Agenda packet — Morgan Hill City Council, September 4, 2024 (part 5 of 6)

Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 398

9. Remove barriers for local governments to access mitigation funding (broad vs. specific) and reduce the administrative pain points to recipient agencies during the project deployment and auditing phases.

The effectiveness of a mitigation strategy is assessed by determining how well these goals are achieved.

17.1.3 Objectives
Each selected objective meets multiple goals, serving as a stand-alone measurement of the effectiveness of a mitigation action, rather than as a subset of a goal. The objectives also are used to help establish priorities and have been reviewed and approved by the Mitigation Strategy Working Group, and the larger Planning Team. The objectives are as follows:

1. Establish and maintain partnerships in the identification and implementation of mitigation measures in the Operational Area.

2. Implement hazard mitigation programs and projects that protect life, property, and the environment.

3. Develop and provide updated information about threats, hazards, vulnerabilities, and mitigation strategies to state, regional, and local agencies, as well as private sector groups, communitybased organizations, and non-profits.

4. Improve understanding of the locations, potential impacts, and linkages among threats, hazards, vulnerability, and measures needed to protect life, property, and the environment.

5. Encourage the incorporation of mitigation best management measures into plans, codes, and other regulatory standards for public, private, and non-governmental entities within the Operational Area.

6. Inform the public on the risk exposure to natural hazards and ways to increase the public’s capability to prevent, prepare, respond, recover, and mitigate impacts of these events.

7. Advance community and natural environment sustainability and resilience to future impacts through preparation and implementation of state, regional, and local projects.

8. Reduce repetitive property losses from all hazards.

9. Where feasible and cost-effective, encourage property protection measures for vulnerable structures located in hazard areas.

10. Improve the process on how public agencies select systems that provide warning and emergency communications for a broad array of agencies. This includes improving the selection process and ensuring warning and emergency communications processes are effective and accessible.

11. Partner with educational institutions that provide research, case studies and the like to help bolster agency communication that demonstrates the value of hazard mitigation.

17.2 Mitigation Alternatives
Catalogs of natural hazard mitigation alternatives were developed that present a broad range of alternatives to be considered for use in the OA, in compliance with 44 CFR (Section 201.6(c)(3)(ii)). One catalog was developed for each natural hazard of concern evaluated in this plan. The catalogs present alternatives that are categorized in two ways:
 By who would have responsibility for implementation:
▪ Individuals (personal scale).
▪ Businesses (corporate scale).

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 399
▪ Government (government scale).
 By what the alternative would do:
▪ Manipulate the hazard.
▪ Reduce exposure to the hazard.
▪ Reduce vulnerability to the hazard.
▪ Increase the ability to respond to or be prepared for the hazard.

Hazard mitigation actions recommended in this plan were selected from among the alternatives presented in the catalogs. The catalogs provide a baseline of mitigation alternatives that are backed by a planning process, are consistent with the established goals and objectives, and are within the capabilities of the planning partners to implement. Some of these actions may not be feasible based on the selection criteria identified for this plan. The purpose of the catalog was to provide a list of what could be considered to reduce risk of the flood hazard within the OA. Actions in the catalog that are not included for the partnership’s action plan were not selected for one or more of the following reasons:
 The action is not feasible.
 The action is already being implemented.
 There is an apparently more cost-effective alternative.  The action does not have public or political support.

The catalogs for each hazard are presented in Table 127 through Table 134.

Table 127: Alternatives to Mitigate the Dam and Levee Failure Hazard What Alternative
Would Do Personal Scale Corporate Scale Government Scale Manipulate the
Hazard
None. Remove dams.

Remove levees.

Harden dams.

Remove dams.

Remove levees.

Harden dams.

Reduce Exposure to
the Hazard
Relocate out of dam
failure inundation
areas.

Replace earthen
dams with
hardened
structures.

Replace earthen dams with
hardened structures.

Relocate critical facilities out of
dam failure inundation areas.

Consider open space land use
in designated dam failure
inundation areas.

Reduce
Vulnerability to the
Hazard
Elevate home to
appropriate levels.

Flood-proof
facilities within
dam failure
inundation areas.

Adopt higher floodplain
standards in mapped dam
failure inundation areas.

Retrofit critical facilities within
dam failure inundation areas.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 400
What Alternative
Would Do Personal Scale Corporate Scale Government Scale Increase the Ability
to Respond to or Be
Prepared for the
Hazard
Learn about risk
reduction for the dam
failure hazard.

Learn the evacuation
routes for a dam failure
event.

Educate yourself on
early warning systems
and the dissemination
of warnings.

Educate
employees on the
probable impacts
of a dam failure.

Develop a
continuity of
operations plan.

Map dam failure inundation
areas.

Enhance emergency
operations plan to include a
dam failure component.

Institute monthly
communications checks with
dam operators.

Inform the public on risk
reduction techniques.

Adopt real-estate disclosure
requirements for the re-sale of
property located within dam
failure inundation areas.

Consider the probable impacts
of climate in assessing the risk
associated with the dam failure
hazard.

Establish early warning
capability downstream of listed
high hazard dams.

Consider the residual risk
associated with protection
provided by dams in future
land use decisions.

Table 128: Alternatives to Mitigate the Drought Hazard
What Alternative
Would Do Personal Scale Corporate Scale Government Scale Manipulate the
Hazard
None. None. Groundwater recharge
through stormwater
management
Reduce Exposure to
the Hazard
None. None. Identify and create
groundwater backup
sources.

Reduce Vulnerability
to the Hazard
Drought-resistant
landscapes.

Drought-resistant
landscapes.

Water use conflict
regulations.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 401
What Alternative
Would Do Personal Scale Corporate Scale Government Scale Reduce water system
losses.

Modify plumbing
systems through water
saving kits.

Reduce private water
system losses.

Reduce water system
losses.

Distribute water saving
kits.

Increase the Ability to
Respond to or Be
Prepared for the
Hazard
Practice active water
conservation.

Practice active water
conservation.

Public education on
drought resistance.

Identify alternative
water supplies for times
of drought and create
mutual aid agreements
with alternative
suppliers.

Develop drought
contingency plan.

Develop criteria
“triggers” for droughtrelated actions.

Improve accuracy of
water supply forecasts.

Modify rate structure to
influence active water
conservation
techniques.

Table 129: Alternatives to Mitigate the Earthquake Hazard What Alternative
Would Do Personal Scale Corporate Scale Government Scale Manipulate the
Hazard
None. None. None.

Reduce
Exposure to the
Hazard
Locate outside of hazard
area (off soft soils).

Locate or relocate
mission-critical
functions outside
hazard area where
possible.

Locate critical facilities
or functions outside
hazard area where
possible.

Reduce
Vulnerability to
the Hazard
Retrofit structure (anchor
house structure to
foundation).

Build redundancy for
critical functions and
facilities.

Harden infrastructure.

Provide redundancy for
critical functions.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 402
What Alternative
Would Do Personal Scale Corporate Scale Government Scale Secure household items that
can cause injury or damage
(such as water heaters,
bookcases, and other
appliances).

Build to higher design.

Retrofit critical buildings
and areas housing
mission-critical
functions.

Adopt higher regulatory
standards.

Increase the
Ability to
Respond to or Be
Prepared for the
Hazard
Practice “drop, cover, and
hold.”
Develop household
mitigation plan, such as
creating a retrofit savings
account, communication
capability with outside, and
72-hour self-sufficiency
during an event.

Keep cash reserves for
reconstruction.

Become informed on the
hazard and risk reduction
alternatives available.

Develop a post-disaster
action plan for your
household.

Adopt higher standard
for new construction;
consider “performancebased design” when
building new structures.

Keep cash reserves for
reconstruction.

Inform your employees
on the possible impacts
of earthquake and how
to deal with them at
your work facility.

Develop a continuity of
operations plan.

Provide better hazard
maps.

Provide technical
information and
guidance.

Enact tools to help
manage development
in hazard areas (e.g.,
tax incentives,
information).

Include retrofitting and
replacement of critical
system elements in
capital improvement
plan.

Develop strategy to
take advantage of postdisaster opportunities.

Warehouse critical
infrastructure
components such as
pipe, power line, and
road repair materials.

Develop and adopt a
continuity of operations
plan.

Initiate triggers guiding
improvements (such as
<50% substantial
damage or
improvements).

Further enhance
seismic risk
assessment to target

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 403
What Alternative
Would Do Personal Scale Corporate Scale Government Scale high hazard buildings
for mitigation
opportunities.

Develop a postdisaster action plan
that includes grant
funding and debris
removal components.

Table 130: Alternatives to Mitigate the Flooding Hazard What Alternative
Would Do Personal Scale Corporate Scale Government Scale Manipulate the
Hazard
Clear storm drains and
culverts.

Use low-impact
development techniques.

Clear storm drains
and culverts.

Use low-impact
development
techniques.

Maintain drainage system.

Institute low-impact
development techniques on
property.

Dredging, levee construction,
and providing regional
retention areas.

Structural flood control, levees,
channelization, or revetments.

Stormwater management
regulations and master
planning.

Acquire vacant land or
promote open space uses in
developing watersheds to
control increases in runoff.

Reduce
Exposure to the
Hazard
Locate outside of hazard
area.

Elevate utilities above
base flood elevation.

Use low-impact
development techniques.

Locate critical
facilities or functions
outside hazard area.

Use low-impact
development
techniques.

Locate or relocate critical
facilities outside of hazard
area.

Acquire or relocate identified
repetitive loss properties.

Promote open space uses in
identified high hazard areas
via techniques such as:
planned unit developments,
easements, setbacks,

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 404
What Alternative
Would Do Personal Scale Corporate Scale Government Scale greenways, sensitive area
tracks.

Adopt land development
criteria such as planned unit
developments, density
transfers, clustering.

Institute low impact
development techniques on
property.

Acquire vacant land or
promote open space uses in
developing watersheds to
control increases in runoff.

Reduce
Vulnerability to
the Hazard
Raise structures above
base flood elevation.

Elevate items within
house above base flood
elevation.

Build new homes above
base flood elevation.

Flood-proof structures.

Build redundancy for
critical functions or
retrofit critical
buildings.

Provide floodproofing when new
critical infrastructure
must be located in
floodplains.

Harden infrastructure, bridge
replacement program.

Provide redundancy for critical
functions and infrastructure.

Adopt regulatory standards
such as freeboard standards,
cumulative substantial
improvement or damage, lower
substantial damage threshold;
compensatory storage, nonconversion deed restrictions.

Stormwater management
regulations and master
planning.

Adopt “no-adverse impact”
floodplain management
policies that strive to not
increase the flood risk on
downstream communities.

Increase the
Ability to
Respond to or
Be Prepared for
the Hazard
Buy flood insurance.

Develop household plan,
such as retrofit savings,
communication with
outside, 72-hour selfsufficiency during and
after an event.

Keep cash reserves
for reconstruction.

Support and
implement hazard
disclosure for sale of
property in risk
zones.

Produce better hazard maps.

Provide technical information
and guidance.

Enact tools to help manage
development in hazard areas
(stronger controls, tax
incentives, and information).

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 405
What Alternative
Would Do Personal Scale Corporate Scale Government Scale Solicit cost-sharing
through partnerships
with others on
projects with multiple
benefits.

Incorporate retrofitting or
replacement of critical system
elements in capital
improvement plan.

Develop strategy to take
advantage of post-disaster
opportunities.

Warehouse critical
infrastructure components.

Develop and adopt a continuity
of operations plan.

Consider participation in the
Community Rating System.

Maintain and collect data to
define risks and vulnerability.

Train emergency responders.

Create an elevation inventory
of structures in the floodplain.

Develop and implement a
public information strategy.

Charge a hazard mitigation
fee.

Integrate floodplain
management policies into
other planning mechanisms
within the OA.

Consider the probable impacts
of climate change on the risk
associated with the flood
hazard.

Consider the residual risk
associated with structural flood
control in future land use
decisions.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 406
What Alternative
Would Do Personal Scale Corporate Scale Government Scale Enforce National Flood
Insurance Program.

Adopt a Stormwater
Management Master Plan.

Table 131: Alternatives to Mitigate the Landslide/Mass Movement Hazard What Alternative
Would Do Personal Scale Corporate Scale Government Scale Manipulate the
Hazard
Stabilize slope (dewater,
armor toe).

Reduce weight on top of
slope.

Minimize vegetation
removal and the
addition of impervious
surfaces.

Stabilize slope (dewater,
armor toe).

Reduce weight on top of
slope.

Stabilize slope (dewater,
armor toe).

Reduce weight on top of
slope.

Reduce Exposure
to the Hazard
Locate structures
outside of hazard area
(off unstable land and
away from slide-run out
area).

Locate structures outside
of hazard area (off
unstable land and away
from slide-run out area).

Acquire properties in
high-risk landslide areas.

Adopt land use policies
that prohibit the
placement of habitable
structures in high-risk
landslide areas.

Reduce
Vulnerability to the
Hazard
Retrofit home. Retrofit at-risk facilities. Adopt higher regulatory standards for new
development within
unstable slope areas.

Armor/retrofit critical
infrastructure against the
impact of landslides.

Increase the
Ability to Respond
to or Be Prepared
for the Hazard
Institute warning system
and develop evacuation
plan.

Keep cash reserves for
reconstruction.

Educate yourself on risk
reduction techniques for
landslide hazards.

Institute warning system
and develop evacuation
plan.

Keep cash reserves for
reconstruction.

Develop a continuity of
operations plan.

Produce better hazard
maps.

Provide technical
information and
guidance.

Enact tools to help
manage development in
hazard areas: better

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 407
What Alternative
Would Do Personal Scale Corporate Scale Government Scale Educate employees on
the potential exposure to
landslide hazards and
emergency response
protocol.
land controls, tax
incentives, information.

Develop strategy to take
advantage of postdisaster opportunities.

Warehouse critical
infrastructure
components.

Develop and adopt a
continuity of operations
plan.

Educate the public on
the landslide hazard and
appropriate risk
reduction alternatives.

Table 132: Alternatives to Mitigate the Inclement Weather Hazard What Alternative
Would Do Personal Scale Corporate Scale Government Scale Manipulate the
Hazard
None. None. None.

Reduce Exposure
to the Hazard
None. None. None.

Reduce
Vulnerability to
the Hazard
Insulate house.

Provide redundant
heat and power.

Insulate structure.

Plant appropriate trees
near home and power
lines (“Right tree, right
place” National Arbor
Day Foundation
Program).

Relocate critical
infrastructure (such as
power lines)
underground.

Reinforce or relocate
critical infrastructure
such as power lines to
meet performance
expectations.

Install tree wire.

Harden infrastructure such as
locating utilities underground.

Trim trees back from power
lines.

Increase the
Ability to
Respond to or Be
Prepared for the
Hazard
Trim or remove trees
that could affect power
lines.

Trim or remove trees
that could affect
power lines.

Create redundancy.

Support programs such as
“Tree Watch” that proactively
manage problem areas
through use of selective

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 408
What Alternative
Would Do Personal Scale Corporate Scale Government Scale Promote 72-hour selfsufficiency.

Obtain a NOAA
weather radio.

Obtain an emergency
generator.

Equip facilities with a
NOAA weather radio.

Equip vital facilities
with emergency power
sources.
removal of hazardous trees,
tree replacement, etc.

Increase communication
alternatives.

Modify land use and
environmental regulations to
support vegetation
management activities that
improve reliability in utility
corridors.

Modify landscape and other
ordinances to encourage
appropriate planting near
overhead power, cable, and
phone lines.

Provide NOAA weather radios
to the public.

Table 133: Alternatives to Mitigate the Tsunami Hazard
What Alternative
Would Do Personal Scale Corporate Scale Government Scale Manipulate the
Hazard
None. None. Build wave abatement
structures (e.g., the
“Jacks” looking
structure designed by
the Japanese).

Reduce
Exposure to the
Hazard
Locate outside of hazard
area.

Locate structure or
mission critical functions
outside of hazard area
whenever possible.

Locate structure or
functions outside of
hazard area whenever
possible.

Harden infrastructure
for tsunami impacts.

Relocate identified
critical facilities
located in tsunami
high hazard areas.

Reduce
Vulnerability to
the Hazard
Apply personal property
mitigation techniques to your
home such as anchoring
Mitigate personal
property for the impacts
of tsunami.

Adopt higher
regulatory standards
that will provide higher

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 409
What Alternative
Would Do Personal Scale Corporate Scale Government Scale your foundation and
foundation openings to allow
flow through.
levels of protection to
structures built in a
tsunami inundation
area.

Utilize tsunami
mapping once
available, to guide
development away
from high-risk areas
through land use
planning.

Increase the
Ability to
Respond to or
Be Prepared for
the Hazard
Develop and practice a
household evacuation plan.

Support/participate in the
Redwood Coast Tsunami
Working Group.

Educate yourself on the risk
exposure from the tsunami
hazard and ways to minimize
that risk.

Develop and practice a
corporate evacuation
plan.

Support/participate in the
Redwood Coast Tsunami
Working Group.

Educate employees on
the risk exposure from
the tsunami hazard and
ways to minimize that
risk.

Create a probabilistic
tsunami map for the
OA.

Provide incentives to
guide development
away from hazard
areas.

Develop a tsunami
warning and response
system.

Provide residents with
tsunami inundation
maps.

Join NOAA’s Tsunami
Ready program.

Develop and
communicate
evacuation routes.

Enhance the public
information program to
include risk reduction
options for the
tsunami hazard.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 410
Table 134: Alternatives to Mitigate the Wildfire Hazard What Alternative
Would Do Personal Scale Corporate Scale Government Scale Manipulate the
Hazard
Clear potential fuels on
property such as dry
overgrown underbrush
and diseased trees.

Clear potential fuels
on property such as
dry underbrush and
diseased trees.

Clear potential fuels on
property such as dry
underbrush and diseased
trees.

Implement best
management practices on
public lands.

Reduce Exposure
to the Hazard
Create and maintain
defensible space around
structures.

Locate outside of
hazard area.

Mow regularly.

Create and maintain
defensible space
around structures and
infrastructure.

Locate outside of
hazard area.

Create and maintain
defensible space around
structures and infrastructure.

Locate outside of hazard
area.

Enhance building code to
include use of fire resistant
materials in high hazard
area.

Reduce
Vulnerability to
the Hazard
Create and maintain
defensible space around
structures and provide
water on site.

Use fire-retardant
building materials.

Create defensible
spaces around home.

Create and maintain
defensible space
around structures and
infrastructure and
provide water on site.

Use fire-retardant
building materials.

Use fire-resistant
plantings in buffer
areas of high wildfire
threat.

Create and maintain
defensible space around
structures and infrastructure.

Use fire-retardant building
materials.

Use fire-resistant plantings in
buffer areas of high wildfire
threat.

Consider higher regulatory
standards (such as Class A
roofing).

Establish biomass
reclamation initiatives.

Increase the
Ability to
Respond to or Be
Prepared for the
Hazard
Employ techniques from
the National Fire
Protection Association’s
Firewise Communities
program to safeguard
home.

Identify alternative water
supplies for firefighting.

Support Firewise
community initiatives.

Create /establish
stored water supplies
to be utilized for
firefighting.

More public outreach and
education efforts, including
an active Firewise program.

Possible weapons of mass
destruction funds available
to enhance fire capability in
high-risk areas.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 411
What Alternative
Would Do Personal Scale Corporate Scale Government Scale Install/replace roofing
material with noncombustible roofing
materials.

Identify fire response and
alternative evacuation
routes.

Seek alternative water
supplies.

Become a Firewise
community.

Use academia to study
impacts/solutions to wildfire
risk.

Establish/maintain mutual
aid agreements between fire
service agencies.

Create/implement fire plans.

Consider the probable
impacts of climate change
on the risk associated with
the wildfire hazard in future
land use decisions.

17.3 Santa Clara County 2023 Mitigation Action Plan
An action plan is a detailed document that identifies specific steps required to achieve a particular goal.

The document breaks down the goal into actionable and measurable tasks that can be easily followed and tracked. These actions are determined by the risk of natural hazards impacting a community and the identifying solutions. The purpose of an action plan is to define specific steps necessary for achieving a certain goal, including required resources and a timeline for completing tasks.

The 2017 Santa Clara County MJHMP included action items for the entire Operational Area. The participants did not choose to continue to identify area-wide actions and opted for actions by jurisdiction only. The area-wide actions were integrated as appropriate in the Santa Clara County Annex and their status is summarized in Volume II Section 13. Each individual jurisdictions and special districts information can be found in each annex in Volume 2.

The planning partners utilized the following criteria to prioritize action items into the categories of high, medium, or low.
 High Priority— A project that:
▪ Meets multiple goals and objectives (i.e., multiple hazards); ▪ Addresses multiple hazards;
▪ Has benefits that exceed cost;
▪ Has funding secured or is an ongoing project;

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 412
▪ Meets eligibility requirements for Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants; ▪ Can be completed in the short term (1 to 5 years);
▪ Addresses immediate short-term impacts of climate change; ▪ Benefits underserved and/or socially vulnerable populations; AND ▪ Considers the Multi-Benefit Criteria utilized by the Santa Clara County Climate Collaborative, including equity, long-term value, ecosystem benefit, community benefit, and crossjurisdictional alignment.  Medium Priority— A project that:
▪ Meets multiple goals and objectives;
▪ Addresses multiple hazards;
▪ Has benefits that exceed costs;
▪ Has funding has not been secured, but that is grant eligible under Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants or other grant programs;
▪ Project can be completed in the short term (1-5 years), once funding is secured. Medium priority projects will become high priority projects once funding is secured; ▪ Addresses immediate short-term impacts of climate change; ▪ Benefits underserved and/or socially vulnerable populations; AND ▪ Considers the Multi-Benefit Criteria utilized by the Santa Clara County Climate Collaborative, including equity, long-term value, ecosystem benefit, community benefit, and crossjurisdictional alignment.  Low Priority— A project that:
▪ Will mitigate the risk of at least one hazard;
▪ Has benefits that do not exceed the costs or are difficult to quantify:
▪ Does not have secured funding;
▪ Is not eligible for Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant funding; ▪ Has a timeline for completion that is long term (greater than 5 years). Low priority projects may be eligible for other sources of grant funding from other programs; ▪ May address impacts of climate change;
▪ May benefit underserved and/or socially vulnerable populations; AND ▪ Considers the Multi-Benefit Criteria utilized by the Santa Clara County Climate Collaborative, including equity, long-term value, ecosystem benefit, community benefit, and crossjurisdictional alignment.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 413
Table 135 County of Santa Clara 2023 Action Items
Action
Item
Number
Action Item Description Hazard(s) Mitigated
Lead Position, Office,
Department, or
Division Responsible
for Implementation
Potential
Funding
Sources
Expected
Timeline for
Completion
Priority
SCC-1* Maintain, implement, and update as
appropriate, the County
unincorporated CWPP, while
expanding the planning scope to
integrate all of the Operational
Area’s jurisdictions. Create
defensible space programs on a
county-wide basis. Using the 2023
Santa Clara County CWPP as a
guide, implement fuel management
and fuel reduction treatment
throughout the county specifically
adjacent to areas classified as high
and extreme risk to structures to
reduce the potential for catastrophic
wildfire.

Wildfire Santa Clara County
Fire Department- orFireSafe Council
SCCFD
General
Budget;
County OEM
General
Budget;
HMGP;
PDM; EMPG
Ongoing Low

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 414
Action
Item
Number
Action Item Description Hazard(s) Mitigated
Lead Position, Office,
Department, or
Division Responsible
for Implementation
Potential
Funding
Sources
Expected
Timeline for
Completion
Priority
SCC-2* CAL FIRE, South County Fire, and
the Santa Clara County Fire
Department should prepare for
coordinated wildfire response
operations through the
development of a Wildfire Annex to
the County's Emergency
Operations Plan. In August 2020 in
response to the SCU Lightning
Complex, the Wildfire Annex was
used to shed light into the response
and recovery activities that
unfolded.

Wildfire County OEM SCCFD
General
Budget;
County OEM
General
Budget;
HMGP;
EMPG
Short-term Low
SCC-4* Continue to promote programs that
mitigate vegetation fire, such as
diseased tree removal, creating
defensible space, and FireWise
community programs. In
accordance with the 2023 CWPP,
promote public education and
outreach to engage citizens in
helping to reduce risk around
individual property, particularly in
areas with larger drive times from
fire response. Utilize Fire Safe
Councils free chipping programs,
teach Firewise landscaping
techniques, and organize
community cleanup and green
waste removal in high risk areas to
reduce ignitability.

Wildfire Santa Clara County
Fire Department
SCCFD
General
Budget;
County OEM
General
Budget;
South
County Fire
General
Budget;
HMGP; and
EMPG
Ongoing Low

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 415
Action
Item
Number
Action Item Description Hazard(s) Mitigated
Lead Position, Office,
Department, or
Division Responsible
for Implementation
Potential
Funding
Sources
Expected
Timeline for
Completion
Priority
SCC-8* Develop, update, and maintain GIS
inventories of essential facilities, atrisk buildings and infrastructure and prioritize mitigation projects. Ideas
for Implementation: • Identify critical
facilities at risk from natural hazards
events. • Develop strategies to
mitigate risk to these facilities, or to
utilize alternative facilities should
natural hazard events cause
damage to the facilities in question.
• Identify bridges at risk from flood
or earthquake hazards.

All Hazards, Flood,
Earthquake, Wildfire
ISD (GIS) County ISD
Budget,
County
OEM
Budget,
Emergency
Management
Performance
Grant
Program,
HMGP;
PDM;
FMA; EMPG
Longterm/Ongoing
Medium
SCC-9* Maintain the WebEOC system so
that it is up to date. For example,
review the WebEOC vendor's Road
Map, assess the vendor
technology's fitness relative to the
needs of the County's situational
awareness process and IT
infrastructure; consider upgrading
to a new system if necessary.

All Hazards, Wildfire,
Flood, Inclement
Weather – Heavy
Precipitation/Atmospheric
River, Inclement Weather
– High Winds
ISD (GIS) County ISD
Budget,
County
OEM
Budget,
Emergency
Management
Performance
Grant
Program,
HMGP;
PDM;
FMA; EMPG
Short-term Medium

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 416
Action
Item
Number
Action Item Description Hazard(s) Mitigated
Lead Position, Office,
Department, or
Division Responsible
for Implementation
Potential
Funding
Sources
Expected
Timeline for
Completion
Priority
SCC10*Participate in statewide effort to
collaborate on spatial data
standardization, data sharing
platform, common operating
procedures.

All Hazards, Wildfire TSS (GIS) County ISD
Budget,
Emergency
Management
Performance
Grant
Program,
HMGP;
PDM; FMA;
EMPG
Long-term Medium

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 417
Action
Item
Number
Action Item Description Hazard(s) Mitigated
Lead Position, Office,
Department, or
Division Responsible
for Implementation
Potential
Funding
Sources
Expected
Timeline for
Completion
Priority
SCC13A*Identify county facilities vulnerable
to earthquakes and develop
appropriate actions.

Identify county facilities vulnerable
to earthquakes (may include
building age, soft story structures,
building materials more vulnerable
to earthquake damage). Consider
options to retrofit, relocate or
consider alternate methods to
minimize earthquake damage and
maintain response functionality.

