La Puente City Council
November 12, 2024

MINUTES

LA PUENTE CITY COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY

CLOSED SESSION AND REGULAR MEETING OF
OCTOBER 22, 2024
CC/SA MINUTES PAGE 1 OF 7 OCTOBER 22, 2024
A Closed Session and Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of La Puente was held in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 15900 East Main Street, La Puente, California, on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.
6:00 P.M. CLOSED SESSION

CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Quinones called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

ROLL CALL
Members present: Quinones, Klinakis, Argudo (arrived at 6:01 p.m.), Mendoza, Munoz (arrived at 6:03 p.m.).

Members absent: None.

Staff members present: City Manager Bob Lindsey, City Attorney Susie Altamirano, Director of Administrative Services Troy Grunklee, Director of Development Services John Di Mario, Management Assistant Cece Dunlap, and Office Specialist Jackie Cortez.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Quinones led the Pledge of Allegiance.

ORAL COMMUNICATIONS – None.

RECESS INTO CLOSED SESSION
The City Council recessed into closed session at 6:02 p.m. to discuss the item as posted on the agenda.

CLOSED SESSION

1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS PURSUANT TO GOV. CODE SECTION 54957.6
City Representative: Susie Altamirano, City Attorney
Unrepresented Employee: Bob Lindsey, City Manager
Per Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised 11th Edition, minutes are a record of the actions taken by the body. These minutes do not include a summary of the discussion but only reflect the action taken by the body. A complete audio recording of this meeting is available on the City’s website www.lapuente.org.

AGENDA ITEM NO. A-1
CC/SA MINUTES PAGE 2 OF 7 OCTOBER 22, 2024

2. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS PURSUANT TO GOV. CODE SECTION 54957.6
City Representative: Bob Lindsey, City Manager
Employees and Employee Bargaining Units: Service Employees International Union Local 721 (“SEIU 721”)

3. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL- ANTICIPATED LITIGATION – Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54956.9(d)(2): (One case)

RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
The City Council reconvened to open session at 7:02 p.m.

REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Altamirano reported out of closed session. In regards to Item 1, report was provided and feedback was given. In regards to Item 2, a report was provided, feedback was given, and no direction was given. In regards to Item 3, report was provided, feedback was given, and no direction was given at this time.
7:00 P.M. REGULAR SESSION

CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Quinones called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.

ROLL CALL
Members present: Quinones, Klinakis, Argudo, Mendoza, Munoz.

Members absent: None.

Staff members present: City Manager Bob Lindsey, City Attorney Susie Altamirano, Director of Administrative Services Troy Grunklee, Director of Development Services John Di Mario, Chief/Director of Public Safety JD Buckwell, Director of Community Services Alexander Bauman, Associate Planner Juan Galvan, Finance Manager Alexander Merkel Medina, and Office Specialist Jackie Cortez.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis led the Pledge of Allegiance.

PRESENTATIONS
Sergeant Barajas of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department provided a briefing regarding recent activity within the City.

CC/SA MINUTES PAGE 3 OF 7 OCTOBER 22, 2024
Community Outreach Program Coordinator Jorge Solis of the La Puente Programs, ReEmployment, Outreach Services (P.R.O.S.) Team provided a briefing regarding recent activity in the City.

ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Bryant Bouchot spoke regarding the intersection of Temple Avenue and Glendora Avenue.

Denise Bouchot spoke regarding recent events and pet waste stations along Temple Avenue.

Diana Herrera submitted a written comment regarding the parking of commercial trucks in residential areas.

Mario Campos submitted a written comment regarding lane closures due to road construction.

BOARDS/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REPORTS
Mayor Quinones reported that he attended the JPIA Conference at the Hyatt Indian Wells.

A. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY

MEETINGS
A-1 READ AND APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY MEETINGS OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2024
A motion was made by Council Member Argudo, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis, to waive the reading and approve the Minutes of the City Council and Successor Agency meeting of September 24, 2024. The motion carried by the following roll call vote:

AYES: Quinones, Klinakis, Argudo, Mendoza, Munoz
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
B. PUBLIC HEARINGS BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL – None.

C. UNFINISHED BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL – None.

D. CITY COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY CONSENT CALENDAR
A motion was made by Council Member Argudo, seconded by Council Member Munoz, to approve Consent Calendar Items D-1 through D-5. The motion carried by the following roll call vote:

CC/SA MINUTES PAGE 4 OF 7 OCTOBER 22, 2024
AYES: Quinones, Klinakis, Argudo, Mendoza, Munoz
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
D-1 CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING WARRANT RESOLUTION NOS. 24-5900 AND 24-5901
Action Taken: The City Council and Successor Agency adopted Resolution Nos. 24-5900 and 24-5901 approving Warrant Register Nos. 1580 and 1581.

D-2 PRESENTATION OF SEPTEMBER 2024 REQUISITION SUMMARY REPORT Action Taken: The City Council received and filed this report.

D-3 PRESENTATION OF SEPTEMBER 2024 INVESTMENT REPORT
Action Taken: The City Council received and filed this report.

D-4 CONSIDERATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF NOTICE OF COMPLETION FOR

ASPHALT REPAIRS ON VALLEY BOULEVARD
Action Taken: The City Council: (1) accepted the Project as complete; and (2) authorized the City Clerk to execute the Notice of Completion.

D-5 CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF A PURCHASE ORDER CONTRACT WITH STOTZ EQUIPMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF ONE NEW JLG T350 TOW-PRO

BOOM LIFT
Action Taken: The City Council: (1) approved a purchase order contract in the amount of $37,433.55 with Stotz Equipment for the purchase of one new JLG T350 TOW-PRO Boom Lift; and (2) authorized the City Manager to execute, on behalf of the City, all documents necessary to effectuate this action.

E. NEW BUSINESS TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL
E-1 PRESENTATION OF SEPTEMBER 2024 BUDGET REPORT
Finance Manager Merkel Medina provided a report regarding the September 2024 budget.

E-2 PRESENTATION OF NEW RECREATION MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
Director of Community Services Bauman provided a report regarding the new recreation management software.

CC/SA MINUTES PAGE 5 OF 7 OCTOBER 22, 2024
In response to an inquiry from Council Member Munoz regarding in-person assistance at the La Puente Community Center, Director of Community Services Bauman confirmed that in-person registration would still be available.

E-3 UPDATE AND PRESENTATION OF THE CONCEPT PLAN FOR THE VETERAN’S

MEMORIAL PARK
Associate Planner Juan Galvan provided a report regarding the concept plan for the Veteran’s Memorial Park.

In response to an inquiry from Council Member Argudo regarding possibly incorporating personalized bricks, Associate Planner Juan Galvan stated that this initial concept may be further developed and include future elements.

Discussion ensued regarding the concept plan for the Veteran’s Memorial Park.

E-4 DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION REGARDING THE FLOOR PLAN OF THE

PROPOSED ACTIVITY CENTER BUILDING AT LA PUENTE PARK
Director of Development Services Di Mario provided a report regarding the floor plan of the proposed activity center building at La Puente Park.

In response to an inquiry from Council Member Munoz regarding the layout, Director of Development Services Di Mario stated that there would be two proposed options.

Discussion ensued regarding the two floor plan options, and the City Council provided direction to Staff to move forward with Option No. 2, bring back pricing for external greenery and aesthetics, and proceed with up to 50% architectural drawings to help assist in the pricing of the project.

E-5 CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 05-4464

AND ADOPTING A COMPREHENSIVE PERSONNEL POLICY FOR REGULAR

EMPLOYEES AND A COMPREHENSIVE PERSONNEL POLICY FOR AT-WILL

EMPLOYEES
Director of Administrative Services Grunklee provided a report regarding the comprehensive personnel policy for both regular and at-will employees and stated that prior to the meeting, Staff received an email from the SEIU “Union” with proposed changes to Section 10.9 and Section 8.3, and that Staff would like to review the two sections and bring them back at a future City Council meeting. Director of Administrative Services Grunklee further noted that 25 administrative policies were incorporated into the proposed personnel policy with one additional administrative policy (Criminal Background Check Policy) to be included in the list, rescinding a total of 26 administrative policies.

CC/SA MINUTES PAGE 6 OF 7 OCTOBER 22, 2024
In response to an inquiry from Council Member Argudo regarding the term date, Director of Administrative Services Grunklee confirmed the MOU term would expire on June 30, 2025.

A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis, seconded by Council Member Argudo, to: (1) adopt Resolution No. 24-5902 rescinding Resolution No. 05-4464 and approving a Comprehensive Personnel Policy for Regular Employees and a Comprehensive Personnel Policy for At-Will Employees for the City of La Puente; (2) rescind the administrative policies included in the staff report, with the addition of rescinding the Criminal Background Check Policy; and (3) bring back Section 10.9 and Section 8.3 at a future City Council meeting. The motion carried by the following roll call vote:

AYES: Quinones, Klinakis, Argudo, Mendoza, Munoz
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None

AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS
Code Enforcement and Public Safety Committee: Nothing to report.

La Puente Park Fees, Ordinance and Program Oversight Committee: Nothing to report.

Project LEAD Committee: Council Member Mendoza reported that a mock City Council meeting was held with Project LEAD students, and thanked Staff for an amazing event.

LPQT Action Committee: Nothing to report.

Rowland, Bassett, and Hacienda La Puente Unified School Districts Liaison Committee: Nothing to report.

Grant Writing Committee: Nothing to report.

AB 1234 REPORTS – None.

ORAL COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL
Mayor Quinones stated that Students Run LA had hosted the Run LP event. Council Member Mendoza, Council Member Argudo, and Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis commented on the event and thanked City Staff for their hard work.

Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis requested that the meeting be adjourned in memory of Bobbie Seal of Delhaven Community Center.

Council Member Argudo commented on the security at La Puente Park.

CC/SA MINUTES PAGE 7 OF 7 OCTOBER 22, 2024

ORAL COMMENTS FROM STAFF
City Manager Lindsey thanked Community Engagement Program Coordinator Solis for filling in for Brian Torres. City Manager Lindsey also stated that Office Specialist Cortez would be leaving the City of La Puente. Office Specialist Cortez thanked City Manager Lindsey and the City Council for their support.

ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the City Council, Mayor Quinones adjourned the meeting in memory of Bobbie Seal at 8:32 p.m.

Approved this 12th day of November, 2024.

Martha Torres, MPA Gabriel Quiñones
City Clerk Mayor/Chair

AGENDA ITEM NO. B-1
To: Mayor and City Council For meeting of: November 12, 2024 From: Bob Lindsey, City Manager
By: John Di Mario, Development Services Director
Abraham Tellez, Planning Manager
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION SETTING FORTH FINDINGS AND APPROVING GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 23-01 TO ADOPT THE LA PUENTE 2024 COMMUNITY SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
Notice of the City Council’s November 12, 2024, public hearing on the proposed General Plan Amendment to adopt the La Puente 2024 Community Safety Element update was published in The San Gabriel Valley Tribune on November 1, 2024. Hearing notices were also posted at City Hall, Community Center, and the Library in compliance with the City's Municipal Code (“Code”) and Government Code Section 65091.

BACKGROUND
State law requires that the Safety Element of the General Plan be updated upon the update of the City’s Housing Element or Local Hazard Mitigation Plan to address specific natural and humanmade hazards. The City underwent an update to its Housing Element in 2022. The updated Community Safety Element (see Attachment “A”) aims to enhance community resilience to hazards such as earthquakes, floods, fires, and climate change impacts. This update incorporates new legislative requirements, which are described below, and ensures the City’s compliance with State mandates and improving public safety strategies.

The City participated in the Strategic Growth Council’s Build Organize Optimize Strengthen Transform (“BOOST”) technical assistance program between 2022-2023. Through this 18- month long program, the City received consultant support to update the Community Safety Element. The consultant team provided research, writing, and engagement strategy support to deliver an updated Community Safety Element in compliance with applicable legislative requirements.

The Safety Element is one of seven required elements of the General Plan and specifically addresses natural hazards and environmental risks to the community. In accordance with California Government Code Section 65302(g) (GC 65302) the City is updating its Community Safety Element to be consistent with the City’s certified 6th Cycle Housing Element. This Safety Element updates the City’s 2004 Community Safety Element, which addresses hazard mitigation, emergency response, noise, and safety services. The City’s 2024 Community Safety Element Update includes a replacement of all sections except for the Noise Element, which will be City of La Puente

AGENDA REPORT
Agenda Report: Consideration of GPA 23-01
For Meeting of November 12, 2024

addressed in its own stand-alone General Plan Element upon its next comprehensive update.

Guidance from the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research allows flexibility for local governments on the structure of elements within their General Plan, so long as all key requirements are addressed.

Planning Commission Consideration/Action
At the Planning Commission meeting held on September 3, 2024, a public hearing was conducted and following the public hearing, the Planning Commission approved Resolution No. 24-1585 (see Attachment “B”), recommending that the City Council adopt a resolution to approve GPA No. 23-01 adopting the updated 2024 Community Safety Element, recommending keeping in effect the Noise Element within the 2004 Community Safety Element, and recommending adoption of a Notice of Exemption regarding same.

DISCUSSION
Legislative Requirements
The City's 2024 Community Safety Element Update is consistent with the following legislative requirements:
● Senate Bill 379 requires the City to assess the City’s vulnerability to hazards exacerbated by climate change and identifies adaptation and resilience goals. This update incorporates climate adaptation and resiliency strategies to ensure effective planning and mitigation of climate change impacts.
● Assembly Bill 2140 encourages the adoption of a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) as part of the General Plan, which qualifies the City for additional federal and state funding for hazard mitigation projects.
● Assembly Bill 747 requires jurisdictions to, after January 1, 2022, review and update the safety element of their general plan as necessary to identify evacuation routes and evaluate their capacity, safety, and viability under a range of emergency scenarios. A jurisdiction that has adopted an LHMP, Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) or other document that fulfills these objectives may summarize and incorporate that document into the safety element to comply with AB 747.
● Senate Bill 99 requires cities, upon the next revision of the housing element on or after January 1, 2020, to review and update the safety element to include information identifying residential developments in hazard areas that do not have at least two emergency evacuation routes.

Key Components of the Updated Safety Element
The 2024 Community Safety Element Update addresses natural hazards including, fire, seismic, and flood risk, and provides goals, policies, and actions to build capacity and increase resilience to these hazards. It outlines community resilience strategies that aim to improve the City’s ability to withstand and recover from hazardous events, focusing on infrastructure improvements, emergency preparedness, and community education. The 2024 Community Safety Element Agenda Report: Consideration of GPA 23-01
For Meeting of November 12, 2024

Update also features detailed evacuation planning, providing clear evacuation routes and procedures to ensure the safety of all community members, including vulnerable populations, during emergencies. The Safety Element includes plans for interagency coordination to enhance emergency response and recovery efforts through collaboration with local, regional, and state agencies.

Community Outreach
Public participation was a critical component of the Safety Element update process. The goal of public outreach was to educate residents about the climate hazards that have the potential to impact the City and seek input from community members on preferred strategies for protecting the City’s economic, cultural and environmental assets. The City implemented a community engagement program, which included:
● A dedicated Safety Element webpage on the City’s website, which served as a central hub for information and updates related to the Safety Element. ● Public workshops and community meetings, where residents could learn about the proposed updates, ask questions, and share their concerns and suggestions in person. ● Online surveys to gather a broader range of community concerns and suggestions.

Intergovernmental Agency Review
The City consulted with the California Office of Emergency Services and the California Geological Survey during the update process. Both agencies reviewed the draft Safety Element, and the City incorporated their feedback to comply with State standards and enhance the effectiveness of the Safety Element.

Financial Considerations
The adoption of the updated Safety Element may yield priority projects and programs that may make the City eligible and competitive to receive additional federal and State funding for hazard mitigation projects, as outlined under AB 2140. This would provide needed economic benefits to the City which meets the definition of a disadvantaged community. The City may need to consider including the costs of implementation of the strategies in the Safety Element in future City budgets as a fee or charge for development activity; or seek external funding for implementation.

Upon completion of the updated Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, the City will seek additional funding to implement mitigation projects and integrate the strategies into other plans including the Safety Element and Environmental Justice Element to ensure alignment of plans and projects that are centered in equity and community engagement.

Implementation and Monitoring
The City will implement the 2024 Community Safety Element through a coordinated effort involving multiple City departments, including Development Services and Public Safety. The Agenda Report: Consideration of GPA 23-01
For Meeting of November 12, 2024

City will monitor progress, and City staff will present reports to the Planning Commission and City Council as needed.

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
Staff has determined that the proposed Project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA" - Public Resources Code § 21000 et seq.) under Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, which states “The activity is covered by the common sense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA.” This exemption is based on the fact that the proposed Project is a General Plan Amendment that will not result in changes to the existing physical environment, and any modifications to the physical environment will not occur as a result of its adoption. The Project is exempt from CEQA for the reasons outlined in the State CEQA Guideline section cited above. Upon City Council's adoption of a finding of a common sense exemption, staff has prepared and will file a Notice of Exemption (see Attachment "D").

FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed Resolution will have no fiscal impact.

RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council:
1) Open the public hearing and take public testimony;
2) Adopt Resolution No. 24-5903 setting forth findings and approving General Plan Amendment No. 23-01 adopting the updated 2024 Community Safety Element, keeping in effect the Noise Element within the 2004 Community Safety Element, and adopting a Notice of Exemption regarding same;
3) Find that approval of General Plan Amendment (GPA) No. 23-01 is exempt from environmental review, and direct Staff to file a Notice of Exemption, pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Section 15061(b)(3).

ATTACHMENTS
Attachment “A”: Draft 2024 Community Safety Element
Attachment “B”: Planning Commission Resolution No. 24-1585 Attachment “C”: Resolution No. 24-5903 for GPA No. 23-01 Attachment “D”: Notice of Exemption
City of La Puente
Community Safety Element
DRAFT
May 2024
1 ATTACHMENT A
Table of Contents
Table of Contents 2
Acknowledgements 4
Introduction 4
Scope and Content 4
Safety Element Updates 4
Organization of Element 5
Related Plans 5
Existing Land Use and Development Patterns 7
Public Safety Facilities and Services 8
Public Safety Facilities 8
Public Safety Services 10
Emergency Response 13
Hazard & Physical Vulnerability Assessment 19
Drought 19
Seismic Hazards 21
Landslides 26
Flood Hazards 29
Extreme Heat Hazards 31
Dam Inundation 34
Wildfire 38
Social Vulnerability 38
Human Caused and Technological Hazards 40
Hazardous Waste 42
Toxic Release 44
Cleanup Sites 45
Groundwater Threats 46
Solid Waste Sites 48
Public Health Emergencies 49
Goals, Policies, and Actions 50
2 Goal 1: Reduce risk from earthquakes, liquefaction, flooding, and dam inundation hazards. 51 Goal 2: Safe use, transport, and disposal of hazardous materials. 52 Goal 3: Provide adequate emergency response to public health and safety threats. 53 Goal 4: Maintain a high level of fire and police protection for residents, businesses, and visitors in La Puente 54
Goal 5: Prepare current and future communities for climate impacts. 56 Implementation Actions and Programs 58
3 Acknowledgements
The authors of this Community Safety Element would like to acknowledge the critical contributions of the La Puente Planning Team, the Institute for Local Government team, and funding from the Strategic Growth Council’s BOOST program. All hazard maps were kindly provided by the Southern California Association of Governments.

Introduction
A central responsibility of a local government is to ensure community safety and well-being.

The primary way the City of La Puente fulfills this responsibility is by developing, maintaining, and implementing the Safety Element of the General Plan. The Safety Element sets forth long range City goals, policies, and actions to protect people and property from natural and human-caused hazards. La Puente’s urban environment experiences a variety of hazards, both natural and related to human activity that can potentially endanger community safety.

Residents and businesses look to City and County departments to protect the community from threats to public safety. Proactive hazard mitigation and reliable emergency response services contribute to the overall health and livability of La Puente.

Scope and Content
California statute (Section 65302(g)) requires all communities to prepare a Safety Element as part of their General Plan. As required by state law, the Safety Element addresses hazards in La Puente and presents goals and policies to reduce the potential risks of death, injuries, property damage, and economic and social disruption associated with hazards.

Safety Element Updates
The Safety Element should be updated upon each update to the Housing Element, or Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, and at least once every eight years to identify new information pertaining to flood and fire hazards, and update climate adaptation and resilience strategies, as required by SB 1035.

Climate change has exacerbated existing hazards and introduced new hazards, such as extreme heat and extreme precipitation, in the City of La Puente. This update to the Safety Element evaluates potential changes in the frequency and severity of specific climate hazards resulting from climate change in the coming decades and identifies critical facilities and populations that are highly vulnerable to climate hazards. This update to the Safety Element also incorporates climate adaptation and resilience strategies, as required by California Senate Bill 379 (2015). 4 Increasing intensity and frequency of hazards has also increased the importance of evacuation route planning. This update to the Safety Element incorporates an analysis of existing evacuation routes, as well as identification of residential areas that lack sufficient access to evacuation routes as required by SB 747 and AB 99 (both 2019).

Organization of Element
The Safety Element is organized by the following sections:

1. Existing Land Use and Development. This section describes the current state of land use in the La Puente region, focusing on both residential and commercial areas and covers the anticipated development of infill in the area.

2. Facilities and Services. This section describes the critical facilities and services that are necessary for maintaining public safety and welfare in the event of a disaster or emergency.

The inventory of essential facilities includes hospitals, fire stations, police stations, critical infrastructure, and others. This section also outlines emergency response procedures for the facilities and services including disaster and evacuation routes and communication protocols to ensure their proper operation during disasters or emergencies.

3. Hazard & Physical Vulnerability Assessment. This section describes the hazards affecting La Puente, including those created or exacerbated by climate change. This section also examines public safety facilities that face risk of damage from hazards or concern.

4. Social Vulnerability Assessment. This section identifies populations that are highly vulnerable to hazards, as well as the ability of communities within the City to prepare for and recover from hazard events.

5. Human Caused and Technological Hazards. This section covers potential hazards from toxic waste, hazardous materials, and other human created environmental hazards and identifies potential sites of concern.

6. Public Health Emergencies. This section details the actions which may be necessary to prepare for and manage public health emergencies.

7. Implementation. This section includes goals, policies, and actions to facilitate the implementation of the Safety Element and maintain and improve community safety and resilience in the City of La Puente.

Related Plans
La Puente General Plan
The La Puente General Plan is a collection of policy documents that serve as a blueprint for the future of the City by informing land use decisions. The City of La Puente’s General Plan 5 contains the following elements: Community Development Element, Circulation and Infrastructure Element, Housing Element, Community Resources Element, and Community Safety Element, which also addresses Noise. This Safety Element excludes Noise and leaves that component of the original 2004 Community Safety Element in effect. This Safety Element also ties in with the other elements, but most frequently refers to the Housing Element.

Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
The Local Hazard Mitigation Plan for the City of La Puente planning area was developed in accordance with the Disaster mitigation Act of 2000 and followed FEMA’s 2011 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan guidance. The LHMP incorporates a process where hazards are identified and profiled, the people and facilities at risk are analyzed, and mitigation actions are developed to reduce or eliminate hazard risk. The implementation of these mitigation actions, which include both short and long-term strategies, involve planning, policy, programs, projects and other activities.

Los Angeles County Floodplain Management Plan
The overarching goal of the Los Angeles (LA) County Comprehensive Floodplain Management Plan (FMP) is to minimize the negative effects of flood hazards in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County through a range of programs, initiatives, and actions. The FMP is designed to tackle the impacts of flooding and provide targeted measures to safeguard residents and properties. The most recent FMP for LA County was adopted in June 2021, in accordance with the National Flood Insurance Program's requirement to update the plan every five years.

Los Angeles County Climate Vulnerability Assessment
This Climate Vulnerability Assessment focuses on the vulnerability of Los Angeles County to climate risks, considering the diverse people and places within the unincorporated communities and 88 municipalities, including populations with higher susceptibility to climate impacts. To grasp the potential impact of climate hazards and adaptation strategies on different groups of people, the report analyzes structural inequities and other factors that could expose certain individuals to higher risks of negative consequences. This report was developed through the collaboration between the Chief Sustainability Office and various partners.

Los Angeles County Safety Element
This Safety Element is a component of the General Plan that outlines objectives and principles aimed at lessening the likelihood of near and long-term consequences caused by earthquakes, floods, and fires in Los Angeles County's unincorporated areas. To meet the requirements of California Senate Bill 379, LA County Planning revised the Safety Element to integrate climate adaptation and resilience strategies. The Safety Element Update was crafted in collaboration 6 with community involvement, which focused on enhancing adaptation and resilience strategies to meet the mandate.

Los Angeles County All-Hazard Mitigation Plan
The Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has developed an All-Hazards Mitigation Plan (AHMP) in 2019 in response to the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. This plan assesses the risks posed by natural hazards and devises a mitigation strategy to minimize these risks in Unincorporated Los Angeles County. The 2019 AHMP replaces the AHMP that received approval in 2014.

California State Hazard Mitigation Plan
The State Hazard Mitigation Plan (SHMP) is the primary hazard mitigation reference guide for California. It presents an account of the past and present hazards in California, sets out mitigation tactics and measures to tackle those hazards, and offers guidance to local authorities as they create their own hazard mitigation plans. The SHMP is reviewed every five years in accordance with U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 44, Section 201.4. The present SHMP was published in 2018 and will expire in September 2023.

Existing Land Use and Development
Patterns
As described in La Puente’s 2021-2029 Housing Element, La Puente was developed as a community of single-family dwelling units and has primarily remained as such. Although multiple-family residential construction accelerated during the 1970s and 1980s it slowed from the 1990s on. The City’s 2004 General Plan established a Mixed-Use land use designation that allowed the Downtown Business District Specific Plan, which was adopted in 1994, to remain consistent in implementing the Mixed-Use designation. Mixed use development in La Puente’s Downtown is intended to encourage walking due to more compact development patterns and housing development that is near services and retail businesses. Because of the built-out nature of the City, future development, including mixed-use, will be infill that will maximize existing land and infrastructure resources and as a result promote housing affordability.

The Safety Element helps the City consider the location and type of new housing or other land use relative to known hazard areas and increases in the effects of climate change on those hazards. By coordinating the update of the Housing, Land Use and Safety Element, the City can direct future development into areas that avoid or reduce unreasonable risk while also providing needed housing and advancing other community goals. 7 Public Safety Facilities and Services
The City of La Puente provides numerous services and facilities that support community safety functions and operations before, during and after an emergency or natural disaster. Additional information on public facilities and services is in the Community Resources Element of the General Plan.

Public Safety Facilities
There are several facilities that provide important services to the La Puente community. These facilities support a range of government and private utility functions and services. Damage to these facilities impair response and recovery operations and may lead to a disruption of services on which La Puente residents rely.

The City conducted public engagement for the 2023 update of the Community Safety Element.

Through this engagement, community members identified public infrastructure for pedestrians as a concern. Specifically, community members noted the lack of sidewalks and streetlights in La Puente made walking to their destinations difficult and feel less safe. Additionally, community members shared that a lack of shade structures made walking in the heat an uncomfortable option. Community members suggested the City update pedestrian infrastructure and plant more trees or create other shade structures to improve pedestrian access to facilities.

