATING 268.56$ 715,184.80$ 715,453.36$ -$ 5,371,458.04$ 5,022,481.84$ 711 SEWER CAPITAL -$ 2,332.50$ 2,332.50$ -$ 2,001,575.29$ 1,249,376.35$ 720 RECLAIMED WATER OPERATIONS -$ 981.81$ 981.81$ -$ 278,346.10$ 273,527.48$ WATER 34,151.42$ 737,267.16$ 771,418.58$ -$ 20,295,891.76$ 15,250,293.25$ ACCOUNTS PAYABLE TOTAL 665,852.06$ 1,361,989.55$ 2,027,841.61$ -$ 84,018,152.39$ 81,200,239.96$ REG. PAYROLL
City 303,579.10$ -$ 303,579.10$ -$ 6,439,068.23$ 6,054,200.65$ Housing Authority 158.21$ -$ 158.21$ -$ 4,981.18$ 3,874.97$ Water 143,700.08$ -$ 143,700.08$ -$ 2,986,996.39$ 2,582,699.27$

PAYROLL TOTAL 447,437.39$ -$ 447,437.39$ -$ 9,431,045.80$ 8,640,774.89$ City of Hesperia

WARRANT RUNS
3/22/2025-4/4/2025
Attachment 1 1

City of Hesperia

STAFF REPORT

DATE: May 6, 2025
TO: Mayor and Council Members

FROM: Rachel Molina, City Manager
BY: Steve Allen, Captain
Chris Crosswhite, Sergeant

SUBJECT: Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Grant Application to the California Department of Parks and Recreation

RECOMMENDED ACTION

It is recommended that the City Council approve and adopt Resolution No. 2025-11 authorizing the submission of a California Off -Highway Motor Vehicle (OHV) Grant Application to the California Department of Parks and Recreation for a total of $104,216.00 and authorize the City Manager and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department to execute the Application and any amendments thereto on behalf of the City.

BACKGROUND

For many years , California State Parks has offered grant funds t o support law enforcement operations in communities throughout the state. These funds are available on an annual basis through a competitive grant request process. Several hundred local, state, and federal agencies apply for these grant funds through an ap plication process, and final awards are based on the needs of the particular jurisdiction. The City of Hesperia has applied and received funds from this program in the past and has developed a very effective OHV program. The City currently provides enforcement with funds provided in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023/2024 grant cycle.

ISSUES/ANALYSIS

The City of Hesperia continues to grow and with the increasing population and development, so do the complaints and other issues associated with motorcycle disturbance calls, accidents etc.

Several hundred calls for service a year are generated by citizens complaining of noise, dust , and general issues associated with illegal riding on public roads and private property.

To enforce Hesperia’s off -highway ordinance, t he Hesperia Station needs a funding source to purchase equipment, provide training to staff and cover salaries of deputies. With this additional funding, deputies will patrol problem areas , providing direction to legal riding areas in the county, issuing c itations, and educate youth at local schools and events . By networking with OHV enthusiasts, this will reduce complaints, accidents and overall increas e the quality of life for residents in the community.

The funds provided by previous years California State Parks grant program , has allowed the Hesperia Police Department to purchase two additional dual sport motorcycles and a 4x4 OHV vehicle. With approval, Hesperia will apply for $104,216.00 for the FY 2025/2026 grant project, to provide enforcement for OHV areas within City limits.

Staff Report to the Mayor and Council Members
Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Grant Application to the California Department of Parks and Recreation

The project w ill be managed by a Sheriff’s Sergeant and u se several trained deputies who would be assigned to the team as a collateral duty. The OHV team w ill conduct regular patrols in problem areas, conduct safety programs at schools and local community events, and provide education to citizens through public outlets and the media.

CITY GOAL SUPPORTED BY THIS ITEM

Public Safety - Ensure public safety resources adequately protect our community.

FISCAL IMPACT

Per the gra nt regulations, the C ity will be responsible for up to a 25% match of the awarded funds. Funding for the FY 2025/2026 project would require the C ity to commit to a $26,054.00 match. Much of this match can be accommodated through fuel and maintenance costs of OHV enforcement used equipment, patrol assignments associated with OHV contacts, and calculated salary costs for the us e of volunteers at events . In addition, match dollars can be used during operations and the use of any currently owned city equipment and staff. This match requirement can be satisfied in part by a detailed fiscal management of resources and equipment used daily by the OHV sergeant and the City Finance department.

Also, per the grant regulations, the City will periodically submit payment requests to State Parks for reimbursement for funds spent during a specific time period. There is also an option of advance requests that can be submitted for funds needed to purchase large equipment items such as a vehicle, minimizing the city's out-of-pocket expense for such purchases.

ALTERNATIVE(S)

1. Provide alternative direction to staff.

ATTACHMENT(S)

1. Resolution 2025-11

2. FY 2025/2026 Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Grant Application (available at Police Department)

RESOLUTION NO. 2025-11

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HESPERIA,

CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR

GRANT FUNDS FOR THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, DEPARTMENT OF PARKS

AND RECREATION, OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE GRANT FUNDS
WHEREAS, the City of Hesperia (City), is a public body, corporate and politic, duly organized under the laws and Constitution of the State of California; and WHEREAS, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department contracts law enforcement services to the City; and

WHEREAS, the people of the State of California have enacted the Off -Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Act of 2003, which provides to the State of California and its political subdivisions for Operations and Maintenance, Restoration, Law Enforcement, and Education and Safety for off - highway vehicle recreation; and
WHEREAS, the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division with the California Department of Parks and Recreation has been delegated the responsibility to administer the program; and WHEREAS, the City desires to apply for funding from the State of California’s Off Highway Vehicle Grant Program (OHVGP) in support of OHV enforcement and education to the community by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department; and
WHEREAS, procedures established by the California Department of Parks and Recreation require the Agency and/or Board to certify by resolution the approval of the Application to apply for Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Grant funds; and
WHEREAS, this Project is in conformance with Hesperia’s adopted General or Master Plan and is compatible with the land use designations immediately surrounding the Project.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF HESPERIA CITY COUNCIL AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. In all respects, the facts as set forth in this resolution are true and correct.

Section 2. Approves the filing of an Application for Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Grant Program for FY 2025/2026.

Section 3. Certifies that the City understands its legal obligations to the State upon approval of the Grant.

Section 4. Certifies that the City understands the California Public Resources Code requirement that Acquisition and Development Projects be maintained to specific conservation standards.

Section 5. Certifies that the Project will be well maintained during its useful life.

Resolution City Council No. 2025-11

Section 6. Certifies that the City will implement the Project with diligence once the funds are available and that the Applicant has reviewed, understands, and agrees with the Project Agreement.

Section 7. Certifies that the City will provide the required matching funds.

Section 8. Certifies that the public and adjacent property owners have been notified of this Project (as applicable).

Section 9. That the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is hereby designated as the Project Administrator for all aspects of the Grant, including the application and all accompany submittals, and all Grant funding shall be administered through City of Hesperia staff.

Section 10. The City Manager and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department or their designee(s), are hereby authorized and directed to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents including, but not limited to Applications, agreements, amendments, payment requests and so on, which may be necessary for completion of the Project.

Section 11. This Resolution shall go into effect immediately upon its adoption.

Section 12. That City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions.

ADOPTED AND APPROVED this 6
th day of May, 2025.

Allison Lee, Mayor

ATTEST:

Jessica Giber, Assistant City Clerk

ATTACHMENT AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

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City of Hesperia

STAFF REPORT

DATE: May 6, 2025
TO: Mayor and Council Members

FROM: Rachel Molina, City Manager
BY: Casey Brooksher, Assistant City Manager
Michael Assumma, Sr. Information Systems Specialist

SUBJECT: Three-Year Service Agreement with Vector Resources, Inc. dba VectorUSA

RECOMMENDED ACTION

It is recommended that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute a three-year professional services agreement with Vector Resources, Inc. dba Vector USA for a total not -to- exceed contract amount of $140,376 for the provision and installation of Fortinet firewalls, WiFi access points, and associated licensing.

BACKGROUND

Several of the City’s vital network infrastructure components are nearing the end of their product lifespans. Of chief concern are the City’s legacy firewall, which protects the City’s internal networks from outside attack, as well as all current WiFi acces s points. As of June 2025, the current vendor will no longer support the City’s XG series of firewalls with updates or maintenance, creating a major cybersecurity vulnerability. Similarly, the WiFi access points at all City facilities are outdated, resulting in critical security and performance gaps.

After careful consideration and extensive research, the IT Division determined WiFi and security solutions from Fortinet are best suited to meet the City’s technology objectives and requirements.

The FortiGat e firewalls will offer enhanced security against outside attackers and will also increase internet speeds at all City facilities. Similarly, the FortiAP devices will provide better protection against attacks of the WiFi networks and enhance the efficiency of staff that rely on WiFi for communications and data entry. Additionally, these improvements will support other technological initiatives, such as the new Planning, Licensing, and Land Management, (PLL) system. By updating WiFi and firewall devices, the City will continue to enhance network performance, improve security and ensure seamless connectivity across City facilities.

ISSUES/ANALYSIS

An analysis of our current systems provided the necessary components needed to develop a Request for Proposals (RFP). This RFP resulted in one response from VectorUSA, who offered completive pricing, as well as a technically sound implementation proposal.

In addition, VectorUSA offers an implementation plan that would bring these new systems online within a few months.

Staff Report to the Mayor and Council Members
Three-Year Service Agreement with Vector Resources, Inc. dba VectorUSA May 6, 2025

CITY GOAL SUPPORTED BY THIS ITEM

Organizational Health - Foster a high-performing organization that provides opportunities for professional growth.

FISCAL IMPACT

The total cost of the three-year agreement is for the amount not to exceed of $140,376. The total cost will be funded from FY 2024-25 identified savings if approved.

ALTERNATIVE(S)

1. Provide alternative direction to staff.

ATTACHMENT(S)

None

City of Hesperia

STAFF REPORT

DATE: May 6, 2025
TO: Chair and Board Members, Hesperia Water District

FROM: Rachel Molina, City Manager
BY: Cassandra Sanchez, Director of Public Works / City Engineer Robert Worby, Fleet / Warehouse Supervisor

SUBJECT: Contract with Badger Meter, Inc.

RECOMMENDED ACTION

It is recommended that the Board of Directors of the Hesperia Water District authorize the City Manager to approve a contract for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 with Badger Meter, Inc. in the not- to-exceed amount of $900,000. An anticipated $600,000 will be expended for the purchase of cellular endpoints and registers for automated meter reading infrastructure. An additional $300,000 is allocated for the purchase of water meters and related water meter parts.

BACKGROUND

The Hesperia Water District has standardized various services and repair products to minimize the need to stock multiple devices and to simplify installation processes. Badger Meter supplies some of the products that that the District has standardized and is the direct distributor in Southern California for Badger water materials.

ISSUES/ANALYSIS

Badger water meters interface with the cellular endpoints used for automated meter reading and with Badger's Beacon automated metering analytics software. This contract to purchase Badger water meters will allow the Customer Service /Meter Division to continue with the meter rotation program. An estimated 2,500 meters will be replaced, and 2,900 cellular endpoint s will be installed during FY 2025 -26, continuing with the ongoing implementation of the advanced automated meter (AMI) reading system. It will also allow for the purchase of Badger water meters, registers, endpoints, and miscellaneous replacement parts for the purpose of maintaining existing services and new service installations.

CITY GOAL SUPPORTED BY THIS ITEM

Financial Health - Maintain a balanced budget and adequate reserves.

FISCAL IMPACT

Sufficient funding will be included in the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Proposed Operating Budget.

ALTERNATIVE(S)

1. Provide alternative direction to staff.

ATTACHMENT(S)

None

City of Hesperia

STAFF REPORT

DATE: May 6, 2025
TO: Mayor and Council Members

FROM: Rachel Molina, City Manager
BY: Melinda Sayre, Deputy City Manager/City Clerk
Tammy Pelayes, Assistant to the City Manager

SUBJECT: Ad-Hoc Committee Collaboration Opportunity

RECOMMENDED ACTION

It is recommended that the City Council approve the addition of a discussion item for the City / Hesperia Recreation and Park District (HRPD) Ad Hoc Committee, regarding the proposed Hesperia Animal Shelter Play Yard Capital Improvement Project.

BACKGROUND

At the January 21, 2025, City Council meeting, the City Council approved the establishment of an Ad-Hoc Committee with HRPD that would focus on the Hesperia Lake Park Lease Agreement and the HRPD Communities Facilities Districts (CFD).

ISSUES/ANALYSIS

During the April 15, 2025, City Council meeting, there was a staff report on the status of the Animal Shelter Play Yard Capital Improvement Project . Mayor Pro Tem Gregg expressed interest in exploring partnership opportunities with the HRPD for the construction of the Animal Shelter Play Yard. Subsequently, Council Member Ochoa requested this item be added to a future HRPD Ad Hoc Committee meeting agenda. To place this item on the Ad-Hoc Committee meeting agenda, staff is requesting that the City Council approve the addition of this project as a discussion item.

CITY GOAL SUPPORTED BY THIS ITEM

Future Development – Facilitate balanced growth to ensure cohesive community development and pursue economic development.

FISCAL IMPACT

There is no fiscal impact associated with approval of the recommended action.

ALTERNATIVE(S)

1. Provide alternative direction to staff.

ATTACHMENT(S)

Staff Report to the Mayor and Council Members
Ad Hoc Committee Collaboration Opportunity
May 6, 2025

None

City of Hesperia

STAFF REPORT

DATE: May 6, 2025
TO: Mayor and Council Members

FROM: Rachel Molina, City Manager
BY: Nathan R. Freeman, Director of Development Services Ryan Leonard, Principal Planner

SUBJECT: Development Code Amendment DCA25-00001; Applicant: City of Hesperia; Area affected: City-wide

RECOMMENDED ACTION
The Planning Commission recommends that the City Council introduce and place on first reading Ordinance No. 2025 -01, approving Development Code Amendment DCA25 -00001, which modifies development standards related to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (Junior ADUs).

BACKGROUND

On March 13, 2025, the Planning Commission voted 4-0 (with Commissioner Hodson absent) to forward this item to the City Council with a recommendation for approval. Prior to the meeting, one comment letter was received in opposition to the project from the California Housing Defense Fund (CalHDF). The letter referenced other sections of the City’s existing ADU Ordinance that the organization believes do not comply with State law. During the meeting, no members of the public spoke in support or opposition to the project.

The proposed amendment responds to a need for updates to the City’s existing ADU regulations to ensure compliance with evolving State law. The current ADU regulations were initially adopted by the City Council on May 19, 2020, through Ordinance No. 2020 -04. Since then, the City has adopted three amendments to maintain consistency with State mandates.

Staff has identified further changes necessary to bring the ordinance into full compliance and to improve clarity and implementation. These revisions are addressed in the proposed Development Code Amendment.

ISSUES/ANALYSIS

An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is an attached or detached additional dwelling unit that provides complete independent living facilities for one or more persons and is located on a lot with an existing or proposed primary dwelling. An ADU may be up to 1,200 square feet, is fully self-contained (including sanitation), and does not share internal access with the primary residence.

A Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit (Junior ADU) is a unit no larger than 500 square feet, contained entirely within an existing or proposed single -family residence. Junior ADUs must include an

Staff Report to the Mayor and Council Members
Development Code Amendment DCA25-00001
May 6, 2025

efficiency kitchen, may have internal access to the primary unit, and may share sanitation facilities (such as a restroom) with the primary unit. The City’s Development Code (specifically Section

16.12.360) currently allows Junior ADUs and ADUs in all single -family, multi-family, and mixed- use zoning districts.

The Cit y is unique in that only about 20% of developed properties are connected to sewer facilities. The remaining 80% rely on onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS), such as septic systems. To protect groundwater resources, the State Water Resources Control Board has implemented regulations for OWTS that the City is required to enforce. For example, City regulations currently require that lots not connected to sewer must be at least one acre in size to qualify for an ADU or Junior ADU.

City staff recently me t with representatives from the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board to discuss the City’s lot size requirements for Junior ADUs. It was determined that the existing requirement, restricting Junior ADUs to sewer-connected lots or lots of at least one acre, must be removed. Under the proposed amendment, Junior ADUs would be permitted on any lot, regardless of sewer connection or lot size.

Additionally, staff recommends revising the ADU Ordinance to require that if a Junior ADU converts the required two-car garage of a primary residence, the replacement of that required parking—in an enclosed garage —must be provided elsewhere on the property. This must conform to the size, placement, and design standards of the Development Code. Currently, the Ordinance does not require replacement parking for Junior ADUs. Staff believes this proposed change aligns with State law requirements regarding replacement parking for the primary residence.

A redlined version showing all changes to the City’s existing ADU reg ulations is attached for reference.

Environmental: Approval of this Development Code Amendment is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Section 15061(b)(3), as it can be seen with certainty that the project will not have a sig nificant environmental impact. It is also exempt under Section

16.12.415(B)(10) of the City’s CEQA Guidelines, which exempts Development Code Amendments that do not increase the density or intensity permitted in the General Plan. According to Government Co de Section 65852.2, ADUs do not count toward allowable density and are considered a residential use consistent with the existing General Plan and zoning designation.

CITY GOAL SUPPORTED BY THIS ITEM
Future Development - Facilitate balanced growth to ensure cohesive community development and pursue economic development.

Conclusion: The proposed Ordinance aligns with the goals, policies, and objectives of the General Plan and will bring the City’s ADU regulations into compliance with State law.

FISCAL IMPACT

There is no financial impact to the General Fund associated with this report.

Staff Report to the Mayor and Council Members
Development Code Amendment DCA25-00001
May 6, 2025

ALTERNATIVE(S)

1. Provide alternative direction to staff.

ATTACHMENT(S)

1. Ordinance No. 2025-01

2. Exhibit “A”

ORDINANCE NO. 2025-01

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HESPERIA,

CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING A DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENT

MODIFYING DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS ASSOCIATED WITH
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS ( ADUs) AND JUNIOR ACCESSORY
DWELLING UNITS (Junior ADUs) (DCA25-00001)

WHEREAS, on January 5, 1998, the City Council of the City of Hesperia adopted Ordinance No. 250, thereby adopting the Hesperia Municipal Code; and

WHEREAS, on May 19, 2020, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2020 -04, establishing development standards associated with Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), codified in Section

16.12.360 of the Hesperia Development Code (the “ADU Ordinance”); and

WHEREAS, on June 1, 2021, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2021-01, modifying various sections of the ADU Ordinance to improve clarity and ensure consistency with State requirements; and

WHEREAS, on August 16, 2022, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2022 -13, further updating the ADU Ordinance to align with State law; and

WHEREAS, on May 23, 2024, the City received a letter from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) stating that the City’s existing ADU Ordinance does not comply with certain State ADU laws; and

WHEREAS, on November 19, 2024, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2024 -13 to make additional updates to the ADU Ordinance in response to State requirements; and

WHEREAS, the City now proposes to amend Section 16.12.360 of the Hesperia Development Code to further revise regulation s pertaining to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (Junior ADUs); and

WHEREAS, the City Council finds that this Development Code Amendment provides necessary updates to bring the City’s Development Code into compliance with State law; and

WHEREAS, the proposed Development Code Amendment is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3), as it can be seen with certainty that there is no significant effect on the environment. The amendment is also exempt under Section 16.12.415(B)(10) of the City’s CEQA Guidelines, which exempts Development Code Amendments that do not increase the density or intensity allowed under the General Plan; and

WHEREAS, on March 13, 2025, the Planning C ommission of the City of Hesperia conducted a duly noticed public hearing on the proposed Development Code Amendment and voted 4 -0 to recommend approval to the City Council; and

WHEREAS, on May 6, 2025, the City Council of the City of Hesperia conducted a duly noticed public hearing on the proposed Development Code Amendment and concluded said hearing on that date; and

WHEREAS, all legal prerequisites to the adoption of this Ordinance have occurred.

Ordinance No. 2025-01

NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HESPERIA DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. The City Council hereby finds and declares that all of the foregoing recitals are true and correct and incorporates them herein by this reference.

Section 2. Based upon substantial evidence presented to the City Council, including written and oral staff reports, the City Council finds that the proposed Development Code Amendment is consistent with the goals and objectives of the adopted General Plan.

Section 3. Based on the findings and conclusions set forth in t his Ordinance, the City Council hereby adopts Development Code Amendment DCA25 -00001, amending the ADU Ordinance as shown in Exhibit “A.”

Section 4. This Ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after its adoption.

Section 5. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Ordinance and shall cause it to be posted in three (3) public places within the City of Hesperia pursuant to Resolution No. 2007-101.

ADOPTED AND APPROVED on this 6th day of May 2025.

_______________________________
Allison Lee, Mayor
ATTEST:

_____________________________
Jessica Giber, Assistant City Clerk

EXHIBIT “A”

The following are modifications to Article X of Chapter 16.12 (additions are in underlined red text and deletions are shown with red and strikethrough):

16.12.360 - Accessory dwelling units.

F. Junior Accessory Dwelling Units.

1. Purpose-This section provides standards for the establishment of junior accessory dwelling units, an alternative to the standard accessory dwelling unit. Junior accessory dwelling units will typically be smaller than an accessory dwelling unit, will be con structed within the walls of an existing single family residence, and requires owner occupancy of the single family residence where the unit is located.

2. Development Standards - Junior accessory dwelling units shall comply with the following standards:
a) Lots with an existing or proposed single family residence may be permitted one (1) accessory dwelling unit and one (1) junior accessory dwelling unit. b) In compliance with the State of California Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, lots that are not connected to sewer facilities shall be a minimum of one gross acre in size or install an approved Supplemental Treatment Septic System. For the purposes of providing service for water, sewer or power, including a connection fee, a junior accessor y dwelling unit shall not be considered a separate or new dwelling unit. Lots that are not connected to sewer facilities shall meet the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board regulations pertaining to minimum septic tank capacity. c) A junior accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed 500 square feet in size and shall be contained entirely within a single family residence. d) The junior accessory dwelling unit shall include a separate entrance from the main entrance to the proposed or existing single family residence. e) The junior accessory dwelling unit must include an efficiency kitchen that includes a cooking facility with appliances, a food preparation counter, and storage cabinets that are of reasonable size in relation to the size of the junior accessory dwelling unit.
f) The junior accessory dwelling unit may have a bathroom or share with the proposed or existing single family residence. If a permitted junior accessory dwelling unit does not include a separate bathroom, then an interior entry to the main living area shall be provided.
g) Additional parking shall not be required. A junior accessory dwelling unit shall not convert the required parking for the primary residential structure located within an attached garage without the concurrent replacement of the existing required parking within an enclosed garage elsewhere on the property in accordance with the size, placement, and design standards of the Development Code.
h) A deed restriction, in a form to be approved and provided by the City, must be recorded and filed with the City, and must include the following stipulations: i) Attachment 2

prohibition on the sale of the junior accessory dwelling unit separate from the sale of the single family residence; ii) restriction on the size and attributes of the junior accessory dwelling unit; iii) if the unit is rented, the unit shall not be rented for a period of less than 30 consecutive calendar days; and iv) owner occupancy of one of the units on -site is required, unless the owner is a governmental agency, land trust, or housing organization. These restrictions shall run with the land.
(Ord. 2003-05 § 4 (part), 2003; Ord. 299 § 4 (Exh. A § 3 (part)), 2000; Ord. 250 (part), 1997; Ord. 192 Exh. A (§ 83.10.020), 1994)
(Ord. No. 2009-08, § 3(Exh. A), 10-20-09; Ord. No. 2012-14, § 3(Exh. A), 8-7-12; Ord. No. 2017-12, § 3(Exh. A), 6-20-17; Ord. No. 2020-04, § 3(Exh. A), 5-19-20; Ord. No. 2021-01, 3(Exh. A), 6-1-21; Ord. No. 2022-13, § 3(Exh. A), 9-6-2022)

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01071.0007 2002694.1
City of Hesperia

STAFF REPORT

DATE: May 6, 2025
TO: Mayor and Council Members

FROM: Rachel Molina, City Manager
BY: Nathan R. Freeman, Director of Development Services

SUBJECT: Appeal Hearing for the Revocation of Business License No. BL-50006 held by HSP Hotels, LLC

RECOMMENDED ACTION

It is recommended that the City Council conduct an appeal hearing regarding the revocation of Business License No. BL -50006, held by HSP Hotels, LLC, doing business as Holiday Inn Express (“Operator”), located at 9750 Key Point Avenue.

Following the hearing, it is further recommended that the City Council determine that the Operator is in violation of Hesperia Municipal Code Section 3.10.050 due to its failure to remit Transient Occupancy Tax (“TOT”), thereby causing financial harm to the City and its taxpayers. Based on this finding, the City Council should uphold the revocation of Business License No. BL -50006 in accordance with Hesperia Municipal Code Section 5.04.140(A)(4).

BACKGROUND

Since early 2024, the City’s Finance Department and City Attorney’s Offic e have made multiple attempts to collect unpaid TOT from the Operator , which , at the time of the notice , was $287,970.40 of TOT, penalties, and interest dating back to November 2023.

On April 25, 2024, the City Attorney’s office sent a demand letter for the Operator to remit all unpaid TOT to the City. (Attachment 1.) The Operator failed to respond. On November 14, 2024, the City Attorney’s office sent another letter to the Operator of its intent to revoke the business license of the Operator (Business License No. 50006) via certified mail unless it remits all unpaid TOT to the City. (Attachment 2a and 2b.)

On January 27, 2025, the City sent a Notice of Intent to Revoke Business License No. 50006 via certified mail, citing failure to remit TOT as requi red by Hesperia Municipal Code Section

3.10.050. The business was given 10 days to resolve the issue prior to enforcement actions. (Attachment 3.)

On February 6, 2025, the City issued a Letter of Revocation of Business License No. 50006, also via certified mail. (Attachment 4.) The letter included information about the appeal process under Municipal Code Section 5.04.150 and notified the business about the 15-day window to file an appeal with the City Council.

An appeal letter, dated February 18, 2025, was submitted by the applicant’s legal counsel, Novian & Novian, LLP, and received by the City Clerk’s Office. (Attachment 5.) The appeal was deemed timely, and the matter was scheduled for an appeal hearing. (Attachment 6.)

Staff Report to the Mayor and Council Members
Appeal Hearing for Revocation of Business License 50006 May 6, 2025

01071.0007 2002694.1
Additionally, the City recently received a demand letter from an escrow company indicating that the hotel property may be involved in a pending sale. However, as of the writing of this report, it appears that the sale of the hotel property fell through and was not completed.

ISSUES/ANALYSIS

Under Hesperia Municipal Code Section 3.10.030, each hotel guest (transient) is subject to a 10% TOT, which must be collected by the hotel operator at the time rent is paid. The operator is responsible for both collecting and remitting thi s tax to the City. All hotel operators are also required to maintain relevant records for a minimum of three years to demonstrate compliance. (Attachment 7.)

According to Hesperia Municipal Code Section 5.04.140(A)(4), a business license may be revoked if the licensee commits an unlawful act while conducting business that either harms others or benefits the licensee. The City Attorney’s Office has determined that failing to remit TOT constitutes a violation of the Municipal Code and results in a financial benefit to the business while causing financial harm to the City and its taxpayers.

The TOT collected from guests is revenue due to the City and is required to be remitted in a timely manner. Continued noncompliance with this obligation, despite repeat ed notifications and opportunities to resolve the issue, justifies the revocation of the business license.

According to records, at the time of the initial notice of the business license revocation in 2024, the Operator owed the amount of $ 287,970.40, whi ch includes the actual amounts, fees, penalties, and interest. Additionally, the City has placed three uncontested liens on the property for unpaid TOT, including fees, penalties, and interest. The following details each lien:

On February 13, 2025, the City sent a lien notice to the Operator that would update the property lien to include TOT, with fees, penalties, and interest, from September 2024 through December 2024. The Operator appealed this notice via a TOT appeal hearing, which has yet to take place.

In total, the Operator owes the City $502,551.12 in unpaid TOT (Attachment 8). This amount includes all fees, penalties, and accrued interest of one-half of one percent per month, as dictated in Municipal Code Section 3.10.060 (D). Additionally, o f the sixteen delinquent months of TOT, the City based the amount owed on ten (10) months of TOT returns filed by the Operator without payment and six (6) months of estimated returns, as the Operator did not provide TOT returns for those months.

CITY GOAL SUPPORTED BY THIS ITEM

Financial Health - Maintain a balanced budget and adequate reserves.

P eriod of T OT
A mount of
L ein
L ien 1 2021-00500500 October 2023 36,113.76 $
L ien 2 2024-0113826 November 2023 to A pril 2024 201,135.36 L ien 3 2024-0257753 May 2024 to A ugust 2024 115,986.04 353,235.16 $
Document Number

Staff Report to the Mayor and Council Members
Appeal Hearing for Revocation of Business License 50006 May 6, 2025

01071.0007 2002694.1

FISCAL IMPACT

Revocation of the subject business license will prohibit the business from reapplying for one year from the date of revocation. This action may result in the hotel’s closure and could involve legal costs associated with enforcement of the revocation , should the Operator continue to conduct business. These costs may be recoverable if the City prevails in legal proceedings.

ALTERNATIVE(S)

1. In lieu of revocation, the City Council may consider alternative enforcement actions, such as a payment plan for the overdue TOT or additional penalties, based on the circumstances and the business’s previous compliance history.

ATTACHMENT(S)

1. April 25, 2024 Demand Letter from City to Operator

2. (a) November 14, 2024 Letter from City to Operator and (b) Signed return receipt of certified mailing

3. January 27, 2025 Letter from City to Operator re Notice of Intent to Revoke Business License No. 50006

4. February 6, 2025 Letter from City to Operator re: Revocation of Business License No. 50006

5. February 18, 2025 Appeal Letter from Novian & Novian, LLC

6. City’s Response to Appeal Letter to Operator

7. Relevant Hesperia Municipal Code Provisions (Chapter 3.10 and Chapter 5.04)

8. Estimated Unpaid TOT Amounts of Operator

010

71.0007 977245.2
Pam
K. Lee | plee @awattorneys.com
p (949) 223-1170 | awattorneys.com
1 P
ark Plaza, Suite 1000 | Irvine, CA 92614
April 2
5, 2024

INTENDED FOR ADDRESSEE(S) ONLY

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS
Sid Villegas
9750 Key Pointe Ave,
Hesperia, CA 92345
Re: Notice of Delinquent Transient Occupancy Taxes
Dear Operator,
Our office represents the City of Hesperia (“City”) as its City Attorney. This letter is meant to notify you of the delinquent transient occupancy tax (“TOT”) owed by Holiday Inn Express (“Operator”) for the period of November 2023 through January 2024.

The City has sent various delinquency correspondence to you regarding Operator’s failure to pay the outstanding balance of TOT. Your estimated outstanding amount is approximately eighty-four thousand seven hundred thirty-nine dollars and fifty-seven cents ($84,739.57).
1 In additio
n to the monthly amount, the delinquency of the TOT also carries with it penalties and interest, as set forth in Hesperia Municipal Code Section 3.10.060 et seq. Every penalty imposed and such interest accrued becomes a part of the unpaid TOT due and owed to the City.

Based on the TOT estimate of $84,739.57, the current outstanding balance of unpaid TOT, including all penalties and interest, owed by Operator to the City for the period of November 2023 through January 2024 is equal to $103,388.24. Please remit this payment amount as soo
n as possible within the next 30 days.

If Operator fails to remit the total outstanding balance of unpaid TOT, including all penalties and interest, the City will have no choice but to take further legal actions against Operator. Such legal actions include, but are not limited to, the following:
1 TOT amoun
t is based upon an average of actual Operator TOT return forms submitted by Operator between October 2022 – September 2023. Because Operator has not submitted said forms for the period in question, the City is unable to provide an accurate assessment of TOT owed by Operator.

Attachment 11

Holiday Inn Expr
ess
April 25, 2024

INTENDED FOR ADDRESSEE(S) ONLY

0 1071.0007 977245.2
 Revocation
or suspension of Operator’s business license for failure to comply with the City’s applicable laws;
 Placement of liens against Operator in the amount of unpaid TOT, inclusive of penalties and interest;
 Litigation in civil and/or criminal court against Operator to recover the owed TOT, penalties, and interest.

Accordingly, you have thirty (30) days from the date of this letter (by May 27, 2024) to remit to the City the total outstanding balance of unpaid TOT, including all penalties and interest. Along with the full payment, you are required to submit all of Operator’s proper financial statements to verify the actual amount of TOT owed.

Failure to remit payment in full by the foregoing date would require the City to move forward with further enforcement action, including the revocation of Operator’s business license, recordation of liens, as well as commencing any other legal proceedings against Operator that the City deems appropriate.

To prevent further enforcement against your establishment, we strongly request you contact Casey Brooksher at 760-947-1813 or me, Pam Lee, at 949-223-1170 or via email at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you, and thank you for your anticipated cooperation.

Sincerely,

ALESHIRE & WYNDER, LLP

Pam K. Lee
City Attorney, City of Hesperia

JIG

Enclosure

Holiday Inn Expr
ess
April 25, 2024

INTENDED FOR ADDRESSEE(S) ONLY

0 1071.0007 977245.2
Holi
day Inn Express
Delinquent TOT Amount

01071.0007/1025956.1
Pam K. Lee | [email protected]
p (949) 223 -1170 | d (949) 250 -5415 | awattorneys.com 1 Park Plaza, Suite 1000 | Irvine, CA 92614
November 14, 2024

VIA CERTIFIED MAIL

RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED

INTENDED FOR ADDRESSEE(S) ONLY
Holiday Inn Express
9750 Key Pointe Ave
Hesperia, CA 92345
Attn: Sid Villegas
Re: Notice of Intent to Revoke Business License for Failure to Remit Delinquent Transient Occupancy Taxes
Dear Sid Villegas:

As you are aware, o ur office represents the City of Hesperia (“City”) as its City Attorney. This letter serves as formal notice that the City is initiating the process to revoke the business license for Holiday Inn Express (“Inn”) due to your continued failure to remit Transient Occupancy Taxes (TOT) as required under The City of Hesperia Municipal Code Chapter 3.10.30. This failure to comply with the City's requirements constitutes grounds for revocation of your business license under Hesperia Municipal Code Section 5.04.140.

Under Hesperia Municipal Code Section 3.10.030, all operators of hotels and similar establishments within the City are required to collect TOT from their guests and remit those funds to the City on a monthly basis. Failure to remit the TOT by the due date results in the imposition of penalties and interest as follows:
• Original Delinquency: Per Section 3.10.060(A), any operator who fails to remit TOT within the time required shall pay a penalty of ten percent (10%) of the tax amount in addition to the tax owed.
• Continued Delinquency: If the delinquency persists beyond thirty (30) days, Section

3.10.060(B) imposes an additional ten percent (10%) penalty on the delinquent tax, i n addition to the original ten percent (10%) penalty.
• Interest: According to Section 3.10.060(D), interest at a rate of one -half of one percent (0.5%) per month, or any fraction thereof, shall accrue on the unpaid tax, excluding penalties, until the tax is paid in full.

Attachment 2a

Holiday Inn Express
November 14, 2024

INTENDED FOR ADDRESSEE(S) ONLY

01071.0007/1025956.1
As of the date of this letter, the Inn has failed to remit TOT payments for the period of November 2023 through January 2024, despite multiple notifications. The estimated outstanding balance of TOT, including penalties and interest, is $287,970.401 and continues to accrue interest and penalties.

Additionally, Section 3.10.060(F) authorizes the City’s tax collector to estimate the amount of TOT due if an operator refuses or fails to remit the tax. Upon determination of the tax amount due, th e tax collector may assess and notify the operator of the amount owed. Any such determination becomes final and conclusive if not challenged within ten (10) days.

Under Hesperia Municipal Code Section 5.04.140, the City is authorized to revoke or deny a business license if a business fails to comply with any applicable local laws, including the TOT regulations. Specifically, Section 5.04.140(A)(1) provides that a business license may be revoked if the license holder violates any provision of local or state laws related to the permitted activity.

Continued failure to remit TOT constitutes a violation of the City’s municipal code and provides sufficient grounds for license revocation.

Please be advised that unless the outstanding TOT amount is paid in full within thirty (30) days from the date of this letter (by December 14, 2024), the City will commence proceedings to revoke the Inn’s business license under Hesperia Municipal Code Sections 5.04.140 and 5.04.160.

If the business license is revoked, the Inn will be prohibited from continuing operations within the City of Hesperia. In addition to revoking the Inn’s business license, the City is prepared to pursue all necessary legal actions, including civil litigation, to recover the unpaid TOT, along with penalties and interest.

To avoid these significant consequences, you must remit the full balance of unpaid TOT and provide any necessary financial records for verification. Please contact Casey Brooksher at 760 - 947-1813 or me, Pam Lee, at 949 -223-1170, or via ema il at [email protected] to arrange payment and resolve this matter.

1 The estimated outstanding balance of $ 287,970.40 is calculated based on an estimated TOT amount of $ 232,567.41, plus an estimated amount of $55,402.99 in penalties and interest per Hesperia Municipal Code Section 3.10.060. This estimate is derived from an average of actual Operator TOT return forms submitted by the Operator between October 2022 and September 2023. As the Operator has not submitted these forms for the period in question, the City is unable to provide a precise assessment of the TOT owed.

Holiday Inn Express
November 14, 2024

INTENDED FOR ADDRESSEE(S) ONLY

01071.0007/1025956.1
We urge you to take immediate action. Failure to comply with the City's requirements will result in severe consequences for your business. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.

Sincerely,

ALESHIRE & WYNDER, LLP

Pam K. Lee
City Attorney, City of Hesperia

PKL:TDH

Enclosure

Holiday Inn Express
November 14, 2024

INTENDED FOR ADDRESSEE(S) ONLY

01071.0007/1025956.1
Holiday Inn Express
Delinquent TOT Amount

Attachment 2bb

Attachment 3t 3

Attachment 4 4

Attachment 5nt 5

Attachment 6

Attachment 7t 7

Attachment 8t 8

City of Hesperia

STAFF REPORT

DATE: May 6, 2025

TO: Mayor and Council Members

FROM: Rachel Molina, City Manager
BY: Nathan R. Freeman, Director of Development Services

SUBJECT: Resolution to consider approving the issuance of Tax -Exempt Bonds for the benefit of La Verne Elementary Preparatory Academy, and/or Related Entity

RECOMMENDED ACTION

It is recommended that the City Council:

1. Conduct a public hearing regarding the proposed issuance of tax -exempt financing, in an amount not to exceed $22,000,000, for the benefit of 9966 I Ave, LLC , a California limited liability company whose sole member is LaVerne Elementary Preparatory Academy Foundation, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation , and/or a related entity (the “Borrower”). The financing would be used to (a) finance and/or refinance the costs of acquiring, constructing, installing, improving, furnishing, and equipping char ter school facilities located at 16955 Lemon Street, Hesperia, California 92345 , in the amount of $21,000,000, and 9966 I Avenue, Hesperia, California 92345, in the amount of $1,000,000 ; (b) fund a debt service reserve and related working capital; (c) paying capitalized interest on the bonds; and (d) pay issuance and other related costs associated with the project; and

2. Adopt a resolution approving the issuance of tax-exempt bonds in an amount not to exceed $22,000,000 by the California Public Finance Authority (CalPFA).

BACKGROUND

The City Council is being asked to adopt a resolution approving the issuance of tax-exempt bonds by the California Public Finance Authority (CalPFA) to finance , refinance and/or reimburse t he Borrower for the costs of the acquisition, construction, installation, improvement, furnishing, and equipping of charter school facilities located at 16955 Lemon Street, Hesperia, California 92345 and 9966 I Avenue, Hesperia, California 92345 . The finan cing would also fund a debt service reserve and cover costs of issuance and other related expenses. This approval is required to comply with Section 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, which mandates public approval for private activity bonds.

ISSUES/ANALYSIS

For CalPFA to issue tax -exempt bonds, the City must (1) conduct a public hearing to allow members of the public to comment on the proposed project, and (2) approve CalPFA’s issuance of the bonds on behalf of the Borrower. Without the City Council’s approval, CalPFA cannot issue the bonds or related obligations.

Staff Report to the Mayor and Council Members
LaVerne Elementary Prepatory Academy

The City of Hesperia is an associate member of CalPFA. CalPFA’s purpose is to issue tax-exempt and taxable conduit revenue bonds for qualifying public and private entities throughout California.

LaVerne Elementary Preparatory Academy Foundation is a nonprofit corporation that supports Ed. Brokers Education Services, a California nonprofit that operates LaVerne Elemen tary Preparatory Academy, a public charter school serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The Borrower is seeking tax -exempt bond financing, not to exceed $ 22,000,000, to acquire, construct, install, improve, furnish, and equip charter schoo l facilities located at 16955 Lemon Street, Hesperia, California 92345 (approximately $21,000,000) and 9966 I Avenue, Hesperia, California 92345 (approximately $1,000,000).

CalPFA will loan the bond proceeds to the Borrower to finance and/or refinance the cost of acquiring, constructing, installing, improving, furnishing, and equipping the charter school facilities located at 16955 Lemon Street and 9966 I Avenue . The funds will also be used to establish a debt service reserve, pay capitalized interest on the bonds, and to cover issuance costs and other related expenses. The bonds will be repaid solely from funds provided under the terms of a loan agreement between CalPFA and the Borrower. The City will not be a party to the loan agreement or any related doc uments. The bonds will not be backed by any form of taxation, nor by any obligation of the City or CalPFA. They do not represent a general obligation of either entity.

Adoption of the resolution approving the issuance of the bonds satisfies the requiremen ts of Section 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and Articles 1 through 4 (beginning with Section 6500) of Chapter 5, Division 7, Title 1 of the California Government Code. The City assumes no responsibility for the tax -exempt status, repayment, o r any other matter related to the bonds. Approval of this financing will allow the Borrower to finance and/or refinance educational facilities within the City for the benefit of LaVerne Elementary Preparatory Academy Foundation and/or a related entity.

About the California Public Finance Authority (CalPFA) : CalPFA is a joint powers authority formed by the County of Kings and the Housing Authority of Kings County. Its purpose is to issue tax-exempt and taxable conduit revenue bonds on behalf of public and private entities across California.

Under the Joint Powers Act—specifically Articles 1 through 4 of Chapter 5, Division 7, Title 1 of the California Government Code (beginning with Section 6500)—and Section 145 of the Internal Revenue Code, conduit issuers like CalPFA are authorized to issue tax-exempt “private activity” bonds on behalf of 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to finance facilities they own. To qualify for tax-exempt status, these bonds, and the facilities they fund must be approved by both (1) the governmental entity issuing the bonds (CalPFA) and (2) the governmental entity where the project is located (the City of Hesperia).

Additionally, a public hearing must be held with reasonable advance notice, as required under Section 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code. This process is commonly referred to as a TEFRA hearing, (Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982). Since the project site is located within Hesperia, the City has been asked to host the TEFRA hearing and approve the issuance of the bonds as the host jurisdiction. Proper notice of the public hearing was published at least seven days in advance, as confirmed by the Borrower’s bond counsel.

Other Agency Involvement/Impact: The Borrower, LaVerne Elementary Preparatory Academy Foundation, in coordination with the CalPFA, has requested the City Council’s approval of this

Staff Report to the Mayor and Council Members
LaVerne Elementary Prepatory Academy

tax-exempt financing to comply with Section 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

CITY GOAL SUPPORTED BY THIS ITEM

Future Development - Facilitate balanced growth to ensure cohesive community development and pursue economic development.

FISCAL IMPACT

There is no direct or indirect financial impact to the City of Hesperia because of this proposed financing. The obligations are special, limited obligations of the California Public Finance Authority (CalPFA) and will be repaid solely through the Borrower’s loan payments to CalPFA. These payments will be used to cover the principal and interest on the obligations. Neither the faith and credit nor the taxing power of the City, any member of CalPFA, the State of California, or any other political subdivision is pledged toward repayment of the obligations.

ALTERNATIVE(S)

Provide alternative direction to staff.

ATTACHMENT(S)

1. Resolution 2025-13

RESOLUTION NO. 2025-13

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HESPERIA,

CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE ISSUANCE OF REVE NUE BONDS BY THE

CALIFORNIA PUBLIC FI NANCE AUTHORITY FOR THE PURPOSE OF

FINANCING, REFINANCING AND/OR REIMBURSING THE COSTS OF

ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, INSTALLATION, IMPROV EMENT,

FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF CERTAIN PUBLIC CHARTER SCHO OL FACILITIES FOR THE B ENEFIT OF 9966 I AVE , LLC (OR AN AFFILIA TE

THEREOF)

WHEREAS, the City of Hesperia (City), is a municipal corporation duly organized under the laws and Constitution of the State of California; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Chapter 5 of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code of the State of California (the “Act”), certain public agencies (the “Members”) have entered into a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement Relating to the California Public Finance Authority, dated as of May 12, 2015 (the “Agreement”) to form the California Public Finance Authority (the “Issuer”) for the purpose of promoting economic, cultural and community development, and to exercise any powers common to the Members, including the issuance of bonds, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness; and

WHEREAS, the City is an Additional Member of the Issuer pursuant to Section 12 of the Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Issuer is authorized to issue and sell revenue bonds for the purpose, among others, of financing or refinancing the construction of capital projects; and

WHEREAS, 9966 I Ave, LLC (the “Borrower”), the sole member of which is the LaVerne Elementary Preparatory Academy Foundation, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation and an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and/or a related entity, has requested that the Issuer participate in a plan of finance involving the issuance of one or more series of education facility revenue bonds issued from time to time, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $22,000,000 (the “Bonds”) to finance, refinance and/or reimburse the Borrower for the costs of: (a) the acquisition, construction, installation, improvement, furnishing and equipping of certain charter school educational facilities located at the following addresses and in the following maximum expected principal amounts: (i) 16955 Lemon Street, Hesperia, California 92345 (the “Lemon Street Facilities”), in the amount of $21,000,000, and (ii) 9966 I Avenue, Hesperia, California 92345 (the “I Aven ue Facilities” and, together with the Lemon Street Facilities, the “Facilities”), in the amount of $1,000,000; (b) funding a debt service reserve fund for the Bonds and related working capital ; (c) paying capitalized interest on the Bonds; and (d) paying certain Bond issuance expenses (the “Project”); and

WHEREAS, the Facilities will be leased to and operated by Ed. Brokers Education Services, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation and an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code, as a charter school; and

WHEREAS, for the interest on the Bonds to be tax -exempt, Section 147(f) of the Code requires that an “applicable elected representative” of the governmental unit, the geographic jurisdiction of which contains the site of facilitie s to be financed with the proceeds of the Bonds, hold a public hearing on the issuance of the Bonds and approve the issuance of the Bonds

following such hearing; and

WHEREAS, the Issuer has determined that the City Council is an “applicable elected representative” for purposes of holding such public hearing; and

WHEREAS, the Issuer has requested that the City Council approve the issuance of the Bonds by the Issuer following such public hearing in order to satisfy the public approval requirement of Section 147(f) of the Code and, the requirements of Section 4 of the Agreement ; and

WHEREAS, notice of such public hearing has been duly given as required by the Code, and this Board has heretofore held such public hearing at which all interested persons were given a reasonable opportunity to be heard on all matters relative to the financing or refinancing of the Project and the Issuer’s issuance of the Bonds therefor; and

WHEREAS, it is in the public interest and for the public benefit that the City Council approve the issuance of the Bonds by the Issuer for the aforesaid purposes.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HESPERIA AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. The above recitals are true and correct and are hereby adopted as findings.

Section 2. The City Council hereby approves the plan of financing and the issuance of the Bonds by the Issuer. It is the purpose and intent of the City Council that this resolution constitutes approval of the issuance of the Bonds (a) by the “applicable elected representative” of the governmental unit having jurisdiction over the area in which the Project is located in accordance with Section 147(f) of the Code and (b) by the City Council in accordance with Section 4 of the Agreement.

Section 3. The issuance of the Bonds shall be subject to the approval of the Issuer of all financing documents relating thereto to which the Issuer is a party. The City shall have no responsibility or liability whatsoever with respect to the Bonds.

Section 4. The adoption of this Resolution shall not obligate the City or any department thereof to (i) provide any financing to acquire or construct the Project or any refinancing of the Project; (ii) approve any application or request for or take any other action in co nnection with any planning approval, permit or other action necessary for the acquisition, rehabilitation or operation of the Project; (iii) make any contribution or advance any funds whatsoever to the Issuer; or (iv) take any further action with respect to the Issuer or its membership therein.

Section 5. The executing officers(s), the City Clerk and all other proper officers and officials of the City are hereby authorized and directed to execute such other agreements, documents and certificates, and to perform such other acts and deeds, as may be necessary or convenient to effect the purposes of this Resolution and the transactions herein authorized.

Section 6. The Clerk shall forward a certified copy of this Resolution to the Issuer in care of its counsel:

Michael Charlebois, Esq.

Ballard Spahr LLP
2029 Century Park East, Suite 1400
Los Angeles, California 90067

Section 7. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions.

ADOPTED AND APPROVED this 6th day of May 2025.

______________________________
Allison Lee, Mayor

ATTEST:

____________________________
Jessica Giber
Assistant City Clerk

City of Hesperia

STAFF REPORT

DATE: May 6, 2025
TO: Mayor and Council Members
Chair and Board Members, Hesperia Housing Authority
Chair and Board Members, Hesperia Fire Protection District Chair and Board Members, Hesperia Water District
FROM: Rachel Molina, City Manager
BY: Casey Brooksher, Assistant City Manager

SUBJECT: FY 2025-26 Budget Workshop #1 – Operating Budget

RECOMMENDED ACTION

It is recommended that the City Counci l/Board receive and file this staff report, which provides information about the current status of the City of Hesperia’s proposed operating budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26.

BACKGROUND

In compliance with the City Council’s policy direction, staff annually develops an expenditure budget. While the budget gives the City the legal authority to secu re goods and services, it is also a communication tool that provides information to the citizens about the City’s programs and projects. To ensure that the budget is developed to meet the City Council’s direction, a series of budget workshops have been de veloped. Th is first workshop will highlight the proposed operating budget. During the first City Council meeting in June, the proposed annual operating budget will be presented.

ISSUES/ANALYSIS

This first budget workshop will provide a brief overview of the City’ s operating budget. The operating budget includes planned ongoing revenues and expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year, as well as revisions to the FY 20 24-25 Budget. It should be noted that the goal fo r developing the FY 20 25-26 Budget wa s to minimize the use of reserves and enhance cash reserves. This goal will be highlighted during the presentation.

CITY GOAL SUPPORTED BY THIS ITEM

Financial Health - Maintain a balanced budget and adequate reserves.

FISCAL IMPACT

There are no finan cial impacts at th is time, as this is a workshop to discuss the proposed FY 2025-26 operating budget.

ALTERNATIVE(S)

1. Provide alternative direction to staff.

Staff Report to the Mayor and City Council/Board Members Budget Workshop #1 – Operating Budget
May 6, 2025

ATTACHMENT(S)

None

City of Hesperia

STAFF REPORT

DATE: May 6, 2025
TO: Mayor and Council Members

FROM: Rachel Molina, City Manager
BY: Melinda Sayre, Deputy City Manager/City Clerk
Kelly Brady, Public Relations Analyst

SUBJECT: Reestablishing Healthy Hesperia

RECOMMENDED ACTION

It is recommended that the City Council provide direction to staff on opportunities to reestablish the previously adopted Healthy Hesperia initiative.

BACKGROUND

On March 18, 2025, Council Member Ochoa requested staff to explore ideas and opportunities to revive Healthy Hesperia.

In 2010, the Hesperia City Council established Healthy Hesperia, committing to improving residents’ quality of life by developing programs and opportunities that support healthy, active lifestyles. An important component to the success of Healthy Hesperia was partnerships with other local agencies including County of San Bernardino, Hesperia Unified School District, Hesperia Recreation and Park District, numerous community -based organizations, and the business community.

ISSUES/ANALYSIS

Healthy communit ies are not just those that have a high health status but also those that purposefully seek to improve the health of residents by prioritizing healthy programs to the extent possible.

Healthy Hesperia hosted and /or supported a variety of health and fitne ss-related events, a community weight loss challenge, and educational classes and programs. Annually, Healthy Hesperia participated in the coordination of a community health fair / expo that featured: health care providers sharing information with attendees, demonstrations and presentations and fun, health-focused activities.

Active for many years, the Healthy Hesperia programing built upon its successes year after year, resulting in a variety of annual offerings a few years after beginning. The intent of the initiative was to bring the community together for the common goal of elevating our community’s health.

CITY GOAL SUPPORTED BY THIS ITEM

Public Safety — Ensure public safety resources adequately protect our community.

Staff Report to the Mayor and Council Members
Healthy Hesperia
May 6, 2025

FISCAL IMPACT
Fiscal Impact is dependent on the direction of the City Council. Generally speaking, costs associated with the re-launch of Healthy Hesperia can be estimated to be about $5,000 annually.

ALTERNATIVE(S)

1. Provide alternative direction to staff.

ATTACHMENT(S)
None.

City of Hesperia

STAFF REPORT

DATE: May 6, 2025
TO: Mayor and Council Members

FROM: Rachel Molina, City Manager
BY: Melinda Sayre, Deputy City Manager/City Clerk
Jacquelyn Castillo, Management Analyst

SUBJECT: 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

RECOMMENDED ACTION

It is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2025-12, approving the 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) Update , and authorize staff to make future non -substantive revisions to the plan as needed.