Earthquakes ISD (GIS) County ISD
Budget Fleet
and Facilities
Budget
Emergency
Management
Program,
HMGP;
PDM; FMA;
EMGP
Long-term Medium
SCC13B*Identify the most seismically
vulnerable bridges on county roads.

Establish priorities for repair,
retrofit, or other efforts to harden
bridges against earthquake damage
to maintain transportation
functionality and facilitate
emergency response.

Earthquakes ISD (GIS) County ISD
Budget Fleet
and Facilities
Budget
Emergency
Management
Program,
HMGP;
PDM; FMA;
EMGP
Long-term Medium

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Action
Item
Number
Action Item Description Hazard(s) Mitigated
Lead Position, Office,
Department, or
Division Responsible
for Implementation
Potential
Funding
Sources
Expected
Timeline for
Completion
Priority
SCC15*Deploy plume modeling software
and enable OEM staff to manage
data input to assess hazardous
materials atmospheric risk. Due to
the COVID-19 global pandemic
there has been no progress on this
ongoing capability.

All Hazards, Wildfire,
Climate Change,
Inclement Weather –
High Wind
County Fire, Consumer
and Environmental
Protection Agency
(Department of
Environmental Health)
County ISD
Budget,
County
OEM
Budget;
County
Public
Health
Budget;
SCCFD;
EMPG; the
State
Homeland
Security
Grant
Program
Long-term Medium
SCC18*Miguelito Road Repairs for two road
sections (located in east side of
San Jose): Section 1, located near
the intersection of Camino Vista
Way and Miguelito Road, would
replace the current soldier pile wall
with a new retaining wall and
repave the roadway. Section 2,
located near the intersection of Rica
Vista Way and Miguelito Road,
would repair the slope failure.

All Hazards, Landslide Roads and Airports County
Roads and
Airports
Budget;
County OEM
Budget;
HMGP;
PDM; FMA
Long-term Medium

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 419
Action
Item
Number
Action Item Description Hazard(s) Mitigated
Lead Position, Office,
Department, or
Division Responsible
for Implementation
Potential
Funding
Sources
Expected
Timeline for
Completion
Priority
SCC21*Alma Bridge Road Slide Repair
(located in Los Gatos): Project site
is 0.75 mile south of the Los Gatos
Rowing Club @ Lexington
Reservoir
Dam Failure,
Landslide
Roads and Airports County
Roads and
Airports
Budget;
County OEM
Budget;
HMGP;
PDM; FMA
Long-term Medium
SCC23*Review and implement selected
recommendations detailed in the
Loma Fire Watershed Emergency
Response Team Final Report,
October 25, 2016 (CA-SCU006912). Potential actions may include, but are not limited to
deployment of an early warning
system, infrastructure
improvements, establishment of a
Firewise community program,
waterway clearance, general
watershed restoration, etc.

Wildfire County OEM County
Roads and
Airports
Budget;
County OEM
Budget;
HMGP;
PDM; FMA
Long-Term Medium

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Action
Item
Number
Action Item Description Hazard(s) Mitigated
Lead Position, Office,
Department, or
Division Responsible
for Implementation
Potential
Funding
Sources
Expected
Timeline for
Completion
Priority
SCC24*Review critical facilities and capital
projects for mitigation project
potential- including, but not limited
to: water drainage, power
production maintenance/ upgrades,
etc.

Review flood risk assessment of
critical facilities at risk to 100 and
500 year flood. Initiate further study
to determine appropriate methods
to reduce flood risk, which might
include stormwater capture or
drainage, use of permeable
surfaces, changes to landscaping,
flood control structures, relocation,
or alternatives.

All Hazards
Flood
Fleet and Facilities County
Roads and
Airports
Budget,
County OEM
Budget,
County Fleet
and Facilities
Budget,
County
Roads and
Airports
Budget,
County
Planning &
Development
Budget;
HMGP;
PDM; FMA;
EMPG; the
State
Homeland
Security
Grant
Program
Short-term Medium

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Action
Item
Number
Action Item Description Hazard(s) Mitigated
Lead Position, Office,
Department, or
Division Responsible
for Implementation
Potential
Funding
Sources
Expected
Timeline for
Completion
Priority
SCC25*Provide technical information and
guidance to public on individual risk
identification using information
sharing/ GIS platforms.

Use GIS tools such as StoryMaps
or other GIS platforms or web
applications for public education
and outreach. Provide a method for
residents to understand where they
are in relation to potential hazards,
and educate them on what actions
they can take to reduce their
personal risk.

All Hazards, Wildfire,
Drought, Climate
Change, Flood
ISD (GIS) County ISD
Budget,
County OEM
Budget,
SCCFD;
EMPG; the
State
Homeland
Security
Grant
Program
Short-term High
SCC26*Develop strategy to take advantage
of post disaster opportunities
through the development of
Disaster Recovery Planning,
Disaster Cost Recovery Planning,
etc.

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Action
Item
Number
Action Item Description Hazard(s) Mitigated
Lead Position, Office,
Department, or
Division Responsible
for Implementation
Potential
Funding
Sources
Expected
Timeline for
Completion
Priority
SCC27*Develop and adopt a COOP for
County Departments, as
appropriate.

All Hazards, Earthquake,
Wildfire/Wildfire
Smoke/Air Quality,
Inclement Weather –
Heavy
Precipitation/Atmospheric
River/Extreme
Temperatures/High
Winds/Space Weather,
Drought, Climate
Change, Dam/Levee
Failure, Flood,
Landslide/Mass
Movement
County OEM County OEM
Budget;
SCCFD;
County ISD;
EMPG; the
State
Homeland
Security
Grant
Program;
HMGP
Short-Term Medium
SCC28*Maintain existing data and gather
new data needed to define risks
and vulnerabilities impacting the
County. New data should be
integrated into County policies,
including but not limited to
stormwater management, postdisaster recovery, real estate disclosures, environmental
protection, climate change, fire
suppression, and seismic activity.

All Hazards, Climate
Change, Wildfire,
Earthquake
County OEM County OEM
Budget;
SCCFD;
County ISD;
EMPG; the
State
Homeland
Security
Grant
Program;
HMGP
Ongoing Medium

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 423
Action
Item
Number
Action Item Description Hazard(s) Mitigated
Lead Position, Office,
Department, or
Division Responsible
for Implementation
Potential
Funding
Sources
Expected
Timeline for
Completion
Priority
SCC29*Maintain existing data and gather
new data needed to define risks
and vulnerability impacting the
County. New data should be
integrated into County plans,
including but not limited to the
County's General Plan, Capital
Improvement Plan, Stormwater
Plan, Habitat Conservation Plan,
Community Wildfire Protection
Plan, Forest Management Plan,
Climate Action Plan, Emergency
Operations Plan, Threat & Hazard
Identification & Risk Assessment,
Post-Disaster Recovery
Framework, Continuity of
Operations Plan, and Public Health
plans.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 424
Action
Item
Number
Action Item Description Hazard(s) Mitigated
Lead Position, Office,
Department, or
Division Responsible
for Implementation
Potential
Funding
Sources
Expected
Timeline for
Completion
Priority
SCC30*Develop a Debris Collection and
Management Plan.

Earthquake, Wildfire,
Inclement Weather –
Heavy
Precipitation/Atmospheric
River/ /High Winds,
Dam/Levee Failure,
Flood, Landslide/Mass
Movement
County Roads and
Airports
County OEM
Budget;
SCCFD;
County ISD;
County
Roads &
Airports
Budget;
County
Public Health
Budget;
EMPG; the
State
Homeland
Security
Grant
Program;
EMPG
Short-term High
SCC32*Integrate the hazard mitigation plan
into other plans, ordinances, and
programs that dictate land use
decisions within the community.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 425
Action
Item
Number
Action Item Description Hazard(s) Mitigated
Lead Position, Office,
Department, or
Division Responsible
for Implementation
Potential
Funding
Sources
Expected
Timeline for
Completion
Priority
SCC33*Development and implement a
program to capture perishable data
significant events (e.g. high water
marks, locations of poor draining
following heavy rain, roadways or
culverts that have been damaged in
flood events, damage from high
wind events, preliminary damage
estimates, damage photos) to
support future mitigation efforts
including the implementation and
maintenance of the hazard
mitigation plan.

ISD/GIS
Budget,
County
Finance
Agency
Budget
Long-term Medium
SCC34*Actively participate in the plan
maintenance protocols outlined in
Volume 1 of the hazard mitigation
plan.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 426
Action
Item
Number
Action Item Description Hazard(s) Mitigated
Lead Position, Office,
Department, or
Division Responsible
for Implementation
Potential
Funding
Sources
Expected
Timeline for
Completion
Priority
SCC35*Coordinate with the private sector
on prioritization of critical facilities
before and during restoration of
utility services.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 427
Action
Item
Number
Action Item Description Hazard(s) Mitigated
Lead Position, Office,
Department, or
Division Responsible
for Implementation
Potential
Funding
Sources
Expected
Timeline for
Completion
Priority
2 Maintain a coordinated, multilingual public awareness campaign to educate and engage the public
about hazard risk, preparedness,
and safety to provide real-time
health related information during
extreme heat and poor air quality
warning days and information on
cooling center, resiliency hubs,
emergency shelters, and other
preparedness and post disaster
resources for the region.

Inclement Weather –
Extreme Temperatures,
Wildfire/Wildfire
Smoke/Air Quality
County OEM General fund Ongoing Medium
3 Consider nature-based solutions
such as a goal to plant 1,000 trees
annually Countywide in areas to
address issues such as urban heat
islands, low tree canopy, poor air
quality and stormwater
management. Work with local
governments, agencies, and
nonprofit partners to build a
comprehensive urban forest.

Inclement Weather –
Extreme Temperatures,
Flood
Office of Sustainability General
fund, BRIC
Medium-term Medium

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Action
Item
Number
Action Item Description Hazard(s) Mitigated
Lead Position, Office,
Department, or
Division Responsible
for Implementation
Potential
Funding
Sources
Expected
Timeline for
Completion
Priority
4 In coordination with SCVWD, host
regular workshops and classes on
water conservation, including
providing information on droughttolerant landscaping, available rebates for water retrofits, and
water efficiency strategies in new
buildings. Distribute outreach
materials for water conservation.

Drought County OEM? General
Fund
Medium-term Medium
5 Work with local jurisdictions in dam
inundation zones to ensure
residents and businesses are
aware of the potential risk, and that
dam inundation mitigation
strategies are integrated into local
planning efforts. Work with local
jurisdictions to identify vulnerable
populations and unique information
needs to communicate their risk.

Use GIS mapping for risk analysis
and communication as appropriate.

Dam/Levee Failure County OEM General
Fund
Medium
Term
Medium

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Action
Item
Number
Action Item Description Hazard(s) Mitigated
Lead Position, Office,
Department, or
Division Responsible
for Implementation
Potential
Funding
Sources
Expected
Timeline for
Completion
Priority
6 Identify facilities to serve as
warming or cooling centers/shortterm severe weather shelters in an effort to reduce loss of life. Assist
vulnerable populations by
facilitating and also notifying them
about warming centers (a shortterm emergency shelter that operates when temperatures or a
combination of precipitation, wind
chill, wind and temperature become
dangerously inclement).

Extreme Heat, Extreme
Cold, High Wind, Heavy
Rain
County OEM General
Fund
Medium
Term
Medium
7 Identify areas with above ground
utilities at risk to damage from high
wind and evaluate feasibility of
pursuing funding for
undergrounding of utilities.

Consider areas where powerlines
may be near areas with high wildfire
risk.

High Wind, Wildfire County OEM General
Fund
Medium
Term
Medium

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 430

17.4 Financial Capabilities
Determining current and/or potential funding sources is an important step of the mitigation planning process. By exploring, identifying, and evaluating alternative sources now, planning partners are positioned to select and implement actions which are financially obtainable.

This plan is written in accordance with federal guidelines in order to ensure participants remain eligible for certain mitigation funds. Under the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 44, Part 201.6 (44 CFR §201.6), Local Mitigation Plans, local governments must have a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-approved plan in order to apply for and/or receive hazard mitigation project grant funds for hazard mitigation programs including:
 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
 HMGP Post Fire Program (HMGP-PF)
 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)  Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA)
 Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund Program
It is important to consider a variety of funding streams. Mitigation actions can and should be funded through multiple different avenues. Funding opportunities may include federal agencies; state, local, and tribal programs, as applicable; or private funding. Potential Federal, State, and Local funding opportunities are described below.

17.4.1 Federal
FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grants fund eligible mitigation measures to reduce future disaster losses. Eligible applicants include state agencies, local governments, special districts, federally recognized tribes, and private non-profit organizations.

California’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) administers hazard mitigation assistance grants on behalf of FEMA. Cal OES supports outreach to inform eligible jurisdictions of available grants, reviews applications, and provides technical assistance. Cal OES is also responsible for submitting applications to FEMA by FEMA’s stated deadline. When eligible entities are interested in applying for these funds, the State Hazard Mitigation Officer (SHMO) can provide additional guidance and education about available grants and the grant application process.

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Table 136: FEMA Mitigation Funding Sources
Program Timeframe Description Lead Agency
or Agencies Resource(s)
Hazard Mitigation
Grant Program
(HMGP / 404
Mitigation)
Post-disaster -
application period
opens on the date of
the presidential
declaration.

Provides funding to state, local, tribal,
and territorial governments to develop
hazard mitigation plans and implement
mitigation products to reduce or
eliminate future disaster losses. Eligible
project types including planning and
enforcement, flood protection,
retrofitting, and construction. An
approved hazard mitigation plan is
required to receive funding. Because
the State of California has an enhanced
HMP, the State is eligible for additional
HMGP funds, up to 20% of the federal
share of disaster assistance provided
after a federally declared disaster.

FEMA https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation
/hazard-mitigation
https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation
/hazard-mitigation-assistance-guidance
HMGP Post Fire
(HMGP-PF)
State’s first FMAG
declaration of the fiscal
year to 6 months after
the end of that fiscal
year
Helps communities implement hazard
mitigation measures after wildfires
disasters. Funding depends on the 10-
year national average assistance
provided under Fire Management
Assistance Grants (FMAG)
declarations for States.

FEMA https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation
/hazard-mitigation-assistance-guidance
https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files
/2020-07/fema_DRRA-1204-policy.pdf
Fire Management
Assistance
Grants (FMAG)
Post-Fire Management
Assistance Declaration
Available to states, local and tribal
governments for the mitigation,
management, and control of fires on
publicly or privately owned forests or
grasslands.

FEMA https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files
/documents/fema_fmagppg_063121.pd
f
Public Assistance
406 Program
Post-federal disaster
declaration
Public Assistance funded mitigation
measures for disaster-damaged
facilities. Limited to eligible counties
and eligible damaged facilities, as well
FEMA https://www.fema.gov/pressrelease/20220328/fema-hazardmitigation-grants-404-and-406

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 432
Program Timeframe Description Lead Agency
or Agencies Resource(s)
as only the parts of the facility that are
damaged. Designed to reduce the
potential of future losses through a
similar disaster to the same eligible
facility.

Flood Mitigation
Assistance (FMA)
Annual Funding for cost-effective measures to
reduce or eliminate the long-term risk
of flood damage to buildings,
manufactured homes, and other
structures insured under the National
Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

FEMA https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation
/floods
Building Resilient
Infrastructure and
Communities
(BRIC)
Annual Provides funding to states, local
communities, tribes, and territories to
implement mitigation projects. This
program is designed to support
capability- and capacity-building,
promote partnerships, and enable large
projects. It emphasizes nature-based
solutions, community lifelines, and
benefitting underserved communities.

Each State has allocated funds as well
as a nationally competitive fund.

FEMA https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files
/documents/fema_bric-policy-fp-008-
05_program_policy.pdf
https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files
/documents/fema_riskmap-naturebased-solutions-guide_2021.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files
/documents/fema_fy-22-mitigationaction-portfolio.pdf
Pre-Disaster
Mitigation (PDM)
Congressionally
appropriated
Makes funding available for state, local,
tribal, and territorial governments to
plan for and implement sustainable
cost-effective measures designed to
reduce the risk to individuals and
property from future natural hazards.

Previously replaced by the BRIC
program, the Consolidated
Appropriations Act of 2022
reauthorized PDM for FY22.

FEMA https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation
/pre-disaster

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Program Timeframe Description Lead Agency
or Agencies Resource(s)
Rehabilitation of
High Hazard
Potential Dam
(HHPD) Grant
Program
Annual Provides technical, planning, design,
and construction assistance in the form
of grants for rehabilitation of eligible
high hazard potential dams. The dam
must be located in a jurisdiction with a
FEMA-approved plan that includes dam
risks.

FEMA https://www.fema.gov/emergencymanagers/risk-management/damsafety/rehabilitation-high-hazardpotential-dams https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files
/documents/fema_hhpd-fact-sheet_05-
19-2020.pdf
National Flood
Insurance
Program (NFIP)
Ongoing Eligible property owners, renters and
businesses who purchase flood
insurance through the NFIP may be
eligible for funds to repair their
property. Increased Cost of
Compliance (ICC) claim benefits may
be available for compliance activities
including elevation, flood-proofing,
relocation, and demolition.

FEMA https://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance
Planning partners may soon have access to additional mitigation funds through FEMA’s new Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund Program. The Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) Act became law on January 1, 2021, and authorized FEMA to provide grants to eligible entities including the State of California for the development of a revolving loan fund for hazard mitigation initiatives.

Once established, this revolving loan fund will provide low interest loans to jurisdictions to reduce vulnerability to natural disaster, foster resilience, and reduce disaster suffering. These loans may be used as the non-federal cost match for other HMA grant applications. The first application for STORM is currently open as of the time of this writing.

FEMA funds should not be the only source of mitigation funding a community considers. Other federal resources are described in Table 137.

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Table 137: Additional Federal Funding Sources
Program Timeframe Description Lead Agency
or Agencies Resource(s)
Community Development
Block Grant – Disaster
Recovery (CDBG-DR)
Congressionally
Appropriated
Grants to states and local governments to
develop viable communities (e.g., housing,
suitable living environment, expanded economic
opportunities) and recover from federally
declared disasters. Principally for low- and
moderate-income areas.

U.S.

Department of
Housing and
Urban
Development
(HUD)
https://www.hud.gov/progr
am_offices/comm_plannin
g/cdbg
CDBG-Mitigation (CDBGMIT)Congressionally
Appropriated
Supports a range of mitigation activities focused
on reducing or eliminating the long-term impacts
of future disasters.

HUD https://www.hud.gov/progr
am_offices/comm_plannin
g/cdbg-dr/cdbg-mit
Section 108 Loan
Guarantee Program
Upon request Provides low-cost, long-term financing for economic development and community
development projects, including improvements
to increase resilience.

HUD https://www.hudexchange.
info/programs/section108/section-108-programeligibilityrequirements/#overview Natural Resources
Conversation Services
(NRCS)
Ongoing Can provide funding and technical assistance to communities to address threats to watersheds,
including conducting damage assessment and
evaluating potential solutions.

U.S.

Department of
Agriculture
(USDA)
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov
/
Urban Waters Small
Grants Program
Every two years Program that protects and restores urban waters by improving water quality through
activities that also support community
revitalization and other local priorities.

U.S.

Environmental
Protection
Agency (EPA)
https://www.epa.gov/urban
waterspartners/urbanwaters-smallgrants#:~:text=Overview% 20Since%20the%20incept
ion%20of%20the%20Urba
n%20Waters,with%20indiv
idual%20award%20amou
nts%20of%20up%20to%2
0%2460%2C000.
https://www.epa.gov/sites/
default/files/2016-
10/documents/uwsg_flyer
_october2016.pdf

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Program Timeframe Description Lead Agency
or Agencies Resource(s)
Clean Water State
Revolving Fund (CWSRF)
Annual Provides low-cost financing for a range of water infrastructure projects.

EPA https://www.epa.gov/cwsrf
https://www.epa.gov/nps/f
unding-resourceswatershed-protection-andrestoration
WaterSmart Annual Funding opportunity to support adequate and safe water supplies through water conservation,
water management, and restoration projects.

Bureau of
Reclamation
https://www.usbr.gov/wate
rsmart/
Partners for Fish and
Wildlife
Ongoing Financial and technical assistance to private
landowners, corporations, local governments,
and universities interested in pursuing
restoration projects affecting wetlands and
riparian habitats.

U.S. Fish and
Wildlife
Service (FWS)
https://www.fws.gov/progr
am/partners-fish-andwildlife
National Coastal
Resilience Fund
Annual Funds nature-based solutions designed to
improve the resilience of coastal communities
and ecosystems.

National Fish
and Wildlife
Foundation
https://www.nfwf.org/progr
ams/national-coastalresiliencefund?activeTab=tab-1
Flood Risk Management
Program (FRMP)
Upon request Program designed to focus the policies,
programs, and expertise of the Corps toward
reducing overall flood risk. USACE works with
local government partners to coordinate flood
risk management within the context of shared
responsibility, including helping communities
understand their flood risk, communicate flood
risk to the public, and develop solutions.

U.S. Army
Corps of
Engineers
https://www.iwr.usace.arm
y.mil/Missions/Flood-RiskManagement/Flood-RiskManagementProgram/Partners-inSharedResponsibility/State-andLocal/

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Program Timeframe Description Lead Agency
or Agencies Resource(s)
Community Wildfire
Assistance
Ongoing Technical and funding assistance for wildfire
mitigation measures and training.

Department of
Interior Bureau
of Land
Management
https://www.blm.gov/sitepage/programs-publicsafety-and-fire-fire-andaviation-regionalinformation-montanadakotas-3 Emergency Management
Performance Grant
(EMPG)
Annual Grant designed to support state, local, tribal,
and territorial emergency management
agencies in the implementation of the National
Preparedness System and the National
Preparedness Goal of a secure and resilient
nation. FY23 EMPG program also included an
emphasis on the national priorities of equity;
climate resilience; and readiness.

DHS/FEMA https://www.fema.gov/gran
ts/preparedness/emergen
cy-managementperformance
Emergency Watershed
Protection
Ongoing Program that offers technical and financial
assistance to help local communities relieve
imminent threats to life and property caused by
natural disasters that impair the watershed.

USDA https://www.nrcs.usda.gov
/programs-initiatives/ewpemergency-watershedprotection Watershed and Flood
Prevention Operations
(WVFPO) Program
Ongoing Provides technical and financial assistance to
help plan and implement watershed projects.

USDA https://www.nrcs.usda.gov
/programsinitiatives/watershed-andflood-preventionoperations-wfpoprogram#:~:text=The%20 Watershed%20Protection
%20and%20Flood%20Pre
vention%20%28WFPO%2
9%20Program,Watershed
%20and%20Flood%20Pre
vention%20Operations%2
0%28WFPO%29%20Prog
ram%20OVERVIEW

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17.4.2 State
The State of California proactively invests in hazard mitigation and climate adaptation in order to develop more resilient communities. Open grants can be found online through the California Grants Portal. Table 138 lists some of the state-led funding sources available or likely to become available.

Table 138: State Mitigation Funding Sources
Program Timeframe Description Lead Agency
or Agencies Resource(s)
Prepare California As Funded Initiative to advance local capabilities through funding additional staff and covering the nonfederal cost share for mitigation actions.

Cal OES https://www.caloes.ca.gov/
office-of-thedirector/operations/recove
ry-directorate/hazardmitigation/preparecalifornia/
Earthquake Brace + Bolt
(EBB) Program
TBD Grants for qualified homeowners with eligible
houses in higher-earthquake-risk areas to
seismically retrofit their house.

California
Earthquake
Authority
https://portal.earthquakea
uthority.com/DiscountsGrants/Brace-and-BoltGrants#:~:text=CEA%20of fers%20two%20brace%20
%2B%20bolt%20grant%2
0programs,help%20CEA
%20policyholders%20pay
%20for%20a%20seismic
%20retrofit.

Proposition 84 Ongoing The California Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal
Protection Bond Act (Proposition) makes new
funding available for flood protection and water
management programs.

Multiple http://bondaccountability.r
esources.ca.gov/p84.aspx
http://bondaccountability.r
esources.ca.gov/PDF/Pro
p1E/PROPOSITION_84_f
act.pdf

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 438
Program Timeframe Description Lead Agency
or Agencies Resource(s)
Integrated Regional Water
Management Grant
Program
Ongoing A collaborative grant program that covers
planning, project implementation, and
disadvantaged communities and tribes in order to
implement water management solutions on a
regional scale.

Department of
Water
Resources
https://water.ca.gov/Progr
ams/Integrated-RegionalWater-Management
Urban Community
Drought Relief Funding
As Funded Offers financial assistance to address drought impacts, including drought resilience planning,
climate resilience activities, and water
conservation activities.

Department of
Water
Resources
https://water.ca.gov/Water
-Basics/Drought/UrbanDrought-Grant
https://water.ca.gov/-
/media/DWRWebsite/WebPages/WaterBasics/Drought/Files/Urba n-Community-DroughtRelief/FrequentlyAskedQu
estions.pdf
Wildfire Prevention Grants Annual Funding for eligible applicants to conduct hazardous fuels reduction activities, wildfire
prevention planning, and wildfire prevention
education.

CAL FIRE https://www.fire.ca.gov/wh
at-we-do/grants/wildfireprevention-grants
Wildfire Resilience Block
Grants
As Funded Provides technical and financial assistance for forest management including reducing the risk of
wildfires.

CAL FIRE https://www.fire.ca.gov/wh
at-we-do/natural-resourcemanagement/wildfireresilience#ResilienceGran tAnchor

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 439
Program Timeframe Description Lead Agency
or Agencies Resource(s)
Listos California Funded for
2023
Local resilience grants for community-based
organizations throughout the state to provide
disaster training and resources to vulnerable and
diverse populations.

Cal OES https://www.grants.ca.gov/
grants/2022-23-listoscalifornia-statewide-grantls-program-rfp/ https://news.caloes.ca.gov
/cal-oes-released-2023-
funding-opportunities-forlistos-california-campaign/
California Climate
Investments
Ongoing Over 70 programs that fund various projects
related to climate change and climate resilience.

More than 20
state agencies
https://www.caclimateinve
stments.ca.gov/allprograms
Resilient California Ongoing Resources for climate resilience including grant programs.

Governor’s
Office of
Planning and
Research
https://resilientca.org/topic
s/investing-in-adaptation/
Integrated Climate
Adaptation and Resiliency
Program (ICARP)
Ongoing Three grant programs designed to support
mitigation and climate adaptation through
adaptation planning, climate resilience efforts, and
preparing for the impacts of extreme heat.

Governor’s
Office of
Planning and
Research
https://opr.ca.gov/climate/i
carp/
Climate Smart Land
Management Program
Funded for
2023
New grant opportunity to implement projects and
develop plans that increase climate action on
California’s natural and working lands
Department of
Conservation
https://www.conservation.
ca.gov/dlrp/grantprograms/Pages/ClimateSmart-Land-ManagementProgram.aspx

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17.4.3 Local
Local capability to fund mitigation actions can come from a variety of sources. Some sources local jurisdictions may have access to include:
 Capital improvements project funding.
 Taxes levied for specific purposes.
 User fees for water, sewer, gas, or electric services.  Stormwater utility fees.
 General obligation bonds.
 Special tax bonds.
 Private activity bonds.
 Development impact fees for homebuyers or developers.  Public or private partnerships.