Residents of La Puente were also asked what community locations they valued most. The most frequently valued places were parks and open spaces, followed by churches, community centers, senior centers, schools, and childcare centers followed on the list of important community locations.

Public Safety Facilities have been organized into the following groups:

Critical Facilities
These facilities are considered essential to the health and welfare of the whole population and are especially important following hazard events. It should be noted that two additional fire stations serve La Puente, Fire Station 43, located at 921 S. Stimson Ave in the City of Industry and Fire Station 118, located at 17056 Gale Ave in the City of Industry, but as they fall outside of La Puente’s jurisdiction, they are not being considered or analyzed in the scope of this Safety Element. The following are La Puente’s critical facilities and their locations:
● LA County Fire Station 26, 15336 E. Elliott Avenue
8 ● La Puente Public Works Maintenance Yard, 503 Glendora Avenue ● City Hall, 15900 E. Main Street
● LA County Health Services, La Puente Health Center, 15930 Central Ave ● LA County Department of Public Works - Building and Safety Division, 16005 Central Ave
Disruptions in utility services may occur in times of moderate to extreme weather events and other potential emergency scenarios. Utility locations are include below in the Utility System Facilities section. Several utilities which serve La Puente but are not located within the City are the following. As these facilities are not located within La Puente, they were not considered during analysis.
● La Puente Valley County Water, located at 112 N First Street in La Puente ● San Gabriel Valley Water, located at 11142 Garvey Avenue in El Monte ● Suburban Water Systems, located at 1325 N Grand Ave Suite 100 in Covina ● Valley Vista Services, located at 17445 E Railroad Street, in City of Industry Community Facilities
Many facilities which do not manage services that might be considered essential to public health and safety are still of high importance to the community and could be essential in the case of a public emergency. Schools, community centers, churches and other community locations can serve as important gathering spaces or points for distribution of resources and information. The following are La Puente’s Community facilities considered to be critical facilities. ● La Puente Community Center, 501 Glendora Ave
● La Puente Library, 15920 Central Ave
● Sunkist Library, 840 Puente Ave
● La Puente City Park, 501 Glendora Ave
● Puente Creek Nature Educational Center, 14951 Nelson Ave ● Bassett High School, 755 N. Ardilla Ave
● Del Valle Elementary School, 801 Del Valle Ave
● Hurley Elementary School, 535 Dora Guzman Ave
● La Puente High School, 15615 Nelson Ave
● Lassalette School, 14333 Lassalette St
● Nelson Elementary School, 330 N. California Ave
● Sierra Vista Middle School, 15801 Sierra Vista Ct
● Saint Joseph School, 15650 Temple Ave
● Sunset Elementary School, 800 Tonopah Ave
● Saint Louis of France Catholic School, 630 Ardilla Ave ● Workman Elementary School, 16000 Workman St
● Fairgrove Academy, 15540 Fairgrove Ave
9 ● Hudson Adult Learning Center, 445 Glendora Ave
● La Puente Senior Center, 16001 E. Main St
● First Fundamental Bible Church La Puente, 13925 Nelson Ave ● Saint Joseph Catholic Church, 550 Glendora Ave
● First United Methodist Church, 15701 Hill St
● Calvary Baptist Church, 420 Glendora Ave
● Hillside Bible Baptist Church, 400 N Sunset Ave
● First Presbyterian Church of Rosemead, 15302 Francisquito Ave ● La Puente Church of Nazarene, 15766 Fairgrove Ave
● St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 846 N Orange Ave
● Iglesia del Nazareno de La Puente, 418 N Orange Ave
● Hacienda Christian Fellowship, 1358 N Hacienda Blvd
● La Puente Valley Woman's Club, 200 N 1st St
● Delhaven Community Center, 15135 Fairgrove Ave
Utility System Facilities
Locations which manage water, energy, or communications are critical to maintain the essential services needed for area residents. The following are the locations of utility systems facilities in La Puente.
● La Puente Valley County Water District, located at 112 N First St ● Suburban Water Systems Pumping Station, 14501 Temple Ave ● La Puente Valley County Water District Tanks, 16300 East Main St ● La Puente Valley County Water District Hudson Booster Station, 15629 Hudson Ave ● Suburban Water Systems Reservoir, 15605 Hudson Ave
● Frontier Communications, 15844 Workman St
All public safety facilities have been mapped and their vulnerability to climate hazards identified in the accompanying climate vulnerability assessment.

Public Safety Services
La Puente residents and businesses depend on fire protection and law enforcement to provide a safe living and working environment. Police and fire protection contribute to the reduction of crime, promote foresight in the development process, and ensure effective enforcement, all of which foster the creation of a safer environment.
10 Fire Services
Structural fires represent the primary fire hazard in La Puente. Structural fires are generally caused by faulty equipment or lack of knowledge of fire prevention precautions. The potential for fire hazards increases when flammable and explosive materials are improperly stored, handled, or used. Planning for adequate fire protection and suppression in a densely built community like La Puente becomes increasingly important due to aging buildings and proximity to commercial and industrial uses, particularly to the south in the neighboring City of Industry. In La Puente, residential and business interface areas may face higher fire risks than other neighborhoods. Buffers or land use controls may be appropriate for commercial properties located near residential areas.

Fire suppression services in La Puente are provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Within the planning area, four fire stations are available to serve La Puente.

However, two of these stations are located within the City of Industry and one in Bassett, as noted below, and do not fall under La Puente’s jurisdiction and were therefore not considered in the public safety facilities list, nor in the climate vulnerability assessment. ● Station 26, located at 15336 E. Elliott Ave in La Puente (also has EMT services) ● Station 43, located at 921 S. Stimson Ave. in the City of Industry ● Station 87, located at 140 S Second Ave. in Bassett
● Station 118, located at 17056 Gale Ave. in the City of Industry In addition to the above stations, any County fire unit may respond to incidents within the Planning Area
1 depending on need and availability. The City coordinates with the Los Angeles County Fire Department to implement fire hazard education and fire protection programs. In addition, the City coordinates with local water districts to ensure water pressure is adequate for firefighting purposes.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department maintains compliance with the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) recommended response times. NFPA Standard 1710 2 states that
total response time to incidents should be less than 80 seconds for turnout time and 240 seconds for travel time. This makes an overall response time standard of 5 minutes and 20 seconds for no less than 90% of incidents. The Fire Code of Los Angeles County Code is adopted by 2 “NFPA 1710: Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments” National Fire Protection Association. https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and-standards/detail?code=171 0 1 Defined in the introduction to the General Plan on page I-3 11 reference and may be cited as the City of La Puente’s Fire Code. 3 The Los Angeles County Fire
Code has adopted by reference the California Fire Code and International Fire Code, except where noted.
4 To minimize fire hazards, the California Fire Code requires new construction to comply with the Uniform Fire Code, and for Fire Department staff inspects properties for compliance. The California Fire Code requires minimum road widths of no less than 20 ft for fire vehicle access and fire protection flows of at least 1,500 gallons per minute. 5 Law Enforcement
Law enforcement services within the Planning Area are provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, located at 150 Hudson Ave, in the City of Industry, outside of the City of La Puente’s jurisdiction. In addition to providing patrol and investigative services, the Sheriff’s Department offers a broad range of support services that are readily available from nearby Industry Station. Local control is facilitated through close cooperation between the Station Captain and City officials.

During the public engagement effort in 2023 to update this element, some community members shared that personal safety is an ongoing concern. Community members noted that some of the City areas lack well-lit streets, which contributes to residents and youth feeling unsafe outside at night. Safety in schools, as well as drug and gang violence were also described as safety concerns by La Puente residents. Homelessness was identified several times among community members as a major concern including as a contributing factor to residents choosing to drive rather than walk around their neighborhoods. Community members also believe there is a link between the unhoused population and cleanliness and safety concerns.

La Puente also provides programs to improve public safety. The Youth Activities League offers a variety of programs facilitated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Industry Station, which are accessible to La Puente students. These programs encourage good relationships with law enforcement and show students alternatives pathways that do not involve criminal activity. These programs include summer camps, martial arts, scuba diving, team sports, and their “Explorers” volunteer program for youth interested in a career in law enforcement.
6 The Neighborhood Watch Committee in the City of La Puente is a community-led group dedicated to promoting safety and preventing crime. Through regular meetings and outreach efforts, the committee works closely with local law enforcement to identify and 6 Industry Sheriff's Youth Activities League. https://www.industryyal.org/home. 5 “Appendix B: Fire-Flow Requirements for Buildings, California Fire Code 2016.” UpCodes, https://up.codes/viewer/california/ca-fire-code-2016/chapter/B/fire-flow-requirements-for-buildings#B 4 “ Title 32 – Fire Code” County of Los Angeles.
https://library.municode.com/ca/los_angeles_county/codes/code_of_ordinances/379113?nodeId=TIT32FICO 3 La Puente municipal code section 9.04.010: “Title 32-Fire Code of the Los Angeles County Code, as amended and in effect on March 1, 2017, adopting the California Fire Code, 2016 Edition is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth below and shall be known and may be cited as the Fire Code of the City of La Puente. 12 address concerns within the community. Working together with our partners will provide the highest level of public safety for residents, businesses, and visitors alike.

Emergency Response
Emergency response efforts are essential to prevent or minimize potential loss of life or property damage and to respond effectively to safety hazards, accidents, and natural disasters.

Businesses and residents in La Puente are subject to potential hazards associated with earthquakes, hazardous materials incidents, fires, and other conditions that may impact infrastructure and impede emergency response. Each type of disaster requires clean up, recovery, and planning to prevent future damage. The period after a disaster is often very difficult for communities and at times as devastating as the disaster itself. Cities that prepare ahead of time can reduce the fear, confusion, and loss that comes with disaster. Planning that ensures access to public safety facilities such as utilities, freeways, roadways, schools, and emergency care facilities can minimize the loss of life and property damage should a disaster occur.

La Puente participates in the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) that provides a statewide framework for coordinating multi-agency responses to emergencies and disasters. SEMS is the cornerstone of California’s emergency response system and the fundamental structure for the response phase of emergency management. The system unifies all elements of California’s emergency management community into a single integrated system and standardizes key elements. The City’s SEMS incorporates mutual aid agreements with other jurisdictions, establishes lines of communication during emergencies, and standardizes incident command structures.

Los Angeles County has self-governing Disaster Management Areas created by Joint Powers Agreements between cities and the County Board of Supervisors. These Disaster Management Areas are run by Area Coordinators who support planning, training, emergency exercises, and public education for earthquakes, fires, floods, sever weather events, and epidemics, among other types of emergencies. The City of La Puente is a member of Disaster Management Area D.

Disaster Management Area D runs certification programs for Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), and hosts training events, test events, and coordination meetings.

Local emergency services providers include the Los Angeles County Sheriff and the Los Angeles County Fire Department. To provide an additional level of readiness and protection, the City also offers a program to train volunteers to provide basic emergency response skills.

The City will continue to work toward establishing a comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan to coordinate efforts of residents, businesses, and service providers. 13 Emergency Preparedness and Education
Residents interviewed during the 2023 public engagement effort stressed the importance of inclusive preparation for natural disasters. The interviewees emphasized that the City needs to be more intentional when working with the community by providing more language access services as well as including diverse community groups. 7 Interviewees asked for more
collaboration and communication between the City and community partners to create space for dialogue around emergency preparedness. Additionally, interviewees expressed the need for better collaboration with community leaders.

Residents shared that education is important in preparing for disasters and cited social media as a way they stay informed about disasters. Youth also stay informed through in- class teacher announcements in addition to social media. Overall, community members recognized that these concerns and needs could not be addressed in isolation, and called for the City to be more intentional about collaborating with local organizations and community leaders to ensure that the needs of all residents were met.

When asked where they go during natural disasters such as a heat wave, most residents indicated they stay home. This may result from a lack of adequate places to meet residents’ needs during a hazard event or a lack of knowledge of where to go. The second most frequently mentioned place where residents go in heat wave were stores or a nearby mall, likely due to the air conditioning offered in these spaces.

When residents were asked how the City could help them prepare for or recover from hazard events, the most frequent responses centered on community education and awareness.

Residents asked especially for education and training for community members on disaster awareness and preparedness. They also asked for more communication from the City on hazard events and updates around power availability, locations of shelters, and actions the City is taking. Additional responses request that the City provide resources in the form of financial assistance, disaster preparedness items such as sandbags, and notifications on where these resources can be obtained.

Emergency Operations Center
The Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management undertakes emergency preparedness for the entire area of Los Angeles County. Key tasks include responsibility for maintaining an emergency response plan, support to incorporated jurisdictions for disaster planning and preparation, and maintenance of the readiness of the County Emergency Operations Center
8 . The County’s Operational Area Emergency Response Plan (2012) identifies 8 “Emergency Management.” Los Angeles County, 28 June 2022, https://ceo.lacounty.gov/emergency-management/.
7 The City currently offers English and Spanish interpretation services at workshops and city council . 14 a plan for emergency organization for the entire county, including incorporated cities. This plan also outlines the responsible authorities and mutual aid processes for the entire operational area of Los Angeles County.

Emergency Notifications
Emergency information is broadcasted directly by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. For emergency events and conditions of widespread concern, a broadcast message is disseminated to the public via radio and television stations. In the event of an emergency, Los Angeles County implements Alert Los Angeles County, an emergency mass notification system that contacts County residents and businesses. The system sends text messages, voice mail messages, and e-mail messages to alert the community of emergency events. 9 The responsibility
for emergency notification services throughout the county is held by the County Office of the Sheriff. As further described by the County, the Office of the Sheriff also has responsibility to issue calls for evacuation. If emergency shelters are necessary, the County Department of Public Social Services is responsible for the activation and coordination of shelters with jurisdictions throughout the county. In the case of a devastating brushfire, the Los Angeles County Fire Department has the “Ready, Set, Go” program, which is designed to provide steps to ensure residents are prepared in the case of an approaching wildfire.

La Puente residents surveyed during the public engagement for the 2023 Safety Element update were asked how they would like to receive emergency notifications. Responses were minimal, but included text, email, and via the City’s marquee.

Disaster and Evacuation Routes
AB 747 (2019) requires the Safety Element to identify evacuation routes and their capacity, safety, and viability under a range of emergency scenarios. In the City of La Puente, evacuation routes are determined by emergency responders who decide at the time of the emergency the routes that should be used for evacuation after assessing the conditions and location of the emergency.

Table 1 lists the roads that are classified by Los Angeles County as disaster routes, by road type and number of lanes. There are five high-capacity evacuation routes that can accommodate residents in the event of a hazard event. Arterial roads are high-capacity roads delivering traffic from collector roads to freeways and expressways and between urban centers. Figure 1 below identifies roads that are public, paved and through-ways, classified as disaster routes, which may be used for evacuation if they are viable routes during an emergency. 9 “Alerts” Ready LA County, 15 Nov. 2022, https://ready.lacounty.gov/alerts/ 15 Table 1 Disaster Routes by Type and Capacity
Disaster Route Road Classification Number of lanes
10 Francisquito Ave Secondary Highway 4-Lane Divided
Hacienda Blvd. Major Highway 4-Lane Divided
Valley Blvd. Major Highway 6-Lane Divided
Azusa Ave. Major Highway 4-Lane Divided
North Puente Ave. Major Highway 4-Lane Divided
The hazard areas within the City boundaries that intersect residential land uses are dam inundation, landslides, and liquefaction areas. There are no residential parcels that intersect flood zones and fire hazard severity zones within the City. The City of La Puente is urban, with evacuation routes surrounding residential developments. The following map, Figure 1, shows La Puente’s disaster routes.
10 City of La Puente. “Engineering & Traffic Survey: Radar Speed Survey.” July 14, 2009. https://lapuente.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=722&meta_id=100706. 16 Figure 1 City of La Puente Disaster Routes11
11 Los Angeles County Public Works. “Disaster Route Maps (by City)”. https://pw.lacounty.gov/dsg/disasterroutes/map/La%20Puente.pdf 17 Senate Bill 99 requires the City to identify residential developments in hazard areas that do not have at least two emergency evacuation routes. Evacuation route access for La Puente’s residential areas was determined using a Geographic Information System based analysis. 12 Residential developments in hazard areas were identified by running a location query to find the parcels within residential general plan designations that intersect the Combined Hazard Area.
13 The goal of the analysis was to find at least two separate points of exit from residential neighborhoods by following a rudimentary roadway network in which vehicles move from Minor/Residential Roads to Arterial, and eventually to an evacuation route. Residential parcels within the Combined Hazard Area were assigned to one of the four categories, as shown in Figure 2:

1. One Exit Point with Access to Single Arterial

2. One Exit Point directly onto a Single Arterial

3. Multiple Exit Points with Access to a Single Arterial

4. Multiple Exit Points with Access to Multiple Arterials Figure 2 City of La Puente Residential Parcel Access to Arterial Roads 13 Areas with the potential to be affected by landslide, liquefaction, and/or dam inundation. 12 De Novo Planning Group, “City of Rancho Santa Margarita SB 99 Analysis White Paper.” August 2021. https://www.cityofrsm.org/DocumentCenter/View/7589/2021-Updated-Safety-Element_SB99_Evacuation-RouteMapping-White-Paper_Public-Draft 18 The evacuation area of most concern is the neighborhood immediately to the west of the Industry Hills Golf Course. This residential area, with parcels outlined in red, has one exit point with access to a single arterial road and is in a potential landslide hazard area zone. Other, smaller areas with one exit point with access to a single arterial road can be found to the west of Sierra Vista Middle School and south of the Industry Hills Golf Course. Disaster routes within the City limits that could be impacted by the hazards listed in the Combined Hazard Areas are Hacienda Blvd and Puente Avenue.

Hazard & Physical Vulnerability
Assessment
This section describes the hazards affecting La Puente, including those created or exacerbated by climate change. The Southern California Climate Adaptation Planning Guide (SoCal APG) outlines an overview of climate impacts both occurring and anticipated in Southern California, describes adaptation principles for the region, and outlines a general process of adaptation planning for member jurisdictions.
14 The City of La Puente referenced the SoCal APG, along with other tools including Cal-adapt and the California Heat Assessment Tool to assess the range of climate change hazards that the City is likely to face in the coming decades. The region is likely to see more extreme oscillations in precipitation and temperature, increased number of wildfires and storms, as well as rising seas.
15 All of these initial climate impacts may likely
produce secondary effects in the form of more intense droughts, more landslides and risk of debris flows. These climate impacts are detailed further in this section. This section also examines public safety facilities that are vulnerable to damage from identified hazards.

Drought
A drought is a long-term shortage of water, usually caused by extended periods with little or no precipitation. California has been experiencing drought conditions statewide since 2012. In 2022, most of Los Angeles County, including La Puente, was classified by the US Drought Monitor as experiencing severe drought conditions (2022). Figure 3 highlights the percent of Los Angeles County that has experienced drought conditions (by intensity) between 2000 and 2023. 15 “Southern California Climate Adaptation Planning Guide”, Southern California Council of Governments, October 2020. https://scag.ca.gov/sites/main/files/file-attachments/socaladaptationplanningguide_oct2020_0.pdf 14 “Southern California Climate Adaptation Planning Guide”, Southern California Council of Governments, October 2020. https://scag.ca.gov/sites/main/files/file-attachments/socaladaptationplanningguide_oct2020_0.pdf 19 Figure 3 Percent Area in U.S. Drought Monitor Categories Local Water Supply
Drought conditions primarily impact the City’s local water supply, which is locally pumped groundwater. This water source is managed by the La Puente Valley County Water District (LPVCWD). In 2022, LPVCWD Board of Directors declared a Stage 2 Water Supply Emergency and have also adopted permanent water conservation measures. LPVCWD manages three active wells that produce water from the San Gabriel Groundwater Basin to meet the needs of La Puente residents. The annual water demand of the system is approximately 1,600 acre-feet, which equates to 521 million gallons.
16 Since 1924, the District has relied on its well field located on Puente Avenue in the City of Baldwin Park as its primary source of water. The wells located at this site pump water out of the Main San Gabriel Groundwater Basin. The Main San Gabriel Basin Watermaster is the key agency responsible for the management and protection of groundwater resources. Aside from local groundwater courtesy of the snow melt from the San Gabriel Mountains and the rain that flows through the San Gabriel River, water recycling and watershed protection are key efforts in helping the groundwater basins meet local demands.

Imported Water Supply
The Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, which serves the planning area, averages imports of 30,000 acre-feet per year.
17 This number is affected by many factors such as
drought, legal and regulatory constraints, costs, and more. The Upper District’s primary point of delivery service connection is in the San Gabriel Canyon, which imports water for groundwater replenishment.

The wholesale water agency of the Upper District is the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The Metropolitan Water District imports water from the conveyance systems of the State Water Project and the Colorado River Aqueduct. The Upper District’s primary source of 17 “Imported Water.” Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, https://upperdistrict.org/imported-water/. 16 “District Water Supply.” La Puente Valley County Water District, https://lapuentewater.com/your-water/. 20 imported water is State Water Project water which is owned and operated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). The water is delivered from the Bay Delta in Northern California to the areas in the Central Valley and Southern California.

Seismic Hazards
Southern California lies on the edge of the Pacific Plate, one of the many jigsaw puzzle pieces that fit together to comprise the Earth’s crust. The constant shifting, pushing, and shoving of these crustal plates - together with the complex interfacing of many varied geological structures – creates ruptures and crustal weaknesses known as faults. Movement along a fault releases stored energy and tension, thereby producing earthquakes. Powerful and widespread rupture or shaking ground can cause buildings to move off their foundations or collapse; damage buildings and other structures, roads, and other public infrastructure; damage utility lines and set off fires; and threaten the lives of people and animals. The damage to structures presents the greatest risk to life and property. Issues relevant to La Puente include the potential for earthquakes and secondary hazards related to earthquakes that may occur in the region.

Earthquakes
La Puente lies within a region of several active faults and therefore is subject to the risks and hazards associated with earthquakes. Eleven major faults impact the Los Angeles region. The California Geological Survey classifies seven of these faults as “active,” defined as having moved within the Holocene Epoch, approximately the last 11,700 years. Several major faults within a 50-mile radius of La Puente can produce substantial effects from ground shaking.

These faults include the San Andreas, Whittier-Elsinore, Chino, Sierra Madre-Cucamonga, Puente Hills and San Fernando faults. A major earthquake produced along any of these faults has the potential to produce strong ground shaking in La Puente. During an earthquake, the ground can shake violently. Rapid back-and-forth motion can cause buildings to fall off foundations, resulting in major structural damage and sometimes total collapse of buildings.

La Puente’s LHMP uses data generated using the HAZUS-MH program for earthquakes to estimate the intensity of the ground shaking, the number of buildings damaged, the number of casualties, the amount of damage to transportation systems and utilities, the number of people displaced from their homes, and the estimated cost of repair and clean up.

No Holocene-active faults have been identified at the ground surface within the city limits, nor have any Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault zones
18 been designated.19 There is one Quaternary
fault which is estimated to intersect the city, shown in the map below as the Walnut Creek 19 California Department of Conservation. “Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zones.” https://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/alquist-priolo#:~:text=Alquist%2DPriolo%20earthquake%20fault%20zones% 20are%20regulatory%20zones%20surrounding%20the,earth's%20surface%20defining%20a%20fault.) 18 Regulatory zones surrounding the surface traces of active faults in California. 21 fault.
20 Figure 4 shows the geographic relationship of the City and its public safety facilities to immediately surrounding active and potentially active faults and thrusts. While no other faults intersect La Puente, it is located several miles north and east of the Lower Elysian Park thrust and the Puente Hills blind thrust system. The Puente Hills system is comprised of three sections that run under downtown Los Angeles and into the Coyote Hills of north Orange County. The faults of the system are known as blind- thrust faults, as the faults do not intersect the ground surface. The lower Elysian Park fault is is located approximately two miles below the surface of the three sections of the Puente Hills fault system. Large earthquakes on this fault system are infrequent, but they are possible, which could have substantial impact on the area. These faults are all capable of movement that could produce substantial ground shaking. It is estimated the faults could result in an earthquake magnitude of slightly higher than 7.0.

There are several facilities that are located close to the Walnut Creek fault. Four schools, four churches, two water facilities, a park, and emergency services are all located above and near the fault. Although there is a low risk of an earthquake occurring from this fault, the reach to public safety facilities is extensive, with an impact on at least one third of all facilities in the City.

Seismic risk associated with the regional fault system and the quaternary fault underlying La Puente emphasizes the need to ensure that all development projects – and the retrofit of existing structures – incorporate appropriate design features to guard against widespread property damage and loss of life in the event of an earthquake. A second map (Figure 5) below shows the faults and thrust located in the vicinity of the City. More detailed information can be found in the LHMP.
20 A Quaternary fault is one defined only by age. To be a quaternary fault, it has to have that has been recognized at the surface and QUATERNARY FAULTS ARE DEFINED SOLELY BY AGE; THEY DO NOT HAVE TO REACH THE SURFACEthat has moved in the past 1,600,000 years (1.6 million years) (USGS).
22 Figure 4 Earthquake Faults Relative to Public Safety Facilities 23 Figure 5 Selected Faults and Thrusts near the City of La Puente Expansive Soils
As in much of California, expansive soils are prevalent in La Puente. Expansive soils made of fine-grained clay act like a sponge; as they absorb water, they swell and as they lose water, they shrink. Expansive soil occurs naturally and can be found in large and small areas throughout the Los Angeles region. Expansive soils may become unstable during ground shaking and are one of the most prevalent causes of earthquake damage to buildings. Damage caused by expansive soil includes disfiguring and structural damage due to cracking walls, ceilings, driveways, sidewalks, and basement floors. Minor damage to doors and windows may cause them to function erratically. To minimize damage to wood frame structures foundations can be made more flexible, with reinforced or post-tensioned slabs.

Structural design of new buildings should consider the potential effects of expansive soils on selected building materials. If for instance, the structure contains masonry walls, which are 24 intolerant to even small movements, a rigid foundation or one that will isolate the structure should be used. Site preparation may include prewetting, removal of the expansive soil and replacement with non-expanding soils, chemical treatments of the soil or other methods.

Grading and drainage should be designed so that excess surface water is collected and safely discharged off the building pad.

Liquefaction
Liquefaction occurs when loose, non-cohesive soils saturated beneath the groundwater table experience ground shaking, which weakens the soil , causing it to act like a fluid. Liquefaction generally occurs during seismic events, as the shaking increases water pressure, and loosens up the sediment that were firmly held together. Structures located on impacted soils, such as silt or sand, may experience significant damage during an earthquake due to the instability of structural foundations and the moving earth. Buildings and other structures may tilt, collapse, or otherwise suffer damage. Liquefaction can also occur independently of an earthquake, if any other sudden and significant stress causes the loosening of sediment, causing the ground to behave like a liquid. Landslides may also occur as a result of liquefaction, as sloping landscapes are unable to hold together due to the liquid form of the ground (see next section).

Many areas in the Los Angeles Basin have sandy soils that are subject to liquefaction. Many communities in Southern California are built on ancient river bottoms with sandy soils. In some cases, this ground may be subject to liquefaction, depending on the depth of the water table. .