BACKGROUND
The Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000), enacted on October 10, 2000, established requirements for state and local agencies to develop and submit a c omprehensive Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) to both the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Compliance with this requirement ensures continued eligibility for hazard mitigation grant funding.

To remain eligible for FEMA-supported hazard mitigation assistance programs, LHMPs must be updated and resubmitted to FEMA for approval every five (5) years. In response to legislative changes, FEMA has issued updated planning guidance including the State Mitigation Plan Review Guide (2015), Local Mitigation Plan Review Guide (2011), and Tribal Mitigation Plan Review Guide (2017). These updates aim to broaden the scope of eligible activities and strengthen community resilience through proactive hazard mitigation planning.

ISSUES/ANALYSIS

The 2017 LHMP was approved by City Council through Resolution No. 2018-16 on March 20, 2018. Since then, the City has actively participated in the hazard mitigation planning process.

The 2024 LHMP Update reflects a comprehensive revision aligned with FEMA’s current compliance standards.

The updated LHMP follows FEMA’s framework, detailing the methodology for identifying hazards, assessing risks and vulnerabilities, prioritizing mitigation strategies, and encouraging coordination among local stakeholders. It serves not only as a FEMA compliance document, but also as a strategic tool supporting objectives in the Safety Element of the 2024 General Plan Update.

Staff Report to the City Council
2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
May 6, 2025

The City submitted the draft LHMP to Cal OES for initial review on December 19, 2024. Following their approval, Cal OES forwarded the plan to FEMA for final review. On April 14, 2025, FEMA notified the City that the LHMP is eligible for final approval pending formal adoption by the City Council.

The 2024 LHMP Update builds upon the City’s ongoing efforts to reduce disaster -related risks.

City departments, particularly those involved in Public Works and emergency response , have already implemented procedures to minimize potential damages and enhance disaster preparedness.

Adoption of the LHMP marks the final step in this cycle of hazard mitigation planning and preserves the City’s eligibility for federal and state hazard mitigation funding.

CITY GOAL SUPPORTED BY THIS ITEM

Public Safety - Ensure public safety resources adequately protect our community.

FISCAL IMPACT
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with adoption of the 2024 LHMP. However, City Council adoption is required to maintain eligibility for:
 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding;
 Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) grants;
 Disaster recovery funding and reimbursement for mitigation projects related to state or federal disaster declarations.

ALTERNATIVE(S)

1. Provide alternative direction to staff.

ATTACHMENT(S)

1. Resolution No. 2025-12

2. FEMA Review Letter

3. 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update (available on the City’s website)

RESOLUTION NO. 2025-12

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HESPERIA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE 20 24 LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN

UPDATE, AND AUTHORIZING FUTURE NON-SUBSTANTIVE AMENDMENTS

TO THE PLAN
WHEREAS, President William J. Clinton signed H.R. 707, the Disaster Mitigation and Cost Reduction Act of 2000, into law on October 30, 2000; and WHEREAS, the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires that all jurisdictions be covered by a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) in order to remain eligible for post-disaster funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); and
WHEREAS, the City of Hesperia, through the City Manager’s Office, has acted as the lead agency in the development of the 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update; and WHEREAS, the City Manager’s Office coordinated the development of the Plan in collaboration with multiple City departments and stakeholders; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager’s Office is the designated authority within the City of Hesperia to oversee the implementation and administration of the Plan; and WHEREAS, the City of Hesperia recognizes the importance of mitigating potential losses from natural hazards before they occur and is committed to proactively planning for disaster resilience; and
WHEREAS, the 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan identifies potential hazards, assesses vulnerabilities, and outlines mitigation strategies to reduce future risk; and WHEREAS, the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) has reviewed the Plan on behalf of FEMA; and
WHEREAS, formal adoption of the Plan by the City Council is required prior to final approval by FEMA; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that adoption of the 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update is in the best interest of the City of Hesperia and its residents.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVE D BY THE CITY OF HES PERIA CITY COUNCIL AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. The City Council hereby adopts the City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update in accordance with the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation and Cost Reduction Act of 2000 and d irects the City Manager’s Office to submit the adopted Plan to Cal OES and FEMA for final approval.

Resolution No. 2025-12
Adopting the 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

Section 2. The City Council authorizes the City Manager , or designee , to make non - substantive administrative and operational updates to the Plan as necess ary to maintain its compliance and effectiveness.

Section 3. The City Council authorizes the City Manager, or designee, to carry out the duties and responsibilities associated with the implementation and maintenance of the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Section 4. A certified copy of the City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update shall be placed on file with the City Clerk’s Office and made available for public review.

ADOPTED AND APPROVED this 6th day of May 2025.

______________________________
Allison Lee, Mayor

ATTEST:

____________________________
Jessica Giber
Assistant City Clerk

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
FEMA Region 9
1111 Broadway, Suite 1200
Oakland, CA 94607-4052

www.fema.gov

April 14, 2025

Jacquelyn Castillo
Management Analyst
City of Hesperia
9700 Seventh Ave.

Hesperia, CA 92345

Dear Jacquelyn Castillo:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has completed its review of the 2025 City of Hesperia Hazard Mitigation Plan and has determined that the plan is eligible for final approval, pending its formal adoption by the City of Hesperia.

Formal adoption documentation must be submitted to FEMA Region 9 within one calendar year from the date of this letter. If the adoption is not received within that timeframe, the plan must be updated and resubmitted for review.

FEMA will issue formal approval of the plan upon receipt of the adoption documentation.

Adoption of the plan is required to maintain eligibility for funding under FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) programs. All funding requests will be evaluated individually based on the specific eligibility criteria and requirements of the applicable HMA program.

Please note that while mitigation plans may include additional content to meet Element H:

Additional State Requirements or other local objectives, FEMA’s Approvable Pending Adoption (APA) status does not constitute review or approval of any content exceeding FEMA’s standard mitigation planning requirements.

If you have any questions regarding the planning or review processes, please contact the FEMA Region 9 Hazard Mitigation Planning Team at [email protected].

Sincerely,

Alison Kearns
Planning and Implementation Branch Chief
Mitigation Division
FEMA Region 9

City of Hesperia Hazard Mitigation Plan Approval Pending Adoption Notice April 14, 2025

www.fema.gov

Enclosure (1)
Hesperia Plan Review Tool, dated April 14, 2025

cc: Robyn Fennig, State Hazard Mitigation Officer, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
Victoria LaMar-Haas, Hazard Mitigation Planning Chief, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
i

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1 – Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1 Plan Purpose and Authority ................................................................................................................... 1 Plan Organization and Use ................................................................................................................................ 3 Previous Hesperia LHMP ................................................................................................................................... 4 Plan Goals .......................................................................................................................................................... 4 Planning Process ............................................................................................................................................... 5 Chapter 2 – Community Profile ............................................................................................................ 15 Demographics ................................................................................................................................................. 16 Economy and Commute Patterns ................................................................................................................... 19 Development Trends ....................................................................................................................................... 21 Major Community Elements ........................................................................................................................... 23 Infrastructure Assessment .............................................................................................................................. 27 Chapter 3 – Risk Assessment ................................................................................................................ 33 Hazard Identification ....................................................................................................................................... 33 Hazard Scoring and Prioritization .................................................................................................................... 36 Hazard Profiles ................................................................................................................................................ 39 Chapter 4 – Vulnerability Assessment .................................................................................................. 84 Methodology .................................................................................................................................................. 84 Population and Asset Exposure ...................................................................................................................... 85 Hazard Specific Vulnerability .......................................................................................................................... 95 Chapter 5 – Hazard Mitigation Strategy ............................................................................................. 132 Strategy Development Process ..................................................................................................................... 132 Identifying the Problem ................................................................................................................................ 132 Capabilities Assessment ................................................................................................................................ 134 Budget in Brief............................................................................................................................................... 149 Hazard Mitigation Strategies and Actions ..................................................................................................... 151 National Flood Insurance Program ................................................................................................................ 163 City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
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Chapter 6 – Plan Maintenance ........................................................................................................... 178 Coordinating Body ......................................................................................................................................... 178 Plan Implementation ..................................................................................................................................... 179 Plan Maintenance Process ............................................................................................................................ 180 Point of Contact ............................................................................................................................................ 182 List of Figures
Figure 2-1: City of Hesperia Location ............................................................................................................... 15 Figure 2-2: Housing Element – Proposed Land Use Changes ........................................................................... 25 Figure 2-3: Non-Motorized Transportation Plan .............................................................................................. 29 Figure 3-1: Regional Faults and Fault Zones .................................................................................................... 40 Figure 3-2: Seismic Shaking Potential .............................................................................................................. 42 Figure 3-3: UCERF3 Fault Probabilities ............................................................................................................. 47 Figure 3-4: Flood Hazard Zones in Hesperia..................................................................................................... 52 Figure 3-5: Master Plan of Drainage ................................................................................................................ 53 Figure 3-6: Santa Ana Winds ............................................................................................................................ 59 Figure 3-7: NOAA’s National Weather Service Heat Index .............................................................................. 61 Figure 3-8: California Historical and Projected Temperature Increases (1961-2099) ...................................... 64 Figure 3-9: Wildfire History Map ...................................................................................................................... 69 Figure 3-10: Wildfire Hazard Severity Zones .................................................................................................... 75 Figure 3-11: Wildfire Return Interval Map ....................................................................................................... 77 Figure 3-12: Dam Locations Near Hesperia ...................................................................................................... 78 Figure 3-13: Dam Inundation Areas ................................................................................................................. 82 Figure 4-1: Data Source and Methodology ...................................................................................................... 85 Figure 4-2: Median Household Income Distribution Map ............................................................................... 88 Figure 4-3: Population Under 18 ...................................................................................................................... 89 Figure 4-4: Population Over 65 ........................................................................................................................ 90 Figure 4-5: 2010 Census Building Stock Exposure by General Occupancy ....................................................... 92 Figure 4-6: Population Exposed to NFIP Flood Zones ...................................................................................... 96 Figure 4-7: Total Direct Economic Losses for Buildings .................................................................................. 102 Figure 4-8: Loss by Capital Stock Categories and Income Losses by Categories ............................................ 103 Figure 4-9: Population at Risk for Wildfire Hazards ....................................................................................... 105 Figure 4-10: Population Exposure to EQ Severity Zone ................................................................................. 110 Figure 4-11: Estimated Building Loss and Content Damage by Occupancy Type; 2016 ................................ 117 City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
iii
Figure 4-1 2: Critical Facilities and Infrastructure Near Dam Inundation Zones ............................................. 125 List
of Tables
Table 1-1: Hesperia HMPC Members ................................................................................................................. 6 Table 1-2: Key Resources for Plan Development ............................................................................................. 12 Table 2-1: Basic Demographics, Hesperia, and San Bernardino County .......................................................... 17 Table 2-2: Racial and Ethnic Composition, Hesperia, and San Bernardino County.......................................... 18 Table 2-3: Educational Attainment of Residents 25+ Years of Age .................................................................. 18 Table 2-4: English Proficiency and Languages Spoken at Home (2020) ........................................................... 19 Table 2-5: Top Employers in Hesperia .............................................................................................................. 20 Table 2-6: Top Five Cities-of-Origin for Hesperia’s Workforce (2021) ............................................................. 20 Table 2-7: Work Commute Distances for Hesperia’s Residents (2021) ........................................................... 20 Table 2-8: Summary of Quantified Objectives for Housing Programs ............................................................. 22 Table 2-9: City of Hesperia Transportation Infrastructure ............................................................................... 30 Table 3-1: Hazard Evaluation for Hesperia LHMP ............................................................................................ 33 Table 3-2: Hesperia Hazard Prioritization Worksheet ...................................................................................... 38 Table 3-3: Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale .................................................................................................... 43 Table 3-4: Estimated Horizontal Peak Ground Accelerations and Seismic Intensities in Hesperia ........................................................................................................................................... 44 Table 3-5: Significant Earthquakes (5.0+Mw) Within 100 Miles of Hesperia .................................................. 46 Table 3-6: Earthquakes (Greater than 4.0+Mw) in San Bernardino ................................................................. 46 Table 3-7: Southern California Region Earthquake Probability ........................................................................ 48 Table 3-8: FEMA Floodplain Categories ........................................................................................................... 51 Table 3-9: Flooding Hotspots in Hesperia ........................................................................................................ 54 Table 3-10: History of Flooding in Hesperia ..................................................................................................... 56 Table 3-11: Beaufort Scale ............................................................................................................................... 60 Table 3-12: Measuring Heavy Rain Events ....................................................................................................... 62 Table 3-13: Wildfire Occurrences 1999-2024 .................................................................................................. 70 Table 3-14: Dam Safety Action Classification (DSAC) Rating System ............................................................... 80 Table 3-15: California Department of Water Resources Division of Safety of Dams – Downstream Hazard Classifications .............................................................................................. 80 Table 4-1: Hesperia Threatened Population Metrics ....................................................................................... 87 Table 4-2: Hazus Census Block 2010 Building Stock Exposure by General Occupancy .................................... 91 Table 4-3: City Parcel Information as of March 2024....................................................................................... 93 City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
iv
Table 4-4: Critical Facility Points; 2024 ............................................................................................................ 93 Table 4-5: Linear Transportation; 2024 ............................................................................................................ 94 Table 4-6: Parcels Exposed to NFIP Flood Zones; 2023 .................................................................................... 98 Table 4-7: Critical Facility Points Exposed to NFIP Flood Zones ....................................................................... 99 Table 4-8: Linear Transportation Exposed to NFIP Flood Zones .................................................................... 100 Table 4-9: Direct Economic Annualized Losses for Buildings ......................................................................... 101 Table 4-10: Building Damage by General Occupancy .................................................................................... 101 Table 4-11: Residential Buildings and Content at Risk from Wildfire ............................................................ 107 Table 4-12: Critical Facility Points Exposed to Wildfire .................................................................................. 107 Table 4-13: Linear Transportation Exposed to Wildfire Risk .......................................................................... 108 Table 4-14: Residential Parcel Value Exposure to Earthquake Severity Zones .............................................. 112 Table 4-15: Critical Facilities with EQ Risk ...................................................................................................... 112 Table 4-16: Linear Transportation with EQ Risk ............................................................................................. 114 Table 4-17: Estimate Building and Loss Content Loss – Great Shakeout Scenario EQ; 2016……………………….116 Table 5-1a: Earthquake Hazard Problem Statements .................................................................................... 132 Table 5-1b: Wildfire Hazard Problem Statements ......................................................................................... 133 Table 5-1c: Flood Hazard Problem Statements .............................................................................................. 133 Table 5-1d: Severe Weather and Climate Change Hazard Problem Statements ........................................... 133 Table 5-2a: City of Hesperia Capabilities Assessment – Local Legal and Regulatory Capabilities ................................................................................................................................... 135 Table 5-2b: City of Hesperia Capabilities Assessment – Administrative and Technical Capabilities .................................................................................................................................. 138 Table 5-2c: City of Hesperia Capabilities Assessment – Fiscal Capabilities .................................................... 143 Table 5-2d: City of Hesperia Capabilities Assessment – County Wildfire Mitigation Program………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….144 Table 5-2e: City of Hesperia Capabilities Assessment – County Flood Mitigation Program………………………..145 Table 5-2f: City of Hesperia Capabilities Assessment – County Public Education and Alerts Programs ........ 146 Table 5-2g: City of Hesperia Capabilities Assessment – State and Federal Fiscal Resources (Potential Funding Programs/Grants from State and Federal Agencies) .................................... 147 Table 5-3: STAPLE/E Criteria ......................................................................................................................... 167 Table 5-4 : Mitigation Action Implementation Plan ...................................................................................... 169 Table 5-5: 2017 Mitigation Action Progress ................................................................................................. 173 City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
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Appendices
App
endix A: HMPC Meeting Materials……………………………………………………………………………………………………A-1 Table 1-1: Hesperia HMPC Members …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. A-2 City of Hesperia HMP 2024 Update: Pre-Planning Meeting ……………………………………………………………………… A-3 City of Hesperia HMP Plan Update: Meeting #1………………………………………………………………………………………… A-4 HMPC Stakeholder Meeting #2……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………A-6 HMPC Stakeholder Meeting #3……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………A-9 HMPC Stakeholder Meeting #4…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. A-13 HMPC Community Meeting #5…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. A-16 Ap
pendix B: Outreach Engagement Material ……………………………………………………………………………………… B-1 Public Engagement Opportunity: March 12, 2024 LHMP Survey ………………………………………………………………..B-2 Public Engagement Opportunity: August 6, 2024 LHMP Survey (National Night Out)…………………………………B-37 Public Engagement Opportunity: August 22, 2024 LHMP Survey Shared with Stakeholders……………………….B-39 2024 Public Participation Survey for Hazard Mitigation Planning……………………………………………………………….B-40 2024 Public Participation Survey for Hazard Mitigation Planning – Survey Results…………………………………….B-47 Public Engagement Opportunity: October 2, 2024 (Email)…………………………………………………………………………B-65 Public Engagement Opportunity: November 4, 2024 Stakeholder Meeting Invitation (Email)……………………B-66 Public Engagement Opportunity – November 12, 2024 …………………………………………………………………………….B-77 Public Engagement Opportunity – December 9, 2024 CCAC Meeting – LHMP Planning Process ……………….B-86 Appendix C: Resolution of Adoption and FEMA Letter ............................................................................. C-1 FEMA Approval Letter ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… C-2 Appendix D: Hazard Mitigation Implementation Handbook .................................................................. D-1 1 City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Chapter 1 – Introduction
Plan Purpose and Authority
Hazard events can lead to injuries or death, affect a
community's overall health and safety, damage or destroy public and private property, harm ecosystems, and disrupt key services. Although the hazard event itself often gets the most attention, it is only one part of a larger emergency management cycle.

Emergency planners and
responders can take steps
during the response, recovery,
mitigation, and preparedness
phases of the cycle to minimize
the harm caused by a disaster.

This Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan (LHMP) focuses
on optimizing the mitigation
phase of the cycle. Mitigation
involves making a community
more resilient to disasters so that when hazard events do ultimately o ccur, the community suffers less damage and can recover more effectively. It differs from preparedness, which involves advanced planning for how best to respond when a disaster occurs or is imminent. For example, a policy to make homes structurally stronger so they suffer less damage during an earthquake is a mitigation action, while fully equipping shelters to accommodate people who lose their homes in an earthquake is a preparedness action. Some activities may qualify as both.

Like other communities, the City of Hesperia (City) could potentially suffer severe harm from hazard events. Although large disasters may cause widespread devastation, even smaller disasters can have substantial effects. The City cannot make itself completely i mmune to hazard events, but this LHMP can help make the community a safer place to live, work, and visit. This LHMP provides a comprehensive assessment of the threats that the City faces from natural and human- caused hazard events and a coordinated strategy to reduce these threats. It identifies resources and information that can help community members, City staff, and local officials understand local threats and make informed decisions. The LHMP can also support increased coordination and collaboration
HAZARD EVENT:
an emergency due to
a natural or human-
caused event that has
the potential to cause
harm.

HAZARD MITIGATION:
any sustained action
taken to reduce or
eliminate long-term risk
to people and property
from natural or human-
caused hazards and
their effects.

RESILIENCE:
the capacity of any
entity (an individual, a
community, an
organization, or a
natural system) to
prepare for disruptions,
to recover from shocks
and stresses, and to
adapt and grow from a
disruptive experience.

2 City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
b
etween the City, other public agencies, local employers, service providers, community members, and other key stakeholders.

Federal Authority
The City is not required to prepare an LHMP, but state
and federal regulations encourage it. The federal
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Act,
amended by the Disaster Management Act of 2000,
creates a federal framework for local h azard
mitigation planning. It states that jurisdictions that
wish to be eligible for federal hazard mitigation grant funding must prepare a hazard mitigation plan that
meets a certain set of guidelines and submit this plan
to the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) for review and approval. The following
regulations and guidelines apply to this plan:

F

EDERAL LAWS
• Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
A
ssistance Act (Stafford Act), as amended.

FEDERAL REGULATIONS
• 44 CFR Part 201 Mitigation Planning.
• 44 CFR, Part 60, Subpart A, including § 60.3 Flood
plain management criteria for flood-prone areas.
• 44 CFR Part 77 Flood Mitigation Grants.
• 44 CFR Part 206 Subpart N. Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

FEDERAL GUIDANCE
• FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide (FP 206-21-0002), effective April 19, 2023 State Authority
CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS 8685.9 AND 65302.6
California Government Code Section 8685.9 (also known as Assembly Bill 2140) limits the State of California's share of disaster relief funds paid out to local governments to 75 percent of the funds not paid for by federal disaster relief efforts unless the jurisdiction has adopted a valid hazard mitigation plan consistent with the Disaster Management Act of 2000 and has incorporated the hazard mitigation plan into the jurisdiction's general plan. In these cases, the State may cover more than 75 percent of the remaining disaster relief costs.

All cities and counties in California must prepare a general plan, including a safety element that addresses various hazard conditions and other public safety issues. The safety element may be a stand -alone chapter or incorporated into another section, as the community wishes. California Government Code Section 65302.6 indicates that a community may adopt an LHMP into its safety element if the LHMP meets applicable FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide
provides the official policy and interpretation
of the applicable statutes and mitigation
planning regulations in 44 Code of Federal
Regulations
3 City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
s
tate requirements. This allows communities to use the LHMP to satisfy state requirements for safety elements. As the General Plan is an overarching long-term plan for community growth and development, incorporating the LHMP into it creates a stronger mechanism for implementing the LHMP.

CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 65302 (G)(4)
California Government Code Section 65302 (g)(4), also known as Senate Bill (SB) 379, requires that the safety element of a community's general plan address the hazards created or exacerbated by climate change. The safety element must identify how climate change is expected to affect hazard conditions in the community and include measures to adapt and be more resilient to these anticipated changes.

Because the LHMP can be incorporated into the safety element, including these items in the LHMP can satisfy the state requirement. SB 379 requires that climate change be addressed in the safety element when the LHMP is updated after January 1, 2017, for communities that already have an LHMP, or by January 1, 2022, for communities without an LHMP.

This LHMP is consistent with current standards and regulations, as outlined by the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and FEMA. It uses the best available science, and its mitigation actions/strategies reflect best practices and community values. It meets the requirements of current state and federal guidelines and makes the City eligible for all appropriate benefits under state and federal law and practices. Note that while FEMA is responsible for reviewing and certifying this LHMP, and Cal OES is responsible for conducting a preliminary review, it does not grant FEMA or Cal OES any increased role in the governance of the City or authorize either agency to take any specific action in the community.

Plan Organization and Use
The Hesperia LHMP is both a reference document and an action plan. It has information and resources to educate readers and decision -makers about hazard events and related issues and a comprehensive strategy that the City and community members can follow to improve its resilience. It is divided into the following chapters:
• Chapter 1: Introduction. This chapter describes the background of the Plan, its goals and objectives, and the process used in its development. • Chapter 2: Community Profile. This chapter discusses the history of Hesperia, its physical setting and land uses, its demographics, and other important community characteristics.
• Chapter 3: Hazard Assessment. This chapter identifies and describes the hazards that pose a threat to Hesperia and discusses past and future events and the effects of c
limate change.
• Chapter 4: Vulnerability Assessment. This chapter describes the threat of each hazard on Hesperia’s key facilities and community members, including socially vulnerable individuals.
4 City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
• Chapter 5: Mitigation Strategy . This chapter lists the mitigation actions to reduce Hesperia’s vulnerability to hazard events and provides an overview of the community's existing capabilities to improve hazard resilience.
• Chapter 6: Plan Maintenance. This chapter summarizes the process for implementing, monitoring, and updating the LHMP and opportunities for continued public involvement.

Previous Hesperia LHMP
The 2017 Hesperia LHMP was adopted by the Hesperia City Council on March 20, 2018. This LHMP is a “living document” that should be reviewed, monitored, and updated to reflect changing conditions and new information. As required, an LHMP must be updated every (5) years to remain in compliance with regulations and Federal mitigation grant conditions. In that spirit, this LHMP is an update of the 2017 City of Hesperia Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, approved by FEMA on March 5, 2018. This LHMP presents updated information regarding hazards being faced by the City of Hesperia. This LHMP will also reference the goals and policies in the Safety Element of the 2024 focused City of Hesperia General Plan update.

Key updated elements from the previous Hesperia LHMP include the following:
• Updated Plan Goals below, were modified to better suit the changing priorities of the City, and to streamline with the General Plan update.
• Updated hazard profiles and vulnerability assessment that integrates the General Plan, Housing Element, and Climate Adaptation Vulnerability Assessment. • Incorporation of updated demographics and development trends into the Community Profile.
• Updated hazard profiles with additional historic events information. • Updated Capabilities Assessment to meet new FEMA requirements and guidance. • Updated Mitigation Actions and Strategies (Table 5- 4), which includes progress on p
revious actions (Table 5-5).

Plan Goals
This Plan was developed to broadly increase resilience in Hesperia. The following key goals were developed for the City's LHMP:
• A community prepared to withstand and recover from natural disasters, human health h
azards, and other emergencies.
• Minimize injury, loss of life, property damage, economic and social disruption caused by seismic shaking and other earthquake induced hazards.
• Minimize injury, loss of life, property damage and economic and social disruption c
aused by flooding and inundation hazards.
• Minimize injury, loss of life, property damage and economic and social disruption c
aused by wildland and urban fires.
• A community resilient to drought, extreme heat, severe weather events, and other climate-related hazards.
• Reduce the impacts of climate change on the city.
5 City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
T
hese goals are very similar to the 2017 goals; however, some modifications were made to streamline the language, and ensure greater consistency with the City's Safety Element of the General Plan and align with the community's priorities.

Planning Process
State and federal guidance for LHMPs do not require that jurisdictions follow a standardized planning process. FEMA encourages communities to create their own planning process that reflects local values, goals, and characteristics. FEMA does suggest a general planning process that follows these general milestones:

F
or the City of Hesperia, the planning process used to create this plan is described below.

Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee
The City established a Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee (hereafter referred to as the HMPC). The HMPC comprises representatives from key City departments and stakeholder members, including representatives from local and regional agencies and companies that are key to hazard mitigation activities. Table 1 -1 identifies the members that were invited and/or attended HMPC meetings.

Identify the
planning area and
the resources it
contains
Build the planning
team
Identify the risks
and threats to the
community
Review the
community's
capabilities
Review and adopt
the plan
Implement the
plan to create a
safe and resilient
community
Develop a hazard
mitigation strategy
Create an
outreach team
Keep the plan
current
6 City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Table 1-1: Hesperia HMPC Members
Name Title Department
Jacquelyn Castillo
(Project Manager, POC)
Management Analyst City Manager’s Office
Melinda Sayre Deputy City Manager City Manager’s Office Tammy Pelayes Assistant to the City Manager City Manager’s Office Kelly Brady Public Relations Analyst City Manager’s Office Ryan Leonard Principal Planner Community Development
(Planning Department)
Andrew Lemke Building Official Community Development
(Building and Safety)
Rubi Arellano Community Development
Supervisor
Community Development
(Building and Safety)
Cassandra Sanchez City Engineer Community Development
(Engineering)
Benjamin Leslie GIS Technician GIS/Information Technology Program
Brian Blackwell Operations Manager/Streets
Division
Public Works
April Antonio Administrative Analyst Economic Development Keith Cheong Senior Accountant Finance
Kelly Anderson Assistant Fire Chief San Bernardino County Fire Department
Steve Tracy Battalion Chief San Bernardino County Fire
Department
Steve Allen Lieutenant Police Department
T
he HMPC held and attended several meetings throughout the plan development process to lay out the methods and approach for the Plan, draft and review content, make revisions, and engage members of the public.

T
he LHMP Project Manager and members of the HMPC frequently participated in General Plan Update Meetings. The City contracted PlaceWorks consulting firm to conduct a focused update on areas such as Land Use, Circulation, Safety, and Environmental Justice. HMPC Members and the consulting firm discussed informati on sharing opportunities to streamline vulnerability assessment data, stakeholder initiatives to address hazard events, public safety, goals and policies. Where related topics between the Safety Element and LHMP aligned, HMPC team members participated in applicable meetings.
7 City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
H
MPC Pre-Planning Meeting (February 13, 2024): The HMPC members engaged in a pre-planning meeting. Discussed project overview and background. Reviewed Local Mitigation Planning Policy Side-by-Side Comparison Tool. Established a preliminary project timeline. Discussed plan for internal kick-off meeting and potential stakeholders. Discussed next steps for retrieving local map data and statistics. Discussed plan for launching public outreach.

HMPC Meeting #1 (March 7, 2024): Members held a detailed discussion about the LHMP standards for approval, planning process phases, forecasted schedule, LHMP goals. Assigned data gathering for critical documents/studies/data. Discussed potential hazards for the City, and distributed risk assessment matrix assignment.

HMPC Stakeholder Meeting #2 (June 3, 2024): Members of the HMPC m et with PlaceWorks, consulting firm to discuss components of the Safety Element, which is currently being updated as part of a focused General Plan Update. Members of the HMPC team included San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department - Lieutenant, and Principal Planner. The LHMP Project Manager was briefed on the meeting. The meeting included a focused discussion on local knowledge of hazard potential, hazard reduction strategies, and climate resilience goals.

HMPC Members and the consulting firm discussed potential information sharing opportunities to streamline vulnerability assessment data. The meeting discussion included focused questions to the Sheriff’s department regarding vulnerable populations, infrastructure, and community assets and initiatives to address hazards, public safety, and climate adaptation.

HMPC Stakeholder Meeting #3 (June 4, 2024): Members of the HMPC met with PlaceWorks, consulting firm to discuss components of the Safety Element, which is currently being updated as part of a focused General Plan Update. Members of the HMPC team included the Fire Chief, Principal Planner, and the LHMP Project Manager. The meeting included a focused discussion on local knowledge of hazard potential, hazard reduction strategies, and climate resilience go als. HMPC Members and the consulting firm discussed potential information sharing opportunities to streamline vulnerability assessment data. The meeting discussion included focused questions to the fire department regarding vulnerable populations, infrastructure, and community assets and initiatives to address hazards, public safety, and climate adaptation.

HMPC Stakeholder Meeting #4 (June 6, 2024): Members of the HMPC met with PlaceWorks, consulting firm to discuss components of the Safety Element, which is currently being updated as part of a focused General Plan Update. Members of the HMPC team included the Deputy City Engineer, Public Works Supervisor, and Principal Planner. The LHMP Project Manager was briefed on the meeting. The meeting included a foc used discussion on local knowledge of hazard potential. HMPC Members and the consulting firm discussed potential information sharing opportunities to streamline vulnerability assessment data. The meeting discussion included focused questions to public works and engineering departments regarding hazard concerns, flooding during winter storms, preparing/responding/recovering from natural hazards such as wildfires, severe storms, flooding, extreme heat, etc. Discussion on population, infrastructure and community assets vulnerable to hazards.

HMPC Meeting #5 (July 11, 2024): PlaceWorks hosted a community meeting to discuss City Goals and Policies, including but not limited to Safety Element goals and policies. The updated goals and policies will be reflected in the LHMP. Members of the HMPC team who attended the meeting included the LHMP Project Manager, Principal Planner, City Engineer, and Building Official. The Planning Commission and members of the public were also in 8 City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
at
tendance.

Invitations to HMPC meetin gs, as well as agendas/materials, were provided via email.

Appendix A contains copies of HMPC meeting materials including meeting agendas, sign-in sheets, and other relevant materials distributed to attendees for these meetings.

Public Engagement
Under FEMA guidelines, local hazard mitigation planning processes should create opportunities for members of the public to be involved in plan development—at a minimum, during the initial drafting stage and during plan approval. The HMPC developed a community engagement and outreach strategy to guide all public engagement activities. To ensure all residents were aware of the project, Hesperia staff promoted and included a description of the project and ways to get involved on the City's website; this is discussed in more detail in the online engagement section.

S

TAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Stakeholder Engagement Opportunity #1 (August 22, 2024): This engagement opportunity was conducted via email correspondence, refer to Appendix B. City staff emailed Stakeholder’s, providing them the opportunity to participate in a second survey for LHMP planning and engagement purposes. The data collected from the responses to the survey were used to update the LHMP.

Stakeholder Engagement Opportunity # 2 (November 4 , 2024): The City conducted a stakeholder meeting with representatives from surrounding cities (City of Victorville, City of Barstow, City of Adelanto, and the Town of Apple Valley). Information regarding this opportunity to include key members from surrounding communities is located in Appendix B.

Although not all attended, the following is a list of stakeholders invited to the meeting. • Hesperia Unified School District
• SBC Fire Department
• SCC Sheriff’s Department
• SBC Office of Emergency Services
• SBC Animal Control
• Hesperia Parks and Recreation
• Hesperia Animal Control
• Hesperia Code Enforcement
• High Desert Chamber of
Commerce
• High Desert Events Center
• Victor Valley Transit Authority
• Arizona Pipeline
• Hesperia Branch Library
• St. Mary’s Hospital
• Desert Valley Hospital
• BNSF Railway
• Advance Disposal
• Southwest Gas
• So Cal Edison
• Mojave Water
• Victor Valley Community College
9 City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

VULNERABLE POPULATIONS OUTREACH
In addition to the stakeholders, the City also conducted outreach to the following organizations that represent/ support vulnerable populations. The following were invited to participate in the LHMP planning and review process:
• San Bernardino County 4-H Non-Profit Organization – youth development program to teach future generations techniques they can use in the real world, such as, citizenship, leadership, and life skills.
• High Desert Homeless Services – assist people who have been displaced from long - term housing due to natural disaster or loss of income and empower homeless, men, women and children by providing the necessary skills to become self-sufficient. • High Desert Second Chance - is a nonprofit organization serving the homeless individuals and families in need in the High Desert community. • Victor Valley Rescue Mission – provides homeless men with opportunities for spiritual and physical recovery from addictions, job training, and job placement, • Red Cross – prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and generosity of donors.

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
In-person engagement opportunities were a central component of the City's engagement efforts. These meetings provided an opportunity for members of the public to learn about the hazards of concern identified by the HMPC during this update. Additionally, City staff advertised the online survey on the City’s social media platforms. Notices of each meeting were widely distributed in advance in accordance with City notification requirements, the engagement strategy, legal requirements, and best practices.

Pu
blic Engagement Opportunity #1 (August 6, 2024): This engagement opportunity was conducted at National Night Out, a community event known for bringing together diverse residents, including those from historically underserved and equity-priority groups. City staff distributed emergency preparedness materials, including a flier on the LHMP Update, and promoted a second survey for LHMP planning and engagement purposes. Attendees were encouraged to scan QR codes leading to an online survey, designed to gather input on hazard identification and mitigation efforts. Recognizing that some community members, particularly those from low-income backgrounds or those without access to technology, may not have smartphones or internet access, paper copies of the survey were also available. For individuals without phones, staff provided the option to fill out the survey on-site or take a paper copy to complete at home. In order to ensure inclusivity, volunteers were on hand to assist with survey completion, offering help in both English and Spanish, and providing additional support as needed. This approach ensured that no community member was excluded from the feedback process, regardless of language, technology access, or disability. The data collected from these efforts were used to update the LHMP, incorporating the input of diverse populations into the final plan.

Appen
dix B includes a copy of the materials used to promote these engagement opportunities.
10 City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

ONLINE ENGAGEMENT
City of Hesperia LHMP Webpage
The City recognized that not all community members are able to attend public meetings and conducted public engagement through social media and online platforms. To assist with engagement, the City set up a project website as a simple, one-stop location for community members to learn about the LHMP. The website included information about what an LHMP is and why the City prepared one. It had links to materials and Plan documents as they became available and allowed members of the public to receive notifications about upcoming events.

The City also promoted the planning process through the following online methods:
• Hesperia’s City Website
• Social Media (Facebook, Twitter)
• Community E-newsletter

ONLINE SURVEY
A central part of the engagement strategy was an online survey. This survey asked community members about their experience and familiarity with emergency conditions, their level of preparedness for future emergencies, and preferred actions for the City to take to increase resiliency. The survey was promoted on the City’s Facebook and Twitter pages. A summary of these responses is provided here:
• Nearly 61% of respondents live in Hesperia, with an additional 21% that live and work in Hesperia.
• Approximately 75% of respondents had been impacted by a disaster in their current

11 City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
residence.
• The top three hazards of concern for respondents were Severe/Extreme Weather (High winds, Extreme Heat Days, Severe Rainstorms), Flooding, and there was a draw between Earthquake/Geologic Hazards and Wildfires. These r esponses confirmed that the concerns identified by City staff during the planning process were similar to residents that responded.
• Approximately 68% of respondents showed concern regarding climate change affecting future hazards. This response reinforced the value of the General Plan Climate Adaptation Vulnerability Assessment and how it was integrated into this update.

As p
art of the outreach strategy, a QR code was created that could be used on promotional materials and handouts. This QR Code provided quick access to the City's Online Survey.

Appendix B contains copies of all materials used for public outreach, including the full results of the community survey.

Public Review Draft
On November 12, 2024, the City released the draft of the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) for public review and comment. The draft was made available electronically on the City’s website, accompanied by a Public Survey to gather additional feedback from the community. Notifications about the draft were shared through the City’s social media accounts and other online platforms to ensure broad awareness.

Th
e LHMP draft was also presented at the City Council Advisory Committee meeting on December 9, 2024. This meeting was open to the public, providing an opportunity for community members to share additional input. Refer to Appendix B.

Plan Revision and Adoption
The public review period for the City's LHMP ended on December 9, 2024. Since none of the comments required significant edits or modification to the plan content, the City submitted the plan to Cal OES and FEMA, initiating the agency review process on December 19, 2024.

Upon completion of t he formal agency review process, City staff submitted the LHMP for final adoption. The Hesperia City Council adopted the final LHMP on XX . Appendix C contains a copy of the adoption resolution and the FEMA Approval Letter.

Plan Resources
The City used several different plans, studies, technical reports, datasets, and other resources to prepare the hazard assessment, mapping, threat assessment, and other components of this Plan. Table 1 -2 provides some of the primary resources the HMPC used to prepare this Plan.

12 City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Table 1-2: Key Resources for Plan Development
Section Key Resources Reviewed Data Incorporated from
Resource
Multiple • Cal-Adapt
• California Department of
Conservation
• California Geological Survey
• California Office of
Emergency Services
• California State Hazard
Mitigation Plan
• 2017 City of Hesperia Hazard
Mitigation Plan.
• 2010 Hesperia Plan
(General Plan)
• FEMA Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan Guidance
• National Oceanic and
Atmospheric
Administration
• National Weather Service
• US Geological Survey
• 2024 City of Hesperia
Vulnerability Assessment
• Science and background
information on different hazard
conditions
• Records of past disaster events
in and around Hesperia
• Current and anticipated
climate conditions in and
around Hesperia
• Projections of future seismic
conditions and events
Community Profile • 2020 US Census Bureau
Decennial Census
• US Census Bureau 2016-
2020 American
Community Survey
• 2010 Hesperia
Plan (General
Plan)
• 2024 Focused
Hesperia Plan Update
• 2021-2029 Housing
Element Update
• Background Reports
• California Energy
Commission
• Demographic information
for Hesperia and San
Bernardino County
• History of the region
• Economic trends in
Hesperia
• Commute patterns in
Hesperia
• Local land-use patterns
• Background information
on utilities serving Hesperia
Hazard Assessment
(Dam Failure)
• California Department
of Water Resources
• San Bernardino County
Flood Control District
• US Army Corps of
Engineers
• Mapping of dam failure
inundation areas
• Profiles and conditions of
dams in and around
Hesperia
13 City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Hazard Assessment
(Flood Hazards)
• FEMA Map Service
Center
• San Bernardino County
Flood Control District
• California Levee
Database
• Hazus User &
Technical
Manuals
• Records of past flood
events in and around
Hesperia
• Locations of flood-prone
areas in Hesperia
Hazard Assessment
(Wildfire Hazards)
• FEMA Map Service
Center
• San Bernardino County
Fire District
• Records of past wildfire
events in and around
Hesperia
• Locations of fire-
prone areas in
Hesperia
Hazard Assessment
(Seismic Hazards)
• California Geological
Survey
• United States
Geological Survey
• Hazus User and
Technical Manuals
• Science and background
information on seismic
hazards
• Historical record of
• seismic hazard events in
and around Hesperia
Hazard Assessment
(Severe Weather
Hazards)
• NOAA
• National Weather
Service
• Records of past weather
events
Note: Sections not individually identified in this table relied primarily on sources identified in multiple sections. 14 City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
PAGE I

NTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
15 Cha
pter 2 – Community Profile
The Community Profile section of the LHMP is a
summary of Hesperia, including information
about the community's physical setting, history,
economy and demographics, current and
future land uses, and key infrastructure. The
Community Profile helps to establish the
baseline conditions in Hesperia, which inform
the development of the h azard mitigation
actions in Chapter 5.

Setting and Location
The City of Hespera is located in the Victor
Valley, situated in the High Desert of San
Bernardino County, approximately 35 miles
north of the City of San Bernardino. The City is
bordered by the neighboring cities of
Adelanto, Apple Valley, Victorville, and the
San Bernadino unincorporated areas of Oak
Hills and Summit Valley.

Figure 2-1: City of Hesperia Location
2 The 2022 Census population estimate is 100,744. Due to available datasets, the demographics used for the demographics and risk assessment sections of this plan rely on 2020 Decennial Census data.

Hesperia Quick Facts
Elevation:
3,186 ft above sea level
Area:

74.77 square miles
Incorporated:
1988
Government Type:

City Council/City Manager
Population (2022 Census estimate) 2:
100,744
Nearest cities:

Victorville, CA – 7.9 miles
Apple Valley, CA – 11.2 miles
Adelanto, CA – 16.5 miles
Fontana, CA – 22 miles
Crestline, CA – 25.5 miles
Ontario, CA – 28 miles
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – 32 miles
San Bernardino, CA – 35.2 miles
Rialto, CA – 37.1 miles
Highland, CA – 39.3 miles
Nearest city with population 200,000+*:

San Bernardino, CA (35.2 miles, pop. 220,328)
Nearest city with population 1,000,000+*:

Los Angeles, CA (80 miles, pop. 3.820 million)
* California Department of Finance

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
16 Hist
ory
Hesperia began as a Spanish land grant: Rancho San Felipe, Las Flores y El Paso del Cajon, founded in 1781. The land was sparsely inhabited desert during Spanish-Mexican rule in the 19th century. The U.S. annexed the region along with Southern California after the Mexican-Ame rican War in 1848.

In 1869, Max Stobel purchased 35,000 acres (14,000 ha) from the United States Gover nment Land Office for $40,000. While several attempts were made to subdivide and encourage colonization, the land was primarily used for agricultural purposes, with raisin grapes th e primary product.

The town site was laid out in 1891 by railroad company land developers of the Santa Fe Railroad, which was completed that year. Hesperia was named for Hesperus, the Gr eek god of the West.

The railroad land developers published pamphlets distributed across the country with boosterism of Hesperia, California, as a potential metropolis, to become "the Omaha of the West" or projections to have over 100,000 people by 1900, but only 1,000 moved in.

Hesperia grew relatively slowly until the completion of US Routes 66, 91, a nd 395 in the 1940s, followed by Interstate 15 in the late 1960s. About 30 square miles (78 k m2) of land were laid out for possible residential development.

In the early 1950s, land developer M. Penn Phillips a nd his silent financial partner, boxer Jack Dempsey, financed the building of roads and land subdivisions, promoting lots sales on television. They built the Hesperia Inn and golf course, which attracted a variety of Hollywood celebrities. The Hesperia Inn also housed the Jack Dempsey Museum.

The main wave of newcomers, though, arrived at Hesperia in the 1980s. Suburban growth transformed the small town of 5,000 people in 1970 to a moderate-sized city with a population over 60,000 by 2000, and an estimated population over 95,000 as of July 1, 2018.3 Demographics
The data used in this section comes from the most comprehensive American Community Survey (ACS 5 -Year Estimates 2016 -2020), administered by the United States Census Bureau (US Census) completed in 2020, the 2020 Decennial Census, and 2022 Census estimates. Based on these datasets, Hesperia’s 2020 population was estimated to be 99,878 with a median age of

32.6, which is 1.3 years younger than the rest of San Bernardino County (33.9 years old).

Comparatively, the number of senior residents aged 65 and older is 10.6%, while Hesperia residents have a slightly higher income than the median San Bernardino County income. In addition, a higher proportion of Hesperia’s residents are owner -occupied compared to San Bernardino County. Table 2-1 shows the basic demographics for Hesperia and San Bernardino County. It should be noted that more recent population estimates place the city's population at 100,744 residents, which is an increase of about 12% from the last census in 2010 (90,262), showing that the city has experienced population growth over the last decade. 3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hesperia,_California
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
17 Ac
cording to the 2023 San Bernardino County Continuum of Care Homeless Count and Survey, the city has a homeless population of 64 people (59 unsheltered, 5 sheltered, and 0 in transitional housing). The 2023 count shows a 21% increase in homeless population from 2022.

It can be assessed that the number of homeless people in the city are likely to be higher than reported, as it is extremely difficult to count people living in ca rs, abandoned buildings, and other deserted places. Additionally, some of the homeless population may not wish to be found.

Table 2-1: Basic Demographics, Hesperia, and San Bernardino County Demographics Hesperia San Bernardino
County
Total Population 99,878 2,181,654
Percent of children who are less than 10 years old 15.3% 14.3% Percent of residents who are senior citizens (65+) 10.6.% 12.1% Median Age 32.6 33.6
Total households 28,687 640,090
Median household income $67,698 $65,761
Percent of rental households 37% 39.9%
Note: Percentage values are rounded to the nearest tenth decimal. Source:
2020 US Decennial Census, US Census ACS Survey 2016-2020 In t
erms of its racial and ethnic composition, Hesperia is comprised of a 61.43% (White - Hispanic and White -Non-Hispanic), 3.95% Black or African American, 1.99% Asian, 1.03% Native American, 0.19% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 16.08% two or more races, 0.47% some other race alone, and 15.33% other races. This population makeup mirrors greater San Bernardino County due to a high proportion of White-Hispanic and White Non-Hispanic and some other race populations. Table 2-2 shows the racial and ethnic composition for all groups in Hesperia and San Bernardino County.

Hesperia residents have attained slightly lower higher education levels in comparison to San Bernardino County. Comparatively, a smaller proportion of the population has attained bachelor's and professional degrees, 10.9% of the city's residents vers us roughly 21.3% of the County's residents. Other categories also differ, such as a larger percentage of people not having education past 9th grade and a slightly larger percentage of people not having graduated high school. Table 2 -3 shows all levels of educational attainment of residents 25 years of age or older in both Hesperia and San Bernardino County.

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
18 Table 2-2: Racial and Ethnic Composition, Hesperia and San Bernardino County Race or Ethnicity Hesperia San Bernardino County
Population Percentage Population Percentage
White 61,355 61.43% 782,691 35.9%
Black 3,943 3.95% 184,558 8.6%
American Indian and Alaskan
Native
1,026 1.03% 41,663 1.9%
Asian 1,992 1.99% 182,287 8.4%
Native Hawaiian and Other
Pacific Islander
191 0.19% 7,461 0.3%
Some Other Race Alone 465 0.47% 621,140 28.5%
Two or more races 16,056 16.08% 361,854 16.6%
Lantinx (of any race) * 14,850 14.87% 1,224,685 56.1%
Total 99,878 100% 2,181,654 100%
* The US Census Bureau does not currently count persons who identify as Latinx as a separate racial or ethnic category.

Persons who identify as Hispanic or Latinx are already included in the other racial or ethnic categories Note: Percentage values are rounded to the nearest tenth decimal.

S ource: 2020 US Decennial Census, US Census ACS Survey 2016-2020 Table 2-3: Educational Attainment of Residents 25+ Years of Age Educational Attainment Hesperia San Bernardino County
Number Percentage Number Percentage
Less than 9th grade 5,823 9.75% 116,664 8.5%
9th grade to 12th grade (no
diploma)
7,303 12.23% 147,371 10.8%
High school graduate or
equivalent
20,263 33.93% 361,289 26.4%
Some college (no degree) 14,923 24.98% 332,044 24.3%
Associate degree 4,882 8.17% 118,673 8.7%
Bachelor's degree 4,538 7.6% 190,544 13.9%
Graduate or professional degree 1,996 3.34% 101,693 7.4% Total 59,728 100% 1,368,278 100%
Note: Percentage values are rounded to the nearest tenth decimal.

S ource: 2020 US Decennial Census, US Census ACS Survey 2016-2020 H
esperia has a wide range of non-English languages spoken at home among its residents, with varying levels of proficiency. Generally, Spanish is the second most-spoken language at home other than English in Hesperia, with approximately 34.6% who are not fluent in English and speak it less than "very well." This is approximately 1% higher than the countywide population of Spanish language speakers. Asian and Pacific Islander languages are the third most- spoken languages in Hesperia, with almost half, 48.3% of these speakers unable to speak English fluently. This is like the rest of San Bernardino City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
19 Co
unty, where approximately 46.8% of Asian and Pacific Islander language speakers are unable to speak English fluently. Table 2-4 shows the most spoken languages in Hesperia and the levels of fluency among speakers aged five and older in Hesperia and San Bernardino County.

Table 2-4: English Proficiency and Languages Spoken at Home (2020) Languages Hesperia San Bernardino County
Number of
Speakers
Speak English Less
Than "Very Well"
Number of
Speakers
Speak English Less
Than "Very Well"
English only 59,514 - 1,171,425 -
Spanish 31,963 11,058 689,338 232,270
(34.6%) (33.7%)
Indo-European* 333 111 27,134 7,379
(33.3%) (27.2%)
Asian and Pacific Islander* 1,004 485 104,417 48,824
(48.3%) (46.8%)
All other languages 214 60 17,498 6,487
(28%) (37.1%)
Total 93,028 11,714** 2,009,812 294,960**
*Census data does not break down the specific languages for languages spoken in these regions **Due to these figures only being a percentage of the overall number of speakers, they will not add up to 100%. Note:

Percentage values are rounded to the nearest tenth decimal.

S ource: 2020 US Decennial Census, US Census ACS Survey 2016-2020 Economy and Commute Patterns
Hesperia has a diverse economy of employers from
various sectors, educational services, retail trade,
accommodation and food services, health care,
and construction. With a total employment base of
73,876 employees. The top employer in the City is
Hesperia Unified School District. The second-largest
employer is the County of San Bernadino. The next
top three employers are Wal -Mart Supercenter,
Stater Bros (3 locations), and Super Target.

T
able 2-5 shows the top five employers in Hesperia for FY 2023-24.

As of 2021, 37,073 Hesperia residents are employed, with approximately 4,279 (11.5%) working within the city. The local workforce accounts for 27.3% of the entire workforce, approximately 15,648 employees (2021), with the remaining workforce coming from surrounding cities throughout the region. Table 2-6 shows the top five cities that Hesperia Unified School District. Image from
vvdailypress.com
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
20 c
ontribute to Hesperia’s workforce, which accounts for over 55.9% of those employed within the city.

Table 2-5: Top Employers in Hesperia
Employer Number of Employees
Hesperia Unified School District 1,000 – 4,999
County of San Bernardino 500 - 999
Wal-Mart Supercenter 100-499
Stater Bros (3 locations) 100-499
Super Target 100-499
*Per EDD, employment numbers are confidential; therefore, only the data for the range of numbers of employees are available.

S ource: City of Hesperia Annual Comprehensive Financial Report Fiscal Year 2023-24 Table 2-6: Top Five Cities-of-Origin for Hesperia’s Workforce (2021) Cities-of-Origin for Hesperia's Workforce Number of Employees Percentage Hesperia 4,279 27.3%
Victorville 2,027 13%
Apple Valley 1,642 10.5%
Adelanto 420 2.7%
Los Angeles 380 2.4%
Total 8,748 55.9%
Source: https://onthemap.ces.census.gov/
W
hile the majority of Hesperia’s residents commute outside the city for work, most of those residents (55%) travel less than 10 miles to reach their place of employment. Approximately

19.9% of commuters traveled 50 miles or more, with most of those trips heading into the Los Angeles area. Table 2 -7 shows the outflow of workers from Hesperia to other regional worksites.

Table 2-7: Work Commute Distances for Hesperia's Residents (2021) Work Destinations for Hesperia's Residents Number Percentage Less than 10 miles 8,611 55%
10 to 24 miles 1,683 10.8%
25 to 50 miles 2,234 14.3%
Greater than 50 miles 3,120 19.9%
Total 15,648 100%
Source: https://onthemap.ces.census.gov/
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
21 Development Trends
Hesperia has experienced significant growth and development over the past 30 years. The population of the City has grown by approximately 13,500 since 2010. With land still available and numerous active developments ongoing within the City, population growth is expected to continue throughout the City.

The Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) is mandated by State Housing Law as part of the periodic update of General Plan housing elements. Through the RHNA process a community decides how to address existing and future housing needs resulting from population, employment, and household growth.
1 The City recently completed a Housing Element Update 2021-2029 and is currently in the process of a focused update to the City's General Plan. Hesperia’s land use controls are designed to maintain the predominantly low-profile residential nature of the community.

Nevertheless, the City has adopted multiple specific plans to provide for future residential growth, including Summit Valley Ranch, Tapestry, and Main Street and Freeway Corridor.