The individual resources of each participating planning partner are discussed in each annex in Volume 2.

17.5 Action Plan Prioritization
The planning partners utilized the following criteria to prioritize action items into the categories of high, medium, or low.
 High Priority— A project that:
▪ Meets multiple goals and objectives (i.e., multiple hazards); ▪ Addresses multiple hazards;
▪ Has benefits that exceed cost;
▪ Has funding secured or is an ongoing project;
▪ Meets eligibility requirements for Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants; ▪ Can be completed in the short term (1 to 5 years);
▪ Addresses immediate short-term impacts of climate change; ▪ Benefits underserved and/or socially vulnerable populations; AND ▪ Considers the Multi-Benefit Criteria utilized by the Santa Clara County Climate Collaborative, including equity, long-term value, ecosystem benefit, community benefit, and crossjurisdictional alignment.  Medium Priority— A project that:
▪ Meets multiple goals and objectives;
▪ Addresses multiple hazards;
▪ Has benefits that exceed costs;
▪ Has funding has not been secured, but that is grant eligible under Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants or other grant programs;

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▪ Project can be completed in the short term (1-5 years), once funding is secured. Medium priority projects will become high priority projects once funding is secured; ▪ Addresses immediate short-term impacts of climate change; ▪ Benefits underserved and/or socially vulnerable populations; AND ▪ Considers the Multi-Benefit Criteria utilized by the Santa Clara County Climate Collaborative, including equity, long-term value, ecosystem benefit, community benefit, and crossjurisdictional alignment.  Low Priority— A project that:
▪ Will mitigate the risk of at least one hazard;
▪ Has benefits that do not exceed the costs or are difficult to quantify:
▪ Does not have secured funding;
▪ Is not eligible for Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant funding; ▪ Has a timeline for completion that is long term (greater than 5 years). Low priority projects may be eligible for other sources of grant funding from other programs; ▪ May address impacts of climate change;
▪ May benefit underserved and/or socially vulnerable populations; AND ▪ Considers the Multi-Benefit Criteria utilized by the Santa Clara County Climate Collaborative, including equity, long-term value, ecosystem benefit, community benefit, and crossjurisdictional alignment.

17.5.1 Benefit-Cost Review
One of the criteria used to prioritize proposed mitigation actions was a benefit-cost review. This review was not of the detailed benefit-cost analysis required by FEMA for project grant eligibility under Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants. A less formal approach was used because some projects may not be implemented for up to 10 years, and associated costs and benefits could change dramatically in that time.

Therefore, a review of the apparent benefits versus the apparent cost of each project was performed.

Parameters were established for assigning subjective ratings (high, medium, and low) to the costs and benefits of these projects.

Cost ratings were defined as follows:
 High—Existing funding will not cover the cost of the project; implementation would require new revenue through an alternative source (for example, bonds, grants, and fee increases).  Medium—The project could be implemented with existing funding but would require a reapportionment of the budget or a budget amendment, or the cost of the project would have to be spread over multiple years.
 Low—The project could be funded under the existing budget. The project is part of or can be part of an ongoing existing program.

Benefit ratings were defined as follows:
 High—Project will provide an immediate reduction of risk exposure for life and property.  Medium—Project will have a long-term impact on the reduction of risk exposure for life and property, or project will provide an immediate reduction in the risk exposure for property.

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 Low—Long-term benefits of the project are difficult to quantify in the short term.

Using this approach, projects with positive benefit versus cost ratios (such as high over high, high over medium, medium over low, etc.) are considered cost-beneficial and are prioritized accordingly.

For many of the strategies identified in this action plan, financial assistance may be available through FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants, all of which require detailed benefit/cost analyses. These analyses will be performed on projects at the time of application using the FEMA benefit-cost model. For projects not seeking financial assistance from grant programs that require detailed analysis, “benefits” can be defined according to parameters that meet the goals and objectives of this plan.

17.6 Plan Adoption
A hazard mitigation plan must document that it has been formally adopted by the governing bodies of the jurisdictions requesting federal approval of the plan (44 CFR Section 201.6(c)(5)). For multi-jurisdictional plans, each jurisdiction requesting approval must document that is has been formally adopted. Once the MJHMP has received FEMA Approvable Pending Adoption (APA) status, each participating jurisdiction or special district will take the plan to their governing body for final public comment and adoption. Copies of the resolutions adopting this plan for all planning partners can be found in Appendix B of this volume.

17.7 Plan Maintenance Strategy
A hazard mitigation plan must present a plan maintenance process that includes the following (44 CFR Section 201.6(c)(4)):
 A section describing the method and schedule of monitoring, evaluating, and updating the mitigation plan over a 5-year cycle (44 CFR Section 201.6(c)(4)(i)).  A process by which local governments incorporate the requirements of the mitigation plan into other planning mechanisms, such as comprehensive or capital improvement plans, when appropriate (44 CFR Section 201.6(c)(4)(ii)).
 A discussion on how the community will continue public participation in the plan maintenance process (44 CFR Section 201.6(c)(4)(iii)).

This section details the formal process that will ensure that the hazard mitigation plan remains an active and relevant document and that the planning partners maintain their eligibility for applicable funding sources. The plan maintenance process includes a schedule for monitoring and evaluating the plan annually and producing an updated plan every five years. This section also describes how public participation will be integrated throughout the plan maintenance and implementation process. It also explains how the mitigation strategies outlined in this plan will be incorporated into existing planning mechanisms and programs, such as comprehensive land-use planning processes, capital improvement planning, and building code enforcement and implementation. The plan’s format allows sections to be reviewed and updated when new data become available, resulting in a plan that will remain current and relevant.

Pursuant to 44CFR 201.6(c)(4)(i), the plan maintenance matrix shown in Table 139 provides a synopsis of responsibilities for plan monitoring, evaluation, and update, which are discussed in further detail in the sections below.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 443
Table 139: Plan Maintenance Matrix
Task Approach Timeline Lead
Responsibility
Support
Responsibility
Monitoring Preparation of status
updates and action
implementation
tracking as part of
submission for Annual
Progress Report.

January to
February, or upon
comprehensive
update to General
Plan or major
disaster
Jurisdictional
points of contact
identified in
Volume 2 annexes
Local Planning
Team Members
identified in
Volume 2 annexes
Evaluation Review the status of
previous actions to
assess the
effectiveness of the
plan
Progress report
completed and
submitted to
MJHMP County
Project Manager
each year
Jurisdictional
points of contact
identified in
Volume 2 annexes
MJHMP County
Project Manager,
as appropriate
Update Reconvene the
planning partners, at a
minimum, every 5
years to guide a
comprehensive
update to review and
revise the plan.

Every 5 years, or
upon
comprehensive
update to General
Plan or major
disaster
MJHMP County
Project Manager
Jurisdictional
points of contacts
identified in
Volume 2 annexes

17.8 Plan Implementation
Each planning partner is responsible for implementing specific mitigation actions as described in the mitigation strategies located in the annexes. In each mitigation strategy, every proposed action is assigned to a specific department or division in order to assign responsibility and accountability and increase the likelihood of subsequent implementation. This approach enables individual participants to update their unique mitigation strategy as needed, without altering the broader focus of the countywide plan. The separate adoption of participant-specific actions also ensures that each plan member is not held responsible for monitoring and implementing the actions of other jurisdictions or special districts involved in the planning process.

The Santa Clara County MJHMP Project Manager is the lead position for plan implementation and will work with the planning partner to ensure mitigation actions are implemented according to jurisdictional or special district capabilities and planning procedures. Each partner will implement the plan and their individual mitigation actions, as resources permit, through existing plans, programs, and policies and in the timeframe appropriate for their planning processes. This implementation will be done by reviewing the MJHMP and mitigation strategy during the update of the planning mechanisms identified.

As necessary, partners may consider seeking outside funding sources to implement mitigation projects in both the pre-disaster and post-disaster environments. When applicable, potential funding sources have been identified for proposed actions listed in the mitigation strategies.

17.9 Plan Maintenance Element
Planning partner points of contact will continue to collaborate as a planning group in coordination with the Santa Clara County MJHMP Project Manager. Primary contact will be through emails and conference calls. Partner points of contact will jointly lead the plan maintenance and update process by:
 Discussing methods for continued public involvement and education;

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 444
 Documenting successes and lessons learned;
 Researching new or updated data, laws, policies, regulations, or initiatives that can contribute to hazard histories, risk assessments, loss estimates, vulnerabilities of assets, or action items for plan participants;
 Reviewing potential funding availability, including state and federal grant program Notices of Funding Opportunities;
 Assessing the progress of previously implemented actions that reduce vulnerability and losses, and any new opportunities for mitigation actions; and
 Maintaining and completing documentation of the MJHMP maintenance process.

Each planning partner is responsible for monitoring and tracking the progress of action items identified by their jurisdiction or special district in this MJHMP and submitting a status summary to the County’s project manager on a yearly basis.

Additionally, each planning partner point of contact will work with their Local Planning Teams and other jurisdictional or special district representatives to:
 Review existing action items to determine appropriateness for local funding;  Prioritize potential mitigation projects; and
 Update decision makers on progress of the plan.

17.9.1 Plan Update
The planning partners intend to update the hazard mitigation plan on a 5-year cycle from the date of initial plan adoption in accordance with the update schedule outlined in the DMA 2000. This cycle may be accelerated to less than 5 years based on the following triggers:
 A Presidential Disaster Declaration that impacts the OA.  A hazard event that causes loss of life.
 A comprehensive update of a planning partner’s general plan.

It will not be the intent of future updates to develop a completely new hazard mitigation plan for the OA.

The update will, at a minimum, include the following elements:
 The update process will be convened through a new planning partner group.  The hazard risk assessment will be reviewed and, if necessary, updated using best available information and technologies.
 The action plans will be reviewed and revised to account for any actions completed, no longer relevant, or changed and to account for changes in the risk assessment or new policies identified under other planning mechanisms.
 The draft update will be sent to appropriate agencies and organizations for comment.  The public will be given an opportunity to comment on the update prior to adoption.  planning partner governing bodies will adopt the updated plan.

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17.9.2 Grant Monitoring and Coordination
Santa Clara County OEM intends to be a resource to the planning partnership in the support of project grant writing and development. The degree of this support will depend on the level of assistance requested by the partnership during open windows for grant applications. It is not Santa Clara County OEM’s intent to lead any grant application effort for any specific planning partner requesting assistance. It will be the role of Santa Clara County OEM staff to provide support to a lead jurisdiction by providing or identifying resources for project development, scoping, feasibility, grant writing, environmental/historic preservation application, and benefit/cost analyses. As part of grant monitoring and coordination, Santa Clara County OEM agrees to provide the following:
 Notification to planning partners about impending grant opportunities.  A current list of eligible, jurisdiction-specific projects for funding pursuit consideration.  Notification about mitigation priorities for the fiscal year to assist the planning partners in the selection of appropriate projects.
 Training on the FEMA benefit-cost analysis tool upon request.  Training on the sub-applicant system upon request.
 Grant writing technical assistance upon request.
 Technical review of the completed sub-applicant package upon request.

Grant monitoring and coordination is expected to occur on an annual basis in coordination with the annual progress report or as needed based on the availability of non-HMA or post-disaster funding opportunities.

17.9.3 Continuing Public Involvement
Each planning partner has agreed to provide links to the hazard mitigation plan website on their individual jurisdictional websites to increase avenues of public access to the plan. Santa Clara County OEM has agreed to maintain the hazard mitigation plan website. This site will not only house the final plan, but it will also become the one-stop shop for information regarding the plan, the partnership and plan implementation. The plan will be posted to the Office of Emergency Management’s website, where there will be an opportunity for continued public feedback and engagement with the County mitigation planning team by providing their contact information. To ensure continued public engagement on issues relating to hazard mitigation, all comments received from the public and from interested agencies on this hazard mitigation plan will be reviewed as part of the plan maintenance procedures.

Public participation will be sought throughout the implementation, evaluation, and maintenance of the MJHMP. This participation can be sought in a multitude of ways, including but not limited to periodic presentations on the plan’s progress to elected officials, schools, or other community groups; questionnaires or surveys; public meetings; and postings on social media and participant websites.

Each participant in this plan is responsible for creating and documenting continued public involvement opportunities throughout the life of the MJHMP. The Santa Clara County NHMP Project Manager may facilitate countywide public involvement strategies that include plan participants, such as partnering with the countywide groups and organizations to distribute and disseminate public surveys and information related to mitigation. Copies of the MJHMP and annual revisions will be posted on the websites of plan participants, as appropriate.

The Santa Clara County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan acts as a foundation plan for the entire County. MJHMP will inform many other planning efforts such as plans relating to infrastructure projects (green or otherwise), the County of Santa Clara Emergency Operations Plan, the County of Santa Clara Disaster Recovery Framework (currently in draft), and the Office of Emergency Management

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 446
Strategic Visioning Plan. Additionally, all other County plans that require a review of hazards and vulnerability will be informed by the MJHMP.

17.9.4 Incorporation into Other Planning Mechanisms
The information on hazard, risk, vulnerability, and mitigation contained in this plan is based on the best science and technology available at the time this plan was prepared. The general plans of the planning partners are considered to be integral parts of this plan. The planning partners, through adoption of general plans and zoning ordinances, have planned for the impact of natural hazards. The plan development process provided them with the opportunity to review and expand on policies contained within these planning mechanisms. The planning partners used their general plans and the hazard mitigation plan as complementary documents that work together to achieve the goal of reducing risk exposure to the citizens of the OA. An update to a general plan may trigger an update to the hazard mitigation plan.

All municipal planning partners are committed to creating a linkage between the hazard mitigation plan and their individual general plan. Additionally, all planning partners are committed to being in full compliance with California Assembly Bill 2140 and Senate Bill 379, which promote the integration of local hazard mitigation plans and general plans and mandate that these plans address climate change. Other planning processes and programs to be coordinated with the recommendations of the hazard mitigation plan include the following:
 Emergency response plans.
 Training and exercise of emergency response plans.
 Debris Management Plans.
 Recovery Plans.
 Capital improvement programs.
 Municipal codes.
 Community design guidelines.
 Water-efficient landscape design guidelines.
 Stormwater management programs.
 Water system vulnerability assessments.
 Community Wildfire Protection Plans.
 Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plans.
 Resiliency Plans.
 Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery action plans.  Public information/Education plans.

Santa Clara County understands the importance of integrating plans in order to align efforts and increase the chances of success. Plan integration, including working closely with the County’s Safety Element update team and the countywide Community Wildfire Protection Plan team, has been a key element of this plan update. In addition to collaborating with these plan updates to integrate public feedback and wildfire risk data, the County will integrate this plan into other planning mechanisms as well. The MJMHP acts as a foundation plan for the entire County. It will inform many other planning efforts such as plans relating to infrastructure projects (green infrastructure or otherwise), the County of Santa Clara Emergency Operations Plan, the County of Santa Clara Disaster Recovery Framework (currently in draft),

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 17: Mitigation Strategy 447
and the Office of Emergency Management Strategic Visioning Plan. Additionally, all other County plans that require a review of hazards and vulnerability will be informed by the MJHMP. Including a broad range of internal partners helps ensure the planning partners that participated in this plan update will be able to carry over knowledge of this plan and its actions into other planning mechanisms. Additional information on how each plan participants will integrate this plan into other planning mechanisms is included in Volume II.

Some action items do not need to be implemented through regulation. Instead, these items can be implemented through the creation of new educational programs, continued interagency coordination, or improved public participation. As information becomes available from other planning mechanisms that can enhance this plan, that information will be incorporated via the update process.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-1
Appendix A: Public Engagement Results
Public Survey Results
A 35-question survey was available to the public for seven weeks, from April 4–May 19, 2023. The survey results helped the Planning Team learn how the public viewed their risks and vulnerabilities to the hazards they felt could occur in the OA along with their viewpoint on impacts from climate change.

With this survey, the MJHMP planning process better supported the viewpoints and concerns of the public.

Figure 79: Sample of Public Survey Advertisement
The MJHMP public survey received 588 responses. There were 576 responses to the English survey, ten (10) responses to the Chinese survey, and two (2) responses to the Spanish survey.

The survey asked participants to pick a statement that best described their level of concern for each hazard. These levels of concern include:
• Not Concerned
• Somewhat Concerned
• Very Concerned
• Not Sure – Not Enough Information
The survey results are provided in the following tables.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-2
Table 140: Survey Results Level of Hazard Concern
Hazard Very Concerned Somewhat
Concerned Not Concerned Not Sure/Needs More Information Drought 355 180 45 6
Earthquake 296 245 38 4
Thunderstorms 29 152 268 34
Flood 85 268 200 30
Dam/Levee
Failure
44 160 316 62
Terrorism 67 209 248 58
Tsunami 11 48 456 70
Extreme
Heat/Cold
161 234 170 19
Hazardous
Materials
69 252 218 44
Atmospheric
River
148 264 149 24
Smoke/ Air
Quality
304 193 73 14
Weapons of
Mass
Destruction
73 146 291 74
Wildfire 208 217 138 20
Landslide 54 202 284 43
Tornadoes 11 46 458 69
Windstorms 110 279 172 21
Pandemics 162 275 129 18
Space
Weather/Other
25 90 319 149
Table 141: Level of Concern for Climate Change Impacts
Climate Effect Very
Concerned
Somewhat
Concerned Not Concerned Not Sure/Needs More Information Sea Level Rise 120 260 173 2
Increased Severity of
Hazard Events
227 229 99 0
Hotter Temperatures 285 201 83 1
Damage to the
Environment
310 175 84 1
Human Health Issues 227 247 93 0

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-3
Climate Effect Very
Concerned
Somewhat
Concerned Not Concerned Not Sure/Needs More Information Increased Frequency of
Hazard Events
232 231 92 0
Decreased Water
Resources
392 147 37 2
Damage to Structures Not
Built for Climate Change
232 216 108 1
Harm to Food Production 224 239 97 2
Decreased Outdoor
Worker Productivity
109 264 173 2
Effect on Vulnerable
Populations
245 194 112 1
Table 142: Types of Stakeholders Represented
Group Represented Response (%)
Academia 6.4
Community Based Organizations 15.6
Special District 1.7
Neighboring Community 6.2
Healthcare Agency 2.1
Faith Based Organization 8.3
Private Organization 8.3
Private Utility 0.3
Table 143 lists comments received from the public survey and how this input that was taken into account during the plan update. Comments that didn’t relate to the hazard mitigation plan or were not a suggestion were not included.

Table 143: Public Comments
Public Comment Response
Our traditional methods for planning and
preparation cannot keep pace with the changing
natural hazard landscape. The current planning
cycles are simply too slow.

The Plan Maintenance Strategy in this plan
update emphasizes the need for more
engagement and timely update to information as
appropriate.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-4
Public Comment Response
I like the hazard maps. Nice to know I'm not in a
tsunami zone but was surprised that part of the
Baylands is in a tsunami zone - and yet proposals
to build homes and businesses quite close to the
bay keep coming. We should be building near 280
not near the SF Bay. I was shocked Saltworks on
an average of 1 foot of elevation in Redwood City
was even considered. I think there are big projects
scheduled for Brisbane and some in the East Bay
too. I have not seen any documentation of the
risks of sea rise affecting Facebook or Google or
NASA building very close to the bay. How can we
overcome the lure of building on the cheapest
land when that land is cheaper because of
hazards?
This plan includes additional information on the
Tsunami hazard which was not previously
profiled. This question is too broad for this plan
update to address but reflects a real concern for
the OA.

Please keep the urban forest a priority and please
push back when the state wants us to increase
our population. We do not have the natural water
for it.

Changes in development and planning for
hazards including drought which includes water
shortage is addressed in this plan.

Reduce flood risks and obvious fire risks.

Mitigation of flood risks from San Franciscquito
Creek should be immediately accelerated as
many are at known risk from this; homeowners
and businesses should be educated and
encouraged to reduce dry brush/fire risks,
including trimming dry trees/foliage from growing
up to affect such things as electrical lines. Code
enforcement should be stronger since we all see
dead wood, etc. close to and eventually affecting
power lines. Utilities should be required to
evaluate and remedy these when they pose a risk.

Actions to reduce flood and fire risk are included
in this plan.

More work needs to be done with clearing fallen
trees in creek and streams.

While not strictly speaking mitigation, this is an
ongoing theme of public feedback. Therefore,
multiple jurisdictions have in progress work
towards debris management plans, and others
selected to include actions related to debris.

As a CERT in Los Gatos, we practice responding
to large scale earthquakes. For the community,
not just my property, the risk of wildfire, landslide,
flooding, dam release, gas leaks is has high
probabilities in specific areas. So the survey
should not be confined to an individual’s property
alone. My property is near, but not on,
landslide/flooding/wildfire zones.

This survey was open to all. Individuals who live
near, but not in, high risk areas are welcome to
participate in future hazard mitigation
opportunities as relevant.

There is so little help for disabled people, and
most of it is useless in practice.

Equity in mitigation is an important concept. This
is integrated into the County and its stakeholders
approach to this plan update, and will be
something discussed in the future as well.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-5
Public Comment Response
In Louisiana, parishes have designated hurricane
evacuation routes. These are communicated to
the public and signs are posted along the routes
that say "Hurricane Evacuation Route." Should
Santa Clara County consider publishing
evacuation routes? Maybe it's no longer
necessary since we have Apple Maps. But one
would think the county should optimize the routes
and assign certain routes to certain
neighborhoods to minimize the chaos during
evacuations. For example, in New Orleans, they
convert all Interstate 10 lanes to westbound only
during evacuations to get twice the traffic flow out
of the city. Would something like this ever be
needed here?
Evacuation routes were not profiled as a part of
this plan update. However, other plans currently
be updated including the countywide Community
Wildfire Protection Plan will evaluate the current
evacuation route situation.

People are not well-informed about hazards in
their area and what can be done about it,
Multiple public education and outreach actions
were included as a part of the 2023 action items
listed in this plan in attempt to promote public
awareness of the risks to the OA and what can be
done about it, including mitigation.

I wish there had been a specific mention of softstory earthquake hazards in 2-story apartments built in the 1950s–1970s. There are dozens, if not
hundreds, of these in Mountain View alone. There
doesn't seem to be much progress on addressing
this well-known hazard. I also wish there had
been a way to share my level of concern about
large-scale environmental "tipping points" that
might lead to runaway rises in methane and
carbon dioxide. I am highly concerned about
them!
This is noted as a Jurisdiction-Specific
Vulnerability.

I would like to be involved. Gilroy is not well
represented or serviced in SCCo.

Gilroy was an active participate in this plan update
and because of this, will be eligible for future
mitigation funding opportunities. All are welcome
to participate in future plan maintenance and
implementation initiatives. Further information can
be found on Santa Clara County’s website.

How are you going to prioritize among all of the
issues and needs?
The planning teams prioritized each action in
accordance with the criteria listed in this plan.

Solutions should not be forced on residents,
rather provide them with a variety of options or
alternatives to pick from. Everyone wants the best
for the environment and wants to be safe, but no
one wants to be dictated to on exactly how, OR,
have their options taken away and left with only
one method.

The majority of hazard mitigation actions are
voluntary, not mandatory, initiatives. Multiple
jurisdictions selected additional public education
and outreach actions to take in order to share with
residents their options for conducting hazard
mitigation.

I believe everyone in coastal California should be
required to have earthquake insurance.

This suggestion was considered beyond the
scope of this hazard mitigation plan update.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-6
Public Comment Response
Building new housing needs to have support
infrastructure such as roads so people can
escape their neighborhoods in emergencies and
not be trapped due to traffic.

This suggestion was considered beyond the
scope of this hazard mitigation plan update
however, other current planning initiatives are
evaluating evacuation routes.

I’m concerned about the lack of communication
abilities when the cell phone towers are down.

Power failure was discussed during the planning
meetings as well. A variety of related mitigation
activities were identified in the plan participant’s
lists of mitigation actions.

Traffic hazards, such as the dangerous
southbound 101 entrance from Charleston should
be closed and replaced by one from San Antonio
Road with an auxiliary lane connecting to the offramp at Rengstorff.

Traffic incidents were not profiled in this plan
update as it focused on natural hazards in
accordance with FEMA local mitigation planning
guidance. However, it may be considered in future
updates.

Stronger support and funding are needed Mitigation is an ongoing process. Gathering support and funding for projects are common
challenges. Additional actions and funding
capabilities that could be enhanced to support this
goal are included in the list of 2023 actions.

The most concerning time for us was the 2020
wildfires that caused awful smoke throughout our
area.

Wildfire smoke was also a concern of the Core
Planning Team. It was considered important to
address this in this plan update, particularly given
recent events. Wildfire smoke was addressed
under the “Wildfire” hazard in this plan update.

Ban fires in the Santa Clara Valley. The smoke
enters my home and causes breathing problems.

The entire neighborhood is affected when people
hold bonfires.

This recommendation was considered beyond the
scope of this hazard mitigation plan update.

Wildfires were considered the primary source of
concern for smoke. Smoke from wildfires was
addressed in this plan update.

Despite heavy rains, still need to focus on future
drought conditions. Also, future pandemics. Would
anticipate domestic infrastructure also represent
increasing targets for domestic terrorism
Mitigation actions were identified for both
inclement weather and drought as a part of this
plan update. Terrorism was not profiled as this
plan update focused on natural hazards in
accordance with FEMA local mitigation planning
guidance. However, it may be considered in future
updates.

Never hear of any task force I can join Multiple plan participants selected additional public education and outreach as a part of their
mitigation actions. Future opportunities to
participate will be advertised publicly. All are
encouraged to review the Santa Clara County
website for additional information.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-7
Public Comment Response
There was no mention of pesticides/herbicides
esp. from professional gardeners. Also air
pollution from living near freeways and greatly
increased population driving in in SC Valley in
recent years. Affordable access to organic food
(vs. genetically modified and sprayed with
pesticides/herbicides). I've had a lot of ground
settling -- 1 foot drop since the Loma Prieta EQ in
1989, and with cold and wet weather recently
more ground settling and my front door latch
would hold the door closed so had to get a barn
latch put in -- lots of expansion and contraction of
house and building materials. ... Way too much
population increase in Silicon Valley, very
concerned about future resources, availability for
everyone, and costing more and getting less.

Food resources were not considered as a part of
this hazard mitigation update.

Offer inexpensive yet good coverage insurance The recommendation was considered beyond the scope of this hazard mitigation plan update but is
noted.

I hope some action is taken to secure Saratoga
Heights area where landslides happened in 80's
and now we see similar issues causing many
issues for residents, and all public utilities
providers like PG&E, SJ Water and
Cupertino/West Valley Sanitation District.

An action item was added by the City of Saratoga
to stabilize Saratoga Heights Drive to reduce the
possibility of landslide, erosion, and roadway
obstruction.

I would like to see more community projects that
encourage people to get involved in environment
preservation.

Noted.

Great job on forming this working group. I’m
hoping the working group incorporates all different
age/sex/race/disability groups, Including the
young, teens and differently abled folks. Telling
folks to get insurance, only solves the end result…
driving preemptive solutions would be more
effective. E.g. employing more environmental
solution minded folks and involving ALL in
discussions would be other suggestions.

The planning process was open to all. Further
public outreach and education as well as plan
maintenance opportunities can be targeted toward
a broad range of stakeholders.

The best thing you can do for county residents is
repave our roads and add drainage points.