Factors such as the height of the groundwater table and soil types also determine Southern California’s vulnerability.

California law requires identification of liquefaction zones, where the stability of foundation soils must be investigated, and landslide zones, where the stability of hill slopes must be evaluated. Figure 6 shows areas susceptible to seismically induced liquefaction and landslides in La Puente. Within these areas, geologic studies must be completed, and countermeasures undertaken in the design and construction of buildings for human occupancy. California law also requires disclosure of liquefaction or landslide zone status as a part of all real estate transactions within identified areas.

As shown in Figure 6, most of La Puente is subject to liquefaction excluding the south and southeast portions of the City surrounding the Industry Hills Golf Club. Within these liquefaction areas, geologic studies must be completed, and countermeasures undertaken in the design and construction of buildings for human occupancy. 25 Figure 6 Liquefaction Zones in La Puente
Landslides
A landslide is when a mass of rock, soil, or debris moves down a slope. Landslides can be triggered by heavy rain, when rainwater soaks into hillsides and accumulates , causing destabilization of the soil and increasing the pressure downward which may result in the movement of soil down the hills. Additionally, shaking from earthquakes can trigger landslides by disrupting the soil and rocks on sloping landscapes. The City of La Puente has areas susceptible to earthquake-induced landslides. Figure 7 identifies landslide hazard zones within 26 the City of La Puente in relation to public safety facilities. There are a few public safety facilities that are closely adjacent to the landslide zone. The closest facility to the landslide zone is a water facility, La Puente Valley County Water District Tanks, that is less than a quarter mile to the landslide zone. Two schools, Hurley Elementary School, and Workman Elementary School are within a third of a mile to the landslide zone. Small areas in the southeast of the City close to the Industry Hills Recreation Center and portions of the Industry Hills Golf Course at Pacific Palms Resort are subject to earthquake-induced landslides due to the area’s steep hill slopes.

There is potential for permanent ground displacement in this area. Some of the landslide zones are inside city limits, affecting areas such as Main Street and other southeast areas of the City. 27 Figure 7 Landslide Susceptibility Area Relative to Public Safety Facilities 28 Flood Hazards
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, La Puente is not located within either a 100- or 500-year flood zone, and as such, is not susceptible to riverine flooding. The City’s distance from the Pacific Ocean minimizes exposure to tidal wave (tsunami) hazards resulting from offshore earthquakes. However, the City is still susceptible to urban flooding from extreme precipitation events. Urban flooding is when land or structures in developed areas cannot absorb excess water and becomes flooded due to rainfall exceeding the drainage capacity of systems like storm sewers. The City does on occasion experience localized flooding on certain roadways during significant rain or storm events. Specific urban/localized flooding includes Valley Boulevard between Old Valley Boulevard and Ferrero Lane and Nelson Avenue between N. California Avenue and N. Hacienda Boulevard.

Research suggests that for much of the state, wet years will become wetter, and the dry years will become drier. Precipitation will likely be delivered in more intense storms and within a shorter wet season. Table 2 below provides a snapshot of Maximum one-day precipitation (the greatest amount of daily rain) for three 30-year time periods under a medium emission (RCP

4.5) and high emission (RCP 8.5) scenario.
21 Table 2 Maximum 1-Day Precipitation Projections for La Puente Source: Cal-Adapt 2023
21 Emissions scenarios (or Representative Concentration Pathways) try to capture future trends; they make predictions of how concentrations of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere will change as a result of human activities.

Current emissions are tracking close to the RCP8.5 pathway. 29 The City has taken steps to mitigate flooding impacts with ongoing maintenance and installation of catch basins and stormwater drains. Figure 8 shows flood hazard areas relative to public safety facilities in La Puente.

Figure 8 Flood Hazard Areas Relative to Public Safety Facilities 30 According to Figure 8, the 0.2 percent Annual Chance Flood Hazard (500 Year) only slightly borders the northeast border of La Puente. There is some bordering of this zone with the sphere of influence zone. There is no 1 percent Annual Chance Flood Hazard (100 Year) zone near the City of La Puente nor near the sphere of influence. There are a few public safety facilities that are closely adjacent to the 0.2 percent Annual Chance Flood Hazard zone. The closest facility is a church, First Presbyterian Church, which is located on the border of the 0.2 percent Annual Chance Flood Hazard zone. Two other churches, Hacienda Christian Fellowship and St.

Andrews Presbyterian Church of La Puente are close to the same zone, as well as a non-profit facility, Delhaven Community Center.

Extreme Heat Hazards
Extreme heat events are commonly defined in California as a day where the high temperature exceeds the average high temperatures of 98 percent of the historic days between April and October. According to the Cal-Adapt online tool, the temperature threshold for an extreme heat event is 101.1°F.
22 Four extreme heat days in a row is considered a heat wave. A Heat Health Event (HHE) refers to any heat event that produces adverse effects on public health, irrespective of the actual temperature.

Extreme heat and heat waves emerged as one of the major concerns among community members surveyed. Community members noted that there are not enough cooling centers or shade structures to provide relief from high temperatures. Students also responded that school yards also lack trees and shade structures. When participants were asked where they go during heat events, many responded that shopping malls were a good place to escape heat. Participants suggested that planting trees, creating more shade structures, providing cooling centers or zones and centers that provide resources to veterans and families were potential options to provide relief from heat.

Historically (1960-1990), the City of La Puente has experienced on average four extreme heat days, when the daily maximum temperature exceeded 101.1°F. Between 2035 and 2064, the City can expect to experience between 15 and 20 extreme heat days per year. Extreme heat events are also projected to last longer. Historically, extreme heat events have lasted an average of two days. Between 2035 and 2064, it is projected that extreme heat events will last an average of six days.

The greatest impacts from extreme heat events are health related. The air conditioning penetration rate (the ratio of homes with air conditioning to total homes per area in the dataset) 22 Cal-Adapt Tool. https://cal-adapt.org/tools/local-climate-change-snapshot 31 for the City of La Puente is approximately 60-80 percent. 23 While some heat-related illnesses are
often minor and temporary, including heat rash and heat exhaustion, extreme heat can overwhelm the body’s ability to maintain a safe internal temperature. If a person’s internal temperature rises to 104 °F or above, heatstroke can occur. Heatstroke can cause fainting, seizures, and mental impairment. If left untreated, heatstroke may lead to permanent organ damage, coma, or death.
24 The threat of extreme heat can be higher in urban, inland areas such as La Puente, where a lack of vegetation and a high percentage of dark-colored impervious surfaces lead to higher air temperatures. Existing tree canopy in the City of La Puente occupies 19 percent of land, one percent higher than LA County average (18 percent). Possible Tree Canopy includes areas that are theoretically available for the establishment of tree canopy. It is estimated that in the City of La Puente, Possible Tree Canopy is 46 percent of land. This category includes both pervious and impervious areas (asphalt or concrete surfaces, excluding roads and buildings) where improvements could ostensibly be made to accommodate additional trees. Figure 9 shows tree canopy cover in the City of La Puente.

The figure indicates Tree Canopy cover is between one and 25 percent in the City of La Puente, with the densest coverage in La Puente Park and the southeast region within City limits.

Adjacent to City limits in the Industry Hills Golf Club, the Tree Canopy Cover is between 25 and 50 percent.

More than half of the public safety facilities are located southeast of North Hacienda Blvd. where the densest tree canopy cover is within the City, indicating potential reprieve from extreme heat events. However, many schools and churches are in the western areas with minimal tree canopy cover which could have impacts on many of the citizens of the City of La Puente.
24 “Heatstroke”, May Clinic,
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heat-stroke/symptoms-causes/syc-20353581 23 Chien, Mo; Sanders, Kelly T; Ban-Weiss, George A, “A new method utilizing smart meter data for identifying the existence of air conditioning in residential homes” Environmental Research Letters, Vol.14 (9) , 2019 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ab35a8 32 Figure 9 Tree Canopy Cover in La Puente
33 Dam Inundation
There are 103 dams in Los Angeles County, owned by 23 agencies or organizations, ranging from the federal government to homeowner associations. These dams hold billions of gallons of water in reservoirs. Releases of water from the major reservoirs are designed to protect Southern California from flood waters and to store domestic water. Seismic activity can compromise the dam structures, and the resultant flooding could cause catastrophic flooding.

Loss of life and damage to structures, roads, and utilities may result from a dam failure.

Economic losses can also result from a lowered tax base and lack of utility profits. These effects would certainly accompany the failure of one of the major dams near the City of La Puente.

The City of La Puente has not recently been affected by a release/failure of any of the dams near the City, identified in the last LHMP, listed as Santa Fe Dam, Whittier Narrows Dam, and Puddingstone Reservoir. The US Army Corps of Engineers has assessed the risk level of the three dams in La Puente’s vicinity, as described below.

Whittier Narrows Dam
Whittier Narrows Dam and Legg Lake are located near the intersection of the Pomona Freeway (SR-60) and Interstate 605, and the dam is owned and operated by the Los Angeles District of the US Army Corps of Engineers. In the event of a dam failure at Whittier Narrows Dam, upstream floodwaters would reach portions of unincorporated Los Angeles County adjacent to the Planning Area, just west of Puente Avenue. In 2019, USACE completed a safety study of Whittier Narrows Dam and classified the risk as extremely high in the case of dam failure. 25 Although unlikely, a couple of dam failure scenarios triggered by rare, extremely high rainfall events, could lead to significant downstream flooding. If a dam failure were to occur, it could impact many major roadways and highways that are considered evacuation routes.

Santa Fe Dam
Santa Fe Dam and Reservoir are located on the San Gabriel River, in the City of Irwindale, Los Angeles County, north of La Puente. It is owned and operated by the Los Angeles District of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The Santa Fe Dam’s downstream floodplain includes a very small portion of the La Puente Planning Area. In the unlikely event of a dam failure, floodwaters would extend to the northwest corner of the West Puente Valley area within one 25 “Whittier Narrows Dam” National Inventory of Dams, US Army Corps of Engineers https://nid.sec.usace.army.mil/#/dams/system/CA10027/risk 34 and one-half hours. The Santa Fe Dam was last inspected in 2017 and has an Emergency Action Plan prepared, which was last reviewed in 2019.
26 The Santa Fe dam was authorized to provide flood risk management for the densely populated area between the dam site and the downstream Whittier Narrows Reservoir. The Santa Fe Dam and Reservoir is dry unless a significant rainfall event occurs, normally between the months of November and April. A risk assessment of the Santa Fe Dam was completed by USACE in 2016.

The risks identified during this study determined the dam to be a moderate risk due to the combination of life, economic, or environmental consequences with likelihood of failure to be unacceptable except in unusual circumstances. The project risk is driven by the high population at risk immediately downstream of the dam as well as identified potential failure modes. The primary risk drivers for Santa Fe Dam are internal erosion of the earthen embankment adjacent to the outlet conduit and impacts on the structure due to an earthquake event. The primary consequence centers are the cities of Irwindale, Baldwin Park, El Monte, and South El Monte which are located downstream and between the Santa Fe Dam and Whittier Narrows Dam.

These areas are heavily developed and will be significantly impacted as a result of flooding scenarios. The impact to La Puente would likely only include flooding in the far northwest portion of the City.

To ensure USACE is taking all steps to reduce the risk to the public, USACE will continue to work closely with state and local emergency managers, conducting emergency exercises and incorporating any new information into our Emergency Action Plan. USACE regularly inspects and monitors instruments to check the health of the dam and increases this monitoring during lake level rises. Regular maintenance and repairs are performed as needed to keep the dam functioning properly. Future risk communication activities include updates to the Emergency Action Plan and coordinating these plans with first responders and development of a formal Risk Communication Plan.

Puddingstone Creek Dam
The Puddingstone Reservoir is in the City of San Dimas near the junction of SR-57 and I-10. In the unlikely event of catastrophic failure or breach of the Puddingstone Dam, floodwaters would extend throughout most of north and west La Puente within two to three hours.

Puddingstone Creek Dam is owned by Los Angeles County Department of Public Works and was last inspected on Oct 26, 2021. The US Army Corps of Engineers has is determined this dam’s risk to be high in the event of a dam failure and it has an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) 26 “Santa Fe Dam” National Inventory of Dams, US Army Corps of Engineers https://nid.sec.usace.army.mil/#/dams/system/CA10024/summary 35 prepared which was last reviewed in 2022.
27 Figure 10 from the California Department of Water
Resources shows the potential flooding impacts from failure of both Puddingstone Creek Dam and Santa Fe Dam, however Puddingstone Creek represents the largest area of flooding.

Figure 10, below, depicts the potential areas of impact for all nearby dams, although the furthest extent of inundation could result from a failure at Puddingstone Creek dam. As depicted below, a large portion of north and west La Puente would be impacted by flood waters if Puddingstone Creek Dam were to fail. The flood waters would also affect disaster routes on the western side of La Puente. Inundation is shown as likely to not move past La Puente Creek. On the northwest side of La Puente, Bassett Senior High School is shown as potentially raised enough to avoid inundation.
27 “Puddingstone Creek Dam” National Inventory of Dams, US Army Corps of Engineers. https://nid.sec.usace.army.mil/#/dams/system/CA00194/summary 36 Figure 10 Dam Breach Inundation in La Puente28
28 Dam Breach Inundation Map Web Publisher, CA Department of Water Resources, Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD). https://fmds.water.ca.gov/webgis/?appid=dam_prototype_v2 37 Wildfire
Within the City of La Puente, there are no parcels inside the Fire Hazard Severity Zone within the City. However, there are several large areas of California Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) around La Puente in both Local Responsibility Areas (LRAs) and State Responsibility Areas (SRAs). The FHSZs do not intersect the City of La Puente and are mostly in surrounding parks and open spaces to the east and south of the City. Wildfires in these areas may affect air quality through wildfire smoke or disaster routes in the case of evacuation.

Social Vulnerability
Social vulnerability and adaptive capacity describe people’s sensitivity and ability to adapt to changing conditions. While climate change and environmental factors can increase people’s risk of harm, there are many factors that make certain populations susceptible to harm than others including: inequities in infrastructure, environment, and living conditions; differences in health condition, age, and ability; access to education, economic opportunities, social capital, healthcare; historic and institutionalized bias and exclusion from decision-making; and many other potential factors.

According to the California Communities Environmental Health Screening Tool (CalEnviroScreen), all census tracts in La Puente are designated a disadvantaged community. 29 Disadvantaged communities refer to areas throughout California which most suffer from a combination of economic, health, and environmental burdens. 30 Based on the CalEnviroScreen
data, La Puente experiences higher rates of asthma, cardiovascular disease, and low educational attainment than most other regions of California. These factors can lead to higher social vulnerability. Census tracts of La Puente scored between the 61 and 94 percentiles, meaning that these tracts experience more population characteristics that lead to social vulnerability than 61 and 94 percent of other California census tracts.

The County of Los Angeles performed their own social vulnerability analysis which included La Puente.
31 In the County’s analysis, they describe social vulnerability as the conditions that affect people’s sensitivity and exposure to the impacts of climate change. Vulnerability is not an indicator of an individual’s weakness or of a lack of capacity to cope with change, but rather an 31 “LA County Climate Vulnerability Assessment.” County of Los Angeles, Oct. 2021, https://ceo.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/LA-County-Climate-Vulnerability-Assessment-1.pdf 30 “Disadvantaged Communities.” California Public Utilities Commission, https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/industries-and-topics/electrical-energy/infrastructure/disadvantaged-communities#:~:te xt=What%20is%20a%20Disadvantaged%20Community,%2C%20health%2C%20and%20environmental%20burdens. 29 “SB 535 Disadvantaged Communities.” California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. https://oehha.ca.gov/calenviroscreen/sb535
38 indicator of the many factors, often outside an individual’s control, that put them at greater risk for negative impacts from disasters, climate change, and other stressors. Climate hazards pose a risk to all County residents, but various factors can make certain populations more susceptible than others.

Los Angeles County developed their social sensitivity index using 29 data indicators. Each indicator represents a characteristic that increases an individual’s sensitivity to climate hazards.

There are ten categories of social sensitivity indicators: age, community and language, education, health, housing, income and wealth, occupation, transportation, access to information, and race/ethnicity. A full list of categories can be found in the County’s Climate Vulnerability Analysis.
32 The County used the index to analyze where communities with people who might be climate-sensitive live. This helped illustrate which geographic areas have high proportions of climate-sensitive residents. The County divided all census tracts into three categories of vulnerability with “1” being the least socially vulnerable and “3” and being the most. The map below shows the vulnerability mapping of La Puente, using census tracts, which do not correlate exactly with City boundaries, but do provide an overall picture of La Puente. 32 “LA County Climate Vulnerability Assessment.” County of Los Angeles, Oct. 2021, https://ceo.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/LA-County-Climate-Vulnerability-Assessment-1.pdf 39 Figure 11 Social Vulnerability Index for La Puente (2021) 33 As illustrated in Figure 11, three census tracts of La Puente ranked among the most socially vulnerable of Los Angeles County. Census tracts 4077.01 just south of the Industry Hills Golf Course, 4071.01 on the far northwest of the City and 4076.01, near Valinda are all shown as the next most socially sensitive areas. The rest of the City is in the middle third of social vulnerability for Los Angeles County.

Human Caused and Technological
Hazards
The California Health and Safety Code defines a hazardous material as any material that, due to quantity, concentration, physical, or chemical characteristics, poses a significant potential hazard to public health and safety or to the environment. The manufacturing, use, and transport of hazardous materials are considered potential human activity hazards. City cleanliness was a 33 “Los Angeles County CVA Social Sensitivity Index.” County of Los Angeles Open Data, https://data.lacounty.gov/datasets/709afd7548f6491eb74c2928e6ce06df_0/explore?filters=eyJDZW5zdXNfVHJhY3QiOlsiQ2Vuc3V zIFRyYWN0IDQwNzcuMDIiLCJDZW5zdXMgVHJhY3QgNDA3MS4wMiIsIkNlbnN1cyBUcmFjdCA0MDcyIiwiQ2Vuc3VzIFRyYW N0IDQwNzEuMDEiLCJDZW5zdXMgVHJhY3QgNDA3Ni4wMSIsIkNlbnN1cyBUcmFjdCA0MDc3LjAxIiwiQ2Vuc3VzIFRyYWN0I DQwNzYuMDIiXX0%3D&location=34.035912%2C-117.940370%2C12.00 40 recurring theme in survey responses and interviews with community members. Residents reported concern over litter and dumping in the streets.

Commercial and industrial businesses located in La Puente and nearby communities use hazardous materials, including such businesses as dry cleaners, film processors, auto service providers, landscape contractors, and paint shops. Larger businesses, primarily in industrial areas, can generate, use, and/or store large quantities of hazardous products. The current regulatory environment provides a high level of protection from hazardous materials manufactured, transported to businesses, and stored within La Puente. Federal, State, and County agencies enforce regulations for hazardous waste generators and users. Approximately 100 hazardous waste generators exist in the vicinity of La Puente. Most are in the City of Industry and adjacent unincorporated areas.

La Puente’s land use pattern separates industry from residential uses. However, commercial freight carriers transporting hazardous substances along the Pomona Freeway or along the railway’s present potential hazards. The City contracts with the LA County Fire Department’s Emergency Operations Section for 24-hour emergency response services to hazardous materials incidents. Emergency responders identify unknown substances, monitor spills and releases for safe and immediate mitigation, and identify responsible parties for payment of cleanup costs.

The LA County Fire Department also runs the Health Hazardous Materials which is the Certified Unified Public Agency (CUPA) for Los Angeles County. Health Hazardous Materials administers the following programs within Los Angeles County; the Hazardous Waste Generator Program, the Hazardous Materials Release Response Plans and Inventory Program, the California Accidental Release Prevention Program (Cal-ARP), the Aboveground Storage Tank Program and the Underground Storage Tank Program.
34 The Inspection Division of the Fire Department’s Emergency Operation section inspects hazardous material handling and hazardous waste-generating businesses to assure compliance with federal, State, and local laws and regulations. Additionally, Inspection Division staff respond to medical waste emergencies, assist law enforcement agencies with response to illegal drug labs and investigate resident and business complaints.

Residents also use a range of household hazardous products. To address household hazardous wastes, the City, in partnership with the County of Los Angeles Public Works Dept and the LA County Sanitation Districts, sponsors programs that raise awareness of proper use, storage, and disposal of household hazardous wastes and hosts an annual household hazardous waste events so residents may safety dispose of household hazardous items. These efforts also support the City’s commitment to minimize pollutants in urban runoff. 34 Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA), County of Los Angeles Fire Department, https://fire.lacounty.gov/cupa-programs/
41 The following topics related to human caused and technological hazards are described and analyzed using CalEnviroScreen, and further explored in the City’s Environmental Justice Element.

Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste differs from standard waste in that it contains chemicals that may be harmful to health. Only select facilities are allowed to treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste. A variety of substances are considered to be hazardous waste, including used automotive oil, highly toxic waste materials produced by factories and businesses, and other substances. When hazardous materials become waste, they are transported from businesses that generate the waste to permitted facilities for recycling, treatment, storage, or disposal. Studies have found that hazardous waste facilities are often located near poor neighborhoods and communities of color. Hazardous waste facilities often are cause for concerns about effects on health and the environment in the communities where they operate.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department, Health Hazardous Materials Division tracks hazardous materials handlers to ensure appropriate reporting and compliance. The Division inspects businesses that generate hazardous waste, conducts criminal investigations, provides site mitigation oversight, and undertakes emergency response operations. Such inspections reduce risks associated with exposure to hazardous materials and adverse effects on the environment.

To assess hazardous waste exposure, CalEnviroScreen generates their indicator score by considering the number of permitted Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facilities, large generators of hazardous waste or chrome plating facilities, and the distance to the census tract from 2018-2020. Figure 12 below shows the hazardous waste sites and scores for La Puente and surrounding areas.
42 Figure 12 Hazardous Waste Sites and Scores for La Puente and Surrounding Area35 La Puente received a wide variety of hazardous waste scores, with the lowest score of seven in census tract ending in 7701 and the highest score of 85 in census tract ending in 7200. This means that residents of La Puente south of the Industry Hill Golf Club have less hazardous waste exposure than seven percent of California census tracts, while residents of central La Puente have more hazardous waste exposure than 85 percent of census tracts in the state.

Numerous hazardous waste sites are located south of the City and the hazardous sites located within the City are listed in Table 3 below.

Table 3 Hazardous Waste Sites in La Puente
Facility Name EPA ID
CVS PHARMACY # 4065 CAR000232744
CVS PHARMACY # 9629 CAR000237768

KAISER PERMANENTE LA PUENTE

HACIENDA MEDICAL OFFICES
CAL000414653
35 “Hazardous Waste Generators and Facilities.” CA Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, https://oehha.ca.gov/calenviroscreen/indicator/hazardous-waste-generators-and-facilities 43 WALGREENS #5702 CAL000323426
Toxic Release
Facilities that make or use toxic chemicals can release these chemicals into the air, which can be harmful to human and environmental health. Exposure to toxic chemical releases can cause both short term and long-term negative impacts, including serious health conditions. These chemicals are sometimes detected in the air of communities nearby. People living near facilities may breathe contaminated air regularly or if contaminants are released during an accident.

CalEnviroScreen evaluates toxic release by modeling air concentration of chemical releases from the emissions of large facilities and averaging them over 2017 to 2019. This indicator takes the air concentration and toxicity of the chemicals to determine the toxic release score. The map below shows the toxic release scores and facilities for La Puente and surrounding areas.

Figure 13 Toxic Release Sites and Scores for La Puente and Surrounding Areas36 36 “CalEnviroScreen 4.0 Indicator Maps.” CalEnviroScreen, https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ed5953d89038431dbf4f22ab9abfe40d/page/Indicators/?data_id=widget_ 313_output_0%3A0%2CdataSource_41-17c4bf84f3f-layer-2%3A6322&views=Toxic-Releases-from-Facilities 44 The toxic release percentile for the census tracts of La Puente ranges from 81 to 84, meaning that there is more toxic release impacts in La Puente than in 81 to 84 percent of other California census tracts. While there are no toxic release sites in La Puente itself, there are numerous sites south and west of the City. These toxic release sites negatively impact La Puente’s citizens.

Cleanup Sites
Cleanup sites are locations that are contaminated with hazardous chemicals and require cleanup of those materials by the property owners or the government. If left untreated, chemicals at these sites can move through the air or groundwater, spreading contamination to adjacent areas.

Communities near cleanup sites are more likely to be exposed to these harmful chemicals. Some studies have shown that neighborhoods with cleanup sites are generally poorer and have more people of color than other neighborhoods. Cleaning up these sites can be a lengthy process that may take many years or even decades to complete.

To assess cleanup sites scores, CalEnviroScreen calculates the number of cleanup sites including Superfund sites on the National Priorities List, the type of site, and the distance to the census tract being assessed as of July 2021. The map below shows these cleanup sites and scores for La Puente and surrounding areas.

Figure 14 Cleanup Sites and Scores for La Puente and Surrounding Areas37 37 “Cleanup Sites.” OEHHA, https://oehha.ca.gov/calenviroscreen/indicator/cleanup-sites 45 The cleanup site percentile for the census tracts of La Puente ranges from 46 to 88, meaning that there are more toxic release impacts in La Puente than in 46 to 88 percent of other California census tracts. While CalEnviroScreen does not list any cleanup sites in La Puente there is an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated Superfund site in the City which is not on the National Priorities List, and, there are numerous sites south and west of the City. The far northwest census tracts of La Puente had the highest cleanup scores in the City.

The EPA Superfund site in La Puente is named San Gabriel Valley (Area 4) and is located at Stimson Ave and Old Valley Blvd.
38 The site is a five-square-mile area of contaminated
groundwater. Remedial design and remedy construction activities are ongoing at this site. The most recent EPA review of the site was done in 2016. According to that review, the remedy proposed for the site is anticipated to be protective of human and environmental health once completed. The remedial activities completed to date have controlled exposure pathways, and continued protectiveness of the site requires the remedial design and activities to be completed.

Groundwater Threats
Hazardous chemicals are often stored in containers on land or in underground storage tanks, but leaks from storage containers can lead to the contamination of soil and groundwater.

Common pollutants that threaten groundwater and soil include gasoline or diesel fuels at gas stations, solvents, heavy metals, or pesticides.

In the 1990s, the State of California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control aggressively pursued a program to identify and force remediation of leaking underground storage tanks throughout the state. Fuel leaks from these storage tanks can result in substantial soil and groundwater contamination. Most of the contaminated sites identified in La Puente are gasoline stations.

The CalEnviroScreen indicator which assesses groundwater threats is calculated by consideration of the number of groundwater cleanup sites, the type of site, and the distance to the census tract as of July 2021. The groundwater threats percentiles for La Puente range from 38-92 depending on census tract. This means that the number and type of groundwater threats is higher than 38-92 percent of the census tracts in California (Figure 15). 38 “San Gabriel Valley (Area 4) La Puente, CA” United States Environmental Protection Agency. https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0902091 46 Figure 15 Groundwater Threat Sites in and near La Puente39 Within the City are relatively few groundwater threats, however, there are numerous sites south and northwest of La Puente which may impact La Puente residents. The six groundwater threats identified by CalEnviroscreen that are located in La Puente are listed in Table 4.