Per the Housing Element Update 2021-2029, the City has achieved several accomplishments since the 2014-2021 RHNA:
• 1,580 units have been constructed since January 1, 2014, most of which are market - rate single-family residences affordable to above moderate- income households. A total of 95 affordable units built in the City during this timeframe, a senior apartment complex (Villas Apartments West).
• The City has approved, or is in the process of reviewing, the development of another 362 housing units; these projects are affordable ownership units or affordable rental housing projects.
• The City of Hesperia utilized CDBG funding to improve City conditions for special needs populations. These improvements included public facility and infrastructure improvements, including multiple street improvement projects. Street improvement projects improve accessibility for residents with disabilities. • The City has allocated general fund dollars to support local service providers that provide homelessness prevention services, homeless shelter, and shelter -relate d
ser
vices.
• The County Sheriff’s Department created a Homeless Outreach Proactiv e E
nforcement (HOPE) Unit with a goal to reduce the number of homeless individuals. • San Bernardino County’s Department of Aging and Adult Services serves the senior population in cities throughout the County. Programs include meal delivery for elderly residents, caregiver services, employment assistance, and more.

The City of Hesperia’s long- term housing goal is to provide housing that fulfills the diverse needs of th e community. In the short term, this will be accomplished with the objectives, policies, and programs set forth in this Housing Plan. The goals, policies, and programs in the 1 What is RHNA? https://scag.ca.gov/rhna
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
22 Housing Plan build upon the identified housing needs in the community, constraints confronting the City, and resources available to address the housing needs, and will guide City housing policy through the 2021-2029 planning period.

To make adequate provision for the housing needs of all economic segments of the community, the programs in the Housing Plan aim to:
• Assist in the development of housing for low- and moderate-income households; • Conserve and improve the condition of the existing affordable housing stock; • Promote energy conservation to ensure development of sustainable housing; • Identify adequate sites to encourage the development of a variety of types of housing for all income levels;
• Address and, where appropriate and legally possible, reduce governmental constraints to the maintenance, improvement, and development of housing; • Promote revitalization of existing substandard housing to increase the quality of life for those unable to do so without assistance; and
• Promote housing opportunities for all persons.

Table 2 -8 depicts the City’s quantified object ives for various housing programs by income/eligibility during the planning period of this Housing Element. These quantified objectives are estimates based on program guidelines, funding sources, and past accomplishments, among other factors. Changes in market conditions and funding availability may affect the City’s ability in achieving these objectives.

Table 2-8 Summary of Quantified Objectives for Housing Programs

Notes:

1. A total of 87 affordable housing units are at risk of converting to market rate housing during the planning period of this Ho using Element. The City has 718 affordable units. Affordability levels of the units at this new project are to be determined and ar e assumed to be evenly distributed between very low- and low-income categories in this table.

2. 2. The Section 8 program is required by federal regulations to target 70 percent of the assistance to extremely low-income households.

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
23 Figure 2-2 displays the areas of proposed land use changes that support the Housing Element goals.

Vulnerability and Risk Reduction
All new development occurring in the areas of change identified in Figure 2-2 will provide hazard vulnerability and risk reduction for the city. This reduction will occur due to the anticipated improvements and investments implemented in the older parts of the City. In addition, the new developments that will be built will comply with the most up-to-date building codes and use the latest techniques, further reducing vulnerabilities throughout the City.

Major Community Elements
Hesperia Commerce Center
At the hub of thriving economic activity is the Hesperia Commerce Center. Situated on the west side of the 1 -15 freeway along Caliente Road, this expansive complex covers an impressive 3.5 million square feet. Building 1 is complete with Modway Furniture Wholesaler Peloton Exercise Equipment, and Fellowship Logistics as occupants. Building 2 is complete with Maersk, a global logistics and supply chain company, as occupants. The Covington Group, a nationwide leader in real estate development, received entitlement approval to develop three large industrial buildings totaling over two million square feet. Building and grading plans are in plan check for these buildings, which will be located south of Main Street between Highway 395 and the I-15. 2 Notably, 13 million square feet of industrial development throughout the City is currently complete or in Hesperia’s permitting or entitlement process.

Hesperia Airport
Hesperia Airport is a public-use and privately owned airport located three nautical miles south of the central business district of Hesperia, California. Silverwood Aviation INC is the owner of the airport. The national plan of integrated airport system classified it as a general aviation, basic utility airport. The nearest flight service station (FSS) is located in Riverside. The airport also has a 16-unit motel with swimming pool, restaurant, bar and additional land for extensions. Mercy Air, a well-known med-evac company, has a fixed base at the airport, including permanent medical and flight crews and their maintenance; they have serviced critical care transportation throughout California and Nevada for over 25 years. 3
Hesperia Golf and Country Club
The Hesperia Golf & Country Club is an 18-hole, championship golf course designed by acclaimed golf course architect William F. Bell Jr. in 1957. Hesperia G&CC has been designed with three sets of tees per hole, playing from 6,136 to 7,001 yards. Loca ted amidst the High Desert area of Southern California, the picturesque Hesperia Golf & Country Club is an outstanding locale for private tournaments, golf outings, as well as weddings, banquets, and other social activities utilizing the exquisite Ponderosa ball room and restaurant. The facility includes a 3,000 square foot restaurant and bar with a 2,500 square foot outdoor patio area. Amenities include indoor-outdoor restaurant and bar, grass driving range, pitching green, and putting greens. Banquet room, patio, and outdoor gazebo garden area can accommodate up to 300 persons. 4 2 https://www.cityofhesperia.us/213/Site-Selectors
3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hesperia_Airport
4 https://www.hesperiagolfclub.com/history/
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
24 Hesperia Lake
Hesperia Lake is a popular recreational destination located in Hesperia, California. The water for the lake was first found in 1866 when the Deep Creek flume was tapped into. A leak in the pipe formed Hesperia Lake in 1917 and it is still providing the water from the underground well beneath. 5 The lake offers a variety of outdoor activities, including camping, fishing, picnics, soccer fields, a community center, and an equestrian camp.

Hesperia Parks

The City of Hesperia and the Hesperia Recreation and Park District (HRPD) share responsibilities in providing open space recreation and activities to the residents of the City, with most public recreational facilities provided by the HRPD. The HRPD is an independent special district within the County of San Bernardino. The HRPD encompasses approximately 100 square miles, including the City of Hesperia and portions of the unincorporated areas of Oak Hills, Summit Valley, and Phelan. The HRPD constructs and maintains parks, recreation facilities, landscape maintenance districts, and streetlights as well as providing services and programs to the community.

Community parks are those facilities that are approximately 10 to 20 acres in size. Lime Street Park, along with the use of facilities at Hesperia High School and Hesperia Junior High School, Palm Street Park, Hesperia Community Park, Malibu Park, Live Oak and Timberlane Parks are considered community parks, for a total of 114 acres of community parks.

The Park District’s Master Plan identifies neighborhood parks as approximately 2 to 5 acres in size.

These parks are intended to be located in areas of more intense development and to be within walking distance for residents of the neighborhood they serve. In 1988, there were two parks that were considered neighborhood parks: Timberlane and Live Oak Parks. Both parks have since been expanded or improved and are now considered community parks. Today, there are three neighborhood parks totaling 49 acres in Hesperia: Maple, Belmont, and Sapphire Parks. In addition to those parks developed by the HRPD, the City has added an approximately 7-acre park site at the west side of the Civic Center, which includes the City Hall and library and is located on Seventh Avenue. The park includes an amphitheater, water features, and hardscape display areas that facilitate its use as a community gathering place.

5 https://www.sbsun.com/2014/05/24/hesperia-lake-park-a-great-catch/ City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
25 Figure 2-2: Housing Element – Proposed Land Use Changes

Land Use Changes (Per Focused General Plan Update Recommendations):

Multiple Family Residence (R3) - Amend to increase density range to 8.1 to 30 units per acre General Commercial (C2) - Amend to allow mixed-use and 100% residential development Regional Commercial (RC) - Amend to allow 100% residential development by right

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City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
27 Infrastructure Assessment
Infrastructure plays a vital role in mitigating the effects of hazard events. When infrastructure fails, it can exacerbate the extent of certain hazards or create complications for r escue workers trying to reach victims. For example, fallen utility poles, because of strong winds or seismic activity, can obstruct roadways and prevent emergency vehicles from reaching affected areas. The following are electrical, fossil fuel, hydrologic, and transportation infrastructure networks in Hesperia.

Electricity
Hesperia receives its electrical supply from Southern California Edison (SCE), located at 12353 Hesperia Road in Victorville. A substation is located within the City, connecting 500 kV powerlines that run north to south. These lines bring power to Hesperia and the surrounding cities and connect to other regional power sources.

San Bernardino County has a rich history of renewable energy development. The Desert Region of the County is ho me to the first large scale solar projects in the State. 6 These connections help Hesperia access auxiliary electricity sources should any of its immediate infrastructure fail. However, a larger and more regional failure of the power grid would likely disrupt power transmission to Hesperia for an extended time until power can be restored.

Natural Gas
Hesperia, like many other municipalities, relies on a combination of local distribution companies and interstate pipelines to meet its natural gas needs. Southwest Gas Corporation, located at 13471 Mariposa Road in Victorville, provides natural gas to most of the City. So Cal Gas and Pacific Gas and Elec tric also provide gas services to Hesperia residents. For those areas in which there are no service lines available, many residents rely on propane offered by private companies.

Hesperia Water District
Hesperia Water District provides water and sewer services for t he city. The Hesperia Water District serves as a subsidiary special district of the City of Hesperia.

The city's water service area encompasses an area of approximately 74 square miles.

According to the 2020 Hesperia Water District Urban Water Management Plan, they provide over 27,000 connections for a diverse population exceeding 97,000 people. The District’s service area population continues to grow, estimated to reach over 130,000 by 2045.

Pursuant to CWC Section 10631.1, retail suppliers are required to include the projected water use for lower income households in 2020 UWMPs. Per California Health and Safety Code Section 50079.5, a lower income household has an income below 80 percent of area median income, adjusted for family size. For purposes of Hesperia’s UWMP, annual median income is assumed to be about $46,000 for the District, with the entire service area recognized by the state as a qualified Disadvantage Community.7
Water use in the region has historically been derived from sur face supplies derived from the Mojave River and groundwater supplies from the Upper Mojave River Groundwater Basin (Mojave Basin). The rapid expansion of groundwater pumping from the Mojave Basin and 6 https://lus.sbcounty.gov/renewable-energy/
7 https://gis.water.ca.gov/app/dacs/
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
28 increased use from the surface water supplies to serve t he region’s growing population led to the Mojave Basin Area Adjudication.

The Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation (VVWR) Authority is a Joint Powers Authority that provides treatment and distribution of recycled water for its members and entities, which include the Town of Apple Valley, the cities of Hesperia and Victorville, and San Bernardino County Service Areas. A portion of Hesperia’s wastewater is treated by the VVWRA. The wastewater not treated by VVWRA is treated by individual septic systems. The City owns, operates, and maintains a wastewater collection system. The City’s sewer system connects to VVWRA’s 3 ‐mile interceptor that runs along the northeast boundary of the City, and ultimately flows to the Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant that is owned and operated by the VVWRA.

The City of Hesperia has future plans to expand its sewer collection system and, in conjunction with VVWRA, construct sub ‐regional wastewater treatment plants to treat the City’s future wastewater flows and create a supply source for its planned recycled water system. Currently none of the wastewater is treated or disposed of within the District service area. All of the flows are treated and disposed of at the VVWRA’s RWWTP.

Waste Management Services
Trash collection is provided to all city residences via the City's franchise waste hauler Advance Disposal. As the City of Hesperia grows, so does Advance Disposal in order to meet the community’s needs. In 1992, the state mandated recycling laws requiring cities to reduce their total waste stream by 25% by January 1st. The state has expanded these laws to 50% by 2000 and 75% by 2020. To meet these diversion requirements, city- wide mandatory trash pickup was also established. With this in mind, Advance Disposal Company constructed the first Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in San Bernardino County. The City of Hesperia continues to meet or exceed the 75% landfill diversion rate that will be implemented in 2020. Billing services and information on programs promoting waste minimization and locations for recycling efforts are provided on Advance Disposal’s website.8 Transportation
Much of the transportation infrastructure in Hesperia consists of roadways for automobiles, but there are other modes of travel into and out of the city, including freeways, buses, and railways.

BNSF Railroad bisects Hesperia along the rail line on which Hesperia was founded. The City's rail development makes Hesperia one of the few viable locations in Southern California able to provide rail accessibility.

A proposed 49-mile rail system is expected to connect Hesperia to Rancho Cucamonga at speeds of 140 mph through the Cajon Pass. DesertXpress Enterprises, LLC (dba “Brightline West”) proposes to construct and operate the Cajon Pass High -Speed Rail Project. At its completion, Brightline West will connect 260 miles between Nevada to Southern California, utilizing high-speed electric trainsets powered by an overhead catenary wire system. The future passenger station in Hesperia will be constructed at the I-15/Joshua St interchange and will offer limited services for select southbound AM and northbound PM wee kday train coaches. To accommodate the rail alignment, the existing US -395 northbound connector 8 https://www.advancedisposal.com/
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
29 and the existing Joshua Street bridge will be replaced within the existing right -of-way. The Joshua Street bridge will be reconstructed at a higher elevation, requiring the raising of the I- 15 ramps and Mariposa Road. As part of the project design, the northbound on- ramp to Joshua Street will be realigned closer to the freeway, and a station parking area will be added on the north side of Joshua Street with parking accessible at the location of the existing northbound ramp intersection, closest to the Pilot Gas Station, providing accommodation for 360 vehicles, including bus drop off areas. The proposed rail alignment will connect to the DesertXpress Project alignment approximately one mile south of the Victor Valley station in Apple Valley. From this point, the alignment will continue south within the I-15 median, requiring several modifications to accommodate the project. Trains are expected to operate daily on 4 5-minute headways between Victor Valley and Rancho Cucamonga.

The trip between Victor Valley and Rancho Cucamonga would be approximately 35 minutes.
9 For n
on-motorized travel, the city has pedestrian trails and bicycle paths. Figure 2-3 identifies the City of Hesperia’s Non-Motorized Transportation Plan as of July 30, 2019.

Figu
re 2-3 Non-Motorized Transportation Plan
Hesp
eria is sited on Interstate Highway 15, and Highway 395, a major corridor linking Southern California with Northern California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington to the Canadian border.

State
Route 138 (SR 138) is an east –west state highway in the U.S. state of California that generally follows the northern foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and the western Mojave Desert. State Route 138 descends through the West Cajon Valley and crosses Interstate 15 in 9 https://www.vvng.com/hesperia-passenger-station-proposed-for-cajon-pass-high-speed-rail-system-connecting- hesperia-to-rancho-cucamonga/

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
30 the Cajon Pass. From Interstate 15 to State Route 173, near the northwest corner of Silverwood Lake, traffic on State Route 138 is rather sparse.10
SR
173 begins at SR 138 just inside the Hesperia city limits and travels east near the shore of Silverwood Lake, passing near Cedar Springs Dam, several houses and ranches, and the historic Las Flores Ranch site. The road briefly turns north further into the Hesperia city limits, leaving the San Bernardino National Forest . SR 173 leaves the city and enters Mojave River Forks Regional Park, where it turns east and intersects Arrowhead Lake Road, which leads to the urban center of Hesperia.
11 U.S
. Route 395 (US 395) is a United States Numbered Highway, stretching from Hesperia, California to the Canadian border in Laurier, Washington. The California portion of US 395 is a 557-mile (896 km) route which traverses from Interstate 15 (I-15) in Hesperia, north to the Oregon state line in Modoc County near Goose Lake. The route clips in to Nevada, serving the cities Carson City and Reno, before returning to California.12 Table
2-9 identifies these major routes that connect to the City's local transportation network.

Table 2-9: City of Hesperia Transportation Infrastructure Freeways/Highways in
Hesperia
Direction Exits/Entrances/Routes Serving the City of Hesperia 1-15 North-South Exit (143) Main Street – Hesperia, Phelan Exit (147) Bear Valley Road – Lucerne Valley
Exit (148) Ranchero Rd
Exit (150) D Street, runs parallel to Main Street
Exit (151) Hesperia Rd
Exit (152) Joshua Street
SR-138 East-West State Route 138 descends through the West Cajon Valley and crosses Interstate 15 in the Cajon Pass.

SR-173 East-West SR 173 begins at SR 138 inside the Hesperia city limits and travels east near the shore of Silverwood Lake, passing near Cedar Springs Dam.

SR-395 North-South US 395 North – Bishop, Adelanto (Northbound exit and southbound entrance; southern end of US 395)
Joshua Street to US 395 north (Southbound exit an
northbound entrance
Sources: iExitapp.com,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_15_in_California#Exit_list Pu
blic transportation options within Hesperia are provided by the Victor Valley Transit Authority (VVTA), which operates local bus services. VVTA is regulated by the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA). Serving more than 2.1 million residents of San Bernardino County, the SBCTA is responsible for cooperative regional planning and furthering an efficient multi-modal transportation system countywide. The SBCTA administers Measure I, the half- cent transportation sales tax approved by county voters in 1989, and supports freeway construction projects, regional and local road improvements, t rain and bus transportation, railroad crossings, call boxes, ridesharing, congestion management efforts, 10 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Route_138 11 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Route_173 12 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_395_in_California City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
31 and long-term planning studies. 13
VVTA provides five routes servicing local Hesperia neighborhoods, neighboring cities, including Adelanto, Apple Valley,
Victorville, and San Bernardino
County. VVTA also offers on -
demand shared community
transportation services through
Micro-Link. The Micro- Link
Hesperia Southwest Zone
operates in the Hesperia area
between Main St., 3
rd Ave.,
Ranchero Rd., and Mariposa Rd.

The area has been extended to
serve passengers to the High
Desert Gateway Shopping
Center and other destination
points within the City.
13 San Bernardino County Transportation Authority
Photo Courtesy of Victor Valley Transit Authority

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City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
33 Chapter 3 – Risk Assessment
This chapter discusses the types of hazards that might reasonably occur in Hesperia. It describes these hazards and how they are measured, where in Hesperia they may occur, a history of these hazards in and around Hesperia, and the future risk they pose. The discussion of future risks includes any changes to the frequency, intensity, and/or location of these hazards due to climate change. This chapter also discusses how the HMPC selected and prioritized the hazards in this Plan.

Hazard Identification
FEMA guidance identifies several hazards that communities should evaluate for inclusion in a hazard mitigation plan. Communities may also consider additional hazards for their plans. The HMPC reviewed the previous hazards in the 2017 plan and discussed other potential hazards, excluding ones that do not pose a threat or are not a significant concern to Hesperia. Table 3- 1 lists the hazards considered and explains the reasoning for inclusion/exclusion. For c ontext, this table also shows if a hazard is recommended for consideration by FEMA, if it is included in the 2018 California State Hazard Mitigation Plan (SHMP), the San Bernardino County Hazard Mitigation Plan (SBC HMP), or the 2017 Hesperia LHMP.

Table 3-1: Hazard Evaluation for Hesperia LHMP
Hazard Recommended
for Consideration
Included
in LHMP?
Reason for Inclusion or Exclusion
Agricultural Pests SHMP
2017 LHMP
No A limited number of agricultural activities
have affected the City. The issue is
mitigated through the San Bernardino
County's robust agricultural programs and
initiatives. The HMP Planning Team does
not identify agricultural pests/infestation as
a natural hazard of concern for the City at
this time.

Active
Shooter/
Mass
Shooting
(Terrorism)
SHMP
2017 LHMP
No Active Shooter/Mass Shooting incidents pose
a threat to public safety. The issue may be
more appropriately addressed in the City's
Emergency Operations Plan (EOP).

Climate
Change

SHMP SBC
HMP
2017 HMP
Yes Climate change can exacerbate weather
events causing them to become more
severe. While not an issue on its own, it
should be mentioned in the HMP.

Cyber Threats SHMP No With the increase in cyber threats occurring throughout California and throughout the
nation, there is concern about their effects
on communications. However, the issue may
be more appropriately addressed in the
City's EOP.

Dam Failure FEMA guidance
SHMP
Yes The three dams near Hesperia that can
inundate portions of the City should they
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
34 SBC HMP
2017 LHMP
fail catastrophically including the Mojave
Forks Dam, Cedar Springs Dam and Lake
Arrowhead Dam. The hazard should be
addressed in the HMP.

Drought SHMP SBC
HMP
2017
LHMP
No The current hydrologic infrastructure and
supply for the City are satisfactory. The
HMP Planning Team does not consider
drought to be a local issue alone, but
rather a regional one. Drought is
addressed in both the State and SBC
County HMP's.

Epidemic,
Pandemic,
Vector-Borne
Disease
SHMP No Hesperia is in San Bernardino County, which
has experienced several health-related
incidents in the past. The City, along with the
rest of the county, has responded to the
COVID-19 pandemic which has impacted
staff and
resources. However, the issue may be more
appropriately addressed in the City's EOP.

Extreme Heat FEMA guidance
SHMP
2017 LHMP
Yes Extreme heat occurs often in Hesperia and
is a natural hazard. Extreme heat can
cause fires and several other issues that
can negatively impact the City.

Flooding FEMA guidance
SHMP
2017 LHMP
Yes Several water courses transect the City and
are identified within FEMA flood hazard
zones. The presence of flood zones indicates
the potential for future hazards. Flooding is a
hazard concern and may be addressed in
the Flooding Profile.

Hazardous
Materials
release
SHMP
2017 LHMP
No Several major roadways, freeways, and rail
lines transecting the City allow for the
transport of hazardous material that could
endanger the community if a release into
the environment were to occur. The issue
may be more appropriately addressed in
the City's (EOP) and/or the Safety Element
portion of the General Plan.

High Wind/Severe
Wind
High Wind is considered gusts
between 39 mph and 57 mph
(between 34 knots and 49
kno
ts). To be considered severe,
associated wind gusts must be
58 mph or greater (50 knots or
greater).

Source: National Weather
Service
FEMA Guidance
2017 HMP
Yes Severe weather includes discussions
regarding extreme heat, severe/high wind,
and rain, which are all weather-related
hazards that are most common in
Hesperia.

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

35 Geologic
Hazards/ Seismic
Shaking

FEMA guidance
SHMP

SBC HMP
2017 LHMP
Yes Hesperia is a seismically active area where
shaking can be severe enough to
damage property, injury, or loss of life. This
hazard should be addressed in the plan.

Severe Weather
Events
FEMA guidance
SHMP

SBC HMP
2017 LHMP
Yes Severe weather includes discussions
regarding extreme heat, severe/high wind,
and rain, which are all weather-related
hazards that are most common in
Hesperia.

Terrorism SHMP
2017 LHMP
No Terrorist incidents pose a threat to public
safety. The issue may be more
appropriately addressed in the City's EOP.

Transportation
Accidents
SHMP No A transportation incident such as an
airplane crash, train derailment, trucking
accident and/or freeway closure could
impact areas within the city. The issue may
be more appropriately addressed in the
City's EOP.

Wildfire FEMA guidance
SHMP
Yes Wildfire events are a major concern to the
City due to topography, fuels, and
weather. This hazard should be addressed
in the plan.

After hazard evaluation and the organizational changes made by the HMPC, this Plan discusses seven broad hazard types with their respective sub-categories:

Hazard Type Sub-Categories
Earthquake/Geologic Hazards Seismic Shaking
Flooding
Severe/Extreme Weather Severe Winds
Extreme Heat
Severe Rainstorm
Dam Failure/Inundation
Wildfire
Human-Caused Hazards* Hazardous Materials Release
Cyber Threats
Terrorism
Active Shooter/Mass Shooting
Epidemic/Pandemic/Vector-Borne Diseases
Climate Change Discussed in all Hazard Categories
*Human caused hazards will not be addressed in the Hazard Mitigation Plan. Overall, the HMPC acknowledged that Hazardous Materials Release, Cyber Threats, Terrorism, Active Shooter/Mass Shootings, and Epidemic/Pandemic/Vector-Borne Diseases are risks of concern but agreed that these humans caused hazard risks are better addressed in the City's Emergency Operations Plan. The LHMP will focus on natural hazards unique to Hesperia's jurisdiction.

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
36 Hazard Scoring and Prioritization
Once the hazards for Hesperia have been identified, the hazards are then given a priority ranking. In the Hazard Assessment Matrix below, the "Red" zone represents the highest priority hazards, the " Orange" zone represents significant priority, the “Yellow” represents moderate priority, and the "Green" zone represents the lowest priority hazards. As shown in Hazard Assessment Matrix, the hazards considered the greatest priority are earthquake, flood, and wildfire followed closely by cyber threats and severe/extreme weather (SW) events. The hazard profiles and risk assessment that follow describe these hazards in-depth, reviews the exposure of assets to these hazards, and estimate losses or assess risk for significant events associated with these hazards.

The risk assessment results were derived from the consolidated averages of individual assessments conducted by the HMP Planning Team. The team identified five human -caused hazard categories of concern: Hazardous Materials Release, Cyber -threats, Terrorism, Active Shooter/Mass Shooting, and Epidemic/Pandemic/Vector -Borne Disease. It was collectively agreed that these issues are better addressed in the City’s Emergency Operations Plan and/or the Safety Element of the General Plan, as the focus of the LHMP is natural hazard events. These five human-caused hazard categories were included in the Hazard Prioritization Worksheet and Hazard Assessment Matrix for contextual purposes.

Hesperia Hazards Assessment Matrix
In addition to the simple prioritization exercise, the HMPC followed FEMA guidance (see Table 3-2) for hazard mitigation plans and prioritized each of the hazards identified. In the initial step, it assigned a score of 1 to 4 for each of the hazards for the following criteria:
• Probability: The likelihood that the hazard will occur in Hesperia in the future. • Location: The size of the area that the hazard would affect. • Maximum probable extent: The severity of the direct damage of the hazard to Hesperia.
• Secondary impacts: The severity of indirect damage of the hazard to Hesperia.

The HMPC assigned a weighting value to each criterion, giving a higher weight to the criteria deemed more important, and multiplied the score for each criterion by weighing the factor to determine the overall score for each criterion. These weighting values were recommended by FEMA:

Extens ive/Extreme Signficant/Severe Limited/Moderate Negligible/Weak Earthquake/Geologic Hazards Flooding
Wildfire
Cyber Threat EW-Severe/High Winds
EW-Extreme Heat
EW-Severe Rain Storm/Thunderstorm
Terrorism
Dam Failure/Inundation Hazardous Materials Release
Epidemic, Pandemic, Vector-Borne Disease Active Shooter/Mass Shooting Climate Changes addres s ed under each hazard
Likely
2024 HMP IMPACT

CITY OF HESPERIA HAZARD ASSESSMENT MATRIX

PROBABILITY
Highly
Likely
Occasional
Unlikely
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
37 • Probability: 2.0
• Location: 0.8
• Maximum probable extent: 0.7
• Secondary impacts: 0.5
Table 3-2 shows the Criterion Scoring used to assign a score for each criterion.

After calculating the total impact score for each hazard (sum of the location, maximum probable extent, and the secondary impact). FEMA guidance recommends multiplying the total impact score by the overall probability to determine the final score for each hazard. A final score between 0 and 12 is considered a low-threat hazard, 12.1 to 42 is a medium-threat hazard, and a score above 42 is considered a high- threat hazard. This final score determines the prioritization of the hazards.

In compliance with the Disaster Mitigation Act (and as further specified by Interim Final Rule 44 CFR Section 206.401(c)(2)(i)), this LHMP addresses, in substantial detail, the primary hazards facing the City. Lower priority hazards are addressed at a lesser level of detail due to their relatively reduced impacts, as identified in the hazard assessment discussion.

Disaster Declaration Connections
Since the previous update the following major disasters, emergency declarations, and fire management events have been issued by the FEMA. Past events identified in this plan have been identified in connection with these events in the “Past Events” sections within each Hazard Profile.

Disaster Declaration - San Bernardino County (2019-2023) Year
Declaration
Number Declaration Title
Incident
Type
Affected
Hesperia
Activated
EOC /
Requested
PA
2023 DR-4699-CA

SEVERE WINTER STORMS,

STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS,

FLOODING, LANDSLIDES,
AND MUDSLIDES Severe Storm Yes Yes
2023 EM-3591-CA

SEVERE WINTER STORMS,

FLOODING, AND
MUDSLIDES Flood No No
2023 EM-3592-CA

SEVERE WINTER STORMS,

FLOODING, LANDSLIDES,
AND MUDSLIDES Flood No No
2021 DR-4569-CA WILDFIRES Fire No No
2021 FM-5381-CA BLUE RIDGE FIRE Fire No No
2020 DR-4482-CA COVID-19 PANDEMIC Biological Yes Yes
2020 EM-3428-CA COVID-19 Biological Yes Yes
2020 FM-5350-CA EL DORADO FIRE Fire No No
2020 FM-5325-CA APPLE FIRE Fire No No
2020 FM-5301-CA HILLSIDE FIRE Fire No No
2019 EM-3415-CA EARTHQUAKES Earthquake No No
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

38 Location Primary
Impact
Secondary
Impacts
Earthquake / Geologic Hazards 4 4 4 4 64.00 Hi gh
Flood 4 3 2 3 42.40 Hi gh
Severe/High Winds 3 3 2 2 28.80 M edium
Extreme Heat 3 3 2 2 28.80 M edium
Severe Rainstorm/Thunderstorm 3 3 2 2 28.80 M edium
Dam Inundation 1 3 3 3 12.00 L ow
Cyber Threat 3 3 3 3 36.00 M edium
Active Shooter/Mass Shooting 1 2 1 2 6.60 Low
Hazardous Materials Release 1 3 2 2 9.60 Low
Terrorism 2 3 3 3 24.00 Medium
Epidemic, Pandemic, Vector-Borne
Disease 1 3 3 2 11.00 Low
Wildfire 4 3 2 3 42.40 High
Probability Importance Importance
Based on estimated likelihood of occurrence
from historical data 2.0 0.5
Probability Score Score
Unlikely - less than 1% chance each year 1 1
Occasional - a 1 to 10% chance each year 2 2
Li kel y - a 10 to 90% chance each year 3 3
Hi ghl y Li kel y - more than 90% chance each year 4 4
Location Importance Importance
Based on size of geographical area of
community affected by hazard 0.8 0.7
Affected Area Score Score
N e gligible 1 1
Li mi ted 2 2
Significant 3 3
Extensive 4 4
Total Score Range Distribution Hazard Level

0.0 12.0 5 Low

12.1 42.0 8 Medium

42.1 64.0 5 High
Secondary Impacts = Secondary Impacts Score x Importance The probability of each hazard is determined by assigning a level, from unlikely to highly likely, based on the likelihood of occurrence from historical data.

The total impact value includes the affected area, primary impact and secondary impact levels of each hazard. Each level's score is reflected in the matrix.

The total score for each hazard is the probability score multiplied by it's importance factor times the sum of the impact level scores multiplied by their importance factors. Based on this total score, the hazards are separated into three categories based on the hazard level they pose to the communities: High, Me
di um, Low.

Table 3-2: Hesperia Hazard Prioritization Worksheet
Total Score = Probability x Impact, where: Hazard Planning Consideration Probability = (Probability Score x Importance)
Impact = (Affected Area + Pri mary Impact + Secondary Impacts), where:

Affected Area = Affected Area Score x Importance
Primary Impact = Primary Impact Score x Importance
Impact
Weak - little to no damage g
days g g ,
months p g
conditions
L im ite d - m inim al loss of function, downtim e ,
and/or evacuations
Moderate - some loss of function, downtime,
and/or evacuations
High - major loss of function, downtime, and/or
evacuations
Maximum Probable Extent (Primary
Impact)
Based on percentage of damage to typical
facility in community
* Climate Change considerations discussed as appropriate within this hazard.

Secondary Impacts
Based on estimated secondary impacts to
community at large
Impact
Negligible - no loss of function, downtime,
and/or evacuations
Hazard Type Probability
Impact Total
Score
Hazard
Planning
Consideration
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

39 Hazard Profiles
Earthquake / Geologic Hazards
Earthquake and geologic hazards of concern in Hesperia include seismic shaking, liquefaction, surface fault rupture, and earthquake-induced landslides.

DESCRIPTION
An earthquake is a sudden slip on an active fault, and the resulting shaking and radiated seismic energy caused by the slip (USGS, 2009). The majority of major active faults in the Hesperia area are strike-slip faults. For this type of fault, during an earthquake event, one side of a fault line slides past the other. The rupture from this type of fault extends almost vertically into the ground.

Earthquakes strike suddenly and without warning. Earthquakes can occur at any time of the year and at any time of the day or night. On a yearly basis, 70 to 75 damaging earthquakes occur throughout the world. Estimates of losses from a future earthquake in the United States could approach $200 billion.

Earthquakes are a significant concern to the City. The area around Hesperia is seismically active since it is situated on the boundary between two tectonic plates. Earthquakes can cause serious structural damage to buildings, overlying aqueducts, transportation facilities, utilities, and can lead to loss of life. In addition, earthquakes can cause collateral emergencies including dam and levee failures, fires, and landslides. Seismic shaking is by far the single greatest cause of damage from an earthquake in Hesperia, followed by liquefaction.

SEISMIC SHAKING
Seismic shaking is the shaking felt on the surface caused by an earthquake. In most cases, earthquakes are not powerful enough to feel the shaking. However, powerful earthquakes can generate significant shaking, causing widespread destruction and property damage. As previously discussed, earthquakes are considered a major threat to the City of Hesperia due to the proximity of several regional fault zones. A significant earthquake along one of the major faults could cause substantial casualties, extensive damage, and other threats to life and property. The shaking of the ground can also damage or destroy underground utilities or pipelines, potentially leading to a loss of power, conceivable fires should any natural gas pipelines be damaged, and possible release of hazardous materials and floodi ng if water lines are breached. These regional fault zones are displayed in Figure 3-1.

Liquefaction

Liquefaction is a geologic process that occurs when loosely packed sandy or silty materials saturated with water are shaken hard enough to lose strength and stiffness causing various types of ground failure. It typically occurs in loose, saturated sediments primarily of sandy composition, in the presence of ground accelerations over 0.2g (Borchardt and Kennedy, 1979; Tinsley and Fumal, 1985). When liquefaction occurs, the sediments involved behave like a liquid or semi-viscous substance and are responsible for tremendous damage in an earthquake. The excess hydrostatic pressure generated by ground shaking can result in the formation of sand boils or mud spouts and/or seepage of water through ground cracks. For example, it can cause buildings to collapse, pipes to leak, and roads to buckle. For City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

40 liquefaction to occur, three conditions must be met:

1) Loose, recently deposited sediments typically sandy in composition. 2) Shallow groundwater, typically within 50 feet of the ground surface. 3) Seismic shaking with ground accelerations over *0.2g.

Surface Fault Rupture
Surface fault rupture occurs when movement on a fault deep within the earth breaks through to the surface. Fault rupture almost always follows pre-existing faults, which are zones of weakness. Ruptures may occur suddenly during an earthquake or slowly in the form of fault creep. Sudden ruptures are more damaging to structures because they are accompanied by shaking.

Earthquake-Induced Landslides
Earthquake-induced landslides are secondary earthquake hazards that occur from ground shaking. They can destroy the roads, buildings, utilities, and other critical facilities necessary to respond and recover from an earthquake and are common in areas with steep slopes.

Figure 3-1: Regional Faults and Fault Zones

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

41 LOCATION AND EXTENT

SEISMIC SHAKING
Hesperia lies across the boundary of two very distinct geomorphic provinces, each having a unique landscape that reflects the geologic, seismic, and climatic processes that have impacted this region in the last few million years. The very southern edge of the City encroaches into the Transverse Ranges Province, a region whose characteristic features are a series of east- west trending ranges that include the San Gabriel and San Ber nardino Mountains. The ranges are called “transverse” because they lie at an oblique angle to the prominent northwesterly grain of the Southern California landscape, a trend that is aligned with the San Andreas Fault.

The Transverse Ranges are being intensely compressed by active tectonic forces; therefore, they are some of the fastest rising (and fastest eroding) mountains in the world. The rocks that form these mountains have been sheared and fractured under the strain of tectonic movement.

North of the mountains, the greater part of Hesperia lies within the Mojave Desert Province, an arid region of overlapping alluvial fans, desert plains, dry lakebeds, and scattered mountain ranges. Faults in the Mojave Desert Province have a predominant northwesterly trend; however, some faults aligned with the Transverse Ranges are also present. The east-west trending Garlock Fault defines the northern boundary of the province, whereas the northwest -trending San Andreas Fault roughly defines its western boundary. Hesperia is near the San Andreas Fault and several other seismically active earthquakes sources, including the North Frontal, Cleghorn, Cucamonga, Helendale, and San Jacinto Faults. All of these have the potential to generate moderate to large earthquakes that will shake Hesperia. The North Frontal fault, given its location relative to Hesperia, has the potential to cause the most severe shaking in the City; loss estimation modeling indicates that a maximum magnitude 7.2 earthquake on this fault would be a worst-case scenario for the City.

The intensity of seismic shaking occurs in relation to the amount of energy discharged by the seismic event, which is dictated by the length and depth of the fault. The longer and nearer the surface the fault rupture is, the g reater the seismic shaking. In most cases, areas nearest to the fault rupture experience the greatest seismic shaking, while areas more distant experience less shaking. Seismic shaking can damage or destroy structures leading to partial or even total collapse. The shaking of the ground can also damage or destroy underground utilities or pipelines, potentially leading to releases of hazardous materials and flooding if water lines are breached.

Southern California is a highly seismic area because of the major faults that run through the region and the frequency of seismic events in the region. The intensity of seismic shaking is usually measured with the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale based on the amount of observed damage. Seismic shaking may also be measured using the more widely known moment magnitude scale (MMS, denoted as M
w or sometimes M), which measures the
amount of energy the earthquake releases. The MMS begins at 1.0 and increases as more energy is released. This scale is based on a logarithmic scale, meaning that the difference in energy between two measurements is substantially greater than the difference between the measurements themselves. For example, a Mw 6.5 earthquake releases approximately 1.4 times as much energy as a M w 6.4 earthquake and 1,000 times as much energy as a Mw 4.5 earthquake. The MMS replaces the Richter scale, which is similar but less reliable when measuring large earthquakes. Since the degree of shaking and consequential City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

42 damage generally decreases as the seismic energy travels farther away from the event’s point of origin, different sections of a city or region can report different MMI measurements in different locations. Given Hesperia’s size, it is likely that different sections of the city would report different MMI measurements. The MMI scale depicted in Table 3 -3 uses Roman numerals on a 12-point scale to measure and describe the effects of the shaking event. Figure 3-2 shows seismic shaking potential within the city. Table 3-4 shows estimated horizontal peak ground accelerations and seismic intensities in Hesperia.

Figure 3-2: Seismic Shaking Potential

Source: U.S. Geological Survey; 2016

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
43 Table 3-3: Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale 1
Intensity Description Description
I Instrumental Felt only by very few people under especially favorable conditions.

II Feeble Felt only by a few people at rest, especially on the upper floors of buildings.

III Slight Noticeable by people indoors, especially on upper floors, but not always recognized as an earthquake.

IV Moderate Felt by many indoors and by some outdoors. Sleeping people may be awakened. Dishes, windows, and doors are disturbed
V Slightly Strong Felt by nearly everyone, and many sleeping people are awakened. Some dishes and windows broken, and unstable
objects overturned.

VI Strong Felt by everyone. Some heavy furniture is moved, and there is slight damage.

VII Very Strong Negligible damage in well-built buildings, slight to moderate damage in ordinary buildings, and considerable damage in poorly built buildings.

VIII Destructive Slight damage in well-built buildings, considerable damage and partial collapse in ordinary buildings, and great damage in poorly built buildings.

IX Ruinous Considerable damage in specially designed structures. Great damage and partial collapse in substantial buildings, and buildings are shifted off foundations.

X Disastrous Most foundations and buildings with masonry or frames are destroyed, along with some well-built wood structures. Rail lines are bent XI Very
Disastrous
Most or all masonry structures are destroyed, along with bridges. Rail lines are greatly bent.

XII Catastrophic Damage is total. The lines of sight are distorted, and objects are thrown into the air.
1 United States Geological Survey. 2019. The Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale. https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/topics/mercalli.php City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

44 Table 3-4 Estimated Horizontal Peak Ground Accelerations and Seismic Intensities in Hesperia
Fault Name Distance to
Hesperia miles
Magnitude of
MMax
PGA (g) from
MMax
MMI from MMax
North Frontal Fault (West) 2 – 14.5 7.2 0.58 – 0.23 X – IX San Andreas (Whole Southern) 4 – 16.5 8.0 0.49 – 0.34 X – IX San Andreas
(San Bernardino – Coachella)
4 – 16.5 7.7 0.47 – 0.29 X – IX
San Andreas (1857 Rupture
or Cholame – Mojave)
7 - 17.5 7.8 0.46 – 0.3 X – IX
San Andreas
(San Bernardino)

5.5 – 16.5 7.5 0.45 – 0.26 IX
Cleghorn 3 – 12 6.5 0.42 – 0.18 X – VIII
San Andreas (Mojave) 7 – 17.5 7.4 0.42 – 0.23 X – IX
Cucamonga 9 - 19 6.9 0.35 – 0.16 IX – VIII
Helendale – South Lockhart 13 – 24 7.3 0.27 – 0.16 IX – VIII San Jacinto ( San Bernardino) 9 – 20 6.7 0.26 – 0.12 IX – VII Sierra Madre 20 – 29 7.2 0.18 – 0.12 VIII – VII
Lenwood – Lockhart
Old Women Springs
28 – 39 7.5 0.15 – 0.10 VIII – VII
San Jacinto 23 – 31.5 6.9 0.11 – 0.08 VII
Source: City of Hesperia 2017 HMP
Liquefaction/Surface Fault Rupture
In addition to ground shaking, earthquakes may generate surface fault rupture, and secondary ground failure, either in the form or liquefaction or slope failure. Fault rupture refers to offset of the ground surface along a rupturing fault during an earthquake. Structures that straddle a rupturing fault generally do not perform well. Thus, the Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act prohibits the construction of new habitable structures astride an active fault, and requires geologic studies that locate and evaluate whether the fault has moved in the Holocene to be conducted prior to development. The state geologist has identified (zoned) several faults in California for which these studies are required, but there are several other active faults that have not yet been zoned that should be evaluated in the same way. There are no faults zoned by the State of California within the Hesperia General Plan area. The closest zoned faults include the North Frontal approximately 2 miles east of Hesperia, and the San Andreas, located at its closest approximately 4 miles to the southwest. However, some of the faults on the east side of Summit Valley, within and just south of the General Plan area, may be active.

Liquefaction is a secondary effect of seismic shaking that can cause various types of ground failure. Soils that liquefy lose the ability to support structures; buildings may sink or tilt, with the potential for extensive structural damage. Geologically young, loose, unconsolidated sediments occur throughout the Hesperia area, but shallow groundwater occurs only within the Mojave River floodplain, where water at depths of less than 30 feet has been recorded. Ground shaking of 0.2g and relatively long duration can be expected in the Hesperia area as a result of an earthquake on any of several faults in the region. Based on this information, the Mojave River floodplain has been identified as a liquefaction-susceptible area. Liquefaction-related lateral spreads (landslides that form on gentle slopes) can occur adjacent to stream channels and deep washes that provide a free face along which the liquefied mass of soil fails. Lateral spreads can cause extensive damage to pipelines, utilities, bridges, roads and other structures.

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
45 Earthquake-Induced Landslides
Seismic shaking can also cause loose, geologically young deposits to become more tightly packed, resulting in a reduction of the soil column, and differential settlement at the ground surface. Several areas in Hesperia are underlain by unconsolidated, young alluvial deposits and artificial fill that may be susceptible to settlement. Geotechnical studies prior to development should address this hazard on a site-specific basis. Seismically induced slope failure is a common secondary effect of seismic shaking. Although most of Hesperia is on relatively level to gently sloping terrain, there are a few natural slopes in the City that could be vulnerable to this hazard.

The hazards of sidehill fill deformation, ridgetop fissuring and shattering, and seiching may occur locally only in a few areas of Hesperia. Sidehill deformation could potentially occur along some of the approaches to the bridges that extend across Interstate 15 or the Mojave River, where minor settlement of the bridge embankment could result in a step-up of a few inches to the actual bridge. Failure of sidehill fills could also occur locally in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains, on lots where grading involved the placement of fill to make a level building pad.

Ridgetop shattering may occur locally in the southern part of Hesperia, in the San Bernardino Mountains, and in the foothills at the base of the mountains, to the south and east of Summit Valley Road. Seiches due to seismic shaking could occur in Silverwood Lake, Hesperia Lake, and any recharge basin in the City, if filled with water at the time of the earthquake. In unlined lakes and basins, sloshing of water against the basin sides could result in erosion and even some surficial slope failures. Water in swimming pools is also known to slosh during earthquakes, although in most cases, the sloshing water does not cause any significant damage. Given its distance from the ocean, Hesperia does not have a tsunami hazard.

P

AST EVENTS

SEISMIC SHAKING
There were no major federal or state disaster declarations for earthquakes in the planning area since the last update. While no significant earthquake has originated within Hesperia within the last 100 years, the city has felt the shaking of regional earthquakes. The most recent major seismic shaking event near Hesperia was the Ridgecrest Sequence of Earthquakes on July 4, 2019. The event was a sequence of multiple earthquakes registered as an M w 6.4 followed by an Mw 7.1.2 The event caused over 25 injuries, resulted in one death, and caused over $5 billion in damage.3 The next most recent event occurred on January 17, 1994, in Northridge, registering as an Mw 6.74 causing 57 deaths, more than 8,700 injuries, and approximately $20 billion in damage costs, plus an additional economic loss of $40+ billion.

On June 6, 1992, there were multiple large events in Big Bear and Landers, California, with a rating of Mw 6.5 and Mw 7.3, respectively. These events resulted in 3 deaths, nearly 500 injuries, and approximately $1.52 billion in damages.5
2 California Earthquake Authority. 2020. List of Notable and Major California Earthquakes. https://www.earthquakeauthority.com/California -Earthquake-Risk/California-Earthquake-History- Timeline
3 National Centers for Environmental Information. 2020. Global Significant Earthquake Database, 2120 B.C. to present. https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazard/earthqk.shtml 4 California Department of Conservation. N.d. Northridge Earthquake, January 17, 1994. https://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/earthquakes/northridge 5 National Centers for Environmental Information. 2020. Global Significant Earthquake Database, 2120 B.C. to present.

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
46 Many major faults are located throughout Southern California, including some well - known ones like the San Andreas and San Jacinto Fault Zones. Proximity to a variety of active faults ensures that seismic hazards will continue to be a major concern for the city. Table 3-5 identifies the major earthquakes that have occurred within 100 miles of the City. Table 3 -6 identifies earthquakes, Mw 4.0+, which have occurred in San Bernardino County. The LHMP Planning Team noted the following regional and local events for seismic activity in the City of Hesperia.

Table 3-5: Significant Earthquakes (5.0+Mw) Within 100 Miles of Hesperia Event Name Magnitude
7/16/1985 Mw 5.2 - Lucerne Valley
2/28/1990 Mw 5.7 - Claremont
6/28/1992 Mw 7.3 – Landers
6/28/1992 Mw 6.3 - Big Bear
11/27/1992 Mw 5.0 - Fawnskin
12/4/1992 Mw 5.2 – Lucerne Valley
2/22/2003 Mw 5.2 - Fawnskin
7/4/2019 Mw 6.4 - Ridgecrest
7/5/2019 Mw 7.1 - Ridgecrest
*Distance between the epicenter and Hesperia.

Table 3-6: Earthquakes (Greater than 4.0+Mw) In San Bernardino County Date Name Magnitude
9/14/2011 Calimesa Mw 4.1
1/15/2014 Fontana Mw 4.4
7/5/2014 Running Springs Mw 4.6
7/25/2015 Fontana Mw 4.2
9/16/2015 Big Bear Lake Mw 4.0
12/30/2015 Muscoy Mw 4.4
1/6/2016 Banning Mw 4.4
7/29/2024 Barstow Mw 4.9
It s
hould be noted that hundreds of smaller (<Mw 4.0) earthquakes within San Bernardino County were not listed.
https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazard/earthqk.shtml
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
47 RISK OF FUTURE EVENTS
Hesperia is in a seismically active area with many faults in the surrounding area and region- at-large. There will be an ever-present danger, of course, posed by any seismic shaking, which could potentially cause damage to buildings and/or infrastructure. It is almost inevitable that an earthquake will occur along one of the adjacent or regional fault lines and cause a major seismic event. The Third Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Fore cast (UCERF3) was released in 2015 and is the most recent assessment of the probability of a major earthquake on various faults between 2015 to 2044. Figure 3-3 shows the locations of major faults in Southern California in relation to San Bernardino County region. These faults are the Southern San Andreas, the San Jacinto, the Elsinore, and the Garlock Faults. There are also many smaller faults within San Bernardino County capable of producing significant earthquakes.

However, these four faults are considered by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the California Geological Survey (CGS) to be the most dangerous in the County. (California Geological Survey Special Publication 42, Interim Revision 2007, “Fault-Rupture Hazard Zones in California” - Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act).

F
igure 3-3 UCERF3 Fault Probabilities

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
48 In addition to UCERF3 forecasts, which project the odds of a major earthquake on local and regional faults, the U.S. Geological Survey forecasts that the probability of an earthquake occurring over the next 30 Years in the Southern California with a magnitude of 6.7 or greater is 93 percent. Table 3-7 from the USGS lists Average repeat time between earthquakes in the Southern California region together with the likelihood of having one or more such earthquakes in the next 30 years. “Readiness” indicates the factor by which likelihoods are currently elevated, or lower, because of the length of time since the most recent large earthquakes. The values from the USGS include aftershocks. It is important to note that actual repeat times will exhibit a high degree of variability and will almost never exactly equal the average listed in the table.

Table 3-7: Southern California Region Earthquake Probability Magnitude (< or
=)
Average repeat time
(yrs.)
30-year likelihood of one or more
events Readiness
5 .7 100% 1.0
6 2.3 100% 1.0

6.7 12 93% 1.0
7 25 75% 1.1

7.5 87 36% 1.2
8 522 7% 1.3
Source: USGS UCERF3: A New Earthquake Forecast for California’s Complex Fault System FS 2015-3309

CLIMATE CHANGE CONSIDERATIONS

SEISMIC SHAKING
There is no direct link between climate change and seismic activity that could impact Hesperia, so climate change is not expected to cause any changes to the frequency or intensity of seismic shaking.

L
iquefaction
As our climate shifts, some locations will experience more extreme rains, which can make slopes more prone to land sliding and wide river valleys more prone to liquefaction during an earthquake.6
S
urface Fault Rupture
As our climate shifts, some locations will experience more extreme rains, which can saturate soil and increase the potential for lateral spread.7
L
andslides
Climate change is leading to changes in precipitation patterns and more frequent extreme weather events such as intense rainfall or prolonged droughts. Heavy rainfall can increase the likelihood of landslides triggered by earthquakes by saturating soil and destabilizing slopes. 6 https://www.geohaz.org/post/climate-change-can-amplify-earthquake-and-volcano- impacts#:~:text=As%20our%20climate%20shifts%2C%20some,during%20an%20earthquake%2Dtriggered%20tsunami. 7 Chrome
extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/engineering/geotech/pubs/hif23008.pdf City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

49 Flood

DESCRIPTION
Floods are a common hazard in many parts of California, including Hesperia. Ultimately, a flood occurs when there is too much water on the ground to be held within local water bodies, causing water to accumulate in naturally dry areas. They are often caused by heavy rainfall, though floods can also occur after a long period of moderate rainfall or if unusually warm weather causes mountain snow to melt faster than expected. Floods that develop quickly, known as flash floods, are especially dangerous because there may be little warning that one is occurring, but floods can also build over a more extended period.

A flood, as defined by FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), is: "A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land area or of two or more properties (at least one of which is the policyholder’s property) from:
 Overflow of inland or tidal waters, or
 Unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source, or Mudflow, or
 Collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or similar body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels."
Floods can be slow or fast rising but generally develop over a period of hours or days.

Mitigation includes any activities that prevent an emergency, reduce the chance of an emergency happening, or lessen the damaging effects of unavoidable emergencies.

Investing in mitigation measures now, such as: engaging in floodplain management activities, constructing barriers such as levees, and purchasing flood insurance will help reduce the amount of structural damage and financial loss from other types of property damage should a flood or flash flood occur.

Floods are dangerous for several reasons. The floodwaters can be deep enough for people to drown and moving fast enough to sweep people away. The moving water can damage buildings with its force (in extreme cases, it may move entire structures) or c arry large debris that damages objects with which it collides. When water gets into buildings, it can cause extensive damage to personal property, ruining building materials, furniture, electronics, and numerous other items. Both standing and moving water can be barriers to movement, isolating people and hindering evacuation, rescue, or relief efforts.

LOCATION AND EXTENT
Like most of Southern California, Hesperia is subject to unpredictable seasonal rainfall. Every few years, the region is subjected to periods of intense and sustained precipitation. Most of the flooding occurs in the numerous washes, natural drainage courses, drainage easements, and floodways. Construction of the Mojave Forks Dam in 1971 greatly reduced the impact of flooding along the Mojave River, although a few parcels adjacent to the river are still at risk.