The County included an action item on identifying
potential water drainage mitigation projects.

Resources need to be allocated toward hazards
affecting renters. The housing stock in SCC is old;
the majority of landlords appear reluctant to
update their properties to mitigate the hazards
that routinely impact renters (extreme heat/cold
events) or would we catastrophic if they occurred
(severe earthquake).

Multiple plan participants selected additional
public education and outreach initiatives as a part
of their mitigation actions. Renters are one group
that may need additional outreach to understand
their options.

Require use of EcoAtlas.org database of
headwater streams for all hillside community
planning. Require composite mapping of
landslides from property geotech reports in hillside
communities.

This suggestion was not included at this time.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-8
Public Comment Response
Please include multilingual community forums.

Please include changing street light post bulbs,
my community has very dim lightbulbs and some
streets are not safely lit.

Multilingual public education and outreach
opportunities was noted as a capability that could
be expanded.

Would like to see more communities build up
many more CERTs since we will need to rely on
each other during a disaster
CERTs were considered a capability of multiple
participating jurisdictions. Multiple plan
participants included mitigation actions regarding
support CERTs.

Thanks you for what you are doing -- and
especially for publicizing this in various
languages. These issues affect all of us in Santa
Clara County, and it's so important that the
information be disseminated in languages besides
English.

The Core Planning Team agreed. In addition to
the multilingual engagement conducted during this
plan update process, multilingual public education
and outreach opportunities was noted as a
capability that could be expanded. Multiple plan
participants highlighted public education and
outreach as a part of their mitigation actions.

Targeted marketing to neighborhoods and level
risks. Often, news and warnings are not relevant
to all neighborhoods.

Targeted outreach can be a great way to get
relevant information into the hands of the people
who need it the most. Multiple plan participants
selected to include additional public education and
outreach efforts as a part of their mitigation
actions.

We need to slow or stop growth due to traffic
congestion and the greater problems that creates
in an emergency, and due to the overbuilding
adding risk to more people, and stop building tall
buildings on corners of major intersections.

Traffic incidents were not profiled as a hazard in
this plan update as this plan focused on natural
hazards in accordance with FEMA local mitigation
planning guidance however, it could be
considered in future updates.

A lot of the rules have changed since the late
1970s early 1980 when I purchased my home in
San Jose. I have not heard of any Hazard
Mitigation being done in my area of San Jose.

A discussion of San Jose’s previous mitigation
action items and mitigation success stories is
included in the City’s annex in Volume II.

Trees offer significant protection against heat and
wind as well as soil moisture retention but the city
of San Jose has official policies which deforest the
city by burdening low-income residents with the
cost of maintaining trees and adjacent utility
infrastructure, a significant cost risk which
average households in the East Side and
downtown cannot bear.

This was not identified by the City as a concern
during their capability assessment or actions.

However, the city is currently developing other
environmental-focused plans which may consider
this point further.

I am very concerned about the environment of
Santa Clara County and the whole world. I would
like to learn more and be an advocate for change.

I would be happy to do some community outreach
to help reduce the plastic use in the valley and to
see more trees planted and to see the trees near
power lines and trees at risk of falling are pruned
for safety.

All are encouraged to become involved in future
plan maintenance and implementation
opportunities. Please refer to the Santa Clara
County website for more information.

Ensure that there is informed public review of
plan.

The public was provided a two-week opportunity
to review the plan and specific representatives of
community-based organizations were invited to
review it in additional to planning stakeholders.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-9
Public Comment Response
We need to keep water in Anderson to mitigate
fire risk and wildlife damage/death. Mitigation for
possible earthquake shouldn’t trump fire dangers
This suggestion was considered beyond the
scope of this hazard mitigation plan update
however it is noted.

Where are hazardous materials in my community
located? What are the disaster plans for my
community?
These are good questions which reflect the need
for additional public education and outreach.

Multiple plan participants selected these kinds of
actions in their action plan.

I’d like to see power and utility lines go
underground.

Multiple plan participants are actively working on
this or selected to include it as an action item.

From a wildland fire hazard perspective, all
communities south of Los Gatos served by the
Highway 17 corridor can only be honestly
described as death traps. A heavy emphasis on
evacuation, including fuels reductions along major
public roads, is the only way to prevent significant
loss of life. Mitigations would include adequate
defensible space, planned developments with
emergency exits, additional fire agency coverage,
a volunteer fire program for the Santa Clara side
as Santa Cruz side has, and last but not least,
cooperation with certain public and private
landowners who either do not care about or do not
have the funding to address significant wildfire
and fuel hazards. ESPECIALLY SAN JOSE
WATER COMPANY.

All of these types of mitigation measures have
been evaluated. Multiple plan participants listed
similar actions in their action plans. San Jose
Water was identified as a potential planning
partner however, they did not participate in this
plan update.

Fire risks are still extremely real. Homeowners
Insurance is tied to this risk. Defensible space is
the key. It’s neither fun or enjoyable work, but it’s
essential to community safety.

Defensible space is listed as a mitigation action
item for multiple plan participants.

You should include traffic planning as a possible
mitigation measure. With many communities
narrowing roadways to slow traffic, I'm concerned
that if people need to be moved from one area to
another, what was once a possible escape
corridor that could handle more traffic, has greatly
reduced the traffic flow capacity. The city has
installed permanent features that narrow the
roadway to a single lane in each direction with no
option to expand the flow if needed for an
evacuation.

This hazard mitigation plan focused on natural
hazards in accordance with FEMA local mitigation
planning guidance, but this can be reevaluated in
future updates.

Using social media to spread the word has
drawbacks — it can exclude many from
marginalized communities. Please be sure to
broaden your messaging beyond the suburban
upper-middle class.

Multiple in-person meetings were conducted as a
part of this plan update. Further, multiple plan
participants selected additional public education
and outreach as a part of their mitigation actions
moving forward.

Allow us to buy reasonably priced earthquake
insurance covering less than total destruction.

Allow us to remove trees next to houses for fire
safety even when they are healthy.

These suggestions were considered beyond the
scope of this hazard mitigation plan update but
are noted.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-10
Public Comment Response
Don’t let this winter’s record rainfall make you
forget that we live in a drought zone!
This hazard mitigation plan update focused on all
hazards, including both Heavy rain, heavy winds,
extreme temperatures and drought.
(1) Stanford climate scientist, Noah Diffenbaugh,
published peer-reviewed research showing that
we will be subject more frequently and regularly to
both extreme dry spells (leading to wildfires and
water shortages) and extreme wind & rain
patterns (leading to flooding, landslides, and
power outages), all lasting longer periods. We
need to plan for our critical infrastructure (i.e.
electricity and medical services) to sustain this
kind of situations.
(2) We need to be ready for a devastating
earthquake hitting in a bitter and rainy winter.

The Hazard Mitigation Plan is designed to help
communities plan to reduce risk to critical
infrastructure, including community lifelines. Both
climate change and cascading impacts are
considered throughout this plan update.

Fire evacuation in some parts of my community
(Los Altos Hills) will be severely hampered by
one-lane roads and bottlenecks (e.g., Moody
Road by Foothill College) if traffic is not actively
controlled (by a human) to keep vehicles moving.

Specifically, if traffic lights are not deactivated (or set to blink yellow), they alone will create a
massive logjam.

The evaluation of specific evacuation routes was
not a part of the scope of this plan update
however, other current planning processes around
the County are looking into evacuation routes.

Stop building more high density homes in a area
that has regular droughts, limiting people helps w
low supplies. Stop building in areas anyone w
common sense knows could be dangerous, like
below Anderson Dam during the last 25 years
when it was known to be not earthquake safe. The
life's that would have been loss are huge. Areas in
SJ that had landslides in the 1960's should never
be built on yet many are. See what I mean???
Look at how much concrete covers our land,
backyards, water tables cannot be replenished
like that. Common sense folks!!!!
This comment is considered beyond the scope of
this hazard mitigation plan however, integrating
the risk and changes in development information
listed in this plan into future planning
mechanisms, permitting, and development
decisions may lead to the result requested.

Please include local CERT members in you
group. I am currently work in quality and I am very
good at spotting potential hazards and developing
scenarios to fix the issues. SJ CERT program
manager can vouch for me & person in charge of
CERT, my instructor at Santa Clara County Fire
also can. My wife and I are always prepared,
100% all the time!
Stakeholders including CERT members were
invited to planning meetings. All were welcome to
attend the public meetings and provide feedback
on the plan during the review process. All are
welcome to participate in future plan maintenance
and implementation opportunities. More
information will be made available on the Santa
Clara County website.

We need to retrofit buildings in which housing is
built on top of garage or parking, due to increase
risk of collapse in an earthquake.

Mitigation includes retrofitting buildings at risk
from collapse during an earthquake. Multiple plan
participants listed seismic retrofitting as a part of
their mitigation actions.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-11
Public Comment Response
Please consider making a plan for an
electromagnetic pulse or a coronal mass ejection.

Also, i lost power 3 times in the last 2 years due to
pg&e’s equipment failure. Each of these times
was for 30 hours or more. Twice during a
heatwave. Last summer’s power outage cause me
heat exhaustion, with confusion and rapid heart
rate. It was 113 degrees in my neighborhood and
no power. This is so dangerous and I fear it will
happen again, it seems pg&e temporarily fixes the
problem but under strain the equipment breaks
again when we need it most.

Mitigation measures are important for the private
sector to consider as well. PG&E participated as a
stakeholder in this hazard mitigation plan but did
not develop specific actions as a participating
jurisdiction.

Educate hillside communities on the CA aquatic
resource inventory (EcoAtlas.org) by SFEI -
prohibit development near these small streams for
public safety. Compile complete map of all minor
and major landslide areas - most hillside
developments require GeoTech reports which
map these slides but a complete county-wide map
is not publicly available
These actions were not selected at this time.

Additional landslide mapping is available in
Volume II for each participating jurisdiction.

I have questions, how will all of this be funded?
Who pays?
Potential funding sources are listed in this plan
update for each action.

Thank you for doing this. The county needs to
consider a more proactive central role in disaster
planning that umbrellas the cities.

The County is actively involved in supporting
emergency management and hazard mitigation
efforts. The engagement between jurisdictions
and stakeholders that was conducted for this plan
update is described above as well as in each
annex.

Freeway exit at Arastradero from 280 North is
overgrown with weeds and has flammable debris
build-up. The area needs annual weeds/tree
debris mitigation, but this to my knowledge has
never been done. Fire from cigarettes or ignition
from other sources could spread quickly up hill
and into the surrounding fields and community.

Please attend to this area annually.

A related action was included in the community
where this comment came from.

Manage the water supply to homes effectively.

Invest in rainwater harvesting mechanisms at the
household level.

Multiple plan participants noted their support for
rainwater collection during their capability
assessment. Further education and outreach on
this topic could help residents implement this on a
household level. Multiple plan participants
indicated their support for additional public
education and outreach in their mitigation actions.

Hazmat releases are also concerning. This plan focused on natural hazards in accordance with FEMA local hazard mitigation
planning guidance however, this comment is
noted and can be evaluated during future
updates.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-12
Public Comment Response
Has the group done a mapping assessment to
understand the number and location of
multijurisdictional areas? We live in SCC, but 4
houses up and down is Los Altos. Across the
street is Los Altos Hills. We have several hazard
issues that need coordination.

Coordination is one of the main goals of the
multijurisdictional hazard mitigation planning
process. This plan update provided the
opportunity to map and assess risk across
jurisdictions in Santa Clara County as well as
bring partners together. Future opportunities for
plan maintenance and the next plan update are
intended to continue to promote coordination.

Make users pay to put power and water in the
urban forest interface if they want to live there.

Not a government or PGE function.

This suggestion was considered beyond the
scope of this hazard mitigation plan update but is
noted.

I am interested in boosting the flood control
around Palo Alto. My neighborhood association,
AMNA, has discussed it.

All are welcome to participate in future plan
maintenance and implantation opportunities.

Further information will be able on the Santa Clara
County website. Ideas for how to reduce flood risk
in Palo Alto are also listed in this plan update.

We could incorporate this hazard mitigation plan
into all other plans for the future of our community
to ensure that hazard mitigation is the standard
and not the bare minimum.

Future plan integration is a goal of all the plan
participants.

We were able to afford putting in some things like
a Big watertank, propane generator, solar cells for
the sole purpose of mobile electricity, Big bus
batteries to store it, etc. I wish there were small
kiosks where residents could go that they were
aware of--in plain sight, but not commonly
operational--for electricity and water (a tank that
was always filled, and then refilled during an
emergency, as needed). It could hand out masks,
tests, do shots, etc. This current system of trying
to figure out your insurance, etc, was too much.

We could use a single site that was passed
everyday by people, a 30-minute walk from
people during an emergency.

This recommendation was considered outside the
scope of this hazard mitigation plan update but is
noted.

How to protect communities in Santa Clara
County?
This plan addresses multiple actions and
alternatives which can help reduce risk from the
hazards Santa Clara County faces.

Need the City of Santa Clara to hold public
hearings on these topics!
Residents of the City of Santa Clara were
welcome to attend two virtual and five in-person
meetings on this plan update. Residents are
encouraged to keep in touch with the city via
social media for future opportunities.
consider incentive programs for personal
emergency preparedness: rebates on expenses.

This suggestion was considered beyond the
scope of this hazard mitigation plan update but is
noted.

As an apartment renter, unclear what I can do or
what I should ask for/about wrt(sic) hazard
mitigation.

Renters often need additional information to
understand their options. Multiple plan participants
included public education and outreach initiatives
as a part of their mitigation actions.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-13
Public Comment Response
Please create a plan and educate the community. Multiple plan participants included public education and outreach initiatives as a part of
their mitigation actions.

We are on a ridge, hence no personal concern
related to flood or dam failure. Built home in 1980.

Structure and property did just fine in Loma Prieta
quake so we feel very fortunate. Extremely
concerned about potential for wildfire issues
however. No problem with insurance so far, but
have intentionally avoided discussing the issue
with our long-standing provider. New buyers in our
neighborhood have been consistently turned
down for insurance due to fire hazard. I am
president of our small (20 properties) HOA and
would welcome being a conduit for any relevant
information. Many thanks to whoever is reading
this for all that you are doing for our county-wide
community!
All are welcome to participate in future plan
maintenance and implementation opportunities,
including HOAs. Further information will be
available on the Santa Clara County website.

Good Job on the survey. I think the most
important hazard is fire as we live in a valley
surrounded by hillsides. Sea Rise might be next
(flooding in Sunnyvale all the way to El Camino?)
and then earthquakes. I think more regular people
should be trained in emergency preparedness.

Thanks again for the opportunity to participate in
the survey.

All of the hazards listed are profiled in this hazard
mitigation plan update. Additional public education
and outreach initiatives were selected as part of
multiple plan participants’ mitigation actions.

Fire Hazard risk reporting system should be
available and a well-known like 911
The area we live in Cupertino has very high risk of
Fire Hazard due to poor maintenance of the open
area. But I still have not found an effective
authority to contact after many years
Issues like knowing who to contact can be
resolved through additional education and
outreach. Multiple plan participants included
additional public education and outreach activities
as a part of their mitigation actions.

Please get Caltrans and the State to clear the
overgrown and dead foliage on Highway 9
(Saratoga-Los Gatos Rd.) It's the only wildfire
evacuation route for my house and many others.

This activity was considered beyond the scope of
this hazard mitigation plan update but is noted.

I think it is time to re-implement natural disaster
and civil defense training & preparedness for
communities. Evacuation plans, how to shelter-inplace, community/neighborhood-based support groups. Better to be prepared than to panic.

Multiple plan participants included additional
public education and outreach activities as a part
of their mitigation actions.

It is vitally important to actively go into the
community and send specialists to observe survey
storm and any disaster damages to private
property, non-county maintained roads and
infrastructures, wells, etc. in unincorporated areas
of County-- so to NOT FAIL in acquiring
constituents needed relief, and Hazard Mitigation
funding for resilience planning for all Disasters,
including Wildfire.

The County actively supports obtaining Hazard
Mitigation funding and identified this as a
capability that can be increased this planning
cycle.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-14
Public Meeting Summary
A total of seven public meetings, two virtual and five in-person, were held across the OA. During these meetings, members of the public were surveyed in-person, invited to take the digital MJHMP survey, and had the opportunity to discuss their hazard-related concerns. The results helped the plan participants including the County learn about the public’s interests, hazard impacts, and awareness of their risks.

Figure 80: Sample Public Feedback on Hazard Impacts - Gilroy Meeting

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-15
Figure 81: Sample Public Feedback on Hazard Impacts - Campbell Meeting

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-16
Figure 82: Sample In-Person Feedback Option - Gilroy Meeting Table 144: General Feedback Received
Public Feedback
Wind is a real concern. Falling trees and powerlines are scary to deal with.

Residents are not universally affected by flooding.

Needs to be planning for evacuation on non-County maintained roads. How many residents are in Lexington Hills? No one is paying attention or communicating what is going on in these areas.

PG&E doesn’t care about their mess.

Power is slow to come back on in current event. (Note: There was a heat wave at the time of this meeting)
“Priorities” shift seasonally, but they are all important.

Living with wildfires is a new reality for us. People are working outside when the air is unbreathable.

Indoor workers work without money for air filtration systems. Not just need for cool centers, but filtration.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-17
Public Feedback
Drought – a community well system is expensive. This is another hazard that is seasonal. Need better system for capturing stormwater runoff. Need more education and funding. Need help installing residential and community systems.

San Jose Water increasing rates, doing a lot of work right now Flooding – takes a long time to recover from losses, get back to pre-disaster state. Roads washing out.

Flooding is an additional insurance, many areas didn’t know it was something they needed.

Extreme heat events happening more frequently and closer together than they use to. (“Once in 25 year rainfall” is happening five times per month)
Weekly newsletters/newspapers to spread information
Sirens in Gilroy, used them in ’98, haven’t used recently to signify floods. Five minutes can make a big difference as a house floods.

Monterey County uses Alert/Sheriff system all the time – has evacuation warning and fire maps. Make you respond that they’ve reached out.

How much time is enough time to evacuate and prepare? Depends on the event. Storms vs fire vs drought have really different timescale.

Averages don’t always capture the real situation on the ground – also look at min and max.

Why are these outreach meetings not also being sent out as press release to local news media for general circulation. Weekly newspapers service each of the different areas of the County unincorporated areas: make a requirement for public notice? County failed to designate evacuation route planning since 2009 CWPP recommendations.

Subdivisions of 30+ homes share a single egress route.

Participants expressed some frustration that the County does not engage with the South County communities enough.

Many questions about how the County is letting people in general know about hazards, specifically flood zones and flood risks, and how are the County is specifically reaching out to farm worker camps.

A reminder that mailing the property owners (directly or through water bill, etc) does not always provide information to renters or temporary residents.

One question about noxious fumes from a sewage plant impacting a neighborhood.

Advance Earthquake warning system should be in place.

Flood area warning system for the public within the areas that are known to flood regularly.

Air quality and evacuation for farm workers. The recent fires showed that the farm workers were not given notices for evacuations or poor air quality like the homeowners in the new housing tracks.

A few key takeaways from this public feedback was how concerned the public is with their risk from the hazards the OA face. Climate-change related changes in hazard frequency and severity is already being felt across the OA. This puts more people in harm’s way from hazards they were not aware they would have to face. Further impacts are discussed throughout the hazard profiles and jurisdictional-specific vulnerabilities are highlighted in Volume II of this plan.

Further, there is significant need for additional public education and outreach. The public may be aware of some hazards, but not all risk is equal. Outreach to both homeowners and renters is important. Mitigation measures such as air filtration are also needed not only for public infrastructure, but residential and private sector structures as well. Additional public education and outreach actions are identified in Volume II of this plan.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-18
Listening Section Summaries
Summary
Safety Element/MJHMP Update
Listening Session # 1: CARAS
December 15, 2022 5:30 – 7:00 PM
Facilitators: Sam Gutierrez, Principal Planner, County of Santa Clara Location: CARAS, Gilroy, CA
The Listening Session began with a poll to help the County better understand community demographics and experiences. As illustrated in Figure 1. What City Do you Live In/Near? A majority of residents live in or near Gilroy.

Figure 1. What City Do you Live In/Near?
As illustrated in Figure 2. Hazardous Events with the Greatest Impact, participants have experienced a broad range of hazardous events with Extreme Heat the primary event. Drought, wildfire + smoke, and Q1: What City Do You Live In/Near?
Watsonville
Morgan Hill
11% 4%
Milpitas
4%
Gilroy Milpitas Morgan Hill Watsonville
Gilroy
81%

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-19
flooding were experienced by 14 percent of participants. 82 percent of all participants have experienced a hazardous event that has impacted their life or home in the past 5 years.

Figure 2. Hazardous Events with the Greatest Impact
Approximately 4 out of 5 participants do not have a home emergency preparedness kit or supplies to support their household in the event of an emergency.

Figure 3. Emergency Preparedness Supplies
Finally, only 15 percent of participants were aware of County Services or Programs to support them prepare or respond to a hazardous event as illustrated in in Figure 4. County Services Awareness.

Q2: In the Past 5 Years, What Hazardous Event Has
Had the Greatest Impact on Your Life/Home?
Other
4%
None of the Above
18%
Earthquake +
Landslide
8%
Flooding
12%
Extreme Heat
Flooding
Other
Drought Wildfire + Smoke
Earthquake + Landslide None of the Above
Wildfire + Smoke
14%
Drought
12%
Extreme Heat
32%
Q3: Do You Have Emergency Preparedness
Supplies?
Partial
7% Yes
15%
No
78%
Yes No Partial

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-20
Figure 4. County Services Awareness.

County staff facilitated a interactive session where participants could respond to questions posted on whiteboards. The following are their responses.

1. What are your primary hazards of concern and why?
Q4: Are You Aware of County Services and
Programs?
Unsure
15%
No
70%
Yes No Unsure
Yes
15%

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-21

1. Extreme Heat / Calorextremo
a. I do not have air conditioning in my home / No tengo aire acondicionado en mi casa 6 b. I have air conditioning in my home, but cannot afford to run it during all heat events / Tengo aire acondicionado en mi casa, pero no puedo costearlo durante eventos de calor extremo 8 c. I work outdoors / Trabajoal airelibre 0
d. I have a family member or friends that work outdoors / Tengo un familiaro amigos que trabajan al aire libre
7 e. No close access to a cooling facility such as a park, library, or community center / Las instalacionesdel centrode enfriamiento, comoparques, bibliotecaso centroscomunitarios, no se encuentrancercade mí
2 f. There are cooling facilities such as a park, library, or community center in my community, but I don’t have physical access or do not feel safe going. / Instalaciones de centros de enfriamiento, como un parque, bibliotecas o centros comunitarios en mi comunidad, pero no puedo viajar allí debido al acceso físico o problemas de seguridad
2 2. Drought / Sequía
a. Plants are dying / Las plantas se están poniendo marrones y/o muriendo 3 b. Financial hardship of increased water cost / El aumento de los costos del agua es un desafío para mí
6 c. Water restrictions affect my health and well-being / Las restricciones de agua afectan mi salud y bienestar
3

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-22
d. I work in agriculture or a related and drought has led to less work / Trabajo en el sector agrícola y la sequía ha provocado menos trabajo
5 3. Wildfire + Smoke / Incendioforestal+ Humo
a. Injury to myself, family, friends / Lesión a mí mismo, familia, amigos 6 b. Loss of home, car, belongings / Pérdidade casa, coche, pertenencias 5 c. Don’t have insurance to cover my belongings / No tengo seguro contra incendios para proteger mi propiedad y pertenencias
6 d. I am sensitive to smoke and pollution / Soy sensible al humo y la contaminación del aire 4 e. I have a family member or friends that are sensitive to smoke and pollution / Tengo un familiaro amigos que son sensibles al humo y la contaminación del aire 4 f. Fear of not being able to escape wildfire / Miedo a no poder escapar de un incendio forestal 5 g. Don’t have information where to go during event of a wildfire evacuation / No sabe adónde ir durante un evento de evacuación por incendio forestall
5 4. Flooding / Inundación
a. Injury to myself, family, friends / Lesión a mí mismo, familia, amigos 10 b. Loss of home, car, belongings / Pérdidade casa, coche, pertenencias 6 c. Don’t have insurance to cover my belongings / No tengo seguro contra inundaciones para proteger mi propiedad y pertenencias
6 d. Fear of not being able to escape a flood / / Miedo a no poder escapar de una inundación 4 e. Don’t have information where to go during event of a flooding evacuation / No sabe adónde ir durante un evento de evacuación por inundación
6 5. Earthquake+ Landslide / Terremoto+ Deslizamientode tierra a. Injury to myself, family, friends / Lesión a mí mismo, familia, amigos 10 b. Loss of home, car, belongings / Pérdidade casa, coche, pertenencias 8 c. Don’t have insurance to cover my belongings / No tengo seguro contra terremotos para proteger mi propiedad y pertenencias
5 d. Fear of not being able to escape landslide / No sé si los peligros de deslizamientos de tierra son una preocupación para mi comunidad
5 e. Don’t have information where to go during event of an earthquake evacuation / No sabe qué hacer o adónde ir después de un terremoto
9

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-23

2. Which of the following applies to your household? Check all that apply. a. My household can easily cover the cost of housing. / Mi hogar puede cubrir fácilmente el costo de la vivienda.
1 b. My household can easily cover other regular expenses like transportation, food, and healthcare. / Mi hogar puede cubrir fácilmente otros gastos regulares como transporte, comida y atención médica. 1 c. My household has spent more than $100 in the past year on repairing damages caused by the environment or reducing potential impacts. / Mi hogar ha gastado más de $100 el año pasado en reparar daños causados por peligros o reducir problemas futuros. 4 d. We have delayed repairs we want to do to our home (like roof, windows, mold) because of cost. / Hemos retrasado las reparaciones que queremos hacer en nuestra casa (como el techo, las ventanas, el moho) debido al costo.
5 e. We do not have or need flood insurance. / No tenemos seguro contra inundaciones. 5 f. We do not have earthquake insurance. / No tenemossegurocontra terremotos. 9 g. If my household faced a $400 emergency expense, we would not be able to immediately pay for it in cash. / Si mi hogar enfrentara un gasto de emergencia de $400, no podríamos pagarlo inmediatamente en efectivo.
10 h. In order to pay a $400 emergency expense, my household would have to pay with a credit card or borrow the money. / Para pagar un gasto de emergencia de $400, mi hogar tendría que pagar con una tarjeta de crédito o pedir prestado el dinero.
9 i. Other / Otro

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-24

3. What information or materials would be helpful to make you feel safer in future hazardous events? What County resources or programs (e.g., fire safety) would be helpful to prepare you for future hazardous events?
What information or materials would be helpful to make you feel safer in future hazardous events?
a. Emergency alerts / Alertasde emergencia 7
b. Know evacuation routes / Conoce las rutas de evacuación 7 c. Items to keep in an emergency preparedness kit / Artículos para tener en un kit de preparación para emergencias
5 d. What to do with pets / Que hacer con las mascotas 4 e. Where are shelters or temporary cooling centers / Dondese ubican albergueso centros de enfriamiento temporal
5 What County resources or programs (e.g., fire safety) would be helpful to prepare you for future hazardous events?
a. Phone app that provides alerts / Aplicación de teléfono que proporciona alertas 3 b. Information about financial resources or services to support preparedness / Información sobre recursos financieros o servicios para apoyar la preparación 2 c. Written information provided in my language spoken / Información escrita proporcionada en mi idioma hablado
2 d. The ability to call someone at the County for support in my language / La capacidad de llamar 2

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-25
aalguien en el condado para obtener apoyo en mi idioma

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-26
Summary
Safety Element/MJHMP Update
Listening Session # 3: CRC
March 15, 2023 5:30 – 7:00 PM
Facilitators: Sam Gutierrez, Principal Planner, County of Santa Clara Location:

Campbell Community Center, Campbell, CA
The Listening Session began with a poll to help the County better understand community demographics and experiences. As illustrated in Figure 1. What City Do you Live In/Near? A majority of residents live in or near Sunnyvale.