Table 4 Groundwater Threat Sites in La Puente
Facility Name Type Site ID Status Potential
Contaminants of
Concern
Kamdat Investment,
Inc.
40 LUST Cleanup Site T10000013891 Open - Site
Assessment
Waste oil / Motor /
Hydraulic /
Lubricating
40 “Kamdat Investment, Inc. (T10000013891).” CA State Water Resources Control Board GeoTracker, https://geotracker.waterboards.ca.gov/profile_report.asp?global_id=T10000013891 39 “CalEnviroScreen 4.0 Indicator Maps.” CalEnvrioScreen, https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ed5953d89038431dbf4f22ab9abfe40d/page/Indicators/?views=Groundw ater-Threats
47 Mobil #18-M5R
(Former)
41 LUST Cleanup Site T0603703031 Open -
Remediation
Gasoline
Liberty Cleaners
42 Cleanup Program
Site
T10000014829 Open - Inactive None specified
Oil & Solvent Process
Company
43 Cleanup Program
Site
SL603798554 Open - Inactive Volatile Organic
Compounds
Alternative Auto
Engineering
44 Cleanup Program
Site
T10000015520 Open - Inactive None specified
La Puente Gas
Station and Food
Mart
45 LUST Cleanup Site T0603705543 Open -
Remediation
Gasoline
Solid Waste Sites
Solid waste sites are locations where household garbage and other waste are collected, processed, or stored. These sites include landfills, composting, and recycling facilities. This waste may come from homes, factories, or businesses. Regulated facilities as well as non-permitted sites which are out of compliance with the law can potentially harm the environment and expose people to hazardous substances. Solid waste facilities can also raise community concern about odors, vermin, and truck traffic.

To assess solid waste exposure, CalEnviroScreen calculates their indicator by considering the number of solid waste facilities, including illegal sites, type of site, and the distance to the census tract, as of July 2021. The solid waste percentile for La Puente ranges from 0 to 64. The census tract that scores 64 indicates that that census tract has more exposure to solid waste sites than 64 percent of the census tracts in California. As shown in Figure 16 below, no solid waste sites are located directly in the City of La Puente.
45 “La Puente Gas Sta & Food Mart (T0603705543)” CA State Water Resources Control Board GeoTracker, https://geotracker.waterboards.ca.gov/profile_report.asp?global_id=T0603705543 44 “Alternative Auto. Engineering (T10000015520)” CA State Water Resources Control Board GeoTracker, https://geotracker.waterboards.ca.gov/profile_report.asp?global_id=T10000015520 43 “Oil & Solvent Process Company (SL60379554)” CA State Water Resources Control Board GeoTracker, https://geotracker.waterboards.ca.gov/profile_report.asp?global_id=SL603798554 42 “Liberty Cleaners (T10000014829).” CA State Water Resources Control Board GeoTracker, https://geotracker.waterboards.ca.gov/profile_report.asp?global_id=T10000014829 41 “Mobil #18-M5R (Former)(T0603703031).” CA State Water Resources Control Board GeoTracker, https://geotracker.waterboards.ca.gov/profile_report.asp?global_id=T0603703031 48 Figure 16 Solid Waste Facilities and Solid Waste Percentiles Scores in La Puente Public Health Emergencies
Public health emergency hazards include transmittable diseases and environmental hazards, including adverse weather conditions. The City of La Puente does not have a health department, but the County of Los Angeles’s Department of Public Health provides public health services and resources. The County’s coronavirus response plan provides guidance applicable to multiple types of public health emergencies including encouraging residents to wear facial masks, get vaccinated against infectious diseases, limit exposure to sick individuals, increase ventilation in indoor spaces, and wash hands regularly. 46 Businesses are encouraged to
provide signage outlining their guidelines on masking, maintaining social distance to limit exposure and other considerations, and to assist their employees in complying with these 46 “Best Practices to Prevent COVID-19: Guidance for Businesses and Employers.” County of Los Angeles Public Health, http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/BestPractices/ 49 recommendations through the provision of free masks, or allowed time off for vaccination appointments.

There are many ways to prepare for public health emergencies, as outlined in the City of Los Angeles’s LHMP.
47 These measures include prevention through vaccination and personal emergency and disaster preparation, which can help to reduce the impacts of human health hazards. Additionally, it is crucial to integrate medical and response personnel into a unified command to provide care when needed in response to human health hazards.

To ensure effective response to public health emergencies, it is vital that medical and response personnel are adequately trained and supplied. Furthermore, all-hazard contingency planning should be regularly updated and functional to address any possible emergencies that may arise.

To keep the public informed about human health hazards, a system should be in place to deliver a unified message. Health agencies and facilities also need to have surge capacity management and adapt to the increasing number and needs of the region.

Goals, Policies, and Actions
This section provides goals, objectives, and actions to build adaptive capacity and increase resilience to natural hazards, including those exacerbated by climate change, human caused hazards, and public health emergencies. The following list of goals, objectives and actions are meant to augment mitigation and preparedness policies in the existing General plan and Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. Many policies and actions in this section work to address multiple hazards and are indicated by hazard icons. Special consideration is given to addressing policy gaps to better protect the City of La Puente’s socially vulnerable populations and communities. 47 “City of Los Angeles 2018 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.” City of Los Angeles Emergency Management Department, January 2018,
https://emergency.lacity.gov/sites/g/files/wph1791/files/2021-10/2018_LA_HMP_Final_with_maps_2018-02-09.p df
50 Goal 1: Reduce risk from earthquakes, liquefaction,
flooding, and dam inundation hazards.

Policy 1.1 Require appropriate geotechnical studies or require standard building and remediation measures for all new proposed development projects on properties identified as subject to liquefaction or landslides.

Actions

1.1.1 Implement Los Angeles County Building Code seismic safety standards for construction of new buildings and update the City’s code as needed in response to new information and standards developed at the State level.

1.1.2 Encourage the upgrading of older buildings, including unreinforced masonry buildings, to comply with current Los Angeles County Building Codes.

1.1.3 Apply and enforce development standards and building construction codes pursuant to California state codes.

Policy 1.2 Apply and enforce earthquake safety standards for buildings, focusing on areas with expansive soils and unreinforced masonry buildings.

Actions

1.2.1 Continue a regular schedule of reviewing and updating the City’s building codes and adopting the Los Angeles County Building Code every three years. 51 Goal 2: Safe use, transport, and disposal of hazardous materials.

Policy 2.1 Coordinate with federal, State, and County agencies to reduce risks to residents associated with the use or transport of hazardous materials.

Actions

2.1.1 Coordinate with the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works in its efforts to monitor businesses that transport, handle, and generate hazardous materials to ensure proper disposal.

2.1.2 Continue to coordinate with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control and the Regional Water Quality Control Board to identify sites with fuel leaks from underground storage tanks and other hazardous waste contamination and facilitate appropriate remediation efforts per the requirements of California Department of Toxic Substances Control and Regional Water Quality Control Board.

2.1.3 Work in partnership with the County and neighboring jurisdictions to collaboratively reduce risks from hazardous materials across jurisdictional boundaries.

Policy 2.2 Educate the community regarding the safe use and disposal of household hazardous wastes.

Actions

2.2.1 Provide information through the City’s website and other publications about commonly used hazardous materials; safe recycling and disposal methods; and the location and hours of the nearest household hazardous waste collection center or event.

Policy 2.3 Continue to contract with experienced and well-qualified service providers for hazardous materials response.

Actions

2.3.1 Maintain communication with the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Certified Unified Public Agency to stay up to date with the guidance on hazardous materials response issued by their Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Materials program and obtain a list of well-qualified service providers.
52 Goal 3: Provide adequate emergency response to public health and safety threats.

Policy 3.1 Plan for emergencies in coordination with emergency response agencies.

Actions

3.1.1 Seek funding opportunities to prepare and adopt an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) in coordination with the Los Angeles County Sheriff and Fire Departments and the Los Angeles District Army Corps of Engineers, as well as adjacent cities. Review and update the EOP biennually.

3.1.2 Work with local organizations and school districts to identify emergency shelters and equipment.

Policy 3.2 Promote public awareness of emergency procedures for residents, the business community, City staff, and public officials.

Actions

3.2.1 Coordinate community workshops where residents can learn about safety concerns and learn about the City’s efforts to mitigate risk to people and property.

3.2.2 Consider implementing a volunteer training program to provide basic emergency response skills through the federal Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program and to establish a program in collaboration with community groups to educate other community members of emergency procedures and how to prepare for disaster events.

3.2.3 Create a brochure about emergency response procedures routes. Make the brochure available to businesses, community groups, and schools in both English and Spanish.

Post the brochure and other safety tips on the City’s website. Provide links to other emergency education sites.
53 Goal 4: Maintain a high level of fire and police protection for residents, businesses, and visitors in La Puente
Policy 4.1 Solicit and support community participation in crime prevention through local programs.

Actions

4.1.1 Support and collaborate with local crime prevention programs.

4.1.2 Work with property owners to address and abate vandalism on private property and encourage property owners and residents to participate in crime prevention through the City's online reporting application.

4.1.3 Review all new development proposals for sensitivity to crime prevention through project design. Encourage incorporation of design features that employ adequate lighting and place increased emphasis on public areas.

Policy 4.2 Support development of community and recreational facilities and programs to reduce the potential for criminal activity among youth through coordination with the County, community groups, and other regional organizations that provide activities for youth.

Actions

4.2.1 Work with the School Districts to increase sports programs and other activities to reduce criminal activity among youth. Distribute information on youth programs at all City-sponsored events.

4.2.2 Encourage community groups to provide safe activities for youth after school and throughout the weekend.

4.2.3 Properly maintain and operate the grounds and facilities of La Puente Park to minimize vandalism and crime at the Park and maximize public use and enjoyment. 54 Policy 4.3 Periodically evaluate police and fire services to ensure public safety.

Actions

4.3.1 Strive to minimize police response time by patrol officers by providing adequate numbers of sworn officers, special bicycle and foot patrols, patrols in response to criminal activity, and patrols that manage special events.

4.3.2 Annually evaluate the City’s mutual aid agreements to ensure that adequate police and fire protection services are provided in the event of an emergency.

Policy 4.4 Provide public information about fire, crime, and emergency preparedness to residents, schools, and community organizations.

Actions

4.4.1 Provide information concerning crime prevention through physical design on the City’s website, social media, public counter, and distribute a brochure to institutions and neighborhood organizations.

4.4.2 Work with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to encourage open dialog between City residents and the Sheriff’s Department to help bridge any gaps in communication that may exist between these two groups and reinforce community policing practices.

Policy 4.5 Provide the level of funding necessary for high level of police and fire protection.

Actions

4.5.1 Seek out grants as they become available for police, fire, and emergency services.

4.5.2 When the City renews service contracts with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, evaluate the number of officers, total population, response times, and crime statistics to ensure that appropriate levels of law enforcement are provided citywide. 55 Goal 5: Prepare current and future communities for
climate impacts.

Policy 5.1 Reduce risk to buildings and infrastructure in hazard areas.

Actions

5.1.1 Review standards to ensure that new developments and substantial remodels in at-risk areas incorporate low-impact, resilient, infrastructure and are protected from potential impacts of flooding and significant storm events.

Policy 5.2 Increase access to information, awareness and education around climate hazards
Actions

5.2.1 Consider developing policies that require residential property managers and landlords to disclose hazard risk information to renters in a manner similar to that required when residential properties are sold, including if the property is listed on a fragile housing inventory.

5.2.2 Work with community partners to develop an awareness and education program for city residents for natural disaster and hazard events, including providing information on the City’s website and through social media channels on preparing for natural disaster and hazard events.

Policy 5.3 Encourage incorporation of green infrastructure in future development.

Actions

5.3.1 Require and/or incentivize green infrastructure in future developments and, when possible, use green infrastructure as a preferred alternative.

5.3.2 Design roadway projects to include trees and landscape buffer areas. 56 Policy 5.4 Increase the community’s preparedness and resilience to extreme heat.

Actions

5.4.1 Establish cooling centers to reduce La Puente residents' vulnerability to extreme heat events.

5.4.2 Support critical facilities, such as schools, hospitals, and cooling centers to operate on micro-grids, which use various redundant backup systems including generator power and solar power sources.

5.4.3 Coordinate with LA County Department of Public Health to distribute information on climate impacts to vulnerable populations including actions they can take to reduce exposure to unhealthy conditions.

5.4.4 Shade public parks, open spaces, and provide shade structures along transportation routes, including bus shelters.

5.4.5 Support residential energy efficiency and weatherization programs.

5.4.6 Increase the City's urban tree canopy to provide shade to residential neighborhoods.

5.4.7 Promote the use of cooling techniques to reduce the heat retention of pavement and other outdoor surfaces.

5.4.8 Coordinate with Los Angeles County’s Planning department to support regional approach to heat mitigation consistent with the County’s 2022 Safety Element.

5.4.9 Increase the resilience capacity of La Puente’s most vulnerable communities by focusing planning and implementation in these communities and ensure representatives of those communities have a role in the decision-making process.

Policy 5.5 Reduce residential and municipal water use.

Actions

5.5.1 Continue to implement the City's Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.

5.5.2 Consider programs to educate and increase awareness among the community of water conservation measures and water efficient landscaping.

5.5.3 Coordinate with water providers in the City to inform residents of existing water conservation programs, resources, and rebates.
57 Policy 5.6 Reduce the risk to property from urban flooding.

Actions

5.6.1 Continue the City’s sandbag distribution program to provide residents access to sandbags in advance of upcoming storms.

5.6.2 Infiltrate runoff from developments on‐site, where feasible, to minimize potential increases in stormwater flows.

Implementation Actions and Programs
The following table (Table 3) demonstrates how the City will implement the Safety Element Goals, Policies and Actions by various departments. Some are currently implemented by the entities indicated in the table while others represent safety and resilience best practices that the City hopes to put in place on an ongoing, short, medium, or long-term basis.

Table 3 Implementation Actions
Action
#
Description Time Frame Funding Source Responsible
Department(s)

1.1.1 Implement Los Angeles County
Building Code seismic safety
standards for construction of new
buildings and update the City’s
code as needed in response to new
information and standards
developed at the State level.

Ongoing Special assessments
or fees, general fund
allocation, building
permit fees
Building and Safety

1.1.2 Encourage the upgrading of older
buildings, including unreinforced
masonry buildings, to comply with
current Los Angeles County
building codes.

Medium-Term Tax incentives or
rebates, low-interest
loans, public-private
partnerships
Building and Safety

1.1.3 Apply and enforce development
standards and building
construction codes pursuant to
the Los Angeles County Building
Code.

Ongoing Code enforcement
fees, fines and
penalties, grants or
partnerships
Building and Safety
58 1.2.1 Continue a regular schedule of
reviewing and updating the City’s
building codes and adopting the
Los Angeles County Building Code
every three years.

Ongoing General fund
allocation, state or
federal grants
Building and Safety

2.1.1 Coordinate with the County of Los
Angeles Department of Public
Works in its efforts to monitor
businesses that transport, handle,
and generate hazardous materials
to ensure proper disposal.

Ongoing Compliance fees Public Works

2.1.2 Continue to coordinate with the
California Department of Toxic
Substances Control and the
Regional Water Quality Control
Board to identify sites with fuel
leaks from underground storage
tanks and other hazardous waste
contamination and facilitate
appropriate remediation efforts per
the requirements of California
Department of Toxic Substances
Control and Regional Water
Quality Control Board.

Long-Term State grants,
environmental
protection funds
Public Works

2.1.3 Work in partnership with the
County, and neighboring
jurisdictions to collaboratively
reduce risks from hazardous
materials across jurisdictional
boundaries.

Ongoing Intergovernmental
grants, joint funding
agreements
City Manager’s Office

2.2.1 Provide information through the
City’s website and other
publications about commonly used
hazardous materials; safe recycling
and disposal methods; and the
location and hours of the nearest
household hazardous waste
collection center or event.

Medium-Term Public awareness
grant funding
Public Works

2.3.1 Maintain communication with the
Los Angeles County Fire
Department’s Certified Unified
Public Agency to stay up to date
with the guidance on hazardous
materials response issued by their
Hazardous Waste and Hazardous
Ongoing Department budget
allocation,
cooperative
agreements
City Manager’s Office
59 Materials program and obtain list
of well-qualified service providers.

3.1.1 Seek funding opportunities to
prepare and adopt an Emergency
Operations Plan (EOP) in
coordination with the Los Angeles
County Sheriff and Fire
Departments and the Los Angeles
District Army Corps of Engineers,
as well as adjacent cities. Review
and update the EOP biennually.

Long-Term Emergency
management grants
Planning

3.1.2 Work with local organizations and
school districts to identify
emergency shelters and equipment.

Medium-Term Community
development grants,
partnerships and
sponsorships
Building and Safety

3.2.1 Coordinate community workshops
where residents can learn about
safety concerns and learn about the
City’s efforts to mitigate risk to
people and property
Short to
Medium-Term
Community
development grants
Community Services

3.2.2 Consider implementing a volunteer
training program to provide basic
emergency response skills through
the federal Community Emergency
Response Team (CERT) program
and establish a program in
collaboration with community
groups, to educate other
community members of emergency
procedures, and how to prepare for
disaster events.

Ongoing Volunteer grants,
donations and
sponsorships
Community Services

3.2.3 Create a brochure about emergency
response procedures routes.  Make
the brochure available to
businesses, community groups,
and schools in both English and
Spanish.  Post the brochure and
other safety tips on the City’s
website.  Provide links to other
emergency education sites.

Short-Term Communication and
outreach budget
Community Services

4.1.1 Support and collaborate with local
crime prevention programs.

Ongoing Community
development grants
Community Services
60 4.1.2 Work with property owners to
address and abate vandalism on
private property and encourage
property owners to use building
materials that are resistant to
graffiti yet are consistent with the
City’s design policies.

Ongoing Community cleanup
grants
Building and
Safety/Public Works

4.1.3 Review all new development
proposals for sensitivity to crime
prevention through project design.

Encourage incorporation of design
features that employ adequate
lighting and place increased
emphasis on public areas.

Ongoing Planning
development fees,
collaboration with
developers
Building and Safety

4.2.1 Work with the School Districts to
increase sports programs and other
activities to reduce criminal activity
among youth. Distribute
information on youth programs at
all City-sponsored events.

Long-term Education grants,
joint funding
agreements
Community Services

4.2.2 Encourage community groups to
provide safe activities for youth
after school and throughout the
weekend.

Long-term Community grants Community Services

4.2.3 Properly maintain and operate the
grounds and facilities of La Puente
Park to minimize vandalism and
crime at the Park and maximize
public use and enjoyment.

Ongoing City budget
allocation, park
improvement grants,
park district
funding, community
development block
grants, park user
fees
Parks

4.3.1 Strive to minimize police response
time by patrol officers by providing
adequate numbers of sworn
officers, special bicycle and foot
patrols, patrols in response to
criminal activity, and patrols that
manage special events.

Short-term Public safety budget,
grant opportunities
Community Services

4.3.2 Annually evaluate the City’s
mutual aid agreements to ensure
that adequate police and fire
Ongoing General fund
allocation
City Manager’s Office
61 protection services are provided in
the event of an emergency.

4.4.1 Provide information concerning
crime prevention through physical
design on the City’s website, social
media, public counter, and
distribute a brochure to institutions
and neighborhood organizations.

Short-term Communication and
outreach budget,
public safety grants
Community Services

4.4.2 Work with the Los Angeles County
Sheriff’s Department to encourage
open dialog between City residents
and the Sheriff’s Department to
help bridge any gaps in
communication that may exist
between these two groups and
reinforce community policing
practice.

Ongoing Community
engagement grants
Community Services

4.5.1 Seek out grants as they become
available for police, fire and
emergency services.

Ongoing Specific federal
grants, state grants,
Community
development block
grants, local
government
funding, regional
and county funding
City Manager’s Office

4.5.2 When the City renews service
contracts with the Los Angeles
County Sheriff’s Department,
evaluate the number of officers,
total population, response times,
and crime statistics to ensure that
appropriate levels of law
enforcement are provided citywide.

Long-term Contract
negotiation,
performance-based
funding
City Manager’s Office

5.1.1 Review standards to ensure that
new developments and substantial
remodels in at-risk areas
incorporate low-impact, resilient,
infrastructure and are protected
from potential impacts of flooding
and significant storm events.

Ongoing Climate resilience
grants, planning and
development fees
Building and Safety

5.2.1 Consider developing policies that
require residential property
managers and landlords to disclose
hazard risk information to renters
Short-term Housing and
community
development grants
Housing/Building and
Safety
62 in a manner similar to that required
when residential properties are
sold, including if the property is
listed on a fragile housing
inventory.

5.2.2 Work with community partners to
develop an awareness and
education program for city
residents for natural disaster and
hazard events, including providing
information on the City’s website
and through social media channels
on preparing for natural disaster
and hazard events.

Medium-term Climate resilience
grants
City Manager’s Office

5.3.1 Require and/or incentivize green
infrastructure in future
developments and, when possible,
use green infrastructure as a
preferred alternative.

Medium-term California Strategic
Growth Council,
green infrastructure
grants, development
incentive programs
Building and
Safety/Public Works

5.3.2 Design roadway projects to include
trees and landscape buffer areas
Long-term California Strategic
Growth Council,
Transportation and
infrastructure
budget, state and
federal grants
Public Works

5.4.1 Establish cooling centers to reduce
La Puente residents' vulnerability
to extreme heat events
Short-term OPR’s Adaptation
Planning Grant
Program, California
Strategic Growth
Council, climate
resilience centers
grants, public health
grants
Community Services

5.4.2 Support critical facilities, such as
schools, hospitals, and cooling
centers to operate on micro-grids,
which use various redundant
backup systems including
generator power and solar power
sources.

Medium-term OPR’s Adaptation
Planning Grant
Program, California
Public Utilities
Commission
(CPUC), California
Strategic Growth
Council, energy
efficiency grants
Public Works

5.4.3 Coordinate with LA County
department of public health to
Short-term California Public
Utilities Commission
Community Services
63 distribute information on climate
impacts to vulnerable populations
including actions they can take to
reduce exposure to unhealthy
conditions
(CPUC), public
health budget,
public health and
environmental
grants

5.4.4 Shade public parks, open spaces,
and provide shade structures along
transportation routes, including
bus shelters
Short-term California Strategic
Growth Council,
parks and recreation
budget,
environmental
grants
Public Works

5.4.5 Support residential energy
efficiency and weatherization
programs.

Ongoing California Strategic
Growth Council,
utility company
programs, energy
efficiency grants
Building and
Safety/Housing

5.4.6 Increase the City's urban tree
canopy to provide shade to
residential neighborhoods
Medium-term Environmental
grants, tree planting
grants and
partnerships
Public Works

5.4.7 Promote the use of cooling
techniques to reduce the heat
retention of pavement and other
outdoor surfaces.

Medium-term State and federal
grants (e.g., CEC,

EPA, DOE),
sustainability and
climate resilience
funds
Public Works/Building
and Safety

5.4.8 Coordinate with Los Angeles
County’s Planning department to
support regional approach to heat
mitigation consistent with the
County’s 2022 Safety Element.

Ongoing County grants and
partnerships,
collaborative
municipal funding
Planning

5.4.9 Increase the resilience capacity of
La Puente’s most vulnerable
communities by focusing planning
and implementation in these
communities and ensure
representatives of those
communities have a role in the
decision-making process.

Ongoing Community
development block
grants, local
initiatives, and
budget allocation
Public Works/Planning
64 5.5.1 Continue to implement the City's
Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance.

Short-term Environmental
grants
Public Works

5.5.2 Consider programs to educate and
increase awareness among the
community of water conservation
measures and water efficient
landscaping.

Medium-term Water district grants,
state and federal
grants (e.g., DWR,

EPA, DOE)
Public Works

5.5.3 Coordinate with water providers in
the City to inform residents of
existing water conservation
programs, resources and rebates
Medium-term Water district
partnerships, water
conservation grants
Public Works

5.6.1 Continue the City’s sandbag
distribution program to provide
residents access to sandbags in
advance of upcoming storms
Ongoing OPR’s Adaptation
Planning Grant
Program, emergency
preparedness
budget, disaster
preparedness grants
Public Works

5.6.2 Infiltrate runoff from developments
on‐site, where feasible, to minimize
potential increases in stormwater
flows.

Medium-Term Stormwater
management grants,
municipal funding,
infrastructure grants
Building and
Safety/Public Works
65 ATTACHMENT B

RESOLUTION NO. 24-5903 PAGE 1 OF 4 NOVEMBER 12, 2024
RESOLUTION NO. 24-5903

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY

OF LA PUENTE, CALIFORNIA, SETTING FORTH

FINDINGS AND APPROVING GENERAL PLAN
AMENDMENT (“GPA”) NO. 23-01 ADOPTING THE
UPDATED 2024 COMMUNITY SAFETY ELEMENT,

KEEPING IN EFFECT THE NOISE ELEMENT WITHIN
THE 2004 COMMUNITY SAFETY ELEMENT, AND

ADOPTING A NOTICE OF EXEMPTION REGARDING
SAME
WHEREAS, General Plan Amendment (“GPA”) No. 23-01 (“ Project”) incorporates appropriate amendments to the City of La Puente General Plan addressing the Community Safety Element as required by State law; and
WHEREAS, the City of La Puente’s 6th Cycle Housing Element for the 2021-2029 period was certified by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (“HCD”) on October 7, 2022; and
WHEREAS, recent legislation, including SB 1035 and SB 379, require that Safety Elements be updated every eight years, in conjunction with Housing Element updates; and WHEREAS, Government Code Section 65302(g)(3), requires the City to review and update the Safety Element as necessary to address the risk of fire for land classified as State Responsibility Areas and land classified as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones; and WHEREAS, the City of La Puente 2024 Safety Element Update incorporates by reference the current La Puente Local Hazard Mitigation Plan developed in accordance with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, following the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (“FEMA”) 2011 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan guidance, and pursuant to AB 2140 to increase opportunities for financial assistance under the California Disasters Assistance Act; and WHEREAS, the City of La Puente posted the Draft 2024 Community Safety Element on the City’s website for public comment for a period not less than 60 days; and WHEREAS, the City of La Puente submitted the Draft 2024 Community Safety Element to the California Geological Survey and the California Office of Emergency Services and responded to comments received by respective agencies; and WHEREAS, adoption of the 2024 Community Safety Element Update will reduce the risk of injury to persons and damage to property; and
WHEREAS, the California Government Code Section 65353 and 65354 require that prior to the adoption of any proposed amendment to the General Plan, the Planning Commission shall first review and recommend to the City Council the adoption of any such proposed amendment; and

ATTACHMENT C
RESOLUTION NO. 24-5903 PAGE 2 OF 4 NOVEMBER 12, 2024
WHEREAS, on September 3, 2024, the Planning Commission of the City of La Puente conducted a duly noticed public hearing on the Project, considered all written and oral testimony, and adopted Planning Commission Resolution No. 24-1585 recommending that the City Council adopt a resolution to approve GPA No 23-01 adopting the updated 2024 Community Safety Element, recommending keeping in effect the Noise Element within the 2004 Community Safety Element, and recommending adoption of a Notice of Exemption; and WHEREAS, notice of the City Council’s November 12, 2024, public hearing on the proposed General Plan Amendment No. 23-01 for the 2024 Community Safety Element Update was published in The San Gabriel Valley Tribune on November 1, 2024, in compliance with the CEQA Guidelines, the City’s Municipal Code (“Code”), and Government Code Section 65091; and
WHEREAS, on November 12, 2024, the City Council of the City of La Puente conducted a duly noticed public hearing on the Project, and considered all written and oral testimony; and
WHEREAS, this project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per Section 15061(b)(3) (“Common Sense Exemption”) of the CEQA Guidelines since it will not result in changes to the existing physical environment and any modifications to the physical environment will not occur as a result of its adoption.