Most of Hesperia is located on alluvial fans, relatively flat to sloping areas covered with sediment deposited by shallow, intermittent streams that spread out away from their source in the mountains to the south. The historical and geological records show that alluvial fan City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

50 flooding is unpredictable, and floodwaters can travel at dangerously high speeds, be highly erosive, and can carry large amounts of sediment and other debris. These characteristics make it difficult to assess the flood risk and develop reliable mitigations for alluvial fans.

Hesperia has participated in the National Flood Insurance Program since 1989. The extent of flooding in the Mojave River, Antelope Wash, the Oro Grande Wash, and the Summit Valley area has been analyzed through Flood Insurance Studies, but the entire Hesperia area has not been studied, and the flood zones are incomplete. Inundation due to a 100-year flood (a flood that has a 1 percent probability of being equaled or exceeded in any given year) can occur along the Mojave River, Antelope Valley Wash, and Summ it Valley. Several structures in the Antelope Valley Wash area are located within this zone. In the Summit Valley area, most homes are above the flood zone, but access to these homes can be cut off during severe flooding of the West Fork of the Mojave River. Highways 138 and 173 and several major roadways, including I Avenue, Rock Springs Road and Ranchero Road, extend across these 100-year flood zones. Federally subsidized flood insurance is available to all Hesperia residents.

Owners of all structures with the 100-year flood zone are required to purchase and maintain flood insurance as a condition of receiving a federally related mortgage or home equity loan on that structure. Residents outside the 100-year flood zone but in areas of recurrent flooding should consider flood insurance also.

Development in the Hesperia area began gradually and in a piecemeal fashion, without the benefit of a planned drainage network. Development occurred with only minor alterations to the natural topography. As a result, natural drainage courses meander through developed areas, and most streets follow the natural contours of the land, often without culverts or bridges across drainage channels. Underground pipelines, culverts, bridges, and basins are present, but are not common. This leads to localized flooding, road closures, erosion damage, and sedimentation during and following strong storms, particularly if the ground is already saturated. More recent developments, since the City’s incorporation, include on -site retention basins and other engineered structures, as needed. Furthermore, in the last decade, the City has constructed several drainage facilities. Asphalt berms along several roadways control surface flows, and a nearly 2 -mile-long channel with levees affords some protection to the homes near the bottom of the Antelope Valley Wash.

Flood events are measured by their likelihood of occurrence. For instance, a 100-year flood is a flood that has a 1 in 100 (1.0 percent) chance of occurring in any given year. A 500-year flood is a flood that has a 1 in 500 (0.2 percent) chance of occurring in any given year. The 100-year flood has been designated as the benchmark for major flood events. Thus 100-year floods are referred to as “base floods.”
Floodplains are areas that are prone to flooding and often experience frequent flooding.

While it is possible for areas outside of these designated floodplains to experience flooding, the most likely locations to experience future flooding are low -lying areas near bodies of water. FEMA is the governmental body responsible for designating which areas of the United States can be classified as floodplains.

The three most common designations are:
 Special Flood Hazard Area: The area within a 100-year floodplain.

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
51  Moderate Flood Hazard Area: The area outside the 100-year floodplain but within the 500-year floodplain.
 Minimum Flood Hazard Area: The area outside of the 500-year floodplain.

FEMA has multiple floodplain categories for each unique environment within these three designations. Table 3-8 shows these detailed floodplain categories. FEMA classifies Hesperia under several floodplain categories: A, A01 -A30, A99, AE, AH, AO, AR, B, C, D, V, V01 -V30, and VE; the location of these floodplains can be seen on the FEMA Flood Hazard Zone Map depicted in Figure 3-4.

Flooding hazards can potentially impact a significant amount of the community; however, less than 10% of this area is subject to a 100-year event. Development within flood hazard areas is expected to comply with flood protection standards that reduce vulnerability to flood impacts and ensure safe use and occupation of structures.

Table 3-8: FEMA Floodplain Categories
Category Description
A Within a 100-year floodplain, but the water height of the 100-year flood is not known.

A1-30 or
AE
Within a 100-year floodplain and the water height of the 100-year flood is known.

AO Within a 100-year floodplain, and the water height of the 100-year flood is between one and three feet but not specifically known.

A99 Within a 100-year floodplain, it is protected by flood protection infrastructures such as dams or levees.

AH Within a 100-year floodplain, and the water height of the 100-year flood is between one and three feet and is specifically known.

AR Within a 100-year floodplain, it is protected by flood protection infrastructure that is not currently effective but is being rebuilt to provide protection.

V Within a 100-year floodplain for coastal floods, but the water height of the flood is not known.

V1-30 or
VE
Within a 100-year floodplain for coastal floods and the water height of the flood is known.

VO Within a 100-year floodplain for shallow coastal floods with a height between one and three feet.

B Within a 500-year floodplain, or within a 100-year floodplain with a water height less than one foot (found on older maps).

C Outside of the 500-year floodplain (found on older maps).

X Outside of the 500-year floodplain (found on newer maps).

X500 Within a 500-year floodplain or within a 100-year floodplain with a water height less than one foot (found on newer maps).

D Within an area with a potential and undetermined flood hazard.

M Within an area at risk of mudslides from a 100-year flood event.

N Within an area at risk of mudslides from a 500-year flood event.

P Within an area at risk of mudslides from a potential and undetermined flood event.

E Within an area at risk of erosion from a 100-year flood event.

Source: 24 CFR, Section 64.3
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

52 Figure 3-4: Flood Hazard Zones in Hesperia

Source: GIS Department

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

53 Figure 3-5, Master Plan of Drainage, shows flood corridors within city limits. The Master Plan floodplain mapping is consistent with a previous study of the floodplain by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Figure 3-5: Master Plan of Drainage

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
54 The City has also identified a number of locations where flooding can occur during precipitation events. Table 3-9 identifies these locations as problematic areas for surface flow flooding due to precipitation events that require flooding signage and debris clean up measures by the City’s Public Works Division.

Table 3-9 Flooding Hotspots in Hesperia
Location
Maple Ave Sycamore St 11668 Maple Ave (property line) S/B Maple Ave Eucalyptus St N/E corner N/B
Eucalyptus St Maple Ave N/W corner W/B
Eucalyptus St Tamarisk Ave south side E/B
Maple Ave Hercules St 10280 Maple Ave (property line) S/B Maple Ave Willow St N/E corner N/B
Riverside St Maple Ave S/E corner E/B
Riverside St Cottonwood Ave N/W corner W/B
Live Oak St Datura Rd N/W corner W/B
Live Oak St E/of Mount Shasta Dr 13851 Live Oak St (property line) E/B Locust Ave Eucalyptus St N/E corner N/B
Locust Ave Birch St S/W corner S/B
Eleventh Ave Riverside St S/W corner S/B
Eleventh Ave Cashew St N/E corner N/B
Seventh Ave Verde St N/E corner N/B
Seventh Ave Mesa St S/W corner S/B
Third Ave Mauna Loa St S/W corner S/B
Third Ave Mojave St N/E corner N/B
Hesperia Rd Sultana St 450ft. N/of Sultana St S/B
Hesperia Rd Sultana St 450ft. S/of Sultana St N/B
Third Ave Sultana St 450ft. S/of Sultana St N/B
Third Ave Sultana St 450ft. N/of Sultana St S/B
Fifth Ave Sultana St 450ft. S/of Sultana St N/B
Fifth Ave Sultana St 450ft. N/of Sultana St S/B
Seventh Ave Sultana St 450ft. S/of Sultana St N/B
Seventh Ave Sultana St 450ft. N/of Sultana St S/B
Eighth Ave Sultana St 450ft. S/of Sultana St N/B
Eighth Ave Sultana St 450ft. N/of Sultana St S/B
Ninth Ave Sultana St N/ B
Ninth Ave Sultana St S/B
Eleventh Ave Sultana St 450ft. S/of Sultana St N/B
Eleventh Ave Sultana St 450ft. N/of Sultana St S/B
Cottonwood Ave Sultana St 450ft. S/of Sultana St N/B
Cottonwood Ave Sultana St S/B
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
55 Cottonwood Ave Orange St S/W corner S/B
Orange St Cottonwood Ave 15305 Orange St (property line) E/B Orange St Hickory Ave 15242 Orange St (property line) W/B Walnut St Cottonwood Ave 15201 Walnut St (property line) E/B Walnut St Hickory Ave N/W corner W/B
Maple Ave Sultana St N/B
Maple Ave Sultana St S/ B
Ranchero Rd Primrose Ave S/W corner E/B
Ranchero Rd Maple Ave S/E corner E/B
Ranchero Rd Lincoln Ave N/W corner W/B
Maple Ave Arthur St S/W corner S/B
Maple Ave Aspen St N/E corner N/B
Main St Pyrite Ave N/W corner W/B
Main St Wal-Mart Fuel Station East property line E/B
Santa Fe Ave E Spruce St S/ B
Santa Fe Ave E Yucca St N/E corner N/B
Spruce St C Ave N/W corner W/B
Spruce St Santa Fe Ave E S/E corner E/B
C Ave Smoke Tree St N/E corner N/B
C Ave Hercules St 450ft. Before RR tracks S/B
E Ave Lemon St N/E corner N/B
E Ave G Ave N/W corner S/B
E Ave W/of Peach Ave North side W/B
Lemon St C Ave North side W/B
Lemon St Santa Fe Ave E S/E corner E/B
Lemon St I Ave N/W corner W/B
Lemon St G Ave South side E/B
Talisman St Valencia St N/B
Talisman St Cactus Ave S/ B
Orchid Ave Lilac St N/E corner N/B
Orchid Ave Eucalyptus St S/W corner S/B
Orchid Ave Verano St N/E corner N/B
Orchid Ave Talisman St S/W corner S/B
Pitache St W/of Peach Ave 17983 Pitache St (property line) E/B Pitache St Peach Ave N/W corner W/B
Peach Ave Sumac Ave N/B
Peach Ave S/of Live Oak St 9402 Peach Ave S/B
Santa Fe Ave E Ranchero Rd S/W corner S/B
Summit Valley Rd S/of Santa Fe Ave E Across from runway N/B Danbury Ave Sherborn Ave S/E corner E/B
Danbury Ave Hinton St N/W corner W/B
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
56 Rock Springs Rd Quincy Ave E/ B
Rock Springs Rd Glendale Ave N/W corner W/B
Arrowhead Lake Rd Golf Course N/ B
Arrowhead Lake Rd Golf Course S/B
Peach Ave Hinton St 8500 Peach Ave (property line) S/B
Peach Ave Danbury Ave N/E corner N/B
Peach Ave Fairburn St/ Mecca St N/ B
Santa Fe Ave E Sultana St N/E corner S/B
Santa Fe Ave E Muscatel St 8655 Santa Fe Ave E (property line) N/B Source: Public Works Department

PAST EVENTS
In 2023, there was a California Disaster Declaration, DR -4699-CA, related to severe storms and flooding caused by atmospheric river events that occurred in late 2022 and early 2023.

There were severe storms, including significant flooding, high winds, and heavy rain caused by atmospheric rivers. This disaster declaration applied to multiple counties across California, including areas in Northern, Central, and Southern California, such as Monterey, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and San Luis Obispo counties, as well as others impacted by flooding and storm- related damage. Major rivers and streams exceeded their banks, leading to widespread flooding and damage to homes, infrastructure, and agricultural lands. Table 3-10 identifies past events of flooding in the city.

Table 3-10: History of Flooding in Hesperia
Date Description and Effect
4/2/1958-
4/3/1958
A heavy rainstorm struck the northern Inland Empire. 2.80” fell in San Bernardino, 2.25” in Redlands. Heavy runoff caused flooding in San Bernardino, Fontana and in Hesperia.

Creeks exceeded banks and numerous roads were blocked by water, mud and boulders.
2/18/1993-
2/20/1993
Heavy rain: 13” in Lake Arrowhead, 9” at Palomar Mountain, 6+” at Cuyamaca, 2-5” in coastal areas. Urban and river flooding occurred across the region. In Crestline, Lake Gregory overflowed, flooding a portion of the city. Two people died as a result of the flooding in the region. Flooding occurred from Oceanside to Encinitas. Homes were damaged along the Mojave River in Hesperia.
8/29/1998-
8/31/1998
Strong thunderstorms. 0.77” in 45 minutes at Wrightwood, 1.5” at Apple Valley, 0.68” in 30 minutes at Forest Falls. Flash flooding in Hemet. Homes and roads flooded with 4 to 6” of water in Hesperia and Apple Valley.
2/11/2003-
2/14/2003
A storm off the coast tapped subtropical moisture and pulled it northward to produce heavy rain: Hesperia, 3.87”. Localized flooding. On 2.13 a man drowned when he attempted wade across the rain-swollen Tijuana River.
3/15/2003 A slow moving cold front dropped 37” of rain across Southern California. Over 1,000 traffic accidents and six deaths were attributed to standing water on roads. Some freeways were covered by water two to three feet deep. In the desert, the Mojave River overflowed its banks, flooding several major roads between Hesperia and Apple Valley.

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

57 8/13/2004-
8/14/2004
Monsoon thunderstorms produced 0.71” in 30 minutes in Phelan, 0.63” in 8 minutes at Volcan Mountain (north of Julian), 0.66” in 11 minutes in San Felipe Valley (south of Borrego Springs). On 8.14 severe flash flooding of homes in Spring Valley Lake (Victorville) and Hesperia. Vehicles trapped in 5’ water. Water 8’ deep inundated a railroad causing major delays (a 60 train backup extending to Cajon Pass). 12/28/2004-
12/29/2004
Heavy rain from a big storm. 1.10 in 40 minutes at San Diego Country Estates (east of Ramona). Flooding on Lytle Creek road and Hesperia.
1/7/2005-
1/11/2005
Five consecutive days of heavy precipitation all over Southern California. This followed heavy storms in late December and early January. Widespread and catastrophic flooding and damage totaling $100 million. A state of emergency was declared for all four counties. The Mojave River flooded 3 homes and other structures, and caused extensive damage in Hesperia and Oro Grande.
1/18/2010-
1/22/2010
A very wet and dynamic series of storms dropped two to four inches of rainfall in the deserts, to four to eight inches west of the mountains, to six to 12 inches on the coastal slopes. Widespread flooding resulted across the region. Some of the worst flash flooding occurred in the high desert on the 1.21 due to the prolonged heavy rainfall. Scores of homes and severa l schools sustained damage, and many roads were washed out in Hesperia, Apple Valley, Victorville and Adelanto. Numerous swift water rescues were needed, one of which likely saved four teens trapped in a storm water drain. Two deaths in Tijuana were attributed to the flooding.
12/23/2021-
12/24/2021
A series of storms paraded through the region, each bringing heavy rain during late December. Two-day totals for this storm reached 6” in the mountains, but Lytle Creek alone achieved just over 8”. The northern Inland Empire got 2-5”, while most other lower elevation stations received 0.75-3”. Even parts of the lower deserts got more than one inch. Flooding was observed in the Mojave River in Hesperia. 1/9/2023 –
1/10/2023
An atmospheric river brought heavy rain from Santa Barbara County to Orange, northern Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Rainfall in the mountains of San Bernardino County got 4 to 9.50” (Lytle Creek). Flooding and debris blocking roadways resulted in Hesperia. There were several swiftwater rescues, one in Desert Hot Springs. 2/2/2024 –
2/6/2024
San Bernardino County declared a Local Emergency due to extreme weather.

Governor Newsom issued a State of Emergency for several counties, including San Bernardino.

Source: A History of Significant Weather Events in Southern California

RISK OF FUTURE EVENTS
There is no indication that the severe rainfall that leads to flooding will abate in the future, either in Hesperia or the greater region of Southern California. While Hesperia may experience prolonged periods of dry or wet years, flood events will likely continue to impact the city. For areas within the 100 -year and 500 -year flood hazard zones, the likelihood of flooding to occur annually is 1% and 0.2%, respectively.

Because the City is vulnerable to flooding during the winter storm season, it is an active participant in the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Through this program, “Special Flood Hazard Areas” within the city are identified and mapped on Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), identifying the areas that require flood insurance. FIRMs generally describe flooding in te rms of a 100- or 500-year flood event, which translates into the probability (1.0% or 0.2%, respectively) that flooding could occur within the designated zone in any given year. In addition to the federal requirements within the NFIP, the City has adopted flood protection standards requiring minimum building elevation, City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

58 flood-proofing, and anchoring of buildings in areas prone to flooding. Figure 3-4 identifies the FEMA Flood Hazard Zones mapped within the City.

CLIMATE CHANGE CONSIDERATIONS
Climate change is expected to affect California's precipitation patterns, which are likely to influence future flood events. A 2017 study found that the number of very intense precipitation days in California is projected to more than double by the end of the century, increasing 117 percent, making it likely that flood events will become more frequent.8 More flood events could increase the frequency of maintenance and repair activities and require operational changes to City function. Much of the City's infrastructure may require modification and retrofit to better accommodate changes anticipated from climate change.

Extreme Weather (Severe Winds, Extreme Heat, Severe Rainstorms)

DESCRIPTION

SEVERE WINDS
Wind is simply the movement of air caused by differences in atmospheric pressure and temperature. High-pressure air will naturally move to areas of low pressure. Usually, the distance between these high-and low-pressure zones is far; however, these low-and high- pressure zones occasionally may be near one another. When this happens, air will flow dramatically, creating high-speed winds. The most common wind events in southern California are the “Santa Ana” winds. Figure 3-6 depicts the typical conditions that occur in the fall and winter to create these events. When winds are fast enough, they can damage homes, public facilities, utilities, and other infrastructure. They can also uproot or topple mature trees, pick up debris, and send it careening through the air. This debris can injure or even kill bystanders who may find themselves stranded outside. High-speed winds can deposit this debris in the middle of rights-of-way, such as roads, freeways, and railways, blocking exit routes for would- be evacuees or impeding access to first responders trying to reach wounded people.

8 Polade, S.D., Gershunov, A., Cayan, D.R., Dettinger, M.D., & Pierce, D.W. 2017. Precipitation in a warming world: Assessing projected hydr o-climate changes in California and other Mediterranean climate regions. Scientific Reports. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-11285-y

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

59 Figure 3-6: Santa Ana Winds

Source: https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/what-are-santa-ana- winds-2/343027

EXTREME HEAT
Extreme heat is a period when temperatures are abnormally high relative to the normal temperature range. There are generally three types of extreme heat events:

• Extreme Heat Days: Defined as the 98th percentile value of historical daily maximum/minimum temperatures (from 1961–1990, between April and October) observed at a location.
• Warm Nights: Defined as the 98th percentile value of historical daily maximum/minimum temperatures (from 1961–1990, between April and October) observed at a location.
• Extreme Heat Waves: a successive series of extreme heat days and warm nights where extreme temperatures do not abate; while no universally accepted minimum length of time for a heatwave event exists, Cal-Adapt considers four successive extreme heat days and warm nights to be the minimum threshold for an extreme heatwave.

S

EVERE RAINSTORMS
During severe weather events such as strong storms, rain can fall at such a high rate that it cannot drain away fast enough. The resulting heavy rain can cause flooding, leading to inundation and potential damage to buildings, road networks, public areas, utilities, and other critical pieces of infrastructure. In California, heavy rainfall events are often short, intense bursts of rain, but in some cases, heavy rain can persist for multiple days

LOCATION AND EXTENT

SEVERE WIND
In Southern California, the most common type of severe wind event is called the Santa Ana winds. High pressure over Nevada and Utah, often during the fall and winter months, forces air down from the high desert toward the ocean. As the winds descend, they heat

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
60 up and increase in speed, sometimes carrying particulate matter and aggravating the respiratory health of those who have allergies. Hesperia is often affected by Santa Ana winds blowing through the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountain ranges via the Cajon Pass. Santa Ana winds are a contributing factor to the threat and spread of wildfires in California. Santa Ana winds can damage the electrical distribution infrastructure, creating wildfire ignitions due to arcing or downed power lines. Santa Ana winds can also result in rapid fire spread from ordinarily contained or small fires such as vehicle fires or fires caused by discarded smoking materials. Depending on the severity of the wind event, any part of the city can be affected by severe winds.

Generally, winds are measured using the Beaufort scale, developed in 1805, which categorizes wind events on a force scale from 0 to 12 using their speed and impacts. Any wind classified as force nine or above is generally considered a severe wind event. Table 3-11 identifies the Beaufort scale, which classifies wind events in detail.

Table 3-11: Beaufort Scale
Force Speed
(mph)
Description
0 0 to 1 Calm: Smoke rises vertically
1 1 to 3 Light air: The direction of the wind is shown by smoke drift but not wind vanes. 2 4 to 7 Light breeze: Wind is felt on the face, leaves rustle, and wind vanes are moved.
3 8 to 12 Gentle breeze: Leaves and small twigs are in motion, and light flags are extended.
4 13 to 18 Moderate breeze: Dust and loose paper become airborne, and small branches are moved.
5 19 to 24 Fresh breeze: Small trees begin to sway
6 25 to 31 Strong breeze: Large branches are in motion, and using an umbrella becomes difficult.
7 32 to 38 High wind: Whole trees are in motion and walking against the wind can be hard.
8 39 to 46 Strong wind: Walking is difficult, and twigs break off trees. 9 47 to 54 Severe wind: Slight structural damage.
10 55 to 63 Storm: Trees are uprooted and considerable damage to structures. 11 63 to 72 Violent storm: Widespread damage.
12 73 and
above
Hurricane: Devastating damage.

Source: https://www.weather.gov/mfl/beaufort

EXTREME HEAT
Extreme heat events will feel different from region to region since different areas have different historic high temperatures. For example, an extreme heat day on the coast will feel different than an extreme heat day in the High Desert. The reason for this is how humidity affects the perceived heat that people feel. Humid conditions will make a day feel hotter than non-humid conditions, even though the temperature may be the same.

The difference between the perceived and actual temperatures is known as the “heat index.” To illustrate the effect of the heat index, a 90-degree day with 50 percent humidity feels like 95°F, whereas a 90°F Day with 90 percent humidity feels like 122°F. Figure 3-7 City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

61 illustrates the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Weather Service Heat Index.

Extreme heat events are not limited to any part of the city. They occur with the same intensity and duration at the same time across all locations in Hesperia. For Hesperia, an extreme heat day involves a temperature that exceeds 100.4°F, and a warm night involves a temperature that exceeds 68.1°F.
9 Figure 3-7: NOAA’s National Weather Service Heat Index

SEVERE RAINSTORM
The location and size of a rain event vary depending on regional geography and regional and global weather events. For example, small precipitation events may occur in only one section of Hesperia. In contrast, a large rain event could inundate a majority of San Bernardino County and other parts of southern California.

California’s precipitation varies from year to year, depending on how much moisture the state receives from atmospheric rivers. Atmospheric rivers are corridors along which wet air travels from the tropics to continents. When the moisture arrives in California, it may precipitate as rain or snow. One of California's most known atmospheric rivers is the “Pineapple Ex press,” which brings moist air from the ocean surrounding Hawaii to California. An immense amount of moisture may be transported along the atmospheric rivers that cross over California during certain years, leading to severe rains.10 Another weather phenomenon influencing rainfall in southern California is “El Niño,” officially referred to as the “Southern Oscillation” or “El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).” ENSO can cause increased rainfall, particularly during the winter months, caused by

9 https://cal-adapt.org/tools/local-climate-change-snapshot/ 10 “What are atmospheric rivers?” https://www.noaa.gov/stories/what-are-atmosphericrivers

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

62 warming of the surface of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, leading to the evaporation of warm, moist air into the atmosphere. Winds bring this moisture to the eastern Pacific and the American continents, where it falls as rain. ENSO does not always lead to increased rainfall by default, but in general, it can increase the chances of winter with higher-than-usual precipitation. 11 12
Rain events are usually measured by the amount of precipitation that falls.13 Table 3-12 categorizes rain events by the amount of precipitation per hour.

Table 3-12: Measuring Heavy Rain Events
Rain Type Description
Heavy Rain More than 4 mm per hour but less than 8 mm per hour Very Heavy Rain Greater than 8 mm per hour
Moderate Shower Greater than 2 mm, but less than 10 mm per hour Heavy Shower Greater than 10 mm per hour, but less than 50 mm per hour Violent Shower Greater than 50 mm per hour
Source: https://water.usgs.gov/edu/activity-howmuchrain-metric.html

PAST EVENTS

S

EVERE WIND
There were no major federal or state disaster declarations for severe winds in the planning area since the last update. However, severe wind incidents are a common occurrence in the city. Annually the city is subjected to Santa Ana Wind conditions that can cause significant damage to trees, buildings, and vehicles. While the effects of S anta Ana Winds are often overlooked, it should be noted that in 2003, two deaths in Southern California were directly related to the fierce condition. A falling tree struck one woman in San Diego. The second death occurred when a passenger in a vehicle was hit by a pickup truck cover launched by the Santa Ana Winds.

The following are significant events that have affected the city and region in the past:
• May 11, 1997 – Severe thunderstorms developed over Apple Valley and Hesperia during the afternoon, resulting in a tornado, dust storm, and downburst winds.

Catastrophic damage to buildings, structures, trees, and power lines. • June 6, 1997 – Tornado in Hesperia destroyed a large fountain. • November 26, 1997 – An approaching storm system brought strong winds to the coast and deserts. In Victor Valley, toppled trees and power poles cut power to 3,000 customers and led to school cancellations. A business in Hesperia lost a 3,000 square foot section of roof.
• March 13-14, 1998 - Numerous waterspouts between Long Beach, Huntington Beach and Catalina. Funnel clouds in Phelan and Hesperia.

11 NOAA. 2014. “What Is the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in a Nutshell? https://www.climate.gov/news- 12 NOAA. 2016. “El Niño and La Niña: Frequently Asked Questions.” https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understandingclimate/el-ni%C3%B1o-and-la-ni%C3%B1a-frequently-asked-questions. 13 https://www.climate.gov/enso

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

63 • April 22, 1999 – Strong winds developed in Apple Valley, Yucca Valley, and the Coachella Valley. Blowing dust and sand produced zero visibility, resulting in road closures, damage to car windshields, and exceptionally high air pollution readings.

A roof was partially to rn from a house in Palm Springs and trees/powerlines were downed along Oro Grande Wash between Hesperia and Victorville. • July 10, 1999 – Funnel cloud in Hesperia.
• June 23, 2000 – Two funnel clouds around Hesperia.
• July 3, 2001 –
• A microburst hit Hesperia creating a wall of sand and dust and a moaning sound. A radio tower was toppled, and other property was damaged. • Dust devil in Hesperia (may be a microburst or other thunderstorm wind).

Blows off roof.
• May 29, 2009 – Strong thunderstorms produced a microburst or gustnado in Hesperia.

The winds damaged four horse shelter roofs in Hesperia. One roof was completely removed from the shelter. Winds also knocked over power lines in Hesperia and Victorville.
• September 8, 2015 - severe thunderstorm warning for Apple Valley, Hesperia and Victorville. The National Weather Service said the thunderstorm was capable of producing damaging winds in excess of 60 mph and hail the size of a quarter. • August 18, 2023 - Tropical Storm Hilary brought heavy rain, flooding, lightening and gusty winds to Southern California, including a series of flood watches to San Bernardino County. The storm resulted in storm related damages. • February 4-6, 2024 – A strong atmospheric storm produced strong winds in the High Desert. A reported 1.4 million customers were without power at various points throughout the state.

E

XTREME HEAT

There were no major federal or state disaster declarations for extreme heat in the planning area since the last update. Based on Cal Adapt’s Data, Hesperia experiences an average five extreme heat days per year, when the daily maximum temperature is above a threshold temperature of 100.4° F. For the same period, Hesperia experiences an average of four warm nights per year, when the daily minim um temperature is above a threshold temperature of 68.1° F. The annual average maximum temperature is 71.7° F.

Overall, Hesperia is expected to see an increase in the average daily high temperatures.

Depending on the future severity of climate change, the state Cal -Adapt database indicates the annual average maximum temperature is expected to increase from a historical annual average of 71.7°F to an average of up to 77.6°F by the middle of the century (2035 to 2064), and an average of up to 80.9°F by the end of the century (2070 to 2099). Although the temperature increases may appear modest, the projected high temperatures are substantially greater than historical norms. These increases make it more likely that an above-average high temperature will cross the extreme heat threshold.

Warm nights in Hesperia are expected to rise from a historical annual average of 4 to 35 nights by the middle of the century (2035 to 2064), and to an average of 66 nights by the end of the century (2070 to 2099).

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
64 C
al-Adapt Climate Projections for the Desert Region, anticipates that three to five more heat waves will be experienced by 2050, increasing to 12 to 16 in the western part of the region to more than 18 to 20 in the eastern parts of the region.14 A
ccording to the California State Hazard Mitigation Plan (SHMP), the worst single heat wave event in California occurred in Southern California in 1955, when an eight-day heat wave resulted in 946 deaths. The July 2006 heat wave in California caused approximately 140 deaths over a 13 -day period. In 2022, California experienced one of the worst heatwaves it has ever experienced. From September 1 st through September 9th, 2022, temperature records for September were shattered across the western portion of the United States, including Hesperia, where temperatures reached 106° F.

T
he California Climate Adaptation Strategy (CAS), citing a California Energy Commission study, states that “over the past 15 years, heat waves have claimed more lives in California than all othe r declared disaster events combined.” This study shows that California is getting warmer leading to an increased frequency, magnitude, and duration of heat waves. These factors may lead to increased mortality from excessive heat, as shown in Figure 3-8 below.

F
igure 3-8 California Historical and Projected Temperature Increases (1961 – 2099) Source: Dan Cayon: California Climate Adaptation Strategy

SEVERE RAINSTORMS
In 2023, there was a California Disaster Declaration, DR-4699-CA, related to severe storms and flooding caused by atmospheric river events that occurred in late 2022 and early 2023. There were severe storms, including significant flooding, high winds, and heavy rain caused by atmospheric rivers. This disaster declaration applied to multiple counties across California, including areas in Northern, Central, and Southern California, such as Monterey, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and San Luis Obispo counties, as well as others 14 Public Interest Energy Research 2011; https://cal-adapt.org/

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

65 impacted by flooding and storm -related damage. Major rivers and streams exceeded their banks, leading to widespread flooding and damage to homes, infrastructure, and agricultural lands.

Hesperia and San Bernardino County have experienced h eavy rain events that have inundated many communities. Some significant historical events include (it should be noted that past events of major flooding in the region are generally directly tied to severe rainstorms):

• February 18-20, 1993 - Heavy rain: 13” in Lake Arrowhead, 9” at Palomar Mountain, 6+” at Cuyamaca, 2-5” in coastal areas. Urban and river flooding occurred across the region. In Crestline, Lake Gregory overflowed, flooding a portion of the City. Two people died as a result of the flooding in the region. Flooding occurred from Oceanside to Encinitas. Homes were damaged along the Mojave River in Hesperia. • August 29-31, 1998 - Strong thunderstorms. 0.77” in 45 minutes at Wrightwood, 1.5” at Apple Valley, 0.68” in 30 minutes at Forest Falls. Flash flooding in Hemet. Homes and roads flooded with 4 to 6” of water in Hesperia and Apple Valley. Rockslides in Mill Creek. Flooding of roads in Sugarloaf and Forest Falls. • February 11-14, 2003 - A storm off the coast tapped subtropical moisture and pulled it northward to produce heavy rain: 10.15” at Forest Falls, 9.75” Lytle Creek, 8.47” Lake Arrowhead, 7.60” Santiago Peak, 6.86” Mira Loma, 5.15” Wrightwood, 3.95” Hesperia,

3.87” Lake Elsinore, 3” Lindbergh Field. Localized flooding. On 2.13 a man drowned when he attempted wade across the rain-swollen Tijuana River. • March 15, 2003 - A slow moving cold front dropped 37” of rain across Southern California. Over 1,000 traffic accidents and six deaths were attributed to standing water on roads. Some freeways were covered by water two to three feet deep. In the desert, the Mojave River overflowed its banks, flooding several major roads between Hesperia and Apple Valley.
• August 13-14, 2004 - Monsoon thunderstorms produced 0.71” in 30 minutes in Phelan,

0.63” in 8 minutes at Volcan Mountain (north of Julian), 0.66” in 11 minutes in San Felipe Valley (south of Borrego Springs). Flash flooding. On 8.13 flash floods in Wildomar, Sage, and La Quinta. Hwy. 78 near Yaqui Pass closed. On 8.14 severe flash flooding of homes in Spring Valley Lake (Victorville) and Hesperia. Vehicles trapped in 5’ water.

Water 8’ deep inundated a railroad causing major delays (a 60 -train backup extending to Cajon Pass).
• December 28-29, 2004 - Heavy rain from a big storm. 1.10 in 40 minutes at San Diego Country Estates (east of Ramona). Flash flooding in Waterman Canyon and other mountain areas. Debris flow in San Diego Country Estates. Flooding on Lytle Creek road and Hesperia.
• January 7-11, 2005 – Five consecutive days and heavy precipitation all over Southern California. More than 30” of precipitation in the San Bernardino Mountains. 4 -10” at lower elevations. 31.75” of precipitation fell at Lake Arrowhead, 29370” at Lytle Creek,

19.86” at Devore, and 15.09” at Palomar Mountain. This followed heavy storms in late December and early January. By 1.11 numerous highways in the San Bernardino Mountains were closed. The Mojave River flooded 3 homes and other structures, and caused extensive damage in Hesperia and Oro Grande.
• January 18-22, 2010 - A very wet and dynamic series of storms dropped two to four inches of rainfall in the deserts, to four to eight inches west of the mountains, to six to 12 inches on the coastal slopes. Widespread flooding resulted across the region. Some City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

66 of the worst flash flooding occurred in the high desert on the 1.21 due to the prolonged heavy rainfall. Scores of homes and several schools sustained damage, and many roads were washed out in Hesperia, Apple Valley, Victorville and Adelanto. Numerous swift water rescues were needed, one of which likely saved four teens trapped in a storm water drain. Two deaths in Tijuana were attributed to the flooding. • January 23-24, 2021 - A series of storms paraded through the regi on, each bringing heavy rain during late December. Two -day totals for this storm reached 6” in the mountains, but Lytle Creek alone achieved just over 8”. The northern Inland Empire got 2-5”, while most other lower elevation stations received 0.75-3”. Even parts of the lower deserts got more than one inch. Several mountain roadways were washed out, including Highways 18 and 243. Flooding was observed in the Mojave River in Hesperia, along Indian Canyon Road near Palm Springs, in San Bernardino, in Cherry Valley just below the Apple Fire burn scar, and in nearby Oak Glen. Debris flows inundated parts of Silverado Canyon within the Bond Fire burn scar.
• January 12, 2023 - Winter Storm Event was an extreme winter storm system that impacted the City of Hesperi a by causing flooding and several inches of snow. The storm resulted in several road closures and storm related damages. • August 18, 2023 - Tropical Storm Hilary brought heavy rain, flooding, lightening and gusty winds to Southern California, including a se ries of flood watches to San Bernardino County. The storm resulted in storm related damages. • February 4 -6, 2024 - A strong atmospheric brought heavy rain and flooding, and approximately 1.5” – 2” inches of rain in the High Desert. Hesperia activated its EOC to a level 2. The storm resulted in several road closures and storm related damages which continue to be assessed by the City.

R

ISK OF FUTURE EVENTS

S

EVERE WIND
Given Hesperia’s history of severe wind events, it is very likely that wind events will continue to impact the city. The most probable source of these events in the future will likely originate from the Santa Ana winds or extreme storms. All expectations are that the probability they will occur again in the future is highly likely.

EXTREME HEAT
San Bernardino County is projected to experience major increases in extreme heat days, including Hesperia. Southeastern, Valley and low -lying desert locations in the county – including the area near Big Bear Lake – could experience as many as 50 additional extreme heat days per year by mid -century. Furthermore, all areas of the county are projected to experience at least 27 additional extreme heat days (defined as days exceeding the 95th percentile of daily maximum temperatures over the historical baseline time period between 1976 and 2005).
15 SEVERE RAINSTORMS
There is no indication that rainfall or severe rain hazards will abate either in Hesperia or the greater region of Southern California in the future. While Hesperia may experience prolonged periods of dry or wet years, all expectations are that the probability they will

15 San Bernardino County Resilience Strategy
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

67 occur again in the future is highly likely and anticipated to increase in the future.

CLIMATE CHANGE CONSIDERATIONS

SEVERE WIND/ SEVERE RAINSTORMS
It is anticipated that the atmospheric rivers that deliver storms to Southern California may intensify because of climate change. While the average number of storms in Southern California will remain the same, storms are expected to increase in intensity by 10 to 20 percent.16 This increase in storm intensity may also bring more intense winds to the Southern California region, including Hesperia.

Regarding Santa Ana winds, however, studies indicate that these events may be affected in varying ways. According to one study that examined two global climate models, there is a projected increase in future Santa Ana events. However, other studies have found that the number of Santa Ana events may decrease by about 20% in the future. 17 Given the anticipated increases in temperatures throughout the region, future events are anticipated to become more severe in some cases, even if the total number of events decreases.

Regarding severe storms, climate change is expected to alter rainfall patterns in Southern California, including Hesperia. As the climate warms, rain events are predicted to become more intense. Hesperia will likely experience more rain inundation events that lead to flooding and increase the potential threat of dam failure, tree mortality, and other potential hazards.

EXTREME HEAT
The primary effect of climate change is warmer average temperatures. The hottest years on record have occurred since 2000, with 2016 and 2020 being tied. 18 As climate change accelerates in the 21st century, it is anticipated that extreme heat events will become more frequent and intense in the city. With the projection that extreme heat days could increase between 22 and 35 days annually by 2100, the city can expect a shift in residential and business needs for cooling and addressing heat-related issues.

Wildfire

DESCRIPTION
As defined in the California Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) 2019 Strategic Fire Plan (2024 Strategic Plan is in development), a wildfire event is an unwanted wildland fire including unauthorized human-caused fires, escaped wildfire use events, escaped prescribed wildfire projects, and all other wildfires.

16 Atmospheric Rivers to Soak California as Climate Warms. https://www.livescience.com/49225-atmospheric-rivers- double-climate-change.html

17 Hall, Alex, Neil Berg, Katharine Reich. (University of California, Los Angeles). 2018. Los Angeles Summary Report. California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment. https://www.energy.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2019- 11/Reg%20Report-%20SUM-CCCA4-2018-007%20LosAngeles_ADA.pdf

18 Rebecca Hersher and Lauren Sommer. 2020. “2020 May be the Hottest Year on Record. Here’s the Damage it did.” NPR. https://www.npr.org/2020/12/18/943219856/2020-may-be-the-hottest-year-on-record-heres-the-damage-it-did

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

68 There are three different classes of wild land or wildfires:

1) A surface fire is the most common type and burns along the floor of a forest, moving slowly and killing or damaging trees.
2) A ground fire is usually started by lightning and burns on or below the forest floor. 3) Crown fires spread rapidly by wind and move quickly by jumping along the tops of trees. Wil dfires are usually signaled by dense smoke that fills the area for miles around. Wildfires present a significant potential for disaster in the southwest, a region of relatively high temperatures, low humidity and low precipitation during the summer and spring and moderately strong daytime winds. Combine these severe burning conditions with people or lightning and the stage is set for the occurrence of large, destructive wildfires.

Wildfires are a necessary part of the natural ecosystem in Southern California, but they become a hazard when they extend out of control into developed areas, with the resultant of loss of property, injuries or the loss of life. The wildfire risk in the United States has increased in the last few decades with the increasing encroachment of residences and other structures into the wild land environment and the increasingly larger number of people living and playing in wild land areas.

Dozens of small vegetation fires, typically less than one acre in size, are reported in Hesperia annually. There are a relatively small number of structure fires reported annually in Hesperia, but depending on the size, age and occupancy of the structure, the economic and social losses can be substantial.

L

OCATION AND EXTENT

Hesperia is located in the lower Mojave section of the Southeastern Deserts Bioregion; an area characterized by isolated, steep-sided mountain ranges separated by broad alluvial basins. The predomina te vegetation assemblages in this area include, desert shrub, creosote brush shrub and succulent shrub. Other important vegetation types include Joshua Trees, woodland, shad -scale scrub, black brush scrub and desert scrub -steppe.

About one-third of the d esert floor in the Mojave section is devoid of vegetation, limiting amount of surface fuel loads available to burn. Variations in the annual precipitation for the Mojave region have led to a significant variation in the frequency and extent of wildland fires in the area. Several historical wildland fires have occurred primarily in the southern part of Hesperia and its sphere of influence between 1930 and 2008.

Using information from the California Department of Forestry (CAL FIRE) Figure 3-9 Wildfire History Map, illustrates the areas at risk to a wildfire event. The area with the highest risk of wildfire is in the southern portion of the City.

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
69 Figure 3-9 Wildfire History Map
T
he magnitude and severity of a wildfire event is measured by calculating the number of acres burned in a specific wildfire event. CAL FIRE adopted Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for LRA in June 2008. The Fire Severity Zones for Hesperia identify areas of Very High, High, and Moderate fire hazard severity throughout the County and are mapped in Figure 3-10.

Fire Severity Zones are used in determining additional protective measures required when building new structures or remodeling older structures within the particular zone. Additional measures must be taken on the property around a structure in the higher ranked fire Severity Zones.

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

70 Fire hazard mapping is a way to measure the physical fire behavior to predict the damage a fire is likely to cause. Fire hazard measurement includes vegetative fuels, probability of speed at which a wildfire moves the amount of heat the fire produces, and most importantly, the burning fire brands that the fire sends ahead of the flaming front.

The model used to develop the information in accounts for topography, especially the steepness of the slopes (fires burn faster as they burn up-slope.). Weather (temperature, humidity, and wind) also has a significant influence on fire behavior. The areas depicted as moderate and high in are of particular concern and potential fire risk in these are constantly increasing as human development, and the wildland urban interface areas expand.

Earthquakes can cause multiple ignitions distributed over a broad geographic area. Fires can be ignited by a variety of sources, including arcing downed electrical lines, sparks near ruptured gas pipelines, overturned electrical appliances, such as water heaters and spills of reactive chemicals. If the earthquake has also impaired the water distribution system, limiting the water available to fight these fires and fire personnel are busy conducting search and rescue operations, earthquake induced fires have the potential to be the worst case fire-suppression scenarios for the City.

P

AST EVENTS
There were no major federal or state disaster declarations for wildfires in the planning area since the last update. Wildfire events are of major concern to the City of Hesperia. Cal FIRE maintains a database of wildfire perimeters. Table 3-13 gives the dates and fire names of the historical wildfires that have burned within Hesperia city limits. Figure 3-10 shows where those historical burn areas in the City have occurred.

Those wild land areas that have not burned in more than 30 years are at higher risk of burning again in the near future, due to the high density and continuity of the fuel load. Many smaller wildfires in the City are not captured by the Cal Fire database. In the past twenty-five years there have been (27)
significant wildland fires within
Hesperia. These fires are listed in Table 3-13, and several of the more damaging fires are discussed below.

Table 3-13 Wildfire Occurrences 1999-2024
Date Location Description
July 6, 1999 11 miles south
of Hesperia
The fire burned 2,576 acres, destroyed one mobile home and two sheds. Residents from Summit Valley and Oak Hills were forced to evacuate. Highway 138 was closed. There was $100 K in property damage.

August 28 -
September 9,
1999
Lucerne and
Apple Valleys,
east Hesperia
This fire consumed 63,486 acres starting three miles south of Lucerne Valley and extending to within four miles northwest of Fawnskin.

Thirteen firefighters sustained minor injuries. Property damage was estimated at $11.7 million.

May 11, 2001 Mojave River,
Apple Valley
This fire started on the riverbed and burned 25 acres. One nearby school was evacuated. One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion. There was no structure damage.

June 19, 2001 Cajon Pass The Baldy Fire started near the intersection of Interstate 5 and Highway 138. 125 acres were burned forcing the closure of both City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

71 roads and the Union Pacific rail tracks.

July 22, 2002 Hesperia Strong winds and extremely dry conditions fanned a house fire in Hesperia. Five outbuildings were destroyed for an estimated $55 K in property damages.

June 15, 2003 Hesperia A brush fire burned 80 acres. One firefighter was injured when a boulder rolled down the hill and broke his leg.

July 27, 2003 Hesperia This brush fire burned 10 acres.

September 17,
2003
Hesperia A brush fire consumed 40 acres and briefly threatened several homes in Oak Hills.

October 1,
2003
Mojave
Riverbed, three
miles east of
Victorville
This brush fire burned 10 acres. No structures were damaged.

October 25-
November 14,
2003
Six miles south
of Hesperia to
seven miles
north of Lake
Arrowhead
The Old Fire was started by an arsonist consuming 91,200 acres before it was fully contained. The fire destroyed 993 homes and damaged another 35, 10 commercial buildings, 1,460 power poles, 220 electrical transformers and several miles of highway and utility infrastructure. Six deaths and 12 injuries were directly attributed to the fire. An estimated 80,000 people were evacuated. Over the next few days, the communities of Silverwood Lake, south Hesperia, Oak Hills, Summit Valley, Telephone Canyon and Las Flores were evacuated. On the second day, the fire merged with the Grand Prix fire. On the third day, the fire burned through the Cajon Pass and onto the foothills towards Hesperia. Rain, sleet and snow that feel between November 11 and 13 slowed fire growth. The fire caused an estimated $975 million in property damage; the cost of firefighting the fire was more than $42.3 million.

September 7,
2004
Cajon Pass to
Baldy Mesa
The Runway Fire was started by a car accident and eventually burned 1,700 acres of brush in the San Bernardino National Forest.

The fire forced the closure of seven miles of Highway 138. One was damaged slightly, causing about $1,000 in property damage.

April 1, 2007 Hesperia This fire burned more than 1,400 acres and forced the evacuation of more than 500 residents. Damage was limited to the roof of one residential structure and the destruction of one outbuilding.

November 5,
2012
Devore/Cajon
Pass
The Devore Fire burned 350 acres along Interstate 15 in the San Bernardino National Forest.

May 5, 2014 Ranchero Road
Bridge Fire
The fire began Monday afternoon when a blowtorch being used to cut metal reinforcing bars ignited support timbers. The new bridge was under construction at the time.

April 1, 2015 River Bottom
Fire in Apple
Valley
The county regional park was conducting a controlled burn that grew out of control when the winds shifted. Only a shed and a vehicle were destroyed in the fire. 185 total acres were burned.

August 7th –
16th, 2016
Pilot Rock &
Hwy 138,
southeast of
Hesperia
The Pilot Fire started at about 12:10 pm near the Miller Canyon OHV area off of Highway 138. 8,110 total acres burned, with no structures destroyed or injuries reported. Schools were closed due to poor air quality.

August 16th –
23rd, 2016
Cajon Pass
along Old
Cajon Blvd.
north of
Kenwood Ave.
west of I-15
The Blue Cut Fire started on August 16, 2016 at 10:36 AM. The fire quickly spotted across Cajon Creek and grew into a large wildland fire. The Blue Cut Fire burned 36,274 acres, destroying an estimated 105 single family residences and 216 outbuildings, including the historic Summit Inn. In addition, 3 single family residences and 5 other structures were damaged.

June 9th, 2021 Ranchero Road
and Caliente
On June 9, 2021, San Bernardino County Fire crews were dispatched to a reported vegetation fire near Caliente Road and Ranchero City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

72 Road in Oak
Hills Community
of Hesperia
Road in Hesperia. The fire continued to burn north along a large drainage, ultimately spreading to 250 acres by nightfall. San Bernardino County Fire responded with 16 Engines, 4 Water Tenders, 2 Hand Crews, a Dozer, 5 Chief Officers, and multiple overhead personnel. CALFIRE San Bernardino Unit sent a full response including Engines, Fixed and Rotor Wing Aircraft, Hand Crews, and multiple Chief Officers. USFS San Bernardino National Forest also sent a full ground response. Victorville and Apple Valley Fire also assisted (Source: https://4newsplus.com/farm-fire-burns-250-acres-in- hesperia/).

June 6th, 2022 Hwy 138 and
Hwy 173,
Hesperia
The Hesperia Fire Incident was reported at about 4:44pm, on Monday, June 6, 2022, just south of Highway 173 near Silverwood Lake in the Los Flores Ranch area of Hesperia. The winds were gusting about 20 mph in heavy brush fanning the flames. Two helicopters and four airtankers were called to the scene to do some drops. Structures were threatened and Highway 173 was closed at the time due to the fire jump the highway. At 5:30pm one person was reported to have critical burns and was transported to a local hospital. The fire burned approximately 95 acres. One out-building was destroyed.

June 15th,
2024 – June
18th, 2024
Hwy 173,
Hesperia
The Hesperia Fire was reported on June 15, 2024 just after 6:00pm, along the 18000 block of Highway 173, east of Arrowhead Lake Road. The brushfire scorched 1,131acres. Resources assigned were (2) helicopters, (16) engines, (3) dozers, (2) water tenders, and (6) crews.

June 16th,
2024
Summit Fire
Near Old Dump
Road
Around 2:14 PM on June 16, 2024, a brush fire ignited off Summit Valley Road near Old Dump Road in Hesperia. Quick responses from the San Bernardino County Fire Department and CAL Fire helped contain the blaze, which had spread to approximately 10 acres by 2:30 PM. Utilizing both ground forces and an air attack, the firefighters managed to prevent significant damage to any structures in the area despite the fire’s rapid spread due to slope and wind conditions. Summit Valley Road was closed in both directions before fully reopening around 11 pm.

June 16th,
2024
Brook Fire in
Cajon Pass

On June 16, 2024, a small brush fire ignited near Lost Lake off Swarthout Canyon Rd and Cajon Blvd in the Cajon Pass. Reported at 2:32 PM, the Brook Fire was quickly addressed by San Bernardino County Fire Department, San Bernardino National Forest firefighters, and CAL Fire crews. The fire’s forward progression was halted at around 3:30 PM, with just one acre burned.

June 16th,
2024
Chase Fire On June 16, 2024, at about 9 PM, firefighters tackled a five-acre brush fire known as the Chase Fire. This blaze occurred behind Chase Avenue and in front of Danbury Ave south of I Ave in Hesperia. Fire crews acted promptly to contain the fire, which initially threatened several homes along Danbury Ave. By 9:45 PM, the fire was surrounded by containment lines, and its forward advance was halted.

June 20, 2024 Hesperia Fire The Hesperia Fire started near Arrowhead Lake Road in Hesperia and burned more than 1,078 acres. Quick action from agencies like the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District and Cal Fire prevented injuries and property damage.

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

73 July 2, 2024 Hwy 173, Lake
Arrowhead
Road
On July 2, 2024, at about 2:30 pm in the area of Lake Arrowhead Road and Highway 173 a brush fire was reported. Approximately 1-2 acres burned, producing minimal smoke and was mostly under control. The forward spread was stopped and all incoming aircraft and additional resources were cancelled.

July 3, 2024 Santa Fe Fire On July 3, 2024, at about 5:46 pm, a vegetation fire was reported by Santa Fe Ave E near Muscatel St in Hesperia. The fire was contained to 17 acres. San Bernardino County Fire responded with four engines, one truck, two chief officers, one hand crew, and one dozer for a total of 40 firefighters.

August 24,
2024
Summit Fire On August 24, 2024 at about 3:59pm, a wind-driven fire was reported North of Highway 173, South of Hesperia. The fire was contained at 76 acres. San Bernardino County Fire responded with 19 engines, 3 water tenders, 3 helicopters, 2 dozers, and 5 hand crews.

Source: CAL Fire

In addition to the data from CAL FIRE, the Planning team noted details on major fires to occur in or near the City, some are mentioned because they affected major roadways that provide either access in and out of the City or had an impact on the air quality.

Lake Fire: In 2015 The Lake Fire burned 31,359 acres and was the cause of 6 minor firefighter injuries and 1 residence and 3 outbuildings were destroyed.

North Fire/Pines Fire: In 2015 these fires burned a total of 4,250 acres, destroying 7 homes, 16 outbuildings and 44 vehicles in the community of Baldy Mesa. No injuries were reported.

Line Fire: Forest Service Firefighters along with firefighters from other agencies including the City of Highland and San Bernardino County responded to a reported wildland fire on Baseline Road at about 6:00 PM on September 5, 2024. Damage Inspection Teams (DINS) identified structures that were damaged and destroyed. Their inspections included residences, multi-family dwellings, outbuildings, and commercial buildings. About 56,100 structures were threatened, including 11,400 under Evacuation Orders and 44,700 under Evacuation Warnings. Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the California National Guard would support the state’s ongoing response to the Line Fire. Through its activation, authorized under the Line Fire State of Emergency, the California National Guard deployed:
• Four UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters for water bucket dropping operations • Two C-130 aircraft with Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS) • Four 20-person hand crews (80 soldiers). They will be assigned to the Line Fire on Thursday in support of CAL FIRE.
• One military police company to support the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department with traffic control points in evacuated areas.

The Line Fire was allegedly set intentionally by a 34-year-old man from Norco.

Bridge Fire: The Bridge Fire was reported on September 8, 2024, burning in both Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. About 13 structures were damaged and 54 were destroyed City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

74 as of the latest damage assessment, although Cal Fire noted that upwards of 12,100 structures remained threatened by the fire. Three injuries have been reported because of the Bridge Fire. The blaze stood at 54,658 acres. Governor Gavin Newsom announced a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) f rom the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help ensure the availability of vital resources to Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.

RISK OF FUTURE EVENTS
The fire hazard of an area is typically based on the combined input of several parameters.