Figure 1. What City Do you Live In/Near?
Santa Clara
9%
San Jose
27%
Sunnyvale
46%
Sunnyvale Palo Alto
Palo Alto
9%
Lexington Hills San Jose Santa Clara
As illustrated in Figure 2. Hazardous Events with the Greatest Impact, participants have experienced a broad range of hazardous events with Extreme Heat the primary event, followed by Drought. Wildfire + smoke, and flooding were experienced by at least 11 percent of participants. 97 percent of all participants have experienced a hazardous event that has impacted their life or home in the past 5 years.

Lexington Hills
9%

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-27
Figure 2. Hazardous Events with the Greatest Impact
None of the
Earthquake +
Landslide
7%
Other
11%
Above
3%
Extreme Heat
29%
Wildfire +
Smoke
18%
Flooding
11%
Drought
21%
Extreme Heat Drought Flooding
Wildfire + Smoke Earthquake + Landslide Other
None of the Above
Approximately 1/3 of participants do not have a home emergency preparedness kit or supplies to support their household in the event of an emergency as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Emergency Preparedness Supplies
Yes No Partial
Finally, only 46 percent of participants were aware of County Services or Programs to support them prepare or respond to a hazardous event as illustrated in in Figure 4. County Services Awareness.

Yes
18%
Partial
46%
No
36%

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-28
Figure 4. County Services Awareness.

Yes No Unsure
County staff facilitated a interactive session where participants could respond to questions posted on whiteboards.

The following are their responses.

1. What are your primary hazards of concern and why?
Wildfire, severe rainstorms and evacuation planning, eroded roads

1. Extreme Heat / Calorextremo
a. I do not have air conditioning in my home / No tengo aire acondicionado en mi casa 1 b. I have air conditioning in my home, but cannot afford to run it during all heat events / Tengo aire acondicionado en mi casa, pero no puedo costearlo durante eventos de calor extremo 1 c. I work outdoors / Trabajoal airelibre
d. I have a family member or friends that work outdoors / Tengo un familiaro amigos que trabajan al aire libre
1 e. No close access to a cooling facility such as a park, library, or community center / Las instalacionesdel centrode enfriamiento, comoparques, bibliotecaso centroscomunitarios, no se encuentrancercade mí
f. There are cooling facilities such as a park, library, or community center in my community, but I don’t have physical access or do not feel safe going. / Instalaciones de centros de enfriamiento, como un parque, bibliotecas o centros comunitarios en mi comunidad, pero no puedo viajar allí debido al acceso físico o problemas de seguridad
Yes
46%
No
45%
Unsure
9%

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-29

2. Drought / Sequía
a. Plants are dying / Las plantas se están poniendo marrones y/o muriendo 3 b. Financial hardship of increased water cost / El aumento de los costos del agua es un desafío para mí
3 c. Water restrictions affect my health and well-being / Las restricciones de agua afectan mi salud y bienestar
1 d. I work in agriculture or a related and drought has led to less work / Trabajo en el sector agrícola y la sequía ha provocado menos trabajo

3.Wildfire + Smoke / Incendioforestal+ Humo
a. Injury to myself, family, friends / Lesión a mí mismo, familia, amigos 1 b. Loss of home, car, belongings / Pérdidade casa, coche, pertenencias 1 c. Don’t have insurance to cover my belongings / No tengo seguro contra incendios para proteger mi propiedad y pertenencias
1 d. I am sensitive to smoke and pollution / Soy sensible al humo y la contaminación del aire 5 e. I have a family member or friends that are sensitive to smoke and pollution / Tengo un familiaro amigos que son sensibles al humo y la contaminación del aire 5 f. Fear of not being able to escape wildfire / Miedo a no poder escapar de un incendio forestal 2 g. Don’t have information where to go during event of a wildfire evacuation / No sabe adónde ir durante un evento de evacuación por incendio forestall
5 4. Flooding / Inundación
a. Injury to myself, family, friends / Lesión a mí mismo, familia, amigos b. Loss of home, car, belongings / Pérdidade casa, coche, pertenencias c. Don’t have insurance to cover my belongings / No tengo seguro contra inundaciones para proteger mi propiedad y pertenencias
4 d. Fear of not being able to escape a flood / / Miedo a no poder escapar de una inundación 4 e. Don’t have information where to go during event of a flooding evacuation / No sabe adónde ir durante un evento de evacuación por inundación
2 5. Earthquake+ Landslide / Terremoto+ Deslizamientode tierra a. Injury to myself, family, friends / Lesión a mí mismo, familia, amigos 4 b. Loss of home, car, belongings / Pérdidade casa, coche, pertenencias 3 c. Don’t have insurance to cover my belongings / No tengo seguro contra terremotos para proteger mi propiedad y pertenencias
3 d. Fear of not being able to escape landslide / No sé si los peligros de deslizamientos de tierra son una preocupación para mi comunidad
2 e. Don’t have information where to go during event of an earthquake evacuation / No sabe qué hacer o adónde ir después de un terremoto
3

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-30

2. Which of the following applies to your household? Check all that apply. a. My household can easily cover the cost of housing. / Mi hogar puede cubrir fácilmente el costo de la vivienda.
2 b. My household can easily cover other regular expenses like transportation, food, and healthcare. / Mi hogar puede cubrir fácilmente otros gastos regulares como transporte, comida y atención médica. 2 c. My household has spent more than $100 in the past year on repairing damages caused by the environment or reducing potential impacts. / Mi hogar ha gastado más de $100 el año pasado en reparar daños causados por peligros o reducir problemas futuros. 3 d. We have delayed repairs we want to do to our home (like roof, windows, mold) because of cost. / Hemos retrasado las reparaciones que queremos hacer en nuestra casa (como el techo, las ventanas, el moho) debido al costo.
3 e. We do not have or need flood insurance. / No tenemos seguro contra inundaciones. 4 f. We do not have earthquake insurance. / No tenemossegurocontra terremotos. 2 g. If my household faced a $400 emergency expense, we would not be able to immediately pay for it in cash. / Si mi hogar enfrentara un gasto de emergencia de $400, no podríamos pagarlo inmediatamente en efectivo.
1 h. In order to pay a $400 emergency expense, my household would have to pay with a credit card or borrow the money. / Para pagar un gasto de emergencia de $400, mi hogar tendría que pagar con una tarjeta de crédito o pedir prestado el dinero.
1 i. Other / Otro

3. What information or materials would be helpful to make you feel safer in future hazardous events? What County resources or programs (e.g., fire safety) would be helpful to prepare you for future hazardous events?
a. Emergency alerts / Alertasde emergencia 5
b. Know evacuation routes / Conoce las rutas de evacuación 5 c. Items to keep in an emergency preparedness kit / Artículos para tener en un kit de preparación para emergencias
3 d. What to do with pets / Que hacer con las mascotas 2 e. Where are shelters or temporary cooling centers / Dondese ubican albergueso centros de enfriamiento temporal
3

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-31
What County resources or programs (e.g., fire safety) would be helpful to prepare you for future hazardous events?
a. Phone app that provides alerts / Aplicación de teléfono que proporciona alertas 4 b. Information about financial resources or services to support preparedness / Información sobre recursos financieros o servicios para apoyar la preparación 3 c. Written information provided in my language spoken / Información escrita proporcionada en mi idioma hablado
1 d. The ability to call someone at the County for support in my language / La capacidad de llamar aalguien en el condado para obtener apoyo en mi idioma

5. Which of the following would you prioritize for neighborhood improvements? a. Improved transit infrastructure (bus stops, signs, benches) / Infraestructurade tránsitomejorada(paradasde autobús, letreros, bancos)
1 b. Safer biking routes / Rutasciclistasmásseguras
c. Pedestrian safety (sidewalks, crosswalks, speed bumps) / Rutas peatonales más seguras (aceras, cruces peatonales, badenes)
3 d. Improved water supply (safe drinking, firefighting) / Mejor suministro de agua (bebida segura, extinción de incendios)
1 e. Flood barriers / Barreras contra inundaciones 2
f. Security cameras for safety and dumping / Cámaras de seguridad para seguridad y vertido 1 g. More or improved parks /Más parqueso mejorados 1
h. Improved roads (potholes) / Carreterasmejoradas(baches) 4 i. Air quality monitoring / Monitoreo de la calidad del aire 3 j. Cool and clean air shelters (community center) / Centrosde enfriamiento/refugiosde airelimpio(centrocomunitario)
General comments:
• Wind is a real concern. Falling trees and powerlines are scary to deal with. • Residents are not universally affected by flooding.
• Needs to be planning for evacuation on non-County maintained roads. How many residents are in Lexington Hills? No one is paying attention or communicating what is going on in these areas. • PG&E doesn’t care about their mess.
• Power is slow to come back on in current event. (Note: These was a heat wave at time of listening session.)
• “Priorities” shift seasonally, but they are all important. • Living with wildfires is a new reality for us.
o People are working outside when the air is unbreathable. o Indoors [workers] work without money for air filtration systems. o Not just need for cooling centers, but filtration.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Public Engagement Results A-32
• Drought – A community well system is expensive.
o This is another hazard that is seasonal.
o Need better system for capturing stormwater runoff. Need more education and funding. Need help installing residential and community systems.
• San Jose Water increasing rates, doing a lot of work right now • Flooding
o Takes a long time to recover from losses, get back to pre-disaster state o Roads washing out
o Flooding is an additional insurance, many areas didn’t know it was something they needed. • Extreme heat events happening more frequently and closer together than they use to. (“Once in 25 year rainfall” is happening five times per month)
• Weekly newsletters/newspapers to spread information.
• Sirens in Gilroy, used them in ’98, haven’t used recently to signify floods. o Five minutes can make a big difference as a house floods. • Monterey County uses Alert/Sheriff system all the time – has evacuation warning and fire maps. o Make you respond that they’ve reached you.
• How much time is enough time to evacuate and prepare? Depends on the event. Storms vs fire vs drought have really different timescale.
• Averages don’t always capture the real situation on the ground – also look at min and max. • Why are these outreach meetings not also being sent out as press release to local news media for general circulation. Weekly newspapers service each of the different areas of the County unincorporated areas: Make a requirement for Public Notice?
• County failed to designate evacuation route planning since 2009 CWPP recommendations.

Subdivisions of 30+ homes share a single egress route.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix B: Adoption Resolution B-1
Appendix B: Adoption Resolution
Once the 2023 Santa Clara Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP) has received FEMA “Approvable Pending Adoption” (APA) status, the governing body of every participating jurisdiction will formally adopt this MJHMP.

After FEMA has determined that all plan requirements have been met, including receipt of the formal adoption documentation, FEMA will provide a letter indicating the plan is approved.

A copy of the adoption resolutions and approval letter are included in this appendix.

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Santa Clara County
Multijurisdictional Hazard
Mitigation Plan 2023 Update
City of Morgan Hill Annex
February 21, 2024

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2: City of Morgan Hill 3

1. City of Morgan Hill

1.1. Hazard Mitigation Plan Points of Contact
The point of contact during the Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan planning process for the City of Morgan Hill was the Emergency Services Coordinator. This annex within the MJHMP was developed using information provided by the City of Morgan Hill’s Local Planning Team.

Table 1: City of Morgan Hill Local Planning Team Members for the 2023 Santa Clara County MJHMP
Name Position Organization Role on Team and in Planning Process
Jennifer Ponce Office of
Emergency
Services
Coordinator
City of Morgan Hill General oversight, hazard
identification, and plan development
Hilary Holeman Administrative
Analyst
City of Morgan Hill Hazard identification and plan
development
Scott Creer Floodplain
Administrator
City of Morgan Hill Hazard identification and plan
development
The City’s Local Planning Team Members participated in the MJHMP by attending meetings on the Plan Kick-Off, Risk Assessment, Capabilities Assessment, Mitigation Strategy, Wrap-up, and one one-on-one meeting with the planning consultant. In addition, the city filled out the requested forms on each section which were used to develop this annex. The city also shared information regarding public opportunities to participate in the draft plan update utilizing the digital survey and seven in-person and virtual public outreach meetings. Further, the City team was provided the opportunity to review the draft plan prior to submittal to Cal OES and FEMA.

Table 2: External Stakeholders Invited to Be Involved in Planning Process Agency or Organization Stakeholder Type Description
American Red Cross Representatives of nonprofit
organizations, including
community-based organizations,
that work directly with and/or
provide support to underserved
communities and socially
vulnerable populations, among
others.

A nonprofit humanitarian
organization that provides
emergency assistance, disaster
relief, and disaster
preparedness education in the
United States.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2: City of Morgan Hill 4
Agency or Organization Stakeholder Type Description
American Red Cross – Silicon
Valley Chapter
Representatives of nonprofit
organizations, including
community-based organizations,
that work directly with and/or
provide support to underserved
communities and socially
vulnerable populations, among
others.

A nonprofit humanitarian
organization that provides
emergency assistance, disaster
relief, and disaster
preparedness education in the
United States.

Amateur Radio Emergency
Service (ARES)
Representatives of businesses,
academia, and other private
organizations.

A corps of trained amateur radio
operator volunteers organized to
assist in public service and
emergency communications.

California Office of Emergency
Services (Cal OES)
Local and regional agencies
involved in hazard mitigation
activities.

Office responsible for
overseeing and coordinating
emergency preparedness,
response, recovery, and
homeland security activities
within the state.

California Department of
Forestry and Fire Protection
Local and regional agencies
involved in hazard mitigation
activities.

The fire department of the
California Natural Resources
Agency.

California Department of
Transportation
Agencies that have the authority
to regulate development.

An executive department of the
U.S. state of California.

Cattlemen’s Association Representatives of businesses,
academia, and other private
organizations.

A nonprofit trade association
that represents California's
ranchers and beef producers in
political affairs.

Cooper-Garrod Estate
Vineyards
Representatives of businesses,
academia, and other private
organizations.

Garrod Farms is a family-owned
and operated estate winery and
stables.

Department of Homeland
Security
Agencies that have the authority
to regulate development.

The U.S. federal executive
department responsible for
public security, roughly
comparable to the interior or
home ministries of other
countries.

Department of Toxic
Substances
Agencies that have the authority
to regulate development.

An agency of the government of
the state of California that
protects public health and the
environment from hazardous
waste.

Downtown Streets Team Representatives of nonprofit
organizations, including
community-based organizations,
that work directly with and/or
provide support to underserved
communities and socially
vulnerable populations.

Teams that restore dignity,
inspire hope, and provide a
pathway to recover from
homelessness.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2: City of Morgan Hill 5
Agency or Organization Stakeholder Type Description
Emergency Medical Services Agencies that have the authority to regulate development.

Provides statewide coordination
and leadership for the planning,
development, and
implementation of
local EMS systems.

Emergency Services Volunteer
Representative
Local and regional agencies
involved in hazard mitigation
activities.

Organization that ensures public
safety, security, and health by
addressing and resolving
different emergencies.

Federal Aviation Administration Agencies that have the authority to regulate development.

Offers civil aviation safety
enforcement services.

Google Representatives of businesses,
academia, and other private
organizations.

American multinational
technology company focusing
on artificial intelligence, online
advertising, search engine
technology, cloud computing,
computer software, quantum
computing, e-commerce, and
consumer electronics.

Hidden Villa Farm Representatives of nonprofit
organizations, including
community-based organizations,
that work directly with and/or
provide support to underserved
communities and socially
vulnerable populations, among
others.

Nonprofit educational
organization teaching programs
on environmental and
multicultural awareness.

Intel Corporation Representatives of businesses,
academia, and other private
organizations.

An American multinational
corporation and technology
company headquartered in
Santa Clara, California.

Kaiser Permanente—Santa
Clara
Representatives of businesses,
academia, and other private
organizations.

An American integrated
managed care consortium.

Life Moves Representatives of businesses,
academia, and other private
organizations.

Provides interim housing and
supportive services for
homeless families and
individuals to rapidly return to
stable housing.

Morgan Hill Unified School
District
Representatives of businesses,
academia, and other private
organizations.

A public school district operating
eight elementary schools, two
middle schools, and three high
schools in southern Santa Clara
County, California.

Moffett Field Ames Research
Center, National Aeronautics
and Space Administration
(NASA)
Representatives of businesses,
academia, and other private
organizations.

Major NASA research center
at Moffett Federal Airfield in
California's Silicon Valley.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2: City of Morgan Hill 6
Agency or Organization Stakeholder Type Description
National Weather Service,
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA)
Agencies that have the authority
to regulate development.

Scientific and regulatory agency
within the U.S. Department of
Commerce.

Pacheco Pass Water District Neighboring communities. Independent special water district.

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) Representatives of businesses, academia, and other private
organizations, and neighboring
communities.

One of the largest combination
natural gas and electric utilities
in the United States.

Regional Water Quality Control
Board
Agencies that have the authority
to regulate development.

Provides government regulatory
services related to water
pollution and control.

Rotating Safe Car Park Local and regional agencies
involved in hazard mitigation
activities, and neighboring
communities.

Allows for temporary overnight
parking for homeless individuals
or families living out of their
cars as a safe alternative to
sleeping on the streets or in a
homeless shelter.

Santa Clara County CERT Representatives of nonprofit
organizations, including
community-based organizations,
that work directly with and/or
provide support to underserved
communities and socially
vulnerable populations.

Trains residents to prepare for
and respond to life-threatening
events in their community.

Santa Clara County FireSafe
Council
Representatives of nonprofit
organizations, including
community-based organizations,
that work directly with and/or
provide support to underserved
communities and socially
vulnerable populations.

A nonprofit, grassroots
organization that provides
education and project
assistance for homeowners.

Santa Clara County Local
Oversight Program
Local and regional agencies
involved in hazard mitigation
activities.

Program to oversee assessment
and mitigation of contaminated
sites to protect groundwater
resources, human health,
safety, and the environment.

Santa Clara County Parks Agencies that have the authority to regulate development, and
neighboring communities.

Provide, protect, and preserve
regional parklands for the
enjoyment and education.

Santa Clara County Planning &
Development
Agencies that have the authority
to regulate development, and
neighboring communities.

Plays a key role in supporting
economic development and
ensuring opportunities for the
public to participate in
land development.

Santa Clara County Sheriff’s
Office
Agencies that have the authority
to regulate development, and
neighboring communities.

A local law enforcement agency
that serves Santa Clara County,
California.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2: City of Morgan Hill 7
Agency or Organization Stakeholder Type Description
Santa Clara University Representatives of businesses,
academia, and other private
organizations.

A private Jesuit university in
Santa Clara, California.

Santa Clara Valley Open Space
Authority
Neighboring communities. An independent special district in Santa Clara County.

St. Louise Hospital (Santa Clara
County Hospital System)
Representatives of nonprofit
organizations, including
community-based organizations,
that work directly with and/or
provide support to underserved
communities and socially
vulnerable populations.

Community hospital.

Stanford Healthcare Representatives of businesses,
academia, and other private
organizations, and neighboring
communities.

Multispecialty clinic that
provides convenient access to
advanced, specialty care in the
South Bay.

Vista Center for the Blind and
Visually Impaired
Representatives of businesses,
academia, and other private
organizations.

Empowers individuals who
are blind or visually impaired to
embrace life to the fullest
through evaluation, counseling,
education, and training.

County of Santa Clara Neighboring jurisdiction, local
agency involved in hazard
mitigation.

Response for engaging the
whole community in assessing
needs and developing strategies
to achieve stronger mitigation
capabilities within the Santa
Clara County Operational Area.

City of Campbell Neighboring communities. A city in Santa Clara County.

City of Cupertino Neighboring communities. Located in Silicon Valley.

City of Gilroy Neighboring communities. A city in Santa Clara County.

City of Los Altos Neighboring communities. A city in Santa Clara County.

Town of Los Altos Hills Neighboring communities. A city in Santa Clara County.

Town of Los Gatos Neighboring communities. A city in Santa Clara County.

City of Milpitas Neighboring communities. A city in Santa Clara County.

City of Mountain View Neighboring communities. A city in Santa Clara County.

City of Palo Alto Neighboring communities. Located in Silicon Valley.

City of San José Neighboring communities. Located in Silicon Valley.

City of Santa Clara Neighboring communities. A city near San Jose, in California’s Silicon Valley.

City of Saratoga Neighboring communities. Located in Silicon Valley.

City of Sunnyvale Neighboring communities. Located in the Santa Clara Valley.

Santa Clara County Fire
Department
Local and regional agencies
involved in hazard mitigation
activities, and neighboring
communities.

A California Fire Protection
District serving Santa Clara
County.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2: City of Morgan Hill 8
Agency or Organization Stakeholder Type Description
Santa Clara Valley Water
District
Representatives of businesses,
academia, and other private
organizations, and neighboring
communities.

Provides stream stewardship,
wholesale water supply, and
flood protection for Santa Clara
County, California.

The City supported a “whole community” approach to this plan update. Neighboring communities, local and regional agencies involved in mitigation activities, agencies that have the authority to regulate development as well as businesses, academia, and other private and nonprofit interests were invited to be involved in the planning process by participating in planning meetings, public meetings, or reviewing the draft plan. In addition to the wide variety of stakeholders identified by the County, other stakeholders the City of Morgan Hill recommended including included the Morgan Hill Unified School District. Additional stakeholders that were able to participate are included in Volume 1 of this plan.

1.1.1. Public Outreach and Education
In addition to inviting a wide range of stakeholders, the City supported public outreach and engagement through distributing a digital survey utilizing social media and through a community newsletter. This survey reached members of underserved populations, including primarily non-English speaking households. This plan update utilized the legal definition of AFN for this approach. The California Government Code Section 8593.3 defines Access and Functional Needs as “Individuals who have:

Developmental, intellectual, or physical disabilities; Chronic conditions or injuries; Limited English proficiency or non-English speaking; Or individuals who are: older adults, children, or pregnant; living in institutional settings; or Low-income, homeless, and/or transportation disadvantaged.” In Saratoga, according to the U.S. Census an estimated 46.1% of the population speaks a language other than English, a key factor to consider while developing any kind of emergency management and mitigation approach to public outreach. The C-MIST framework is used to integrate AFN populations in the operational area into emergency management through communications, maintain health, independence, support, safetyand self-determination, and transportation.

In addition, the city hosted one in-person public outreach event and the MJHMP was discussed at an additional two virtual and four in-person public meetings across Santa Clara County. These in-person meetings were targeted towards areas with socially vulnerably populations. These meetings were also designed to be accessible for AFN (access and functional needs) populations. The public was also provided the opportunity to comment on the draft plan. Comments from the public survey were reviewed, evaluated for alignment with planning priorities, and incorporated as appropriate. Overall, the public expressed concern with hazards like wildfire, extreme heat, and flooding. There was multiple mentions of the need for additional public education and outreach, in particular for vulnerable populations and highrisk areas. Additionally, it was noted that it takes significant time for power to come on after severe weather or another disaster event indicating there may be a need for generators. These kinds of public comments have been integrated into the mitigation actions the City of Morgan Hill selected.

The participation of the City of Morgan Hill and its stakeholders helped inform the development of the MJHMP and this annex in accordance with current priorities. The new plan continues to expand upon the work of the prior plan including emphasizing partnerships both within jurisdictions and special districts as well as with external stakeholders. Further, there is an increased emphasis on climate change, reflecting the increased understanding of the risk this hazard poses to the OA. The City did not identify additional changes in priorities to be highlighted in their annex.

1.2. Jurisdiction Profile
The following is a summary of key information about the jurisdiction and its history:

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2: City of Morgan Hill 9
 Date of Incorporation: November 10, 1906
 Current Population: 46,451 as of January 1, 2022
 Population Growth: According to the California Department of Finance, the City of Morgan Hill has experienced a 0.4 percent decline in the population between 2021 (46,626) and 2022 (46,451).
 Location and Description: Morgan Hill is approximately 24 miles south of downtown San José, 13 miles north of Gilroy, and 15 miles inland from the Pacific coast. The City of Morgan Hill is in Santa Clara County nestled between the Diablo Mountain Range to the east and the Santa Cruz Mountains to the west. To the north of Morgan Hill is the City of San José and to the south is the unincorporated area of San Martin. The predominant ingress and egress through Morgan Hill is Highway 101 which runs north and south. Prior to the building of Highway 101, the City of Morgan Hill was served by Monterey Highway. Monterey Highway runs through Downtown Morgan Hill and provides the main north south arterial connection for Morgan Hill residents. Morgan Hill is 12 square miles with a mixture of commercial, industrial, retail, agriculture, and residential uses.

Morgan Hill is located within the seismically active San Francisco Bay region. The significant earthquakes in the region are generally associated with crustal movements along well-defined, active fault zones. The nearest known active faults are the San Andreas Fault, approximately 12 miles southwest, and the Calaveras Fault, approximately 1 mile northeast. Both faults have produced major earthquakes in the past and have estimated maximum credible Richter magnitudes of 8.3 and 7.3. The Sargent-Berrocal Fault, a potentially active fault, lies 10 miles away from the Morgan Hill and has an estimated maximum credible Richter magnitude of 7.4.

The Coyote Creek Fault is in Morgan Hill and is classified as potentially active as well. In addition, several unnamed faults traverse the western slopes of the upland areas. Geomorphic evidence suggests that these faults were active during recent geologic time. However, these fault-related geomorphic features are not as fresh as those of the active Calaveras Fault and are somewhat older.
 Brief History: Prior to the arrival of Spanish expeditions in route from Mexico, peaceful tribes of Native Americans had inhabited the lush Santa Clara Valley for more than 6,000 years. Under Spanish and Mexican jurisdictions, instituted in 1778, a vast region that includes present day Morgan Hill was one of the most substantial Spanish land grants for nearly 3/4 of a century. In 1845, Martin Murphy, Sr. acquired 9,000 acres known as the Rancho Ojo de Agua de la Coche.