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

NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PUENTE HEREBY FINDS, DETERMINES AND RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. INCORPORATION OF RECITALS. All of the facts set forth in the Recitals above are true and correct, and incorporated herein by reference.

SECTION 2. PUBLIC HEARING NOTICES AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. All necessary public hearings and opportunities for public testimony and comment have been conducted in compliance with State law and the Municipal Code of the City of La Puente (“Code”).

SECTION 3. CALIFORNIA ENVIORNMENTAL QUALITY ACT FINDINGS. Upon independent review, judgement, analysis, and consideration of the information contained in the Application, the City Council hereby finds and determines that GPA No. 23-01 is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, which states “The activity is covered by the common sense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA.” This exemption is based on the fact that the proposed project is a General Plan Amendment that will not result in changes to the existing physical environment, and any modifications to the physical environment will not occur as a result of its adoption which is exempt from CEQA for the reasons outlined in the State CEQA Guideline section citied above. Upon City Council's adoption of a finding of a common sense exemption, staff has prepared and will file a Notice of Exemption.

RESOLUTION NO. 24-5903 PAGE 3 OF 4 NOVEMBER 12, 2024
SECTION 4. GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT FINDINGS. Pursuant to Section

10.112.060.A of the City’s Municipal Code, the City Council finds as follows:

1. The amendment is internally consistent with all other provisions of the General Plan. The proposed amendment is in conformance with all the General Plan requirements of State Code 65300 in that the General Plan will continue to contain all required elements and is internally consistent. The proposed amendments are required to bring the Safety Element and General Plan into compliance with new State law and are consistent with sound planning principles in that the proposed policies and proposed implementing programs are compatible and ensure that the goals and policies of the General Plan can be implemented to achieve the stated goals and community vision.

The proposed amendment is consistent with all other elements of the La Puente General Plan and any applicable specific plans adopted by the City. Furthermore, the City will ensure consistency between the Community Safety Element and other elements of the General Plan, and as new policies are introduced, they will be reviewed for consistency with existing elements. If any General Plan elements are updated, the Community Safety Element may also be modified to maintain consistency within the General Plan; and

2. The proposed amendment will not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety, convenience, or welfare of the City. The proposed amendment promotes the health, safety, and general welfare of the City of La Puente and its residents. The Community Safety Element update addresses natural hazards including fire, seismic and flood risks by providing goals, policies, and actions by outlining community resilience strategies that protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the residents, property, and infrastructure. Furthermore, the Community Safety Element update will better inform the preparation of local plans, including the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan making the City better prepared, eligible, and more competitive to receive State and federal funds.

Based on the foregoing, the City Council hereby approves the 2024 Community Safety Element attached hereto as Exhibit A, and incorporated herein by reference, and adopt a Notice of Exemption regarding same.

SECTION 5. SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this Resolution are severable and if any provision, clause, sentence, word, or part thereof is held illegal, invalid, unconstitutional, or inapplicable to any person or circumstances, such illegality, invalidity, unconstitutionality, or inapplicability shall not affect or impair any of the remaining provisions, clauses, sentences, sections, words, or parts thereof of the Resolution or their applicability to other persons or circumstances.

SECTION 6. ADOPTION DATE. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution and the same shall be in full force and effect.

RESOLUTION NO. 24-5903 PAGE 4 OF 4 NOVEMBER 12, 2024
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 12th day of November 2024, by the following vote:

AYES: COUNCILMEMBER:

NOES: COUNCILMEMBER:

ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBER:

ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBER:

ATTEST:
__________________________________
Gabriel Quiñones, Mayor
________________________________
Martha Torres, MPA, City Clerk

NOTICE OF EXEMPTION
TO: County Clerk FROM: City of La Puente
County of Los Angeles 15900 E. Main Street
Environmental Filings La Puente, CA 91744
12400 East Imperial Hwy
Norwalk, CA 90650
Project Title: General Plan Amendment (GPA) 23-01
Project Location (Specific): Citywide
Project Location (City): La Puente Project Location (County): Los Angeles Description of Nature, Purpose, and Beneficiaries of Project: A request recommending that the City Council adopt a resolution to approve General Plan Amendment (“GPA”) No. 23-01 adopting the updated 2024 Community Safety Element, recommending keeping in effect the Noise Element within the 2004 Community Safety Element; and recommending adoption of a Common Sense Exemption pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines.

Name of Public Agency Approving Project: City of La Puente Name of Person or Agency Carrying Out Project: Abraham Tellez, Planning Manager Exempt Status: (Check One)
Ministerial (14 Calif. Admin. Code §15268)
Declared Emergency (14 Cal. Admin. Code §15269(a))
Emergency Project (14 Cal. Admin. Code §15269(b) & (c)) Statutory Exemption. (14 Cal. Admin. Code §§15260 et seq.) Categorical Exemption. (14 Cal. Admin. Code §§15300 et seq.) Common Sense Exemption. (14 Cal. Admin. Code §§15061(b)(3) et seq.) Reasons why project is exempt: This exemption is based on the fact that the proposed project, which includes a General Plan Amendment will not result in changes to the existing physical environment, and any modifications to the physical environment will not occur as a result of its adoption which is exempt from CEQA for the reasons outlined in the State CEQA Guideline section citied above.

Contact Person: Abraham Tellez Phone No.: (626) 855-1513 Date received for Filing: Signature: _______________________________ _____________________ Date: ______________________________ City of La Puente
15900 E. Main Street La Puente, CA 91744 Telephone (626) 855-1500 Fax (626) 961-4626

ATTACHMENT D
AGENDA ITEM NO. B-2
To: Mayor and City Council For meeting of: November 12, 2024 From: Bob Lindsey, City Manager
By: John Di Mario, Development Services Director
Abraham Tellez, Planning Manager
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION SETTING FORTH FINDINGS AND APPROVING GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 23-02 TO ADOPT THE LA PUENTE 2024 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ELEMENT

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
Notice of the City Council’s November 12, 2024, public hearing on the proposed General Plan Amendment to adopt the La Puente 2024 Environmental Justice (“EJ”) Element update was published in The San Gabriel Valley Tribune on November 1, 2024. Hearing notices were also posted at City Hall, Community Center, and the Library in compliance with the City's Municipal Code (“Code”) and Government Code Section 65091.

BACKGROUND
In 2016, the state legislature adopted Senate Bill (SB) 1000 to promote environmental justice through local land use planning. SB 1000 requires local governments with disadvantaged communities to develop EJ policies as part of their general plans. To determine the disadvantaged areas in La Puente, staff followed the framework established by the California Environmental Protection Agency (“CalEPA”) and the California Office of Environmental Health Hazards Assessment (“OEHHA”), which utilize CalEnviroScreen 4.0 tool to assess environmental and socioeconomic factors.

OEHHA’s CalEnviroScreen 4.0 data reveals that most census tracts within the city of La Puente limits are in the 80th and 90th percentiles. In general, areas in the 80th and 90th percentiles are considered to have a higher pollution burden and require targeted EJ interventions and resources to address the disparities and improve the overall community health and well-being. Using the data from CalEnviroScreen 4.0, the state designates all census tracts within La Puente as “Disadvantaged Communities” and requires La Puente to identify EJ policies in its General Plan.

While not required, the City has elected to develop a standalone EJ Element to help prioritize EJ throughout the City.

Another required component of SB 1000 is the need to involve the community into the decisionmaking process for the development of the EJ Element. To inform the community about this EJ Element and to ensure it addresses the needs of La Puente residents, the City conducted a twophased community engagement approach to seek public input on community priorities and proposed EJ Element’s goals.

City of La Puente

AGENDA REPORT
Agenda Report: Consideration of GPA 23-02
For Meeting of November 12, 2024

The City participated in the Strategic Growth Council’s Build Organize Optimize Strengthen Transform (“BOOST”) technical assistance program between 2022-2023. Through this 18- month long program, the City received support from the Institute for Local Government to initiate the EJ Element. The consultant team provided research, writing, and engagement strategy support to deliver an EJ Element in compliance with SB 1000.

Planning Commission Consideration/Action
At the Planning Commission meeting held on September 3, 2024, a public hearing was conducted and following the public hearing, the Planning Commission approved Resolution No. 24-1586 (see Attachment “B”), recommending that the City Council adopt a resolution to approve GPA No. 23-02 adopting the 2024 Environmental Justice Element and recommending adoption of a Notice of Exemption regarding same.

DISCUSSION
Environmental Justice Element Key Components
The introductory section of the EJ Element describes what makes La Puente an EJ community and highlights the importance of addressing the EJ challenges and disparities faced by the La Puente community.

The EJ Element identifies key areas where residents are disproportionately overburdened and impacted by environmental injustice. Specifically, the EJ Element analyzes the impacts unique to La Puente and details various indicators affecting the quality of life for its residents across the following areas:

1. Pollution and Air Quality

2. Access to Healthy Foods

3. Housing

4. Access to Public Facilities
Lastly, the EJ Element lists key goals and policies to help address EJ concerns (see Attachment “A” – Environmental Justice Element with Appendices).

It is important to note that a lot of the impacts on La Puente residents are not a direct result of actions taken by the City and may be outside the scope of the City to remedy. However, the EJ Element seeks to enumerate what actions the City can take to mitigate these impacts and improve conditions for its residents.

Environmental Justice Element Goals
The EJ Element list seven goals to help address EJ in the City. Those goals are:

Goal 1: Promote efforts to improve the quality of the built and natural environments to reduce disparate health and environmental impacts.

Agenda Report: Consideration of GPA 23-02
For Meeting of November 12, 2024

Goal 2: Ensure that public facilities and services are located and distributed throughout the city to allow for easy access for and enjoyment by residents.

Goal 3: Ensure access to healthy food.

Goal 4: Ensure safe and sanitary housing.

Goal 5: Provide and improve parks and recreation centers that serve all ages and abilities.

Goal 6: Promote and ensure meaningful and effective participation and community capacity building, especially when developing, adopting, implementing, and enforcing plans and policies related to public health and environmental issues or any plans or programs that affect residents.

Goal 7: Prioritize improvements and programs that address the needs of residents.

For each goal, there are policies that address specific actions the City can take to ensure the goals are achieved and EJ is effectively addressed in La Puente.

Public Participation
Community engagement and outreach was split into two phases. In the first phase, the City conducted an online and paper survey in Spanish and English, spoke to several community stakeholders, utilized listservs and city’s social media platforms to inform the community about this planning initiative, and attended community events to gather input from residents and better understand community priorities and concerns. The input from phase one informed the development of draft EJ Element. During the second phase, the City hosted two community workshops, one in-person on February 29, and one virtual on March 9, and posted information about the draft EJ Element online for public review. The City did outreach to the community about the workshops and the availability of the draft EJ Element for public review via social media and posters/flyers at City facilities. Community input from phase two helped to refine and prioritize the EJ goals and policies.

A more extensive summary of the outreach and engagement activities can be found in Appendix “A” of the EJ Element. The survey results can be found in Appendix “B”, and Appendix “C” provides a feedback matrix which details the feedback received from residents and stakeholders during the second phase of engagement, the method it was received, and the corresponding theme and EJ Element Policy.

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
Staff has determined that the proposed Project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA" - Public Resources Code § 21000 et seq.) under Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, which states “The activity is covered by the common sense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing significant effect on the Agenda Report: Consideration of GPA 23-02
For Meeting of November 12, 2024

environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA.” This exemption is based on the fact that the proposed Project is a General Plan Amendment that will not result in changes to the existing physical environment, and any modifications to the physical environment will not occur as a result of its adoption. The Project is exempt from CEQA for the reasons outlined in the State CEQA Guideline section cited above. Upon City Council's adoption of a finding of a common sense exemption, staff has prepared and will file a Notice of Exemption (see Attachment "D").

FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed Resolution will have no fiscal impact.

RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council:
1) Open the public hearing and take public testimony;
2) Adopt Resolution No. 24-5904 setting forth findings and approving General Plan Amendment No. 23-02 adopting the 2024 Environmental Justice Element and adopting a Notice of Exemption regarding same;
3) Find that approval of General Plan Amendment (GPA) No. 23-02 is exempt from environmental review, and direct Staff to file a Notice of Exemption, pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Section 15061(b)(3).

ATTACHMENTS
Attachment “A”: Draft 2024 Environmental Justice Element Attachment “B”: Planning Commission Resolution No. 24-1586 Attachment “C”: Resolution No. 24-5904 for GPA No. 23-02 Attachment “D”: Notice of Exemption
Environmental Justice Element
City of La Puente
15900 E. Main Street
La Puente, CA 91744

ATTACHMENT A
2 Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 3 PURPOSE AND ORGANIZATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ELEMENT ............................................. 3 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER GENERAL PLAN ELEMENTS...................................................................... 4 COMMUNITY OUTREACH & ENGAGEMENT................................................................................... 4 LA PUENTE AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY ............................................................. 4

2. EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS......................................................................... 7 METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................................................... 7 POLLUTION AND AIR QUALITY ................................................................................................... 7 ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS ...................................................................................................12 HOUSING............................................................................................................................14 ACCESS TO PUBLIC FACILITIES..................................................................................................14

3. GOALS AND POLICIES...................................................................................................... 16

4. REFERENCES ................................................................................................................... 21

5. APPENDIX A.................................................................................................................... 23

6. APPENDIX B.................................................................................................................... 28

7. APPENDIX C ................................................................................................................... 46 3 1. INTRODUCTION
La Puente, located in the San Gabriel Valley, is a vibrant community with a rich history and diverse population of nearly 40,000 residents. It is situated on the ancestral land of the Tongva Tribe and was once renowned for its fruit and walnut groves, boasting the world's largest walnut packing plant. The landscape has changed over time, and La Puente now embraces its identity as an urban community, attracting families of all backgrounds. However, the city faces several environmental justice concerns and challenges that impact community members.

PURPOSE AND ORGANIZATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ELEMENT The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) defines environmental justice as “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.” In 2016, the State of California passed Senate Bill 1000 (SB 1000) SB 1000 requiring cities to develop an Environmental Justice element, or related environmental justice goals and policies to reduce the unique or compounded health risks in “disadvantaged communities.” The goal of SB 1000 is to help identify and reduce risks in communities disproportionately affected by environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative health effects, exposure, or environmental degradation. In doing so, SB 1000 offers an opportunity to address existing community health concerns and mitigate the impacts of future health issues, including increasing access tohealthy food, preventing chronic disease, improving transportation facilities and infrastructure, promoting healthy land use design, and encouraging physical activity.

To address these issues, the City of La Puente has prepared this Environmental Justice Element as part of The City of La Puente General Plan. This element aligns with the California state policy on environmental justice, recognizing the disproportionate impact of pollution and environmental hazards on marginalized communities. While the city is not responsible for the pollution and environmental hazards outlined in this plan, it is firmly committed to address the issues to ensure the health, equity, and prosperity of its residents. Through collaboration with community stakeholders and engagement with local residents, La Puente's Environmental Justice Element strives to create a healthier and more inclusive environment, enhancing the quality of life and safeguarding the well-being of future generations.

Place, income, living conditions and education are all significant contributing factors to the health of a community. How cities plan and prioritize growth for the future can determine how healthy residents are in the long term. The City’s physical, social, and economic environments combine to make specific individuals and groups more vulnerable to long-term changes and short-term shocks. A guiding principle of environmental justice is that all members of a community should benefit from understanding the risks of environmental harms and protections to mitigate their impacts.

The City of La Puente recognizes the significance of prioritizing environmental justice and seeks to promote fairness and equity in environmental decision-making, ensuring a sustainable and thriving future for all residents. This Environmental Justice Element is part of the city’s general plan and will serve as a roadmap and foundation for addressing the environmental justice concerns that residents have been facing. The Environmental Justice Element is organized into three sections:
4 1. Identification of environmental justice communities within La Puente

2. Assessment of La Puente’s need and environmental justice concerns

3. Compile list of goals and policies to advance environmental justice

RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER GENERAL PLAN ELEMENTS
The 2004 La Puente General Plan currently includes five elements: community development, circulation and infrastructure, housing, community resources, and community safety. As the new addition to the general plan, the Environmental Justice Element aims to align with these five elements and state regulations. It seeks to ensure consistency with the broader framework of the general plan.

As new policies are introduced, they will undergo a review to ensure alignment with existing elements. If any updates or modifications are made to the existing general plan elements, the Environmental Justice Element may also be revised. This approach guarantees that the Environmental Justice Element remains consistent with the goals and direction of the general plan and reinforces the City's commitment to integrated and unified planning.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH & ENGAGEMENT
To inform this element and ensure it addresses the needs of La Puente residents, the city conducted community engagement to seek input from the community. The engagement was split into two phases.

In the first phase, the city conducted an online and paper survey in Spanish and English, spoke to several community stakeholders, utilized listservs and city’s social media platforms to inform the community about this planning initiative and attended community events to gather input from residents. During the second phase, the city hosted two community workshops, one in-person on February 29, and one virtual on March 9, and posted information about the environmental justice draft online for public review. The city outreached to the community about the workshops and draft via social media and posters at various city buildings across the city.

A more extensive summary of the outreach and engagement activities can be found in Appendix A. The survey results can be found in Appendix B, and a feedback matrix which details feedback received by residents and stakeholders during the second phase of engagement can be found in Appendix C.

LA PUENTE AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY
The first task for this environmental justice element is to better understand which characteristics make up the definition for an environmental justice community in La Puente. The definition of an environmental justice community in California is typically derived from frameworks established by the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) and the California Office of Environmental Health Hazards Assessment (OEHHA), which utilize CalEnviroScreen to assess environmental and socioeconomic factors.

Focusing OEHHA’s CalEnviroScreen 4.0 data to La Puente, it shows that a majority of census tracts within the City of La Puente limits are in the 80th and 90th percentiles. This indicates that the tracts exhibit a relatively higher level of vulnerability and exposure to environmental hazards compared to other areas across the state. This exposure and vulnerability can be attributed to a combination of factors, including exposure to pollution sources, health risks, socioeconomic challenges, and other environmental stressors. 5 In general, areas in the 80th and 90th percentiles are considered to have a higher pollution burden and require targeted environmental justice interventions and resources to address the disparities and improve overall community well-being. Using the data from CalEnviroScreen 4.0, the state considers all census tracts within La Puente as “Disadvantaged Communities”1 .

Figure 1: CalEnviroScreen 4.0 Percentiles and City of La Puente Boundary Additional sources use different characteristics to identify communities of concern. According to the California Department of Housing and Community Development, all census tracts in La Puente are designated low-income2
. La Puente is also considered an area of focus per the Southern California Association of Governments’ definition for Communities of Concern3 .

The Los Angeles County Climate Vulnerability Assessment Social Vulnerability Index highlights La Puente as having medium to high sensitivity census tracts4
. Figure 2 shows that the majority of census tracts are also found to have medium to high sensitivity to the impacts of climate change in the Los Angeles County Climate Vulnerability Assessment Social Vulnerability Index.

Based on the various sources, characteristics and definitions, the entire City of La Puente is considered an environmental justice community.
1 (SB 535 Disadvantaged Communities, n.d.) https://oehha.ca.gov/calenviroscreen/sb535 2 (State of California Department of Housing and Community Development, n.d.) 3 (Southern California Association of Governments)
4 (Los Angeles County, 2021)
6 Figure 2: La Puente & LA County Climate Vulnerability Assessment Social Vulnerability Index

7 2. EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

METHODOLOGY
To assess the existing conditions within La Puente, this report relies on data from the State of California and County of Los Angeles that is available at the census tracts level for La Puente. Using the 2010 census data, La Puente covers twelve census tracts, however only seven of those tracts are entirely within the city boundary. Whenever census tracts are listed, an asterisk (*) shall note tracts only partially within the City of La Puente and included in calculating averages.

Data from CalEnviroScreen 4.0 is primarily utilized when assessing the environmental pollution and exposure assessed. When available, county data will also be used to showcase the performance of the La Puente census tracts in relation to the County and State.

As data from the state and county levels assess census tract level data, this report also assesses and presents the data at the census tract level and measures the performance of each census tract in relation to either the state or County of Los Angeles, unless otherwise noted. A percentile is a comparison score between one census tract’s performance and the performance of the rest of census tracts within the State of California or County of Los Angeles. It shows the percentage of scores that a particular score surpassed. For example, if a census tract in La Puente shows to be in the 80th percentile, it means it performs above 80% of other census tracts (for better or worse).

Various environmental concerns negatively impact the health of residents in the City of La Puente. While contaminants can be naturally occurring or man-made, both impact the environment and human health. It is also important to note that some of the contamination and pollution affecting residents of La Puente come from outside the city boundaries. While this may be the case, the city will strive to mitigate the impacts as much as possible and collaborate with other agencies and industry to address resident concerns and improve the quality of life for residents of La Puente.

POLLUTION AND AIR QUALITY
Per CalEnviroScreen 4.0, La Puente residents are exposed to higher levels of pollution relative to the rest of California. Census tracts within the City of La Puente, on average fall within the 85th percentile.

However two census tracks fall within the 90- percentiles, including census tract, 4070.02 (partially located within La Puente), which falls into the 99th percentile andcensus tract 4077.02 (wholly within the City of La Puente) which falls within the 96th percentile.

CalEnviroScreen 4.0 uses 13 different pollution indicators to access the pollution burden across the state and develop the scores and percentiles for comparison. The indicators are Ozone, PM 2.5, Diesel Particulate Matter, Drinking Water Contaminants, Lead Risk, Pesticides, Toxic Releases from Facilities, Traffic Impacts, Clean Up Sites, Groundwater Threats, Hazardous Waste, Impaired Waters, and Solid Waste Sites.

In assessing how La Puente is impacted by pollution burden, Figure 3.1 illustrates the La Puente census tracts average percentiles and the value of themost vulnerable city census tracts in relation to the state 8 per CalEnviroScreen 4.0. This figure demonstrates that La Puente census tracts face a higher average of pollution exposure from Toxic Release from Facilities, Drinking Water Contaminants, and Children’s Lead Risk from Housing.

Figure 3.1: Average and Max Percentile Value of Pollution Indicators within La Puente Census Tracts Figure 3.1 demonstrates that the average performance of La Puente census tracts are near the maximum, particularly for Drinking Water Contaminants and Children’s Lead Risk. These indicators will be of particular focus, as they are of particular concern in La Puente.

Taking a more localized view at the county level, it is understood that many residents within the County of Los Angeles face higher levels of pollution than others across the state, on average5 , particularly
around air quality which is covered below.

Drinking Water
Safe, affordable, and accessible drinking water is integral to health, dignity, and justice. The accessibility and quality of the water is often determined by the geographical location of the city. The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material. CalEnviroScreen scores LA County in the 14th percentile, meaning 86% of California census tracts performed better than those within the county. The City of La Puente, performs slightly lower – registering in the 13th percentile. Five census tracts within La Puente face higher levels of drinking water contaminants than 95% of census tracts statewide.

Figure 3.2 shows CalEnviroScreen 4.0 percentile map of Drinking Water Contaminants.. 5 (State of California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, 2021) 0 10
20 30
40 50
60 70
80 90
100
0 10
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100
Pollution in La Puente
Maximum La Puente
Percentile Value
La Puente Average
Percentile
9 A commonly found contaminant arsenic - a naturally occurring groundwater contaminant – poses a cancer risk. Another commonly found contaminant, nitrate, can lead to a blood disorder in infants called blue baby syndrome. The most recent water quality reports for the three water utilities serving La Puente showed that arsenic tested at low levels; well within the maximum levels allowed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, these levels are still above the EPA’s Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLG)
6 . The MCLGs are levels of a contaminant in drinking water, which there is no known nor expected risk to health.

While not posing an immediate health risk, it is worth noting that La Puente residents are more vulnerable when compared statewide.

Figure 3.2: CalEnviroScreen 4.0 Drinking Water Contaminant Percentile Children’s Lead Risk
Lead is a toxic metal that has been used in many products over time. Even in small amounts, lead can have harmful effects on the body, which may lead to lifelong learning, behavioral, reproductive, 6 (La Puente Valley County Water District, 2023) https://lapuentewater.com/wpcontent/uploads/2023/06/LPVCWD-FINAL2022CCR_LaPuenteWater_WebEmail.pdf; (San Gabriel Valley Water Company, 2022) https://www.sgvwater.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/CCR2022.pdf; (Suburban Water Systems, 2022) https://www.swwc.com/wp-content/uploads/files/ca/ccr/ccrsanjosehills-2022.pdf 10 cardiovascular, and other health problems. While many leaded products have been phased out, lead may still be found in and around older homes and buildings, and some consumer products and foods.

Children in La Puente face a high level of lead risk within six census tracts. La Puente children are more likely than 90-98% of other children statewide , to be exposed to lead within their homes...

CalEnviroScreen 4.0 determines this by calculating the “percentage of households within a census tract with likelihood of lead-based paint hazards from the age of housing (2017 California parcel data and 5- year estimates 2015-2019) combined with the percentage of households that are both low-income (household income less than 80% of the county median family income) and have children under 6 years old (5-year estimates 2013-2017)”.
7 Young children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of lead exposure and can suffer adverse health effects, particularly in the brain and nervous system. Even at low levels, exposure to lead can increase the likelihood of lower IQ, hinder educational performance, and contribute to symptoms associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Figure 3.3: CalEnviroScreen 4.0 Children’s Lead Risk from Housing Percentile Air Quality
Outdoor air pollution comes from many sources, such as vehicle exhaust, construction and industrial activities, smoke from fireplaces and wildfires, and pollen from local plants. High air pollution exposure 7 (State of California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, 2021) Pg. 66 - 73 11 has a direct impact on human health, leading to disproportionate levels of negative health outcomes like asthma, cardiovascular disease, or cancer in communities burdened by pollution. Southern California residents, particulary those in Los Angeles County, are some of the most vulnerable to poor air qualityparticulary such contaminants as diesel PM, ozone, and PM 2.5.

Exhaust from trucks, buses, trains, ships, and other equipment with diesel engines contains a mixture of gases and solid particles. These solid particles are known as diesel particulate matter (diesel PM). Diesel PM contains hundreds of different chemicals. Many of these are harmful to health. The highest levels of diesel PM are near ports, rail yards and freeways.

Ozone is a reactive form of oxygen that protects against the sun’s ultraviolet rays in the stratosphere but can be harmful closer to the ground. Tropospheric ozone at the ground level is the primary component of smog and reactive with other pollutants at the ground level, typically highest in the afternoon and on hot days8
. Ozone has been found to exacerbate asthma, decrease lung function, and other respiratory concerns.