These conditions include:

• Fuel loading - type of fuel or vegetation, its density and continuity • Topography - elevation and slope
• Weather
• Dwelling density
• Wildfire history
• Existing mitigation measures in place that help reduce the zone ’s fire rating, for example, an extensive network of fire hydrants, fire -rated construction, fuel modification zones, etc.

Hesperia is predominantly dry due to the rain-shadow effect caused by the Peninsular Ranges. Average annual precipitation in Hesperia is 5 to 6 inches, with nearly 70 percent of this precipitation measured in the winter months, between December and March.

Approximately 10 percent of the precipitation falls in the summer, between July and September, associated with thundershowers triggered by the North American monsoon that originates in the Gulfs of California and Mexico. Variations in the annual precipitation for this region is relatively high compared to other California regions, however and as a result, there is a significant variation in the frequency and extent of wildfires in the area. In years when rainfall is above average, an increased amount of fine fuels in the desert floor can result in an increase of fire spread.

In San Bernardino County, wildfire season commences in the summer when temperatures are high, humidity is low, and conditions remain dry. The season continues into the fall, when the City experiences high velocity, very dry winds.

Long-term variations in rainfall rates have also been noted in this region, with alternating periods of high rainfall and drought. For example, a mid-century drought was reported between 1946 and 1977, followed by a high-rainfall period between 1977 and 1998. More recently, below-average rainfall was recorded between 1999 and 2004 and on January and February of 2010; the City received 5.5 inches of rain in three days, with the total rainfall a two week period of approximately 8.6 inches. A statewide drought beginning in 2011 has caused the state to be the driest it’s been since record keeping began back in 1895 (California 2016). This has caused extremely dry conditions in Hesperia creating plentiful fuel sources for wildfires.

CAL FIRE adopted Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for LRA in June 2008. Fire hazard mapping is a way to measure the physical fire behavior to predict the damage a fire is likely to cause. Fire hazard measurement includes vegetative fuels, probability of speed at which a wildfire moves the amount of heat the fire produces, and most importantly, the burning City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

75 fire brands that the fire sends ahead of the flaming front.

The model used to develop the information in accounts for topography, especially the steepness of the slopes (fires burn faster as they burn up-slope.). Weather (temperature, humidity, and wind) also has a significant influence on fire behavior. The areas depicted as moderate, high and very high risk are of particular concern and potential fire risk in these are constantly increasing as human development, and the wildland urban interface areas expand.

Figure 3-10 shows the very high, high and moderate LRA Fire Hazard Severity Zones in and around the City of Hesperia. The risk categories are defined as follows:

Very High: probability of a fire is 1% per year or greater High: probability of a fire is 0.33% - 1% per year
Moderate: probability of a fire is less than 0.33% per year

Figure 3-10 Wildfire Hazard Severity Zones

Source: Cal Fire 2016

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

76 USGS LANDFIRE (Landscape Fire and Resource Management Planning Tools), is a shared program between the wildland fire management programs of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and U.S. Department of the Interior, providing landscape scale geo-spatial products to support cross-boundary planning, management, and operations.

Historical fire regimes, intervals, and vegetation conditions are mapped using the Vegetation Dynamics Development Tool (VDDT). This USGS data supports fire and landscape management planning goals in the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy, the Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy, and the Healthy Forests Restoration Act.

As part of the USGS Landfire data sets, the Mean Fire Return Interval (MFRI) layer quantifies the average period between fires under the presumed historical fire regime. MFRI is intended to describe one component of historical fire regime characteristics in the context of the broader historical time period represented by the LANDFIRE Biophysical Settings (BPS) layer and BPS Model documentation.

MFRI is derived from the vegetation and disturbance dynamics model VDDT (Vegetation Dynamics Development Tool) (LF_1.0.0 CONUS only used the vegetation and disturbance dynamics model LANDSUM). This layer is created by linking the BpS Group attribute in the BpS layer with the Refresh Model Tracker (RMT) data and assigning the MFRI attribute. This geospatial product should display a reasonable approximation of MFRI, as documented in the RMT. See Figure 3-11 for predicted fire return interval for the jurisdictional area.

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

77 Figure 3-11 Wildfire Return Interval Map

Source: USGS 2016

CLIMATE CHANGE CONSIDERATIONS
Climate change, including increased heat, extended drought, and a thirsty atmosphere, has been a key driver in increasing the risk and extent of wildfires. Wildfires require the alignment of several factors, including temperature, humidity, and the lack of moisture in fuels, such as trees, shrubs, grasses, and forest debris. All these factors have strong direct or indirect ties to climate variability and climate change. Research shows that changes in climate create warmer, drier conditions, leading to longer and more active fire seasons. If these conditions occur, wildfire could increase over time. 19

19 (https://www.noaa.gov/noaa-wildfire/wildfire-climate-connection)

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
78 Dam Failure/Inundation

DESCRIPTION
Dam failure can result from several causes, such as earthquakes, rapidly rising floodwaters, and structural design flaws. These hazards can occur instantaneously or very gradually, depending on the source of the failure. Inundation associated with these events can potentially cause loss of life, damage property, and other ensuing hazards, as well as the displacement of persons residing in the inundation path.

According to the California Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD), a dam falls under their jurisdiction if its height is greater than 6 feet and impounds more than 50 acre-feet of water or its height is greater than 25 feet and impounds 15 acre-feet of water. Based on these criteria, 1,537 dams fall under DSOD jurisdiction, 39 of which are located within San Bernardino County.

LOCATION AND EXTENT
There are dams that
provide flood
protection and water
storage south of the
City. Failure of these
dams woul
d
p
otentially inundate
parts of the City. Figure
3-12 depicts th e
l
ocation of these dams.

T
hese dams include:

Mojave Forks Dam ,
which is a 200 -foot-
high earthen dam built
in 1974 by the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers. The
main embankment, a
rolled earthfill design
contains 5,310,000
cubic yards of
material.

A smaller auxillary dam is located directly west of the main dam. The reservoir controls runoff from a rugged drainage basin of 215 square miles on the north slope of the San Bernardino Mountains. Although the entire Mojave River basin covers 4,700 square miles, the comparatively small area behind the dam contributes the vast majority of the water in the river, the remaining 95 percent of the watershed being desert. The towns of Victorville, Hesperia and others in the Victor Valley region along the Mojave River, as well as towns further downstream such as Barstow, are the primary beneficiaries of the Mojave Dam
Cedar Springs
Lake Arrowhead
Figure 3-12 Dam Locations Near Hesperia
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
79 project. 20
The primary purpose of the dam is flood risk reduction. USACE completed a risk assessment of the Dam in 2018. Mojave Dam currently has a Dam Safety Action Classification (DSAC2) "high urgency of action" rating. If the dam failed, over 10,000 people who live below the dam in Hesperia, Apple Valley, and Victorville wou ld be at risk; economic damages over $1.2 billion would be possible. 21 Refer to Table 3 -14 Dam Safety Action Classification (DSAC) Rating System
Cedar Springs Dam, is a large reservoir in S an Bernardino County, California, United States, located on the West Fork Mojave River, a t ributary of the Mojave River in the San Bernardino Mountains. It was created in 1971 a s part of the State Water Project b y the construction of the Cedar Springs Dam as a forebay o n the 44 4 mi long California Aqueduct ( consequently inundating the former town of Cedar Springs), and has a capacity of 73,000 acre ft.

Silverwood Lake is located on the East Branch of the California Aqueduct. It is operated by the California Department of Water Resources a nd provides a major water source for agencies serving nearby San Bernardino Mountain an d Mojave Desert a reas. Some 2,400 acres of recreation land surround the lake. At an elevation of 3,355 ft, Silverwood Lake is the highest reservoir in the State Water Project.22
D
ownward Hazard potential classification is High as failure of the dam is expected to cause loss of at least one human life. Condition Assessment was Satisfactory; no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies recognized. Acceptable performance under all loading conditions (statis, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with minimum federal criteria and tolerable risk guidelines.23 Refer to Table 3-15 Downstream Classifications.

Lake Arrowhead Reservoir, an artificial lake l ocated in the San Bernardino Mountains on Little Bear Creek, a tributary of Deep Creek and the Mojave River. It has a surface area of approximately 780 acres and a capacity of 48,000 acre ft). It is surrounded by the unincorporated community of Lake Arrowhead i n San Bernardino County, California. The lake was originally intended to serve as part of a major waterworks project to provide irrigation water to the San Bernardino Valley, and construction of the Lake Arrowhead Dam began toward that end in 1904. However, the original project was halted due to litigation over water supplies to land owners on the desert side of the mountains. Construction of the dam was completed in 1922 by the Arrowhead Lake Company, a Los Angeles syndicate, as part of a plan to develop the area into a resort.24
D
ownward Hazard Potential Classification is Significant; no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environment damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Condition assessment was rated poor; remedial action is necessary (lack of maintenance, critical design info needed, investigations and studies necessary. 25 Refer to
Table 3-15 Downstream Classifications.
20 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mojave_Forks_Dam
21 https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16021coll7/id/23165 22 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silverwood_Lake
23 Dams within Jurisdiction of the State of California – California Department of Water Resources (Division of Safety of Dams) – September 2023
24 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Arrowhead_Reservoir 25 Dams within Jurisdiction of the State of California – California Department of Water Resources (Division of Safety of Dams) – September 2023
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
80 Table 3-14: Dam Safety Action Classification (DSAC) Rating System Table 3-15: California Department of Water Resources Division of Safety of Dams – Downstream Hazard Classifications
Downstream Hazard
Potential Classifications
Potential Downstream Impacts to Life and Property
Low No probable loss of human life and low economic and environmental losses. Losses are expected to be principally limited to the owner’s property.

Significant No probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, impacts to critical facilities, or other significant impacts.

High Expected to cause loss of at least one human life.

Extremely High Expected to cause considerable loss of human life or would result in an inundation area with a population of 1,000 or more.

PAST EVENTS
There were no major federal or state disaster declarations for dam inundation in the planning area since the last update. Despite some significant flooding events in the late 1800s and early 1900s, including one in 1862 that wiped out the tiny Santa Ana River hamlet

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
81 of Agua Mansa near present-day Colton, regional flood management and mitigation was not given a great deal of consideration in San Bernardino County until the Great Flood of March 1938. That deluge claimed 14 lives, left hundreds homeless, and caused an estimated $12 million ($220 million in 2020 dollars) in property damage.

In 1939, the State Legislature passed the San Bernardino County Flood District Act, which empowered the County to begin developing regional flood protection facilities to protect life and property. Today, San Bernardino County Flood Control operates and maintains 14 dams, 119 basins, 82 levees, and more than 250 miles of flood control channels. The dams, levees, and channels are designed to convey runoff around homes and businesses in the valley safely.26

RISK OF FUTURE EVENTS
Seismically induced inundation refers to flooding that results when water retention structures, such as dams, fail due to an earthquake. Water released by the Mojave Forks Dam would be confined to the Mojave River bed, the mouth of Antelope Valley Wash channel, and several other smaller tributaries. Water released by the Cedar Springs Dam would flood a significant portion of eastern Summit Valley, an area for the most part presently undeveloped, except for Highway 173. Water from Lake Arrowhead Dam would most likely be contained within the Mojave Forks reservoir.

With
the adoption of SB 92 in 2017, new dam safety requirements mandate that dam owners map the downstream inundation areas for dams governed by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). In addition to the mapping, owners must prepare Dam Emergency Action Plans that identify the emergency management plans and procedures in place for these facilities. Figure 3-13 identifies the inundation areas. For inundation to occur, as depicted in this map, it is assumed the reservoirs behind these dams are full, and failure occurs suddenly, releasing water in a relatively short amount of time. Failures typically occur from an earthquake, erosion, design flaw, or water overflow condition during intense storms.

CLIMATE CHANGE CONSIDERATIONS
Overall, engineers say that most dams that were built decades ago in the United States are unsuited to a warmer world and stronger storms.
27 Some recent dam episodes have
been shown to have a climate change link. In February 2017, at Oroville Dam in California, the tallest in the nation, heavy mountain runoff into the reservoir led to an emergency spillway near failure and severe damage to the main spillway. Nearly 200,000 people were evacuated as a precaution, and repairs cost more than $1 billion. A later study found that an increase in early- season Sierra Nevada runoff contributed to the dam’s high- water 26 Ibid.
27 Fountain, H. 2020. “’Expect More’: Climate Change Raises Risk of Dam Failures.” New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/21/climate/dam-failure-michigan-climate change.html#:~:text=the%20main%20story,'Expect%20More'%3A%20Climate%20Change%20Raises%20Risk%20of%20Dam %20Failures,warmer%20world%20and%20stronger%20storms.&text=The%20dam%20that%20failed%20in,It%20was%20overw helmed%20by%20water
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
82 levels. This early season runoff can be attributed to human-caused warming.28 In addition to short -duration extreme precipitation, rainfall of longer duration b ut less intensity—an overall wetter climate, which climate models forecast for parts of the United States in the coming decades— can contribute to the risk. 29 Overall, the main consideration will be the weather patterns and how rainfall will affect the city and the county, as many of the catch basins and dams in the region connect multiple cities and counties.

Figure 3-13: Dam Inundation Areas
Souce: GIS Department
28 Fountain, 2020.
29 Fountain, H. 2020. ‘Expect More’: Climate Change Raises Risk of Dam Failures. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/21/climate/dam-failure-michigan-climate-change.html

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83 PAGE I

NTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
84 Chapter 4 – Vulnerability Assessment
The information in this section provides an explicit representation of what a community stands to lose in a disaster. This is useful for City Staff and other decision makers who will need to balance the costs of mitigation against the potential harm to residents and damage to property. It provides comparable measurements of community natural hazard exposure* and assists in determining which hazards and/or what parts of the City to focus on making resilient to disaster first. Based upon possible assets at risk, hazard mitigation resources can be directed where need be, in-part, by a vulnerability assessment and information presented in this section.

The vulnerability assessment is developed by developing quantitative and qualitative information for each hazard. Through an exposure analysis, quantitative data is developed for each hazard. An exposure analysis provides quantities of people and assets at risk to particular hazards. Qualitative data has been developed and presented in this section for hazards without measurable data. Qualitative data provides information beyond quantities of people and assets at risk, but rather a description of how the hazard could affect the region around the City of Hesperia.
*The hazard exposure analysis has been developed with best available data and follows methodology described in the FEMA How to Guide #2 (Publication No. 386-2) “Understanding Your Risks—Identifying Hazards and Estimating Losses”.

Methodology
A vulnerability assessment was conducted for each of the identified priority hazards.

Geospatial data is essential in determining population and assets exposed to particular hazards. Geospatial analysis can be conducted if a natural hazard has a particular spatial footprint that can be overlaid against the locations of people and assets. In Hesperia, wildfire, flood, earthquakes, severe weather, and dam failure have known geographic extents and corresponding spatial information about each hazard.

Several sources of data are necessary to conduct a vulnerability analysis. Figure 4-1 provides an exhibit of the data inputs and outputs used to create the vulnerability analysis results presented in this section. U.S. Census data is the primary source in determining natural hazard exposure to residents. Census data has been used to determine the population at risk, which is generally referred to as population exposure. Furthermore, GIS allows for the spatial analysis and mapping of vulnerable populations such as elderly individuals, people with disabilities, low-income communities, etc. Census data, demographic surveys, and other sources provide the necessary information, which GIS can visualize and overlay with hazard maps. Population exposure is provided for wildfire, flood, earthquakes, severe weather, and dam failure as potential hazards later in this section.

Together with the U.S. Census data, asset data was used to provide a snapshot of how City assets are affected by natural hazards. For purposes of this vulnerability analysis, asset data includes parcels and critical infrastructure within the City boundaries. Critical infrastructure is described as assets that are essential for people and a community to function. Critical infrastructure includes utilities such as, city-owned facilities, bridges, schools, and other community facilities that provide essential services to residents.

Critical facilities data was developed from a variety of sources including City owned and City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
85 maintained data, state and federal government datasets, and private industry datasets. A critical infrastructure spatial database was developed to translate critical facilities information into georeferenced1 points. Critical facility points are intersected with the spatial hazard layers to develop a list of “at risk” critical facilities. The City critical facilities that intersect with natural hazards are referred to as facilities with hazard “exposure”. Exposure results are presented later in this section.
* Elemen
ts at risk; Risk inventory; Exposure encompasses all elements, processes, and subjects that might be affected by a hazardous event. Consequently, exposure is the presence of social, economic, environmental or cultural assets in areas that may be impacted by a hazard.

Figure 4-1: Data Source and Methodology
Source: mitigatehazards.com
Lastly, FEMA’s Hazus-MH MR5 (Multi-Hazard) is a software tool developed by FEMA that is used for estimating potential losses from earthquakes, floods and hurricanes. Hazus-MH software was utilized to conduct detailed loss estimation for flood and earthquake. Hazus uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to estimate physical, economic, and social impacts of disasters. For purposes of this planning effort, Hazus was used to graphically illustrate the limits of identified high-risk locations due to possible earthquakes and floods.

Hazus User and Technical Manuals were relied on to provide accurate descriptions and narratives of the figures and tables provided throughout Chapter 4.

Population and Asset Exposure
To describe vulnerability for each hazard, it is important to understand the “total” population and “total” assets at risk. The exposure for each hazard described in this section will refer to the percent of total population or percent of total assets. This provides the possible significance or vulnerability to people and assets for the natural hazard event and the 1 To georeference something means to define its existence in physical space. That is, establishing its location in terms of map projections or coordinate systems. The term is used both when establishing the relation between raster or vector images and coordinates, and when determining the spatial location of other geographical features.

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
86 estimated damage and losses expected during a “worst case scenario” event for each hazard. The sections below provide a description of the total population, critical facilities, and parcel exposure inputs.

POPULATION EXPOSURE
To develop hazard-specific vulnerability assessments, population near natural hazard risks should be determined to understand the total “at risk” population. We can understand how geographically defined hazards may affect the City by analyzing the extent of the hazard in relation to the location of population. For purposes of the vulnerability assessment approximately 99,878 (100%) of the City’s population is exposed to one or more hazards within or near the City boundaries. Each natural hazard scenario affects the City’s residents differently depending on the location of the hazard and the population density of where the hazard could occur. Vulnerability assessment sections presented later in this section summarize the population exposure for each natural hazard.

VUL

NERABLE POPULATIONS
Factors such as age, physical and/or mental condition, socioeconomic status, access to key services, and many other factors affect the ability of people to prepare for and protect themselves and their property from a hazard event. Even though some hazard events may impact all parts of Hesperia with equal severity, different people may experience the impacts differently. Higher-income households, for instance, are likely more able to afford the cost of retrofitting their homes to resist flooding or, alternatively, move to a location that is less prone to flooding than a lower-income household. As a result, the higher -income household is less likely to experience significant damage during a flood event than the lower -income household, even if the same amount of rain falls on both.

A soc
ial threat analysis examines how hazard events are likely to impact different demographic populations in Hesperia and where these different demographic populations live in the city. This includes assessing whether the people in an area of an elevated hazard risk are more likely than the average person to be considered a threatened population. The social threat analysis uses the following criteria to assess the threat to vulnerable populations:
• Disability status: Persons with disabilities may often have reduced mobility and experience difficulties living independently. As a result, they may have little or no ability to prepare for and mitigate hazard conditions without assistance from others. • Income levels: Lower-income households are less likely to have the financial resources to implement mitigation activities on their residences. They may also struggle with having the necessary time to find and access educational resources discussing hazard mitigation strategies. Furthermore, lower-income households are less likely to be able to move to safer areas that are less at risk of being impacted by a hazard. The national poverty limit standard for the U.S. for a four-person family is approximately an income of $26,500 or less.

For San Bernardino County, the FY 2021 Low-Income Limit for a four-person family is $63,200.

Figure 4-2 shows the median household income distribution for the City, using Census 2020 geographies. The “median” is the value that divides the distribution of household income into two equal parts (e.g., the middle).
• Age: Children and the elderly tend to be more vulnerable during an extreme natural City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
87 disaster. They have less physical strength to survive disasters and are often more susceptible to certain diseases. The elderly often also have declining vision and hearing and often miss reports of upcoming natural hazard events. Children, especially young children, have the inability to provide for themselves. In many cases, both children and the elderly depend on others to care for them during day to day life.

Finally
, both children and the elderly have fewer financial resources and are frequently dependent on others for survival. In order for these populations to remain resilient before and after a natural hazard event, it may be necessary to augment city residents with resources provided by the City, state and federal emergency management agencies and organizations. See Figure 4-3 and Figure 4-4 for location of vulnerable population by age within the City.

Table 4-1 shows the amounts of people in Hesperia who meet at least one of the criteria for threatened, vulnerable populations. For more detailed demographic information, please refer to Chapter 2.

The social threat analysis also shows the threat other populations may encounter. For example, people experiencing homelessness or people without access to lifelines ( vehicles or communication networks) may experience greater hardship in evacuating or recovering from a disaster. Since data for these groups are not readily available, there is no definitive way to determine the amount of these persons in areas of elevated risk, so this assessment will discuss how these other threatened groups may be affected on a general level.

Table 4-1: Hesperia Threatened-Population Metrics
Threatened Population Metric Community-Wide Data
Population 99,878
Households 28,687
Median household income $67,698
Renter Households 37.17%
Percentage of households with at least one person living with a disability

8.5%
Percentage of households living under the poverty limit 18.1% Percentage of households with one-member aged 65+ 9.9%
Source: US Census Bureau, 2016-2020 American Community Survey and 2022 Estimates Data
Limitations and Notes on Vulnerability Tables
Due to data limitations, the data comparing the hazard zone population with the citywide population comes from two separate sources. The citywide data comes from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, and the hazard zone population data comes from ESRI’s Business Analyst reports. As a result, there may be discrepancies in comparing the two data sets. The data that should be considered correct for this plan is the ACS data reported in Chapter 2.

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
88 Figure 4-2: Median Household Income Distribution Map

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
89 Figure 4-3: Population Under 18

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
90 Figure 4-4: Population Over 65

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
91 HAZUS-MH INPUTS
The Hazus-MH (Hazards US – Multi-Hazard) software version 5.0 is a tool developed by FEMA to assess and analyze potential impacts from natural hazards, primarily focusing on earthquakes, floods and hurricanes. Hazus contains a database of economic, demographic, building stock, transportation facilities, local geology, and other information that can be used for several steps in the risk assessment process.

H
azus software operates on structure square footage, structure replacement, and content replacement costs aggregated to the census block and tract levels depending on type of hazard analysis. Hazus 5.0 was used in 2024 to analyze the City’s building risk to flood and earthquake hazards.

H
azus utilizes hazard modeling and spatial analysis techniques to assess the exposure of each occupancy type to natural hazards. The analysis considers factors such as hazard intensity, building vulnerability, proximity to hazard zones, and local building codes and standards.

F
or each occupancy type, Hazus estimates potential damage and losses from hazard events, including structural damage, contents damage, business interruption, and economic losses.

Loss assessment provides insights into the financial impact on different sectors of the economy and helps prioritize mitigation efforts and emergency response planning.

T
able 4-2 and Figure 4-5 provide value data for building categories at the census block and census tract levels. Census block and census tracts are used to provide input information for the Hazus analysis presented in this report. The Census Building Stock Exposure by General Occupancy refers to the analysis of building stock categorized by general occupancy types within the 100-year flood zone. Occupancy types include residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and governmental buildings.

Table 4-2: Hazus Census Block 2010 Building Stock Exposure by General Occupancy

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
92 Figure 4-5: 2010 Census Building Stock Exposure by General Occupancy Table 4-2 and Figure 4-5 above exemplify valuable insight into building stock exposure by general occupancy types, supporting informed decision -making, emergency management, and resilience planning efforts to protect communities from natural hazards. The software’s integration of geographic information system (GIS) technology with hazard modeling and building inventory data enables comprehensive risk assessment and mitigation strategies across various sectors of the built environment.

PA

RCEL EXPOSURE
The total count and value of parcels within the City of Hesperia which could be exposed to a hazard event is referred to as parcel exposure in this plan. A standardized hazard overlay was conducted to develop hazard exposure results for improved city parcels presented later in this section. The spatial overlay method identifies improvement value 2, land value, total assessed
value for building and content replacement costs for a hazard’s geographic extent. In the event of a disaster, it is generally the value of the infrastructure or improvements to the land that is of concern or at risk. Generally, the land itself is not a total loss and structures can be rebuilt. The San Bernardino County Assessor’s data is pivotal to developing parcel values exposed to each hazard. Replacement cost is the value of both material, labor, and design time to reconstruct a residential building. It is important to note that replacement cost is different than assessed market value for taxation purposes and is not related to housing market conditions.
2 A long-term asset which indicates the cost of the constructed improvements to land, such as buildings, driveways, walkways, lighting, and parking lots.

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
93 The City parcel information is summed and provided in Table 4-3: City Parcel Information as of March 2024.

Table 4-3: City Parcel Information as of March 2024
Improved Parcel Count Improvement Value Exposure ($) Land Value Exposure ($) Total Exposure ($) 26,772 $6,604,053,629 $1,621,095,642 $8,225,149,271
- Table 4-3 includes all parcels within the city that have an improved value over $20,000. - Based on San Bernardino County Parcel Data

CRITICAL FACILITIES
Cr
itical facilities are of particular concern when conducting hazard mitigation planning. Critical facilities are defined as essential services, and if damaged, would result in severe consequences to the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

An i
nventory of critical facilities within the City was used to develop a comprehensive inventory of facility points and lifelines. Critical facility points include fire stations, police stations, government buildings, schools, transportation, utilities, etc. Lifelines include transportation routes only. A current representation of the critical facilities and lifelines are provided in Table 4-4 and Table 4-5. The tables only include data that the GIS Department was able to map within the City. Some critical facility information has been omitted from documentation due to national security purposes. The Hesperia City Manager’s Department manages and maintains a complete list of critical facilities.

Table 4-4: Critical Facility Points; 2024
Infrastructure Type Feature Count
Essential Facility 37
EOC (City Hall) 1
Fire Department/
Fire Station 3
Police Station 1
School 30
Public Works – Mojave
Corporate Yard 1
Hesperia Animal
Control/Code
Enforcement 1
High Potential Loss 671
Historical/Cultural
Resource 2
Major Employers 14
Child Care Centers 41
Foster Family Agency/
Adoption Agency 2
Adult Care/Adult
Residential Care 18
Home Care Organization 3
Elder Residential Care 18
Mobile Home Parks 12
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
94 By
identifying and prioritizing high potential loss critical facilities, the City can enhance its disaster resilience, protect essential services, and minimize societal impacts during natural hazard events. The City has also identified its critical linear transportation infrastructure. Linear transportation systems, such as railways, roads, and highways, are also exposed to various natural hazards that can impact their operation, safety, and infrastructure integrity. By utilizing Hazus’ analytical capabilities and integrating this information with the City’s geographic information system (GIS) technology, the City was able to gather valuable insights for informed decision-making and proactive risk management.
5%
93%
2%
Critical Facility Points
Essential Facility
High Potential Loss
Transportation and Lifeline
Table 4-4: Critical Facility Points; 2024
Infrastructure Type Feature Count
Dam 3
EPA FRS Facility/Hazmat 342
Federal Communications
Commission – Antenna
Structure Registration 6
Electrical Utility Property 135
Potable Water Facility 75
Transportation and Lifeline 17
Airport/Runway 1
Bus Facility 1
Highway Bridge 11
Railway Bridge 4
Grand Total 725
Source: Multiple Sources; refer to Critical Facilities
Workbook
Table 4-5: Linear Transportation; 2024
Infrastructure Type Total Linear
Mileage
Interstate Highways 18
US / State / County Highways 9
Local Road, Major 71
Local Road 559
Interstate Highways 18
Grand Total 675
Source: City of Hesperia GIS Department, 2024
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
95 Hazard Specific Vulnerability
The Disaster Mitigation Act regulations require that the City of Hesperia evaluate the risks associated with each of the hazards identified in the planning process. This section summarizes the possible impacts and quantifies, where data permits, the City’s vulnerability to each of the priority hazards identified in the hazard profiles. The hazards evaluated as part of this vulnerability assessment include:

Flooding Earthquake
Wil
dfire Severe Weather
An estimate of the vulnerability of the City to each identified hazard, in addition to the estimate of risk of future occurrence, is provided in each of the hazard-specific sections that follow.

Vulnerability is measured in general, by qualitative terms and is a summary of the potential impact based on past occurrences, geographic extent, and damage and casualty potential.

It is categorized into the following classifications:
• Low
—Minimal potential impact. The occurrence and potential cost of damage to life and property is minimal.
• Me
dium—Moderate potential impact. This ranking carries a moderate threat level to the general population and/or built environment. Here the potential damage is more isolated and less costly than a more widespread disaster.
• High—
Widespread potential impact. This ranking carries a high threat to the general population and/or built environment. The potential for damage is widespread. Hazards in this category may have occurred in the past.
• Ex
tremely High—Very widespread with catastrophic impact.

Vu
lnerability can be quantified in those instances where there is a known, identified hazard area, such as a mapped floodplain. In these instances, the numbers and types of buildings subject to the identified hazard can be inventoried and their values tabulated. Other information can be collected in regard to the hazard area, such as the location of critical community facilities, historic structures, and valued natural resources. Together, this information conveys the vulnerability of that area to a hazard.

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
96 Flooding
Flooding is a significant problem in Hesperia as described in the flood hazard profile. Historically, the operational area has been subject to flooding during periods of heavy rainfall, falling primarily between the months of October through April, which causes streams and drainage canals to become overwhelmed and overflow their banks and/or inundate storm drainage systems.

Occasionally, overbank flows in Hesperia have resulted in flooding of residential properties, road blockages, and traffic disruptions. In urbanizing areas, the increase in paved areas associated with new development decrease the amount of open land available to absorb rainfall and runoff, thus increasing the volume of water that must be carried away from by waterways. Flooding has damaged or destroyed commercial and residential structures; flooded bridges and streets and caused stream channels and flood control works to erode.

Co
mmunity Vulnerability: Highly Likely, Significant/Severe impact.

POPU

ATION AT FLOOD RISK
Of greatest concern in the event of a flood is the potential for loss of life. The GIS Department used the total population estimates from the 2020 Census 5-year projections to determine estimated population that may be within the flood plain. To do this, they distributed the total population counts provided by the census for each block group over all improved parcels within each block group, then restricted the counts to only areas that fall within the flood plain.

Since this estimate is not parcel specific, the count is only an estimate and could vary significantly from actual population within the flood plain. Due to the way the software distributes the data over the area, a realistic estimate is 1,500 people within the 100-year flood plain, and 1 resident within the 500-year flood plain. The results of the population overlay are shown in Figure 4-6.

Figure 4-6: Population Exposed to NFIP Flood Zones
Living in areas designated as 100 -year and 500-year flood zones in Hesperia, California, can have significant implications for the population due to the increased risk of flooding. Here are 1,500
1 0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
100-Year Flood 500-Year Flood
Population Exposure
Population Count within
Hesperia by Flood Hazard
Zone
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
97 some of the effects that residents might experience:
• Homes, businesses, and infrastructure located within flood zones are susceptible to flooding during significant rainfall events or when nearby water bodies exceed their capacity. • Floodwaters can cause extensive damage to buildings, contents, and utilities, requiring costly repairs or replacement.
• Residents in flood-prone areas may be required to evacuate during flood events to ensure their safety. Evacuations can disrupt daily life and lead to temporary displacement until floodwaters recede and it is safe to return.
• Floodwaters can pose health risks due to contamination from sewage, chemicals, and other pollutants. Exposure to contaminated water can lead to waterborne illnesses and exacerbate public health concerns.
• Swift-moving floodwaters can also pose drowning risks and safety hazards for individuals attempting to navigate or evacuate flooded areas.
• Flooding can disrupt essential services such as electricity, water supply, and transportation networks. Power outages, water contamination, and road closures can hinder emergency response efforts and impact daily activities.
• Floods can damage roads, bridges, and public infrastructure, affecting transportation routes and access to essential services. Repairs to infrastructure can be costly and time- consuming, prolonging recovery efforts.
• Businesses located in flood-prone areas may experience financial losses due to property damage, interruption of operations, and decreased customer traffic. • Property values in flood zones may be adversely affected, impacting homeowners' investments and insurance premiums.

Vulnerable Populations Affected: Low-income communities, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and communities living in flood-prone areas.

Specific Vulnerabilities:
• Inundation of low-lying areas: Low-income communities are often situated in areas that are more prone to flooding, such as floodplains or near rivers, due to lower land costs.

These communities may lack the resources to protect their properties from flooding. • Transportation disruptions: Many vulnerable residents rely on public transportation, which may be impacted during flood events, leaving them stranded or unable to access shelters or essential services.
• Health risks: People with disabilities or chronic health conditions may face additional health risks in flood conditions due to challenges accessing medical care, clean water, and safe shelter.
• Evacuation challenges: Seniors and those with mobility issues may have difficulty evacuating flood zones. Without adequate transportation or assistance, they are at higher risk of injury or worse.

To address the impacts of flooding on vulnerable populations, the city will collaborate with community partners, such as senior centers, disability advocacy groups, and housing organizations, to ensure that mitigation and response efforts are tailored to the specific needs of low-income residents, seniors, and individuals with mobility impairments. These partnerships will help prioritize flood control measures in high-risk areas, improve access to evacuation resources, and provide financial assistance for flood recovery. Additionally, public health organizations will support outreach to ensure that vulnerable populations have access to clean City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
98 water, medical care, and critical information about flood-related health risks, ensuring a coordinated and equitable response.

RESIDENTIAL PARCEL VALUE WITH FLOOD RISK
The County’s parcel layer was used as the basis for the inventory of improved residential parcels within the FEMA NFIP flood zones. In some cases, a parcel will be within multiple flood zones. GIS was used to create centroids, or points, to represent the center of each parcel polygon – this is assumed to be the location of the structure for analysis purposes. The centroids were then overlaid with the floodplain layer to determine the flood risk for each structure. The flood zone in which the centroid was located was assigned to the entire parcel. Only improved parcels greater than $20,000 were analyzed. Table 4-6 shows the count of at-risk parcels and their improvement and land exposure values.

Table 4-6: Parcels Exposed to NFIP Flood Zones; 2023
Flood Hazard
Zone
Improved Parcel
Count
Improvement Value
Exposure ($)
Land Value
Exposure ($)
Total
Exposure ($)
100 Year 328 $67,878,353 $16,790,710 $84,669,063
500 Year (Only) 1 $267,065 $172,197 $439,262
500 Year
(Combined) 329 68,145,418 16,962,907 85,108,325
Whi
le there are several limitations to this methodology, it does allow for potential loss estimation.

It should be noted that the analysis may include structures in the floodplain that are elevated at or above the level of the base flood elevation, which will likely decrease potential flood damage to these structures. Also, it is important to remember that the County Assessor’s values are well below actual market values; thus, the actual value of assets at risk may be significantly higher than those included herein.

CR

ITICAL FACILITIES EXPOSURE
Critical facilities data were overlain with flood hazard data to determine the type and number of facilities within the 100-and 500-year floodplain. Flooding poses several significant risks to critical facilities and infrastructure, potentially leading to extensive damage, operational disruptions, and significant economic and social impacts. Here are some of the key risks that flooding can pose to critical facilities and infrastructure:
• Structural damage to buildings, compromising their stability and integrity. This includes damage to foundations, walls, floors, and electrical systems. • Undermine bridge foundations, wash out roads, and cause structural failures, disrupting transportation networks.
• Inundate and damage utility infrastructure such as water treatment plants, power substations, and sewage systems, leading to service disruptions and potential contamination.
• Damage electrical equipment, control systems, and mechanical components within critical facilities, leading to extended downtime and costly repairs. • Water infiltration into control rooms and equipment rooms can cause short circuits, equipment failures, and operational failures.
• Interrupt business operations in critical facilities, leading to financial losses. • Service disruptions in healthcare facilities, emergency response centers, and government offices can impair emergency response capabilities and public services.

City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
99 • Introduce contaminants, pollutants, and hazardous materials into critical facilities, posing health risks to occupants and emergency responders.
• Sewage backup and overflow can contaminate drinking water supplies and increase the risk of waterborne diseases.
• Disrupt communication networks and transportation routes, hindering emergency communication and response efforts.
• Access to critical facilities may be restricted or cut off, complicating evacuation and rescue operations during flooding events.
• The recovery and restoration of flooded critical facilities and infrastructure can be costly and time-consuming, impacting local economies and budgets. • Business closures and reduced property values may further strain economic resilience in affected areas.
• Flooded healthcare facilities may struggle to provide essential medical services, resulting in compromised patient care and increased health risks.
• Education facilities may face prolonged closures or disruptions, affecting student learning and community services.

Table 4-7 provides an inventory of critical facilities in the floodplain for Hesperia and provides the locations of lifelines relative to the floodplain in the areas of the City. With a total of 334 high potential loss structures located in either the 100-yr flood zone or the 500-yr flood zone, the impact to the community could be devastating if these critical facilities were damaged or destroyed during a flood event.

Table 4-7: Critical Facility Points Exposed to NFIP Flood Zones Infrastructure Type 100-Year Flood
Zone
500-Year Flood
Zone
Total
Count
Essential Facility
EOC (City Hall) 0 0 0
Fire Department/Fire Station 0 0 0
Police Station 0 0 0
Schools 0 0 0
Public Works – Mojave Corporate
Yard 0 0 0
Hesperia Animal Control/Code
Enforcement 0 0 0
High Potential Loss
Vulnerable Population - Flood
Zone 328 1 329
Historical/Cultural Resource 0 0 0
Major Employers 0 0 0
Child Care Centers 0 0 0
Foster Family Agency/Adoption
Agency
0 0 0
Adult Care/Adult Residential Care 0 0 0
Home Care Organization 0 0 0
Elder Residential Care 0 0 0
Mobile Home Parks 0 0 0
Dam 0 0 0
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EPA
FRS Facility/Hazmat 0 0 0
Federal Communications
Commission – Antenna Structure
Registration 0 0 0
Electrical Utility Property 5 0 0
Potable Water Facility 0 0 0
Transportation and Lifeline
Airport/Runway 0 0 0
Bus Facility 0 0 0
Highway Bridge 0 0 0
Railway Bridge 0 0 0
Grand Total: 333 1 334
Table
4-8 provides information on linear transportation exposed to NFIP flood zones.

Floodwaters can inundate tracks, bridges, and roadways, leading to erosion, structural damage, and service disruptions.

Table 4-8: Linear Transportation Exposed to NFIP Flood Zones Road Type 100-Year Flood
Zone
500-Year
Flood Zone Total Mileage
Interstate Highway 0 0 0
US/State/ County Highways 0.24 0 0.24
Local Road, Major 0.67 0 0.67
Local Road 6.77 0 6.77
Grand Total: 7.68 0 7.68
LO

SS ESTIMATION RESULTS
The Hazus analysis was used to assess the risk from and vulnerability to flooding within Hesperia. Hazus building data is aggregated to the census block level, known as the general building stock (GBS), which has a level of accuracy acceptable for hazard mitigation planning purposes. The following sections describe risk to and vulnerability of the GBS within the City’s mapped regulatory floodplain. The total value of exposed buildings and content within the City’s planning area was generated using Hazus and is previously summarized in Table 4-2.

Ha
zus also has the ability to calculate Direct Annualized Losses (DAL)for buildings. DAL in Hazus refers to the estimated average annual financial losses attributed to damage to buildings caused by various natural hazards over time. Hazus calculates potential damage to buildings by applying vulnerability functions to hazard scenarios. This includes estimating the percentage of buildings that may experience minor, moderate, or complete damage.

Damage estimates consider factors like building occupancy, structural resilience, and the intensity of the hazard event.

Th
e DAL losses in relation to flooding are summarized in Table 4-9, Table 4-10, and illustrated in Figure 4-7, and Figure 4-8; all values are in thousands of dollars.

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Table 4-9: Direct Economic Annualized Losses for Buildings Haz
us computes the Annualized Loss for each building category by multiplying the estimated damage costs (including repair and replacement costs) by the probability of occurrence.

Table 4-
10: Building Damage by General Occupancy

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Hazus categorizes building damage into percent ranges to quantify the extent of damage sustained:
• Minor Damage: Typically involves cosmetic damage or minimal structural impact (< 10% damage).
• Moderate Damage: Involves structural damage requiring repairs but not resulting in failure (10%-30% damage).
• Severe Damage: Significant structural damage affecting stability (30%-60% damage). • Complete Damage: Total collapse or destruction (> 60% damage).

Hazus then calculates the total square footage of buildings within each damage percent range category.

Figu
re 4-7: Total Direct Economic Losses for Buildings
Hazus estimates the potential damage to buildings caused by each hazard scenario, including:
• Structural damage (e.g., walls, roofs, foundations).
• Non-structural damage (e.g., contents, equipment).
• Functional damage (e.g., business interruption, loss of use).

Hazus then calculates direct economic losses for buildings by aggregating the estimated costs of repair, replacement, and other economic impacts. Losses are quantified in monetary terms and include both physical damage costs and economic disruptions (e.g., lost productivity, temporary relocations).

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Figure 4-8: Loss by Capital Stock Categories and Income Losses by Categories Ca
pital Stock Losses include direct physical damage to buildings, infrastructure, and other physical assets affected by natural hazards. It also encompasses indirect economic losses associated with disruptions to business operations, reduced productivity, and the impact on property values.

Income Losses include loss of revenue and income due to temporary closures, disrupted supply chains, and reduced consumer demand following a natural disaster. It also includes Impact on jobs and livelihoods due to business closures, layoffs, and economic downturns caused by the disaster.

Wildfire
Risk to the City from wildfire is of significant concern. High fuel loads in the hills, along with geographical and topographical features, create the potential for both natural and human-caused fires that can result in loss of life and property.

These factors, combined with natural weather conditions common to the area, including periods of drought, high temperatures, low relative humidity, and periodic winds, can result in frequent and sometimes catastrophic fires. During the May to October fire season the dry vegetation and hot and sometimes windy weather, combined with continued growth in the WUI areas, results in an increase in the number of ignitions. Any fire, once ignited, has the potential to quickly become large and out- of-control.

Community Vulnerability Rating: Highly Likely, Significant/Severe impact

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Potential losses from wildfire include human life, structures and other improvements, natural and cult, quality and quantity of water supplies, cropland, timber, and recreational opportunities.

Short and long-term economic losses could also result due to loss of business and other economic drivers associated with Hesperia’s natural resources summer season activities. Smoke and air pollution from wildfires can be a severe health hazard. In addition, catastrophic wildfire can create favorable conditions for other hazards such as flooding, landslides, and erosion during the rainy season.

Gen
erally, there are three major factors that sustain wildfires and predict a given area’s potential vulnerability to burn. These factors are fuel, topography, and weather. • Fu
el – Fuel is the material that feeds a fire and is a key factor in wildfire behavior. Fuel is generally classified by type and volume. Fuel sources are diverse and include everything from dead tree leaves, twigs, and branches to dead standing trees, live trees, brush, and cured grasses. Manmade structures are also considered a fuel source, such as homes and other associated combustibles. The type of prevalent fuel directly influences the behavior of wildfire. Fuel is the only factor that is under human c ontrol. Future developments of the Tapestry Project in the southern region of the City currently possess the highest vulnerability to wildfire.
• To
pography – An area’s terrain and slope affect its susceptibility to wildfire spread. Both fire intensity and rate of spread increase as slope increases due to the tendency of heat from a fire to rise via convection. The arrangement of vegetation throughout a hills ide can also contribute to increased fire activity on slopes.
• Wea
ther – Weather components such as temperature, relative humidity, wind, and lightning also affect the potential for wildfire. High temperatures and low relative humidity dry out fuels that feed wildfires, creating a situation where fuel will ignite more readily and burn more intensely. Thus, during periods of drought the threat of wildfire increases. Wind is the most treacherous weather factor. The greater the wind, the faster a fire can spread and the more intense it can be. Wind shifts, in addition to wind speed, can occur suddenly due to temperature changes or the interaction of wind with topographical features such as slopes or steep hillsides. As part of a weather system, lightning also ignites wildfires, often in difficult to reach terrain for firefighters.

Factors contributing to the high, widespread wildfire risk in Hesperia include:
• Narr
ow and often one -lane and/or dead -end roads complicating evacuation and emergency response.
• Nature and frequency of ignitions; and increasing population density leading to more ignitions.
• Slope of the foothills.
• Residential development along the foothills.

POPULATION AT RISK
Wildfire risk is of greatest concern to populations residing in the moderate and high wildfire hazard zones. Hesperia 2012 census block data was used to estimate populations within the hazard zones. More than 37,000 residents live within the high fire hazard area and nearly 26,000 residents live within the moderate hazard area.
3 3 High and moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zones as defined by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE).

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Figure 4-9: Population at Risk from Wildfire Hazards
Note: Per the GIS Department, they recommended using the same data from previous LHMP as they used the previous fire zone data.

Living in areas with very high, high, and moderate wildfire hazard zones, such as Hesperia, California, can have various effects on the population due to the increased risk of wildfires.

Here are some of the effects that residents might experience:
• During wildfire events, residents in high-risk zones may be required to evacuate their homes to ensure their safety. Evacuations can be sudden and disruptive, requiring residents to leave behind personal belongings and relocate to temporary shelters or evacuation centers.
• The frequency and intensity of evacuations can lead to emotional stress and uncertainty among residents, particularly if evacuations become frequent during wildfire seasons.
• Wildfires can cause significant damage to homes, businesses, and other structures in their path. Flames, embers, and radiant heat can ignite buildings, resulting in partial or complete destruction.
• Even homes that are not directly impacted by flames can suffer damage from smoke, ash, and heat, necessitating repairs or reconstruction. • Wildfire smoke contains particulate matter and harmful chemicals that can pose serious health risks, especially to vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory conditions.
• Poor air quality resulting from wildfires can lead to respiratory problems, exacerbate existing health conditions, and increase healthcare needs within the community. • Utilities such as electricity, water supply, and telecommunications may be disrupted during wildfires, affecting daily life and emergency response efforts. • Power outages, water restrictions, and limited access to communication networks can further complicate recovery and evacuation efforts.
• Local businesses may experience financial losses due to property damage, interruption of operations, and reduced customer traffic during and after wildfire events. • Property values in wildfire-prone areas may be negatively affected, impacting homeowners' investments and potential resale opportunities. 2 37,243
25,960
0 5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
Very High High Moderate
Population Exposure
Population Count by Wildfire
Hazard Zone
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Vulnerable Populations Affected: Low-income residents, seniors, individuals with disabilities, renters, and those living in mobile homes or older buildings.

Specific Vulnerabilities:
• Structural damage: Homes in Hesperia, particularly older buildings or mobile homes, are more susceptible to damage from wildfires due to their age and construction materials.

Many low-income and rural residents live in these types of dwellings, which are not as fire-resistant as newer, well-maintained homes. Renters may have limited ability to make fire-resistant improvements to their properties, putting them at greater risk. • Displacement and property damage: Wildfires can cause severe property damage, including the destruction of homes, infrastructure, and belongings. For low-income populations, displacement can be especially devastating, as they often lack insurance or financial resources to recover. Limited access to temporary housing or shelter options may prolong the recovery process, leaving these individuals vulnerable for extended periods.
• Health risks from smoke exposure: Wildfires create hazardous air quality, and vulnerable populations, such as seniors, children, and those with respiratory conditions or disabilities, are more susceptible to health complications from smoke. Limited access to air filtration systems or protective masks can exacerbate health risks for those without financial resources to mitigate exposure.
• Evacuation challenges: Evacuations during wildfires can be particularly difficult for individuals with mobility impairments, the elderly, or those living in isolated or rural areas.

Low-income residents may lack reliable transportation options or have difficulty accessing transportation services during an emergency, delaying their ability to evacuate in a timely manner.
• Access to shelter and recovery resources: Following a wildfire, vulnerable populations may face barriers to accessing emergency shelters, particularly if they are displaced from their homes or if shelter options are not accessible. Those with disabilities may also require specialized accommodations that are not always available at emergency shelters, hindering their ability to seek refuge. Furthermore, recovery resources, such as temporary housing or financial aid, may be difficult to access for those with limited resources or who face language barriers.

Impact on Vulnerable Populations:

Flooding from heavy rains, poor drainage systems, or dam failure poses a significant risk to vulnerable populations, particularly low-income residents, seniors, and individuals with mobility impairments. Older buildings and mobile homes are more likely to suffer structural damage during floods, and renters may face difficulty finding alternative housing or dealing with property damage. Those without financial resources to relocate or recover after flooding are left with fewer options, leading to prolonged displacement. Health risks from waterborne diseases also disproportionately affect vulnerable groups who have limited access to healthcare or clean water.

To address the impacts of wildfires on vulnerable populations, the city will collaborate with local community organizations, including senior centers, disability advocacy groups, and wildfire preparedness groups, to ensure that emergency plans are accessible and inclusive. These partnerships will help identify high-risk areas where low-income residents, seniors, and individuals with mobility impairments may be most vulnerable due to inadequate evacuation routes or lack of fire-resistant housing. The city will work with community partners to provide targeted outreach, such as offering fire safety education in multiple languages and ensuring residents City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
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have access to evacuation assistance and shelters. By collaborating with these organizations, the city will ensure that the needs of its most vulnerable populations are addressed before, during, and after wildfire events.

RESIDENTIAL PARCEL VALUE AT RISK
The County’s parcel layer was used as the basis for the inventory of improved residential parcels. In some cases, a parcel will be within multiple fire threat zones. GIS was used to create centroids, or points, to represent the center of each parcel polygon – this is assumed to be the location of the structure for analysis purposes. The centroids were then overlaid with the fire threat layer to determine the risk for each structure. The fire threat zone in which the centroid was located was assigned to the entire parcel. GIS results include parcels in which the centroid is within the specified fire hazard zone and also have an improved value over $20,000. Table 4- 11 exhibits portions of Hesperia that have significant assets at risk to wildfire in the Moderate and High fire severity zones.

Table 4-11: Residential Buildings and Content at Risk from Wildfire Fire Hazard Zone Improved
Parcel Count
Improvement Value
Exposure ($)
Land Value
Exposure ($)
Total Exposure ($)
Very High 1 26,501 103,165 129,666
High 11,217 2,752,312,097 655,417,984 3,407,730,081
Moderate 7,778 2,148,888,164 524,247,837 2,673,136,001
Non-Wildfire /
Non-Urban
1 330,847 641,927 972,774
Urban, Unzoned 7,775 1,702,496,020 440,684,729 2,143,180,749 Totals 26,772 $6,604,053,629 $1,621,095,642 $8,225,149,271

CRITICAL FACILITIES EXPOSURE
Critical facilities data were overlain with fire hazard severity zone data to determine the type and number of facilities within each risk classification. Wildfires can threaten critical facilities with direct exposure to flames, heat, and embers, potentially causing structural damage or destruction. Power outages due to damaged electrical infrastructure can disrupt critical facility operations, including life-support systems in hospitals and emergency communications. Even if not directly impacted by flames, critical facilities can be affected by smoke and ash infiltration, leading to indoor air quality issues and health risks. Table 4-12 lists the critical facilities in the High and Moderate wildfire hazard zones for Hesperia.

Table 4-12: Critical Facility Points Exposed to Wildfire Infrastructure Type Moderate High Total Count
Essential Facility
EOC (City Hall) 0 0 0
Fire Department/Fire Station 0 2 2
Police Station 1 0 1
Schools 11 9 20
Public Works – Mojave Corporate
Yard 1 0 1
Hesperia Animal Control/Code
Enforcement 0 0 0
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High Potential Loss
Historical/Cultural Resource 0 0 0
Major Employers 3 3 6
Child Care Centers 4 18 22
Foster Family Agency/Adoption
Agency 0 0 0
Adult Care/Adult Residential Care 5 6 11
Home Care Organization 1 1 2
Elder Residential Care 2 8 10
Mobile Home Parks 5 7 12
Dam 0 0 0
EPA FRS Facility/Hazmat 104 42 146
Federal Communications
Commission – Antenna Structure
Registration 1 2 3
Electrical Utility Property 36 96 132
Potable Water Facility 25 29 54
Transportation and Lifeline
Airport/Runway 0 1 1
Bus Facility 1 0 1
Highway Bridge 3 6 9
Railway Bridge 0 2 2
Grand Total 203 232 435
Table 4-
13 provides information on linear transportation exposed to moderate and high wildfire risk. Wildfires can damage vegetation and soil stability along transportation corridors, leading to increased erosion, debris flows, and potential damage to infrastructure.

Table 4-13: Linear Transportation Exposed to Wildfire Risk Road Type Moderate Fire
Zone High Fire Zone Total Mileage
Interstate Highway 4 12 16
US/State/ County Highways 3 6 9
Local Road, Major 18 29 47
Local Road 169 255 424
Grand Total: 194 302 496
In He
speria, as in many communities at risk of wildfires, conducting comprehensive wildfire loss estimation involves collaboration among local authorities, fire agencies, insurance companies, and risk assessment experts. These efforts aim to quantify potential losses with limited data and prioritize mitigation efforts and enhance community resilience against wildfire events.

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Earthquake/Seismic Hazards/Geologic Hazards
Major Impacts from earthquakes are primarily the probable number of casualties and damage to infrastructure occurring from ground movement along a particular fault (USGS 2009). The degree of infrastructure damage depends on the magnitude, focal depth, distance from fault, duration of shaking, type of surface deposits, presence of high groundwater, topography, and the design, type, and quality of infrastructure construction.