By 1870 Martin’s 7 sons and daughters had managed to acquire more than 70,000 acres in the area. Diana and Hiram Morgan Hill built their country estate, Villa Mira Monte, between the railroad and Monterey Road in 1884. When the first Southern Pacific station was built in 1898, the railroad referred to this area as Huntington. Because many visitors would request the train stop at "Morgan Hill’s Ranch," the stop became known as Morgan Hill. By 1896, the growing community had a population of 250. There was much controversy over the incorporation of the City. The Times printed many editorials supporting the issue, while those opposed were fearful of higher taxes. Nevertheless, Morgan Hill became incorporated on November 10th, 1906. By 1909 the population rose to 1,000. Around the 1950s, Morgan Hill experienced an economic transformation from an agricultural center to a suburban residential community. Growth began to accelerate rapidly in the 1970s as Silicon Valley developed and workers were attracted to Morgan Hill’s small-town atmosphere, sense of community and reasonable housing prices. By 1980 the population increased to approximately 18,000 residents. The 2000 census confirmed that 33,000 citizens called Morgan Hill their home.
 Climate: Morgan Hill gets an annual average of 21 inches of rain, which is below the national average. Humidity is typically low, and the atmosphere stays dry. July is the hottest month for Morgan Hill with an average high temperature of 87 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) . January has the coldest temperatures for Morgan Hill with an average of 40°F.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2: City of Morgan Hill 10
 Governing Body Format: Morgan Hill is a general law city with a Council-manager form of government. The Morgan Hill City Council assume responsibility for adoption of this plan, the Office of Emergency Services for the City of Morgan Hill will oversee its implementation.

1.3. Development Trends
Over the last 20 years, workers have been steadily moving to the City. South Silicon Valley is providing much of the workforce housing for Silicon Valley. Morgan Hill has had a steady 2 percent growth and the adjacent communities are also leading in housing construction. Morgan Hill offers one of the best affordable housing programs in the State, every one of eight homes is affordable by restriction. Many different commercial, industrial, and residential projects are in various phases of development. In addition, the City of Morgan Hill receives close to one hundred planning permit applications for a variety of projects every year.

The City of Morgan Hill has increased its population since the previous plan was developed, thereby increasing its vulnerability to flooding, liquefaction, and high fire hazards. As populations grow, an increasing number of individuals are potentially exposed to hazards. However, new development has taken place under regulatory guidelines and building codes that seek to limit vulnerability to hazards.

Because of these regulations, changes in vulnerability are believed to be minimal.

Table 3: Recent and Expected Future Development Trends
Criterion Response
Has your jurisdiction annexed
any land since the development
of the previous hazard
mitigation plan?
 If yes, give the estimated
area annexed and estimated
number of parcels or
structures.

No
Is your jurisdiction expected to
annex any areas during the
performance period of this
plan?
 If yes, please describe land
areas and dominant uses.
 If yes, who currently has
permitting authority over
these areas?
No
Are any areas targeted for
development or major
redevelopment in the next five
years?
 If yes, please briefly
describe, including whether
any of the areas are in known
hazard risk areas.

No
How many building permits
were issued in your jurisdiction
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2: City of Morgan Hill 11
Criterion Response
since the development of the
previous hazard mitigation
plan?
Total
Number of
Permits
735 726 601 486 552 592
Please provide the number of
permits for each hazard area or
provide a qualitative description
of where development has
occurred.

In general, recent development activity has primarily occurred in the following hazard zones: Liquefaction, high fire hazard and FEMA flood areas. For those hazards without a clearly defined extent and location, the City cannot estimate development impacts. For those hazards with impacts citywide, it is safe to assume that this new development could be subject to impacts from those hazards. However, it is important to note that all new development was subject to the regulatory capabilities identified in this annex.

Please describe the level of
buildout in the jurisdiction,
based on your jurisdiction’s
buildable lands inventory. If no
such inventory exists, provide a
qualitative description.

Morgan Hill is rapidly approaching status as an infill city.

The last larger parcels appropriate for large subdivisions and neighborhoods that are moving forward with development
applications are for commercial and industrial parcels.

1.4. Capability Assessment

1.4.1. Resources for the 2023 Planning Initiative
The following technical reports, plans, and regulatory mechanisms were reviewed to provide information for inclusion into the 2023 Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan for both Volume 1 and Volume 2 (City of Morgan Hill Annex). All the below items were additionally reviewed as part of the full capability assessment for the City of Morgan Hill.
 2035 General Plan: The General Plan, including the Economic Development Housing, Land Use, and Safety Elements, were reviewed for information regarding the jurisdiction profile, and the goals and policies consistent with hazard mitigation for carry over as goals and objectives.  Capital Improvement Plan: The Capital Improvement Plan was reviewed to identify crossplanning initiatives for inclusion as mitigation projects.  Hazard Related Plans: Plans including but not limited to the Local Emergency Operations Plan, Continuity of Operations Plan, and the Community Wildfire Protection Plan were reviewed for identify potential integrative initiatives for mitigation strategies and planning.  Additional Plans: Additional plans such as the Transportation plan, Stormwater Management Plan, Green Infrastructure Plan, Climate Action Plan, and Parks and Recreation Plan were reviewed to assess existing and potential mitigation strategies.  Morgan Hill Municipal Code: The Municipal Code was reviewed for the jurisdiction profile, the full capability assessment, and for identifying opportunities for action plan integration.  Ordinances: The Floodplain Management, Zoning, Subdivision, Stormwater, Flood Damage Prevention, and Environmental Protection Ordinances were reviewed for alignment with natural hazard mitigation planning efforts.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2: City of Morgan Hill 12

1.4.2. Full Capability Assessment
An assessment of legal and regulatory capabilities is presented in Table 93 and Table 94. An assessment of fiscal capabilities is presented in Table 95. An assessment of staffing capabilities is presented in Table

96. An assessment of administrative and technical capabilities is presented in Table 97. Information on National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) compliance is presented in Table 98. An assessment of education and outreach capabilities is presented in Table 99. Classifications under various community mitigation programs are presented in
Table 100. Development and permitting capabilities are presented in Table 101, and the community’s adaptive capacity for the impacts of climate change is presented in Table 102.

Table 4: Legal and Regulatory Capabilities: Codes, Ordinances, and Requirements Legal and
Regulatory
Capability
Local
Authority
Other
Jurisdiction
Authority
State
Mandated
Integration
Opportunity?
Building Code Yes Yes Yes Yes
Comment: The City has adopted the California Building Code (2019).

Zoning
Ordinance
Yes No Yes Yes
Comment: City Code, Title 18
Subdivision
Ordinance
Yes No Yes No
Comment: City Code, Title 17
Stormwater
Management
Ordinance
Yes No Yes Yes
Comment: City Code, Title 13, Chapter 13.30
Other Natural
HazardSpecific
Ordinances
Yes No No Yes
Comment: City Code Chapter 18.30 Hillside Combining District & Active Fault Surface Rupture, Chapter 18.92 Natural Resources and Hazard Setbacks, Chapter 18,7 Geologic Hazards Post-Disaster
Recovery
No No No No
Comment: None Identified.

Real Estate
Disclosure
No Yes Yes No
Comment: Cal. Civ. Code §1102 et seq.

Growth
Management
Yes No Yes No
Comment: City Code, Title 18
Site Plan
Review
Yes No No No
Comment: City Code, Title 18

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2: City of Morgan Hill 13
Legal and
Regulatory
Capability
Local
Authority
Other
Jurisdiction
Authority
State
Mandated
Integration
Opportunity?
Environmental
Protection
Yes No Yes No
Comment: California Environmental Quality Act
Flood Damage
Prevention Yes No Yes Yes
Comment: City Code, Title 15, Chapter 15.80
Emergency
Management Yes No Yes Yes
Comment: City Code, Title 2, Chapter 2.44
Climate
Change Yes No No Yes
Comment: Title 18, Chapter 18
Acquisition of
land for open
space and
public
recreation
uses
Yes No No Yes
Comment: City Code, Title 18, Chapter 18.28
Table 5: Planning, Legal, and Regulatory Capabilities
Planning, Legal, or Regulatory Capability Local
Authority
Other
Jurisdiction
Authority
State
Mandated
Integration
Opportunity?
General Plan Yes No Yes Yes
Is the plan compliant with Assembly Bill 2140?
Comment: 2035 General Plan
Capital Improvement Plan Yes No Yes Yes
How often is the plan updated? Annually
Comment: Adopted FY 2022-23 and 2023-24 CIP Budgets
Floodplain or Watershed Plan No No No No
Comment: None Identified.

Stormwater Management Plan Yes No Yes Yes
Comment: The City of Gilroy, City of Morgan Hill, and South Santa Clara County have jointly developed a guidance manual to aid developers, engineers, and architects to meet the PCRs of resolution R3-2013-0032.

Urban Water Management Plan Yes Yes Yes Yes
Comment: Valley Water Urban Management Plan
Habitat Conservation Plan Yes Yes Yes Yes

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2: City of Morgan Hill 14
Planning, Legal, or Regulatory Capability Local
Authority
Other
Jurisdiction
Authority
State
Mandated
Integration
Opportunity?
Comment: Santa Clara Valley Habitat Conservation Plan
Green Infrastructure Plan No No No No
Comment: None Identified.

Parks or Open Space Plan Yes No No Yes
Comment: 2017 Bikeways, Trails, Parks, and Recreation Master Plan Economic Development Plan Yes No Yes Yes
Comment: 2017 Economic Blueprint
Transportation Plan Yes No Yes Yes
Comment: Included in the General Plan.

Shoreline Management Plan No No No No
Comment: None identified.

Community Wildfire Protection Plan Yes No Yes Yes
Comment: Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan, Chapter 4 Forest Management Plan No No No No
Comment: None Identified.

Climate Action Plan Yes No No Yes
Comment: 2021 Climate Action Plan
Comprehensive Emergency
Management Plan
No No No No
Comment: None Identified.

Local Emergency Operations Plan Yes No Yes Yes
Comment: 2018 Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)
Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk
Assessment (THIRA)
No No No No
Comment: None Identified.

Post-Disaster Recovery Plan No No No No
Comment: None identified.

Continuity of Operations Plan No No No No
Comment: None Identified.

Public Health Plan Yes Yes No Yes
Comment: Santa Clara County Strategic Public Health Plan Other: N/A N/A N/A N/A
Comment: N/A

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2: City of Morgan Hill 15
Table 6: Financial Capabilities
Financial Capability Could the resource be
used to fund future
mitigation activities?
Has the funding resource been
used in the past for mitigation
activities? If yes, for what type
of mitigation activities?
Community Development
Block Grants
Yes No
Other Federal Funding
Programs
No N/A
Capital Improvements Project
Funding
Yes No
Authority to Levy Taxes for
Specific Purposes
Yes No
User Fees for Water, Sewer,
Gas or Electric Services
No No
Stormwater Utility Fee Yes No
Incur Debt through General
Obligation Bonds
Yes No
Incur Debt through Special
Tax Bonds
Yes No
Incur Debt through Private
Activity Bonds
Yes No
Withhold Public Expenditures
in Hazard-Prone Areas
Yes No
State Funding Programs Yes Yes, the funding was used for the enhancement of the Emergency
Operations Center and law
enforcement response equipment.

Development Impact Fees for
Homebuyers or Developers
No No
Public or Private Partnership
Funding Sources
No No
Other Funding Sources No No
Table 7: Staffing Capabilities
Staffing Capability Have Capability? Is staffing adequate to enforce regulations?
Is staff trained on
natural hazards
and mitigation?
Chief Building Official  Yes
 Full Time
 Development
Services, Building
Division
Yes Yes

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2: City of Morgan Hill 16
Staffing Capability Have Capability? Is staffing adequate to enforce regulations?
Is staff trained on
natural hazards
and mitigation?
Parks and Recreation
Director
 Yes
 Full Time
 Community Services
Department
Yes Yes
Emergency Manager  Yes
 Full Time
 Police Administration,
OES
Yes Yes
Community Planner  Yes
 Full Time
 Development
Services, Planning
Division
Yes Yes
Civil Engineer  Yes
 Full Time
 Development
Services, Planning
Division and Building
Division
Yes Yes
Engineers or
professionals
trained in building or
infrastructure
construction practices
 Yes
 Full Time
 Development
Services, Planning
Division and Building
Division
Yes Yes
Planners or engineers
with knowledge of land
development and land
management practices
 Yes
 Full Time
 Development
Services, Planning
Division and Building
Division
Yes Yes
Planners or engineers
with an understanding
of natural hazards
 Yes
 Full Time
 Development
Services, Planning
Division and Building
Division
Yes Yes
Surveyors No N/A N/A
GIS Coordinator or
personnel skilled or
trained in GIS
applications
 Yes
 Full Time
 Development
Services, Planning
Division
Yes Yes

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2: City of Morgan Hill 17
Staffing Capability Have Capability? Is staffing adequate to enforce regulations?
Is staff trained on
natural hazards
and mitigation?
Public Works Director  Yes
 Full Time
 Public Works
Yes Yes
Fire Chief  Yes
 Full Time
 Morgan Hill Fire
Department
Yes Yes
Environmental Director  Yes
 Full Time
 Environmental
Services
Yes Yes
Staff with training in
benefit/cost analysis
 Yes
 Full Time
 Economic
Development
Yes Yes
Scientist familiar with
natural hazards in local
area
No N/A N/A
Table 8: Administrative and Technical Capabilities
Administrative or Technical
Capability
Have Capability? Has the capability been used to
assess or mitigate risk in the past? If
yes, what type of hazard event?
Maintenance programs to
reduce risk
Yes Yes, the Maintenance Division maintains
City streets, sidewalks, trails,
approximately 3,700 streetlights,
approximately 470 open space and park
areas, urban forestry, all City buildings,
and a landscaping assessment district.

Mutual aid agreements Yes Yes, they have been used between fire and law departments.

Hazard data and information Yes Yes, for fire and flood events.

Hazus analysis or GIS
software
Yes Yes, for hazard related evacuations.

Grant writing Yes Yes, for wildland fires and localized flooding.

Does your jurisdiction have
any established warning
systems or services for
hazard events?
Yes Yes, AlertSCC alerts are sent directly to
your mobile device, landline, and or
email. Alerts for fire, earthquake, Heavy
rain, heavy winds, extreme
temperatures, crime, and instructions
during a disaster.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2: City of Morgan Hill 18
Table 9: National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Compliance Topic Response
What department in your jurisdiction is
responsible for floodplain management?
Engineering & Utilities Department, Land
Development Engineering Division
Who acts as your jurisdiction’s floodplain
administrator?
City Engineer/Deputy Director for Engineering
Is the floodplain administrator or NFIP
Coordinator certified?
Yes (NFIP Coordinator)
Is floodplain management an auxiliary
function in your jurisdiction?
No
What is the date of adoption of your flood
damage prevention ordinance?
September 27, 2017
Do floodplain development regulations meet
or exceed FEMA or state minimum
requirements? If regulations exceed
requirements, in what ways?
Yes
Exceeds FEMA minimum requirements; includes
one-foot freeboard requirement, cumulative
substantial improvement, and repetitive flood loss
(substantial damage)
How are the substantial
improvement/substantial damage provisions
implemented?
The Floodplain Administrator is responsible for
administering requirements for substantial
improvement and substantial damage in
accordance with FEMA 213, “Answers to
Questions About Substantially Damaged
Buildings.” In addition to the standard definitions,
substantial damage is defined as flood-related
damages sustained by a structure on two
separate occasions during a ten-year period for
which the cost of repairs at the time of each such
event, on the average, equals or exceeds twentyfive percent of the market value of the structure before the damage occurred. Substantial
improvement or substantially improved is defined
as any combination of repairs, reconstruction,
rehabilitation, addition, or other proposed new
development of a structure taking place during a
five-year period, the cumulative cost of which
equals or exceeds fifty percent of the market
value of the structure before the start of
construction of the improvement. This five-year
period begins on the date of the first improvement
or repair of the structure following the adopted
ordinance. Permit review can also help identify
substantially damaged/substantially improved
structures. The Floodplain Administrator is
responsible for reviewing all development permits.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2: City of Morgan Hill 19
Topic Response
Provide an explanation of the permitting
process for development within the floodplain.

Process follows City Code Chapter 15.80.20 ;
including requiring a development permit before
any construction or other development, including
manufactured homes, within any area in the
special flood hazard area. Applications for a
development permit are establish and reviewed by
the floodplain administrator.

Does your floodplain management program
meet or exceed minimum requirements?
Yes
When did your jurisdiction enter the NFIP?  June 18, 1980  Current effective FIRM: May 18, 2009
Is your jurisdiction in good standing with the
NFIP?
Yes
Are the jurisdiction’s Flood Insurance Rate
Maps (FIRMs) digital, paper, or both?
Both
Adopted effective FIRMs dated 5/18/2009
Explanation of NFIP administration services
within your jurisdiction.

Permit review, GIS, education and outreach,
inspections, engineering capability
Barriers to running an effective NFIP program
in your jurisdiction.

None
When was the most recent Community
Assistance Visit (CAV) or Community
Assistance Contact (CAC)?
October 6, 2016
Is a CAV or CAC scheduled or needed? No
Does your jurisdiction have any outstanding
NFIP compliance violations that need to be
addressed?
No
Do your flood hazard maps adequately
address the flood risk within your jurisdiction?
Yes
Does your floodplain management staff need
any assistance or training to support its
floodplain management program?
No
Does your jurisdiction participate in the
Community Rating System (CRS)?
Yes, Class Rating 7
How many structures are exposed to flood risk
within your jurisdiction?
 In 10% annual chance flood hazard area: 580
 In 1% annual chance flood hazard area: 643
 In 0.2% annual chance flood hazard area:
11,058
How many flood insurance policies are in
force in your jurisdiction?
 What is the insurance in force?
 What is the premium in force?
 309 policies in force
 $93,061,100 insurance in force
 $285,955 premium in force
Areas of flood risk with limited NFIP policy
coverage.

Areas with unmapped or undetermined flood
hazards

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Topic Response
How many total loss claims have been filed in
your jurisdiction?
 How many claims were closed without
payment or are still open?
 What is the total amount of paid claims?
 How many claims were for substantial
damage?
 65 total loss claims have been filed
 22 claims closed without payment for
substantial
 $482,726.02 total payments for losses
How NFIP compliance will be continued during
the next 5 years.
 Adoption and enforcement of floodplain
management requirements, including
regulating new construction in Special Flood
Hazard Areas (SFHAs).
 Floodplain identification and mapping,
including any local requests for map updates.
 Description of community assistance and
monitoring activities.

Table 10: Education and Outreach Capabilities
Education or Outreach
Capability Response
How does the personnel,
program, or organization
relate to disaster
resilience and
mitigation?
Could the personnel,
program, or
organization help
implement future
mitigation activities?
Does your jurisdiction have
a Public Information Officer
or Communications Office?
Yes The PIO assists in
disseminating hazard and
emergency related
information.

Yes
Does your jurisdiction have
personnel skilled or trained
in website development?
Yes Websites can be
developed to provide
hazard education,
preparedness information,
and other emergency
notifications.

Yes
Does your jurisdiction have
hazard mitigation
information available on
your website?
Yes The City’s Office of
Emergency services
website provides
information to the
community on
preparedness, links to
resources partners to help
with preparedness
and resources to contact
in case of an emergency.

Yes

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Education or Outreach
Capability Response
How does the personnel,
program, or organization
relate to disaster
resilience and
mitigation?
Could the personnel,
program, or
organization help
implement future
mitigation activities?
Does your jurisdiction
utilize social media for
hazard mitigation education
and outreach?
Yes The City uses the following
tools for education and
outreach related to hazard
mitigation; AlertSCC,
Nextdoor, Facebook, and
website postings.

Yes
Does your jurisdiction have
any citizen boards or
commissions that address
issues related to hazard
mitigation?
Yes The Planning Commission
approves various permits
and serves as an advisory
body to the City Council on
matters related to city
growth and development,
and on such other matters
as may be requested by
the council.

Yes
Does your jurisdiction have
any ongoing public
education or information
programs that could be
used to communicate
hazard-related information?
Yes The City’s Office of
Emergency services
website provides
information to the
community on
preparedness, links to
resources partners to help
with preparedness and
resources to contact in
case of an emergency.

Yes
Does your jurisdiction have
local citizen groups or
nonprofit organizations
focused on environmental
protection, emergency
preparedness, and/or
underserved populations?
Yes The Morgan Hill
Community Emergency
Response Team is a
citizen group that
addresses overall
preparedness and
resiliency in the
community.

Yes
Does your jurisdiction have
natural disaster or safety
related school programs?
Yes School education
programs promote
resiliency by creating
hazard awareness.

Yes
Does your jurisdiction have
public/private partnership
initiatives addressing
disaster-related issues?
Yes County-level Partnerships
include initiatives to
address mitigation.

Yes

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Table 11: Community Classifications
Participating? Classification Date
Classified
Community Rating System Yes 7 February
2023
Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule Yes 4 May 2019 Insurance Services Office (ISO) Fire Rating Yes 3 2013
National Weather Service StormReady
Program®
No N/A N/A
Firewise USA® Program - Holiday Lake Estates
and Jackson Oaks HOA communities
Yes N/A 2016
Table 12: Development and Permitting Capabilities
Development or Permitting Capability Response
Does your jurisdiction issue development
permits?
 If no, who does? If yes, which department?
Yes, Development Services
Does your jurisdiction have the ability to track
permits by hazard area?
Yes
Does your jurisdiction have a buildable lands
inventory?
Yes
Table 13: Adaptive Capacity for Climate Change
Adaptive Capacity Assessment Question Jurisdiction Rating Technical Capacity
Jurisdiction-level understanding of potential climate change impacts Medium
Comment: None Provided.

Jurisdiction-level monitoring of climate change impacts Medium Comment: None Provided.

Technical resources to assess proposed strategies for feasibility and externalities Low
Comment: Very limited staffing resources familiar with climate change externalities.

Jurisdiction-level capacity for development of greenhouse gas emissions inventory Medium
Comment: General Plan goals associated with greenhouse gas emissions.

Capital planning and land use decisions informed by potential climate impacts Medium
Comment: General Plan goals associated with land use decision making.

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Adaptive Capacity Assessment Question Jurisdiction Rating Participation in regional groups addressing climate risks Medium Comment: Morgan Hill participates in regional initiatives including, Joint Venture Silicon Valley Network.

Implementation Capacity
Clear authority/mandate to consider climate change impacts during public decision-making processes Medium
Comment: Conformance with General Plan.

Identified strategies for greenhouse gas mitigation efforts Medium Comment: Conformance with General Plan.

Identified strategies for adaptation to impacts Medium
Comment: None Provided.

Champions for climate action in local government departments Medium Comment: None Provided.

Political support for implementing climate change adaptation strategies Medium
Comment: None Provided.

Financial resources devoted to climate change adaptation Low Comment: None Provided.

Local authority over sectors likely to be negative impacted Low Comment: None Provided.

Public Capacity
Local residents knowledge of and understanding of climate risk Medium Comment: None Provided.

Local residents support of adaptation efforts Unknown
Comment: None Provided.

Local residents’ capacity to adapt to climate impacts Unknown Comment: None Provided.

Local economy current capacity to adapt to climate impacts Low Comment: None Provided.

Local ecosystems capacity to adapt to climate impacts Low Comment: None Provided.

1.4.3. Opportunities to Expand Upon and Improve Existing Capabilities The hazard mitigation planning process presented the opportunity for the community to discuss and evaluate their current capabilities however, building mitigation capabilities is an ongoing process. New capabilities can be added which will support mitigation. Current capabilities can also be enhanced to actively support mitigation and reduce risk. Significant efforts have been made to increase the capabilities of jurisdictions across the OA. By participating in this plan update, each community is reinforcing their support for mitigation and understanding of the capabilities they need to successfully implement mitigation measures. Actions that can expand and improve existing authorities, plans, policies, and resources for mitigation include:

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 Developing a Climate Action Plan which incorporates hazard data and actions to adapt to a changing climate.
 Budgeting and passing policies and procedures for mitigation actions.  Adopting and implementing stricter mitigation regulations.  Approving the training of staff for mitigation activities.  Approving mitigation updates to existing plans as new needs are recognized.  Continuing to update plans as necessary to ensure they are current and reflect the needs of the community or special district.
 Further developing warning systems and messaging.
 Creating and implementing additional public education and outreach offerings and increasing the volume of translated materials.
 Ensuring grant opportunities are capitalized upon to meet mitigation goals.

Each type of the four FEMA-identified capabilities were evaluated, in addition to OA-priority capabilities like adaptive capacity. Gaps and limitations, if any, are discussed in the tables above. Additional jurisdiction-specific opportunities to expand on and improve capabilities for reducing risk include:
 Continue to participate in the Community Rating System and identify additional actions to both reduce flood risk and reduce flood insurance premiums.
 Support insurance outreach and education for areas that are unmapped or have undetermined flood hazards.
 Identify opportunities for staff to increase their familiarity with climate change impacts and externalities.
 Since the last update, multiple new grant programs that support mitigation measures have been established. FEMA’s annual BRIC grant program funds a variety of mitigation actions, including infrastructure projects, nature-based solutions, climate adaptation, hazard resistant building codes, and projects benefitting disadvantaged communities.

1.5. Integration with Other Planning Initiatives
This section describes the process for integrating the hazard mitigation plan into local planning mechanisms.

1.5.1. Existing Integration
The following plans and programs currently integrate the goals, risk assessment and/or recommendations of the hazard mitigation plan:
 General Plan: The Morgan Hill General Plan outlines mitigation goals, policies, and actions related to open space and environmental mitigation, water conservation, climate change resiliency, development, and addresses a broad range of natural hazards.  Capital Improvement Plan: The CIP was reviewed to assess integration opportunities and identifies projects that can be included in the mitigation strategy.  Community Wildfire Protection Plan: This plan directly addresses wildfire risk and provides mitigation recommendations and actions.

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 Emergency Operations Plan: The EOP directly references the local hazard mitigation plan and outlines mitigation actions and strategies.
 City Code and Ordinances: Many City codes and ordinances have been reviewed for integration, many existing regulations promote mitigation and risk reduction within the community.  Silicon Valley 2.0: The Climate Adaptation Guidebook integrates mitigation strategies and goals to reduce future climate risk.
 Bikeways, Trails, Parks and Recreation Master Plan: The plan outlines goals to integrate natural mitigation elements in open park spaces and natural environments.

1.5.2. Opportunities for Future Integration
The following plans and programs do not currently integrate the goals, risk assessment and/or recommendations of the hazard mitigation plan, but provide an opportunity for future integration:
 Community Wildfire Protection Plan: The CWPP is currently being updated. Information on wildfires will be integrated between these two plans. Additional goals and actions could also be combined.

While not many updates to other planning mechanisms for the City of Morgan Hill are aligned well with the timeline for this MJHMP, additional opportunities may present themselves in the future. The Local Planning Team will be responsible for participating in and sharing information with other relevant plans.

1.6. Jurisdiction-Specific Natural Hazard Event History Table 103 lists all past occurrences of natural hazards within the jurisdiction.