Particulate matter finer than 2.5 micrometers in size is referred to as PM2.5, and poses the greatest health risk because they can penetrate deep into the lungs or even get into the bloodstream, resulting in a wide range of health effects. PM2.5 commonly comes from combustion of all fuel types, including diesel, along with particulates such as from road dust.

Many cities within Los Angeles County are vulnerable to all three of these pollutants.

As shown in Table 1, La Puente performs better than the county average in exposure to diesel particulate matter (Diesel PM). La Puente also meets the county’s average exposure to particle pollution from fine particulates (PM 2.5) while performing worse when it comes to exposure from ozone9 .

Table 1 – Average Performance on Key Air Pollution Indicators Indicator
La Puente Average
Percentile (higher
value is better)
LA County Average
Percentile (higher
value is better)
Diesel PM 19.1 3.6
Ozone 29.2 32.1
PM 2.5 10.8 10.7
Figure 3.4 graphs the average percentile performance of La Puente census tracts, along with the maximum percentile value of particular census tracts in La Puente. 8 (State of California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, 2021) 9 (Public Health Alliance of Southern California)
12 Figure 3.4: Average and Max Percentile of Air Pollution Indicators within La Puente Census Tracts

ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS
Healthy communities have access to affordable and healthy food at grocery stores, produce markets, community gardens, and farmers’ markets. Residents of communities with access to a full-service grocery store tend to eat more fruits and vegetables, have lower body weights, and lower rates of chronic diseases. Local food production can also reduce the distance food is shipped, lowering the environmental footprint of food production and distribution. Healthy retail programs in cities bring together health departments, community-based organizations, and businesses to increase access to healthy food. These types of partnerships are also important to changing retail environments to include more businesses that support access to healthy foods and help address food insecurity.

Food insecurity is defined as a community, household, or individual’s inadequate access to affordable, healthy and nutritious food. This can have several health consequences, including increased consumption of calorie dense foods, poor academic performance, anxiety and depression, and earlyonset obesity. Inadequate access to nutritious and affordable food is particularly relevant among lowincome communities.

La Puente has eight full-service grocery stores and supermarkets with produce departments, such as Smart & Final, Northgate Market, El Super, Walmart Neighborhood Market, ALDI, R-Ranch Bodega Market, and others, some of which also cater to Hispanic groceries and meals. Additional full-service grocery stores are situated in the neighboring city of West Covina and the City of Industry. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Access Research Atlas, “at least 33% of the population in La Puente lives farther than 1/2 mile from the nearest supermarket.”10 Residing further than half a mile from a supermarket indicates less walkable and less convenient access to full-service grocery stores for 10 U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2019.
0 10
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0 10
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Ozone PM2.5 Diesel PM Traffic
Air Pollution in La Puente
Maximum La Puente
Percentile Value
La Puente Average
Percentile
13 the most vulnerable population group. Close access to a nearby supermarket can promote better dietary habits, lower the costs of obtaining food, reduce chronic diseases, and mitigate the risk of food insecurity. Unequal access, which includes factors like distance, is closely linked with health behaviors and outcomes.

The City of La Puente and the neighboring area have one certified11 farmers market, La Puente Live, which is unlike traditional farmers markets in that it primarily focuses on prepared food and community activities rather than fresh produce from local farmers. La Puente Live market is not listed on the California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children or Senior Authorized Farmers Market List.
12 Nor is it on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Authorized Farmers Market List.
13 Market vendors do not accept Electronic Benefit Transfer payment cards used by the lowincome recipients of CalFresh and other government assistance programs. 14 Another significant aspect of food access pertains to the availability of free or reduced-price meals for eligible students in public schools and participation in programs like CalFresh, a government assistance program aimed at reducing food insecurity. In 2018, the estimated number of qualified for CalFresh individuals in La Puente was 5,33915 (1.34% of the total population). Approximately 68.6% of enrolled public-school students in La Puente were eligible for free or reduced-price meals for the 2022-2023 school year16, a slight decrease from the pandemic levels. These numbers highlight the importance of school meal programs of ensuring adequate nutrition for students from low-income backgrounds.

Currently, the Hacienda La Puente School District provides breakfast and school lunch to all students for free for the 2022-2023 school year under the Community Eligibility Provision for the School Breakfast and National School Lunch Programs.

For families requiring additional food support, food banks and pantries can be vital resources. The La Puente Outreach Center Food Pantry and II Adam Ministries provide free food assistance with varying distribution frequencies to individuals and families in need. Moreover, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and community partners such as neighboring cities, school district and local businesses, partnered to provide additional food distribution opportunities reflecting a concerted effort to promote food security in La Puente. The work of the La Puente Outreach Center Food Pantry, II Adam Ministries, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank highlights the ongoing efforts to combat food insecurity yet underscores the imperative for continuous improvement and expansion of food services to better meet the diverse needs of individuals and families in La Puente.

Upon assessing the state of healthy food access in La Puente, it becomes apparent that there are certain areas that require attention and improvement. Although the community is involved in addressing food insecurity and there are full-service supermarkets and grocery stores nearby, further initiatives are necessary to ensure that vulnerable populations have equitable access to nutritional meals and fresh produce.
11 (California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2023) 12 (California Department of Public Health, 2023) 13 (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2023) 14 (Ecology Center, Farmers’ Market Finder, n.d.) 15 (Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, 2018) 16 (California Department of Education, 2023) 14 HOUSING
As part of addressing environmental justice, housing must also be considered, due to the impacts on environmental justice communities. According to the Public Health Alliance of Southern California, “every person should be able to live in housing with enough space for everyone living there. Uncrowded housing can improve mental health including stress and depression, decrease the spread of communicable diseases like tuberculosis, and improve children’s wellbeing and educational outcomes”.

Using data from the 2019 American Community Survey, roughly 16% of La Puente residents live in overcrowded conditions, on average. This places La Puente within the top 25th percentile compared to other communities across the state17. This means that La Puente has more overcrowded homes than ¾ of the cities in California. Table 2 lists the estimated percent of residents in uncrowded housing in La Puente census tracts, per the U.S. Census, and their percentile when compared across the state.

Table 2 – Percent Of Residents In Uncrowded Housing And Percentiles Census Tract
(2010 Census)
% of residents in
uncrowded housing
Uncrowded Housing
Percentile
Citywide Avg. 83.9% 21.7
4069.01* 85.3% 22.2
4069.02* 88.9% 30.8
4070.02* 78.3% 10.1
4071.01 80.0% 12.4
4071.02 82.2% 16.0
4072.00 85.3% 22.1
4073.01* 94.9% 55.5
4075.01* 82.4% 16.5
4076.01 78.5% 10.4
4076.02 88.0% 28.5
4077.01 74.0% 6.3
4077.02 88.6% 29.9
The La Puente Housing Element dives deeper into the housing needs of the City and can provide additional information on the existing conditions of housing in the city.

ACCESS TO PUBLIC FACILITIES
The built environment actively shapes health outcomes in communities. Access to recreational opportunities and parks is an important factor that affects community health, as parks can promote outdoor activity, provide ways to remain cool during heatwaves, serve as a community gathering place, and improve the quality of life for residents. A report from the Public Health Alliance of Southern California says, “everybody should have access to parks and other open spaces near their home. Parks can encourage physical activity, reduce chronic diseases, improve mental health, foster community connections, and support community resilience to climate change and pollution.” 17 (U.S Census Bureau)
15 Data from the California Department of Public Health, indicates that approximately 36% of La Puente residents live within a half-mile of a park, beach, or open space greater than one acre. Two census tracts that are entirely within the city boundary, which fall well below that number are are census tracts 4076.01 with only 10.2% of residents with park access and 4077.01 with no access (0%) to parks. Table 3 lists out the percentage of residents with park access per census tract and their percentile score in relation to the state.

Table 3 – Percent Of Residents with Park Access and Percentiles Census Tract
(2010 Census)
% of residents
w/ Park Access
Park Access
Percentile
Citywide Avg. 36.2% 22.2
4069.01* 14.3% 8.2
4069.02* 0% 1.7
4070.02* 100.0% 80.1
4071.01 38.4% 16.0
4071.02 43.5% 17.7
4072.00 100.0% 80.1
4073.01* 53.3% 21.5
4075.01* 0% 1.7
4076.01 10.2% 7.0
4076.02 50.1% 20.2
4077.01 0% 1.7
4077.02 24.5% 11.2

16 3. GOALS AND POLICIES
This Environmental Justice Element demonstrates the City of La Puente’s commitment to support the development of equitable goals and policies that promote environmental justice and respond to the needs of our disadvantaged communities. These include goals and policies that improve the quality of our built environment, increase access to parks, facilities and services that promote a healthy lifestyle, ensure safe housing, and prioritize programs that educate and engage our residents so that the entire community can participate and promote a just and healthy community.

Goal 1: Promote efforts to improve the quality of the built and natural environments to reduce disparate health and environmental impacts.

Policy 1.1 Promote land use patterns that reduce driving and promote multimodal transportation and pedestrian access, cycling and transit use which promotes physically active and healthy lifestyles.

Policy 1.2 Develop a streetscape enhancement plan that addresses street trees, signage, and other landscaped amenities within residential neighborhoods that will make pedestrian access safer and more convenient and enjoyable for residents of all ages.

Policy 1.3: Prioritize Urban Greening, particularly along major pedestrian throughfares and residential neighborhoods, with an emphasis on native plants to support the regional biodiversity.

Policy 1.4: Assess sidewalk inventory to ensure connectivity throughout the city and ensure proper streetlight covering. Maintain and expand sidewalk installation and repair programs, particularly in areas where sidewalks link residential neighborhoods to local schools, parks, and shopping areas.

Policy 1.5: Consider a citywide bicycle route and maintenance plan that promotes efficient and safe bikeways integrated with regional bicycle systems and connects residents to major mobility hubs.

Policy 1.6: Continue to participate with the South Coast Air Quality Management District and neighboring cities in supporting local and regional projects that improve mobility on freeways and railways, reduced emissions, and improve air quality.

Policy 1.7: Assess feasible methods to enhance the built and natural environment to mitigate pollution and noise from railroads and freeways. 17 Policy 1.8: Explore need and feasibility of establishing buffer zones between industrial zoning and residential to mitigate impacts of pollution.

Goal 2: Ensure that public facilities and services are located and distributed throughout the city to allow for easy access for and enjoyment by residents.

Policy 2.1: Ensure safe and well-maintained routes to public facilities are available for pedestrians and cyclists.

Policy 2.2: Ensure public spaces feel safe to use during the day and night for everyday play, family gatherings, and community events.

Policy 2.3: Regularly assess community needs and identify funding opportunities for public facilities and services responsive to those needs.

Policy 2.4: Continue ADA compliance and assess all public facilities to ensure they serve all the different ability levels of residents.

Goal 3: Ensure access to healthy food.

Policy 3.1: Promote urban farming or methods to support residents in growing fruits and vegetables by hosting outreach and educational efforts such as community workshops or classes, when feasible.

Policy 3.2: Support measures to improve access to healthy food and food assistance programs.

Policy 3.3: Partner with and support the local school district to promote healthy diet programs.

Goal 4: Ensure safe and sanitary housing.

Policy 4.1: Assist in the improvements and rehabilitation of unsafe housing, by partnering with community organizations and private entities to reduce unsafe housing, while actively preventing displacement.
18 Policy 4.2: Encourage property maintenance, rehabilitation and housing replacement activities, where appropriate, to improve neighborhood conditions.

Policy 4.3: Continue to provide proactive code enforcement activities to maintain and improve housing and neighborhood qualities, and consider alternative forms for mitigating violations when families are unable to pay fines or afford corrective action.

Policy 4.4: Prevent the encroachment of incompatible commercial and industrial uses into residential neighborhoods.

Policy 4.5: Continue to educate the community regarding the safe use and disposal of household hazardous wastes, and continue to conduct annual collection events.

Policy 4.6: Work with water utility providers to identify feasible and necessary solutions to improve water quality and mitigations at no to low cost to La Puente residents.

Policy 4.7: Identify potential programs to provide air purifiers to residents at no to low cost, to mitigate poor air quality.

Policy 4.8: Explore methods and programs to assess and address lead contamination in La Puente.

Goal 5: Provide and improve parks and recreation centers that serve all ages and abilities.

Policy 5.1: Continue to improve existing park quality by providing amenities and programs for play, exercise, and enhanced safety.

Policy 5.2: Pursue the creation of additional parks, including pocket parks, through lot consolidation, recycling of underutilized parcels, and purchasing or converting existing plots no longer utilized or underutilized, when available.

Policy 5.3: Seek and develop joint-use agreements, and other methods to collaborate with local school districts to use playgrounds and ball fields as public parks during nonschool hours, as well as the potential for establishing community gardens and other green spaces.

Policy 5.4: Promote and prioritize the expansion of open space and green space across the city whenever possible.
19 Policy 5.5: Leverage the La Puente Parks Master Plan to ensure greater access to parks within the city’s boundaries for all residents.

Goal 6: Promote and ensure meaningful and effective participation and community capacity building, especially when developing, adopting, implementing, and enforcing plans and policies related to public health and environmental issues or any plans or programs that affect residents.

Policy 6.1: Continue efforts to increase transparency of City processes and make forms accessible to all residents.

Policy 6.2: Support inclusive opportunities to build capacity and leadership skills for residents and organizations through continued civic engagement.

Policy 6.3: When feasible, provide interpretation services or inform of their availability for engagement events and provide information in primary languages.

Policy 6.4: Authorize an existing or new commission, committee, or working group to support the city and oversee the implementation of environmental justice policy integration, and ensure community voices are represented appropriately.

Policy 6.5: Include responsibility of addressing/implementing environmental justice policy requirements into appropriate staff designations and executive leadership positions.

Policy 6.6: Provide methods for residents to learn about benefits of urban farming, promoting healthy trees, and utilizing drought tolerant landscaping to encourage best practices and ways to highlight and celebrate resident successes.

Goal 7: Prioritize improvements and programs that address the needs of residents.

Policy 7.1: Support programs and services that address Environmental Justice (EJ) issues, and foster partnerships with city and countywide programs.

Policy 7.2: Prioritize funding and fiscal decisions for recreation, air quality and other environmental improvements, public infrastructure investments, community programming, and engagement opportunities.
20 Policy 7.3: Engage in educational efforts to eliminate groundwater and urban runoff pollution.

Policy 7.4: Monitor progress of the goals and policies from this EJ Element. 21 4. REFERENCES
California Department of Education. (2023). Data Reporting Office. Retrieved from https://dq.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/
California Department of Food and Agriculture. Certified Farmers' Markets by County as of March 1, 2023. Retrieved from https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/docs/CurrentMrktsCounty.pdf California Department of Social Services. (2023). CalFresh Data Dashboard. Retrieved from https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/data-portal/research-and-data/calfresh-data-dashboard California Department of Public Health. (2023). CA WIC and Senior Authorized Farmers' Market.

Retrieved from
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CFH/DWICSN/CDPH%20Document%20Library/FarmersMar kets/WICAuthorizedMarkets.pdf
Diehl, J. A., Heard, D., Lockhart, S., & Main, D. S. (2020). Access in the Food Environment: A Health Equity Approach Reveals Unequal Opportunity. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 40(1), 69-81. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X17745358 Ecology Center. (n.d.). Farmers’ Market Finder. Retrieved from https://ecologycenter.org/fmfinder/
La Puente Live. (2024). Retrieved from http://www.lapuentelive.com/home.html La Puente Valley County Water District. (2023). 2022 Water Quality Consumer Confidence Report.

Los Angeles County. (2021). LA County Climate Vulnerability Assessment. https://lacounty.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=c78e929d004846bb9939 58b49c8e8e65
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. (2018). City and Community Health Profiles: La Puente. Retrieved from
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/ohae/docs/cchp/pdf/2018/LaPuente.pdf Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. (2021). Food Insecurity in Los Angeles County Before and During the Covid-19 Pandemic. Retrieved from http://ph.lacounty.gov/nut/media/nutrition-physical-activityresources/LA_County_Food_Insecurity_Report_2021_508Compliant.pdf Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. (2023). Find Food: Locate a Partner Agency. Retrieved from https://www.lafoodbank.org/find-food/pantry-locator/
22 Public Health Alliance of Southern California. (n.d.). Calfornia Healthy Places Index. Retrieved from https://www.healthyplacesindex.org/
San Gabriel Valley Water Company. (2022). Consumer Confidence Report.

SB 535 Disadvantaged Communities. (n.d.). Retrieved from California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment: https://oehha.ca.gov/calenviroscreen/sb535 Southern California Association of Governments. (n.d.). Regional Early Action Planning Grants REAP 2.0 Indicator Mapping Tool. Retrieved from
https://maps.scag.ca.gov/portal/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=94a15b4f502d44c6941e6c 0b71818823
State of California Department of Housing and Community Development. (n.d.). State and Federal Income, Rent, and Loan/Value Limits. Retrieved from https://www.hcd.ca.gov/grantsand-funding/income-limits/state-and-federal-income-rent-and-loan-value-limits State of California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. (2021). CalEnviroScreen

4.0. Retrieved from
https://oehha.ca.gov/media/downloads/calenviroscreen/report/calenviroscreen40reportf2021. pdf
Suburban Water Systems. (2022). 2022 Water Quality Report - San Jose Hills System.

U.S Census Bureau. (n.d.). American Community Survey, Table DP04. Retrieved from https://data.census.gov/
U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2023). Local Food Directories. Retrieved from https://www.usdalocalfoodportal.com/fe/flisting/?lid=308986&directory_type=farmersmarket U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2019). Food Access Research Atlas. Retrieved from https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas/download-the-data/ U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2023). Food and Nutrition Service. Farmers' Markets Accepting SNAP Benefits. Retrieved from https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/farmers-markets-acceptingsnap-benefits

23 5. APPENDIX A

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH SUMMARY
APPENDIX A: PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH SUMMARY
A small team from the City of La Puente, with support from the Institute for Local Government, conducted public outreach to inform the development of the Draft EJ Element. The engagement and outreach goals were to inform the community about the Draft EJ Element planning efforts, hear residents' concerns and priorities, and gather feedback on proposed Draft EJ elements, policies, and programs, and ensure that their voices were reflected in the development process.

Engagement and Outreach - Phase I (2023)
In 2023, during the first phase of engagement, we informed the community about new planning initiatives to support safety, equity, and resilience in La Puente. This engagement for the first-ever EJ Element coincided with updates to the Safety Element and Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. The city aimed to better understand residents' experiences living in La Puente, as well as their priorities and concerns regarding the environment, food access, housing, safety, health risks, and disaster preparedness.

To achieve this, the city conducted several activities:
• Conducted a community survey in Spanish and English (84 participants). • Hosted tabling at community events, such as La Puente Live and the Easter Egg Hunt (reached over 200 residents).
• Held one-on-one 45-minute interviews with stakeholders representing youth, Spanish-speaking groups, low-income families, and individuals experiencing homelessness. • Performed Hacienda School District listserv outreach (4000 deliveries, 1800 impressions, 379 views).
• Posted social media announcements (525 views in English; 394 views in Spanish). • Posted informational flyers at city facilities.
• Created a dedicated city website page and an announcement on the landing page.

All materials, including the website page, social media posts, and flyers, were available in Spanish and English. Spanish-speaking staff also tabled at the community events. The City of La Puente website page displayed information in both languages about all three planning initiatives and directed people to participate in the survey. The landing page of the City’s website also included a carousel with information about these planning initiatives and the survey.

The survey, open for six months, was designed to include small educational segments about EJ and Safety elements, as well as open-ended and ranking questions that asked residents their thoughts on air quality impacts and safety concerns. The city promoted the survey at tabling events, on social media, via Hacienda School District listservs, and through stakeholder outreach. A total of 84 people took the survey; however, 21 responses were excluded from the analysis due to being mostly incomplete, leaving 63 mostly full responses. See Appendix B for the complete survey results.

At community events, city staff and ILG engaged with residents, explaining city planning initiatives, sharing flyers, and encouraging residents to participate in the survey. During one-on-one interviews with stakeholders, a series of questions were asked, including:
1) What are you hearing and seeing about climate and equity needs and opportunities in the community?
2) What are the community priorities when it comes to disaster preparedness, safety, climate change, and environmental justice?
3) What is your vision for a sustainable, safe, and equitable La Puente?
The conversations with stakeholders, residents at community events, and the survey, helped the team identify community priorities and concerns. The Draft EJ Element set specific goals to address these priorities:
o Access to healthy food: Goal 3
o Beautification and green spaces: Goal 1 and 5
o Safety and cleanness of public places: Goal 1 to 4
o Infrastructure and amenities: Goal 1 and 5
o Education and health programs: Goal 2 and 7
o Communication and accessibility: Goal 6
o Language access: Goal 6
o Collaboration and community involvement: Goal 6
Designed to incorporate community feedback, these goals ensured that residents' needs and concerns were central to the planning process. The Phase I engagement successfully aligned the Draft EJ Element policies and goals with what is important to the residents.

Engagement and Outreach - Phase II (2024)
In 2024, the City conducted the second phase of engagement and outreach to inform the community about the Draft EJ Element, invite them to review the document and its policies, submit comments, and share their feedback on the proposed goals. The city conducted the following activities in English and Spanish to promote public comments and invite people to the workshops:
• One in-person workshop (7 participants)
• One online community workshop (32 registrations, 28 attendees, 5 Spanish interpretation requests)
• Social media outreach (combined 52 likes in Spanish and English on Instagram) • Outreach via city channels (announcement on the city website’s landing page and planning department webpage)
• Flyering at City Hall, La Puente Community Center and La Puente Live event • Stakeholder follow-up outreach
• Community outreach (82 emails collected via the survey and tabling events, listserv from other departments)
• Emailed public comments from three residents
The in-person workshop was conducted on a Tuesday evening at the La Puente Community Center. The virtual workshop was held on a Saturday morning, with simultaneous Spanish translation provided.

To encourage attendance at these workshops, city staff posted flyers at the La Puente Community Center and City Hall, distributed them at the La Puente Friday Live event, and shared information in both Spanish and English on
social media. They also
reached out to stakeholders
and used city-wide and
department-specific
listservs. Follow-up emails
and an Instagram post
thanked participants for
attending and encouraged
the public to comment on
the Draft EJ Element and
review the recording posted
on the city’s website.

The combined 39 workshop participants reviewed the proposed policies and goals and provided additional feedback on the Draft EJ Element. During the workshop, the city collected robust feedback through prioritization exercises, small group discussions, and instant polling. See Appendix C for the community feedback matrix that notes how input was incorporated.

Through Phase II of engagement, we fostered community participation, gathered valuable insights to guide the implementation of the Draft EJ Element, reflecting the diverse needs and priorities of La Puente residents.

Incorporating Equity into Public Engagement and Outreach Approach To ensure that engagement reaches groups traditionally underrepresented in public processes, the city focused on removing participation and access barriers such as language, format, and timing of events.

All outreach materials were translated into Spanish and English, and all events—including tabling at community events and two workshops—offered simultaneous and consecutive Spanish interpretation.

The city utilized various outreach methods and materials (flyers, website pages, social media posts, school district emails, and tabling) to educate residents about the Draft EJ Element and provide opportunities for participation.

Hacienda School Unified District outreach reached busy working parents across all income levels. Tabling and distributing flyers at La Puente Live, a popular local gathering, reached various community members who may not follow the city's social media or attend government meetings. Survey participants represented diverse age and income groups: 8% were youth (18-25 years old), while 6% were 58–76 years old. Approximately 49% of respondents reported incomes below $65,575, with 13% below $35,700. Thirty-two percent of participants were renters, and 21% lived in households of 6-8 people. To address mistrust in sharing personal information, participants were given the option not to indicate income, age, and other socio-economic details, resulting in non-response rates ranging from 17-25%.

Half of the participants preferred not to share their email.

A diverse audience attended both workshops, and stakeholder interviews included a high school student, Saint Louis of France Catholic Church, and Servants Arms, representing the voices of lowincome families, individuals experiencing homelessness, youth, immigrants, and people of color.

Engagement and outreach primarily reached La Puente residents and those who work in the city; 75% of survey respondents stated they live in La Puente, and 15% work there. Sixty-seven percent of virtual workshop participants reported living and/or working in La Puente.

In summary, the City of La Puente has successfully engaged a broad cross-section of the community, including immigrants, youth, seniors, low-income families, communities of color, and individuals experiencing homelessness. By addressing barriers to participation and employing a variety of outreach methods, the city has fostered public participation and ensured that residents’ voices are heard in the development of the Draft EJ Element.
28 6. APPENDIX B – LA PUENTE SURVEY RESULTS
2023 La Puente EJ/Safety Element Community Survey
Report
Q1 - DO YOU LIVE OR WORK IN THE CITY OF LA PUENTE?
2023 La Puente EJ/Safety Element Community Survey Report 2 Q2 - DOES YOUR COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE THE FOLLOWING? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY.

Q2_TEXT - Other:

High air pollution due to quemetco aka ecobat on 7th Ave Lots of street transients and trash-squatters
homelessness
noise pollution from train tracks
Foundation shifting
2023 La Puente EJ/Safety Element Community Survey Report 3 We need more trees on some side walls to make walking more pleasant and improve air quality, this will also help keep homes cooler in hot temperatures
High air pollution due to quemetco aka ecobat on 7th Ave Gang activity keeps one inside at dusk. Fireworks at all hours during the year. Speeding on residential streets Homeless people walking around our neighborhoods is a safety risk to the community.

Poor yard maintenance throughout community
N/A
crime
Q3 - HAVE YOU OR YOUR FAMILY EXPERIENCED ANY OF THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS IN THE LAST 10 YEARS? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY.

Q3_TEXT - Other
electricity cables in the air or fallen on the floor.

Foundation shift
2023 La Puente EJ/Safety Element Community Survey Report 4 Poor air quality in general from cars etc.

The toxic air from he ecobat/quemetco plant is concerning.

Overhead electric cables, and sometimes downed powerlines.

Extreme Cold
Damn gas prices!!!
N/A
Covid19
Q4 - HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE NOTIFIED ABOUT HAZARD EVENTS, LIKE HEAT WAVES/WILDFIRES? SELECT UP TO 3.

Q4_TEXT - Other:

MAIL ELDERS DONT USE SOCIAL MEDIA, WE NEED TO HAVE MORE CLEAN UP EVENTS, HAZ AND ELECTRONIC

EVENTS FOR ELDERLY
Emails
The City's Marquee
2023 La Puente EJ/Safety Element Community Survey Report 5 Q5 - WHERE DO YOU GO DURING HAZARD EVENTS, LIKE HEAT WAVES OR NATURAL DISASTERS?
We usually stay at home or outside on the sidewalk. We don't have air conditioning, so we go outside, but there isn't much shade.
no answer
I have the adaptation privilege of affording the electricity bill during summer months when we run the ac Unsure
The most recent hazard events haven't warranted me to leave my house. I usually go there to get under shade. we stay home and wait
The mall or shopping centers that are cool.

We just stay home and cool down. If it’s too unbearable, we go to a mall that has AC Hotel
Stay
heat waves to the beach.