Com
munity Vulnerability: Highly Likely, Extensive/Extreme impact.

To analyze the risk to Hesperia residents, the GIS Department generated data for earthquake exposure results for population, critical facilities, and single-family residential parcel values. The Great Shakeout scenario, modeled by the California Integrated Seismic Network (CISN) was used to determine additional loss estimation results. The 2008 Great Southern California ShakeOut was based on a potential magnitude 7.8 earthquake on the southern San Andreas Fault— approximately 5,000 times larger than the magnitude 5.4 earthquake that shook southern California on July 29, 2008. Such an earthquake will cause unprecedented damage to Southern California—greatly dwarfing the massive damage that occurred in Northridge’s 6.7- magnitude earthquake in 1994.

FEMA Hazus analyses was used to conduct loss estimation for building and content loss based on peak ground acceleration, peak ground velocity, and peak spectral acceleration modeled for the 7.8 earthquake on the San Andreas Fault.

Earthquakes can generate strong ground shaking that can cause structural damage to buildings, infrastructure, and utilities in Hesperia. Older buildings or structures that do not meet current seismic building codes are particularly vulnerable to earthquake damage. Unreinforced masonry buildings and structures with poor construction practices are at higher risk of collapse or severe damage.

Earthquakes can disrupt critical infrastructure and utilities such as water supply systems, transportation networks, and communication lines. Damage to these systems can hinder emergency response efforts and exacerbate recovery challenges.

Earthquakes can have significant economic consequences, including property damage, loss of business revenue, and increased insurance costs. Social impacts may include displacement, injuries, and psychological stress among residents.

Building codes provide one of the best methods of addressing natural hazards. When properly designed and constructed according to code, the average building can withstand many of the impacts of natural hazards. Hazard protection standards for all new and improved or repaired buildings can be incorporated into the local building code to reduce future earthquake losses. It is important to note that the City of Hesperia has adopted California’s 2022 Building Code standards.

Manufactured or mobile homes are often not regulated by local building codes. They do have to meet construction standards set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that apply uniformly across the country. However local jurisdictions may regulate the location of these structures and their on-site installation.

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POPULATION AT RISK
The current population of City is 100,744. Though rural residential construction is not particularly vulnerable to earthquakes, the chosen earthquake scenario would directly or indirectly expose the entire population of Hesperia to ground shaking. Depending on the time of day (the population differs based on employment opportunities) and exact location of the modeled epicenter, the earthquake scenario could be experienced differently.

Figu
re 4-10 exhibits the population totals in each earthquake severity zone. These estimates were created by the GIS Department using the populations per census block group from the 2020 Census 5-year projections, they distributed the total population counts provided by the census for each block group over all improved parcels within each block group. This allowed the GIS Department to find an estimate within each earthquake severity zone. Improved parcels were determined as parcels with an improved value of at least $20,000, based on San Bernardino County Parcel Data. The type and year of construction will greatly influence damage for structures vulnerable to shaking.

Figur
e 4-10: Population Exposure to EQ Severity Zones
Li
ving in severe and violent earthquake severity zones, such as those found in areas like Hesperia, California, can pose significant risks and potential impacts on the population. Here are some of the effects that residents might experience:
• Sev
ere and violent earthquakes can cause widespread destruction to buildings, infrastructure, and utilities. Homes and businesses may suffer structural damage or collapse, posing risks of injury or death to residents.
• Falling debris, shattered glass, and other hazards can further threaten personal safety during and after the earthquake.
• Residents may be displaced from their homes due to damage or unsafe conditions.

Temporary relocation may be necessary until buildings can be inspected, repaired, or rebuilt.
• The availability of safe housing options may become limited in the aftermath of a severe earthquake, leading to temporary shelter needs for affected individuals and families. 0 89669
184
0 10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
VII Very Strong VIII Severe IX Violent
Estimated Population Exposure
Earthquake Severity Zone
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• Earthquakes can disrupt critical infrastructure such as water supply systems, electricity grids, and communication networks. Loss of these services can hinder emergency response efforts and daily life.
• Medical facilities, schools, and businesses may be temporarily closed or inaccessible, affecting access to healthcare, education, and employment. • Businesses may suffer financial losses due to property damage, interruption of operations, and decreased consumer confidence.

Vu
lnerable Populations Affected: Seniors, low-income residents, renters, and people with mobility challenges.

Spe
cific Vulnerabilities:
• Older, unreinforced buildings: Many older structures, particularly in low-income areas, may not meet modern seismic standards, putting residents at greater risk of injury or death. Renters, who may have limited control over the safety of their homes, are particularly vulnerable.
• Evacuation difficulties: Seniors and those with mobility impairments may have trouble evacuating quickly or accessing emergency shelters, which could be located in areas not easily accessible to those with physical disabilities. • Limited access to emergency services: Vulnerable populations may have limited access to transportation and emergency services, making it more difficult for them to receive help after an earthquake.
• Communication barriers: Non-English-speaking residents may struggle to receive timely and accurate information about evacuation procedures, safety measures, and assistance available after the earthquake.

Impact on Vulnerable Populations:

The impact of earthquakes on vulnerable populations in Hesperia is significant, especially for those living in older, unreinforced buildings or mobile homes. Structural damage from earthquakes is often more severe in these types of housing, and low-income residents or renters may not have the means to retrofit or rebuild after damage. The elderly, individuals with disabilities, and families with young children face additional challenges during evacuations, as mobility can be restricted or resources for assistance may be insufficient. Furthermore, disrupted infrastructure such as roads and healthcare facilities can hinder access to critical services for those in need.

To address these risks, the city will collaborate with community partners, including local senior centers and disability advocacy groups, to improve preparedness and response efforts for these populations. Specific mitigation measures, such as retrofitting programs and accessible evacuation plans, will be prioritized in vulnerable areas identified through local data and community feedback.

Table 4-14 shows the count of at-risk structures and their associated improvement and land exposure values.

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Table 4-14: Residential Parcel Value Exposure to Earthquake Severity Zones Earthquake
Severity Zone
Improved
Parcel Count
Improvement Value
Exposure ($)
Land Value
Exposure ($)
Total Exposure ($)
VII Very Strong 0 - - -
VIII Severe 26704 6,452,699,906 1,581,111,377 8,033,811,283 IX Violent 68 151,353,723 39,984,265 191,337,988
Total 26772 6,604,053,629 1,621,095,642 8,225,149,271

CRITICAL FACILITIES AT RISK
Earthquakes pose numerous risks to critical facilities and infrastructure. Seismic risks, or losses, that are likely to result from exposure to seismic hazards include:
 Ca
sualties (fatalities and injuries).
 Utility outages.
 Economic losses for repair and replacement of critical facilities, roads, buildings, etc.  Indirect economic losses such as income lost during downtime resulting from damage to private property or public infrastructure.

Ro
ads or railroads that are blocked or damaged can prevent access throughout the area and can isolate residents and emergency service providers needing to reach vulnerable populations or to make repairs.

Line
ar utilities and transportation routes are vulnerable to rupture and damage during and after a significant earthquake event. The cascading impact of a single failure can have affects across multiple systems and utility sectors. Degrading infrastructure systems and future large earthquakes with epicenters near critical regional infrastructure could result in system outages that last weeks for the most reliable systems, and multiple months for others.

Table
4-15 provides an inventory of critical facility locations (points only) with severe and violent earthquake exposure. The building codes have been amended to include provisions for seismic safety at various benchmarks years. Depending on “year built”, each critical facility presented in the tables may have varying damage potential.

Table 4-15: Critical Facilities with EQ Risk
Infrastructure Type Severe (VIII) Violent (IX) Total Count Essential Facility
EOC (City Hall) 1 0 1
Fire Department/Fire Station 2 1 3
Police Station 1 0 1
Schools 30 0 30
Public Works – Mojave Corporate
Yard 1 0 1
Hesperia Animal Control/Code
Enforcement
1 0 1
High Potential Loss
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His
torical/Cultural Resource 2 0 2
Major Employers 14 0 14
Child Care Centers 41 0 41
Foster Family Agency/Adoption
Agency
2 0 2
Adult Care/Adult Residential Care 18 0 18
Home Care Organization 3 0 3
Elder Residential Care 18 0 18
Mobile Home Parks 11 1 12
Dam 0 0 0
EPA FRS Facility/Hazmat 336 6 342
Federal Communications
Commission – Antenna Structure
Registration 6 0 6
Electrical Utility Property 121 11 132
Potable Water Facility 71 2 73
Transportation and Lifeline
Airport/Runway 1 0 1
Bus Facility 1 0 1
Highway Bridge 7 2 9
Railway Bridge 3 1 4
Grand Total 691 24 715
HazMat Fixed Facilities
Although earthquakes are low probability events, they produce hazardous materials (HazMat) threats at very high levels when they do occur. Depending on the year built and construction of each facility containing HazMat, earthquake initiated hazardous material releases (EIHR) potential will vary. HazMat contained within masonry or concrete structures built before certain benchmark years reflecting code improvements may be of particular vulnerability.

Transportation
Earthquake events can significantly impact bridges which often provide the only access to some neighborhoods. Since soft soil regions generally follow floodplain boundaries, bridges that cross water courses are considered vulnerable. Since most of the City bridges provide access across water courses, most are at least somewhat vulnerable to earthquakes. Key factors in the degree of vulnerability are the bridge’s age and type of construction which indicate the standards to which the bridge was built. Special attention will be paid to the multiple bridges that cross interstates. Interstates would serve as major emergency response and evacuation routes.

Line
ar transportation infrastructure would likely suffer considerable damage in the event of an earthquake. Ground shaking during earthquakes can damage tracks, tunnels, bridges, and other infrastructure components, causing structural failures and service interruptions.

Table
4-16 provides the best available linear data and it should be assumed that these systems are exposed to breakage and failure.

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Table 4-16: Linear Transportation with EQ Risk
Roads VIII (Severe) IX (Violent) Total Mileage
Interstate Highway 8 9 17
State / County Highway 4 6 10
Local Road, Major 67 5 72
Local Road 537 22 559
Grand Total 616 42 658
Line
ar Utilities (Power Lines)
During severe or violent earthquakes, powerlines and electrical infrastructure can suffer various types of damage and disruption, which can have significant consequences:

1. Structural Damage: The shaking and ground movements during earthquakes can cause structural damage to powerline supports (such as poles and towers), transformers, and substations. This structural damage can lead to powerlines collapsing or becoming disconnected, resulting in immediate power outages.

2. Ground Rupture: In areas where the earthquake causes ground rupture or displacement, underground power cables can be damaged or severed. This can disrupt electricity transmission and distribution.

3. Fire Hazards: Earthquakes can cause powerlines to spark or short-circuit, especially if they come into contact with each other or with other infrastructure. This can lead to fires, particularly in urban areas where powerlines are densely packed.

4. Disconnection of Power Supply: If powerlines are damaged, utilities may proactively disconnect sections of the grid to prevent further damage or hazards. This can result in controlled or widespread blackouts until repairs are made.

5. Infrastructure Interdependency: Powerlines are often interconnected with other critical infrastructure, such as telecommunications and water supply systems. Damage to powerlines can therefore indirectly impact these systems, leading to broader disruptions.

6. Recovery Challenges: Repairing powerlines after earthquakes can be challenging due to access issues, continued aftershocks, and the need for specialized equipment and skilled personnel. This can prolong the restoration of electricity services.

Due to the amount of infrastructure and sensitivity of utility data, linear utilities are difficult to analyze without further investigation of individual system components.

Natur
al Gas Utilities
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) defines natural gas pipelines under two categories, "Transmission" and "Distribution." Transmission pipelines are primarily used to receive gas from suppliers and move it to distribution load centers or to storage facilities.

Hig
h Pressure Distribution lines are used to deliver gas to Hesperia customers. These pipelines operate at pressures above 60 psi and deliver gas in smaller volumes to the lower pressure distribution system. (SoCalGas Gas Transmission and High Pressure Distribution Pipeline Interactive Map, n.d.)
Sev
eral common characteristics of earthquakes and their impacts on natural gas safety are:

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• Earthquake ground shaking will generally lead to substantially more instances of building damage than fire ignitions.
• Ground motions that are sufficient enough to damage buildings are the most likely to impact utility and customer gas systems and create a potential for gas-related fire ignitions. • The number of post-earthquake fire ignitions related to natural gas can be expected to be 20% to 50% of the total post-earthquake fire ignitions. • The consequences of post-earthquake fire ignitions for residential gas customers are largely financial. A fire ignition only becomes a life safety concern when inhabitants are unable to exit the building following earthquakes. Experience in past earthquakes indicates that egress from earthquake damaged single-family homes is generally possible because of the limited structure height, low numbers of occupants, and multiple direct escape paths through doors and windows.
• The potential life safety dangers from post-earthquake fires are considerably more serious in seismically vulnerable apartment or condominium buildings since they provide a greater chance for damaging the structure and trapping the occupants.

Southern California Gas Company (SoCal Gas), Hesperia’s natural gas utility, is responsible for designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating the natural gas system safely and efficiently. This includes all the facilities used in the delivery of gas to any customer up to and including the point of delivery to the customers’ gas piping system. SoCal Gas provides seismic safety through compliance with existing regulations, coordinating their emergency planning with local governments, and incorporating earthquake-resistant design considerations into their maintenance activities and new construction.

Ga
s customers and Hesperia residents are responsible for using gas safely on their property and within their buildings and other facilities. Customers meet this responsibility by maintaining their gas appliances in good working condition, assuring that only qualified individuals are engaged to modify or maintain their gas service and facility piping, and knowing what to do before and after earthquakes to maintain the safe operation of their natural gas service.

Th
e following conditions, when combined, pose the greatest risk for severe post-earthquake fire damage:
• Bu
ildings are unoccupied and individuals are not present to mitigate damage to gas systems or control small fires.
• High building density or dense, fire-prone vegetation. • High wind and low humidity weather conditions.
• Damage to water systems that severely limits firefighting capabilities. • Reduced responsiveness of firefighting resulting from impaired communications, numerous requests for assistance, direct damage to fire stations, restricted access because of traffic congestion and damaged roadways, and delays in mutual aid from neighboring fire districts.

LOSS ESTIMATION RESULTS
The Hazus Level 2 analysis was used to assess the risk from and vulnerability to earthquake shaking within Hesperia. Hazus buildings data is aggregated to the census tract level for earthquake models, known as the general building stock (GBS), which has a level of accuracy acceptable for planning purposes. Where possible the GBS was enhanced using GIS data from the County as described previously. The following sections describe risk to and vulnerability of the GBS within the City. Hazus calculates losses to structures from earthquake shaking by considering the amount of ground displacement and type of structure. The software estimates City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
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the percentage of damage to structures and their contents by applying established building fragility curves. Damage estimates are then translated to estimated dollar losses.

For
the Great Shakeout Scenario, ground shaking data (shakemaps) were acquired from CISN and imported into Hazus. The shakemap data consist of peak ground velocity, peak ground acceleration, peak spectral acceleration at 0.3 seconds, and peak spectral acceleration at

1.0 seconds. The earthquake module operates on census tracts that often include population and structures in the incorporated cities and the unincorporated area within a single tract. Due to this fact the results include census tracts that have a substantial portion of land within the incorporated area (loss estimates for some tracts will include structures in incorporated cities).

Th
e results are summarized in Table 4-17 for the Great Shakeout Scenario. It is important to understand that the Hazus earthquake module uses the census tract as its enumeration unit rather than the more detailed census block. The loss estimation values for earthquakes are much higher than those of the flooding and dam failure due to this fact. The portions of incorporated areas included within boundary census tracts elevate the values due to the inclusion of additional GBS. Though the difference between census tracts and census blocks are extremely disparate, the most important summary information is the percent of loss estimation against the total value.

Reading from Table 4-17, residential building and content loss estimation from the Great Shakeout Scenario is nearly $17 billion dollars and 5.5 percent of the total value of the residential buildings. In Great Shakeout Scenario, residential damage will be the greatest. While there are several limitations to the FEMA Hazus model, it does allow for potential loss estimation.

It is important to remember that the replacement costs are well below actual market values, thus, the actual value of assets at risk may be significantly higher than those included herein.

Figure 4-11 provides an illustration of Estimated Building Loss and Content Damage by Occupancy Type.

Table 4-17: Estimated Building and Content Loss Great Shakeout Scenario EQ; 2016 Building Type
Building
Replacement
Costs
($000)
Building
Replacement
Cost
(% of Total
Value)
Content
Replacement
Cost
($000)
Content
Replacement
Cost
(% of Total
Value)
Total
Estimated
Loss
($000)
Total Loss
Estimation
(% of Total
Value)
Total Value
($000)
Agricultural $1,956 3.5% $681 1.2% $2,638 4.7% $55,664.00 Commercial $123,567 5.5% $35,824 1.6% $159,391 7.1% $2,237,452.00 Educational $9,327 3.5% $3,284 1.2% $12,611 4.7% $266,686.00 Government $2,237 5.6% $639 1.6% $2,876 7.2% $39,896.00 Industrial $23,425 4.5% $9,956 1.9% $33,381 6.4% $523,613.00 Religious $11,436 5.2% $3,478 1.6% $14,914 6.8% $219,042.00 Residential $771,135 4.5% $163,181 1.0% $934,317 5.5% $17,100,364.00 Grand Total $943,085 4.6% $217,043 1.1% $1,160,128 5.7% $20,442,717 City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
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Figure 4-11: Estimated Building Loss and Content Damage by Occupancy Type; 2016 Estimating building loss and content damage in Hesperia due to a Great ShakeOut scenario involves complex modeling and data analysis tailored to local seismic hazards and building characteristics. Local authorities, engineering experts, and emergency management agencies typically collaborate to assess earthquake risks, enhance building resilience, and prepare communities for seismic events.

Sev
ere/Extreme Weather (Severe Winds, Extreme Heat, Severe Rainstorms)

PHYSICAL THREAT

SEVERE WINDS
Intense winds likely present the greatest threat to physical structures, particularly from trees or branches that fall on buildings/vehicles, causing substantial damage. Older structures that have deferred maintenance or have not been retrofitted for high wind conditions may suffer greater damage than newer/updated structures. Utility lines and wooden utility poles face an elevated threat from wind, as do buildings without reinforced roofs. Often utility poles and trees suffer impacts during high wind events if they occur after a significant rain event.

During these events, saturated soils around the base of the tree/pole may be unable to hold up to the strains placed on it by strong winds causing it to fall over.

Trees, tree branches, and other objects have the potential to fall on powerlines and other electrical infrastructure during a severe windstorm, causing power outages throughout the city.

Another physical threat of severe wind is wildfire impacts and electric utilities' current practice of conducting Public Safety Power Shutoff activities. During high wi nd events, these shutoffs may impact structures that rely on electricity for normal operations. See social threats for population impacts that may also occur because of these events.

Community Vulnerability Rating: Likely, Limited/Moderate impact Great Shakeout Scenario EQ
Estimated Building Loss by Occupancy Type
0% 13% 1% 0%
3%
1%
82%
Agricultural Commercial Educational
Government Industrial Religious
Residential
Great Shakeout Scenario EQ
Estimated Content Damage by Occupancy Type
0%
16% 2% 0%
5%
2%
75%
Agricultural Commercial Educational
Government Industrial Religious
Residential
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EXTREME HEAT
Extremely high temperatures can cause roads to deform and buckle as the pavement expands in the heat, especially in areas that have not been maintained well. Power lines and other electrical grid components become less effective in higher temperatures and may be damaged due to stress during extreme heat events. Urban heat islands occur when natural land cover is replaced with concentrations of pavement, buildings, or other surfaces that absorb and retain heat. Buildings with dark pavement will absorb more heat than surfaces with vegetation or lighter materials that are better at reflecting the sun’s energy. This urban heat island effect is strongest during the summer when solar radiation is strongest.

Community Vulnerability Rating: Likely, Limited/Moderate impact

SEVERE RAINSTORMS
Physical threats associated with severe rainstorms are similar in nature to those identified in the Flood discussion above.

Community Vulnerability Rating: Likely, Limited/Moderate impact

SOCIAL THREAT

SEVERE WIND
Severe wind events can harm people throughout Hesperia but have a greater effect on the safety of people experiencing homelessness and those working outdoors. Populations that work outside or have respiratory illnesses may be impacted by severe wind events as they can generate dust and other contaminants that can affect the health of residents and workers.

Lower-income residents, who may not have the financial resources to purchase homes (or are renting homes) that are not buil t or retrofitted to withstand powerful winds, could also have difficulty recovering from wind events.

Vu
lnerable Populations Affected: Low-income residents, seniors, individuals with disabilities, renters, and those living in mobile homes or older buildings.

Spe
cific Vulnerabilities:
• Structural damage: Older buildings or mobile homes, common in low-income and rural communities, are more likely to be damaged by high winds. Renters may be particularly vulnerable, as they often have less ability to make structural improvements to their living spaces.
• Displacement and property damage: Severe winds may lead to property damage, such as fallen trees or debris, which could render homes uninhabitable. Those with limited financial resources may struggle to recover from such damage. • Power outages: Wind events often lead to power outages, which disproportionately affect those who rely on electricity for medical devices or who cannot afford backup generators.
• Access to shelter: In the aftermath of severe wind events, vulnerable populations may face difficulties accessing shelter, whether due to transportation challenges or the lack of accessible accommodations.

Impact on Vulnerable Populations:

Severe wind events in Hesperia can cause significant property damage, especially to older homes and mobile homes, which are more susceptible to structural failure during high winds.

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Low-income residents, who may not have the resources to make their homes more resilient to wind damage, are particularly at risk. Renters are also vulnerable, as they often have limited control over the condition or safety of their living spaces. Power outages resulting from severe winds disproportionately affect seniors, individuals with medical conditions, and those relying on electrical medical devices. Inadequate access to emergency shelters or assistance during wind events can further exacerbate the impacts on vulnerable communities.

To address the impacts of severe wind on vulnerable populations, the city will work closely with community partners, including local organizations that support low-income residents, seniors, and people with disabilities, to ensure preparedness and response efforts are tailored to their needs. These partnerships will help identify areas most at risk, particularly where homes may be structurally vulnerable due to age or lack of maintenance. The city will prioritize outreach to ensure that residents are informed about the risks of severe wind and the importance of securing property and belongings. Community organizations will play a key role in ensuring that vulnerable individuals have access to emergency shelters, transportation, and resources for recovery in the aftermath of severe wind events. By collaborating with these partners, the city will help mitigate the risks posed by severe wind to its most vulnerable populations.

EXTREME HEAT
Whereas a h eat event can b e relatively harmless for t hose with a r eliable means of st aying hydrated and cool, the event can be deadly for others. Young children, the elderly, or people suffering from serious medical c onditions are physiologicall y more vulnerable to h eatstroke.

Some senior citizens also take medicines that can make it harder for their bodies to maintain a safe internal t emperature, creating a n a dditional threat f rom ex treme heat ev ents. Y oung children may not be aware of the signs of dehydration or ways of protecting themselves from heatstroke.

People living in homelessness are at a high risk of health complications during heat waves, especially if they are unsheltered. According to San Bernardino County homeless counts, in 2023, there were approximately 4,195 individuals experiencing homelessness in the county, with 71% percent unsheltered. 4 Of the 4,195 individuals experiencing homelessness within the county, approximately 64 individuals are experiencing homelessness within the city. This population is very vulnerable to heatstroke during a heatwave, especially if they cannot reach a cooling center.

Sudden spikes in heat can catch people by surprise. Stores can rapidly sell out of fans, air- conditioning units, or drinking water during a heatwave. Many lower -income households live in older, poorly insulated, and energy -inefficient housing and cannot afford to run their air conditioning, which can be further compounded by the threat of power outages due to heat/rolling blackouts. During these events, extreme heat impacts may affect larger portions of the city and populations that would not be viewed as vulnerable under normal circumstances.

Vulnerable Populations Affected: Seniors, young children, individuals with chronic medical conditions, low-income residents, and those without access to air conditioning.

Specific Vulnerabilities:
• Health impacts: Extreme heat can exacerbate existing health conditions, such as heart disease, respiratory conditions, and diabetes, which disproportionately affect vulnerable populations.
4 https://www.sbcounty.gov/uploads/sbchp/content/SBC-2023-Homeless-Count-Report.pdf City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
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• Limited cooling resources: Low-income households may lack access to air conditioning or cooling centers, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses and deaths. • Lack of shelter options: Vulnerable populations living in areas without adequate cooling centers may be forced to stay in unsafe conditions during extreme heat events, leading to dehydration, heat stroke, and other serious health issues. • Outdoor workers: Low-income individuals who work outdoors, such as those in agriculture, construction, or service industries, are at a higher risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, particularly during prolonged heatwaves.

Impact on Vulnerable Populations:

Extreme heat events are particularly dangerous for seniors, children, individuals with chronic health conditions, and low-income residents who may lack access to cooling systems or air conditioning. Vulnerable populations in Hesperia may also face difficulties accessing cooling centers, especially if transportation options are limited or if they live in isolated areas. Low- income individuals are more likely to live in homes that are not built for heat mitigation, making them more susceptible to heat-related illnesses. Additionally, those with limited financial resources may struggle to manage the costs of utilities, leading them to forgo cooling measures during extreme heat events.

To address the impacts of severe heat on vulnerable populations, the city will collaborate with local organizations that support seniors, low-income residents, and individuals with health conditions or mobility impairments. These partnerships will help ensure that cooling centers are accessible, particularly in areas with high concentrations of vulnerable populations, and that transportation is available for those who need assistance getting to these facilities. Outreach efforts will be expanded to raise awareness about the health risks of extreme heat and provide resources on how to stay safe. Additionally, public health organizations will help monitor at-risk populations and provide medical support for those experiencing heat-related illnesses. Through these collaborations, the city will strengthen its ability to protect its most vulnerable residents during severe heat events.

S

EVERE RAINSTORMS
Social threats associated with sever rainstorms is similar in nature to those identified in the Flood discussion above.

Vulnerable Populations Affected: Low-income residents, people with disabilities, elderly individuals, and people living in areas with poor drainage or flood control.

Spe
cific Vulnerabilities:
• Flooding and water damage: Severe rainstorms often lead to flash floods, which can inundate homes in poorly maintained or flood-prone areas, leading to property damage, displacement, and loss of belongings.
• Public infrastructure: People in underserved communities may face delayed or inadequate infrastructure repairs after a storm, leading to prolonged disruptions in services such as roads, utilities, and communication systems. • Access to emergency services: During heavy rainstorms, vulnerable populations may have difficulty reaching emergency shelters or accessing services due to poor road conditions or transportation limitations.
• Communication and alerts: Non-English speakers may not receive early warning messages or may struggle to understand evacuation orders, making them more vulnerable during rainstorms.

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Impact on Vulnerable Populations:

Severe rainstorms can lead to localized flooding, landslides, and infrastructure damage.

Vulnerable populations in Hesperia are at higher risk due to their living situations in flood-prone or poorly drained areas. Seniors, individuals with disabilities, and children are more likely to face challenges in evacuating or finding safe shelter during a rainstorm. Those in mobile homes or older buildings may experience greater damage during heavy rain due to structural weaknesses. Additionally, vulnerable groups may have limited access to emergency services or resources, including shelters or medical care, which can heighten the severity of the impact.

To address the impacts of severe rainstorms on vulnerable populations, the city will work with community organizations to ensure that residents, especially low-income individuals, seniors, and those with disabilities, have the resources and support they need during and after storms.

Partnerships with local groups will help identify flood-prone areas and ensure that emergency shelters and evacuation routes are accessible to all, particularly for those with mobility challenges. The city will also focus on improving drainage infrastructure in neighborhoods with higher concentrations of vulnerable populations, reducing the risk of flooding. Outreach efforts will include providing information on how to prepare for severe rainstorms, including flood prevention tips, and ensuring that residents know where to seek assistance during storms.

Additionally, public works will help distribute sandbags or flood barriers, to those in high-risk areas. By collaborating with these organizations, the city will ensure a more inclusive and effective response to severe rainstorms, minimizing the impact on its most vulnerable residents.

OTHER THREATS

SEVERE WIND
Southern California and the City of Hesperia all suffer from seasonal Santa Ana Winds and will for the foreseeable future. Extreme wind events can worsen other risks, such as wildfires.

EXTREME HEAT
Extreme Heat for any length of time can also affect other hazards and risks within the city. For example, it can create a spike in electricity demand leading to power loss/failure, food insecurities, and a rise in vector -borne disease transmission. Coupled with extreme wind, i t can cause or spread wildfires and jeopardize additional neighborhoods/communities.

S

EVERE RAINSTORMS
Other threats associated with severe rainstorms are similar in nature to those identified in the Flood discussion above.

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Dam Failure

PHYSICAL THREAT
The physical threat posed to Hesperia by a dam failure would primarily involve significant flooding and potential destruction downstream of the dam. Hesperia, located in San Bernardino County, could be affected depending on the location of the dam failure and the path of the resulting floodwaters.

Community Vulnerability Rating: Unlikely, Significant/Severe impact If a dam were to fail upstream near Hesperia, several potential consequences could occur:
• Flash Flooding: A sudden release of water from a dam failure could lead to rapid and intense flash flooding in the downstream areas, including parts of Hesperia depending on the watershed.
• Property Damage: Homes, businesses, infrastructure, and agricultural land in low-lying areas could sustain significant damage from floodwaters and debris carried downstream.
• Loss of Life: The sudden onset of flooding could endanger residents and visitors who are caught off guard, especially if warnings and evacuation orders are not effectively communicated or heeded.
• Disruption of Services: Flooding can disrupt transportation, utilities (such as power and water supply), and emergency services, complicating rescue and recovery efforts. • Environmental Impact: Floodwaters can carry pollutants, debris, and sediment, impacting local ecosystems and water quality downstream.

Various factors, such as the amount of water released, the distance between the dam failure site, and the topography of the surrounding land, will influence the extent to which physical assets in Hesperia are threatened.

There are three dams near Hesperia that can inundate portions of the City should they fail catastrophically: Mojave Forks Dam, Cedar Springs Dam, and Lake Arrowhead Dam. Water released by the Mojave Forks Dam would be confined to the Mojave River bed, the mouth of Antelope Valley Wash channel, and several other smaller tributaries. Water released by the Cedar Springs Dam would flood a significant portion of eastern Summit Valley, an area for the most part presently undeveloped, except for Highway 173. Water from Lake Arrowhead Dam would most likely be contained within the Mojave Forks reservoir. 5 POPULATION AT RISK
The sudden onset of flooding can pose significant risks to human life, including drowning and injuries from debris carried by floodwaters. Vulnerable populations, such as elderly individuals, children, and those with limited mobility, may face challenges evacuating to safety. Residents in affected areas may be forced to evacuate their homes quickly to avoid floodwaters and seek shelter in safer locations. Temporary displacement may be necessary until floodwaters recede, and it is safe to return to assess damage and begin recovery efforts.
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The social threats posed by dam inundation in Hesperia, would primarily revolve around the impact on residents' safety, well-being, and community cohesion. Here are some key social threats that could arise:

1. Loss of Life and Injury: The sudden inundation of floodwaters can endanger lives, particularly if residents are caught unaware or unable to evacuate in time. This threat is heightened in areas where evacuation routes may be limited or compromised.

2. Displacement and Homelessness: Residents forced to evacuate due to flooding may face temporary or long-term displacement, leading to emotional distress, uncertainty about housing, and disruption of community ties.

3. Psychological Impact: Witnessing or experiencing the destruction of homes and community infrastructure can cause significant psychological trauma, leading to stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges among residents.

4. Disruption of Community Services: Floods can disrupt essential services such as hospitals, schools, and emergency response systems, further challenging residents' ability to cope and recover.

5. Social Disruption: The displacement of families and disruption of neighborhoods can strain social networks and community resilience. Rebuilding communities after such events may require significant time and effort.

6. Economic Impact on Families: Loss of property and livelihoods can lead to financial hardship for affected families, potentially exacerbating existing socio-economic disparities within the community.

7. Long-Term Recovery Challenges: Recovering from the social impacts of dam inundation can be a lengthy process, requiring coordinated efforts from government agencies, non-profit organizations, and community groups to support affected residents.

Vulnerable Populations Affected: Low-income residents, seniors, individuals with disabilities, renters, and those living in mobile homes or older buildings.

Specific Vulnerabilities:
• Structural damage: Areas near dams or in floodplains are at greater risk of structural damage during a dam inundation event. Older buildings and mobile homes, common in low-income and rural areas, are more likely to suffer from flooding and water damage, which can compromise their integrity. Renters may not have the ability to make structural improvements to protect their homes from flooding, leaving them more vulnerable to property loss.
• Displacement and property damage: Dam inundation can lead to widespread flooding, forcing residents to evacuate and potentially displacing them from their homes. Low-income families are particularly at risk, as they often lack the resources to find alternative housing or recover from property damage. The financial burden of repairing or rebuilding after flooding may be insurmountable for those without insurance or savings, further exacerbating inequities.
• Health risks from waterborne diseases: Inundation events can contaminate water supplies, leading to the spread of waterborne diseases. Vulnerable populations, such as seniors, children, and those with underlying health conditions, are more susceptible to these health risks. Limited access to clean water or medical care can City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
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worsen these health impacts, especially for low-income individuals who may already have limited access to healthcare resources.
• Evacuation challenges: Evacuating during a dam inundation event can be difficult for individuals with mobility impairments, the elderly, and families with young children. Low-income residents may not have access to transportation or may struggle to evacuate in a timely manner, especially if roadways are blocked or infrastructure is damaged. The absence of accessible evacuation routes or transportation services may increase the risk of harm for these individuals. • Access to shelter and recovery resources: Vulnerable populations may face barriers to accessing emergency shelters after a dam inundation event, especially if the shelters are not equipped with necessary accommodations for individuals with disabilities or specialized care needs. Low-income individuals and families may also have difficulty accessing recovery resources, including financial aid or housing assistance, due to bureaucratic barriers or a lack of information on available support.

Impact on Vulnerable Populations:

Dam failure poses a catastrophic risk to vulnerable populations in Hesperia, particularly those living in floodplains or near critical infrastructure such as dams. Low-income residents and renters are at higher risk of displacement if their homes are inundated, as they may not have the financial resources to evacuate or recover from property damage. Seniors and individuals with mobility impairments may have difficulty evacuating quickly, especially if transportation routes are blocked or if they lack assistance. Furthermore, the aftermath of a dam failure can create long-term challenges for vulnerable groups in accessing shelter, healthcare, and financial resources, further compounding their vulnerability during the recovery process.

To a
ddress the impacts of dam failure on vulnerable populations, the city will collaborate with local organizations, including senior centers, disability advocacy groups, and low- income housing agencies, to ensure that evacuation plans and emergency communication are accessible to all residents. Partnerships with these groups will help identify the most at-risk areas, particularly where low-income households or seniors may be located in flood zones downstream of dams. The city will prioritize outreach efforts to ensure that residents, especially those without transportation or mobility challenges, are informed about evacuation routes and shelter locations. In the event of dam failure, local partners will play a key role in providing immediate assistance, including transportation to shelters, and supporting recovery efforts for those who are displaced or suffer property damage. By working with these organizations, the city can ensure a coordinated, inclusive response to dam failure events, helping to protect its most vulnerable populations.

No
populations data for these three dam inundation zones was available, and the data or modeling expertise required exceeds the city’s current capabilities. In the next update, we will work on implementing strategies to refine the data and improve the accuracy of risk assessments, including collaborating with the state dam safety agency and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

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CRITICAL FACILITIES AT RISK
Figure 4-12 shows the location of critical facilities and infrastructure with respect to dam inundation zones.

Figure 4-12: Critical Facilities and Infrastructure Near Dam Inundation Zones

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OTHER THREATS
Dam failures are often triggered by other events (e.g., seismic shaking, intense rainstorms, etc.). There would most likely be service disruptions in Hesperia if this type of event occurred. Floodwaters could quickly inundate the city, disrupting utilities such as water, power, heating, and other services (communications or transportation infrastructure).

Residents may find street lighting and traffic signals are temporarily disabled. Debris may be carried in the rapid inundation of water, blocking roads and impeding traffic flow.

Water would most likely inundate roadways and other low -lying, flat areas, such as parking lots, open spaces, and schoolyards. In severe scenarios, people’s mobility in these areas would likely be restricted or even impossible. Any unprotected or unhoused mechanical or electronic equipment that is not properly elevated could be damaged or inoperable until crews can conduct repairs or replacements.

ECONOMIC LOSS ESTIMATES
No economic loss estimates were available for these three dam inundation zones, and the data or modeling expertise required exceeds the city’s current capabilities. In the next update, we will work on implementing strategies to refine the data and improve the accuracy of risk assessments, including collaborating with the state dam safety agency and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

CHANGES IN POPULATION PATTERNS AND LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT Those in the inundation zone may choose to move out of the city or out of the inundation area if the impacts of dam failure are great enough. Those renting homes within the city have little control over the rebuilding process of a home that has been affected by inundation and, therefore, may be forced to move out of the inundation area or out of the city.

Dam failure is unlikely to affect land use and development because the development review process will take steps to mitigate or minimize flood -related impacts. Areas inundated within the city would not be significantly altered, requiring changes in land use and development patterns.

Climate Change

PHYSICAL THREAT
Hesperia, located in the High Desert region of Southern California, faces a number of climate change-related physical threats that could impact its community. Here are some key concerns:
• Extreme Heat: Hesperia, already experiencing high temperatures, may face increasingly severe heat waves. Prolonged periods of extreme heat can affect public health, strain energy resources due to higher air conditioning use, and worsen air quality. • Drought: The region is prone to dry conditions, and climate change is expected to exacerbate drought conditions. This can impact water availability for agriculture, domestic use, and increase the risk of water shortages. • Wildfires: The combination of high temperatures, dry conditions, and potentially stronger winds increases the risk of wildfires. Wildfires can threaten homes, disrupt local ecosystems, and impact air quality.

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• Air Quality: Increased temperatures can lead to higher concentrations of ground-level ozone and other pollutants, affecting respiratory health and overall air quality. • Water Supply Issues: Reduced snowpack in the Sierra Nevada and shifting precipitation patterns could affect the region’s water supply. Hesperia relies on imported water, and disruptions or reductions in supply could impact local water availability. • Ecosystem Changes: Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns can alter local ecosystems, potentially affecting native plant and animal species and disrupting the balance of local habitats.
• Infrastructure Stress: Extreme weather events and changing climate conditions can place additional stress on infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and utilities, leading to increased maintenance costs and potential damage.

POPULATION AT RISK
Several population groups are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

Understanding these vulnerabilities can help in developing targeted adaptation and mitigation strategies. Here are key groups at risk:
• Elderly Residents: Older adults are more susceptible to extreme heat and health complications related to temperature changes. They may also have limited mobility and resources to cope with climate-related stressors.
• Low-Income Families: Low-income communities may have fewer resources to manage the impacts of climate change, such as the cost of cooling during heat waves or the ability to invest in home improvements that mitigate extreme weather effects. • People with Pre-existing Health Conditions: Those with chronic health conditions, such as respiratory or cardiovascular issues, are more vulnerable to poor air quality and extreme heat events, which can exacerbate their health problems. • Children: Young children are particularly susceptible to heat stress and poor air quality.

They also depend on adults for protection and resources, which can complicate their ability to cope with climate-related challenges.
• Homeless Individuals: People experiencing homelessness are at significant risk during extreme weather events. They may lack access to adequate shelter, healthcare, and resources needed to manage heat, cold, or other climate-related hazards. • Residents in High-Risk Areas: Those living in areas prone to wildfires or with limited access to water are at higher risk. Hesperia's landscape, with its dry conditions and proximity to wildfire-prone areas, means that residents in these zones could be more directly affected by climate impacts.
• Agricultural Workers: Although not as prevalent in Hesperia itself, nearby agricultural areas could affect the local economy and workforce. Changes in water availability and temperature extremes can impact agricultural productivity and labor conditions.

Addressing the needs of these vulnerable populations involves targeted policies and interventions, such as improving access to cooling centers, enhancing healthcare services, investing in affordable housing improvements, and providing resources for disaster preparedness and recovery.

CRITICAL FACILITIES AT RISK
Critical facilities that may be at risk due to climate change include:

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• Water Supply Infrastructure: Facilities such as water treatment plants and reservoirs are crucial for providing clean water to the community. Climate change-induced droughts and reduced water availability can strain these systems, potentially leading to water shortages or reduced water quality.
• Emergency Services: Fire stations, police stations, and emergency medical services (EMS) facilities are vital for responding to climate-related emergencies such as wildfires, heatwaves, and extreme weather events. These facilities must be equipped and resilient to handle increased demand and extreme conditions.
• Healthcare Facilities: Hospitals and clinics are essential for treating climate-related health issues, such as heat-related illnesses or respiratory problems from poor air quality.

Extreme heat and other climate impacts could strain these facilities and their capacity to provide care.
• Energy Infrastructure: Power plants, substations, and distribution networks are critical for maintaining electricity supply. Extreme heat and increased demand for cooling can strain these systems, leading to potential outages or damage to infrastructure. • Transportation Networks: Roads, bridges, and public transportation systems are essential for mobility and access. Extreme weather events like heatwaves and storms can damage infrastructure, disrupt transportation, and affect emergency response times. • Waste Management Facilities: Facilities responsible for waste collection and processing are important for maintaining sanitation and public health. Increased temperatures and extreme weather can affect the efficiency and safety of waste management operations.
• Education Facilities: Schools and educational institutions are important for community stability and development. They need to be prepared for climate-related disruptions, such as extreme heat or wildfires, which can impact student health and learning environments.
• Public Cooling and Shelter Facilities: Designated cooling centers and shelters are vital during heatwaves and other extreme weather events. Ensuring these facilities are accessible and resilient to climate impacts is crucial for protecting vulnerable populations.
• Communication Infrastructure: Telecommunications facilities, including cell towers and data centers, are critical for maintaining communication during emergencies. They must be resilient to extreme weather and temperature fluctuations to ensure reliable communication.
• Recreational and Community Centers: Facilities such as parks, community centers, and libraries serve as social hubs and emergency shelters. Their resilience to climate impacts is important for community cohesion and support during extreme events.

Protecting these critical facilities involves assessing vulnerabilities, enhancing resilience through infrastructure improvements, and planning for emergency response and recovery.

It also requires coordination between local government, emergency services, and community organizations to ensure that these facilities can continue to function effectively in the face of climate change.

ECONOMIC LOSS ESTIMATES
Estimating economic losses in Hesperia due to climate change involves considering various factors and potential impacts. While precise figures can vary, here are some general areas where economic losses could occur, along with considerations for estimating their impact:

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• Property Damage from Wildfires:
o Cost Estimates: Wildfires can cause significant property damage, including destruction of homes and infrastructure. In regions prone to wildfires, costs can run into billions of dollars annually, depending on the severity of the fires. o Example: The 2020 California wildfires resulted in over $10 billion in insured losses statewide. While Hesperia is a smaller area, it is part of a broader region affected by wildfires.
• Water Supply Costs:
o Cost Estimates: Droughts can increase the cost of water sourcing, treatment, and conservation efforts. Costs related to water shortages can include increased prices for water, investments in alternative water supplies, and infrastructure repairs.
o Example: The economic impact of drought on water utilities can be substantial, potentially affecting hundreds of millions of dollars statewide. • Increased Energy Costs:
o Cost Estimates: Extreme heat increases demand for air conditioning, leading to higher energy bills and potential strain on energy infrastructure. Upgrades to energy systems to handle increased demand can also be costly. o Example: Extreme heat events can lead to tens of millions in additional energy costs for affected areas.
• Healthcare Costs:
o Cost Estimates: Climate-related health issues such as heat stress, respiratory problems from poor air quality, and vector-borne diseases can increase healthcare costs. Emergency medical services and hospital admissions during extreme weather events can drive up costs.
o Example: The overall increase in healthcare costs due to climate change impacts could be significant, with estimates varying widely. • Infrastructure Damage:
o Cost Estimates: Extreme weather events, such as flooding and heatwaves, can damage roads, bridges, and public buildings. Repairing and upgrading infrastructure to be more resilient can involve substantial expenses. o Example: Infrastructure damage from severe weather events can lead to repair and replacement costs in the millions or even billions, depending on the extent of the damage.
• Agricultural and Economic Productivity Losses:
o Cost Estimates: Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns can affect local agriculture and related industries. Crop failures or reduced productivity can lead to economic losses for farmers and related businesses. o Example: Economic losses in agriculture can range from millions to billions of dollars annually, depending on the scale of impact.
• Property Value Declines:
o Cost Estimates: Increased risk of climate-related events can reduce property values, especially in areas vulnerable to flooding, wildfires, or other hazards.

Property devaluation can have broader economic implications for homeowners and the local economy.
o Example: Property values in high-risk areas can decline significantly, potentially affecting tens of millions of dollars in real estate value. • Insurance Costs and Losses:

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o Cost Estimates: Increased risk of damage from climate events can lead to higher insurance premiums or reduced availability of coverage. Insurance companies may face higher payouts for claims, leading to increased costs for policyholders. o Example: Rising insurance premiums and increased claims can affect both individuals and businesses, leading to significant economic impacts.

These estimates require detailed local data and modeling to refine. Collaboration with local government, economic analysts, and climate experts can help provide more accurate and context-specific figures for Hesperia.

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Chapter 5 – Hazard Mitigation Strategy
Strategy Development Process
The intent of the mitigation strategy is to provide the City of Hesperia with a guidebook to future hazard mitigation administration. The mitigation strategy is intended to reduce vulnerabilities outlined in the previous section with a prescription of policies and physical projects. This will help City staff to achieve compatibility with existing planning mechanisms and ensures that mitigation activities provide specific roles and resources for implementation success.

Th
e mitigation strategy represents the key outcomes of the Hesperia LHMP planning process. The hazard mitigation planning process conducted by the HMPC is a typical problem-solving methodology:
 Estimate the impacts the problem could cause (See Vulnerability Assessment);  Describe the problem (See Identifying the Problem);
 Assess what safeguards and resources exist that could potentially lessen those impacts (See Capabilities Assessment);
 Develop Goals and Objectives with current capabilities to address the problems (See Mitigation Goals, Objectives, and Projects)
 Using this information, determine what can be done, and select those actions that are appropriate for the community (See Goal, Objective and Mitigation Action Matrix).

Identifying the Problem
As part of the mitigation actions identification process, the HMP Planning Committee identified issues and/or weaknesses as a result of the risk assessment and vulnerability analysis. By combining common issues and weaknesses developed by the Planning Committee, the realm of resources needed for mitigating each can be understood.

Community issues and weaknesses are presented by individual hazards in Table 5-1a through Table 5-1d.

Table 5-1a: Earthquake Hazard Problem Statements
Problem Description Problem
Type
Action
No.

1. Damage to City water supply in the event of an earthquake may present a water supply issue.

Infrastructure MH 1.1

2. Potential damage to I-15 overpasses would impede travel. Infrastructure MH 1.2

3. Protecting utility service such as natural gas from earthquake damage.

Infrastructure EQ 1.4

4. Public facility infrastructure i.e., fire stations with earthquake damage risk.

Infrastructure MH 1.4,
EQ 1.5

5. Structural adequacy of city buildings / facilities? Infrastructure EQ 1.5

6. Content damage in City buildings. Infrastructure MH 1.1

7. The majority of residents live in the severe shake zone in the Great Shakeout Scenario.

Vulnerable
Population
EQ 1.1,

1.2, 1.3,

1.6, 1.7
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MH 1.3
PA 1.2,

1.4, 1.5

8. Dam failure due to earthquake event. Vulnerable
Population
DI 1.1,

1.2 MH 1.7
Table 5-1b: Wildfire Hazard Problem Statements
Problem Description Problem Type Action No.

1. Residents along the City’s southern half are in the High fire hazard severity zone.

Vulnerable
Popu
lations
WF 1.2
MH 1.5
PA 1.2

2. City open spaces / vegetative fuels backing up to
resident’s property/ homes.

Vulnerable
Populations WF 1.1, 1.2

3. Lack of public notice to areas of extreme fire danger (clear brush etc.) Public Education PA 1.4,

1.5, WF 1.3
Table 5-1c: Flood Hazard Problem Statements
Problem Description Problem Type Action
No.

1. Several streets are rendered impassable during heavy rainstorms, trapping residents. Infrastructure
FL 1.1,

1.2, 1.3,

1.4 2. The City’s easterly border along the Mojave River is located near the 100-year flood zone,
Vulnerable
Popu
lations
FL 1.1
MH 1.5
PA 1.6

3. Debris/sediment buildup on roadways after
rain/flooding Maintenance FL 1.3,

1.4 4. Dam failure due to flooding events. Vulnerable
popu
lations
DI 1.1, DI

1.2 MH 1.7
Table 5-1d: Severe Weather Problem Statements
Problem Description Problem Type Action No.

1. Debris/sediment buildup on roadways after
rain/flooding Maintenance FL 1.3, 1.4

2. Lack of public notice to areas of severe weather (i.e., flooding, road closures, wildfire, heat exhaustion,
hyperthermia, etc.)
Public
Education
Vulnerable
populations
EW 1.1, 1.2,

1.3 3. Content damage to City buildings. Infrastructure EW 1 .4 City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
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Capabilities Assessment
Th
e City of Hesperia strives to protect and maintain the health, safety and welfare of the community on a day-to-day basis and takes extra measures to reduce the impacts of natural or technological hazards. The City can use a variety of different tools, assets, and authorities to effectively prepare for, mitigate against, respond to and recover from emergencies and disasters. These include voluntary and mandatory measures; individual and community efforts; private and public actions; and preventive as well as responsive approaches. Example mitigation activities include educating citizens, enforcing building and development codes, constructing capital improvement projects, adopting plans, establishing incentive programs, and reducing the impact of potential disasters through emergency preparedness and response.

Th
e capabilities available to the City of Hesperia fall into the following broad categories:

Agencies and People, Plans, Codes and Regulations, Mitigation Programs and Financial Resources. Identifying and documenting these capabilities provides the basis for developing future mitigation opportunities and how they can be implemented within existing City programs.

Capabilities Improvement/Expansion
The ability to expand current mitigation capabilities is reliant upon available funding. FEMA has released a series of guides over the past few years which highlight some of the ways in which jurisdictions can expand mitigation. Some strategies for increasing current mitigation capabilities may include:

1. Cit
y should actively identify, adopt, and enforce the most current set of development codes and standards available. Strongly encouraging new development to be constructed to higher standards than currently required, increasing resilience within the community.

2. Engaging parts of the community that may not be actively involved in mitigation efforts.

3. Expanding the number and types of organizations involved in mitigation planning and implementation, increasing both efficiency and bandwidth.

4. Fostering new relationships to bring underrepresented populations and partners to the hazard mitigation planning process.

5. During the annual LHMP review, the HMPC should look for opportunities to fund and expand/enhance the effectiveness of current mitigation actions.

6. During annual budgeting processes, the City should identify new funding sources (bonds, grants, assessment districts, etc.) that can be used to support existing capabilities enhancements.

Table
s 5-2a – 5-2g show the capabilities assessment for Hesperia. Within each resource described, a section titled “Expansion and Improvement” is provided, which helps the City recognize specific areas where each capability may be modified to align with mitigation priorities and actions to be taken in the future.

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Local Planning and Regulatory Mitigation Capabilities
The information in Table 5-2a is used to construct mitigation actions aligned with existing planning and regulatory capabilities of the City. Planning and regulatory tools typically used by local jurisdictions to implement hazard mitigation activities are building codes, zoning regulations, floodplain management policies, and other municipal planning documents.

Table 5-2a: City of Hesperia Capabilities Assessment
Local Legal and Regulatory Capabilities
Hazard Resource
Name
Responsible
Agency
Description (Effect on Hazard Mitigation)
Multi-
Hazard
Hesperia /
California
Building
Code 2022
Edition
Community
Development
Dept.

The City has adopted the California Building Code 2022
Edition, Volumes 1 and 2. The California Building codes protect buildings to the extent possible from natural
occurring hazards. The City will continue to adopt any
changes in the California building codes to stay current on future hazard risks.

Expansion and Improvement: Adherence to building codes, including local codes, regulates growth and controls land use patterns. As codes are updated, addressing known
hazards results in lowered risk and potentially fewer losses.

Multi-
Hazard
City of
Hesperia
Building
Code
Community
Development
Dept.

Hesperia adopted the 2022 California Building codes, which can be found in Title 15 of the H.M.C. The Codes set the minimum standards for all aspects of building construction, from design to finish, with the goal of protecting public health, safety and welfare in a given area.

Ex
pansion and Improvement: Adherence to building codes,
including local codes, regulates growth and controls land use patterns. Addressing known hazards, as codes are
updated, results in lowered risk and potentially fewer losses.

Multi-
Hazard
City of
Hesperia
General Plan
-Safety
Element
Community
Development
Dept.

The General Plan was last updated in 2010. To stay current with the evolving population and safety standards, the City initiated a focused 2050 General Plan update. The Safety Element provides:
• Background on the history of hazards and the
likelihood of future changes to these hazards.
• Policies that increase the resilience of residents,
businesses, workers, and visitors.
• Policies to reduce the level of property loss due to a potential disaster.
• A framework for emergency management.

Ex
pansion and Improvement: The LHMP will be informed by
referencing the Safety Element of the General Plan. The City will adopt the approved LHMP as part of the General Plan Safety Element to meet the requirements of AB 2140.