Table 14: Natural Hazard Events
Type of Event FEMA Disaster #
(if applicable)
Date Preliminary
Damage Assessment
Winter Storms DR-4301,
DR-4308
02/14/2017
04/01/2017
Property and roadway
damage due to flooding
Public Safety Power
Shutoff N/A 10/09/2019-10/10/2019
Power outages,
community and
medically reliant of
power
Internet Outage N/A 02/03/2021 Communication
outages
Wildland Fire DR-5338 08/21/2020 Evacuation
COVID-19 DR-4482 03/22/20220 Pandemic
Winter Storms DR-4683 01/14/2023
Property, roadway,
pumpstation damage
due to flooding

1.7. Jurisdiction-Specific Vulnerabilities
 Morgan Hill showed the 3rd highest estimated loss as a percentage of total replacement value for the 100-year probabilistic and 500-year probabilistic Hazus scenarios. Estimated losses for the 100-year scenario were $647 million (9.86% of total replacement value), and $2 billion (31.44% of

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total replacement value) for the 500-year scenario. This Hazus run did not include specific damage estimates for critical facilities at the city level, but the county-level scenario estimated a significant proportion of critical facilities and infrastructure in the OA receiving moderate damage in an earthquake (see Volume 1, Table 34). The amount and exact location of damage caused by an earthquake varies a lot based on the location of the origin of the earthquake and the magnitude. Likewise, it is difficult to measure precise impacts on populations, particularly those in vulnerable categories. It can be inferred that individuals who have lower income, older or more crowded housing, limited English speaking ability, access or functional needs, and other disadvantages will have greater difficulty recovering from an earthquake.  34.6% of Morgan Hill residents live within a high wildfire risk area. This includes 5.237 residences. Almost 30% of the total structural replacement value of Morgan Hill is exposed to high wildfire hazard. The northwestern portion of town along Llagas Road has a lot of area classified as moderate to high wildfire risk and Very High Hazard in risk to structures. Several winding, dead-end roads branch off the main Llagas Road. The east area of the city in the vicinity of Dunne Avenue also has higher potential for wildfire. No critical facilities were found directly in wildfire risk areas, but 16 were within 100 meters of a risk zone. These may benefit from additional study. Based on the SVI map below, the highest concentration of vulnerable populations is not located near the wildfire risk areas. However, consideration should be given to those in the wildfire risk areas who may lack capabilities and resources to address wildfire risks on their properties or who may need assistance in an evacuation.  A significant portion of Morgan Hill is exposed to potential dam inundation. Over 24,000 people are within potential dam inundation areas in Morgan Hill. Over $6 billion in buildings are exposed.

Morgan Hill could be impacted by a failure of either the Anderson Dam, or Chesbro Dam. The northeast corner of Morgan Hill is close to Anderson Dam, which would give residents there less warning time of a possible dam failure, and depth and velocity of resulting floodwaters could cause more severe damage. A bridge across Coyote Creek at Sycamore Avenue could be impacted. The dam inundation boundary does include areas with a high concentration of vulnerable populations. Two fire stations and 10 schools are within the inundation zone as well.  Almost 3,000 people (6.6% of the population) live in the 1% annual chance floodplain, and 3,412 (7.58% of the population) are in the 0.2% annual chance floodplain. $259 million in structures are in the 1% floodplain (6.61% of total replacement value), and $350 million (3.25% replacement value) are in the 0.2% floodplain.
 The 1% chance annual floodplain along West Little Llagas Creek traverses almost through the center of town, roughly along or parallel to Monterey Street. Two schools and one fire station are in the 1% zone, along with many other structures. Monterrey Street is a major transportation route that could be impacted, as well as multiple minor roads. This area also has a high concentration of vulnerable populations, which may increase the severity of impacts from flooding.  4,583 people (over 10% of the city population) are exposed to high landslide potential in Morgan Hill. The hazard is primarily in foothill areas on the east and west extremes of the city. Heavy rain events have contributed to landslides in the OA. Climate change may contribute to increased intensity of heavy rain in Morgan Hill in the future, which could lead to increased risk of landslides.
 It is anticipated that the impacts of drought will be consistent across the OA. Drought impacts vegetation and can make it more vulnerable to disease and wildfire. Extended drought may necessitate limits on landscape irrigation or higher costs for irrigation, which can have economic impacts. Although agriculture is not a primary economic sector in the OA, drought can have severe negative impacts on growth of crops and gardens. The unincorporated county near Morgan Hill has a high amount of agricultural land use, so economic losses from drought impacts to agricultural production could have an impact on Morgan Hill residents employed in that sector.  Impacts from inclement weather such as heavy rain, hail, and wind are likely to be very similar across the OA. Individual events may impact only limited areas, but the entire OA is at risk to

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similar conditions. Heavy rain may cause localized flooding on roadways and low-lying areas which may disrupt transportation for the general public and can also delay emergency response.

Heavy rain can also have cascading impacts on landslide potential or strain the capacity of dams.

High winds can disrupt power, communication and other services and cause damage to structures. Extreme heat or cold can be harmful to health, particularly those with inadequate housing with adequate warming and cooling systems.
 Climate change is expected to increase the frequency or severity of drought, extreme heat, and other severe weather events. Future impacts from these events may be more severe as a result.  Morgan Hill is distant from the shoreline and has no direct tsunami risk. As such, tsunami is not profiled in this annex.
 Individuals can play a key role in reducing their risk to these hazards by knowing what they are at risk of and the proper actions to take. They can take actions to protect their personal property and personal health. However, ongoing education is often needed to keep these hazards at the forefront of individuals’ minds. Education materials should include all hazards addressed in this annex. With a diverse, vulnerable population in Morgan Hill, a variety of tools will be needed to make sure this messaging reaches a wide audience with differing needs.

Repetitive loss records are as follows:
 Number of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-identified Repetitive-Loss Properties (RL): 0
 Number of Severe-Repetitive-Loss (SRL) Properties: 4
 Number of RL Properties or SRL Properties that have been mitigated: 0 Other noted vulnerabilities include:
 The increasing frequency and intensity of drought and extreme heat due to climate change has resulted in a lengthening of the fire season. Dry spells during the winter months, especially when combined with winds and dead fuels, may result in fires that burn with a high intensity and rate.  Anderson Dam is currently being retrofitted by Valley Water. If the dam were to fail in stormy weather and at full capacity the impact would be devastating to the City of Morgan Hill.  A secondary water supply has not been identified by the City of Morgan Hill.  Several drainage improvements are needed throughout the City.  The east and west areas of Morgan Hill with steep slopes have increased risk of damage from landslides.
 Heavy rain events often result in localized flooding from the main creek running through town overflowing and effects from local reservoirs spilling.  Areas of high or very high fire hazard are located (and mapped) within and adjacent to City boundaries

1.7.1. Social Vulnerability
Figure 65 shows the social vulnerability of Morgan Hill. The community has a highly variable level of vulnerability, ranging from low to high. This indicates a complex mix of social characteristics that may complicate the community’s recovery from impacts of a natural hazard. All four themes show at least moderate vulnerability in Morgan Hill, but Housing Type and Transportation is the theme with the highest vulnerability scores. The percentage of multi-unit housing and mobile homes contributes to these scores.

These housing types can be more susceptible to damage from hazards. There is also a higher percentage of Hispanic individuals (about 50%) in Morgan Hill than in many other parts of the OA. The

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areas of higher social vulnerability could be impacted by inclement weather, earthquake, flood, and dam failure.

Figure 1: Morgan Hill Social Vulnerability

1.8. Hazard Risk Index
Table 104 presents the hazards of concern from highest risk index number to lowest, as assigned by the City of Morgan Hill.

Table 15: Hazard Risk Index
Hazard Probability Life Impact Property
Impact
Percentage
of Area
Impacted
Maximum
Probable
Extent
Earthquake Highly Likely Catastrophic Catastrophic Significant Major Dam/Levee
Failure Unlikely Catastrophic Catastrophic Significant Major Heavy Rain Highly Likely Minor Limited Minimal Moderate High Wind Likely Minor Limited Minimal Moderate
Extreme Heat Likely Minor Limited Minimal Moderate
Wildfire Likely Limited Minor Minimal Moderate

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Hazard Probability Life Impact Property
Impact
Percentage
of Area
Impacted
Maximum
Probable
Extent
Drought Likely Minor Minor Extensive Weak
Flood Occasional Minor Minor Minimal Moderate
Climate Change Occasional Minor Minor Negligible Weak
Landslide/Mass
Movement Unlikely Minor Minor Negligible Weak
Table 16: Comparison of Morgan Hill Hazard Risk Score to Operational Area (OA) Risk
Score
Earthquake
Dam/
Levee
Failure
Heavy
Rain
High
Wind
Extreme
Heat Wildfire Drought Flood Landslide
Climate
Change
Morgan
Hill

2.9 2.0 1.25 1.15 1.15 1.05 0.9 1.25 0.0 0.3
OA 2.24 1.19 1.44 1.44 1.44 1.68 1.21 0.90 0.36 1.13

1.9. Future Needs to Better Understand Risk/Vulnerability A citywide inspection of all critical facilities to determine what hardening or retrofit projects are needed would be very beneficial to the City in addressing future risk.

1.10. Status of Previous Plan Actions
Participants were asked to report the status of their mitigation actions listed in the previous plan as a part of this plan update. Where further information isn’t provided, the answers are defined as follows:
 Completed – work on this action is totally complete.
 Completed and ongoing – work on this action is complete; however, it is an ongoing project that will continue to be implemented. An example is a public outreach campaign that was created and will continue to be implemented.
 In progress – work on this action has begun and is in progress, but the action is not yet complete.  Retain – work on this action has not begun yet, the action is still relevant, and it should be in the 2023 MJHMP.
 No longer relevant – Action item is no longer relevant due to reduce or eliminated risk, it no longer being feasible, there has been a change in jurisdictional or organizational priorities, or another reason as stated.

Unless specifically requested otherwise, only those actions listed as “retain” are incorporated into the 2023 action plan. Those listed as ongoing are currently funded and implemented under existing programs and do not carry over into the 2023 actions.

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Table 17: Status of Action Items from the 2017 MJHMP
Action Item
Number*
Action Item Description Hazard(s)
Mitigated
Current Status and
Comments
MGH-1
Integrate the hazard mitigation
plan into the Zoning Code, Title
18 code update
All Hazards Ongoing
MGH-2
Continue to maintain good
standing and compliance under
the National Flood Insurance
Program (NFIP):

Bring Current and enforce
Morgan Hill’s Flood damage
prevention ordinance
Participate in floodplain
identification and mapping
updates
Implement flood risk reduction
projects in Morgan Hill
Provide public
assistance/information on
floodplain requirements and
impacts
Flood Ongoing
MGH-3
Support neighborhoods seeking
to become certified Firewise
Communities
Wildfire Ongoing
MGH-4
Enhance Public Education and
Awareness of Natural Hazards
and Disaster Preparedness
All Hazards Ongoing
MGH-5
Retrofit and Anderson Dam to
make it seismically stable to
withstand a large magnitude
earthquake
Dam Failure Ongoing
MGH-6
Retrofit of high water use
landscape & irrigation systems
for water saving technology
Drought and Climate
Change Ongoing
MGH-7
Conduct Drought Public
Education and Outreach
Drought and Climate
Change Ongoing
MGH-8
Develop GIS based maps that
can be used during emergency
incidents
All Hazards Ongoing
MGH-9
Harden infrastructure, such as
locating utilities underground All Hazards Planning
MGH-10 Update Stormwater
management masterplan Flood Ongoing
MGH-11
Coordinate disaster preparation
and mitigation practices with
private sector, public institutions
and other public bodies
All Hazards Ongoing

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Action Item
Number*
Action Item Description Hazard(s)
Mitigated
Current Status and
Comments
MGH-12 Develop roadside fuel treatment
programs
Wildfire Planning
MGH-13
Improve firefighting water
supplies in Holiday Lakes and
Jackson Oaks subdivisions
Wildfire Planning
MGH-14
Address density of livestock in
wildfire prone areas to provide
plan in an event of wildfire
Wildfire Planning
MGH-15
Implement infiltration and inflow
prevention measures in
wastewater system (mitigation
measure needed during flooding
events) citywide
Severe Weather and
Flood Planning
MGH-16
Construct concrete aprons at
culvert openings at Butterfield
Channel and drain outlets to
keep areas clear of vegetation
growth to allow water flow and
visibility for inspection
Severe Weather and
Flood Planning
MGH-17
After Upper Llagas Flood
Control project is complete,
install a new outlet in the creek
channel on the south side of
Spring Street, at a lower
elevation than existing, to delay
flooding and speed drainage
Severe Weather and
Flood Planning
MGH-18
Implement CIP project
addressing flooding at Burnett
and Monterey. Improved
facilities to direct stormwater out
of the area of increase retention
capacity
Severe Weather and
Flood Planning
MGH-19
Improve faculties at the
intersection of Main and Casa to
direct flooding out this area of
otherwise increase retention
capacity
Severe Weather and
Flood Planning
MGH-20
Raise pavement at intersection
of Mission View and Half Road
or install storm drains
Severe Weather and
Flood Planning
MGH-21
Evaluate silt issue at Circle Lane
and Oak View to determine
appropriate repair
Severe Weather and
Flood Planning

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Action Item
Number*
Action Item Description Hazard(s)
Mitigated
Current Status and
Comments
MGH-22
Implement projects to increase
drainage including, but not
limited to:

Sabini Ct: Install drain to nearby
channel
Oak Canyon Dr.: Install concrete
apron to reduce impacts from
silting
Gallop Dr.: Inlet above Gallop
needs re-work, some cobbles
are loose. Re-design to reduce
sediment build up, provide
access from street
Peak Ave.: Increase inlet
capacity
Fisher Creek retention basin:

Lower elevation of large pond
inlet so it retains more water
during major storms
Teresa Ditch (behind homes on
Teresa Lane): Improve ditch to
reduce silting
Hayloft Ct.: Investigate installing
a catch basin and replacing
curb/gutter area
Condit at Ramada Inn: Extend
storm drain so water from
parking lot and street drain
properly
Severe Weather and
Flood Planning
MGH-23
Support Santa Clara Valley
Water District in the Llagas
Creek Flood Protection Project
Severe Weather and
Flood Ongoing
MGH-24
Where appropriate, support
retro-fitting, purchase or
relocation of structures located
in high hazard areas and
prioritize those structures that
have experienced repetitive
losses
All Hazards Planning
MGH-25
Actively participate in the plan
maintenance protocols outlined
in Volume 1 of the hazard
mitigation plan
All Hazards In progress
* Number given to action item in 2017 Santa Clara County Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan

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1.11. Hazard Mitigation Action Plan and Evaluation of
Recommended Actions
Table 107 lists the actions that make up the City of Morgan Hill hazard mitigation action plan. The maps in Figure 66 through Figure 73 present the City’s critical facilities, infrastructure, and identified hazard risk areas.

Descriptions of the expected time frames for actions are provided below:
• Short term: 1–5 years
• Medium term: 5–10 years
• Long term: Over 10 years
 Ongoing: Currently being funded and implemented under existing programs The planning partners utilized the following criteria to prioritize action items into the categories of high, medium, or low.
 High Priority— A project that:
▪ Meets multiple goals and objectives (i.e., multiple hazards); ▪ Addresses multiple hazards;
▪ Has benefits that exceed cost;
▪ Has funding secured or is an ongoing project;
▪ Meets eligibility requirements for Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants; ▪ Can be completed in the short term (1 to 5 years);
▪ Addresses immediate short-term impacts of climate change; ▪ Benefits underserved and/or socially vulnerable populations; AND ▪ Considers the Multi-Benefit Criteria utilized by the Santa Clara County Climate Collaborative, including equity, long-term value, ecosystem benefit, community benefit, and crossjurisdictional alignment.  Medium Priority— A project that:
▪ Meets multiple goals and objectives;
▪ Addresses multiple hazards;
▪ Has benefits that exceed costs;
▪ Has funding has not been secured, but that is grant eligible under Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants or other grant programs;
▪ Project can be completed in the short term (1-5 years), once funding is secured. Medium priority projects will become high priority projects once funding is secured; ▪ Addresses immediate short-term impacts of climate change; ▪ Benefits underserved and/or socially vulnerable populations; AND ▪ Considers the Multi-Benefit Criteria utilized by the Santa Clara County Climate Collaborative, including equity, long-term value, ecosystem benefit, community benefit, and crossjurisdictional alignment.

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 Low Priority— A project that:
▪ Will mitigate the risk of at least one hazard;
▪ Has benefits that do not exceed the costs or are difficult to quantify:
▪ Does not have secured funding;
▪ Is not eligible for Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant funding; ▪ Has a timeline for completion that is long term (greater than 5 years). Low priority projects may be eligible for other sources of grant funding from other programs; ▪ May address impacts of climate change;
▪ May benefit underserved and/or socially vulnerable populations; AND ▪ Considers the Multi-Benefit Criteria utilized by the Santa Clara County Climate Collaborative, including equity, long-term value, ecosystem benefit, community benefit, and crossjurisdictional alignment.

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Table 18: City of Morgan Hill 2023 Action Items
Action
Item
Number
Action Item Description Hazard(s)
Mitigated
Lead Position,
Office,
Department, or
Division
Responsible for
Implementation
Potential
Funding
Sources
Expected
Timeline for
Completion
Priority
1 Conduct citywide bridge inspections.
1 Earthquake,
Flood, Dam
Failure
Community
Development
State Bridge
Funds, City
Stormwater
Funds, City
General
Funds.

Short Term High
2 Complete backup battery system for Centennial
Recreation Center. This facility can serve as a
shelter, resiliency hub, and warming/cooling center
for a variety of hazards.

Earthquake,
Heavy
Precipitation,
Extreme
Heat,
Extreme
Cold, High
Wind, Space
Weather
Community
Development
Grant
funding,
future cost
savings
Short Term Medium
3 Construct a new Fire Station using various hazard
resilient building techniques and material.
2 Wildfire,
Earthquake
Fire Department Public Safety
Impact Fund
Long Term High

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Action
Item
Number
Action Item Description Hazard(s)
Mitigated
Lead Position,
Office,
Department, or
Division
Responsible for
Implementation
Potential
Funding
Sources
Expected
Timeline for
Completion
Priority
4 Develop a public education and outreach strategy to
inform the community of natural hazards and risks,
with an increased emphasis on reaching
underserved and vulnerable populations.
3 All Hazards,
including
Earthquake,
Flood, Dam
Failure,
Landslide,
Wildfire,
Heavy Rain,
High Wind,
Extreme
Cold, and
Extreme
Heat
Communications
and Engagement
Departments,
Emergency
Preparedness
Department
Staff Time,
City General
Funds
Long Term High
1 Some types of risks and vulnerabilities require additional study beyond the scope of a hazard mitigation plan. These types of project scoping initiatives will support future risk reduction measures to reduce risk to community lifelines such as Transportation from multiple hazards including earthquake and flood. 2 By building a new fire station that is up to date with modern building codes, the community will protect the Safety and Security community lifelines from multiple hazards including wildfire and earthquake.
3 This type of public education and awareness mitigation action reflects a whole community approach to hazard mitigation. The whole community approach acknowledges the fact that one agency or entity cannot be responsible for emergency management alone but that everyone can play a role in reducing risk and creating a resilient community. By empowering residents, including underserved and vulnerable populations, and private sector partners with the information they need to make risk-based mitigation decisions, the community will help reduce to new and existing structures and infrastructure.

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2: City of Morgan Hill 37
Figure 2: City of Morgan Hill Critical Facilities

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2: City of Morgan Hill 38
Figure 3: City of Morgan Hill Critical Infrastructure

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2: City of Morgan Hill 39
Figure 4: City of Morgan Hill Flood Hazard Area

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2: City of Morgan Hill 40
Figure 5: City of Morgan Hill Deep-Seated Landslide Susceptibility

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2: City of Morgan Hill 41
Figure 6: City of Morgan Hill Liquefaction Susceptibility

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2: City of Morgan Hill 42
Figure 7: City of Morgan Hill Fire Severity Zones

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2: City of Morgan Hill 43
Figure 8: City of Morgan Hill Wildfire Hazard Classification

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Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2: City of Morgan Hill 44
Figure 9: City of Morgan Hill Wildfire Risk to Structures

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RESOLUTION NO. 24-xxxx

ADOPT RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE SANTA CLARA

COUNTY MULTIJURISDICTIONAL HAZARD

MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE INCLUDING THE CITY OF
MORGAN HILL’S ANNEX.

WHEREAS, the Bay Area is subject to various hazards of concern including; severe weather, drought, earthquake, flood, landslide, wildfire, dam failure, tsunami and those we cannot predict; and
WHEREAS, the City of Morgan Hill seeks to maintain and enhance both a disasterresistant City and region by reducing the potential for loss of life, property damage, environmental degradation, and economic loss; and
WHEREAS, the City of Morgan Hill is committed to increasing the disaster resistance of the infrastructure, health, housing, economy, government services, education, environment, and land use systems in the City, as well as in the Bay Area as a whole; and WHEREAS, the federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires all cities, counties, and special districts to have adopted a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan to receive disaster mitigation funding from FEMA; and
WHEREAS, the California Office of Emergency Services and Federal Emergency Management Agency have approved the County of Santa Clara’s Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan; and
WHEREAS, once the hazard mitigation plan is adopted by all the jurisdictional partners, the partnership will collectively and individually become eligible to apply for hazard mitigation project funding from both the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Morgan Hill commits to continuing to take actions and initiating further actions, as appropriate, as identified in the Santa Clara County Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan Update.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Morgan Hill at its meeting held on this 4th day of September 2024 by the following vote:

AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:

NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:

ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS:

ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:

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APPROVED: ATTEST:
___________________________________ _______________________________ MARK TURNER, Mayor MICHELLE BIGELOW, City Clerk
 CERTIFICATION 
I, Michelle Bigelow, City Clerk of the City of Morgan Hill, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of Resolution No.XXXX , adopted by the City Council at the meeting held on September 4, 2024.

WITNESS MY HAND AND THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF MORGAN HILL.

DATE: _____________________ ___________________________________ MICHELLE BIGELOW, City Clerk

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3 CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: September 4, 2024
PREPARED BY:

Kim Mancera, Deputy City Clerk
APPROVED BY: City Manager

AMEND CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE REPORTING CATEGORIES

RECOMMENDATION(S)
Adopt resolution amending the list of positions subject to the City’s Conflict of Interest Code.

COUNCIL PRIORITIES, GOALS & STRATEGIES
City Council Ongoing Priorities
Preserving and Cultivating Public Trust
REPORT NARRATIVE:

The Political Reform Act requires every local government agency to review its Conflict of Interest Code (Code) biennially (even years) to determine if it is accurate or must be amended. The Leadership Team, including the City Attorney and Deputy City Clerk, has conducted the review. Based on said review, staff recommends that the City Council adopt the resolution (Attachment 1) amending the Code to update the reporting categories. The categories to be deleted are shown as strikeouts, and the categories that have been added or amended are shown as underscored/bold.

Staff has identified the recommended changes below to the Code to comply with Government Code Section 87306 to update the reporting categories and to comport with the current employee classifications:
• Add the following reporting categories:
a. Assistant City Manager for Administrative Services
b. Network Architect
c. Council Services and Records Manager
d. Emergency Services Coordinator
e. GIS / Land Use Data Administrator
f. Programmer Analyst
g. Senior Human Resources Analyst
• The following titles have been amended:
a. Housing and Economic Mobility Director

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3 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:

Inform
This report serves to inform the Community about the amendments to the City’s Conflict of Interest Code.

ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS:

Not Applicable.

PRIOR CITY COUNCIL AND COMMISSION ACTIONS:

The City’s Conflict of Interest Code is required to be reviewed biennially. It was last reviewed and approved on November 16, 2022.

FISCAL AND RESOURCE IMPACT:

There are no fiscal or resource impacts associated with this action.

CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act):

Not a project. Administrative activities of governments that do not result in direct physical changes in the environment do not qualify as a project for purposes of CEQA.

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RESOLUTION NO. 24-xxxx

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY

OF MORGAN HILL AMENDING THE CITY'S CONFLICT

OF INTEREST CODE BY AMENDING EXHIBIT A
(DESIGNATED POSITIONS) TO REFLECT CURRENT

CITY POSITION(S) AND DISCLOSURE CATEGORIES
WHEREAS, pursuant to Government Code 87300, Resolution No. 1827 was adopted on September 21, 1983, and subsequently amended by various resolutions; and WHEREAS, the Political Reform Act requires every local government agency to review its Conflict of Interest Code biennially or as deemed appropriate; and WHEREAS, the Fair Political Practices Commission has adopted Title 2 of the California Code of Regulations § 18730, which contains the terms of a standard model conflict of interest, which can be incorporated by reference, and which may be amended by the Fair Political Practices Commission after public notice and hearings to conform to amendments to the Political Reform Act; and
WHEREAS, a review has been conducted and a determination has been reached that certain amendments are required to update the Code and maintain its accuracy as outlined in Exhibit A – Persons Subject to the Conflict of Interest Code; and WHEREAS, the Mayor, Council Members, City Manager, City Attorney, City Treasurer, and Planning Commission are not listed in the City’s Conflict of Interest Code as they are governed by § 87200 of the Government Code.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MORGAN HILL adopts the attached Exhibit A – Persons Subject to the Conflict of Interest Code; and Exhibit B – Conflict of Interest Code for the City of Morgan Hill.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of Morgan Hill at a Regular Meeting held on the 4th day of September 2024 by the following vote:

AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
APPROVED: ATTEST:
____________________________ _________________________________ MARK TURNER, Mayor MICHELLE BIGELOW, City Clerk

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City of Morgan Hill
Resolution No. 24-xxx

Page 2 of 5 ends

 CERTIFICATION 
I, Michelle Bigelow, City Clerk of the City of Morgan Hill, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of Resolution No.24-xxx, adopted by the City Council at the meeting held on September 4, 2024.

WITNESS MY HAND AND THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF MORGAN HILL.

DATE: _____________________ ________________________________ MICHELLE BIGELOW, City Clerk

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City of Morgan Hill
Resolution No. 24-xxx

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EXHIBIT A
Persons Subject to the Conflict of Interest Code
Listed below are the designated positions in the local agency that are required to file Disclosure Statements.

Category 1 is defined as:

A designated employee, board member, and commissioner must report all interests in real property having a direct or indirect relationship to, and which may foreseeably be affected by, the official duties and responsibilities of each such designated position.

Category 2 is defined as:

A designated employee, board member, and commissioner in this category must report all investments having a direct or indirect relationship to, and which may foreseeably be affected by, the official duties and responsibilities of each such designated position.

Category 3 is defined as:

A designated employee, board member, and commissioner in this category must report income and business entities in which he or she is a director, officer, partner, trustee, and employee or holds any position of management having a direct or indirect relationship to, and which may foreseeably be affected by, the official duties and responsibilities of each such designated position.