Mall, friend/family home, rent a hotel
Mall
Stay home or spend time outside, if there are trees for shade. -
Public places with Air conditioning.
2023 La Puente EJ/Safety Element Community Survey Report 6 stay home
Stay at home indoors or camp out in yard
Stores
Family in other areas.

Stay home
Home
Stay at home
Pool. Mall
Stores
Home
Stay with family
Mall
Home
No response-No idea.

Stay at home
Home
Home
Stay at home
Stay at home
-
-
Stay indoors, stores
Home
Home
Library until bums scare me out
Stay home

THERE HASNT BEEN ONE
Aside from my House, CIty's Park facility
2023 La Puente EJ/Safety Element Community Survey Report 7 Q6. HOW COULD THE CITY HELP YOU PREPARE FOR OR RECOVER FROM THESE HAZARD EVENTS?
Reduce electricity use. Have programs to help people during events, or improve our homes so we don't have to use AC
Know where the shelters are in case of emergency.

TREES
Awareness of programs to help out, help with the foundation shifting or a discount to get it done Maybe a splash park would be a way to beat the heat. The city is already planting more tress which serve well for shade and wind breaks for the extreme temperature winds.

Streamlined, clear, and timely communication
Provide cooling facilities, splash pads for kids at LP park, donate fans or portable AC units Cooling centers for people to work in who work from home. For air pollution -Encourage electric vehicles, more charging stations for infrastructure, encourage bike and pedestrian safety and infrastructure.

Grants or assistance with flood prevention, rain gutters, rain collection barrels, sandbags, plant shade trees for residents,
The city can inspect the structures of older buildings to ensure they’re up to code and make necessary repairs or upgrades if financially attainable.

Offer low cost air conditioning installation. Open up indoor facilities where families can ride out heatwaves during the day.

Education. Understand what to do in case of emergency.

Information on shelter locations and education on what to do in case of emergency Help residents reduce energy use or make it less expensive. Have programs that help people in case of emergencies.
-
We need more trees for shade and more nature for better air quality. 2023 La Puente EJ/Safety Element Community Survey Report 8 creating an emergency preparedness plan
Police presence, have water and food distribution in case of emergency event. Keep power on in the neighborhood
Safe places
Resources of where to go for help.

Social media announcements
Community awareness
Keep city social media up to date , More town meetings
Keep social media up to date
Provide emergency texts
Be proactive and prepare for emergency with communication.

Provide service. Training. Planting trees.

More information. Public education/training.

Courses on safety and response. Community education.

Having center
Notify of shelter locations
N/A
Offering emergency bucket
Communication on actions
Communication to residents-How will we have water/education? Gas and electrical information important also. -
-
Education, tips, suggestions, demonstrations
Provide classes or information days
N\A
I don’t know
Implement safe zones

PROVIDE EMERGENCY GRANTS, HOUSING ASSISTANCE, MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE, FOOD PANTRY, SAND BAG Monetary assistance, emergency housing assistance, insurance assistance and sand bags 2023 La Puente EJ/Safety Element Community Survey Report 9 Q7 - WHAT COMMUNITY PLACES DO YOU VALUE MOST? DRAG AND DROP TO RANK FROM MOST (1) TO LEAST (7) VALUABLE.

Most Valuable
Least Valuable
2023 La Puente EJ/Safety Element Community Survey Report 10 Q8 - HOW COULD THESE PLACES BE IMPROVED TO BETTER SERVE YOU, YOUR FAMILY, OR COMMUNITY?
creating more information, education, and health programs or healthy food recipes. Have more programs/recreation so as not to watch too much television More people to help, more services. Have a water park for "cooling down" Best quality of schools. All the rankings for LP school are sub par.

Better schools in the area, more parks, and better shopping options will make us want to stay for the long haul I like the work being done with the community center. We moved back to La Puente recently and have been so excited to see the changes happening in our community.

FOOD DISTRABUTION
La Puente lacks a public pool, La Puente park is wonderful, every other park should be just as nice, put pressure on the county to improve parks and resources in their part of La Puente, we need a place for plays and concerts, More investment
Provide more resources to these places.

A cool down splash park. More people to help the community, and services to address the emergency as it happens and in the recovery.

Have programs that help educate and inform people about healthy living, healthy food recipes. Encourage outdoor activities and have programs in the park for children.

I would personally like the city to look nicer and welcoming. More trees and flowers and nature overall. creating a website that is more accessible to the community Places to gather and get to know your neighbors
More family restaurants
2023 La Puente EJ/Safety Element Community Survey Report 11 Keep them safe from safety hazards including homeless people.

Getting rid of dead “shopping center” eyesores and making use of fenced empty lots filled with trash and graffiti.

Safe shopping distance, safe open space's community gathering spaces maintaining clean, safe and healthy environments
maintaining clean and safe environment
More accessible parking
More funding for schools
Having education at locations-training
Ways to get there. Inform public of available places.

Provide resources for these locations
Being open more open have flexible hours
More personnel to help. Services addressing events.

Open to providing resources
Good as it is
Maintain clean and safe, address homelessness.
-
Cleaner, more active quality control
Should open more days
Modernizing
Community involvement
Being available, clean and organized
Cleanliness
EXCELLENT PARK. COULD NOT BE BETTER.

Open 7 days a week
2023 La Puente EJ/Safety Element Community Survey Report 12 Q9 - ARE THERE PARTICULAR ISSUES YOU’D LIKE THE CITY OF LA PUENTE TO ADDRESS RELATED TO THE ENVIRONMENT, FOOD ACCESS, HOUSING, SAFETY, HEALTH RISKS? The streets are dirty. Educate people on how to keep the streets clean.

The maintenance of the streets, many potholes, and having more sidewalks to walk on.

I worry about the pedestrian and especially the students who walk home. There’s lots of transients along Hacienda Blvd. It's not safe.

Homeless people threaten child safety
we need more trees to. create shade. the city should start a tree planting program.

Better grocery stores please. And some sort of barrier to the trains and plants in the area.

Air pollution is a major concern and in communities who have higher pollution burdens I encourage seeking out partnerships with organizations who help tackle these issues and public health.

CHEAPER HOUSING
Stop taking checks from the city of industry until they take more responsibility for the pollution that they welcome and profit off if. More and more factories going up, noise and air pollution from trains, non stop flow of trucks tearing up the roads. They are not a good neighbor. We breathe their smog, the foul odors coming from Athens. We need the city to fiercely protect our children from a lifetime of environmental pollution in the next city over
Transit
The quemetco /ecobat plant is concerning especially with it's history of violations. It cant be good for the surrounding environment.

Rent control
2023 La Puente EJ/Safety Element Community Survey Report 13 There is a lack of sidewalks, and need better street maintenance. There are a lot of potholes.

The streets are filled with litter. Education on the importance of keeping streets clean is important.

We need more organic and health stores to encourage a healthier lifestyle. more resources on housing and food access
Health risk with industry air pollution and from the trains exhaust going to the local schools Housing safety
Don’t allow loitering or homeless people around places where families gather.

Pot holes. RVs Street parking 24/7
Quemetco poisoning us with toxic pollution. Access to farmers market, organic and health food stores and businesses.

All. Make La Puente beautiful and a place to make its residents proud Homeless problem, dumping , graffiti, lack of agricultural maintenance Homeless problem
Safety, crime
Rent control in the city
Cost of living
Street maintenance. Potholes. Sidewalks along streets.

More parks
Potholes
N/A
Parking an issue, Monitor abandoned vehicles.
-
N/A
None
Housing
no
Gang activity

THE CITY HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH THE PARK, WHICH ALLOWS A PLACE FOR EXERCISE TO COMBAT DIABETES, OBESITY, AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

Bring eateries and bars to the Downtown area
2023 La Puente EJ/Safety Element Community Survey Report 14 Q10 - ARE THERE AREAS WITHIN LA PUENTE THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER UNDERSERVED, UNDER-RESOURCED OR DISADVANTAGED? PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY.

Are there areas within La Puente that you would consider under-served, under-resourced or disadvantaged? Please explain why.
grocery stores in city
between amar and california, needs more consideration
Yes the bad areas where there is trash everywhere
Yes hacienda blvd at i/s with francisquito.

Transit
Too many homelessness
The whole city, must in education, kids
The areas closer to basset or closer to avocado heights are in great need Street city wue (sunset)
Sparks middle school, west Puente-crime is an issue
Some of the lower income areas are falling apart, roads and sidewalks that are not addressed for years.

Side of valle
Schools. The kids' education is being cut sort. We came from South EL Monte/New Temple School. My TK kiddo knew how to read upon entering Kinder at HLPUSD. Our old school asked for 100 sight words at TK. The LP School suggested 20 at the end of Kinder. The middle school for my older kid was not better. This was from the top ranking school in our district.

San Jose Hills has been neglected for years. Low income families have no choice to live there. Knowing sex offenders are being placed in a family community is disturbing to say the least.

Places with a lot of garbage. Car parking, and treeless areas in the community.

PUENTE HILLS MALL , parks , and neighborhoods lack of maintenance

POVERTY
N/A
N/A
Many streets need attention, especially border streets.

Homes that run along valley boulevard are faced with loud noises from the train tracks. there are no tree plantings along valley blvd the way there is in the city of walnut.

EAST LA PUENTE / DORA GUZMAN. LOW INCOME AND HIGH CRIME AREA. 2023 La Puente EJ/Safety Element Community Survey Report 15 Don’t know
Cool down splash pack in parks.

Bring eateries and bars to the Downtown area
Basset area, towards nelson and temple
Azusa/main area (Bodega)
Areas with a lot of litter, lack of parking spaces, and areas with little tree cover. -
-
2023 La Puente EJ/Safety Element Community Survey Report 16 Q1 - What is your age?
Q2 - Do you rent or own your home?
51%
32%
17%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Own Rent No response
2023 La Puente EJ/Safety Element Community Survey Report 17 Q3 - How many people live in your household?
Q4 - What is your annual household income?
6%
52%
21% 21%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Household of 1-2 Household of 3-5 Household of 6-8 No Response 46 7. APPENDIX C – COMMUNITY FEEDBACK MATRIX
La Puente Community Feedback Matrix - Phase II
Comment Method Received Theme Action/Comment
The Draft Environmental Justice Element should also address train noise and emissions, as they negatively impact the environment of La Puente residents.

Email Contamination/Pollution New policy 1.7
Policy 1.6 - I think there could be more clarification as to what improvement from freeways and railroads will do to help with environmental justice. There are studies out there that find railroads and freeways have caused a lot of contamination, especially when gas use to have lead in it.

Also, I think the collaboration with AQMD and surrounding cities is a top priority for La Puente residents. I think that a Environmental Justice resident committee could be created by the city. This will give residents an opportunity to support the city in implementing the environmental justice policies.

Policy 6.1 - I hope the city can find a way to facilitate frequent meetings during the year where residents can voice their opinions about environmental justice issues.

New Policy Idea: I think the city could create a new position dedicated to environmental justice. The new position could be someone who has experience with working alongside
government agencies, grant writing, and basic environmental justice research skills.

Email Contamination/Pollution
Air Quality
Collaboration
New policy 6.4 and 6.5
Puente residents. I would like to see the high schools that have been shut down be transformed into spaces created similarly to Peter F. Schabarum Regional Park in Rowland Heights, Legg Lake Park, Whittier Narrows Recreation Area, and Bonelli Park / Puddingstone Lake in San Dimas.

Can La Puente residents be provided with reverse osmosis water filtration systems and air purifiers for our homes? Improving and evolving cycling infrastructure that connect residents to major hubs. Germany has a solar covered bike path that is goals https://electrek.co/2023/05/01/europe-solarcovered-cycling-path/ Host community classes at resident homes as learning
opportunities for tree maintenance to prevent
overgrowth/chopping trees down.

Host community classes at resident homes to grow fruit and vegetable gardens. Then host competitions to celebrate
neighbors that are growing non pesticide organic fruits and vegetables.

Create awareness and celebrate residents that have gardens with drought tolerant resistant native plants. Involve LP paper, use the Jumbotron at parks, social media to highlight and celebrate.

Email Green/Open Space
Water Quality
Mobility
Urban Agriculture
Outreach and Education
Revision to Policy 5.2, 1.5,

3.1, new Policy 4.6, 4.7,

6.6 Work with neighboring agencies. In Person Workshop Collaboration Addressed in Policy 1.6 Increase recreational space. In Person Workshop Green/Open Space Addressed in Goal 5 Look at policy 5.3 and expand to promote green space. In Person Workshop Green/Open Space New Policy 5.4 Partner with schools to identify lots for greening. In Person Workshop Green/Open Space Revision to Policy 5.3 Use open space to mitigate climate impacts. In Person Workshop Green/Open Space Addressed in Goal 1 Promote biodiversity while improving air quality. In Person Workshop Green/Open Space Revision to Policy 1.3 Want community gardens in vacant lots.

In Person Workshop Green/Open Space Revision to Policy 5.2 and

5.3 Identify available lots. In Person Workshop Green/Open Space Addressed in Goal 5 Leverage mixed-use land development. In Person Workshop Land Use Addressed in Goal 1 Create a buffer to mitigate industrial impacts on nearby residents.

In Person Workshop Land Use New Policy 1.8
Education is needed on what the city can do. In Person Workshop Outreach and Education Addressed in Goal 6 Help get resources to residents. In Person Workshop Resident Support/Resources Addressed in Goal 7 Water quality is important. In Person Workshop Water Quality New Policy 4.6 How can infrastructure help with water quality. In Person Workshop Water Quality ADA compliance is important. Don't have access to change babies with ADA issues. Playgrounds are not for all abilities. No artificial turf.

Virtual Workshop Access New Policy 2.4
Worried about the environment, children have asthma and air quality is important. A lot of action is needed in schools, especially with concerns to lead, plastic, and healthy food. Want better maintained parks, like Puente Park, - but want to see more liberties in schools (not over programmed). Wants more trees.

Virtual Workshop Air Quality
Contamination/Pollution
Green/Open Space
Collaboration
Addressed in various
goals
Concerned that there is no coordination with Hacienda School, about closed schools becoming parks. Concerned there's no connection with other agencies.

Virtual Workshop Collaboration Addressed in Policy 1.6
and 5.3
Push to involve parents in this process by working closely with schools. Schools used to be open, and the public utilized their parks and green spaces, but now they are often closed off to the public. Is what we are proposing with Policy 5.3 realistic? Virtual Workshop Collaboration
Green/Open Space
Addressed in Policy 5.3.

Lead is an issue - the School District is not initiating these conversations and actions. Another entity that can can take leadership and protect the community is necessary.

Virtual Workshop Contamination/Pollution New Policy 4.8 Should address issue of lead exposure within policies. Virtual Workshop Contamination/Pollution New Policy 4.8 Note that other cities are contaminating LP
Virtual Workshop Contamination/Pollution Revision to Methedology section of document
chapter 2, Existing
Environmental
Conditions.

Minimize use of harsh chemicals to mitigate mosquitoes Virtual Workshop Contamination/Pollution No "real" farmers market in La Puente, with more fruits and veggies. Plastic a concern, along with having school foods with more fresh and healthy foods. Need natural ways to mitigate pollution. Work with other cities to address environmental issues. Affordable housing is important.

Virtual Workshop Food Access
Contamination/Pollution
Collaboration
Housing/Homelessness
Addressed in Policy 1.6,

3.1, 3.2, 3.3, and Goal 1.

Lead industry has ties with politicians. Virtual Workshop General Comment The development of green spaces has taken a long time for the city to decide. Many green have been lost. The city has invested significant time and money into building the park. Will this urban greening policy come to fruition? While the park is a great addition, there are other vacant areas suitable for open space.

Is establishing a community garden realistic? Developing green space may, for example, reduce parking availability for families and housing opportunities, so there is a trade-off. How quickly will progress occur?
Virtual Workshop Green/Open Space Addressed in Goal 5
The police is not really doing much. We’ve had these ongoing concerns for years, and the city has failed to address them. We need to have an actual change, such as the creation of green spaces and increased accessibility to food
Virtual Workshop Green/Open Space Addressed in Goal 3 and

5. Policy should include that all residents (minimum of 55% of residents per census tract) have access to parks.

Virtual Workshop Green/Open Space New Policy 5.5
Plant more trees and greenspace, especially near train tracks or high-traffic areas.

Virtual Workshop Green/Open Space Addressed in revised
Policy 1.3
Limited access to parks, kids can't play because parks are closed to non-registered activities. Want to see more community gardens. Wants more trees and other ways to clean the air.

Virtual Workshop Green/Open Space
Air Quality
Addressed in Goal 5
People have been coming for years to advocate for their concerns. Many individuals in the room have not had their voices heard, which underscores the importance of
documenting their comments. Global warming is a reality. For example, Pasadena has trees and shade, yet our community members, especially seniors, are forced to endure extreme heat while waiting for the bus. It's imperative to prioritize the wellbeing of seniors. Cooling centers and winter shelters need to be proactive in their outreach efforts so that people are aware of the resources available to them.

Virtual Workshop Green/Open Space
Outreach and Education
Addressed in Goal 1
The lack of housing is a pressing issue. While the PROS team is making efforts, there is still much more to be done. Will tangible progress occur?
Virtual Workshop Housing/Homelessness Addressed in "Relation to other General Plan
Elements" section,
particularly with
intersection of the
Housing Element
Bus stops and parks are crucial for the homeless population, who often utilize them for restroom facilities and shelter from extreme weather conditions. There is an opportunity to
increase outreach efforts to inform homeless individuals about available resources. Goal 4 “Ensure safe and sanitary housing” - how are we enforcing it while not hurting people? There are homes with multiple families residing in them, and many rely on income generated from car repairs conducted on multiple vehicles parked on the premises.

Virtual Workshop Housing/Homelessness Revision to Policy 4.3 As the overall goals, EJ Goals sound well. In our efforts to ensure street safety, we need to involve law enforcement due to issues like street racing. While La Puente does a good job with graffiti, there still remains a problem within the neighborhood. Encouraging seniors to participate is challenging – they are afraid. The 'walking strategy goal' needs to account for this.

Virtual Workshop Mobility Addressed in Goal 1
Students who have to walk home in extreme heat face
significant challenges, and providing a shuttle service could greatly alleviate their discomfort and ensure their safety. It's concerning that no action has been taken in this regard. What can we do to support them?
Virtual Workshop Mobility Revised Policy 1.2
We have a traffic problem. How can we protect pedestrians? We need more infrastructure for walking. If we ask schools to allow the public to use their playground equipment and parks, are we expecting the schools to maintain them after hours? And how can we ensure the safety of these school
playgrounds? What influence can we exert on the schools to open their facilities to the public? La Puente has a large agricultural community where horseback riding is common, but the roads are not safe. We need to ensure safety. How can we ensure bicycle safety?
Virtual Workshop Mobility
Green/Open Space
Collaboration
Revised Policy 1.2 and
overall in Goal 1
Transparency to youth and adults alike. Virtual Workshop Outreach and Education Incorporated in plan Leverage educational programs to raise awareness. Virtual Workshop Outreach and Education Incorporated in plan Acceptance of sex offenders in our neighborhoods is a concern.

I understand that everyone should share the burden, but they are predominantly located in poor neighborhoods.

Virtual Workshop Public Safety General comment noted.

Many people in our area are involved in agriculture, and the county has intervened by requiring them to cut down trees due to mosquito issues. Despite this, some individuals still plant avocado and citrus trees and herb gardens in green spaces.

However, the county often conducts spraying activities, which affects these efforts. Policy 3.1 on urban Farming can be counterproductive if county cut down fruit trees planted by community.

Virtual Workshop Urban Agriculture Addressed in revised Policy 3.4

ATTACHMENT B

RESOLUTION NO. 24-5904 PAGE 1 OF 4 NOVEMBER 12, 2024
RESOLUTION NO. 24-5904

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY

OF LA PUENTE, CALIFORNIA, SETTING FORTH

FINDINGS AND APPROVING GENERAL PLAN
AMENDMENT (“GPA”) NO. 23-02 ADOPTING THE 2024

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ELEMENT AND ADOPTING

A NOTICE OF EXEMPTION REGARDING SAME
WHEREAS, General Plan Amendment No. 23-02 (“ Project”) incorporates appropriate amendments to the City of La Puente General Plan addressing the new Environmental Justice Element as required by State law; and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill 1000 (2016) requires all cities and counties that have “disadvantaged communities,” as defined in the legislation, to incorporate environmental justice (“EJ”) policies into their general plans; and
WHEREAS, the City of La Puente contains census tracts that meet the SB 1000 definition of “disadvantaged communities” (also known as “EJ Priority Communities”); and WHEREAS, residents of the EJ Priority Communities were integral to the development of the EJ Element, and were informed and engage in a two-phased engagement process that included a bilingual (Spanish/English) community survey, two community workshops, stakeholder interview, and several community event popups; and WHEREAS, the EJ Element seeks to enumerate actions the city can take to mitigate impacts from environmental hazards and improve conditions for residents, it is important to note that a lot of the impacts on La Puente residents are not a direct result of actions taken by the City of La Puente and may be outside the scope of the city to remedy; and WHEREAS, the EJ Element lists seven goals to address environmental justice in La Puente, consisting of goals to (1) Promote efforts to improve the quality of the built and natural environments to reduce disparate health and environmental impacts, (2) Ensure that public facilities and services are located and distributed throughout the city to allow for easy access for and enjoyment by residents, (3) Ensure access to healthy food, (4) Ensure safe and sanitary housing, (5) Provide and improve parks and recreation centers that serve all ages and abilities, (6) Promote and ensure meaningful and effective participation and community capacity building, especially when developing, adopting, implementing, and enforcing plans and policies related to public health and environmental issues or any plans or programs that affect residents, and (7) Prioritize improvements and programs that address the needs of residents; and
WHEREAS, General Plan Amendment No. 23-02 incorporates appropriate amendments to General Plan addressing the new Environmental Justice Element as required by State law; and
WHEREAS the City of La Puente posted the 2024 Environmental Justice Element on the City’s website for public comment for a period not less than 60 days; and

ATTACHMENT C
RESOLUTION NO. 24-5904 PAGE 2 OF 4 NOVEMBER 12, 2024
WHEREAS, the California Government Code Section 65353 and 65354 require that prior to the adoption of any proposed amendment to the General Plan, the Planning Commission shall first review and recommend to the City Council the adoption of any such proposed amendment; and
WHEREAS, on September 3, 2024, the Planning Commission of the City of La Puente conducted a duly noticed public hearing on the Project, considered all written and oral testimony, and adopted Planning Commission Resolution No. 24-1586 recommending that the City Council adopt a resolution to approve GPA No 23-02 adopting the 2024 Environmental Justice Element and recommending adoption of a Notice of Exemption; and WHEREAS, notice of the City Council’s November 12, 2024, public hearing on the proposed General Plan Amendment No. 23-02 for the 2024 Environmental Justice Element Update was published in The San Gabriel Valley Tribune on November 1, 2024, in compliance with the CEQA Guidelines, the City’s Municipal Code (“Code”), and Government Code Section 65091; and
WHEREAS, on November 12, 2024, the City Council of the City of La Puente conducted a duly noticed public hearing on the Project, and considered all written and oral testimony; and
WHEREAS, this project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per Section 15061(b)(3) (“Common Sense Exemption”) of the CEQA Guidelines since it will not result in changes to the existing physical environment and any modifications to the physical environment will not occur as a result of its adoption.

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

NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PUENTE HEREBY FINDS, DETERMINES, AND RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. INCORPORATION OF RECITALS. All of the facts set forth in the Recitals above are true and correct, and incorporated herein by reference.

SECTION 2. PUBLIC HEARING NOTICES AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. All necessary public hearings and opportunities for public testimony and comment have been conducted in compliance with State law and the Municipal Code of the City of La Puente (“Code”).

SECTION 3. CALIFORNIA ENVIORNMENTAL QUALITY ACT FINDINGS. Upon independent review, judgement, analysis, and consideration of the information contained in the Application, the City Council hereby finds and determines that GPA No. 23-02 is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, which states “The activity is covered by the common sense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA.” This exemption is based on the fact that the proposed project is a General Plan Amendment that will not result in changes to the RESOLUTION NO. 24-5904 PAGE 3 OF 4 NOVEMBER 12, 2024
existing physical environment, and any modifications to the physical environment will not occur as a result of its adoption which is exempt from CEQA for the reasons outlined in the State CEQA Guideline section citied above. Upon City Council's adoption of a finding of a common sense exemption, staff has prepared and will file a Notice of Exemption.

SECTION 4. GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT FINDINGS. Pursuant to Section

10.112.060.A of the City’s Municipal Code, the City Council finds as follows:

1. The amendment is internally consistent with all other provisions of the General Plan. The proposed amendment is in conformance with all the General Plan requirements of State Code 65300 in that the General Plan will continue to contain all required elements and is internally consistent. The proposed amendment is required to bring the City’s General Plan into compliance with new State law, in accordance with Senate Bill 1000. The amendment is consistent with sound planning principles in that the proposed goals and policies are compatible and ensure that the General Plan can be implemented to achieve the stated goals and community vision. The proposed amendment is consistent with all other elements of the La Puente General Plan and any applicable specific plans adopted by the City. Furthermore, the City will ensure consistency between the Environmental Justice Element and other elements of the General Plan, and as new policies are introduced, they will be reviewed for consistency with existing elements. If any General Plan elements are updated, the Environmental Justice Element may also be modified to maintain consistency within the General Plan; and

2. The proposed amendment will not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety, convenience, or welfare of the City. The proposed amendment promotes the health and general welfare of the City of La Puente and its residents. The amendment protects the public interest in that it promotes community participation and capacity building for matters related to public health and environmental issues. Furthermore, the Environmental Justice Element, in the public’s interest, addresses efforts to improve the quality of the built and natural environments to reduce disparate health and environmental impacts, to ensure that public facilities and services are located and distributed throughout the city to allow for easy access for and enjoyment by residents, to ensure access to healthy food, to ensure safe and sanitary housing, and to provide and improve parks and recreation centers that serve all ages and abilities.

Based on the foregoing, the City Council hereby approves the 2024 Environmental Justice Element attached hereto as Exhibit A, and incorporated herein by reference, and adopt a Notice of Exemption regarding same.

SECTION 5. SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this Resolution are severable and if any provision, clause, sentence, word, or part thereof is held illegal, invalid, unconstitutional, or inapplicable to any person or circumstances, such illegality, invalidity, unconstitutionality, or inapplicability shall not affect or impair any of the remaining provisions, clauses, sentences, sections, words, or parts thereof of the Resolution or their applicability to other persons or circumstances.

RESOLUTION NO. 24-5904 PAGE 4 OF 4 NOVEMBER 12, 2024
SECTION 6. ADOPTION DATE. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution and the same shall be in full force and effect.

PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 12th day of November 2024, by the following vote:

AYES: COUNCILMEMBER:

NOES: COUNCILMEMBER:

ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBER:

ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBER:

ATTEST:
__________________________________
Gabriel Quiñones, Mayor
________________________________
Martha Torres, MPA, City Clerk

NOTICE OF EXEMPTION
TO: County Clerk FROM: City of La Puente
County of Los Angeles 15900 E. Main Street
Environmental Filings La Puente, CA 91744
12400 East Imperial Hwy
Norwalk, CA 90650
Project Title: General Plan Amendment (GPA) 23-02
Project Location (Specific): Citywide
Project Location (City): La Puente Project Location (County): Los Angeles Description of Nature, Purpose, and Beneficiaries of Project: A request recommending that the City Council adopt a resolution to approve General Plan Amendment (“GPA”) No. 23-02 adopting the new 2024 Environmental Justice Element; and recommending adoption of a Common Sense Exemption pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines.

Name of Public Agency Approving Project: City of La Puente Name of Person or Agency Carrying Out Project: Abraham Tellez, Planning Manager Exempt Status: (Check One)
Ministerial (14 Calif. Admin. Code §15268)
Declared Emergency (14 Cal. Admin. Code §15269(a))
Emergency Project (14 Cal. Admin. Code §15269(b) & (c)) Statutory Exemption. (14 Cal. Admin. Code §§15260 et seq.) Categorical Exemption. (14 Cal. Admin. Code §§15300 et seq.) Common Sense Exemption. (14 Cal. Admin. Code §§15061(b)(3) et seq.) Reasons why project is exempt: This exemption is based on the fact that the proposed project, which includes a General Plan Amendment will not result in changes to the existing physical environment, and any modifications to the physical environment will not occur as a result of its adoption which is exempt from CEQA for the reasons outlined in the State CEQA Guideline section citied above.

Contact Person: Abraham Tellez Phone No.: (626) 855-1513 Date received for Filing: Signature: _______________________________ _____________________ Date: ______________________________ City of La Puente
15900 E. Main Street La Puente, CA 91744 Telephone (626) 855-1500 Fax (626) 961-4626

ATTACHMENT D
AGENDA ITEM NO. C-1
To: Mayor and City Council For meeting of: November 12, 2024 From: Robert Lindsey, City Manager
By: Troy Grunklee, CPA, Director of Administrative Services Martha Torres, MPA, City Clerk
Natalie Romo, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF AN UPDATE TO EXHIBIT A AND EXHIBIT B OF RESOLUTION NO. 24-5902 WITH THE AGREED UPON CHANGES BETWEEN THE CITY OF LA PUENTE AND THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES’ INTERNATIONAL UNION LOCAL 721 IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PERSONNEL POLICY FOR

REGULAR EMPLOYEES AND A COMPREHENSIVE PERSONNEL POLICY FOR

AT-WILL EMPLOYEES

BACKGROUND
On April 26, 2005, the City Council approved Resolution No. 05-4464 adopting a revised and updated Comprehensive Personnel Policy (“CPP”) that included several different changes, including changes to the following sections:
 Section 4.3 Job Openings
 Section 9 Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures
 Section 13.7 Compensatory Time in Lieu of Overtime
 Section 16.4 Family Leave and Medical Leave (FMLA)
 Sections 22, 23, and 24
Additionally, items such as benefits, holidays, vacations and retirement were unchanged except to bring those areas up to date with the most current policies of the City at the time.

On September 25, 2007, the City Council approved Resolution No. 07-4659, which adopted a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) between the City and the Local 721, Service Employee International Union (“Union”). All changes that were adopted in the MOU were updated in the CPP with a revised date of July 1, 2007. All employees at the time were given a memo dated October 30, 2007, regarding the changes, and an “Employee Acknowledgement” form that they were asked to sign and return to Human Resources stating that they had read and understood all the revisions.

On October 22, 2024, the City Council approved Resolution No. 24-5902, which approved a CPP for Regular Employees and a CPP for At-Will Employees for the City of La Puente. Additionally, certain administrative policies were rescinded because they were either no longer applicable, or they had been incorporated into the CPP for Regular and At-Will employees.

City of La Puente

AGENDA REPORT
Agenda Report: Adoption of Comprehensive Personnel Policy For Meeting of: October 22, 2024

DISCUSSION
At the October 22, 2024, City Council meeting, City staff discussed that just prior to the meeting they had received an email from the SEIU regarding two sections of the CPP for Regular Employees that they had potential revisions on. City staff informed the City Council that they would review the revisions proposed by the SEIU and bring back those sections of the CPP for Regular Employees for City Council approval.

Section 8.3 (Rules of Conduct – Personal Cleanliness and Fragrance-Free Expectations) was the first section that was brought up. It read:
“All employees are expected to report to work clean and tidy, without the use of heavily scented personal products. When supervisors and/or City management have been made aware of chemical and/or fragrance sensitivities on the part of patrons and/or employees, the employee wearing or using the products will be communicated with regarding the situation and requested to immediately stop wearing or using the scented products that is causing distress to others. Employees are also required to refrain from using air fresheners, room deodorizers, scented cleaning compounds or similar products in any public or staff-only location.

No employees, even if they have a “medical marijuana” prescription from a California medical provider, are to appear at work as if they are under its influence, nor can employees report to work smelling of marijuana.”
The SEIU proposed alternate and more detailed language for the City staff to review. City staff reviewed the proposed language and submitted slight modifications to what the SEIU had proposed to be more general in nature. The updated, general language was presented to the SEIU and they agreed to the language. This section will now be updated in the CPP for Regular Employees and At-will employees to read:
“All employees are expected to maintain their personal hygiene and report to work clean and tidy.

Employees are required to refrain from using heavily scented personal products, air fresheners, room deodorizers, scented cleaning compounds or similar products in any public or staff-only locations. When supervisors and/or City management have been made aware of chemical and/or fragrance sensitivities or lack of personal hygiene, on the part of patrons and/or employees, the identified employee will be communicated with regarding the situation and requested to take immediate corrective action, if corrective action is possible to address the problem that is causing distress to others.

No employees, even if they have a “medical marijuana” prescription from a California medical provider, are to appear at work as if they are under its influence, nor can employees report to work smelling of marijuana.”
Section 10.9 (Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures – Grievance Rights and Procedures) was the other section that was brought up. The SEIU wanted to be sure that the grievance procedure that was included in the MOU superseded any changes to the policy. City staff reviewed the CPP against the MOU and confirmed that both documents were the same. No changes were made to that section.

Agenda Report: Adoption of Comprehensive Personnel Policy For Meeting of: October 22, 2024

City staff are recommending the City Council approve the two sections and update Exhibit A and Exhibit B to Resolution No. 24-5902 with the changes that were agreed upon by the SEIU.

FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the City.

RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve and update Exhibit A and Exhibit B of Resolution No. 24-5902 with the agreed upon changes in the Comprehensive Personnel Policy for Regular Employees and the Comprehensive Personnel Policy for At-Will Employees for the City of La Puente.

ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Regular Employee - Comprehensive Personnel Policy Attachment B: At-Will Employee – Comprehensive Personnel Policy

City of La Puente
California

REGULAR EMPLOYEES

COMPREHENSIVE PERSONNEL

POLICY HANDBOOK
Adopted: April 26, 2005
Revised: July 1, 2007
Revised: October 22, 2024

ATTACHMENT A

Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS AND APPLICABILITY .......................................................... 14 CHAPTER 2: LEGAL ................................................................................................................................ 14 Section 2.1: Prevention of Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation Policy .................................... 14 A. Definitions ............................................................................................................................... 15 B. Reporting Harassment, Discrimination, Or Retaliation .......................................................... 18 Section 2.2: Respectful Workplace Policy .............................................................................................. 18 A. Acceptable and Healthy Workplace Behaviors ....................................................................... 19 B. Workplace Bullying Defined .................................................................................................. 19 C. Management Responsibility .................................................................................................... 19 D. Employee and Witness Responsibilities ................................................................................. 20 E. Process for Investigation and Resolution of Complaints ........................................................ 20 Section 2.3: Workplace Violence Prevention Plan ................................................................................. 20 A. Definitions ............................................................................................................................... 21 B. Workplace Violence Defined .................................................................................................. 21 C. Responsibility and Authority .................................................................................................. 22 D. Responsibilities of Department Heads, Managers, and Supervisors ....................................... 23 E. Responsibilities of Employees ................................................................................................ 23 F. Employee Communication and Training ................................................................................ 23 G. Procedures ............................................................................................................................... 24 H. Reporting Workplace Violence Concerns ............................................................................... 25 I. Restraining Order .................................................................................................................... 25 J. Workplace Violence Hazard Identification and Evaluation .................................................... 26 K. Workplace Violence Hazard Correction ................................................................................. 26 L. Recordkeeping ........................................................................................................................ 26 M. Annual Review and Revision of the Workplace Violence and Prevention Plan ..................... 27 Section 2.4: Investigation and Resolution of Complaints ....................................................................... 27 A. Complaint Procedure............................................................................................................... 28 B. No Retaliation for Filing a Complaint or Participating in an Investigation ............................ 28 C. Supervisor Reporting Obligations ........................................................................................... 28 D. Anonymous Complaints .......................................................................................................... 29 E. Investigation of Complaints .................................................................................................... 29 F. Confidentiality ........................................................................................................................ 29 G. Cooperation with Investigation ............................................................................................... 29 H. No Retaliation ......................................................................................................................... 30 I. Determination and Corrective Action ..................................................................................... 30

J. Bad Faith and Intentionally False Complaints ........................................................................ 30 K. Additional Enforcement Information ...................................................................................... 30 L. Training And Policy Dissemination ........................................................................................ 30 Section 2.5: Drug and Alcohol-free Workplace Policy .......................................................................... 31 A. Definitions ............................................................................................................................... 32 B. The City's Consent for Use of Legal Drugs ............................................................................ 33 C. Prohibited Conduct ................................................................................................................. 34 D. Substance Screening ............................................................................................................... 36 E. Consequences of Policy Violations ......................................................................................... 37 F. Disciplinary Action ................................................................................................................. 37 G. Return to Duty/Follow-up Testing .......................................................................................... 37 H. Criminal Convictions .............................................................................................................. 38 I. Confidentiality ........................................................................................................................ 38 J. Counseling .............................................................................................................................. 38 K. Employee Assistance .............................................................................................................. 38 Section 2.6: Management Authority ....................................................................................................... 39 A. Management Decisions ........................................................................................................... 39 B. Organization ............................................................................................................................ 39 C. Direction of Employees .......................................................................................................... 39 D. Goods and Services ................................................................................................................. 39 E. Employee Performance ........................................................................................................... 39 F. Dismiss Employees ................................................................................................................. 39 G. Efficiency ................................................................................................................................ 39 H. Budgeting ................................................................................................................................ 39 I. Work Force ............................................................................................................................. 40 J. Goals and Objectives .............................................................................................................. 40 K. Personnel ................................................................................................................................. 40 L. Standards ................................................................................................................................. 40 M. Restrict Activities .................................................................................................................... 40 N. Emergencies ............................................................................................................................ 40 CHAPTER 3: CLASSIFICATION ............................................................................................................. 41 Section 3.1: Pay and Benefits Classifications ......................................................................................... 41 A. Regular Full-Time Employee .................................................................................................. 41 B. Probationary Employees ......................................................................................................... 41 Section 3.2: Exempt and Non-Exempt Employees ................................................................................. 41 A. Exempt .................................................................................................................................... 41

B. Non-exempt ............................................................................................................................. 41 Section 3.3: Employment Groups ........................................................................................................... 41 A. City Manager .......................................................................................................................... 42 B. Personnel Officer .................................................................................................................... 42 C. Management ............................................................................................................................ 42 D. Mid-Management and Supervisory ......................................................................................... 42 E. Professional and Confidential ................................................................................................. 42 F. General .................................................................................................................................... 42 G. Change of Group ..................................................................................................................... 42 CHAPTER 4: COMPENSATION .............................................................................................................. 42 Section 4.1: Salary and Wage Plan Preparation ...................................................................................... 42 Section 4.2: Acting Pay ........................................................................................................................... 43 Section 4.3: Overtime ............................................................................................................................. 43 Section 4.4: Straight Time Overtime (STOT) ......................................................................................... 43 Section 4.5: Compensatory Time ............................................................................................................ 43 Section 4.6: Administrative Leave .......................................................................................................... 44 Section 4.7: Bilingual Pay ....................................................................................................................... 44 Section 4.8: Standby Pay ........................................................................................................................ 44 A. Requirements for Employees Assigned to Standby Duty ....................................................... 44 B. Weekday Standby Duty .......................................................................................................... 44 C. Weekend Standby Duty .......................................................................................................... 45 Section 4.9: Callback Pay ....................................................................................................................... 45 CHAPTER 5: EMPLOYMENT SELECTION ........................................................................................... 45 Section 5.1: Equal Opportunities in Employment................................................................................... 45 A. Fair Employment..................................................................................................................... 46 B. Merit and Fitness ..................................................................................................................... 46 Section 5.2: Recruitment Procedures ...................................................................................................... 46 A. Recruitment Process ................................................................................................................ 46 B. Interview and Selection Process ............................................................................................. 46 C. The Hiring Process .................................................................................................................. 47 Section 5.3: Subjects and Method of Examinations ............................................................................... 47 Section 5.4: Promotional Examinations .................................................................................................. 47 Section 5.5: Continuous Examinations ................................................................................................... 47 Section 5.6: Conduct of Examinations .................................................................................................... 48 Section 5.7: Notice of Results of Examination Process .......................................................................... 48 Section 5.8: Scoring Examinations and Qualifying Scores .................................................................... 48

Section 5.9: Eligible Lists ....................................................................................................................... 48 Section 5.10: No Eligibility List – Certification of Temporary/Provisional Appointment ..................... 48 Section 5.11: Temporary Appointment ................................................................................................... 48 Section 5.12: Provisional Appointment .................................................................................................. 48 Section 5.13: Certification of Less Than Three Names .......................................................................... 49 Section 5.14: Emergency Appointments ................................................................................................. 49 Section 5.15: Employment of Relatives .................................................................................................. 49 Section 5.16: Authorization to Work ...................................................................................................... 49 Section 5.17: Pre-Employment Physical Examinations .......................................................................... 49 Section 5.18: Reference/Background Investigation ................................................................................ 49 CHAPTER 6: PROBATIONARY PERIOD ............................................................................................... 50 Section 6.1: Probation for New-Hires ..................................................................................................... 50 Section 6.2: Probation Following Promotion .......................................................................................... 50 Section 6.3: Rejections During Probationary Period .............................................................................. 50 Section 6.4: Effect of Leaves on Probation Period ................................................................................. 50 Section 6.5: At-Will Employees ............................................................................................................. 50 CHAPTER 7: CHANGES IN EMPLOYMENT STATUS ........................................................................ 51 Section 7.1: Promotion ............................................................................................................................ 51 Section 7.2: Rejection Following Promotion .......................................................................................... 51 Section 7.3: Flexible Staffing ................................................................................................................. 51 Section 7.4: Reductions in Force (Layoffs) ............................................................................................ 51 Section 7.5: Transfers or demotions to avoid layoff ............................................................................... 51 Section 7.6: Re-Employment Lists ......................................................................................................... 52 Section 7.7: Re-Employment .................................................................................................................. 52 Section 7.8: Placement After On-the-Job Disability ............................................................................... 52 Section 7.9: Demotion ............................................................................................................................ 52 Section 7.10: Suspension ........................................................................................................................ 52 Section 7.11: Resignation ....................................................................................................................... 52 Section 7.12: Retirement ......................................................................................................................... 53 Section 7.13: Re-Hire .............................................................................................................................. 53 Section 7.14: Continuation of Health Benefits ....................................................................................... 53 Section 7.15: References ......................................................................................................................... 53 Section 7.16: Fitness for Duty................................................................................................................. 53 CHAPTER 8: RULES OF CONDUCT ...................................................................................................... 53 Section 8.1: Dress Code and Personal Grooming Standards .................................................................. 54 Section 8.2: ID/Name Badges To Be Worn at All Times ....................................................................... 54

Section 8.3: Personal Cleanliness and Fragrance-Free Expectations ...................................................... 54 Section 8.4: Employees Who Are Non-Compliant with Dress Code Expectations ................................ 54 Section 8.5: Information Technology (IT) Policy ................................................................................... 54 A. Application .............................................................................................................................. 54 B. Definitions ............................................................................................................................... 55 C. Computer Hardware and Software Usage ............................................................................... 55 D. Prohibited Uses of Computer Systems and Tools ................................................................... 56 Section 8.6: E-Mail Policy ...................................................................................................................... 56 A. Listservs .................................................................................................................................. 57 B. Prohibited Use of E-Mail/Instant Messaging Platform ........................................................... 57 C. E-mail and Messaging Etiquette and Use: .............................................................................. 57 D. Maintenance of Accounts: ...................................................................................................... 58 Section 8.7: Internet Policy ..................................................................................................................... 58 A. Internet Access ........................................................................................................................ 58 B. Prohibited use of the Internet .................................................................................................. 59 Section 8.8: Telecommunications Policy ................................................................................................ 59 A. Prohibited Uses of Telecommunications Equipment .............................................................. 59 B. Penalties For Misuse of Telecommunications Equipment, Computer Systems and Tools ..... 60 Section 8.9: Personal Cellular and/or Wireless Devices ......................................................................... 60 A. Telephone Calls/Text Messaging ............................................................................................ 60 B. Prohibited Activities ............................................................................................................... 61 Section 8.10: Social Media Policy .......................................................................................................... 61 A. Definitions ............................................................................................................................... 61 B. General Policy ......................................................................................................................... 62 C. Terms Of Use .......................................................................................................................... 63 D. Reporting/Removal Of Unauthorized Comments ................................................................... 64 E. City's Rights To Posted Information ....................................................................................... 64 Section 8.11: Nepotism and Fraternization Policy .................................................................................. 65 A. Definitions ............................................................................................................................... 65 B. Fraternization .......................................................................................................................... 67 C. Nepotism ................................................................................................................................. 68 D. Employment of Relatives of Elected or Appointed Officials ................................................. 68 E. Effect of Post-Employment Marriage or Creation of Other “Relative” Status of City Employees ........................................................................................................................................... 68 F. Responsibility Assignments .................................................................................................... 70 Section 8.12: Vehicle Usage Policy ........................................................................................................ 70 A. Assignment Of Responsibility ................................................................................................ 70

B. Definitions ............................................................................................................................... 71 C. Use of City Owned Vehicles ................................................................................................... 71 D. Use of Privately Owned Vehicles ........................................................................................... 72 E. Driver Training ....................................................................................................................... 72 F. General Guidelines .................................................................................................................. 72 G. Refrain From Use of Electronic Devices While Driving ........................................................ 73 H. Rental Vehicles ....................................................................................................................... 73 I. Accident Reporting Requirements .......................................................................................... 73 J. Insurance ................................................................................................................................. 74 K. Driver's License ...................................................................................................................... 75 L. Review Of Driving Record ..................................................................................................... 75 CHAPTER 9: PERFORMANCE EVALUTIONS ..................................................................................... 76 Section 9.1: Goals of Performance Evaluations ...................................................................................... 76 Section 9.2: Merit Increases .................................................................................................................... 76 Section 9.3: Performance Evaluation System ......................................................................................... 76 Section 9.4: Supervisor Evaluation ......................................................................................................... 77 Section 9.5: Discussing the Performance Evaluation ............................................................................. 77 Section 9.6: Signatures ............................................................................................................................ 77 Section 9.7: Written Response by Employees ........................................................................................ 77 Section 9.8: Final Approval .................................................................................................................... 77 Section 9.9: Completion of Performance Evaluation Process ................................................................ 77 CHAPTER 10: DISCIPLINARY AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES ................................................... 77 Section 10.1: Disciplinary Procedures .................................................................................................... 77 Section 10.2: Grounds for Disciplinary Action ...................................................................................... 78 A. Causes For Disciplinary Action .............................................................................................. 78 Section 10.3: Types of Discipline ........................................................................................................... 79 Section 10.4: Appeal Rights ................................................................................................................... 79 Section 10.5: Informal Discipline/Counseling ........................................................................................ 79 A. Counseling .............................................................................................................................. 79 B. Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) .................................................................................... 79 C. Reprimand ............................................................................................................................... 79 Section 10.6: Formal Discipline.............................................................................................................. 80 A. Initiation of Formal Discipline ................................................................................................ 80 Section 10.7: Reprimand ......................................................................................................................... 80 Section 10.8: Notice of Proposed Action (Skelly Notice) ...................................................................... 80 B. Employee Response ................................................................................................................ 81

C. Status of Employee After Notice of Proposed Action ............................................................ 81 D. Decision .................................................................................................................................. 81 E. Notice of Decision .................................................................................................................. 81 F. Appeal of Disciplinary Action ................................................................................................ 82 G. Status During Appeal .............................................................................................................. 82 H. Appeal Hearing ....................................................................................................................... 82 I. Written Record ........................................................................................................................ 82 J. Appearances ............................................................................................................................ 82 K. Hearing Procedure................................................................................................................... 82 L. Evidence .................................................................................................................................. 83 M. Decision on Appeal ................................................................................................................. 83 N. Implementation of Decision .................................................................................................... 83 Section 10.9: Grievance Rights and Procedures ..................................................................................... 84 A. Definitions ............................................................................................................................... 84 B. Grievance Process Rights ........................................................................................................ 84 C. Informal Discussion with Supervisor ...................................................................................... 84 D. Step One – Formal Grievance ................................................................................................. 84 E. Appeal to Personnel Officer .................................................................................................... 85 CHAPTER 11: PAYROLL PROCEDURES .............................................................................................. 85 Section 11.1: Personnel Records ............................................................................................................. 85 Section 11.2: Pay Days and Pay Periods ................................................................................................. 85 Section 11.3: Payroll Deductions ............................................................................................................ 85 Section 11.4: Time Report Sheets ........................................................................................................... 85 Section 11.5: Determining Hourly Rates of Pay ..................................................................................... 85 Section 11.6: Final Pay ........................................................................................................................... 85 CHAPTER 12: WORK WEEK AND ATTENDANCE ............................................................................. 86 Section 12.1: Hours of Business ............................................................................................................. 86 Section 12.2: Work Period ...................................................................................................................... 86 Section 12.3: Management’s’ Responsibility ......................................................................................... 86 Section 12.4: Work Week Example ........................................................................................................ 86 Section 12.5: Attendance and Punctuality .............................................................................................. 87 Section 12.6: Lunch or Meal Periods ...................................................................................................... 87 Section 12.7: Break Periods .................................................................................................................... 87 Section 12.8: Usage of Leave Time ........................................................................................................ 87 A. Jury Duty, Military Leave & Extended Leave ........................................................................ 87 B. Paid Sick Leave/Vacation/Bereavement Hours ...................................................................... 87

C. Medical Appointments and Personal Business ....................................................................... 88 D. Non-Substitution of Day Off ................................................................................................... 88 Section 12.9: Holidays ............................................................................................................................ 88 A. Scheduled Holidays................................................................................................................. 88 B. Holidays Falling on Weekends ............................................................................................... 88 C. Holiday Pay ............................................................................................................................. 88 D. Floating Holidays .................................................................................................................... 89 E. Extended Closure for Holidays ............................................................................................... 89 F. Working on a Holiday ............................................................................................................. 89 Section 12.10: Vacation Leave ............................................................................................................... 89 A. Vacation Leave Accrual .......................................................................................................... 89 B. Maximum Accrual of Vacation Leave .................................................................................... 90 C. Use of Vacation ....................................................................................................................... 90 D. Payment of Accumulated Vacation ......................................................................................... 90 E. Retirement Benefits Calculations ............................................................................................ 90 F. Use of Vacation Leave ............................................................................................................ 90 CHAPTER 13: LEAVES OF ABSENCE ................................................................................................... 91 Section 13.1: Eligibility .......................................................................................................................... 91 Section 13.2: Leave Requests ................................................................................................................. 91 Section 13.3: General Provisions ............................................................................................................ 91 Section 13.4: Impact and Responsibilities if Not Being Paid for Eleven or More Days a Month .......... 92 Section 13.5: Bereavement Leave ........................................................................................................... 92 Section 13.6: Blood Donation ................................................................................................................. 92 Section 13.7: Child’s Suspension ........................................................................................................... 93 Section 13.8: Child/School Visits Leave ................................................................................................ 93 Section 13.9: Domestic Violence Leave ................................................................................................. 93 Section 13.10: Family Leave Medical Leave .......................................................................................... 94 A. Eligibility Criteria for Leave Under CFRA/FMLA ................................................................ 94 B. Leave Entitlement for Personal Care or to Care for a Family Member or Designated Person 94 C. Certification Required ............................................................................................................. 95 D. Amount of Family and Medical Leave ................................................................................... 95 E. Intermittent Leave ................................................................................................................... 95 F. Use of Accrued Paid Leave While on FMLA ......................................................................... 95 G. Insurance Benefit Premiums During FMLA ........................................................................... 96 H. Accrual During Unpaid Leaves ............................................................................................... 96 I. Effect on Anniversary Dates ................................................................................................... 96

J. Insurance Benefit Premiums During Leaves ........................................................................... 96 K. Return Notice .......................................................................................................................... 96 L. Reduction or Restructuring of Work Force During Leaves of Absence ................................. 97 M. Extended Leave Due to Serious Health Condition ................................................................. 97 N. Periodic Check Ins .................................................................................................................. 97 O. No Outside Work While on FMLA Except For Military or Public Service Requirements .... 97 Section 13.11: Jury Duty ......................................................................................................................... 97 Section 13.12: Kin Care .......................................................................................................................... 98 Section 13.13: Leave of Absence Without Pay ....................................................................................... 98 Section 13.14: Military Leave ................................................................................................................. 98 Section 13.15: Organ and Bone Marrow Donor Leave........................................................................... 99 Section 13.16: Pregnancy Disability Leave ............................................................................................ 99 A. Use of Leave While on Pregnancy Disability Leave ............................................................ 100 B. Return to Work - Physician’s Statement ............................................................................... 100 Section 13.17: Sick Leave ..................................................................................................................... 100 A. Maximum Accumulation ...................................................................................................... 100 B. Use of Sick Leave ................................................................................................................. 100 C. Payment of Accumulated Sick Leave ................................................................................... 101 D. Conversion of Sick Leave to Retirement Service Credit ...................................................... 101 E. Doctor’s Certificate ............................................................................................................... 101 F. Use of Sick Leave During Probation Period ......................................................................... 101 Section 13.18: Voting Leave ................................................................................................................. 101 Section 13.19: Various Other Leaves of Absence ................................................................................ 101 Section 13.20: Workers’ Compensation Leave ..................................................................................... 102 A. Reporting Accidents and Injuries .......................................................................................... 102 B. Salary Continuation Benefits ................................................................................................ 102 C. Salary Continuation Integration with Accrued General Leave ............................................. 102 D. Salary Continuation and Benefit Discontinuance After On-the-Job Disability .................... 102 E. Anniversary Date Impacted by Workers’ Compensation Leave ........................................... 102 F. Placement After On-the-Job Disability ................................................................................. 103 G. Dismissal After On-the-Job Disability .................................................................................. 103 CHAPTER 14: HEALTH AND WELFARE BENEFITS ......................................................................... 103 Section 14.1: Eligible Employees ......................................................................................................... 103 Section 14.2: Commencement of Benefits ............................................................................................ 103 Section 14.3: Medical Insurance ........................................................................................................... 103 A. Medical Waiver Option ......................................................................................................... 104