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Table 5-2a: City of Hesperia Capabilities Assessment
Local Legal and Regulatory Capabilities
Hazard Resource
Name
Responsible
Agency
Description (Effect on Hazard Mitigation)
Climate
Change
City of
Hesperia
General Plan
– Climate
Chang
e
V
ulnerability
Assessment
Community
Development
Dept.

The General Plan was last updated in 2010. To ensure it aligns with current needs, the City initiated a focused 2050 General Plan update. The vulnerability assessment acts as a
foundation for integrating adaptation and resilience policies into the Safety Element and The General Plan by identifying a set of priority vulnerabilities in the City of Hesperia.

E
xpansion and Improvement: The LHMP and Climate
Change Vulnerability Assessment should be closely
correlated. Ensure the Vulnerability Assessment is updated in conjunction with LHMP updates.

Multi-
Hazard
City of
Hesperia
General Plan
-Land Use
Community
Development
Dept.

The General Plan was last updated in 2010. To ensure it aligns with current needs, the City initiated a focused 2050 General Plan update. The Land Use Element functions as a guide to the ultimate pattern of development for the city, both within its incorporated boundaries and sphere of influence. The Land Use Element:
• Designates the distribution, location, and balance of land uses.
• Describes the desired build-out of Hesperia
• Describes building intensity standards for each land
use.
• Communicates population density.
• Ensures compatibility between land uses.

E
xpansion and Improvement: Focus on balancing
community needs and ensuring compatibility of uses and
development patterns.

Multi-
Hazard
Land-Use
Specific Plans
Community
Development
Dept.

The City maintains various area-specific land use and project plans.

E
xpansion and Improvement: These specific plans and the
LHMP will be aligned to describe developmental trends,
hazards, and potential development in hazard areas.

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Table 5-2a: City of Hesperia Capabilities Assessment
Local Legal and Regulatory Capabilities
Hazard Resource
Name
Responsible
Agency
Description (Effect on Hazard Mitigation)
Multi-
Hazard
City of
Hesperia
Emergency
Operations
Plan
City
Manager’s
Office
The 2022 City EOP provides a framework for coordinated
response and recovery activities during an emergency. The City EOP is intended to be invoked whenever the City must respond to an unforeseen incident or planned event, the size or complexity of which is beyond that normally handled by routine operations. The City will update the EOP every 5 years and will incorporate current hazard mitigation information, procedures, and regulations.

E
xpansion and Improvement: The hazards section of the
Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) is informed by the LHMP as the two are closely correlated.

Climate
Change
Hesperia 2020
Urban Water
Management
Plan (UWMP)
Public Works The UWMP provides urban water suppliers (including the City) with a planning document for long-term resource planning to ensure adequate water supplies are available to meet
existing and future water supply needs. In addition, the 2020 UMWP incorporates water supply reliability determinations resulting from potentially prolonged drought, regulatory revisions, and/or changing climatic conditions.

Expansion and Improvement: The UWMP and LHMP will be
aligned in describing and developing mitigation actions to address climate change and potential/future drought issues.

Climate
Change
City of
Hesperia
Climate
Action Plan
2010
Planning The City of Hesperia (City) prepared a Climate Action Plan (CAP) as its primary strategy for ensuring that the buildout of the General Plan Update will not conflict with the
implementation of Assembly Bill 32 – the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. This CAP is designed to reduce
community-related and City operations-related greenhouse gas emissions to a degree that would not hinder or delay implementation of AB 32.

E
xpansion and Improvement: The LHMP and Climate Action
Plan should be closely correlated. As the Climate Action Plan is updated, mitigation measures from the new LHMP can be incorporated.

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Administrative and Technical Capabilities
T
he following Table 5-2b provides a summary of administrative and technical capabilities organized by staff and department. It is important to understand current administrative and technical capabilities before developing mitigation activities.

Table 5-2b: City of Hesperia Capabilities Assessment
Administrative and Technical Capabilities
Staff/Personnel
Resources Dept. / Agency Description (Effect on Hazard Mitigation) City Clerk's Office and
Records Management
City Manager’s Office The City Clerk’s office manages all City elections and Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) administrative
filings; maintains original City deeds and easements;
processes public record requests; coordinates various
administrative policy matters; maintains the City’s legal library; and accepts and records claims, lawsuits and
summons filed upon the City. The Office also
processes
record requests, receives claims, and
prepares proclamations, City Council agendas and
publishes legal notices as required by California law,
records all minutes, adopted legislation, policy
documents and contracts approved by the City
Council, subsidiary districts and agency Boards.

E
xpansion and Improvement: Prioritize new initiatives that support mitigation activities within the city.

Public Information Office City Manager’s Office The Public Information Office is responsible for providing information on behalf of the City of Hesperia. This is
accomplished through the distribution of:
• Horizon Newsletter
• The City Website
• Social Media
• Advertisements
• Special events
• Media inquiries
E
xpansion and Improvement: Strengthen ties with
community organizations and businesses to ensure key
content and information is timely and relevant. Create
additional communications platforms to ensure
information and content reaches community members.

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Staff/Personnel
Resources Dept. / Agency Description (Effect on Hazard Mitigation) Planning Community
Development
The Planning Department plays a critical role in
achieving the City Council's goals and objectives
relative to land use, urban design, and the quality and sustainability of the built environment. The department conducts site plan reviews for residential, commercial, and industrial developments. They also process
Conditional Use Permits, variances, zoning changes, and General Plan amendments.

E
xpansion and Improvement: Provide opportunities for
continued education to Community Development staff
to maintain state-of-the-art knowledge of new code and
regulatory requirements.

Planning Commission Community
Development
The Planning Commission is responsible for reviewing
proposed residential and commercial development
projects, subdivisions, and land use requests to
determine their compliance with applicable City
regulations. The Commission makes recommendations
to the City Council with respect to the City's General
Plan, Zoning Code, Specific Plans and other matters
related to development within the City. The Commission
may be responsible for implementing mitigation items
pertaining to the Commission's scope.

E
xpansion and Improvement: Provide opportunities for
continued education to members of the Planning
Commission to maintain state-of-the-art knowledge of
new code and regulatory requirements.

Building Community
Development
The Building Department provides professional plan
review and inspection services to ensure buildings and
projects are built and developed in compliance with all applicable municipal and state code requirements.

E
xpansion and Improvement: Provide opportunities for
continued education to Community Development staff
to maintain state-of-the-art knowledge of new code and
regulatory requirements.

Economic Development Development Services The Economic Development Department supports and recruits business to the city.

E
xpansion and Improvement: Identify economic
development opportunities that incorporate mitigation
actions and strategies.

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Staff/Personnel
Resources Dept. / Agency Description (Effect on Hazard Mitigation) Housing Development Services The Economic Development Department develops, manages and promotes programs and projects that
improve the City's housing stock and provide affordable housing opportunities.

The Department provides initial on-going subsidies to
affordable rental housing projects within city limits. These affordable housing projects are targeted to very low, low and moderate-income persons. The Department also
contemplates participation in developer-based
proposals for affordable housing projects throughout the year.

Expansion and Improvement: I ntegrate mitigation
actions and strategies into low- and moderate-income
areas to reduce blight and potentially spur further
investment.

Engineering Public Works Oversees, plans, designs, and implements infrastructure projects.

E
xpansion and Improvement: Integrate mitigation
actions and strategies into the Capital Improvements
Program and annual budgeting.

Floodplain Management Public Works The duties and responsibilities of the Floodplain Administrator shall include, but not be limited to:
• Permit review
• Flood hazard reduction
• NFIP program administration
• Construction inspections
E
xpansion and Improvement: The Floodplain
Administrator supports compliance with NFIP
requirements, advocates for appropriate development
in flood hazard areas, and provides technical expertise on effective flood mitigation activities. This can support mitigation activities.

Public Works Public Works Public Works Department is responsible for water production, water distribution, water pipeline
replacements/upgrades, sewer and stormwater
maintenance, and customer service and meter reading.

E
xpansion and Improvement: Improve the
understanding of the role those daily activities play in hazard mitigation.

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Staff/Personnel
Resources Dept. / Agency Description (Effect on Hazard Mitigation) Financial Services Finance Department
C
ity Manager’s Office
The Finance Department is tasked with maintaining
reliable accounting records, payment of approved
demands against the City treasury, financial statement
reporting, preparation of the annual budget, prudent
fiscal planning, payroll processing and debt
administration.

E
xpansion and Improvement: Assist with key mitigation
activities associated with cost tracking hazard events
and disasters, identifying grant funding opportunities, grant reporting and administration, and establishing
financial risk calculations that can help assist with
budgeting of operations, maintenance, and capital
improvements.

Human Resources Human Resources The Human Resources Department plans, coordinates and administers a comprehensive human resources
management program for the City of Hesperia and its
employees. This includes the recruitment and retention
of highly qualified employees, maintenance of a
competitive employee compensation program. The Risk
Management Department identifies, evaluates and
manages the City's risk and liability programs. This
includes claims administration, cost recovery, the
maintenance of liability/insurance coverage as well as
the compliance with governmental regulation. In
addition, the department administers the City's workers' compensation and employee safety programs.

E
xpansion and Improvement: Increase knowledge and
information through better data collection and tracking.

Information Technology Information
Technology
The role of the IT Department is to support the
operational departments with reliable systems and
information on a daily basis. The most critical support required of IT being network, communications and
applications support. The IT department provides short- and long-term direction in planning, researching,
selecting and deploying future technologies. IT strives to accommodate improved business process automation,
self-service and quality customer service through a
variety of hardware and software solutions.

E
xpansion and Improvement: Increase system
redundancy and resiliency through improvements to
technologies and connectivity.

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Staff/Personnel
Resources Dept. / Agency Description (Effect on Hazard Mitigation) GIS Department Information
Technology
Provides complex mapping and data management of
City facilities, land use, and potential hazards. Supports visualization of complex data sets using geo-location
and data correlation.

E
xpansion and Improvement: Acquire and conduct
training for GIS technicians on the latest versions of
ArcGIS.

City Attorney City Manager’s Office Reviews and approves resolutions and ordinances.

E
xpansion and Improvement: Provide opportunities for
the City Attorney to review updates to regulatory
information to provide expert review of City resolutions and ordinances that may address hazard mitigation
Public Safety San Bernardino County
(SBC) Sheriff’s Dept.

Law enforcement activities within the City of Hesperia
include:
• Marked-unit patrol
• Traffic enforcement
• Gang enforcement / graffiti / vandalism
investigation and abatement
• Advanced investigations
These deputies network with a variety of law
enforcement partners such as City Code Enforcement,
Parole, Probation, Welfare Fraud officers and citizens. This networking helps the deputies to identify community
problems, the causal factors behind the problems and
then attack them from a variety of angles.

Expansion and Improvement: Provide training to Officers to better enable them to see potential hazards and take action to report them.

Fire Department San Bernardino County
Fire Protection District
Fire and Emergency Services are provided to the City of Hesperia by the San Bernardino County Fire Protection
District. San Bernardino County Fire is a community-
based, all hazard emergency services provider.

E
xpansion and Improvement: Proactively identify
opportunities to coordinate and collaborate with
neighboring jurisdictions to increase City and region-
wide capabilities.

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Staff/Personnel
Resources Dept. / Agency Description (Effect on Hazard Mitigation) Emergency Management
Personnel
City Manager’s Office Develops, coordinates, and manages programs that prevent, prepare for, respond to, recover from, and
mitigate natural and human-caused disasters and
emergencies.

E
xpansion and Improvement: Increase coordination and
collaboration with other City departments, especially
during annual budgeting.

Fiscal Capabilities
This section identifies the financial tools or resources that the City could potentially use to help fund mitigation activities. Fiscal capabilities include City-specific as well as state and federal resources.

T
able 5-2c provides a summary of local fiscal resources. As indicated in Table 5-2g, there are also several governmental funds and revenue raising activities that can be allocated for hazard mitigation. The local Fiscal Resources are updated every fiscal year. Each year allocation of funds for hazard mitigation will be adjusted based on the current year’s population growth, location, and future hazard risks.

Table 5-2c: City of Hesperia Capabilities Assessment
Financial Resources
Financial
Resources
Administrator Description (Effect on Hazard Mitigation) General Fund
Revenue
Finance Dept. Program operations and specific projects. Consists of sales and use tax, transient occupancy tax, general and administrative recovery, vehicle license fees, etc., that can be used for general purposes.

E
xpansion and Improvement: Hazard mitigation projects
may be considered during the annual budgeting
process for funding from the general fund.

State and County
Community
Development Dept.

Block Grants (CDBG)
Fund Specific The CDBG program provides funding for eligible senior activities such as in-home care, art classes, counseling, and home delivered meals. HUD also provides Disaster
Recovery Assistance in the form of flexible grants to help cities, counties, and States recover from Presidentially declared disasters, especially in low-income areas,
subject to the availability of supplemental
appropriations.

Expansion and Improvement: Where applicable, CDBG
grants should be used to fund mitigation projects that
enhance the resiliency of low-income and underserved
communities.

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Hazard Mitigation
Grant Program
(HMPG)
City Manager’s Office Provides support for pre-and post-disaster mitigation plans and projects.

E
xpansion and Improvement: Train staff on notice of
intent (NOI) procedures and track opportunities on the
Cal OES mitigation website to initiate applications for grant funding.

Building Resilient
Infrastructure and
Communities (BRIC)
Grant Funding Provides support for pre-disaster mitigation plans and projects.

E
xpansion and Improvement: Train staff on notice of
intent (NOI) procedures and track opportunities on the
Cal OES mitigation website to initiate applications for grant funding.

Flood Mitigation
Assistance grant
program (FMA)
Grant Funding Mitigates structures and infrastructure that have been repetitively flooded.

E
xpansion and Improvement: Train staff on notice of
intent (NOI) procedures and track opportunities on the
Cal OES mitigation website to initiate applications for grant funding.

County Wildfire Mitigation Programs
San Bernardino County has one of the most comprehensive set of programs to mitigate the potential for catastrophic wildfires in the Nation. There is no other jurisdiction that has the comprehensive, multi-agency cooperation and coordination as is found in San Bernardino County. While the following programs can be used by the City of Hesperia to develop and perform mitigation actions, they are the County of San Bernardino’s programs, so the City is unable to determine how that entity will expand and improve it at this time. Refer to Table 5- 2d below:

Table 5-2d: City of Hesperia Capabilities Assessment
County Wildfire Mitigation Program
Hazard Program Responsible
Agency Comments
Wildfire MAST Multiple The mission of the MAST is to facilitate a coordinated effort by cities, county, state, federal, and non-profit agencies to provide for protection from wildfire. For more information see County OES website or hazard mitigation plan.

Wildfire Cal Fire Cal Fire Cal Fire provides programs to increase fire safety in high fire hazard severity zones. For more information see County OES website or hazard mitigation plan.

Wildfire County Fire
Hazard
Abatement
Fire District Fire Hazard Abatement works to reduce the potential for an individual’s property to be the source of fire and structural ignitability. For more information see County OES website or hazard mitigation plan.

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Hazard Program Responsible
Agency Comments
Wildfire Contractor
Certification
City of Big Bear
Lake Fire
Department
This program trains and certifies landscape contractors to provide a qualified workforce to conduct fuels reduction activities on individual properties. For more information see County OES website or hazard mitigation plan.

Wildfire Southern
California
Edison (SCE)
Southern
California
Edison (SCE)
SCE removes dead trees near power lines to reduce fire
hazards. For more information see County OES website or hazard mitigation plan.

Wildfire Wood Shake
Roof
Replacement
County This code requires that all Wood Shake Roofs in the Fire Safety Overlay, as defined in the Development Code, ongoing effort.

For more information see County OES website or hazard
mitigation plan.

Wildfire Inland Empire
Fire Safe
Alliance
Inland Empire
Fire Safe
Alliance
The Alliance was created to act as a forum for all Fire Safe Councils in San Bernardino County. For more information see County OES website or hazard mitigation plan.

Wildfire Community
Wildfire
Protection
Plans (CWPP)
Fire District CWPPs are designed to provide a means for a community to have input into and actively participate in the planning, strategy, goals, and objectives of creating a fire safe community. For more information see County OES website or hazard mitigation plan.

Wildfire Organized
Group
Volunteer
Activities
Fire District There are several volunteer citizen groups throughout the County that are capable of providing significant resources that are not provided by traditional governmental agency services.

For more information see County OES website or hazard
mitigation plan.

County Flood Mitigation Programs

Table 5-2e below details flood mitigation programs that were established by San Bernardino County Flood Control District to protect life and property. These programs are typically designed to mitigate flood hazards to life and property, and critical infrastructure. Also, these programs can be used as a public education and information capability for Hesperia.

While the following programs can be used by the City of Hesperia to develop and perform mitigation actions, they are the County of San Bernardino’s programs, so the City is unable to determine how that entity will expand and improve it at this time.

Table 5-2e: City of Hesperia Capabilities Assessment
County Flood Mitigation Program
Hazard Program Responsible
Agency Comments
Flood Flood Area
Safety
Taskforce
(FAST)
Flood
Control
District
The FAST Organization stresses liaison with the communities, provides for community education and information, and places emphases on community and city partnerships. For more
information see County OES website or hazard mitigation plan.

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Flood Alluvial Fan
Task Force
Alluvial Fan
Task Force
The Task Force reviews the state of knowledge regarding alluvial fan floodplains, determine future research needs, and, if appropriate, develop recommendations relating to alluvial fan floodplain management, with an emphasis on alluvial fan floodplains that are being considered for development. For more information see County OES website or hazard mitigation plan.

Flood StormReady Flood
Control
District
San Bernardino County is a StormReady County. For more information see County OES website or hazard mitigation plan. The City of Hesperia also achieved their 6th renewal of NOAA StormReady recognition, which is valid for (4) years. Recognition will expire on June 20, 2028.

County Public Education and Alert Programs

While the following programs can be used by the City of Hesperia to develop and perform mitigation actions, they are the County of San Bernardino’s programs, so the City is unable to determine how that entity will expand and improve it at this time. Refer to Table 5-2f below:

Table 5-2f: City of Hesperia Capabilities Assessment
County Public Education and Alert Programs
Multi-
Hazard
CERT San
Bernardino
County
(SBC)
Office of
Emergency
Services
(OES)
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program
educates people about disaster preparedness and trains them in basic response skills. For more information on the CERT program see County OES website or HMP.

Multi-
Hazard
California
Disaster
Corps
SBC OES The Disaster Corps is a first-in-the-nation effort to professionalize, standardize and coordinate highly trained disaster volunteers statewide. This program initiative was built collaboratively in partnership with California Volunteers from the ground up through public-private partnerships and with a wide range of subject matter experts. For more information see County OES website or HMP.

Multi-
Hazard
TENS SCB OES Telephone Emergency Notification Systems (TENS) During an emergency, public safety can be a direct function of the speed and accuracy of the dissemination of information. This is particularly important during emergencies that require evacuations. To that end the Board of Supervisors dedicated General Fund money in 2003 to the implementation of an automated phone dialing system that calls telephones in specific geographic areas of concern. All areas of San Bernardino County have all been preprogrammed so that during an emergency, the specific target group can be notified as quickly as possible. For more information see County OES website or HMP.

Multi-
Hazard
ECS SCB OES The Emergency Communications Service (ECS) is a volunteer group providing front-line communications, technical and logistical support to the San Bernardino Office of Emergency Services. Their primary mission is to support County Fire, County Government and other local agencies in time of disaster. In addition, ECS has provided telecommunications and event support to other County departments including Public Health, Behavioral Health, Public Works, Pre-School Services, Sheriff's Search and Rescue and other County Departments.

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For more information see County OES website or hazard mitigation plan.

Multi-
Hazard
AM Radio SCB OES Community Based AM Radio Transmitters are very inexpensive but very effective. The transmitters are very effective for providing information and updates to a community that is either preparing for a community emergency or just had one. As a delivery modality they are extremely reliable because in most all emergencies the AM radio in your car is likely to be operational particularly when the electricity is out in your house.

Multi-
Hazard
IPAWS SCB OES During an emergency, alert and warning officials need to provide the public with life-saving information quickly. The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) is a modernization and integration of the nation’s alert and warning infrastructure and will save time when time matters most, protecting life and property. Federal, State, Territorial, Tribal, and local alerting authorities can use IPAWS and integrate local systems that use Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) standards with the IPAWS infrastructure. IPAWS provides public safety officials with an effective way to alert and warn the public about serious emergencies using the Emergency Alert System (EAS), Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio, and other public alerting systems from a single interface.

State and Federal Fiscal Resources
While the following programs/grants can be used by the City of Hesperia to develop and perform mitigation actions, they are the State of California/federal programs, so the City is unable to determine how that entity will expand and improve it at this time. Refer to Table 5-2g below:

Table 5-2g: City of Hesperia Capabilities Assessment
State and Federal Fiscal Resources
(Potential Funding Programs/Grants from State and Federal Agencies Agency / Grant Name Potential Programs/Grants
California DWR Proposition
50/84:

Integrated Regional Water
Management (IRWM)
Program.

DWR has a number of IRWM grant program funding opportunities. Current IRWM grant programs include planning, implementation, and DAC and Tribal Involvement Grant Program
https://water.ca.gov/work-with-us/grants-and-loans/irwm-grant-programs

Proposition 84, the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality, and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act, which provides $1,000,000,000 (P.R.C. §75001-75130) for IRWM Planning and Implementation. CA Dept. of Water Resources’ Flood Emergency Response Projects are posted on the webpage at:
https://opc.ca.gov/prop-84/

California Housing and
Community Development
(HCD) Emergency Solutions
Grant (ESG) Program
To fund projects that serve homeless individuals and families with supportive services, emergency shelter/transitional housing, assisting persons at risk of becoming homeless with homelessness prevention assistance, and providing permanent housing to the homeless population. The Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act of 2009 places new emphasis on assisting people to quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis and/or homelessness. https://www.hcd.ca.gov/grants-and-funding/programs-active/emergency- City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
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Agency / Grant Name Potential Programs/Grants
solutions-grants

CalTrans Division of Local
Assistance / Safe Routes to
School Program
California Dept. of Transportation. Federal funding administered via Caltrans.

Local 10% match is the minimum requirement.
https://dot.ca.gov/programs/local-assistance/fed-and-state-programs/active- transportation-program
California State Office of
Historic Preservation (OHP) /
Statewide Historic
Preservation Plan
Local Government; OHP’s Local Government Unit (LGU) offers guidance and assistance to city and county governments to preserve historic properties including damage from natural hazards.

U.S. Dept. of Energy /
Energy Efficiency and
Conservation Block Grant
Program
Provides funding for weatherization of structures and development of building codes/ordinances to ensure energy efficiency and restoration of older homes. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/wip/eecbg.html
Dept. of Homeland Security
(DHS) / FEMA Grants
http://www.fema.gov/grants
Office for Victims of Crime:

Antiterrorism and
Emergency Assistance
Program (AEAP)
The Office for Victims of Crime supports communities responding to terrorist attacks and cases of mass violence. The AEAP Assistance Programs include crisis response, consequence management, criminal justice support, crime victim compensation and training and technical assistance.
https://www.ovc.gov/AEAP/
U.S. Department of State
Office of Antiterrorism
Assistance (ATA):

Antiterrorism Assistance
Program
The ATA program trains civilian security and law enforcement personnel from friendly governments in police procedures that deal with terrorism. Since its inception in 1983, the program has trained and assisted over 84,000 foreign security and law enforcement officials from 154 countries. https://www.state.gov/antiterrorism-assistance-program/

California Emergency
Management Agency (Cal
EMA) / Proposition 1B
Grants Programs
The Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality and Port Security Bond Act of 2006, approved by the voters as Proposition 1B at the November 7, 2006 general election, authorizes the issuance of nineteen billion nine hundred twenty-five million dollars ($19,925,000,000) in general obligation bonds for specified purposes, including grants for transit system safety, security, and disaster response projects.
https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/proposition-1b-goods-movement- emission-reduction-program

California Proposition 1:

The Water Bond (AB 1471)
Authorize $7.545 billion in general obligation bonds for state water supply infrastructure projects, such as public water system improvements, surface and groundwater storage, drinking water protection, water recycling and advanced water treatment technology, water supply management and conveyance, wastewater treatment, drought relief, emergency water supplies, and ecosystem and watershed protection and restoration.

The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) will administer Proposition 1 funds for five programs. The estimated implementation schedule for each is outlined in Five Categories:
 Small Community Wastewater
 Water Recycling
 Drinking Water
 Stormwater
 Groundwater Sustainability

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Agency / Grant Name Potential Programs/Grants
http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/grants_loans/proposition

1.shtml
Assistance to Firefighters
Grant Program (AFG); Fire
Prevention and Safety
(FP&S)
The primary goal of the FP&S Grants is to enhance the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire and fire-related hazards. The Grant Programs Directorate administers the FP&S Grants as part of the AFG Program. FP&S Grants are offered to support projects in two activity areas:
1). Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Activity Activities designed to reach high-risk target groups and mitigate the incidence of death and injuries caused by fire and fire-related hazards.
2). Research and Development (R&D) Activity To learn more about how to prepare to apply for a project under this activity, please see the FP&S Research and Development Grant Application Get Ready Guide.
https://www.fema.gov/fire-prevention-safety-grants
Budget in Brief
General Fund Resources
The City of Hesperia’s General Fund Budget for expenditures is $48,804,804 for FY 2024-25.

The combined Capital Improvement Program Budget for FY 2024-25 is $33,804,875.

Revenue is anticipated to decrease by 11% ($15.5 million) overall. The decrease in the FY 2024-25 Budget compared to the prior year’s budget is largely due to a decrease in Other City Related Funds and Streets Related revenues from the closeout of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) during FY 2022-23 with HUD approved reallocation of CDBG grant activities and Developer Impact Fees (DIF) as outstanding projects have been completed and move towards occupancy. This decrease is offset, in part, by an anticipated increase in General Fund revenues. With that, the General Fund is increasing by 9% or $4.1 million, which is due to expected increases in Vehicle License Fees, General and Administrative revenue, and Other General Fund revenues.

The Hesperia Water District, which comprises 30% of the overall revenue budget, is expected to remain relatively unchanged from the FY 2023-24 Budget.

The following provides a brief description of the City's top general revenue sources along with the general assumptions used in preparing revenue projections.

Secured Property Tax
Property owners pay a basic tax of 1% of their property’s valuation to the County annually.

Historically, the City's General Fund receives approximately 1.5 cents of every property tax dollar paid by owners. The FY 2024-25 Budget of $1.2 million is 7% more than the FY 2023-24 Budget. This increase can be attributed to the growth in assessed valuations and the retention of additional property taxes in recent years.

Sales and Use Tax
Sales Tax is currently 7.75% in the City of Hesperia. The City's share is 1.00% of the 7.75%, with

6.00% going to the State, 0.50% to Measure I, and 0.25% applied to Local Transportation funding. The FY 2024-25 Budget estimate for Sales and Use Tax revenues is $14.3 million, a slight decrease of 0.6% from the FY 2023-24 Budget of $14.4 million. It is anticipated that sale prices will remain stable in several industry groups, such as auto and transportation, City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
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restaurants and hotels, and general consumer goods.

Vehicle License Fee (VLF)
The growth of the City's Vehicle License Fees is tied to the City's growth of assessed valuation. The County Assessor will provide notification on July 1, 2024, of the FY 2024-25 assessed valuation. It is estimated that the FY 2024-25 assessed valuation will be a 3.5% increase, which is consistent with past trends as well as reflective of recent development.

Currently, the combined FY 2024-25 Budget for VLF revenues estimate is $12.7 million, which is $2.6 million or 25.8% above the FY 2021-22 Actual.

Franchise Fees
The City imposes fees on refuse hauling; gas and electric utilities; and cable television companies operating in the City for the use, and wear and tear of the City's right-of-way. The fees range from two to ten percent (2% - 10%) of gross receipts. The FY 2024-25 Budget estimates revenue of $4.6 million, which is 6% higher than the FY 2023-24 Budget.

Development Related Fees
Overall, Development Related revenue is projected to increase by 16% from the FY 2023-24 Revised Budget and 26% compared to the FY 2023-24 Budget. This overall increase is due to anticipated residential, multi-family, and industrial-related projects occurring in FY 2024-25.

Development related revenue comprises 7.8% of the General Fund FY 2024-25 Budget estimates.

Business License
This license is paid by each business operating within the City. The FY 2024-25 Budget estimate of $843,000 is 2% higher than the FY 2023-24 Budget estimate of $824,243. The increase in the budget-to-budget comparison is due to an increase in the Business License Fees for a new business as a result of the revised City-wide fee schedule adopted by the City Council at the December 19, 2023, City Council meeting. The increase in the new business fees is partially offset by a decrease in cannabis business licenses renewals.

Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT)
The City of Hesperia municipal code authorizes the application of a 10% tax to the cost of hotel rooms within the City. This is intended to offset the cost of governmental services (streets and public safety) that the visitors use while temporarily staying in the City. Growth is driven by a combination of occupancy, rates, and lodging supply. The FY 2023-24 Budget is expecting a decrease of $0.3 million or 17% over the FY 2023-24 Revised due to a delinquency of TOT from a hotel, which the City is currently pursuing. It is expected that the revenue source will remain unchanged compared to the FY 2023-24 Budget.

Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL)
According to the National Flood Insurance Program, the City of Hesperia has zero repetitive loss properties within its jurisdiction.

Community Development Block Grants
Overall, this group of funds is projecting an 88% increase in the FY 2024-25 Budget. Non- streets Developer Impact Funds consists of 31% of the group’s total FY 2024-25 Budget while CDBG/HOME funds comprise 44% of the total.

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• CDBG-Entitlement - These grants are received from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), for the purpose of improving areas of the City and providing housing assistance for low -income families. These revenues are largely derived grant reimbursements, after incurring the expenditures. The FY 2024-25 Budget represents planned projects outlined in the CDBG Action Plan which is submitted to and approved by HUD. The budget-to-budget increase of 98% is primarily due to the drawdown on the grant f unds related to the FY 2021 -22 and FY 2023- 24 Street Improvement Projects.

Other City Related Funds
The City of Hesperia participates in an extensive list of federal and state grant programs, each designed to supplement the City’s budget and allow flexibility to increase infrastructure and opportunity capabilities allowing for more efficient use of tax dollars. The six funds in this group include: the Environmental Programs Grant, the Disaster Preparedness Grant, the 2012 Water Rights Debt Service, the 2023 Refunding Lease Debt Service, the Public Art, and the Local Assistance Grant fund. Each of these funds has restrictions, limiting how its money can be spent. The fund with the greatest revenue source in this revenue group is the Environmental Programs Grant, with grant revenue of $61,021.

Positions, Salaries, and Benefits
In total, the FY 2024-25 budgeted salaries and benefits are expected to increase by 11%, or $2.9 million, over the FY 2023-24 Budget. The FY 2024-25 Budget includes the addition of the new Street Repair crew, a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) of 4.0% for both represented and non-represented employees, benefit changes, and pension funding.

The FY 2024-25 Budget increases staffing by 4% or 8.29 full-time equivalent (FTE) from 195.20 FTE in FY 2023-24 to 203.49 FTE.

Hazard Mitigation Strategies and Actions
Mitigation Overview
The intent of the mitigation strategy is to provide Hesperia with a guidebook to future hazard mitigation administration. The mitigation strategy is intended to reduce vulnerabilities outlined in the previous section with a prescription of policies and physical projects. This will help City staff to achieve compatibility with existing planning mechanisms and ensures that mitigation activities provide specific roles and resources for implementation success.

The City of Hesperia’s mitigation strategy is derived from the in-depth review of the existing vulnerabilities and capabilities described in previous sections of this plan, combined with a vision for creating a disaster resistant and sustainable community for the future. This vision is based on informed assumptions and recognizes both mitigation challenges and opportunities demonstrated by the goals and objectives outlined below. Each of the mitigation measures identified under each objective includes an implementation plan. The measures were individually evaluated during discussions of mitigation alternatives and conclusions and used as input when priorities were decided. All priorities are based on consensus of the Planning Team.

Mitigation measures are categorized generally for all hazards and specifically for the four high risk hazards facing the City that were extensively examined in the risk assessment City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
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section: earthquake, flood, wildfire, severe weather events, and climate adaptation.

Mitigation 5-Year Progress Report
T
he following identifies the complete, deferred, and on-going actions or activities from the previously approved 2017 plan.

Mitigation Action
Complet
e
Deferred
On-going
Comments
Ranchero Road
Improvements –
Seventh Avenue to
Mariposa Road
X

Construction began in December 2021 with utility
relocations and will continue into FY 2024-25. The
Ranchero Road Corridor Project consists of various
improvements to Ranchero Road including the widening
of Ranchero Road from two lanes to four lanes in each
direction from Seventh Avenue to Mariposa Road. Four
culverts were also constructed as part of this project.

Aqueduct Crossing
Improvements –
Widen Bridge at Main
Street
X

Project delayed due to limited funding. The Main Street bridge crosses the California Aqueduct. Main Street is a major arterial roadway and is the primary east/west path of travel to I-15. Widening the aqueduct crossing is
required to accommodate the ultimate configuration of
Main Street.

Ranchero Road
Aqueduct Crossing
X

Right-of-way acquisition began in FY 2018-19 and was
completed in fall 2020. Incidental work for the project occurred in FY 2023-24. Construction of the bridge will begin in summer 2024. The Ranchero Road Corridor
Project consists of various improvements to Ranchero
Road including the construction of a storm drainpipe
along the California aqueduct and the development of a
detention basin.

FY 2019-20 CDBG
Street Improvements
X
Phase I of this project was completed in October 2020.

Phase II was completed in September 2022. The project
provided improvements to existing dirt roadways or
existing paved roadways in serious need of rehabilitation.

The project included construction of a reinforced
concrete box (RCB) to control the flow of storm waters
that flow across the surface of Peach Avenue impeding
vehicular traffic during storm events and also include
roadway improvements required as a result of
constructing the RCB. The location of this work is between Hinton Street and Centennial Street where the Antelope
Valley Wash crosses Peach Avenue.

Ranchero Road Street
Improvements
X

Preliminary engineering and design commenced in FY
2022-23. Right-of-way acquisition and design will
commence in FY 2023-24 with anticipated start of
construction in Summer 2026. This is Phase IV of the
Ranchero Road Corridor street improvement project. It is anticipated that roadway improvements will generally be within the project limits of Danbury Avenue to I Avenue.

Preliminary engineering will need to be conducted to
determine the roadway improvements being
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implemented under this project.

Maple Ave Street
Improvement Project
X

Preliminary engineering began in Fiscal Year 2022-23 and design will commence in FY 2023-24. Street rehabilitation projects usually include maintenance of existing roadways including methods of crack seal and slurry seal, grind and overlay, or full-depth reconstruction of a section of
roadway. Pavement conditions are being evaluated
along with methods of rehabilitation for Maple Avenue.

The project will likely be phased and boundaries for each phase will be determined after evaluation of pavement
conditions and needed improvements.

Cedar Street Roadway
Improvements
X

Preliminary engineering and studies will commence in
Fiscal Year 2023-24. Upon determining the improvements
to be implemented, design of the project may begin. This project will consist of roadway infrastructure
improvements on Cedar Street west of Escondido
Avenue. Currently, Cedar Street is a dirt road east of
Coyote Trail. Preliminary engineering and studies will be conducted to
determine the improvements, alignment and project limits to be
implemented under this project. This project would be
constructed in
partnership with San Bernardino County, as a portion of the roadway is
within their jurisdictional boundary.
2023 Emergency
Storm Repairs
X
Roadway repairs began in FY 2022-23 and will continue
into FY 2023-24. Project consisted of emergency roadway repairs required as a result of extremely significant storm events which occurred in the winter of 2023. The storm
damage was so extensive it prompted the need for
emergency repairs at multiple locations throughout the
City on the following streets: Sultana Street, Maple
Avenue, Olive Street, Dalscote Street, Peach Avenue,
Mariposa Road, Oakwood Avenue, Joshua Street, and
Danbury Avenue.

FY 2023-24 CDBG
Street Improvements
X

Design and construction is expected to be completed
during FY 2023-24. Project will provide improvements to existing dirt roadways or existing paved roadways that are in serious need of rehabilitation. Streets are under review for rehabilitation.

Temecula Avenue –
C-01 Retention Basin
X

Right-of-way (ROW) acquisition was completed in Fiscal
Year 2019-20. Design will commence in FY 2024-25, with construction following additional funding availability.

Installation of retention basin west of the storm drainpipe will regulate the flow of stormwater and allow sediment toto settle in the basin rather than dispersing in the storm drain pipe.

Walnut Street – H-01
Retention Basin
X

Right-of-way (ROW) acquisition was completed in
October 2019. Design was completed in FY 2021-22 with
environmental clearance continuing into FY 2024-

25. During initial environmental review, it was determined that additional studies and permitting will be
required. Construction will begin upon completion of
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environmental clearance, commencing in spring 2025.

Installation of retention basin south of the storm drainpipe will regulate the flow of stormwater and allow sediment toto settle in the basin rather than dispersing in the storm drainpipe.

A-04 Drainage
Program
X

Pursuit of grant funding opportunities began in Fiscal Year (FY) 2017-18. Seeking grant funding opportunities as well as other funding options will continue throughout the life of the project over the course of several fiscal
years. Engineering evaluations and pursuit of right-of-way acquisition will continue in the coming fiscal years as the opportunity arises. Right-of-way acquisition, design, and environmental clearance may begin in phases as funding
is secured. The A-04 drainage course is natural regional drainage channel on the Master Plan of Drainage along
the western portion of the City, east of Interstate 15, of which reaches nearly Main Street to Eucalyptus Street. This channel conveys large quantities of stormwater through
the City. Because of its significance, Main Street near Pyrite is often inundated with flood waters during storm events. Further, several streets and properties north of Main Street experience significant stormwater flows.

Cataba Road Basin
X

The Oro Grande Wash is a natural drainage course on the Master Plan of Drainage situated on the west side of the City between Interstate 15 and Highway 395 just north of Main Street. Installation of a retention basin between the end of Cataba Road and before the California Aqueduct
will regulate the flow of stormwater and allow the
sediment to settle into the basin rather than overflowing into the overchute.

I-15 Corridor Water
X

This project is on hold pending additional funding. In
November 2004, the City annexed the freeway corridor
south from Highway 395 to the summit at Oak Hills. As part of this annexation, the City is required to construct the water and sewer infrastructure to serve this corridor.

Reclaimed Water
X
The Hesperia Regional Water Reclamation Plant provides
reclaimed, non-potable water supplies. It is estimated that the plant is able to supply 1.0 million gallons per day of recycled water, which can be used for irrigation purposes.

This resource provides a distribution system to convey the recycled water to potential users.

Hazard Mitigation Goals
The broad goals identified in Chapter 1 help develop policies to protect community members, ecosystems, and other important assets from hazard events. In reviewing and updating the mitigation goals and actions, it was the HMPC’s consensus that the following goals remain in this LHMP update. These goals were developed to ensure consistency with the focused updates to Hesperia’s Safety Element, which plays an important role in risk reduction within Hesperia. These goals informed the development of mitigation actions and act as checkpoints to help City staff determine implementation progress.

E
mergency Preparedness Goals
Goal 1: A community prepared to withstand and recover from natural disasters and City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
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other emergencies.

Objectives: Since the City’s ultimate post-disaster survival will depend not only on the effectiveness of hazard mitigation and disaster response programs, but also on how quickly and how well the City is rebuilt after a major disaster, the City shall initiate a program for post-disaster planning.

A. Consistent with Public Resources Code Section 4290.5, require new development of 30 units or more in Fire Hazard Severity Zones, to have two ingress and egress routes that account for existing and proposed traffic evacuation volumes at buildout.

Establish comprehensive procedures for post-disaster planning in affected areas.

B. Coordinate with emergency responders and Caltrans to maintain potent ial evacuation routes to ensure adequate capacity, safety, and viability of those routes in the event of an emergency, including making improvements to existing roads to support safe evacuations as needed.

C. Provide information to members of the public about evacuation concerns, including designated evacuation routes and evacuation plan details, through multiple formats and in multiple languages.

D. Continue to participate in the countywide Ready San Bernardino County emergency alert system and Storm Ready Pro gram with the National Weather Service, issuing evacuation notices for affected neighborhoods in a timely manner in languages and formats accessible to all residents of Hesperia.

E. Maintain a FEMA -certified and adopted Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP).

Implement and regularly update the LHMP through a partnership consisting of representatives from all City departments, the San Bernardino County Fire and Sheriff Departments, local quasi-governmental agencies, private businesses, citizens, and other communi ty partners involved in emergency relief and/or community -wide services.

F. Upon update and certification by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, incorporate the Hesperia Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) into this Safety Element by reference, as permitted by California Government Code Section 65302.6.

G. Continue to support the development of local preparedness plans and multi - jurisdictional cooperation and communication for emergency situations consistent with regional, state (SIMS), and Federal standards, guidelines, and/or recommendations (NIMS).

H. Maintain mutual aid agreements with neighboring cities and the San Bernardino County Operational Area. Cooperate with other public agencies to ensure adequate medical and other emergency services, including assessing and projecting future emergency service needs.

I. Ensure to the fullest possible extent that, in the event of a major disaster, including extreme weather events, critical, dependent care, and high -occupancy facilities remain functional.

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J. To the greatest extent possible, locate new essential public and critical facilities, such as police stations, schools, and community centers, outside of mapped hazard zones. If essential facilities must be located in these zones, site and design t hem to minimize the risk of damage and maintain their operational capacity during and after a hazard. Require all essential and critical facilities in an identified hazard zone (100-year/500-year flood zone, dam inundation zone, fire hazard severity zone, landslide susceptibility zone, or others), to develop disaster response and evacuation plans that address the actions that will be taken in the event of an emergency.

K. Coordinate with local and regional agencies to establish resilience centers to support residents, in accordance with State guidance. Resilience centers consist of well‐used, existing, community‐ serving facilities that are equipped to provide residents and workers shelter, water, restrooms, showers, and electricity during poor air quality events, extreme heat events, or disasters. Ensure that resilience centers are not in areas at risk from hazards and equitably located to the extent possible, are equipped with renewable energy generation and backup power supplies, and accessible by the City's most vulnerable residents. Work with transit, dial-a-ride, and paratransit services to provide transit services to and from resilience centers for seniors and people with disabilities in the community.

L. Coordinate with the Victor Valley Transit Authority a nd community service organizations to assist with evacuation efforts for those, with limited English proficiency, lack access to a vehicle, and/or have limited mobility.

M. Offer educational programs to promote measures that for residents and businesses should take prior to, during, and after an emergency. Promote public awareness of City emergency response plans, resources, risk reduction, and preparation of emergency kits. Provide emergency preparedness educational programs in languages and formats accessible to all residents and businessowners in Hesperia.

N. In cooperation with the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, develop and hold regular Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training exercises to residents and members of the business commu nity to empower individuals and neighborhoods and increase disaster awareness and emergency response capability.

Programs

Emergency Communications Network - CodeRED
• The primary goal of CodeRED is to deliver emergency alerts to a large number of people within a very short time frame, allowing for swift action in critical situations .

This is particularly important during emergencies requiring evacuations. CodeRED is a wireless, web-based mass notification system that is designed to meet the needs of counties and municipalities, for fast, efficient telephone and email notifications to their citizens. The City’s CodeRED system has been pre- programmed to allow the City to carry critical information for the safety of the public and during an emergency event and has the capability to notify specific target groups and specific geographic areas as quickly as possible.

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Standardized Emergency Management Systems (SEMS)
• The SEMS has been adopted by the City for managing response to multi-agency and multi-jurisdiction emergencies and to facilitate and communications and coordination between all levels of the system and among all responding agencies.

SEMS regulations require local go vernments to provide for five functions:
management, operations, planning/intelligence, logistics and finance/administration.

National Incident Management System (NIMS)
• In addition to SEMS, the City recognizes and has incorporated the National Incident Management System (NIMS) into the Emergency Operations Plan, training and exercises. NIMS incorporates the use of the Incident Command System (ICS). • City staff will coordinate with the San Bernardino County Fire Department and train in National Information Ma nagement (NIMS) compliant emergency response procedures to provide assistance as needed during emergency situations. This includes conducting emergency response exercises, including mock earthquake induced fire-scenario exercises, to evaluate and improve, as needed, the City’s ability to respond to the multiple ignitions that an earthquake is likely to generate.

City of Hesperia’s Emergency Operations Center
• An EOC is a location from which centralized emergency management can be performed during a major emergency or disaster. This facilitates a coordinated response by the Director of Emergency Services, emergency management staff and representatives from organizations who are assigned emergency management responsibilities. The level of EOC staffing will vary with the specific emergency. An EOC provides a central location of authority and information and allows for face-to- face coordination among personnel who must make emergency decisions.

Earthquake

Goal 1: Minimize injury, loss of life, property damage and economic and social disruption caused by seismic shaking and other earthquake-induced hazards, and by geologic hazards such as slope instability, compressible and collapsible soils and subsidence.

Objectives: To protect life and property from impacts associated with seismic related disasters and to identify the potential hazards that can significantly impact the City.

A. Require preparation of geotechnical and engineering geological investigations, prepared by State- certified professionals (geotechnical engineers and engineering geologists, as appropriate) following the most recent guidelines by the California Geological Survey and similar organizations, as a condition of approval, for all project proposed in areas identified as within geologic and/or seismic hazard zones. These reports shall provide mitigation measures to reduce those hazards identified at a site to an acceptable level. City Staff that review geotechnical, geological, and structural reports submitted by development applicants, and that review grading operations, shall have the necessary professional credentials and certifications within their area of expertise to conduct these reviews. City Staff or assigned representatives will conduct City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
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routine inspection of grading operations to ensure site safety and compliance with approved plans and specifications.

B. Require development to minimize grading and other change s to the natural topography to protect public safety and reduce the potential for property damage as a result of geologic hazards. Liquefaction assessment studies shall be conducted as a condition of approval for all projects proposed in areas identified a s potentially susceptible to liquefaction identified in the Technical Background Report.

C. Require preparation of liquefaction assessment studies, as a condition of approval, for all projects proposed in areas identified as potentially susceptible to liquefaction. The studies shall be prepared by State-certified professionals (geotechnical engineers and engineering geologists, as appropriate) following the most recent guidelines by the California Geological Survey.

Encourage owners of unreinforced masonry buildings, to assess the seismic vulnerability of their structures and conduct seismic retrofitting as necessary to improve the buildings’ resistance to seismic shaking.

Projects/Programs

Mobile Home Seismic Retrofit Program
• Develop and sponsor projects and programs to brace new or relocated mobile homes to resist earthquakes.

General Earthquake Mitigation Projects
• Promote the San Bernardino County’s CERT training to the community to educate residents about disaster preparedness basic response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue and disaster medical operations.
• Develop earthquake mitigation public outreach educational programs. • Retrofit water storage tanks with shut -off valves, flexible fittings and/or other seismic safeguards as appropriate with the most recent water tank design guidelines.

Wildfire

Goal 1: Minimize injury, loss of life, property damage and economic and social disruption caused by wildland and urban fires.

Objectives: Because an integrated approach is needed to coordinate the City’s present and future needs in fire protection services in response to fire hazards and risks and to serve as a basis for program budgeting, identification and implementation of optimum cost-effective solutions:

A. In cooperation with the San Bernardino County Fire Department, ensure, to the maximum extent possible, that fire services, such as firefighting equipment and personnel, infrastructure, and response times, are adequate for all sections of the city.

The City, in cooperation with the San Bernardino County Fire Department, will evaluate citizen notification systems that can be used to warn residents of an approaching wildfire and to provide evacuation instructions.

B. Encourage new development to occur outside of Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.

Development that does occur in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones shall demonstrate compliance with applicable state and local building and fire code regulations as well as appropriate mitigation measures and design considerations.

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C. The City, in cooperation with the San Bernardino County Fire Department, will ensure, to the Require new developments in Very Fire Hazard Severity Zones (see Figure SF-10, Fire Hazard Severity Zones) to include the following, at a minimum, in applicable permit applications:

• Site plan, planting plan, planting palette, and irrigation plan to reduce the risk of fire hazards and with consideration to site conditions, including slope, structures, and adjacencies.
• Identification of defensible space for all buildings and plans for maintenance plan of defensible space.
• More than one point of ingress and egress to improve evacuation, emergency response, and fire equipment access and adequate water in frastructure for water supply and fire flow that meets or exceeds the standards in the California Fire Safe Regulations. This specifically includes two sections of Title 14 of the CCR, Division 1.5, Chapter 7: Subchapter 2, Articles 1 -5 (commencing with section 1270, SRA Fire Safe Regulations); and Subchapter 3, Article 3 commencing with section 1299.01, Fire Hazard Reduction Around Buildings and Structures Regulations).
• Class A roof materials for new and replacement roofs. • Location and source of anticipated water supply.
• Fire protection plans for long -term, comprehensive, fuel reduction and management, consistent with California Fire Code, Chapter 49. Fire protection plans shall include a risk analysis, fire response capabilities, fire safety requirements, mitigation measures and design considerations for non- conforming fuel modifications, and wildfire education maintenance and limitations.

D. All new development within the wildland -urban interface or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone must comply with fire- resistant landscaping and defensible space requirements. These standards shall meet or exceed Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR). This specifically includes Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Articles 1-5 (commencing with section 1270, SRA Fire Safe Regulations); and Division

1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 3, Article 3 (commencing with section 1299.01, Fire Hazard Reduction Around Buildings and Structures Regulations). New development shall also comply with the California Public Resource Code Section 4291 (State Defensible Space Requirements) which requires the following:

• Create a defensible space of at least 100 feet around the structure. • Remove all dead plants, grass, weeds, and other flammable vegetation from the defensible space.
• Remove tree limbs that are within 10 feet of the chimney or stovepipe of the structure.
• Trim tree limbs that are within 6 feet of the ground or within 10 feet of the structure.
• Remove all dead branches, leaves, and other debris from roofs and rain gutters.
• Create horizontal and vertical spacing between trees and shrubs to prevent the spread of fire.
• Space trees at least 10 feet apart from each other.
• Maintain the defensible space throughout the year, not just during fire season.

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• Obtain any necessary permits from local fire agencies before conducting any vegetation management activities.
• Provide and maintain access to the property for emergency vehicles.

E. Require development, including infrastructure, in areas within the wildland-urban interface or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, to establish and maintain vegetation management practices to reduce the risk of wildfire ignition and spread.

These practices shall include fire safe site planning, home hardening, vegetation management, the use of native drought-tolerant and fire-resistant species, and defensible space consistent with State and San Bernardino County Fire Protection District regulations.

F. In coordination with San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, require that new development be located where fire and emergency services have sufficient capacity to meet project needs or require that they be upgraded to provide necessary capacity as part of the proposed development activities to ensure new development has adequate fire protection.

G. Require new development to provide adequate access for fire and emergency vehicles and equipment that meets or exceeds State standards found in two parts of the California Fire Safe Regulations (California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division

1.5, Chapter 7): Subchapter 2, Articles 1-5 (commencing with section 1270, SRA Fire Safe Regulations); and Subchapter 3, Article 3 (commencing with section 1299.01, Fire Hazard Reduction Around Buildings and Structures Regulations).

H. Ensure that street signage and building address signage support firefighting crews and emergency response teams in their response to fire hazards or work under low- visibility conditions, including installation of high-visibility signage for streets and building addresses that meet or exceed the standards in the California Fire Safe Regulations (Title 14 of the CCR, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Articles 2 and 3, Sections 1273 and 1274).

I. Coordinate with State and regional partners to ensure roadways in fire hazard severity zones are in compliance with current fire safety regulations. The City will maintain City-owned roadways to meet current regulations to the extent feasible and given the absence of other site constraints. These regulations include road standards for evacuation and emergency vehicle access, vegetation clearance, and other requirements of the California Fire Safe Regulations, Title 14 of the CCR, Division 1.5, Chapter 7), specifically Subchapter 2, Articles 1-5 (commencing with section 1270, SRA Fire Safe Regulations); and Subchapter 3, Article 3 (commencing with section 1299.01, Fire Hazard Reduction Around Buildings and Structures Regulations).

J. Encourage owners of non-sprinklered high-occupancy structures to retrofit their buildings to include automatic fire sprinklers.

K. Make available and share relevant educational and outreach materials, rebate programs, and incentives with the public to help residents understand appropriate fire mitigation and preparedness activities, such as vegetation management, home hardening, defensible space, evacuation routes, and emergency evacuation City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
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procedures during a fire hazard.

L. Coordinate with CAL FIRE, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, and landowners to ensure maintenance of existing fuel breaks, vegetation clearance, and emergency access routes for effective fire suppression on public and private roads, especially evacuation routes.

M. Develop programs and provide updates, as appropriate, that ensure recovery and redevelopment after a large fire and reduce future vulnerabilities to fire hazard risks through site preparation, redevelopment layout design, fire resistant landscape planning, and fire retarding building design and materials.

N. Collaborate with the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District to address fire suppression needs for the community.

O. Coordinate with San Bernardino County Fire Department to provide resources to seniors and physically disabled residents to assist in maintaining defensible space around their homes.

P. Seek the designation as a Fire Risk Reduction Community through CAL FIRE.

Projects/Programs

• Partner with County of San Bernardino Fire Department to design, develop and construct mitigation programs and facilities that provide training opportunities in support of multi-hazard/multi-jurisdictional emergency incidents.

• Provide adequate fire protection facilities and services in accordance with standards of the City and the County of San Bernardino Fire Department for all development, existing and proposed.