Disclosure
Persons Subject to the Conflict of Interest Code Category

Administrative Services
Finance Director 1,2,3
Human Resources Director 1,2,3
Senior Human Resources Analyst 1,2,3
City Clerk/Public Information Officer 1,2,3
Budget Manager 1,2,3
Council Services and Records Manager 1,2,3
Assistant City Manager for Administrative Services 1,2,3 City Attorney’s Office
Assistant City Attorney 1,2,3
Deputy City Attorney 1,2,3
City Manager’s Office
Development Services
Assistant City Manager for Development Services 1,2,3
Development Services Director 1,2,3
Economic Development Director 1,2,3
Economic Development Coordinator 1,2,3
Principal Planner 1,2,3
Housing and Economic Mobility Director 1,2,3
Building Official 1,2,3

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City of Morgan Hill
Resolution No. 24-xxx

Page 4 of 5 ends

Building Manager 1,2,3
Senior Planner 1,2,3
Fire Department
Fire Chief 1,2,3
Assistant Fire Chief 1,2,3
Fire Marshal 1,2,3
Battalion Chief 1,2,3
EMS Chief 1,2,3
Police Department
Police Chief 1,2,3
Police Captain 1,2,3
Information Technology Director 1,2,3
Police Support Services Manager 1,2,3
Emergency Services Coordinator 1,2,3
Public Services
Public Services Director 1,2,3
Public Services Administrative Manager 1,2,3
GIS/Land Use Data Administrator 1,2,3
Community Services
Program Administrator 1,2,3
Recreation Manager 1,2,3
Community Services Supervisor 1,2,3
Older Adult Services Supervisor 1,2,3
Senior Recreation Supervisor 1,2,3
Maintenance Manager 1,2,3
Maintenance Services Coordinator 1,2,3
Environmental Services Manager 1,2,3
Environmental Services Administrator 1,2,3
Engineering and Utilities
Deputy Director for Engineering/City Engineer 1,2,3
Deputy Director for Utility Services 1,2,3
Programmer Analyst 1,2,3
Network Architect 1,2,3
Utility Operations Manager 1,2,3
Senior Project Manager 1,2,3
Senior Civil Engineer 1,2,3
Supervising Civil Engineer 1,2,3
Successor Agency to the Morgan Hill Redevelopment Agency Board Members 1,2,3 Morgan Hill Financing Authority Board Members 1,2,3
Morgan Hill Wastewater Facilities Financing Corporation Board Members 1,2,3 Library, Culture & Arts Commissioners 1,2,3
Parks and Recreation Commissioners 1,2,3
Parking Authority of the City of Morgan Hill 1,2,3
Consultants* 1,2,3
*Consultants shall be included in the list of designated employees and shall disclose pursuant to Category 1, 2, and 3, based on the scope of work performed for the City of Morgan Hill, in consultation with the City Attorney.

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City of Morgan Hill
Resolution No. 24-xxx

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EXHIBIT B

CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE FOR

THE CITY OF MORGAN HILL
The Political Reform Act, Government Code Sections 81000, et seq., requires state and local government agencies to adopt and promulgate conflict of interest codes. The Fair Political Practices Commission has adopted a regulation, Title 2, California Code of Regulations, Section 18730, which contains the terms of a standard conflict of interest code which can be incorporated by reference, and that may be amended by the Fair Political Practices Commission to conform to amendments in the Political Reform Act after public notice and hearings. Therefore, the terms of Title 2, California Code of Regulations Section 18730, and any amendments to it duly adopted by the Fair Political Practices Commission, are hereby incorporated by reference. These terms, along with the attached Appendix which designates officials and employees subject to the code and disclosure categories, constitute the Conflict of Interest Code of the City of Morgan Hill.

Pursuant to Section 4 of the Standard Code, designated employees, boards, and commissioners shall file statements of economic interests with the City of Morgan Hill - City Clerk. The City Clerk is to retain these statements. Upon receipt of the statements of the members of the City Council, City Manager, City Attorney, City Treasurer, and members of the Planning Commission; the City Clerk of the City of Morgan Hill shall make and retain a copy and forward the original of these statements to the Fair Political Practices Commission.

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4 CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: September 4, 2024
PREPARED BY:

Chris Ghione, Public Services Director
APPROVED BY: City Manager

APPROVE CONSULTANT AGREEMENT WITH JAYSON
ARCHITECTURE IN THE AMOUNT OF $375,000 FOR DESIGN OF
VILLA MIRA MONTE PHASE 1 IMPROVEMENTS

RECOMMENDATION(S)
Authorize the City Manager to execute a consultant agreement for design services totaling $375,000 for the Phase 1 Villa Mira Monte Improvements.

COUNCIL PRIORITIES, GOALS & STRATEGIES
City Council Ongoing Priorities
Maintaining and Enhancing Infrastructure
Preserving our Community History
Guiding Documents
Bikeways, Trails, and Recreation Master Plan
REPORT NARRATIVE:

This item would move forward with the next step in the design of the Villa Mira Monte Site Expansion and Improvements. On June 22, 2023, the Council approved conceptual designs for the overall site expansion of Villa Mira Monte. The City currently has limited funds ($3.5 million) for the initial phase of this project with the current Capital Improvement Program.

The initial conceptual designs completed for the Master Plan provided development of plans at about the 30% level along with cost estimates for various development options.

If approved, the proposed contract will fund the completion of the plans and the project through design development, construction documents, bid support, and construction support. Staff is recommending this contract with Jayson Architecture, who was previously hired to develop the conceptual designs through a competitive request for proposals.

During the conceptual design phase, it was known that the City would not have the funds to construct the entire conceptual plan and that a phased approach was necessary. The overall site design is estimated to have a cost of $13.5 million. The first phase would not include the proposed new building, which is the largest cost within the conceptual design and would focus on improving site access and functionality of the

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4 existing site. The primary costs would be associated with driveways, new restrooms, parking facilities, landscaping, and the addition of improved wet utilities. While smaller in nature, these base improvements would support ADA access, increased school visitation, and general park visitation with the stand-alone restroom facility. These improvements are currently estimated to be able to be completed within the allocated CIP Budget.

The City's Parks and Recreation Master Plan and current Capital Improvement Program (CIP) call for the expansion of the Historical Villa Mira Monte site. The inclusion of the project in the CIP was prioritized after several years of work and partnership between the Historical Society and the City of Morgan Hill. The intent of the design services is to develop a conceptual plan for the use of the undeveloped space on the Villa Mira Monte property.

The City has a very long history associated with Villa Mira Monte, dating back several decades. While the property is owned by the Morgan Hill Historical Society (MHHS), the property's ownership would transfer to the City of Morgan Hill should the organization ever dissolve. The City's former Redevelopment Agency expended significant dollars on the site, but since the dissolution of the redevelopment agency, the Historical Society has managed the site primarily on their own. In 2017, the City entered into a formal Memorandum of Understanding with the organization to provide limited funding, enhance collaboration, and operate the site as part of the City's Parks and Recreation System.

Past proposals from the MHHS for the expansion have proposed development of the site as an event venue. However, after analysis from a long-term sustainability perspective (cost recovery, revenue generation, and operations and maintenance), the current proposed expansion is intended to support the development of the site with the primary goal of the preservation of historical resources. The secondary priority is developing the expansion that supports a high level of cost efficiency in maintenance and operations.

Prior to construction of improvements, the City would need to negotiate a partnership agreement that would ensure long-term public access to the site as a historical park site. This agreement would be brought forward to the Council prior or concurrently to the awarding of a future construction contract.

The conceptual design for the Villa Mira Monte expansion completes the vision for the historical site of the Morgan Hill House. The new community building and gardens supplement the historic house and museum, and increase the programmatic capabilities the site can provide for the community.

The overall concept design/build/out proposes that the undeveloped back half of the site will be activated with a variety of new amenities. A paved parking lot for 30 vehicles will support gatherings of up to approximately 60 people, and will include new centrally located ADA parking spaces. Public restrooms will be added in two locations: a small standalone building immediately adjacent to the existing House and Museum, as well as

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4 inside the new community building. The landscape will be enriched with new spaces, including a contemplative garden planted with native species, a flowering orchard that is an homage to the agricultural history of the site, and an outdoor gathering space to support presentations, classes and events. The community building, which would be a future phase of construction, is inspired by vernacular agricultural barns found throughout the region, is situated behind the Morgan Hill House, and designed in a manner to serve as a graceful backdrop to the landscape.

The City Council approved the conceptual design (link provided below), but requested enhanced safety enhancements be developed for pedestrian access across the newly proposed driveway. Since the phased approach will not include amenities east of the new driveway, this need is mitigated for the short term. However, the safety enhancements will be pre-planned and implemented as needed in the design development for this first phase of the build out.

The conceptual plans are available for download at:
www.morganhill.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/49752/Villa-Mira-Monte---SchematicDesign-20230728-1 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:

Inform/Involve/Collaborate
Prior to bringing the proposed conceptual Master Plan design to the City Council, the Project Team had gathered input from the public, members of the Historical Society Board, the Parks and Recreation Commission, and the Library, Culture and Arts Commission through numerous in-person and hybrid meetings.

ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS:

The City Council could choose not to move forward with the next phase of design and provide City staff with alternate direction.

PRIOR CITY COUNCIL AND COMMISSION ACTIONS:

The City has a long history associated with Villa Mira Monte. Most recently, the City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding to formally partner with the Morgan Hill Historical Society in June 2017.

The City Council approved the Bikeways, Trails, Parks and Recreation Master Plan in July 2017, which includes the expansion of Villa Mira Monte.

The City Council received the report on the use of Villa Mira Monte as an event venue on May 19, 2020.

The City Council approved the professional consultant agreement with Jayson Architecture for $300,000 for the conceptual design of the Villa Mira Monte Expansion on September 28, 2022.

On June 27, 2023, the City Council approved the conceptual design for the project.

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4 FISCAL AND RESOURCE IMPACT:

There are available capital funds for this project within the Capital Improvement Budget and the Recreation Center Impact Fund (360). Funding for construction is not available until FY2025-26.

CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act):

Not a Project
This design work will inform the environmental work necessary to meet CEQA compliance. Environmental review will be conducted concurrently with design development to provide appropriate clearance prior to bidding for construction.

Continuing administrative activities and feasibility or planning studies for possible future actions that the agency has not approved, adopted, or funded are not considered projects for environmental review under CEQA. Developing the conceptual plan is necessary to conduct future environmental review.

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1 Updated February 2024

CONSULTANT AGREEMENT FOR DESIGN PROFESSIONALS

JAYSON ARCHITECTURE
THIS AGREEMENT is entered into and becomes effective on _______________ (Effective Date), by and between the CITY OF MORGAN HILL, a municipal corporation, ("CITY"), and Jayson Architecture a California corporation ("CONSULTANT") hereinafter referred to collectively as “Parties.” In consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, the Parties agree as follows:

1. City Authority. This Agreement is entered into pursuant to the action of the Morgan Hill City Council taken on _____________, ____, 20___.

2. Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall cover services rendered from the Effective Date of this Agreement until June 30, 2026 at which time CONSULTANT’S services shall be completed. The City Manager is authorized to extend the term of this Agreement provided the compensation does not exceed the City Manager's authority pursuant to Chapter 3.04 of the Morgan Hill Municipal Code, unless otherwise authorized by City Council. Any such extension shall be in writing and signed by both Parties to this Agreement.

3. Scope of Service. The services to be performed by CONSULTANT shall be Architectural Services to Complete the Design of Phase 1 Villa Mira Monte Expansion Plans as further described in Exhibit A.

4. Compensation. CONSULTANT shall be compensated as follows:

4.1. Amount. $375,000.00. Total compensation to CONSULTANT under this Agreement during its initial term set forth in Section 2 above shall not exceed Three Hundred Seventy Five Thousand dollars and shall be billed based on the rate and basis set forth in Exhibit B. If the City Manager extends the term of this Agreement pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 above, the City Manager shall have the authority to increase the maximum compensation allowed to be paid to CONSULTANT, so long as City Council has appropriated sufficient funds therefor, the Parties mutually agree to such amount in a writing signed by both Parties to this Agreement, and provided further that in no event shall such maximum compensation allowed for the term exceed the City Manager's authority pursuant to Chapter 3.04 of the Morgan Hill Municipal Code, unless otherwise authorized by City Council.

4.2. Billing. CONSULTANT shall provide CITY with an invoice containing the dated, detailed, and itemized descriptions of all services performed and expenses incurred (if such expenses are reimbursable pursuant to Exhibit B) by CONSULTANT on a monthly basis unless otherwise specified in Exhibit B. All invoices shall be sent to the CITY addressed to the department head or project manager identified below in Section 13 Notices. Any rate charged shall be prorated where services are interrupted or not provided for any rate period (for example, any monthly rate charge should be prorated when services were interrupted or provided for only part of the month). For services billed on an hourly rate, the minimum unit of billed time shall not exceed one tenth of one hour. CITY shall pay for services and expenses (if so provided in Exhibit B) up to the limit of compensation set forth above, that in the CITY’S judgment were necessary and reasonable. Services for work performed and expenses incurred in excess of the total compensation set forth in paragraph 4.1 above shall be at no cost to CITY.

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2 Updated February 2024

5. Termination. CITY or CONSULTANT shall have the right to terminate this Agreement, without cause, by giving thirty (30) days' written notice or less under urgent circumstances. Upon such termination, CONSULTANT shall submit to CITY an itemized statement of services performed for which compensation has not been paid. CITY may require CONSULTANT to complete certain work product or documents and CONSULTANT shall deliver to CITY all documents in its possession without additional compensation to CONSULTANT. The City Manager of CITY is authorized to terminate this Agreement, in whole or in part, on behalf of CITY.

5.1. Non-Appropriations. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, if insufficient funds are appropriated, or funds are otherwise unavailable in the budget for CITY for any reason whatsoever in any fiscal year, for payments due under this Agreement, CITY will immediately notify CONSULTANT of such occurrence, and this Agreement shall terminate after the last day during the fiscal year for which appropriations shall have been budgeted for CITY or are otherwise available for payments.

6. Performance of Work. CONSULTANT represents that it is qualified by virtue of experience, training, education, and expertise to accomplish these services. Services shall be performed by CONSULTANT in accordance with professional practices in a manner consistent with a level of care, competence and skill exercised by qualified members of the CONSULTANT’S profession. By delivery of completed work, CONSULTANT certifies that the work conforms to the requirements of this Agreement and all applicable federal, state, and local laws. CONSULTANT shall perform all work and services under this Agreement in conformance with the time schedule set forth on Exhibit C, "Schedule of Performance," attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference. CITY'S City Manager is authorized on behalf of CITY to modify the timeframes set forth on the Schedule of Performance within the term of this Agreement. If CONSULTANT desires to leave or store any of CONSULTANT’S equipment at a CITY site while CONSULTANT is performing work or service pursuant to this Agreement, CONSULTANT will first obtain the consent of CITY'S City Manager, or his/her delegate, to do so, and any such storage shall occur only in the manner and location allowed by such CITY official and entirely at CONSULTANT’S sole risk.

7. Insurance Requirements. CONSULTANT shall procure and provide proof of the insurance coverage required by this section in the form of certificates and endorsements. The required insurance must cover the activities of CONSULTANT, including its subcontractors, employees, and agents, relating to, or arising from, the performance of any work or service under this Agreement, and must remain in full force and effect at all times during the period covered by this Agreement. The coverages may be arranged under a single policy for the full limits required or by a combination of underlying policies with the balance provided by excess or “umbrella” policies, provided each such policy complies with the requirements set forth herein. Any deductibles or self-insured retentions must be declared to and approved by City. CONSULTANT further understands that the CITY reserves the right to modify the insurance requirements set forth herein, with thirty (30) days’ notice provided to CONSULTANT, at any time as deemed necessary to protect the interests of the CITY.

7.1. Insurance Types and Amounts.

7.1.1. Commercial General Liability (CGL). CONSULTANT shall maintain CGL against claims and liabilities for personal injury, death, or property damage providing protection in the minimum amount of: (i) one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) combined single limit for any one accident or occurrence, or (ii) the maximum amount of such insurance available to CONSULTANT under CONSULTANT’S

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3 Updated February 2024
combined insurance policies (including any excess or “umbrella” policies), whichever is greater.

7.1.2. Automobile Liability. CONSULTANT shall maintain Automobile Liability covering all owned, non-owned and hired automobiles (if CONSULTANT does not own automobiles, then CONSULTANT shall maintain Hired/Non-owned Automobile Liability) against claims and liabilities for personal injury, death, or property damage providing protection in the minimum amount of: (i) one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) combined single limit for any one accident or occurrence, or (ii) the maximum amount of such insurance available to CONSULTANT under CONSULTANT’S combined insurance policies (including any excess or “umbrella” policies), whichever is greater.

7.1.3. Workers’ Compensation Insurance and Employer’s Liability. CONSULTANT shall maintain Workers Compensation coverage, as required by law, in the minimum amount of: (i) one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) for any one accident or occurrence, or (ii) the maximum amount of such insurance available to CONSULTANT under CONSULTANT’S combined insurance policies (including any excess or “umbrella” policies), whichever is greater. If CONSULTANT is selfinsured, CONSULTANT shall provide its Certificate of Permission to Self-Insure, duly authorized by the Department of Industrial Relations.

7.1.4. Pollution (Environmental) Liability. If the performance of CONSULTANT’S work or service under this Agreement involves hazardous materials, contaminated soil disposal, and/or a risk of accidental release of fuel oil, chemicals or other toxic gases or hazardous materials, CONSULTANT shall procure and maintain Pollution Liability covering the CONSULTANT’S liability for bodily injury, property damage and environmental damage resulting from pollution and related cleanup costs arising out of the work or services to be performed under this Agreement.

Coverage shall be provided for both work performed on site, as well as during the transport of hazardous materials. Such coverage shall be in the minimum amount of: (i) one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) for any one accident or occurrence, or (ii) the maximum amount of such insurance available to CONSULTANT under CONSULTANT’S combined insurance policies (including any excess or “umbrella” policies), whichever is greater.

7.1.5. Professional Liability.

7.1.5.1. If the performance of CONSULTANT’S work or service under this Agreement involves professional and/or technical services (examples include, but are not limited to, architects, engineers, land surveyors, and appraisers), CONSULTANT shall procure and maintain either a claims made or occurrence Errors and Omission liability insurance in the minimum amount of: (i) one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) each claim, or (ii) the maximum amount of such insurance available to CONSULTANT under CONSULTANT’S combined insurance policies (including any excess or “umbrella” policies), whichever is greater. Further, if CONSULTANT maintains a claims-made policy, CONSULTANT shall provide written evidence of such insurance to the CITY for at least five (5) years after the completion of work performed under this Agreement.

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7.1.5.2. If the performance of CONSULTANT’S work or service under this Agreement relates to Information Technology or related services (examples include, but are not limited to computer programmers, software designers, hardware engineers, or other systems consultants), CONSULTANT shall procure and maintain a claims made Errors and Omission liability insurance, including Cyber Liability and Data Breach, in the minimum amount of: (i) one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) each claim, or (ii) the maximum amount of such insurance available to CONSULTANT under CONSULTANT’S combined insurance policies (including any excess or “umbrella” policies), whichever is greater.

7.1.6. Sexual Abuse/Molestation Liability (SML): If the performance of CONSULTANT’S work or service under this Agreement involves contact with minors, CONSULTANT shall procure and maintain Sexual Abuse and Molestation insurance in the minimum amount of: (i) two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00) each claim, or (ii) the maximum amount of such insurance available to CONSULTANT under CONSULTANT’S combined insurance policies (including any excess or “umbrella” policies), whichever is greater.

7.2. Endorsements. CONSULTANT shall provide proof of the following endorsements, listed for each policy for which endorsements are required, as outlined below:

7.2.1. General Liability and pollution liability (when pollution liability applies).

7.2.1.1. “Additionally Insured” - The City of Morgan Hill, its elected or appointed officials, boards, agencies, officers, agents, employees, and volunteers are named as additional insureds on a form at least as broad as ISO Form CG 20 10 for ongoing operations.

7.2.1.2. “Waiver of Rights of Subrogation” - The insurer waives the right of subrogation against the City of Morgan Hill and CITY’S elected or appointed officials, boards, agencies, officers, agents, employees, and volunteers; and

7.2.1.3. “Primary and Non-Contributing” - Insurance shall be endorsed to be primary and non-contributory and will not seek contribution from the City’s insurance or self-insurance and shall be at least as broad as ISO Form CG 20

01. 7.2.2. Workers Compensation.

If the performance of CONSULTANT’S work or service under this Agreement involves access to or activity on any property or premises owned or occupied by the CITY, including, but not limited to, CONSULTANT’S presence during site visits and meetings, then insurer waives the right of subrogation against the City of Morgan Hill and the CITY’S elected or appointed officials, boards, agencies, officers, agents, employees, and volunteers.

7.3. Qualification of Insurers. All insurance required pursuant to this Agreement must be issued by a company licensed and admitted, or otherwise legally authorized to carry out insurance business in the State of California, and each insurer must have a current A.M.

Best's financial strength rating of “A” or better and a financial size rating of “VII” or better.

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7.4. Certificates. CONSULTANT shall furnish CITY of Morgan Hill with copies of all certificates as outlined herein, whether new or modified, promptly upon receipt. In the event of a claim or legal action, CONSULTANT shall promptly furnish CITY of Morgan Hill with copies of all policies outlined herein. No policy subject to the CONSULTANT’S agreement with the CITY shall be canceled or materially changed except after thirty (30) days' notice by the insurer to CITY. A "material change" is a change that results in noncompliance with any insurance requirements in this section 7. Certificates, including renewal certificates, may be mailed electronically to [email protected] or delivered to the Certificate Holder address provided herein.

Certificate Holder address:

City of Morgan Hill
Attn: Risk Management
17575 Peak Avenue
Morgan Hill, CA 95037

8. Non-Liability of Officials and Employees of the CITY. No official or employee of CITY shall be personally liable for any default or liability under this Agreement.

9. Compliance with Law.

9.1. CONSULTANT and its officers, employees, agents, and subcontractors shall comply with all applicable laws, ordinances, administrative regulations, and permitting requirements in carrying out their obligations under this Agreement. CONSULTANT and its officers, employees, agents, and subcontractors covenant there shall be no discrimination based upon any basis prohibited by State or Federal law, including but not limited to, race, color, creed, religion, gender, marital status, age, sexual orientation, national origin, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, or ancestry, in any activity pursuant to this Agreement.

9.2. Compliance with Wage and Hour Laws: Consultant, and any subcontractor it employs to complete work under this Agreement, shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local wage and hour laws. Applicable laws may include, but are not limited to, the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act and the California Labor Code.

Final Judgments, Decisions, and Orders: For purposes of this Section, a “final judgment, decision, or order” refers to one for which all appeals have been exhausted or the time to appeal has expired. Relevant investigatory government agencies include: the federal Department of Labor, the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, or any other governmental entity or division tasked with the investigation and enforcement of wage and hour laws.

Prior Judgments against CONSULTANT and/or its Subcontractors: BY SIGNING THIS

AGREEMENT, CONSULTANT AFFIRMS THAT IT HAS DISCLOSED ANY FINAL

JUDGMENTS, DECISIONS OR ORDERS FROM A COURT OR INVESTIGATORY GOVERNMENT AGENCY FINDING – IN THE FIVE (5) YEARS PRIOR TO EXECUTING THIS AGREEMENT – THAT CONSULTANT OR ITS SUBCONTRACTOR(S) HAS VIOLATED ANY APPLICABLE WAGE AND HOUR LAWS. CONSULTANT FURTHER

AFFIRMS THAT IT OR ITS SUBCONTRACTOR(S) HAS SATISFIED AND COMPLIED WITH – OR HAS REACHED AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY REGARDING THE

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MANNER IN WHICH IT WILL SATISFY – ANY SUCH JUDGMENTS, DECISIONS OR ORDERS.

Judgments or Decisions During Term of Contract: If at any time during the term of this Agreement, a court or investigatory government agency issues a final judgment, decision or order finding that CONSULTANT or an subcontractor it employs to perform work under this Agreement has violated any applicable wage and hour law, or CONSULTANT learns of such a judgment, decision, or order that was not previously disclosed, CONSULTANT shall inform the City Attorney, no more than fifteen (15) days after the judgment, decision or order becomes final or of learning of the final judgment, decision, or order.

CONSULTANT and its subcontractors shall promptly satisfy and comply with any such judgment, decision, or order, and shall provide the City Attorney with documentary evidence of compliance with the final judgment, decision, or order within five (5) days of satisfying the final judgment, decision, or order. The City reserves the right to require CONSULTANT to enter into an agreement with the City regarding the manner in which any such final judgment, decision, or order will be satisfied.

City’s Right to Withhold Payment: Where CONSULTANT or any subcontractor it employs to perform work under this Agreement has been found in violation of any applicable wage and hour law by a final judgment, decision or order of a court or government agency, the City reserves the right to withhold payment to CONSULTANT until such judgment, decision or order has been satisfied in full.

Material Breach: Failure to comply with any part of this Section constitutes a material breach of this Agreement. Such breach may serve as a basis for immediate termination of this Agreement and/or any other remedies available under this Agreement and/or law.

Notice to City Related to Wage Theft Prevention: Notice provided to the City Attorney as required under this Section shall be addressed to: City Attorney, City of Morgan Hill, 17575 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037. The Notice provisions of this Section are separate from any other notice provisions in this Agreement and, accordingly, only notice provided to the above address satisfies the notice requirements in this Section.

10. Independent Contractor. CONSULTANT is an independent contractor and not an agent or employee of CITY.

11. Confidentiality. All data, documents, or other information received by CONSULTANT from CITY or prepared in connection with CONSULTANT’S services under this Agreement are deemed confidential and shall not be disclosed to any third party by CONSULTANT without prior written consent by CITY.

12. Conflict of Interest and Reporting. CONSULTANT shall at all times avoid conflict of interest or appearance of conflict of interest in performance of this Agreement.

13. Notices. All notices shall be personally delivered or mailed, via first class mail to the below listed address. These addresses shall be used for delivery of service of process. Notices shall be effective five (5) days after date of mailing, or upon date of personal delivery.

Address of CONSULTANT is as follows:

Jayson Architecture

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Attn: Abraham Jayson
50 29th Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
Address of CITY is as follows:

Public Services Director
City of Morgan Hill
17575 Peak Avenue
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
with a copy to:

City Clerk
City of Morgan Hill
17575 Peak Avenue
Morgan Hill, CA 95037

14. Licenses, Permits and Fees. CONSULTANT shall obtain a City of Morgan Hill Business License, all permits and licenses to the extent required by ordinances, codes, and regulations of the federal, state, and local government.

15. Consultant's Proposal. If applicable, this Agreement shall include CONSULTANT'S proposal or bid which is incorporated herein. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms of the proposal and this Agreement, this Agreement shall govern.

16. Maintenance of Records.

16.1. Maintenance. CONSULTANT shall prepare, maintain, and preserve all reports and records that may be required by federal, state, and CITY rules and ordinances related to services provided under this Agreement. CONSULTANT shall maintain records for a period of at least 3 years after receipt of final payment under this Agreement. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit exception, or other action relating to this Agreement is pending at the end of the 3-year period, then CONSULTANT shall retain said records until such action is resolved.

16.2. Access to and Audit of Records. The CITY shall have the right to examine, monitor and audit all records, documents, conditions, and activities of the CONSULTANT and its subcontractors related to services under this Agreement. Pursuant to Government Code Section 8546.7, if this Agreement involves the expenditure of public funds in excess of $10,000, the Parties to this Agreement may be subject, at the request of the CITY or as part of any audit of the CITY, to the examination and audit of the State Auditor pertaining to matters connected with the performance of this Agreement for a period of three years after final payment under the Agreement.

16.3. Ownership of Work Product. All documents or other information developed or received by CONSULTANT for work performed under this Agreement shall be the property of CITY. CONSULTANT shall provide CITY with copies of these items upon demand or upon termination of this Agreement.

17. Familiarity with Work. By executing this Agreement, CONSULTANT represents that: (1) it has investigated the work to be performed; (2) it has investigated the site of the work and is aware of all conditions there; and (3) it understands the difficulties and restrictions of the work under this Agreement.

Should CONSULTANT discover any conditions materially differing from those inherent in the work or as represented by CITY, it shall immediately inform CITY and shall not proceed, except at CONSULTANT'S risk, until written instructions are received from CITY.

18. Time of Essence. Time is of the essence in the performance of this Agreement.

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Morgan Hill City CouncilSeptember 4, 2024

Morgan Hill City Council
September 4, 2024