• The County of San Bernardino Fire Preve ntion Division is responsible for Fire Hazard Abatement (FHA). On a mission of public education and fire prevention FHA works to reduce the potential for an individual’s property to be the source of fire and structural ignitability. Failing to maintain o nes private property in a fire safe condition was considered to be an individual property rights issue. Now, when a person leaves the vegetation on their property in such a state of disrepair, it is seen as a fire threat and is considered a threat to their neighbor’s property rights. To ensure compliance, FHA issues notices of violation to properties that have dry vegetation and flammable green vegetation. If the property owner doesn’t comply with the notice, FHA obtains a warrant to go onto the property and abate the fire hazard. FHA staff dedicates a substantial amount of time working to educate non -compliant citizens as to what a significant threat they impose on their neighbors. The goal of the FHA team is to get complete compliance through behavior modification.
• The CERT program educates and trains people in disaster preparedness by teaching basic response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue and disaster medical operations. Following a catastrophic event, many public safety resources will be unavailable and/or overwhelmed. Utilizing their CERT training, CERT members can City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
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assist themselves, their families and others in the neighborhood or workplace until professional first responders arrive.

Flood

Goal: Minimize injury, loss of life, property damage and economic and social disruption caused by flooding and inundation hazards.

Objectives: Because the City has entered into an agreement to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program which provides flood insurance within designated flood plains, the following actions shall be implemented:

A. Require preparation of hydrological studies prepared by a State -certified engineer with expertise in this area, as a condition of approval, for all projects proposed in the 100-year or 500 -year floodplain. These studies shall assess the impact that the new development will have on the flooding potential of existing development down- gradient. The studies shall provide mitigation measures to reduce this impact to an acceptable level. Single family r esidences shall be exempt, except for infill lots with natural drainage courses, washes, master plan of drainage are subject to providing hydrology reports. The City shall continue participation in the National Flood Insurance Program and require that all owners of properties located within the 100 -year floodplain (Zones A and AE), and repeat -flood properties in the 500 -year floodplain (Zone X) to purchase and keep flood insurance for those properties.

B. Participate in the National Flood Insurance Program a nd require that all owners of properties located within the 100 -year floodplain, and repeat-flood properties in the 500-year floodplain purchase and keep flood insurance for those properties.

C. Maintain, and improve where needed, the storm drain systems, with an emphasis on those areas of the City that flood repeatedly. This entails maintaining and regularly cleaning the storm drains and other flood -control structures in low -lying areas, as necessary, such that floodwaters can be effectively conveyed away from structures.

Explore the construction of additional drainage channels where necessary.

D. Coordinate with the Hesperia Recreation and Park District to explore the use of floodplains as parks, nature trails, equestrian parks, golf courses, or other types o f recreational facilities that can withstand periodic inundation.

E. Encourage new development and existing property owners to slow or absorb floodwaters, including through installation of permeable pavements and green infrastructure.

F. Coordinate with the Hesperia Recreation and Park District and surrounding jurisdictions to conduct habitat restoration projects in passive recreation areas to improve the capacity of local ecosystems to absorb or slow floodwaters.

G. Prepare to respond to a potential dam failure from Cedar Springs Dam, Mojave Dam, and Lake Arrowhead Dam.

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Projects/Programs

1. Master Plan Drainage Facility H -01, Bandicoot Basin – Although a San Bernardino County project, the 920 ac-ft basin will attenuate flood waters – reducing peak flow rates nearly 50% - and accumulates sediments loads while conversing local storm water runoff. The project will include excavation of a basin together with inlet/outlet facilities and an emergency spillway.

2. Master Plan Drainage Facility A-04, Escondido Basin – the 330 ac-ft basin will attenuate flood waters – reducing peak flow rates nearly 80% - and accumulates sediments loads while conversing local storm water runoff. The project will include excavation of a basin together with inlet/outlet facilities and an emergency spillway.

3. Master Plan Drainage Facility H -01, Walnut Basin – the 37 ac -ft basin will attenuate flood waters and accumulates sediments loads while conversing local storm water runoff. The project will include excavation of a basin together with inlet/outlet facilities and an emergency spillway connecting to already improved downstream storm drain system.

4. Master Plan Drainage Facility C -01, Temecula Basin – the 39 ac -ft. multiple basin project will attenuate flood waters and accumulates sedim ents loads while conversing local storm water runoff. The project will include excavation of a basin together with inlet/outlet facilities and an emergency overflow facility connecting to already improved downstream storm drain system.

5. Cataba Road Basin – The Oro Grande Wash is a natural drainage course on the Master Plan of Drainage situated on the west side of the City between I-15 and Highway 395 just north of Main St. Stormwater runoff from various tributaries discharge into an earthen channel at Cataba Rd. and continues north where it meets the Oro Grande Wash that intersects with a chute over the California Aqueduct. The overchute conveys stormwater over the aqueduct. Because of the significant quantity of sediment that reaches the chute, the State of California Department of Water Resources has asked the City to mitigate the transportation of sediment caused by storm flows. Installation of a retention basin between the end of Cataba Rd. and before the California Aqueduct will regulate the flow of s tormwater and allow the sediment to settle into the basin rather than overflowing the chute.

National Flood Insurance Program
• Hesperia participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which was created by Congress in 1968 to provide flood insu rance at subsidized rates to homeowners who live in flood-prone areas. Individual communities have the option to participate in the NFIP, although property owners who live in nonparticipating communities with flood- prone areas will not be able to buy flood insurance through the program. Additionally, nonparticipating communities with mapped floodplains cannot receive federal grants or loans for development activities in flood-prone areas and cannot receive federal disaster assistance to repair flood-damaged buildings in mapped floodplains.

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Initial Flood Insurance Rate Map 09/29/1989
NFIP Participation Date 10/19/1989
Current Effective Map Date 09/02/2016

Although participation is not a dedicated hazard mitigation action, Hesperia will continue to participate in NFIP and comply with the program’s requirements through continued enforcement of the City’s Floodplain Management Regulations (Municipal Code Chapter 8.28: Flood Hazard Protections Regulations).

Adoption of Minimum Floodplain
Management Criteria, and
Implementation and Enforcement of
Floodplain Management
Regulations
Title 8 – Health and Safety, Chapter 8.28 – Flood
Hazard Protections Regulations
https://library.municode.com/ca/hesperia/codes/code
_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT8HESA_CH8.28FLHAPRRE
Designee to Implement NFIP Section 8.28.040 – Administration https://library.municode.com/ca/hesperia/code
s/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT8HESA_CH8.28F
LHAPRRE_8.28.040AD

The city engineer, or their designee, is hereby
appointed to administer, implement and enforce
this chapter by granting or denying development
permits in accord with its provisions.

Implementation of Substantial
Improvement/ Substantial Damages
Provisions
Section 8.28.050 – Provisions for Flood Hazard
Reduction
https://library.municode.com/ca/hesperia/codes/cod
e_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT8HESA_CH8.28FLHAPRRE_8.2

8.050PRFLHARE
*Ordinances are hyperlinked

These regulations apply to all areas of special flood hazards, areas of flood-related erosion hazards and areas of mudslide (i.e., mudflow) hazards within the City. The purpose of these regulations is to promote public health, safety, and general welfare and to minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions. This chapter also includes methods of reducing flood losses, the basis for establishing flood hazard areas, development permit requirements, duties and responsibilities of the City’s Floodplain Administrator, the development standards that apply in flood-prone areas and required documentation and analysis for construction within these areas.

As part of the City’s efforts to comply with NFIP, Hesperia will make updates and revisions to these regulations periodically to ensure they are most effective at minimizing the threat of harm from flood events. These updates and revisions may be promoted by changes in local demographics, shifts in land use, changes to flood regimes such as frequency and intensity of flood events, and other factors that may warrant municipal action. The City will also continue to incorporate any changes to the locations and designations of mapped floodplains into future planning documents, including future updates to this Plan.

The City of Hesperia contains Special Flood Hazard Areas that include 88 policies in City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
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force, with approximately $74,761 in premiums. Total insurance coverage for these policies amounts to $22,128,000. According to FEMA, from July 7, 1991 to August 20, 2023 a total of 20 closed paid losses have occurred totaling $644,126; there was (1) substantial damage loss, however, no severe repetitive loss properties were identified by FEMA.

Climate Change/Extreme Weather (Severe Winds, Extreme Heat, Severe Storms)

Goal: A resilient community able to adapt to climate change hazards.

Objectives: To protect life and property from impacts associated with extreme weather events.

A. Promote water conservation measures in all public and private development.

B. Work with regional water providers to implement extensive water conservation measures and ensure sustainable water supplies, including for fire suppression needs.

C. Conduct regular public awareness campaigns on resilience initiatives related to poor air quality, drought, extreme heat, severe weather, water conservation, and human health hazards.

D. Coordinate with the Victor Valley Transit Authority to increase shading and use of heat-mitigating materials on pedestrian walkways and at transit stops.

E. Develop and maintain an Extreme Heat Action Plan in accordance with State guidance.

F. Promote the use of drought‐tolerant green infrastructure, including landscaped areas, as part of cooling strategies in public and private spaces.

G. Encourage local businesses to develop workplace heat safety protocols and provide training for employers and employees in heat-exposed occupations.

H. Improve the resiliency of City-owned structures to severe weather events and support homeowners and business owners to improve the resilience of their buildings and properties through retrofits, weatherization, and other improvements.

I. Coordinate with the City’s utility service providers to upgrade, harden, and/or underground their facilities and infrastructure in Hesperia, to improve their survivability of a natural or human-caused hazard event.

J. Participate in regional partnerships that support increased community resilience, such as the Inland Southern California Climate Collaborative.

K. Coordinate with the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health and health-care providers to support free or reduce-cost medical care for low- resourced households.

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L. Coordinate with local agencies, healthcare providers, and community-based organizations that provide resources to help residents respond to poor air quality events (e.g., transportation to resilience centers and supply free N95 masks).

M. Work with local contractors and community based organizations to help low- income households and community service providers obtain or upgrade indoor air filtration systems.

Programs

1. Emergency Management Institute – Conducts a series of Virtual Tabletop Exercises using a virtual platform to reach community-based training audiences around the country to provide a virtual forum for disaster training. The program process involves key personnel from emergency management reviewing pre-packaged exercise materials and convening for a 4+ hour tabletop exercise discussion of a simulated disaster scenario. The event allows the group to assess current plans, policies, and procedures while learning from other participants. On September 25, 2024, the City of Hesperia participated in the Winter Weather (Freezing Rain) exercise. On November 14, 2024, the City of Hesperia also participated in a Tabletop Exercise in Adelanto Stadium on Local Supply Chain Resilience.

Evaluation of Potential Hazard Mitigation Actions
Based on the hazard profiles, threat assessment, capabilities assessment, community survey results, discussions among HMPC members, and existing best practices, a set of potential mitigation actions was developed and then evaluated based on the following criteria:
• FEMA requires local governments to evaluate the monetary and non-monetary costs and benefits of potential mitigation actions. Although local governments are not required to assign specific dollar values to each action, they should identify the general size of costs and benefits.
• The HMPC may elect to include measures with a high cost or low benefits, but such measures should be clearly beneficial to the community and an appropriate use of local resources.

In addition, FEMA directs local governments to consider the following questions as part of the financial analysis:
• What is the frequency and severity of the hazard type to be addressed by the action, and how vulnerable is the community to this hazard?
• What impacts of the hazard will the action reduce or avoid? • What benefits will the action provide to the community? The HMPC also chose to review and revise the potential hazard mitigation actions using a third set of criteria (Table 5-3), known as STAPLE/E (Social, Technical, Administrative, Political, Legal, Economic, and Environmental). The HMPC did not formally assess every potential mitigation action under all STAPLE/E criteria but used the criteria as guidance.

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Prioritization Process
As part of the mitigation actions development and review, the HMPC also prioritized the actions. The prioritization efforts looked at the risks and threats from each hazard, financial costs and benefits, technical feasibility, and community values, among others.

Table 5-3: STAPLE/E Criteria
Issues Criteria
Social • Is the action socially acceptable to community members? • Would the action mistreat some individuals?
• Is there a reasonable chance of the action causing a social disruption? Technical • Is the action likely to reduce the risk of the hazard occurring, or will it reduce the hazard's effects?
• Will the action create new hazards or make existing hazards worse? • Is the action the most useful approach for the City to take, given the City and community members' goals?
Administrative • Is the action likely to reduce the risk of the hazard occurring, or will it reduce the hazard's effects?
• Will the action create new hazards or make existing hazards worse? • Is the action the most useful approach for the City to take, given the City and community members' goals?
Political • Is the action politically acceptable to City officials and other relevant jurisdictions and political entities?
• Do community members support the action?
Legal • Does the City have the legal authority to implement and enforce the action? • Are there potential legal barriers or consequences that could hinder or prevent the implementation of the action?
• Is there a reasonable chance that the implementation of the action would expose the City to legal liabilities?
• Could the action reasonably face other legal challenges? Economic • What are the monetary costs of the action, and do the costs exceed the monetary benefits?
• What are the start-up and maintenance costs of the action, including administrative costs?
• Has the funding for action implementation been secured, or is a potential funding source available?
• How will funding the action affect the City’s financial capabilities? • Could the implementation of the action reasonably burden the City’s economy or tax base?
• Could there reasonably be other budgetary and revenue impacts to the City? Environmental • What are the monetary costs of the action, and do the costs exceed the monetary benefits?
• What are the start-up and maintenance costs of the action, including administrative costs?
• Has the funding for action implementation been secured, or is a potential funding source available?
• How will funding the action affect the City’s financial capabilities? • Could the implementation of the action reasonably burden the City’s economy or tax base?
• Could there reasonably be other budgetary and revenue impacts to the City?

Public Input for Mitigation Priorities
Public input is an essential step in validating the prioritization of mitigation actions.

Valuable information was gathered regarding the perception of hazard threats to residents through a community survey. A summary of the results can be found in City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
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Appendix B.

The community survey found that 75% of respondents had experienced a disaster within the City of Hesperia. The top three hazards of concern for respondents were Extreme Weather (High winds, Extreme Heat Days, Severe Rainstorms), Flooding, and there was a draw between Earthquake/Geologic Hazards and Wildfires. These responses confirmed that the concerns identified by City staff during the planning process were similar to residents that responded.

The survey also investigated whether residents had taken any action to protect themselves from natural hazards. The survey indicated that 18.52% were very confident,

25.93% were somewhat confident, 25.93% were unconfident, 7.41% were not at all confident, and 22.22% were unsure whether mitigating measures were sufficient. The survey asked how the City could help residents better prepare for a disaster, 96.30% of the respondents indicated that the City should provide effective emergency notifications and communication. This community feedback was taken into consideration when prioritizing mitigation actions.

A second survey was released to the public and to stakeholders, and it was determined that respondents continued to be concerned about Wildfires (82.35%), Extreme Weather (64.71%), and Flooding (47.06%). For this survey there was a draw between Earthquake (41.18%) and Human Caused Hazards (41.18%).

When asked about community-wide activities that would help reduce vulnerability to hazards, 94.12% of respondents agreed that prevention through administrative or regulatory actions that influence the way land is developed and buildings are built is very important. Equally important to respondents (94.12%) was emergency services, such as actions that protect people and property during and immediately after a hazard event. This feedback was also taken into consideration when prioritizing mitigation actions.

Cost Estimates
To meet the cost estimation requirements of the hazard mitigation planning process, the HMPC identified relative cost estimates based on their understanding of the mitigation action and their experience developing identical or similar programs/implementing projects. Three cost categories based on the City’s typical cost criteria were used for budgeting purposes:
• Low cost ($): $100,000 or less
• Medium cost ($$): $100,001 to $999,999
• High cost ($$$): Greater than $1,000,000
Based on the criteria and evaluation processes used during Plan development, the HMPC prepared a prioritized list of mitigation actions to improve Hesperia’s resilience to hazard events. Table 5-4 lists the mitigation actions, the prioritization of each action, and other details related to implementation. In addition to mitigation action and strategies, several preparedness activities were identified and denoted with the letter “PA.” Timeframes
Table 5-4 includes timeframes that provide general timing durations due to the nature of the mitigation actions identified by the City. The following timeframes are used based on the following conditions:

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• Ongoing (Annually): Actions that identify this timeframe are the types of actions that City staff would conduct on an annual basis.
• In Progress (As Needed): Actions identified under this timeframe involve activities that City staff will undertake in response to emerging needs or requests. • Future Planning Process: Actions identified within this timeframe are considered low- priority actions that the City would like to continue to track but does not feel they would be able to implement in the current planning implementation timeframe.

Table 5-4: Mitigation Action Implementation Plan
Action
No.

Mitigation Action
Description
Responsible
Department(s)
Relative
Cost
Timeframe Potential
Funding
Source
Priority
Preparedness Activities
PA 1.1 Conduct regular emergency
preparedness drills and training
exercises for City staff.

City Manager’s
Office
$ Ongoing
(Annually)
General
Fund/
Grants
N/A
PA 1.2 Continue agreements with local
school districts to ensure that school
facilities can act as evacuation sites
during major emergencies.

City Manager’s
Office
$ In Progress
(As
Needed)
General
Fund/
Grants
N/A
PA 1.3 Partner with SBC Fire to promote CERT
training to the community to educate
residents about disaster
preparedness on basic response skills,
such as fire safety, light search and
rescue, and disaster medical
operations.

City Manager’s
Office,
San Bernardino
County Fire
District
$ Initiate by
2025-2026
General
Fund/
Grants
N/A
PA 1.4 Continue to ensure effective
emergency notifications through
multiple media formats, about
pending, imminent, or ongoing
emergency events. Ensure that
information is accessible to persons
with access and functional needs.

City Manager’s
Office
$ In Progress
(As
Needed)
General
Fund/
Grants
N/A
PA 1.5 Ensure that community evacuation
plans include provisions for
community members who do not
have access to private vehicles or
are otherwise unable to drive.

City Manager’s
Office, SBC
Sheriff’s Dept.
$$ Initiate by
2025-2026
General
Fund/
Grants
N/A
PA 1.6 Ensure that the City has an
adequate supply of sandbags for
residents and businesses, including
prefilled sandbags for individuals
who may be unable to fill them on
their own.

City Manager’s
Office, Public
Works
$ In Progress
(As
Needed)
General
Fund/
Grants
N/A
Multiple Hazards
MH

1.1 Conduct routine updates to Facility
Conditions Assessments for City-
owned infrastructure and other
utilities and coordinate with other
agencies to ensure inspections of
other important infrastructure.

Public Works,
Facilities,
Engineering
$ Ongoing
(Annually)

General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
Medium
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MH

1.2 Repair, as feasible, all major
deficiencies discovered by
inspections to prevent collapse,
failure, or damage in the event of a
natural disaster.

Public Works,
Facilities,
Engineering,
Building and
Safety
$$$ Initiate by
2026
General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
High
MH

1.3 Work closely with community groups
to increase awareness of hazard
events and resiliency opportunities
among socially vulnerable
community members, including
those experiencing homelessness.

City Manager’s
Office,
Community
$ In Progress
(As
Needed)
General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
Medium
MH

1.4 Avoid building new City-owned key
facilities in mapped hazard areas. If
no feasible sites outside mapped
areas exist, ensure that such facilities
are hardened against hazards
beyond any minimum building
requirements/ mitigation standards.

Public Works,
Engineering,
Building and
Safety
$ In Progress
(As
Needed))
General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
Low
MH

1.5 Closely monitor changes in the
boundaries of mapped hazard areas
resulting from land use changes or
climate change and adopt new
mitigation actions or revise existing
ones to ensure continued resiliency.

Community
Development,
Planning
$ In Progress
(As
Needed))
General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
Low
MH

1.6 Integrate policy direction and other
information from this Plan into other
City documents, including the
General Plan, Emergency
Operations Plan, and Capital
Improvements Program.

All Departments $ Ongoing
(Annually)
General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
Medium
MH

1.7 Monitor funding sources for hazard
mitigation activities.

City Manager’s
Office
$ Ongoing
(Annually)
General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
Low
MH

1.8 Integrate climate change mitigation
and adaptation information and
analysis into future LHMP updates
and other City Plans, where
practicable.

City Manager’s
Office, Planning
$ Initiate
2024-2025
General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants

Low
Earthquake/Geologic Hazards
EQ 1.1 Develop a Public Information
Program (PIP) for earthquake
awareness and mitigation. The
program should focus on reducing
injury and property damage and
encourage partnerships, activities,
and products to educate the public
about earthquake science and
motivate residents and businesses to
prepare for earthquakes.

City Manager’s
Office
$ Initiate
2025-2026
General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
Medium
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
171

EQ 1.2 Conduct an educational campaign
to encourages simple earthquake
mitigation activities (i.e., water
heater straps, furniture anchoring,
gas shut-off tools, and other
emergency supplies) to reduce strain
on City resources during an event.

City Manager’s
Office
$ Initiate
2025-2026
General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
Medium
EQ 1.3

Periodically update the seismically
vulnerable buildings and structures
inventory and pursue funding to
incentivize retrofits of these structures
to be more resilient to earthquakes in
accordance with State and Local
building standards and Historic
Preservation Program requirements.

Assess soft story conditions for
apartment buildings constructed
prior to 1980.

Building and
Safety
$ In Progress
(As
Needed)
General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
Low
EQ 1.4 Encourage the installation of resilient
(seismically appropriate) piping for
new or replacement pipelines in
close coordination with utility
providers.

Public Works

$ In Progress
(As
Needed)
General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
Medium
EQ 1.5 To the extent feasible, construct all
new and significantly retrofitted City-
owned facilities to remain
operational in the event of a major
earthquake.

Public Works,
Facilities,
Engineering
$$$ In Progress
(As
Needed)
General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
Low
EQ 1.6 Improve local understanding of the
threat of a major earthquake by
conducting a citywide scenario
modeling potential loss of life and
injuries, destroyed and damaged
structures, and interruptions to key
services.

City Manager’s
Office, Public
Works

$ Initiate by
2026
General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
Medium
EQ 1.7 Monitor groundwater elevations in
areas where liquefaction and
subsidence may be a concern.

Public Works

$ Ongoing
(Annually)
General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
Low
Flood
FL 1.1 Identify project candidates and
sources of funding to improve
drainage conveyance, and/or
mitigate peak flow in local
tributaries.

Public Works $$$ Future
Planning
Process
General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
Medium
FL 1.2 Identify potential flood
improvements that reduce
inundation from both storm flows
and potential dam inundation
effects.

Public Works,
California
Division of
Safety of Dams,
USACE
$ Initiate by
2026
General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
Medium
FL 1.3 Conduct frequent cleanings of storm
drain intakes, especially before and
Public Works $ Ongoing
(Annually)
General
Funds,
Low
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
172

during the rainy season. BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
FL 1.4 Track areas where ponding
frequently occurs during heavy
rainfall and monitor intersections that
frequently flood during rain events
and identify improvements to
alleviate these conditions.

Public Works,
Engineering
$ Ongoing
(Annually)
General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
High
Wildfire
WF 1.1 Partner with the County of San
Bernardino Fire Department to
design, develop and construct
mitigation programs and facilities
that provide training opportunities in
support of fuel reduction in open
space, creeks, around critical
facilities, and urban/wildland areas.

San Bernardino
County Fire
District
$ Ongoing
(Annually)
General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
Medium
WF 1.2 Improve and enforce weed
abatement policies, by enhancing
public education and encouraging
the public to take responsibility for
wildfire protection.

Code
Enforcement
$ Ongoing
(Annually)
General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
Medium
WF 1.3 Provide information and resources to
residents city-wide on ways to
improve resilience to home fires,
including procedures for fallen
powerlines.

San Bernardino
County Fire
District
$ Ongoing
(Annually)
General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
Low
Extreme Weather (High Winds, Extreme Heat, Severe Rainstorms) EW 1.1 Conduct outreach to residents and
businesses before the severe
winds/weather (Santa Ana Wind
events) on proper tree maintenance
and identification of potentially
hazardous trees.

(Hazards address: High winds, Severe
Weather/Storm)
City Manager’s
Office/PIO
$ Ongoing
(Annually)
General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
Low
EW 1.2 Evaluate long term capacity of
designated cooling centers to
provide sufficient relief from extreme
heat. Assess the need to expand
services as the frequency, length,
and severity of future heatwaves
potentially change as a result of
climate change.
(Hazards addressed: Extreme Heat)
City Manager’s
Office
$ Future
Planning
Process
General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
Low
EW 1.3 Promote early notification to
residents in advance of a severe
weather event, focusing on effective
communication methods with
vulnerable populations to better
ensure they have adequate time to
prepare.(Hazards Addressed: Severe
Weather)
City Manager’s
Office, SBC
Sheriff’s Dept.,
San Bernardino
County Fire
District
$ In Progress
(As
Needed)
General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
Medium
City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
173

EW 1.4 Conduct routine updates to Facility
Conditions Assessments for City-
owned infrastructure and repair, as
feasible, any storm related
damages.

Public Works,
Facilities and
Maintenance
$$ In Progress
(As
Needed)
General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
Medium
Dam Inundation
DI 1.1 Coordinate with dam
owners/operators, state and federal
agencies to collectively identify
threats to the City and the region
and identify ways to
retrofit/strengthen the dams under
their control.

City Manager’s
Office,
California
Division of
Safety of Dams,
USACE
$ Ongoing
(Annually)
General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
Medium
DI 1.2 Implement an early warning
system/protocol that notifies
downstream communities in the
event of a potential dam failure
incident.

City Manager’s
Office,
California
Division of
Safety of Dams,
USACE
$$ Future
Planning
Process
General
Funds,

BRIC/HMPG
Grants,
Other
Grants
Low

2017 Mitigation Action Progress
The HMPC reviewed the mitigation actions from the 2017 plan. Since the preparation of the previous plan, City staff has recognized that many of the actions needed to be refined and integrated into the proposed mitigation actions matrix in Table 5-4 . Table 5-5 includes a summary of how these existing actions were incorporated into the proposed mitigation actions within the plan.

Table 5-5: 2017 Mitigation Action Progress
Hazard Mitigation Action Description / Background Integration into Table 5-3
Multiple
Hazards
(Supersedes
previous section
titled All
Hazards or “AH

1.1”)
Routine Updates and
Coordination for
Facility Conditions
Assessments and
Infrastructure
Inspections
Conduct routine updates to Facility
Conditions Assessments for City-owned
infrastructure and other utilities and
coordinate with other agencies to ensure
inspections of other important
infrastructure.

This action was
incorporated into
Mitigation Action MH 1.1.

Addressing Major
Deficiencies to
Prevent Infrastructure
Collapse and
Damage
Repair, as feasible, all major deficiencies
discovered by inspections to prevent
collapse, failure, or damage in the event
of a natural disaster.

This action was
incorporated into
Mitigation Action MH 1.2.

2017 EQ1.4 action was
removed as MH 1.2
covers City infrastructure
(including water storage
tanks).

Enhancing Hazard
Awareness and
Resiliency for Socially
Vulnerable
Community Members
Work closely with community groups to
increase awareness of hazard events and
resiliency opportunities among socially
vulnerable community members,
including those experiencing
homelessness.

This action was
incorporated into
Mitigation Action MH 1.3.

2017 FL 1.2 action was
removed, as MH 1.3
covers all hazards,
including flood.

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174

Strategic Planning for
City-Owned Facilities
in Hazard Areas: Site
Selection and
Hardening Measures
Avoid building new City-owned key
facilities in mapped hazard areas. If no
feasible sites outside mapped areas exist,
ensure that such facilities are hardened
against hazards beyond any minimum
building requirements/ mitigation
standards.

This action was
incorporated into
Mitigation Action MH 1.4.

Monitoring Hazard
Area Boundaries and
Adapting Mitigation
Strategies for
Enhanced Resiliency
Closely monitor changes in the
boundaries of mapped hazard areas
resulting from land use changes or climate
change and adopt new mitigation
actions or revise existing ones to ensure
continued resiliency.

This action was
incorporated into
Mitigation Action MH 1.5.

Integrating Policy
Direction and
Information into City
Plans and Documents
Integrate policy direction and other
information from this Plan into other City
documents, including the General Plan,
Emergency Operations Plan, and Capital
Improvements Program.

This action was
incorporated into
Mitigation Action MH 1.6.

Tracking Funding
Opportunities:

Supporting Hazard
Mitigation through
Strategic Monitoring
Monitor funding sources for hazard
mitigation activities.

This action was
incorporated into
Mitigation Action MH 1.7.

Incorporating Climate
Change Mitigation
and Adaptation into
LHMP Updates and
City Planning
Integrate climate change mitigation and
adaptation information and analysis into
future LHMP updates and other City Plans,
where practicable.

This action was
incorporated into
Mitigation Action MH 1.8.

This item replaces 2017
CC 1.1.

Earthquake Creating a Public
Information Program
for Earthquake
Awareness and
Mitigation
Develop a Public Information Program
(PIP) for earthquake awareness and
mitigation. The program should focus on
reducing injury and property damage
and encourage partnerships, activities,
and products to educate the public
about earthquake science and motivate
residents and businesses to prepare for
earthquakes.

This action was
incorporated into
Mitigation Action EQ 1.1.

Educational
Campaign for Simple
Earthquake Mitigation
Activities and
Resource Reduction
Conduct an educational campaign to
encourages simple earthquake mitigation
activities (i.e., water heater straps,
furniture anchoring, gas shut-off tools, and
other emergency supplies) to reduce
strain on City resources during an event.

This action was
incorporated into
Mitigation Action EQ 1.2.

Updating Seismic
Vulnerability Inventory
and Funding Retrofits
for Resilient Building
Periodically update the seismically
vulnerable buildings and structures
inventory and pursue funding to
incentivize retrofits of these structures to
be more resilient to earthquakes in
accordance with State and Local building
standards and Historic Preservation
Program requirements. Assess soft story
conditions for apartment buildings
constructed prior to 1980.

Mitigation Action EQ 1.3
replaces 2017 EQ 1.1. The
updated mitigation
action would also include
mobile home structures;
therefore the 2017 EQ 1.3
mitigation action was
removed.

Optimizing Seismic
Resilience:

Coordinating with
Utility Providers for
Encourage the installation of resilient
(seismically appropriate) piping for new or
replacement pipelines in close
coordination with utility providers.

This action was
incorporated into
Mitigation Action EQ 1.4.

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175

Enhanced Piping
Systems
Ensuring Earthquake
Resilience:

Constructing City
Facilities for
Continued Operation
in Major Quakes
To the extent feasible, construct all new
and significantly retrofitted City-owned
facilities to remain operational in the
event of a major earthquake.

This action was
incorporated into
Mitigation Action EQ 1.5.

Enhancing
Earthquake
Awareness: Citywide
Scenario Modeling for
Risk Assessment and
Preparedness
Improve local understanding of the threat
of a major earthquake by conducting a
citywide scenario modeling potential loss
of life and injuries, destroyed and
damaged structures, and interruptions to
key services.

This action was
incorporated into
Mitigation Action EQ 1.6.

Monitoring
Groundwater Levels
to Mitigate
Liquefaction and
Subsidence Risks
Monitor groundwater elevations in areas
where liquefaction and subsidence may
be a concern.

This action was
incorporated into
Mitigation Action EQ 1.7.

Flood Enhancing Flood
Resilience: Identifying
Improvements to
Mitigate Storm and
Dam Inundation Risks
Identify potential flood improvements that
reduce inundation from both storm flows
and potential dam inundation effects.

This action was
incorporated into
Mitigation Action FL 1.2.

Maintaining Storm
Drain Efficiency:

Routine Cleanings
Before and During
Rainy Seasons
Conduct frequent cleanings of storm
drain intakes, especially before and
during the rainy season.

This action was
incorporated into
Mitigation Action FL 1.3.

Addressing Flooding:

Monitoring Ponding
and Intersection
Flooding to Identify
Improvement
Opportunities
Track areas where ponding frequently
occurs during heavy rainfall and monitor
intersections that frequently flood during
rain events and identify improvements to
alleviate these conditions.

This action was
incorporated into
Mitigation Action FL 1.4.

Wildfire

Empowering
Residents: Citywide
Resources for
Enhancing Home Fire
Resilience and Safety
Measures for Fallen
Powerlines
Provide information and resources to
residents city-wide on ways to improve
resilience to home fires, including
procedures for fallen powerlines.

This action was
incorporated into
Mitigation Action WF 1.3.

Maintain and improve
fire protection
facilities for all
development.

Provide adequate fire protection facilities
and services in accordance with
standards of the City and the County of
San Bernardino Fire Department for all
development; existing and proposed.

This was 2017 WF 1.2
action. This item was
removed as it is the
City’s intent to provide
adequate fire protection
facilities and services for
all development.

Extreme
Weather
(New)
Pre-Wind Event
Outreach: Educating
Residents and
Businesses on Tree
Maintenance and
Hazard Identification
Conduct outreach to residents and
businesses before the severe
winds/weather (Santa Ana Wind events)
on proper tree maintenance and
identification of potentially hazardous
trees.

(Hazards address: High winds, Severe
Weather/Storm)
This action was
incorporated into
Mitigation Action EW 1.1.

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176

Assessing Cooling
Center Capacity:

Evaluating and
Expanding Services to
Address Future
Heatwave Challenges
Evaluate long term capacity of
designated cooling centers to provide
sufficient relief from extreme heat. Assess
the need to expand services as the
frequency, length, and severity of future
heatwaves potentially change as a result
of climate change.
(Hazards addressed: Extreme Heat)
This action was
incorporated into
Mitigation Action EW 1.2.

Enhancing Severe
Weather
Preparedness: Early
Notification Strategies
for Effective
Communication with
Vulnerable
Populations
Promote early notification to residents in
advance of a severe weather event,
focusing on effective communication
methods with vulnerable populations to
better ensure they have adequate time to
prepare.
(Hazards Addressed: Severe Weather)
This action was
incorporated into
Mitigation Action EW 1.3.

Routine Facility
Condition
Assessments:

Updating and
Repairing City
Infrastructure Post-
Storm
Conduct routine updates to Facility
Conditions Assessments for City-owned
infrastructure and repair, as feasible, any
storm related damages.

This action was
incorporated into
Mitigation Action EW 1.4.

Dam Inundation
(New)
Collaborative Dam
Safety: Coordinating
with Stakeholders to
Identify Threats and
Retrofit Dams for
Regional Resilience
Coordinate with dam owners/operators,
state and federal agencies to collectively
identify threats to the City and the region
and identify ways to retrofit/strengthen
the dams under their control.

This action was
incorporated into
Mitigation Action DI 1.1.

Developing an Early
Warning System:

Protocols for Alerting
Downstream
Communities in Case
of Dam Failure
Implement an early warning
system/protocol that notifies downstream
communities in the event of a potential
dam failure incident.

This action was
incorporated into
Mitigation Action DI 1.2.

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177

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City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

178

Chapter 6 – Plan Maintenance
For this LHMP to remain effective and useful to the community of Hesperia, it must remain up to date. An updated version of the LHMP will continue to guide Hesperia hazard mitigation activities and help keep the City eligible for state and federal hazard mitigation funding. The HMPC has structured this LHMP so individual sections can easily be updated as new information becomes available and as new needs arise, helping to keep this Plan current.

This chapter discusses how to update this Plan to keep it in compliance with applicable state and federal requirements. This chapter also describes how the City can incorporate the mitigation actions described in Chapter 5 into existing programs and planning mechanisms and how public participation will remain an important part of Plan monitoring and future update activities.

Coordinating Body
The HMPC will remain responsible for maintaining and updating the Plan, including evaluating the Plan effectiveness as needed. Members of the HMPC will also coordinate the implementation of the Plan through their respective positions. Table 1-1 contains a list of current members. In future years, staff and representatives (either current HMPC members or other individuals) from the following City Departments should be included in maintenance and update activities:
• Office of Emergency Management
• Community Life & Culture (Recreation)
• Community Life & Culture (Library)
• Community Life & Culture (Museum)
• Community Development (Building)
• Community Development (Community Improvement)
• Community Development (Engineering)
• Community Development (Housing)
• Community Development (Planning)
• Economic Development
• Finance
• Fire Department
• Human Resources/Risk Management
• Information Technology
• Management Services (City Communications)
• Management Services (Records Management)
• Management Services (Broadband)
• Management Services (Innovation, Performance, and Audit) • Police Department
• Public Works (Municipal Services)
• Public Works
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179

The staff member currently serving as the HMPC leader (responsible for coordinating future updates) is in the Office of Emergency Management (within the City Manager’s Office). He/ she will serve as the project manager during the update process or designate this role to another staff member. The HMPC leader or their designee will coordinate the maintenance of this Plan, lead the formal Plan review and evaluation activities, direct the Plan update, and assign tasks to other members of the HMPC to complete these activities. Such tasks may include collecting data, developing new mitigation actions, updating mitigation actions, making presentations to City staff and community groups, and revising sections of the Plan.

Plan Implementation
The effectiveness of the Plan depends on the successful implementation of the mitigation actions. This includes integrating mitigation actions into existing City plans, policies, programs, and other implementation mechanisms. The mitigation actions in this Plan are intended to reduce the damage from hazard events, help the City secure funding, and provide a framework for hazard mitigation activities.

HMPC members prioritized the hazard mitigation actions in Table 5-3 in Chapter 5. These priorities will guide the implementation of these actions through new or existing City mechanisms as resources are available. The LHMP project manager is responsible for overseeing this Plan's implementation, promotion, and maintenance, as well as facilitating meetings and other coordinating activities related to Plan implementation and maintenance.

The key City Plans that should incorporate content from this LHMP include the following:
• The Hesperia General Plan Update 2050 - Safety Element – Content from the LHMP incorporated into the Safety Element will ensure the goals and policies of this plan are reinforced throughout future developments and projects proposed within the city. o The 2017 LHMP was integrated into Hesperia's General Plan and land use policies, with specific references to hazard mitigation strategies for wildfire, flooding, and earthquake risk reduction. This include d updates to zoning codes and building regulations to promote resilience in vulnerable areas, as well as incorporating hazard risk assessments into future development planning. Similarly, the City plans to integrate the 2024 LHMP in the same way.
• Hesperia Emergency Operations Plan – This plan focuses on the effective preparedness and response to hazard events that occur within the city. Incorporating relevant content from this plan into the EOP ensures consistency regarding the hazards addressed in both plans.
o The City's Emergency Operations Plan incorporated hazard-specific mitigation actions from the 2017 LHMP . This alignment ensured that both response and recovery actions were integrated with long -term mitigation efforts and that resources were efficiently allocated. Similarly, the City plans to integrate the 2024 LHMP in the same way.
• Hesperia Capital Improvements Program – This program identifies key infrastructure investments throughout the City that may include hazard mitigation elements.

Incorporating this plan into the CIP may enhance infrastructure investment through additional funding and/or modification of improvements to include hazard mitigation elements.

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180

o The 2017 LHMP mitigation strategies were considered during the development of the city's Capital Improvement Plans. This ensured that infrastructure projects, such as flood control, road improvements, and fire breaks were prioritized in areas most vulnerable to natural hazards. Similarly, the City plans to integrate the 2024 LHMP in the same way.

This integration of the LHMP into Hesperia General Plan Update 2050 Safety Element also allows the City to comply with AB 2140 requirements, as identified in Chapter 1 of this plan.

Plan Maintenance Process
As a living document it is important that this plan becomes a tool in Hesperia’s resources to ensure reductions in possible damage from a natural hazard event. This section discusses plan adoption, implementation, monitoring, evaluating, and updating the LHMP. Plan implementation and maintenance procedures will ensure that the LHMP remains relevant and continues to address the changing environment and community priorities in the City. This section describes the incorporation of the LHMP into existing City planning mechanisms, and how the city staff will continue to engage the public.

Plan Monitoring and Evaluation
When members of the HMPC are not updating the Plan, they should meet at least once a year to go over mitigation action implementation and evaluate the Plan’s effectiveness.

These meetings should include the following:
• Discussion of the timing of mitigation action implementation • Mitigation action implementation evaluation and determination of success • Mitigation action prioritization revisions, if deemed necessary • Mitigation action integration into other mechanisms, as needed

To the extent possible, HMPC meetings should be scheduled at an appropriate time in the City’s annual budgeting process, which will help ensure that funding and staffing needs for mitigation actions are considered.

When the HMPC meets to evaluate the Plan, members should consider these questions:
• What hazard events, if any, have occurred in Hesperia in the past year? What were the impacts of these events on the community? Were the impacts mitigated, and if so, how?
• What mitigation actions have been successfully implemented? Have any mitigation actions been implemented but not successfully, and if so, why? • What mitigation actions, if any, have been scheduled for implementation but have not yet been implemented?
• What is the schedule for implementing future mitigation actions? Is this schedule reasonable? Does the schedule need to be adjusted for future implementation, and are such adjustments appropriate and feasible?
• Have any new issues of concern arisen, including hazard events in other communities or regions that are not covered by existing mitigation actions? • Are new data available that could inform updates to the Plan, including data relevant to the hazard profiles and threat assessments? • Are there any new planning programs, funding sources, or other mechanisms that City of Hesperia 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

181

can support hazard mitigation activities in Hesperia?

Plan Updates
The information in this Plan, including the hazard profiles, threat assessments, and mitigation actions, is based on the best available information, practices, technology, and methods available to the City and HMPC at the time this Plan was prepared. As factors change, including technologies, community demographics and characteristics, best practices, and hazard conditions, it is necessary to update the plan to remain relevant. Additionally, Title 44, Section 201.6(d)(3) of the Code of Federal Regulations requires that LHMPs be reviewed, revised, and resubmitted for approval every five years to remain eligible for federal benefits.

U

PDATE METHOD AND SCHEDULE
The update process should begin no later than four years after this Plan is adopted, allowing a year for the update process before the Plan expires. Depending on the circumstances, the LHMP project manager or their designee may also choose to begin the update process sooner. Some reasons for accelerating the update process may include the following:
• A presidential disaster declaration for Hesperia or an area that includes part or the entire city
• A hazard event that results in one or more fatalities in Hesperia The update process will add new and updat ed methods, demographic data, community information, hazard data and events, considerations for threat assessments, mitigation actions, and other information, as necessary. This helps keep the Plan relevant and current.

The HMPC will determine the best process for updating the Plan, which should include the following steps:

Engage the HMPC (with at
least one member from each
City department).

Prepare an updated plan to
be distributed to
stakeholders and the public.

Conduct a public review
period of the Draft Plan
allowing residents and
interested stakeholders to
provide comment.

Contact non-City organizations
(that previously participated
or are interested stakeholders)
to participate in the update.

Determine what measures
have been completed,
changed, cancelled, or
postponed and review and
revise mitigation actions, as
needed.

Following public review, send a
draft of the updated plan to
Cal OES and FEMA for review
and approval.

Review and update the
hazard mapping and threat
assessment for critical
facilities.

Revise the threat assessment
for populations and other
assets.

Adopt the final updated Plan
within one year of beginning
the update process and within
five years of the adoption of
the previous Plan.

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182

UPDATE ADOPTION
The Hesperia City Council is responsible for adopting this Plan and all future updates. As previously mentioned, adoption should occur every five years. To ensure the plan remains active, the City should begin the update process at least one year prior to expiration. If the City has a grant application that relies on the LHMP, an update to the plan should occur no later than 18 months before expiration. Adoption should take place after FEMA notifies the City that the Plan is Approved Pending Adoption. Once the City Council adopts the Plan following its approval by FEMA, the adopted plan should be transmitted to FEMA.

Continued Public Involvement
The City will continue to keep members of the public informed about the HMPC’s actions to review and update the LHMP. The HMPC will develop a revised community engagement strategy that reflects the City’s updated needs and capabilities. The updated strategy should include a tentative schedule and plan for public meetings, recommendations for using the City website and social media accounts, and content for public outreach documentation. The HMPC will also distribute annual progress reports through City social media platforms and mailing lists used to engage community members. These outreach opportunities will describe the actions taken by the City and ways that residents and businesses can help further the City’s goals. These updates are anticipated to occur after the annual HMPC meeting is conducted by the City.

Point of Contact
The HMPC leader for Hesperia is the primary point of contact for this Plan and future updates.

At the time of writing, the HMPC leader is Jacquelyn Castillo (Management Analyst available at [email protected] | (760) 947-1589.

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Appendix A – HMPC Meeting Materials

Table 1-1: Hesperia HMPC Members

City of Hesperia HMP 2024 Update: Pre-Planning Meeting
• Agenda
• Sign-in Sheet

City of Hesperia HMP Plan Update: Meeting #1
• Agenda
• Sign-in Sheet

HMPC Stakeholder Meeting #2
• PlaceWorks Memorandum
• Attendees
• Stakeholder Questions

HMPC Stakeholder Meeting #3
• PlaceWorks Memorandum
• Attendees
• Stakeholder Questions

HMPC Stakeholder Meeting #4
• PlaceWorks Memorandum
• Attendees
• Stakeholder Questions

HMPC Community Meeting #5
• Planning Commission Meeting Agenda
• PlaceWorks PowerPoint (Extraction of Safety Element Portion)

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Table 1-1: Hesperia HMPC Members
Name Title Department
Jacquelyn Castillo
(Project Manager, POC)
Management Analyst City Manager’s Office
Melinda Sayre Deputy City Manager City Manager’s Office Tammy Pelayes Assistant to the City Manager City Manager’s Office Kelly Brady Public Relations Analyst City Manager’s Office Ryan Leonard Principal Planner Community Development
(Planning Department)
Andrew Lemke Building Official Community Development
(Building and Safety)
Rubi Arellano Community Development
Supervisor
Community Development
(Building and Safety)
Cassandra Sanchez City Engineer Community Development
(Engineering)
Benjamin Leslie GIS Technician GIS/Information Technology Program
Brian Blackwell Operations Manager/Streets
Division
Public Works
April Antonio Administrative Analyst Economic Development Keith Cheong Senior Accountant Finance
Kelly Anderson Assistant Fire Chief San Bernardino County Fire Department
Steve Tracy Battalion Chief San Bernardino County Fire
Department
Steve Allen Lieutenant Police Department

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City of Hesperia
Hazard Mitigation Plan 2024 Update
Pre-Planning Meeting
City Hall
Deputy City Manager’s Office
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
11:00 – 12:30 pm

AGENDA

• Project Overview and Background Recap
o Local Mitigation Planning Policy Side-by-Side Comparison Tool • Planning Process and Establishment of Project Timeline • Discuss Plan for Kick-Off Meeting
• Discuss Potential Stakeholders
• Next steps
o Reach out to San Bernardino County for contact information on retrieving updated local map data and statistics
o Develop media outreach efforts (website, social media, and questionnaires) • Meeting adjourned at 12:30pm

SIGN IN SHEET

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City of Hesperia
2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
Meeting #1

Hesperia City Hall
Joshua Room

Thursday, March 7, 2024
3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

AGENDA

• Welcome and Introductions
• Background
• Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) Overview
• HMP Standards for Approval
• HMP Planning Process Phases
• Planning Process Objectives
• Building the HMP Planning Team
• HMP Planning Team Tasks
• Forecasted Schedule
• Common HMP Goals
• Roundtable Discussion
o Establish HMP Planning Committee
o Discuss current and past mitigation plan documents/projects o Assign data gathering for critical documents / studies / data required for HMP development
o Begin brainstorming City-specific enhancements for public outreach strategy o Establish potential dates for City Council / Planning Commission meetings to present periodic HMP updates and material
o Set date for HMP Planning Committee Meeting #1
o Distribute 2017 HMP Plan for review – Handout #1
o Distribute Hazard Evaluation Exercise and Instructions – Handout #2 o Distribute Draft 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey – Handout #3

• Next Steps
o Outreach
 Prepare mail list for proposed planning committee members  Prepare planning committee meeting location
 Update Mitigation Plan webpages
 Develop outreach printed material (e.g., website, social media, survey, etc.) and distribute to public.
o Risk Assessment
 Complete and collect preliminary hazard evaluation
 Consolidate preliminary hazard evaluation and results and complete hazard prioritization matrix
 Develop building/parcel inventory
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 Develop critical infrastructure inventory & linear points  Define repetitive loss areas (flood administrator)
• Meeting Adjourned

SIGN IN SHEET

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HMPC Stakeholder Meeting #2
June 3, 2024
Members of the HMPC met with PlaceWorks, consulting firm to discuss components of the Safety Element, which is currently being updated as part of a focused General Plan Update. Members of the HMPC team included San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department - Lieutenant, Principal Planner. The LHMP Project Manager was briefed on the meeting.

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HMPC Stakeholder Meeting #3
June 4, 2024
Members of the HMPC met with PlaceWorks, consulting firm to discuss components of the Safety Element, which is currently being updated as part of a focused General Plan Update. Members of the HMPC team included the Fire Chief, Principal Planner, and the LHMP Project Manager.

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HMPC Stakeholder Meeting #4
June 6, 2024
Members of the HMPC met with PlaceWorks, consulting firm to discuss components of the Safety Element, which is currently being updated as part of a focused General Plan Update. Members of the HMPC team included the Deputy City Engineer, Public Works Supervisor, and Principal Planner. The LHMP Project Manager was briefed on the meeting.

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HMPC Community Meeting #5

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Appendix B – Outreach Engagement Materials

Public Engagement Opportunity: March 12, 2024 LHMP Survey • Social Media Posts
• 2024 City of Hesperia Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey
• 2024 City of Hesperia Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey Results

Public Engagement Opportunity: August 6, 2024 LHMP Survey (National Night Out) • Social Media Post and Flyer
• City Website Information

Public Engagement Opportunity: August 22, 2024 LHMP Survey Shared with Stakeholders • Email with link to LHMP Survey

2024 Public Participation Survey for Hazard Mitigation Planning

2024 Public Participation Survey for Hazard Mitigation Planning – Survey Results

Public Engagement Opportunity: October 2, 2024 (Email) • Stakeholder Hazard Mitigation Feedback Form
• Draft of the 2024 LHMP shared with stakeholders

Public Engagement Opportunity: November 4, 2024 Stakeholder Meeting Invitation (Email) • Agenda
• PowerPoint Presentation
• Sign-in Sheet
• Stakeholder Hazard Mitgation Feedback Form
• Stakeholder Hazard Mitgation Feedback Form – Comments from Stakeholder’s

Public Engagement Opportunity – November 12, 2024
o City Website Information
o Social Media Post
o Public Survey: Hesperia Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Draft

Public Engagement Opportunity – December 9, 2024: CCAC Meeting – LHMP Planning Process o City Website Information
o Social Media Post
o Agenda
o Staff Report
o PowerPoint Presentation

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Public Engagement Opportunity – March 12, 2024
LHMP Survey

Social Media Posts

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2024 City of Hesperia Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey

The City of Hesperia is preparing an update to the local Hazard Mitigation Plan or (HMP). Like all other communities, Hesperia could potentially face widespread devastation in the event of a natural disaster.

While no community can completely protect itself against all potential hazardous situations, this plan will help identify those situations, assess our current provisions, and outline a strategy to lessen the vulnerability and severity of future disasters.

Your responses to this survey will inform the preparation of the plan. Thank you for your time and cooperation.

1. Please indicate whether you live or work in the City of Hesperia.

I live in the City of Hesperia.

I work in the City of Hesperia.

I live and work in the City of Hesperia.

Neither applies to me, but I am interested in the City's resiliency.

2. What is the ZIP code of your home?

3. Have you been impacted by a hazard event in your current residence?

Yes
No
Question Title

4. If you answered yes to the previous question, please select the type of hazard event that you have been impacted by (select all that apply).

Earthquake/Geologic Hazards
Extreme Weather (High Winds, Extreme Heat Days, Severe Rainstorms) Wildfires
Dam Failure
Flooding
Technology Hazards including hazardous material incidents Human Caused Hazards (Transportation Incidents, Communications Failure, Terrorism) Other

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5. Please list any additional hazards that have previously impacted your neighborhood or home.

6. The following hazards could potentially impact the city. Please mark the THREE (3) hazards that are of most concern to your neighborhood or home.

Earthquake/Geologic Hazards
Extreme Weather (High Winds, Extreme Heat Days, Severe Rainstorms) Wildfires
Dam Failure
Flooding
Technology Hazards including hazardous material incidents Human Caused Hazards (Transportation Incidents, Communications Failure, Terrorism) Other

7. The planning team is using various data sources to identify hazards in your community; however, some of these data sources do not provide data at a general citywide level. Are there any small-scale issues, such as ponding at a specific intersection during rain, that you would like the planning team to consider?

I am not aware of local hazards.

I am aware of local hazards.

8. If you are aware of local hazards that you would like the planning team to consider, please provide as much detail as possible, including location and type of hazard.

9. How concerned are you that climate change may create new hazardous situations in Hesperia or make existing natural hazards worse?

Very concerned.

Somewhat concerned.

Somewhat unconcerned.

Not at all concerned.

Unsure.

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10. When do you think climate change will pose a threat to your health, property, livelihood, or overall wellbeing?

It already is.

Within the next five years.

In five to twenty years.

Not for at least another twenty years.

Never, or not in my lifetime.

11. If you have taken any action to protect yourself against natural hazards, how confident are you that these actions will be sufficient to protect against more severe hazards that are expected because of climate change?

Very confident.

Somewhat confident.

Somewhat unconfident.

Not at all confident.

Unsure.

12. If you are a homeowner, do you have adequate homeowners' insurance to cover the hazards that could impact your home?

Yes, my insurance coverage should be adequate.